Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 299 The Catfish Effect (12)

"See... hatred is so useful."

"I heard you two didn't get along very well in Arasaka—is that true?"

Michiko Arakawa felt that the guy in front of her didn't seem like a living person at all. This presumptuous description was not unfounded, but a genuine feeling... probably because of the programmed smile on his face and the blue light that occasionally flashed in his eyes.

Which company's top agent is he?
Michiko was certain she had never seen a guy like this before…

She glanced around out of the corner of her eye, trying to control her emotions, because at this moment all the security personnel in the hall were dead—killed by implant overload in a short period of time, including the agents on the Dangerous Girls' Line.

The phrase "isolated and helpless" perfectly describes the current situation.

Unless you're a fool, Michiko was played by someone else. She thought she was the one who could strike first and win, but she never expected that there was a real hunter behind her.

"Military technology? Tsunami?"

Michiko didn't know why this guy was hesitating to make a move. Logically, he should have killed her. However, after killing her security team, this powerful guy made a phone call as if no one else was around. Michiko could tell who was behind the phone just by looking at the voice.

It's that enemy who wants to tear me to pieces.

This is destiny. From the moment Michiko chose to cooperate with Abernathy in order to expand her influence, this enemy was destined.

"Stop guessing... Ms. Michiko Arakasaka."

"Your ninja security team is still risking their lives to protect you and stop this... Night City's nuclear weapon? Forgive me, I don't know what words to use to describe this guy. Perhaps you, Arasaka, unintentionally created a monster that even you find unbelievable."

"To use the words of those thugs in the Night City bars, a legend, isn't it? Even a guy like Adam, who can barely be called human, has fallen at this critical juncture."

The handsome man casually pulled over a work chair, sat down, and then patted the dust off his jacket.

As things progressed, Michiko became calmer. She knew that the guy in front of her didn't want to kill her for some reason. She just listened silently to his barbed words, which were clearly mocking Arasaka.

It's simply that people who don't know the value of something have been pushed to the opposite side.

Where is Lucy?

Michiko's abrupt question caused the man to momentarily freeze, like a wind-up toy. He then rolled his eyes, and his twitching lips returned to that unsettling smile. "No comment, President of Yoru no Shiro, Arasaka."

Michiko's gaze shifted.

Whether it was intentional or not, to her left was the surveillance footage from the tower a dozen floors below. Her unsuspecting subordinate was still trying to stop that murderous man. The scene was so horrifying that it made her Adam's apple bob involuntarily.

"Alright, Miss Michiko, satisfy my curiosity—"

That guy controlled the conversation the whole time.

"Is that guy sure he'll side with you? Even though he'll deal with me, can you be 100% sure you can reach a consensus? I doubt it." Michiko had a quick wit; in fact, Michiko's ability to adapt to changing circumstances was excellent.

Because she once debated Miles' predecessor—the president with the most consecutive terms in the new United States.

Michiko's strength lies in her meticulous logic and ruthless attacks on weaknesses.

The man spread his hands in a helpless gesture. "Alright, Ms. Michiko, I finally understand why your female detectives are so good at focusing on details. There's no case they can't solve, and no one they can't keep up with. They even managed to emerge unscathed from the White House in New America. It seems Mr. Saburo Arasaka truly has a keen eye for talent."

"I wonder if your current CEO, who has a criminal record and has been struggling among the homeless, is that the jewel in the crown?"

Michiko gave a cold laugh.

She was now almost 100% certain that this was someone from one of the five most influential companies in Night City, and possibly even one of the buildings standing in Night City's corporate plaza.

Military Science, Kangtao, Biotechnology, Peizhuo Petrochemical... or internal enemies?
Of course, it's not impossible for Zeta Technology, the Crossroads, or Europeans to get involved, but the probability is very small. Michiko couldn't figure out what reason the European Space Agency would have to get involved.

Oh right, and the Ye family too—

This company, which only deals in investments, rarely shows interest in arms, security, or banking businesses. Instead, it seems to really enjoy investing in football, which is simply about equipping players with highly functional prosthetics to turn the game into a bloody spectacle.

"Isn't it a pity? The company you and your husband built together was your second choice besides Arasaka. Before 2070, the Japanese headquarters had not yet sent Admiral Murata. All the power was in your hands. Clearly, your wisdom lies in investment."

Michiko grasped the pain point.

"The Ye family?"

The man remained unfazed, continuing to speak, "Where are the loyal subordinates you left behind, Arasaka Keiji? Why don't you use them? Or do you simply distrust the Japanese? Well, that's understandable, after all, you still have some 'barbarian' blood in you; Mr. Saburo wouldn't despise such people—"

Michiko's eyes suddenly became sharp.

too frightening.

The guy in front of me actually knew how my grandfather described Westerners. Although it wasn't unusual among the higher-ups in Arasaka, it was something that would never be told to outsiders.

After all, Arasaka still needs to do business in Europe and America. Such a description, even if it's just public opinion, could be used by opponents to cause Arasaka to suffer losses in the stock market. Sometimes, the reasons for a run on a large company may just be trivial matters...

"Ok?"

Seeing that Michiko's expression was off, the extremely offensive guy hypocritically offered an apology.

However, Michiko just smiled coldly, "Then you and your company don't need to worry about that. If I used to think that I could share technology with New America, including all the partners that Arasaka could contact, now I just want to call you a barbaric bastard."

The man remained unfazed as the other man growled and cursed.

"That's right. I much prefer watching you, the mixed-race female CEO from Arakawa, on TV spouting words of love and peace."

Michiko Arakawa suddenly exerted force in her hand, pushing everything around her aside.

The man thought this clever woman was trying to stall for time, but to his surprise, her hand suddenly ejected the prosthetic body. Michiko's information on combat prosthetic bodies was extremely limited, and the man clearly did not expect Michiko to be so reckless.

After all, it's quite unexpected for a regional president of a company to retaliate with a prosthetic body.

Michiko's movements were incredibly slow; enhanced by the man's unknown reaction and the prosthetic body, it was almost a slow-motion scene.

The man was like someone watching a struggling prey, striking various amusing poses, but he never expected that the sharp knife on Michiko's finger was pointed directly at his chest!
Damn!

"I thought you weren't afraid."

"I don't know what you're thinking, but the key is that Rin killed me."

Michiko knew she had made the right bet.

She continued her forward momentum, but the sharp titanium alloy claws had already pierced the delicate fabric of her suit jacket.

When Michiko's delicate wrist was gripped tightly by the man, the longest steel claw on his middle finger had already pierced into her suit. The man stared intently at the blade embedded in her clothes, and for the first time, an angry expression appeared on his face.

Information about this experimental prosthetic body, which has not been widely promoted in the market, has already appeared in the man's mind.

The effective length of the attack is 20cm, and at this moment, outside the clothing—

“Unknown sir, I am a married woman with children.”

Michiko's pale forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain. The man's strength was too great; she felt as if her wrists, even with their modified bones, were about to be crushed.

"Isn't it incredibly ungentlemanly of you to stare at a woman like that, especially her genitals?"

As soon as I finished speaking...

Immediately, the black fabric around the suit that the steel claw had pierced deepened in color.

[A wound was detected on the user's skin... relatively close to the heart]

【Sending//】 A voice echoed in Michiko's head, "Hello user, if you are currently under threat, please find the safest place possible, maintain steady breathing, and if there is a large open wound, you can use methods such as binding the artery and applying pressure to stop the bleeding."

"The trauma team is en route to your destination. Please stay online."

The sound stopped suddenly.

Michiko cried out in pain as her hands were quickly clamped behind her back. Her hair, which had been in turmoil, suddenly became disheveled. She hung her head and staggered. The man twitched the human-computer interaction wire on his wrist with one hand.

【//Trauma Team Localization Procedure ￥#……】

【mistake//…】

Michiko's body swayed, her already plain makeup combined with her smile making her look like a vengeful ghost, and she let out a sneer.

“AI…”

The person behind him visibly paused for a moment.

Michiko, with her back to the man, couldn't see his expression, but her sixth sense told her it must be extremely unpleasant.

"While carrying such AI-level weapons... hmm... which company would dare to do this under the noses of the internet censors? Or are there already companies in Night City that are unwilling to follow the rules?"

The man, sensing something was wrong, spoke in an accusatory tone.

"what are you saying?"

Michiko liked this role reversal feeling, just like her grandfather said, no matter what, as long as you are the master of fear, everything will be the same.

"You've probably forgotten what my foundation is: cybernetic prosthetics, network parameters—I've meticulously trained the cybernetic prosthetics of the Dangerous Girl. Didn't you notice when you hacked into me that this was a firewall that Arasaka specially customized for his family members?"

"AI—I thought internet censorship was much more sophisticated."

The man tied Michiko up with portable plastic straps. "Miss Michiko, I don't really want to chat with you anymore. Let's wait... until that guy comes at us, and you'll be the sacrifice for our cooperation."

Michiko was pushed aside, her body slamming into the hard leg of the desk.

She coughed violently.

“Most companies have guessed one thing: they believe that Arasaka unintentionally created a madman who is even better than Adam Hammer. He has a mind, he has intelligence—he's more like a living person, so you're using this guy because he's human enough…”

"It infiltrated in a way that seemed almost unintentional and imperceptible, didn't it?"

“Explosions… I don’t recall ordering the detonation of aviation fuel in those dangerous areas.”

Michiko raised her head, and just like when she was a child, she walked alone into the White House, determined to fight for her survival!
"I felt something was wrong from the very beginning. The guy I sent could have easily handled a manager-level guy, but somehow he ended up there..."

"really interesting."

Michiko seemed to laugh in anger, "Many people associate with Arasaka because they are on a similar level. What about you? Stranger, are you capable of withstanding Arasaka's wrath?"

The man turned his head to the side, staring at the screen, praying that the guy named Rin would hurry up and kill him.

If this wasn't what the person above meant, he wouldn't even mind clearing obstacles for Rin.

嗏

The chief programmer, who could be considered a "brain trust," did not require this; if it failed, he would have to kill himself first.

Ye's company has sufficient cash flow, but it is not a world-class enterprise.

Night City was created by them, but it no longer belongs to them…

"No matter what you say, your chance has been lost. I think it was your mistake to temporarily suspend and distrust the counterintelligence minister. If Arasaka's people had really come... you wouldn't have come to this point, Arasaka Michiko."

However, despite having her hands tied behind her back, Michiko managed to stand up against the table, her words barely audible, as if squeezed out between her teeth.

"is it?"

"Have you ever heard of this outdated business management concept?"

Michiko stared intently at this guy. Today's failures were not only due to Rin's unexpected strength, but also because of this troublemaker lurking in the shadows.

Which of the companies in Night City has this particular style?

but--

None of that matters anymore; Michiko will definitely find out where this guy comes from.

"A group of dying fish, and then a catfish that eats anything falls into the middle... and the fish will start jumping around again. Do you want to seize such a weapon before these companies realize what's happening?"

"dream!"

The man turned his face slightly to the side.

"why?"

This was the first time he had asked Michiko a question in return.

Michiko said slowly and deliberately, "Because that guy is never controlled by anyone. In the small world of the fish tank, the catfish is the only overlord."

The man's expression finally changed drastically.

"You want these stunted companies to grow stronger while lagging behind, using such weapons?"

"dream!"

"I want every company in Night City to know that someone has connected to the Black Wall intact, that someone can use a cobbled-together cybernetic body to wipe out the top combatants of those companies, and I... I also want everyone to know that you are all guys whose souls are inhabited by demons!"

"Arasaka has nothing left to lose, so let's make things bigger—"

A chilling aura seeped from the sinister creases at the corners of Michiko's eyes.

"Don't fucking think it through, damn it!"

The man suddenly stood up.

With the same surname, the Yoru clan's core members, who had conducted extremely rigorous and meticulous investigations into the Arasaka leadership, realized for the first time that this woman did not seem to be a two-faced hypocrite. During her brief stay in Japan, it seemed that yet another "eagle" had appeared on the territory of the new America!
"Goro!"

Michiko knew that someone had arrived.

The old president's bodyguard who turned back halfway.

The moment the glass shattered, the Night Clan members knew that an NCX vehicle had landed right under their noses.

Things took a 180-degree turn...

He watched as Rin, who was about to break into the final floor, stared blankly at the screen, his expression quickly turning ferocious as the person who broke through the window entered—

"come!"

The gray-haired samurai, pursing his lips, answered the young employee... no, the program, with the weapon in his hand.

……

……

(End of this chapter)