Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

The heartfelt joy that comes from enjoying delicious food is arguably one of the easiest forms of happiness for humans to experience, and it's also a way to relieve stress. Anorexia is another matter.

After the meal, Vera seemed to have become more energetic and walked towards her office with the complimentary coffee.

Putting everything else aside, Arasaka's employee benefits seem pretty good compared to its competitors.

High salaries for current employees, platinum-level treatment for senior executives in basic trauma teams, combat personnel issued combat uniforms and weapons, elite combat personnel receiving discounted combat cybernetic implants, and the ability to enjoy the latest cybernetic technology for free by fulfilling 20 years of loyalty obligations...

The tower's staff facilities include a regular canteen, an executive canteen, a trauma center, shops, an equipment center, a recreation center, a sleeping area, and a military barracks.

Besides the immense pressure, there is almost no rest time, no retirement pension, and once fired, all savings, prosthetic body, and apartment will be confiscated.

come back to the office.

2074/5/27，8/30。

The security department's frontline staff had already arrived at their posts. After a brief video conference with her superiors at the Garrison Command, Vera picked up her personal briefcase from the coffee table in her office, opened it, and took out several discrete chips that needed to be processed soon from the chip storage compartment.

start working.

Working class mode activated!

[Brasilia Security and Stability Maintenance Services - Operation Report]

[Learn from the spirit of Arakasaka]

[Special Assault Team 6 - Operational Loss Report]

[Shortcomings and Improvement Measures of This Operation—Vera Adelheid Russell's Self-Reflection Report]

[Police Garrison Command Newcomer Training and Assessment Report - Version 2]

[Comprehensive Operational Assessment of 6 Teams]

[Action Bonus Application]

……

Since Vera had only recently returned to Night City from her field mission and her promotion process was underway, her assigned area of ​​responsibility had not yet been determined. Therefore, her tasks for today mainly consisted of various field mission reports and internal matters of Team 6.

Among these, the most important things for Vera's subordinates are the [Comprehensive Operational Assessment of Team 6] and the [Application for Operation Bonus].

The former concerns soldiers' seniority and performance evaluation, while the latter concerns the most tangible aspect: money. Both are very important.

time flies.

Vera, now in her dedicated workaholic mode, worked until the afternoon, preparing to finish her meticulous writing exercise in one go.

"call..."

After pulling out the last separation chip and clicking submit, Vera subconsciously stretched her neck.

As Vera took a sip of her cold coffee, just as she was about to get up to busy herself with her part-time job in the biotechnology research department, to show off her presence and maintain her persona in front of the high-ranking man she had climbed up to, beep beep!

"Commander Vera. Your invitation."

The bodyguard's voice came through the microphone on the desk.

"Come in."

The office door opened automatically, the red scanning line of the fixed scanner flashed by, and the black bodyguard walked in.

Vera paused slightly when she saw the invitation in the black bodyguard's hand.

"A paper invitation? Who's hosting the banquet?"

The black bodyguard shook his head. "It's been checked, nothing abnormal." In front of Vera, he took out something that looked a bit like an iron and scanned the invitation twice.

Vera accepted the invitation, and the clover logo of Arakazama immediately came into view.

Spread out—

"Arasaka Tower Academy cordially invites outstanding graduates..." Vera murmured, "to attend the 2074 Freshman Entrance Ceremony and deliver a speech..."

------

Chapter 006 'Character Design'

"Should I give a speech at the 2074 freshman entrance ceremony of Arasaka Tower Academy?"

The invitation was laid out on the table. Vera lit a high-end cigarette with a hint of smugness, her fingers tapping idly on the armrest of her chair.

She used to be a smoker, but her self-imposed rigorous study experience at Arasaka Tower Academy, coupled with the immense work pressure within Arasaka Corporation, led her to start smoking without realizing it. It was probably due to her environment.

drip.

Vera's office terminal screen emitted an unread notification sound for a new email.

"Hmph." Vera chuckled softly after glancing at it.

These academic types really understand the importance of ritual. They use both paper and electronic invitations, and each invitation has a designated recipient. When the invitee opens the paper invitation, the chip inside is recognized, and then an electronic invitation is sent.

Vera was invited to give a speech as an outstanding graduate and distinguished alumna of Arasaka Tower.

To be realistic, the intention is to use Vera's personal experience to inspire and persuade those who join Arasaka with various aspirations, those cogs in the machine who will burn themselves out as fuel to illuminate Arasaka.

The ceremony will be held in June...

"Interesting..." The timing was so precise; they must have received concrete information, and their purpose was blatantly clear: to persuade her to appear in her new capacity after her promotion, thereby enhancing the credibility of the academy's educational capabilities.

As if lost in thought, Vera raised an eyebrow slightly and gladly accepted the invitation.

There's no harm in it; it's a mutual gesture of goodwill, and everyone gets what they need.

By clicking "confirm" on the terminal screen, Vera confirmed with the Arasaka Tower Academy that she would attend the 2074 freshman orientation ceremony.

It's like giving someone a pep talk.

"call...."

Vera shoved the cigarette butt into the ashtray beside her, letting wisps of white smoke rise. She gently moved her fingers, making a series of crisp sounds with her knuckles, before going back to her personal terminal to review the information and documents. After making sure nothing was missing, she stood up, stretched, loosened her neck, and walked away from her desk toward the wine cabinet on the recessed wall to the left of her office.

Vera opened the glass door and picked out a glass of amber-colored honey whisky from the treasures of Champagne Paradise, Piquet Winery, and Kyoto Gekkoro.

boo.

Vera turned on the tap, poured herself a glass, and sipped it, feeling the sweet liquid flow smoothly down her throat like pebbles being washed in water. She leaned back comfortably in her executive chair, gazing at the floor-to-ceiling windows in the background and the nighttime cityscape outside.

At 4 p.m., as the sun sets, a steel jungle stretches out, a world divided into black and white.

The bulletproof glass curtain wall offers one-way visibility, so there's no need to worry about privacy.

After some time, ring ring.

"Hey, Vera, you're having a drink here after you've finished your work?"

As the phone rang, a middle-aged man in a black suit with red stripes and shimmering details appeared on the built-in virtual screen grid of Vera's prosthetic eye.

"Uncle Thomas, good afternoon. We're just waiting for the handover. If you're feeling peckish, I'll pick out a few bottles of Paradise Champagne and send them over to you."

James Thomas, Vera's boss's boss's boss, is the deputy director of security for the Arasaka Yoru City security department, in charge of the security headquarters. He was also his father's former superior.

Vera's 'uncle', the uncle who once helped Vera manage her 'inheritance'.

As the largest, most famous, and most important department in Arasaka, the security department does not have a director-general unless absolutely necessary. Instead, the highest-ranking officer is directly appointed by a member of the board of directors. The deputy director in charge of a certain area is the highest-ranking official in the security department.

It's very difficult for someone outside the family to rise to the position of Director of Security unless they are a direct descendant of the Arasaka Manor in Tokyo.

"Hahaha..."

Vera's warm yet polite words brought a kind smile to James Thomas's face, whose cybernetic modifications were barely visible. He nodded repeatedly, as if he were truly looking at an outstanding junior.

"Then I'll be looking forward to your collection. Fred has always had an unusual fondness for fine spirits. Even though he doesn't drink much, he likes to collect them from all over and store them."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries to build rapport, Thomas's tone became serious.

"Captain Vera Adelheid Russell, your promotion process has been approved in Tokyo. You did a great job in Brasilia. In 30 minutes, at the Night City Security Department's internal meeting, the news will be officially announced and will take effect immediately. Congratulations, Vera. Fred and Mia will be very proud of you."

"Thank you, Director Thomas."

Vera subtly displayed her barely suppressed excitement as she stood up and said, "Thank you for taking care of me."

“No need for that, you deserve it. Arasaka treats capable people well. The meeting will begin on time in 29 minutes.”

Doodle.

Communication hang up.

The subtle expression that Vera had been struggling to maintain on her face slowly disappeared. She finished her drink in one gulp and then leaned back in her chair.

"Phew..." It wasn't for nothing that I called him "uncle" so often. There's no difference between being in Aragaka and being in the system. Especially in departments heavily influenced by Japan, bloodlines, backers, backgrounds, connections—it's all very particular.

Vera took a deep breath.

It must be said that having good connections and cultivating relationships is indeed useful.

Even in the most dangerous and dangerous places, as long as you can consistently demonstrate value and create value for the company while climbing the ranks, you can truly thrive.

Of course, if it fails, that would be a completely different experience.

The president of the new America, Rosalind Myers, began her political career while serving in the Marine Corps. She was noticed by military technology companies, and her hard power attracted the attention of high-ranking military scientists. She was selected as the CEO successor in a competition and eventually became president.

This path is blocked in Arasaka, but that doesn't stop her from being Vera's senior.

The objects of study...

For the remaining half hour, Vera didn't cause any trouble and stayed in her office dealing with a few routine documents submitted by the soldiers of the 6th squad of Arasaka.

When it's time, beep beep—

Internal meeting notice.

Vera lowered the partition wall, and several holographic imaging devices outlined the conference round table.

Before long, high-ranking officials from the Security Bureau began to appear one after another at the seats outlined by the projected lines. James Thomas, the Deputy Director of Security, was seated in the center, followed by personnel from other special assault teams, the garrison mobile unit, heavy armored units, rescue units, disaster response units (chemical defense units), guard units (general corporate security), and escort units (bodyguards)...