Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

This Michiko is not that Michiko. Vera didn't say anything, but simply stood up and walked to the altar.

Michiko Arasaka's father, Takashi Arasaka... the former crown prince.

Yeah.

After lighting three incense sticks, Vera, guided by the priest of the family shrine within the Arasaka family compound, respectfully and impartially offered three incense sticks to the sacrificial incense burner.

I worship you, for I will carry on your legacy, defeat military technology where you once failed, and then inherit everything you have.

She murmured this to herself.

------

Chapter 088 The Crown Prince died young, and Lai Xuan is often ill; you should encourage him. (4.5K)

The Arasaka family compound, guest room and residence area.

dong dong dong-

"Ms. Vera, it's time to get up and have breakfast."

In a bedroom with an unusually luxurious decor that clashes completely with the simple Japanese-Western style of the exterior, Vera is awakened by the knocking of a group of female servants.

"Aha... Whew."

Yawning, Vera, who had slept soundly through the night without any worries or tossing and turning, groggily got out of bed.

"Refreshed."

Stretching her muscles, she walked to the window and opened it.

Vera's indigo pupils cleared instantly and focused. She looked out the window at the beautiful garden scenery that seemed to be covered by a layer of light snow. The shrine, eaves, corridors, and rockeries were all covered in silver and shimmered with a cool light in the sunlight.

Recalling the Arasaka family's New Year's Eve dinner party that Saburo had invited her to last night, Vera couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Showing courtesy for nothing is either cheating or stealing.

It can be either bottom to top or top to bottom.

Vera Adelheid Arakasaka Russell...

Although Saburo didn't explicitly say that she was being granted a surname, the fact that she was being invited to such a private family banquet and to offer incense and prayers to Arasaka Kei's memorial tablet, along with various hints and directives, made it very clear that she had gained access to the power center of the Arasaka Empire.

The designated person to be offered incense and prayers is Arasaka Kei, which means that she will inherit the mantle of the 'former crown prince'.

This was undoubtedly another encouragement and empty promise from Saburo to Vera.

To use an inappropriate analogy: The Crown Prince is often ill; you should encourage him.

After all, qualifications are just qualifications. In an exchange of equivalent value, Vera would need to make unparalleled sacrifices and contributions if she wanted to turn those elusive qualifications into real benefits.

What was the thing that former Crown Prince Takashi Arasaka spent the most time and energy on during his lifetime?

The Fourth Corporate War;

Who directly destroyed Arasaka Kei's grand vision and took his life?

New America and military technology, as well as some insignificant cyber lone wolf mercenaries;

As the heir to the mantle, and even the right of legal succession, Vera inevitably needs to avenge her 'father'.

This "father" includes both her biological parents who died in the metal war, and the "father in legal and legitimacy" who may be publicly identified in the future.

Arasaka Kei is indeed Saburo's eldest son, but he is also a loser in the corporate war.

Defeat is a disgrace.

The legal heirs of the losers must avenge their defeat in order to successfully reclaim their power and inheritance rights.

What would constitute revenge? Restoring Arasaka to its peak in 2020, expanding into the Eastern Pacific, retaking the West Coast, splitting Shin-American territory, and suppressing military technology...

In this respect, Saburo truly lives up to his reputation as a shrewd and insightful super-capitalist.

Based on maximizing his own interests, he did not have Hanako Arasaka take her in as his goddaughter, nor did he do it himself. Instead, he asked his eldest son, who had died young, to recognize his daughter on his behalf more than half a century later.

This aligns Vera's personal desire, or rather her outward expression, to avenge her parents with the interests of the company and the Arasaka family.

Furthermore, it is well known that Arasaka Yorinobu and his older brother Arasaka Takashi had a bad relationship.

During his lifetime, Arasaka Kei would immediately fly into a rage whenever his rebellious younger brother was mentioned. He even publicly declared that sooner or later, Yorihiro would pay the price for betraying the Arasaka family, and later he actually sent people to assassinate and execute many of Yorihiro's trusted members of the gang 'Steel Dragon'.

It's easy to imagine Lai Xuan's reaction when he learned for certain that Vera had offered incense to his good brother.

In Lai Xuan's eyes, his good brother's niece was probably worse than the adopted daughter that Sanlang had personally taken in, and he had an extra adopted sister who was more than half a century younger than him.

Oh, and there's also Michiko Arasaka, who, while sitting at home, has a sister fall from the sky.

The Night City subordinates and business partners who were nominally subordinate to each other have suddenly become sisters?!

Vera could already foresee that her future days would be quite eventful.

Saburo will not only not stop it, but will most likely be happy to see Vera and Lai Xuan compete.

It doesn't matter who is whose whetstone; what matters is that it can sharpen the knife.

These are likely another challenge that Sanlang has set up in his plan. Handling them well will be a plus.

Of course, all of the above are Vera's speculations, without any basis. Let's just say it's a kind of 'telepathic understanding' between her and Saburo, a tacit understanding manifested in their mutual recognition of each other's ability to suppress mischief.

She never hesitated to speculate about this old bastard with the utmost malice.

Even so, she wouldn't be overly angry or hysterically furious.

Those who enjoy the benefits of inheriting Arasaka's mantle must also bear the trials and corresponding harms. If you only want the benefits and don't want the bad or the sacrifices, how can everything in this world be perfect?

The premise is that Arasaka belongs to her...

Vera added quietly.

"Please come in."

Squeak—

With permission granted, six well-dressed, unpretentious, and unpretentious Arasaka maids filed in, pushing handcarts and carrying cosmetic boxes and various grooming tools. They naturally helped Vera walk to the dressing table and sit down.

The dressing table was soon filled with all kinds of cosmetics, and the jewelry boxes were casually opened, revealing jewels that shimmered with different kinds of brilliance.

Vera was taken aback when the maid took out a pure white, elaborately decorated gown with a long skirt, adorned with emerald-colored silk and lace.

"What is this?" Where is my company uniform?

"Lady Vera, these are your cleaned clothes."

A maid showed a genuine leather briefcase that had been opened; Vera's uniform, which she had changed into the night before, had been soaked, washed, dried, and ironed.

"This is what Miss Hua Zi instructed. On the morning of January 1st, New Year's Day, Saburo-sama will hold an informal board meeting with the presidents of all branches around the world to discuss the new development strategy for Arasaka in 2076. As a member of the Night City Management Council and a rising star recognized by Saburo-sama, you must attend in formal attire."

Quite surprised, Vera gasped softly.

Informal boardroom conversation between the presidents of the Arasaka regional branch?

Should we let her participate as well?

Vera's eyes flickered.

Saburo's determination was greater than she had predicted.

The position of president, who oversees the Arasaka regional branch, is arguably the highest rank an ordinary person outside the Arasaka family can attain. It truly represents a position of immense power and influence.

They are jokingly referred to as 'national-level directors'.

Not only are they qualified to meet at the same table as members of the Arasaka family, but they also wield considerable influence in their respective regions, with political power even surpassing that of the local head of state.

Vera's Night City council level is several levels lower than theirs.

Even though Night City is one of the 'Three Towers', the employee level in Arasaka's workplace is half a level higher than in other regions. To be comparable to the president of a regional branch, one would need to at least reach the level of vice president of the board.

Is Saburo Lao Deng going to bring her out for a public appearance?

This is even more exaggerated than the speech at the "2075 Tokyo Arasaka Tower Year-End Training Staff Summary Meeting".

It was almost as if he was saying to the local powerful figures in Arasaka, "Look, this is one of my newly chosen future successors. Everyone come and take a look."

This was a significant step ahead of what Vera had anticipated—that she would need to work on military technology in Night City before being promoted.

Compared to the latter she envisioned, the cards that Sanlang played in advance, while not offering any direct or substantial benefits, were less utilitarian and more indicative of his paternal love.

Oh no, I'm actually feeling a tiny bit touched.

Beware of Noboru Arasaka's sugar-coated bullets!

Wash hands, cleanse face, rinse mouth, comb hair, condition hair...

Passive, like a doll, Vera was surrounded by a group of Arasaka maids.

She changed into a long evening gown, wore white roses and pearl hair accessories, an emerald brooch, a diamond necklace, white gloves, sapphire earrings, and even her dominant hand, which she used to wear white gloves, was adorned with a gemstone ring that served no practical purpose...

When everything was over, Vera walked to the dressing mirror with a blank expression, looking at herself in the mirror, her sharp features slightly softened, making her look like a delicate porcelain doll.

Is this still her?

Damn it.

Well, at least it's not a traditional Japanese kimono that's worn without a vacuum.

In this respect, Saburo Arasaka was not as traditional as he thought. He belonged to the Westernized Japanese style after the Meiji Restoration.

"Ms. Vera, please."

Well, surrounded by Arasaka's maids, Vera stood up, lifted her skirt, and walked out of the room, her high heels making a soft sound as they stepped on the carpet.

She's going to continue her laning phase with Arakawa.

......

Meanwhile, in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, at Yorihiro's residence.

patio.