Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 391 Thunderstorm [5.8K]

The rain in Tokyo comes and goes without warning.

The fog was heavy, dark clouds loomed over the city, and lightning, like something from another dimension, tore apart the air filled with the smell of actinomycetes from the soil.

Arasaka Tower, top floor.

Lai Xuan was suddenly knocked to the floor. Everything that had just happened seemed like a dream, and he even wondered if it was an illusion.

Everyone around was stunned.

They could only stare blankly as all the electronic devices in Lai Xuan's office were stained with those lingering red and black data traces, while Koizumi Shigeru's roars for the cybersecurity department to respond echoed incessantly...

"This is an assassination attempt! Lord Rai Xuan!"

"We can't delay any longer. Get on the plane that's prepared on the top floor of Arasaka. The European branch is ready to welcome you!"

"Yes...we're stuck in Tokyo."

"The orders have all been cancelled... We're... we're finished!"

Various sounds filled Lai Xuan's ears. Lai Xuan gasped for breath, as if he had just been pulled back from the brink of death, and hurriedly staggered towards his personal computer.

Logically speaking, under such a powerful hacker attack, all cyber network equipment should only end up short-circuiting and burning out. The female executive protecting Lai Xuan wanted to reach out and grab his sleeve, but because he was the heir of the Arasaka family, she dared not do anything too presumptuous. She could only watch as he staggered toward his desk like a defeated beast.

Lai Xuan needs to be confirmed.

Even though he could feel the disappointment and panic in his subordinates' eyes, he still had to do it.

In today's technologically advanced world, Lai Xuan, as the person in charge of the company, has witnessed too many shocks brought by technology. He already knew that Rin could communicate with the AI ​​that Arasaka had once raised... The black wall was an accessory that Lai Xuan himself added to Rin. How could he not know Rin's abilities?

嗏

This is truly beyond my expectations.

Amidst the internal strife within the Arasaka region, the two collaborate with AI to break through Arasaka's absolute control over the Asian network.

"Lord Lai Xuan! You..."

The female executive clenched her fist, her eyes revealing undisguised disappointment and frustration.

In fact, Lai Xuan was a good boss.

Hawks might say Lai Xuan is arrogant, rude, and even likes to take dangerous routes—

But he is willing to give feedback and rights to those who do the work.

A scholar dies for a confidant.

This woman is clearly among the hawks who can do this.

Lai Xuan looked terrible. He stared intently at the dimly lit computer screen in front of him, the powerful commands from the female executive and the soldiers' feedback ringing in his ears—

"not good!"

"The 3rd Airborne Guard has entered!"

The female executive roared angrily.

"If we let them come up, none of you will survive! Buy some time for Lord Lai Xuan!"

"Yes!"

The reluctant reply came through gritted teeth, accompanied by the faint sound of gunfire. Lai Xuan, hunched over his computer, looked as if he were possessed.

Is this crazy?
Koizumi Shigeru's expression was strange. He had been the most enthusiastic person just now, but now he was silent, just watching Lai Xuan's illogical behavior, seemingly lost in thought.

Everyone thought Lai Xuan was deleting something important, but unexpectedly, Lai Xuan was repeatedly watching something.

The content is actually very brief.

Rin handed him two videos, one of which was recorded by the internal surveillance equipment of Arasaka.

Information from 24 hours ago showing Koizumi Shigeru's route to the Tokyo mansion, along with a video of him entering the compound and greeting the guards and Hanako at the gate, appears to be footage from a security body camera.

We have to thank Saburo Arasaka for this.

Because Saburo once said that he had no authority to delete anything that any soldier saw, and as he got older, Hanako and the others didn't care much about this rule anymore, the individual soldier recorder would be cleaned up every 12 hours. It seems that Rin relied on that AI or the Black Wall to dig up these things.

After all, all devices need to be connected to the Arasaka Data Fortress before deleting the video.

Only when deleted from the cloud is it considered completely deleted.

There's another video, and Rin was even more surprised to have gotten her hands on it...

Lai Xuan even once thought that this thing was synthesized by technical means.

It turned out to be the recorder in the father's "refrigerator".

The camera at a certain angle saw Hua Zi reach out to adjust his father's collar and then use an optical data cable to steal his father's identity token... It even thoughtfully used thermal imaging to avoid optical confusion with Hua Zi's actions.

This…

It was practically like feeding the rice ball into Lai Xuan's mouth.

"is that a lie…"

Lai Xuan clearly lost his composure.

His subordinates, seeing their leader in this state, looked utterly devastated; they all felt that Lai Xuan's chances of survival were over.

They've gone completely insane!
Finally, there was that guy's comment.

"There will be surprises in North America."

"Give up the resistance, trust me."

Give up resistance?

Does that mean I should not run away now, but stand here and confront Hua Zi?
How did he come to have this confidence?
As the president of a global giant, Lai Xuan is very cautious. Even when he is forced to rebel, he has to consider all the factors that can be taken into account. At this moment, he has a ridiculous feeling that he is a child and that Rin is in charge of the whole situation.

even…

He had a terrifying intuition.

This person knows the Arasaka family, Hanako, and even himself better than he does...

Lai Xuan often uses others' power and money.

He saw through Rin's desire to protect herself and went to great lengths to separate Arasaka's influence in Night City, helping Lin Yue gain a foothold. This process involved a great deal of risk in terms of strategy and maneuvering, and it was also an unintentional move by Lai Xuan.

you could put it that way.

Even if Rin makes a single wrong move.

This world will not have dreamers, nor will it have a vision like Night City.

He thought that Rin was a card that could only be used in the later stages, because at that time, Yoriyuki was unsure whether Rin would still keep his promise, because he had grown to an uncontrollable level. But this time he came on his own initiative and brought such heavyweight information. Could this guy's ambition be to get someone like Arasaka?

Lai Xuan at this moment…

Scared.

He once feared only one enemy who considered everything so thoroughly:
Father.

And now we need to add a young person.

"what do you want?"

Lai Xuan slumped into a chair with a sigh of relief.

The female executive was dumbfounded when she saw this situation…

Is Lord Lai Xuan giving up?!
If you're going to give up... why go through all this trouble? What do the dangers and obstacles along the way matter?
boom!
The thunder sounded like an earthquake!

Lightning lashed at the lightning rod on the top floor of the building. Just as everyone was dumbfounded and didn't know what to do, a large drone hovered outside the huge floor-to-ceiling window behind Lai Xuan. Its thick machine gun, as big as an adult, locked onto everyone on this floor, including Lai Xuan.

The beeping alarm, accompanied by a blinding light, made Lai Xuan turn his head and shield his forehead with his hand.

"It's so bright, little sister."

Lai Xuan had put everything out of his mind.

It doesn't matter what Rin's motives are; Arasaka has to decide for himself.

If you can't even do this...

How can I fulfill the promise I made fifty years ago?!

To make the devil disappear, he had to learn to make a deal with him. Even knowing that Rin could later shatter him to pieces, he still had to do it.

"All…"

"Stop it."

When Lai Xuan said this, he was greatly disturbed by the noise.

The female executive had a cochlear implant, a feature typically found only in elite soldiers, so she naturally heard those words, though she wasn't sure if she could confirm it.

Lai Xuan's massive actions have been halted...

The liquidation was extremely brutal.

Shigeru Koizumi's eyes widened. "What did you say?! Damn it! We lost just like that?!"

The female executive stared blankly at the astonished hawks.

She suddenly staggered, "What a joke, Lord Lai Xuan."

The ideal power grab should be a battle between two armies, seizing the opportunity to gain the initiative in Tokyo, the core stronghold of Arakawa. That's the right outcome!

But why...

Lai Xuan took off his brown-tinted glasses. "I said, let's all stop."

Koizumi Shigeru suddenly lunged forward, disregarding Arasaka Yorinobu's name and reputation, "Damn it! What do you take us, your followers, for? You should have said so from the beginning if you were going to give up—"

Lai Xuan simply waited quietly…

His body was being shaken violently, but he did not show the slightest anger.

now.

Looking at the mess in Lai Xuan's office, a pair of alluring red lips curled up.

"Brother, our family will always be alright."

The light in Hua Ziyi's eyes disappeared. At this moment, she placed her hands in front of her in a proper manner, just like a guest visiting her brother. However, the soldiers surrounding her did not seem to be good people. When they saw the soldiers in the huge building of Arasaka Tower all put down their weapons with deathly pale faces, they opened fire without any mercy!

There was a flash of light.

That's the thing about morale.

Once the anger subsides, the momentum is lost.

The soldiers occasionally resisted, but ultimately accepted this "failed revolution" in despair...

Correct.

This was undoubtedly a crushing defeat for the most powerful of the three factions within the Arakawa group. Many said that if anything happened to Arakawa, the hawkish faction led by Yoriyuki would make things unmanageable and lead to a disastrous end. However, the fact is that in Tokyo, their stronghold, Saburo Arakawa's authority was absolute…

Too many people have forgotten Lao Long's methods.

Now, his spokesperson, Hua Zi, has made things simpler.

Lai Xuan's rebellion is undeniable.

The hawks watched silently as the door to Lai Xuan's office was pushed open. They hated themselves for waiting for Lai Xuan's orders; perhaps leaving earlier would have given them a chance to survive.

The soldiers filed in.

Like two black walls, they stretched in, all belonging to the special forces that once belonged to Hammer Adam.

These soldiers inherited the fighting prowess from the battles against several companies within the Arasaka Tower, making Arasaka Yorinobu's men seem like mere chickens and dogs.

If that hammer guy were still around...

Hua Zi will probably have to put in some effort.

However, the heavy hammer was used by Lai Xuan as a giant stepping stone for Rin to gain a foothold. As long as Rin stepped on this stone, she would win.

"Everyone."

Hua Zi's tone was not as gentle as usual at this moment.

She looked around at everyone present. "It's all over."

The female executive suddenly plopped down on the ground, her high heels making a messy clattering sound.

With his hands behind his back, Shigeru Koizumi gave off a strange feeling of being determined to fight to the death.

Before anyone else could speak, the soldiers swarmed forward and treated these men, whom they usually addressed with respect as "sir" or "madam," roughly.

"What are you doing?!"

"We are shareholders of Arakawa, you have no right to do this!"

"Damn it... can't you fucking understand what I'm saying?!"

"Miss Hua, I'm innocent..."

The chaos didn't last long. As Hua Zi walked in her new, white, form-fitting, shiny cheongsam and gold-trimmed high heels, she gestured for everyone to be quiet, her gaze icy as she stared at their pleading eyes.

"Most of you have contributed to Arasaka—property, rights, women, men…"

"You can have anything you want."

"However, you clearly do not understand why these things exist."

“Survival of the fittest is the way of nature. For the past hundred years, Arasaka has not relied on you sycophantic good-for-nothings... but on a pair of discerning eyes.”

"Clearly you don't recognize who gave you these things."

At that moment, Hanako walked up to her brother, who was sitting on a chair next to Shigeru Koizumi.

His father hadn't woken up yet...

To bring Lai Xuan to a complete halt, she needs to take some actions that comply with the Arasaka Internal Company Law.

"Do you think I'm right, brother?"

Lai Xuan stared quietly at the screen, lost in thought.

The bright eyes of the girl who secretly tore open the lush ivy on the iron fence in that courtyard.

She idolizes herself.

Worship of freedom.

Even when her tutor tells her nonsense like Arasaka is the strongest company in the world and that even if it suffers hardships, it will still belong to Arasaka in the future, she will secretly tell her brother at night that this is not the true nature of the world.

But how did things change?

He couldn't figure out how to face his sister, how to face this body that seemed to have been replaced...

Lai Xuan thought that the way he looked at Hua Zi must have been full of sympathy.

The father obtained the puppet he wanted through family education; this is home... Michiko Arasaka is only one step away from achieving this.

"you are right."

Arakasaka Yorinobu stood up.

Hua Zi subconsciously took a step back.

There was no dejection, defeat, or pity in the older brother's eyes...

She was flustered.

Shigeru Koizumi instinctively stepped aside.

"There are indeed too many people in this room who don't know who to listen to."

"Then let me tell you, Hua Zi..."

"We should listen to the future."

Hua Zi's face darkened.

"Brother, stop making futile resistance... Father will be disappointed when he wakes up."

“We are a family, but you are treating us like strangers.”

Hua Zi stepped forward, wanting to stroke his face just like her older brother, Arasaka Kei, had done on the night her brother failed in his fight against the Steel Dragon and he came to pay his respects.

But this time it was avoided.

“Ms. Hanako, although my father has stripped me of my authority, I am still the president of Arasaka Corporation in a legal sense.”

"If you want to remove me, then hold a shareholders' meeting."

Hua Zi's hand hovered in mid-air, he clenched it slightly, and then withdrew it.

Is this a case of not giving up until they see the Yellow River?

Hua Zi sighed, and Lai Xuan calmly glanced at his subordinates again. "They have not taken any actual action. I gave all the instructions. You have no right to restrict the personal freedom of Arasaka shareholders without Father's authorization. The board of directors and the arbitration panel will not support your actions."

There was silence.

Hua Zi had his back to the soldiers.

She eventually issued the order to release these shareholders.

"Then get the 95th floor ready and let the head of the global branch connect to the line."

Hua Zi looked at Lai Xuan, carefully considering the various oversights in her actions. Clearly, she was unaware of what had happened in the messy office; with the data on the black wall dissipating, she only saw a chaotic scene.

Of course, if problems arise within Arakasa, external enemies will attack.

Rin and Ultra's actions were too swift, and Hanako mistook them for an attack signal from another company, specifically a military-technical attack using the Black Wall.

Therefore, she must suppress this matter as soon as possible to prevent Arasaka from suffering further losses.

"I promise you."

Lai Xuan was utterly disappointed.

He knew what kind of monsters his sister and father had become.

Now there's no need to worry anymore...

"Miss Hua Zi."

At this moment, Xiao Tian stepped forward, leaned close to Hua Zi's ear and whispered something, and Hua Zi's expression immediately changed.

Lai Xuan watched all of this with great interest.

凛…

thank you.

It showed me the truth about the monster.

"You killed them all? You can't find them? What are you guys good for?!"

Everyone, who rarely saw Hanako Arakawa get angry, was stunned.

Oda gritted his teeth, "I'm sorry, Miss Hanako, the person might be connected to the Chiba online black market. We're investigating, and they should have gone to Night City."

Hua Zi glared at Xiao Tian.

It was as if it was warning him not to talk about such things.

Then she sighed helplessly, "Brother...you've gotten into trouble."

"Your armed forces did not cease their orders. They stormed Arasaka's research headquarters and kidnapped the chief scientist of the project Father valued most. What will it take to satisfy you? Father has already been very merciful..."

Lai Xuan waved his hand.

The scene that Hua Zi had imagined—Lai Xuan blushing and shouting at him—did not materialize.

The most truthful saying in this world is: Only those who have wronged you know how wronged you are.

Lai Xuan knew who had released Herman. With Hua Zi's series of actions, he became more and more convinced that not resisting was the best option. Besides, that guy was even preparing a gift for him in North America... He was looking forward to it.

“That suits me perfectly, Miss Hua Zi.”

Hua Zi felt a surge of anger that he couldn't vent. "You..."

Lai Xuan had already taken a step and walked to the soldier blocking Hua Zi's path. Suddenly, as if he remembered something, he drew his sidearm from his waist.

"What?!"

Oda suddenly drew his sword as well.

Hua Zi reached out and slapped Oda across the face. "Is this how you talk to President Arasaka?"

Lai Xuan felt increasingly nauseous.

He certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to point a gun at Hua Zi.

Killing her won't change anything; it will only hasten my own death.

And Hua Zi really hoped that this was the right way, because only in this way could both her father and she live.

His gun barrel moved slowly, finally stopping on Koizumi Shigeru.

"Lord Yorinobu!"

Shigeru Koizumi never expected that he was being targeted.

He pointed at himself with both hands in front of him, "Are you trying to kill me?!"

Lai Xuan felt the heavy texture in his hand.

It feels so good to have a gun in my hand...

He pressed the safety button without saying a word.

"Lord Yorinobu!"

Are you throwing a tantrum...?

Shigeru Koizumi shook his head in disappointment, "You'll never be able to take over Arasaka in your lifetime."

Lai Xuan was eager to know how Rin knew about this mole.

I had been scheming here for so long, but I never expected that I would betray my own side at the last minute. Now, looking back, everything made sense.

No wonder Hua Zi's reaction was so accurate...

"Yes, because you're here, I can't possibly control Arasaka."

Hua Zi said coldly, "Have you made enough of a scene, brother?"

Lai Xuan shook his head.

It was only then that Koizumi Shigeru realized Lai Xuanzhen wasn't joking. "Miss Hanako! This guy's gone mad!"

Hua Zi's bodyguard, Xiao Tian, ​​also said, "Lord Lai Xuan, your actions will only make the board's decisions more unfavorable to you."

Lai Xuan's gaze suddenly turned to Xiao Tian.

Startled, Xiaotian quickly lowered his head.

A harsh, mocking remark rang out…

"What a good dog."

Just as he was about to lower his gun, Lai Xuan opened fire.

At this distance, no one expected Lai Xuan to commit murder without any reason...

If I absolutely have to explain...

That was Rin's information, and the neck-cutting gesture he made when he looked at Koizumi Shigeru.

This person must be killed on the spot.

If they die... there will be less trouble.

The gun was still smoking. Hua Zi was closest to the gunman and was clearly stunned by the crisp sound of the gunman's gun. His mouth was open, his hands were raised, and his mind went blank.

At this point, Oda could no longer stand idly by. He stepped forward and snatched the gun from Lai Xuan's hand, and then two guards held down Lai Xuan's shoulders.

The president of Arasaka may kill, but he cannot do so in such an undignified manner.

This is not permitted.

Doing it yourself would look too awkward.

Hua Zi suddenly said in a cold voice, "He's really gone mad! Arasaka Yorinobu!"

However, Lai Xuan simply spread his hands, revealing a smile that chilled the hearts of the hawks to the bone.

He likes his sister who has no humanity.

Only in this way can we truly treat them as enemies.

"Miss Hua Zi."

"The thunder is really loud, let's see if the rain will be plentiful too?"

After Arasaka Yoriyuki said those words.

Hua Zi felt a sudden, inexplicable chill.

When Lai Xuan was about to leave, few people dared to stop him. The two guards quickly let go of his hand and watched him walk out.

A clap of thunder made Hua Zi instinctively flinch.

Tokyo today.

It's a thunderstorm.

……

……

(End of this chapter)