Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 236 Fatal Secret [Lai Xuan's Story] (Part 2)
AI: "Xu Zhi, Special Assistant to the Board of Directors and Supervisors for the North American Region, requests access."

The man, wrapped in a coat and sitting in his office chair, reached out and groped around, finally grasping his brown-rimmed glasses in his hand. His cold palms had left a grayish stain on the lenses.

Xu Zhi is an Asian Chinese with a standard face and a well-proportioned figure. His features are not stunning, but he has a unique and steady temperament. Time has left some marks on his face, but they are more like medals that have been earned by rolling in a pile of dead bodies.

He was very particular about etiquette, and when he met Prince Arasaka, he would naturally straighten his suit.

"Lord Yorinobu!"

Yoriyuki Arasaka was very intelligent. Language was the easiest subject for him, and he believed that language was primarily a tool. Therefore, in order to get closer to his subordinates, he would often communicate in their native languages ​​at appropriate times.

“It feels like three autumns have passed, Xu Sang…” Lai Xuan shook his head. “Sit wherever you like. If you want to make tea, just grab some cold brew from the fridge. I’m feeling down lately, and there’s hardly anyone around.”

"besides."

Lai Xuan smiled and pointed at Xu Zhi, "Just call me Mr. Lai Xuan, or President is fine too—anything but that title that represents the ignorance of a monarch. I prefer the way my father's henchmen had no choice but to call me 'Sir'."

As he spoke, he seemed to consciously glance at the Arasaka logo on the huge office partition.

Xu Zhi didn't hesitate and naturally went to the refrigerator to get a bottle of tea, then plopped down opposite Lai Xuan.

Lai Xuan was used to initiating conversations himself. Seeing Xu Zhi take a sip of water to catch his breath, he said leisurely, "We didn't even exchange glances at the last meeting. It was a very embarrassing defeat, wasn't it? Perhaps I should suggest to Father that you not come."

Xu Zhi smiled slightly, “Businesses value efficiency, but our ancestors believed that sometimes a proper retreat can be more effective.”

Lai Xuan: "Hmm... a delaying tactic. I must say, your hometown has a lot of fascinating culture."

As if he had returned to the era when he was still a young boy, Lai Xuan's eyes showed a hint of reminiscence, "The Steel Dragon also developed in your country. They were all warriors who brought down these sick corporations... more loyal than ever before."

Lai Xuan rarely spoke such somber words, and Xu Zhi's tea-drinking movements began to slow down.

The two looked at each other in silence for a long time, some things were already understood with their eyes.

"Xu Zhi, I don't have many men left."

Lai Xuan's tone was very calm, as if he were talking about something insignificant, but in Xu Zhi's eyes, this was a sign of a change in the political climate.

Saburo Arasaka, who rarely allowed Yorihiro to expand his influence, began to get restless...

Xu Zhi: "It seems your father has gotten old."

People like them never speak too clearly; their long-standing caution makes conversations require a certain level of understanding.

Lai Xuan spread his hands, "Who says otherwise? My father has always said that a certain guy in Night City is spineless and insecure... but he's starting to lose his confidence too. Is he afraid I'll affect his position?"

Xu didn't understand.

Saburo's current situation is clear to any company executive. Although he has strong control, his age has turned such a powerful figure as Saburo into a "highly risky" investment. If it weren't for the loyalty of Saburo's faction, his age would have given Lai Xuan complete control.

It must be said that Arasaka's worship of the personal rights of a sovereign is something that no other company has.

Arasaka, in a sense, is more like a feudal group. They strictly abide by the rules, and "company matters" often become "family matters"—and many people actually agree with this idea. Coupled with Saburo's long-term control, this has created the current stalemate.

In the past, it was Saburo who was weakening Yoriyuki, but now he's drastically weakening the future heir who's practically a certainty. Xu's gaze immediately shifted to Michiko Arasaka...

"Miss Hua Zi?... Or that woman?"

If it were Hanako, then we would have to consider whether Saburo would make any big moves. Hanako once made Xu Zhi doubt whether she had her own independent thoughts. She could almost be seen as a loyal executor whose abilities were not as good as Kei's... However, Arasaka would not allow such a stubborn and mediocre person to control him. After all, it is a well-known fact that Arasaka is not as controlling as before.

Ambition is something a successor must have, and Saburo understands this clearly.

As for the other one…

Xu Zhi's smile always seemed to carry a murderous aura. His fingers lightly caressed his cheek, as if he were considering making this young man, who was influenced by the new American culture, pay some price early on.

This makes one have to say that "God had mercy," as Sanlang's lifespan of over a hundred years rendered him infertile, otherwise an even worse situation would have occurred.

Xu Zhi thought to himself.

However... there are still some irrationalities.

Given Saburo's feudal patriarchal mindset, it's unlikely he would choose a female heir under the premise of Yorihiro's presence. This would mean that a man must become a member of the Arasaka family and become the husband of Hanako or Michiko.

Could his reason for targeting Lai Xuan be—

"Xu Zhi, how many people does Arakasa consider themselves to be working for me?"

Lai Xuanyue showed less panic at this time and clashed with his father more and more often. He had long since put aside the future that could make him panic and his emotions were becoming better and better hidden... because ordinary children would be at a loss and would make themselves look bad before the end.

He just looked exhausted because he couldn't figure out what his father was thinking at all.

“There are many, Lai Xuan… You also know many scoundrels who see themselves as ambitious young hawks in order to seize their own interests.” Xu Zhi spoke very bluntly, “Of course, there are some real ambitious people, but they highly endorse corporate colonization.”

"I'm also making Arasaka expand, Assistant Xu."

Lai Xuan shook his head. "My father said that the knives made by blacksmiths can kill people or be used as objects, it all depends on how they are used... I just need them to make my knives."

There's a strange person.

Xu hesitated whether to speak up.

Lai Xuan and Xu Zhi were almost in complete agreement; he had long understood who his longest-standing ally was referring to…

Having held power for some time and having seen all sorts of people, Arasaka looked up in deep thought.

"That Rin, right? Is he the same bloodline as you? It's a bit strange, but if he wants to get out of that mess in Night City, he has to be ruthless—and he's one of the few smart people I've ever met."

As he spoke, Lai Xuan looked at Assistant Xu, who was also deep in thought, with a tone of doubt and strangeness, "He seems to be born to adapt to the company's system and struggles...and he knows us too well."

Xu asked in confusion, "Us?"

Lai Xuan lit a cigarette. "To be precise, it's the Arasaka family. I can sense his displeasure and resistance to our surname deep down. But I've almost never seen anyone who can make the right move under my father's nose the first time. His fearlessness scares me."

"No... there's a better way to put it. The platform we gave him didn't allow him to see much, but he saw far more and farther than we imagined. Many people who met me and my father for the first time, as well as other members of the Arasaka family, were either obsequious, worshipful, or fearful—some even tried to get my attention with a peacock-like display... but I just couldn't understand him."

"If he were an investor, his insight would be incredibly sharp."

Xu Zhi summarized Lai Xuan's words.

"He's familiar with the rules of the Arasaka family's game... Hmm, is that so? That's terrifying. He's still very young, and it's not easy to get some of the guys at the table to leave."

The implication is that Lin Yue's performance fully lived up to the evaluation Sanlang gave him.

Xu Zhi then began to analyze the young man.

“You know, after your father took action last time, Rin and V didn’t have any leverage over Nitta. They even took the opportunity to temporarily escape Arasaka’s vortex, just as you wished… I find it hard to believe that this is a decision made by a young man.”

"But he also showed signs of youth. The girl under Rin's command needed to undergo a complicated operation, and Nitta had ulterior motives. Rin was even prepared to stay in Arasaka and fight Nitta to the death for the sake of her subordinate's life."

As Lai Xuan listened to Xu Zhi's account, his expression was filled with intense inner turmoil.

A deadly battle against Nitta, and an enemy of the national president...

Not only that, but New America also had a secret weapon that almost fell into Rin's hands.

"This guy is exceptionally strong."

Lai Xuan was glad that he had taken the right approach. In general, Lai Xuan's style of dealing with subordinates was to give them a beating and then a sweet treat, and he would not let his subordinates go hungry. However, he was very patient with this guy. You should know that the resources Lai Xuan had invested in Rin so far were beyond this level.

Lai Xuan couldn't help but wonder: would such a capable person prioritize his own interests, or would he agree with his and Xu Zhi's views?

If he is a wolf who is willing to risk everything to climb to the top, the company is his profit-making machine, and he will be more willing than anyone else to protect everything that the company has. If such a person discovers Lai Xuan's deepest secret and then switches to Saburo's camp, that would be the worst-case scenario.

"Fortunately, at least for now, he's still on our side... I've said before that someone as cowardly as Hanako could never become the one in charge of Arasaka, do you know why?"

Xu Zhi never understood why Lai Xuan looked down on Hua Zi so much. Although Hua Zi was an obedient child, Lai Xuan had never truly regarded this younger sister as an opponent from the beginning. Perhaps it was because he hadn't spoken to anyone for a long time, Lai Xuan was very talkative today, and Xu Zhi was happy to listen. After all, this at least proved that the leader of their faction was in good condition.

“If it were my father, he would do everything he could to make this Rin serve the Arasaka family. However, Hanako is very old-fashioned and doesn’t even understand this point. All she can see is threats, provocations against the Arasaka family, and childish behavior that makes her lose her composure at the slightest disturbance.”

"She can't become a father, and a father won't let her take the banner of power!"

Xu Zhi thought it made sense, but he still disagreed somewhat.

"What if Rin doesn't want to listen to your father?"

Lai Xuan's expression gradually turned serious. "My father's determination to cut off his own arm to save himself is unmatched. Rin will definitely be crippled by him, and there will be no turning back."

"That's why I said that Hua Zi's determination has always been very poor, and my father is also getting old."

Xu Zhi understood.

It seems that a crucial juncture in today's talks is approaching.

So what exactly prompted Saburo to take this new action? Was he really just trying to maintain a balance of power? You know, if Yorihiro were to turn against him now, it could cause Saburo a lot of trouble... There's only one explanation that makes sense: Yorihiro's situation isn't as bad as it seems right now.

Is there any other backup plan?

Unexpectedly, Lai Xuan did not continue the conversation on this topic. Instead, he got up and stretched.

“Look…” Lai Xuan’s office has floor-to-ceiling windows spanning nearly 100 square meters, offering a panoramic view of Tokyo’s prosperity…

"Do you know what comes to mind every time I go to Night City? —"

"Shit bowl".

Lai Xuan shook his head. "They have suffered many times more than the people here, which is why new shocks are coming, like the nuclear explosion in Night City... It's insignificant, like a stone, it didn't change anything."

It's hard to come by.

Xu Zhi saw a dazed expression in the eyes of this ambitious company president, something he had never seen before.

His intuition told him that Lai Xuan was hiding something from him…

"People tend to overthink when they have free time, Assistant Xu." Lai Xuan put his hands in his pockets, his posture seemingly straightening up again, as if any temporary obstacles would be easily dismissed with a smile. "Tell me, how's that guy from Night City doing lately?"

Xu Zhi concealed his worries well, saying, "He's not bad. His people are all excellent—especially that woman."

Lai Xuan: "V?"

Xu Zhi nodded. "Abernathy is too ruthless and not very bright. Jenkins is indecisive and likes to involve others when it comes to human relationships. This woman has overcome most of these shortcomings. She often takes matters into her own hands. She may climb higher than these two guys."

"The logistics company's public relations team is waiting. As long as they get favorable terms, Dogtown's business will form a closed loop, but..."

"The Dogtown woman that Rin helped up seems a bit crazy. She used a weapon that is strictly prohibited in Night City to carry out a massacre of the main force of the Ghost Hounds."

Lai Xuan immediately pressed on, "And his attitude?"

Xu Zhi replied frankly, "We have not taken any measures; we will let nature take its course."

Lai Xuan paused for a moment, then suddenly grinned, "What a fine knife."

The office quieted down considerably after that. Two men, more than ten years apart in age, quietly drank tea that was so cold it stung their teeth, and silently looked out the window.

"Alright, Xu Zhi, go finish your work. You've come to see me, I'm fine."

Lai Xuan gestured with his hand.

Xu Zhi stood up much less decisively than before; instead, he hesitated, waiting for Lai Xuan to speak.

However, Lai Xuan didn't seem to intend to expose Xu Zhi's thoughts, but instead patiently and calmly observed Xu Zhi's actions. Xu Zhi's first thought wasn't that Lai Xuan was going to do something behind his back, but rather that he understood Lai Xuan probably wanted to shoulder some things alone... but Lai Xuan just wouldn't say it.

With things having come to this point, Xu Zhi had no choice but to stand up and leave.

But before he even reached the door, Lai Xuan's voice came from behind him—

"Assistant Xu, tie."

Lai Xuan walked up to Xu Zhi, tightened Xu Zhi's tie with his hand, and took a step back. "If you take a position in Kangtao, you will be a formidable opponent. Be careful on your journey... my friend."

Xu Zhi's face tightened, and his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

"Ah."

As the automatic door closed, the gentle smile on Lai Xuan's face began to fade.

He walked slowly to the bottom of the deserted hillside logo, hands on his hips. The intelligent young CEO knew that someone was watching him all the time.

A phone call, relayed through multiple servers, was sent to a satellite in near-Earth orbit and landed on one of Lai Xuan's most secret numbers... Lai Xuan stared at the string of numbers in his eyes and adopted a silent call mode.

The man on the other end, like a frightened bird, called out softly, "Hello? Lai Xuan?"

“Speak, Herman, don’t act like a woman.”

Lai Xuan sat on the soft leather chair and rotated his body slightly.

"Damn it! I'm dead! If your father finds out—I'll fucking die a thousand times over!"

Lai Xuan ignored the other person's breakdown, "You won't die if you're not discovered, but if you don't cooperate with me, you know what will happen to you."

Hermann, on the other end, leaned on the lab table, helplessly rubbing his hair, glancing to the side every now and then, as if afraid someone would come in.

"Okay...okay...let's get straight to the point. Lord Arasaka authorized a portion of the secret experiments with these chips. I dare not give you the details—listen to what I'm about to say, it involves compatibility experiments on whether genetically unrelated samples can accommodate digital soul imprints at a certain level!"

"They've now entered the live experimentation phase—they've all gone mad!"

Lai Xuan remained silent.

Even though the words were somewhat convoluted and contained a lot of technical terms, he still understood them.

“Hermann, you created the prototype technology, you should be aware of that…and I’ve also promised to help you. After it’s done, Assistant Xu will help you contact Comto, and you will continue to contribute to your scientific career under the strict security of the new company.”

Herman couldn't understand why the man didn't react at all to such a horrific description.

However, Lai Xuan seemed to have no intention of dwelling on this at all.

He had his suspicions back when his sister played this trick of bringing the dead back to life in the Aragaka Tower of Night City.

He slightly raised his eyelids. "Where is the first authorized trial at?"

Lai Xuan's composure caused Herman's heart rate to rise to an alarming level.

"Several prototype cores for compatibility testing will be completed within six months. Among them, the best-preserved ones are digital consciousness entities transformed from the first generation of Soul Killers... The Divine Carriage has copies, and the download is expected to be completed in three months. It will be fully completed in 2077."

Lai Xuan watched as Herman cursed incessantly, "Herman, if you don't want me to sew your mouth shut right now, say more and give some advice from your professional perspective—like how to get this project to market faster!"

"I go…"

Herman swallowed hard.

Lai Xuan didn't waste any words. "I promised you about Kang Tao's matter. If I don't do it, you know how my father will treat you—you not only have to do it well, but you have to do it perfectly, understand?"

Herman took several deep breaths before trying to organize his thoughts. “Ideally, ten prototype chips will be produced. One of them, a terrorist’s consciousness, will be the first to be operated. It’s not very complete, so it’s suitable as a chip for demonstration to customers. It’s not a pity if it’s wasted.”

"I can send you the information of these people. You can choose which ones to view. It's a one-way process, and the information will be destroyed after you finish reading it."

Seemingly uneasy about this radical heir, Hermann added, "But as I said, that's the ideal scenario! [If the procedures are still incomplete, we can't just enter the market like this; the risks are too great!]"

Lai Xuan captured a key word.

"terrorist?"

Lai Xuan began to seriously examine these digital souls that were about to become prototypes, and he realized who the so-called terrorists were.

Robert Johnny Lind…

It's him?

Lai Xuan suddenly stood up and carefully examined the remaining personnel list…

If I remember correctly, this terrorist seems to have a close relationship with the creator of the Soul Killer program, a hacker named Otto Cunningham who has an irreconcilable grudge against Kamitsuki... Lai Xuan, who has thoroughly investigated Arasaka Hanako's activities on the internet, knows this very well.

With just a little thought, Lai Xuan already had the answer.

Herman vomited everything he had in his stomach, looking dejected.

Lai Xuan smiled slightly, "Someone will soon give you a substantial sum of money. I think you should continue to stay in Arasaka. With such a flagship project going public... Arasaka will regain its unparalleled dominance!"

"You're one of those founding members, are you still going to Kangtao?"

Herman pleaded, "I have ten heads and they wouldn't be enough to take! Please... I... I'll hang up."

As the holographic screen disappeared from his eyes, Lai Xuan muttered a curse under his breath, "Coward."

Playing along with others is Lai Xuan's forte.

Perhaps in Herman's eyes, Lai Xuan was a madman who would stop at nothing to seize technological achievements and was eager to expand his power, but that's how he was, because it was the protective coloring he relied on for survival in Arakasa. He only had Arakasa's achievements in his eyes.

However, how will the heroes who once rebelled against Arasaka deal with this Pandora's box key that subverts morality and ethics—blurring the lines between life and death, and even nailing the poor to the mire to become the eternal nourishment for the rich?

Perhaps only the hero himself knows.

However, only he himself could hear his prayers:
"Father, don't do anything foolish..."

……

……

　【Xu Zhi】: A fan-created character, a high-ranking member of the Arasaka Yoru no Shiro branch, and has connections with Kang Tao.

　　[If the program is still incomplete by then, it can't just enter the market like this; the associated risks are too great!]: In the 2077 main storyline, the details of Lai Xuan's conversation with Herman reveal a lot. First, Lai Xuan presents himself to Herman as someone who wants to forcefully push the Relic revival chip into the market, like a greedy and despicable businessman. Second, his true purpose is to completely expose the Relic prototype to the world. Throughout the entire story, except for the devilish ending, Lai Xuan has never revealed his desire to overthrow the company's colonialism in the 2077 main storyline.

　　[Robert Johnny Lind]: "Johnny Silverhand," "The fearless Johnny Silverhand, the decapitator of giant corporations, the crusher of hypocritical humanity"; in reality, he is a rebellious figure with charisma but no fighting skills. He may not be very strong, but he is the epitome of rock and roll spirit and punk—as the saying goes, "We don't know why we rebel, but we must rebel!" (The author's settings are meticulously researched, including explaining Johnny's inaccurate memories. Herman said his memory is not complete; in fact, in the game's memories, Johnny Silverhand even fought Adam Hammer one-on-one, but in reality, he might have been instantly killed upon appearance. However, his teaming up with Blackhand is real; Blackhand also saw Silverhand's charisma and the fact that his fanatical fans would attract Arasaka's attention.) In the board game, there is a value called charisma; the rock 'n' roll kid can get his fans to do things for him, even die for him.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)