Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 112 Valerie's Kindness (Fourth Update)
"High pay and low workload?" Pila rubbed his long, thin mechanical arm fingers together, a complex look on his face a mixture of greed and suspicion. "That sounds like the perfect prelude to a trap."

"Are company employees really that kind? I bet that server is hiding some kind of vicious virus, or that 'asset' they're escorting is a ticking time bomb!"

“I’m afraid it’s not out of kindness, it’s an investment.” Falco pushed up his sunglasses, his eyes sharp behind the lenses. “They see value in us, or rather, the value we represent. They’re laying bait now, cultivating a ‘relationship’.”

A little bit of euros, exchanged for a 'connection' that might come in handy in the future.

Qi Wei, who had been silently observing the details of the data recovery task, finally spoke, her voice sounding somewhat muffled through her mask: "The server security protocol is standard commercial grade, and the penetration difficulty is not high."

The firewall architecture is outdated. The task itself... does sound like an excuse.

Sasha nodded slightly, her voice softer but conveying the same meaning: "They are more likely trying to observe us through the mission, to assess our current state and... changes."

She didn't say it explicitly, but everyone present understood what "change" meant—transformations from the depths of the workshop that were far beyond the comprehension of this era.

Mann looked around at his teammates, each face displaying a different emotion, but all revealing caution.

He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Everyone knows this isn't an ordinary request. Accepting it means we've tacitly agreed to Arasaka's attempt to 'establish a connection,' which may lead to more complications, like getting flour on wet hands that you can't shake off."

But refusing it... could also be interpreted as persistent hostility, or as an indication that we are afraid to engage with them, which would also cause trouble.

His gaze swept over the gleaming secondhand prosthetics on the workbench, and he continued, "Moreover, we do need euros, we need to keep this place running, and we need to buy everything we need."

We also need to prove to the boss that we can handle these kinds of peripheral matters, and aren't just... experimental subjects being tossed around.

He spoke the last few words very softly, but everyone heard them.

Dorio looked at Mann, her gaze steady and firm: "It's your decision, Mann. We'll all go with you."

She is the cornerstone of the team, and her support often represents the team's ultimate direction.

Rebecca pouted, still somewhat reluctant, but patted the heavy bomb gun on her back that was almost as tall as her: "Fine! As long as they don't try anything funny, I'll pay them!"

Perfect timing! If they dared to pull any tricks, my new darling wouldn't even have opened its doors in town yet!

The eager tone eased the somewhat somber atmosphere.

Pila sighed dramatically, her shoulders slumping: "Alright, alright, hopefully we won't get into any more trouble this time. But... that price is really tempting, it can get a lot of good paint and new parts..."

Falco nodded, indicating that he had no objection.

In the shadows, Qiwei and Sasha also made subtle gestures of agreement almost simultaneously.

“Then it’s settled.” Mann straightened up and made the decision. “We’ll take the data retrieval mission. Escort missions involve too many people, the routes are fixed, and it’s easy for things to go wrong. Data retrieval is relatively covert, the target is clear, and it can be done quickly.”

He immediately informed the priest of his decision to accept the commission via an encrypted channel and agreed on preliminary handover details.

The sounds of activity returned to the base, but there seemed to be an invisible string in the air, slightly taut.

They accepted not just a mission, but a signal, a line that Arasaka had deliberately thrown out and that they had caught themselves.

One end of this line connects to the company's calculations and tests, while the other end is tied to their perilous future in Night City.
-
A few days later, in Night City, Watson District, in an unassuming internet cafe cubicle.

Mann and Dorio sat on one side, while Valerie, who had come alone, sat opposite them.

Today she was dressed in a well-tailored dark business suit, without any obvious Arasaka logo, but the material and details still revealed the sophistication of a corporate elite.

With a perfectly measured professional smile, she pushed a data chip in front of Mann. “This is a diagram of the target server’s internal structure, a security patrol schedule, and the precise identifiers of the data packets,” Valerie said calmly. “There’s no time limit for the mission, but we hope to complete it this week. The advance payment has already been made to the account provided by the priest.”

Mann didn't touch the chip, but looked at Valerie: "Ms. Valerie, let's get straight to the point. What does Arasaka want from us? I don't believe you're just after some trivial data."

Valerie seemed unsurprised by Mann's directness. She leaned forward slightly, placing her hands on the table in a gesture that softened the company's coldness and added a touch of candor: "Mr. Mann, after the last unpleasant incident, Director Jenkins and I have come to realize that confrontation is not beneficial to either side."

Military technology appears to have found a… more efficient means of communication.

She paused deliberately, observing Mann and Dorio's reactions, but neither of them showed any expression.

She continued, "Arasaka has neither the intention nor the ability to challenge that 'gentleman's' bottom line again. My role today is more that of a client seeking to establish a healthy business relationship."

Your team's capabilities are evident throughout Night City, especially after... some changes.

Her words were cautious, without directly mentioning the enhancements Mann's team had received: "Maintaining cooperation with excellent independent mercenary teams is part of the Counterintelligence Department's daily work."

These two tasks are simply a manifestation of this willingness to cooperate, nothing more.

Dorio spoke, her voice steady: "Cooperation requires a foundation. We are just mercenaries who do the work and get paid; we don't participate in the power struggles between companies, nor do we make any promises on behalf of anyone."

“Of course.” Valerie immediately agreed, her smile unchanged. “A pure employment relationship, clean and efficient. You complete the task, and Arasaka pays you. If the cooperation goes well, there may be more suitable commissions for you in the future.”

Her words left room for maneuver, without demanding more in an overly eager manner.

Mann picked up the data chip on the table and twirled it between his fingers: "We'll complete the mission. As for what happens next... we'll see."

He didn't rule out any possibility of definitive statements. The company can make money, but the boundaries must be clearly defined.

“That’s enough.” Valerie nodded, knowing full well that achieving this result on the first contact was already a success.

She stood up. "I wish you success in your mission. If you have any questions about the mission details, you can contact me through this encrypted channel."

She left a contact number and then left the cubicle without any further pleasantries.

Watching Valerie disappear through the door, Dorio looked at Mann: "She's much smarter than she seems."

“To get to that position in the Arasaka Counterintelligence Department, it couldn’t be simple.” Mann put away the data chip. “She knew very well that directly mentioning the boss would be met with resistance, so she took a roundabout approach and started with us. She used the mission as a cover to slowly build a relationship.”

"Are we really going to play this game with her?" Dorio asked.

“We set the rules of the game.” Mann stood up, his eyes sharp. “She pays, we do the work. As for the ‘connections’ and ‘channels’ she wants, that depends on the boss, not us.”

As long as we need Euros and the risks of the mission are manageable, accepting her request is fine. But if she or Arasaka oversteps any boundaries…

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Leaving the internet cafe, Mann and Dorio blended into the bustling crowds of Watson District.

Valerie's bait has been swallowed, but in the shadow of Night City, the question of who truly controls the fish and the fish is never fixed.

How long this newly established and fragile "line" can last, and what role it can play, depends on the ensuing power struggle between the two sides, as well as the ultimate will of the being hidden deep within the abandoned town's workshop.

(End of this chapter)