Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

Amidst the Zen-like atmosphere of the rockery, a clear spring, and the gentle patter of water against the bamboo, Saburo Arasaka slowly walked to the veranda of the tea room and said, "I've looked at her information. A beautiful resume... She has quite a few tricks up her sleeve, but they're insignificant."

“As long as she can bring benefits to Arasaka, I can give her anything she wants. Her parents’ position will not be her final destination... Shintaro, add her to the candidate list.”

“Inheriting the will of our parents... Hmph, if Yoriyuki had even a tenth of her, Arasaka, Kei, my father and I, those two brothers, would be in this state.”

Judging by actions, not intentions, Sanlang read Vera's stage performance and achievements, and then thought of his own unfilial son. He snorted coldly. Although his words were a complaint about his son, his tone was extremely indifferent.

Or rather, his relationship with Lai Xuan as father and son had already cooled when Lai Xuan rebelled against him and disappeared.

The reason he was kept was because he truly only had this one son; the other one would be needed for a soon-to-be-mature technology…

Standing under the eaves of the main house's corridor, Saburo looked at the pines and cherry blossoms planted on both sides of the winding path in the courtyard and said, "Do you think her Sun Staircase project is just a formality to swindle funding, or does it have a clear idea, and what are the chances of it succeeding?"

"This... Lord Saburo, you know I don't know much about scientific research, but based on the analysis, it shouldn't be just a formality."

Shintaro Takayama paused for a moment.

"Ms. Michiko's 'dangerous girl' initiative, though urgent, is ultimately just on paper. It's impossible for Vera Adelheid to actually focus on her side job; the security department is her job. As for her, based on her record of improving therapeutic products, she either doesn't respond or has made progress. The success rate of the submitted plan is fifty-fifty."

"Her evidence is no longer available. Half a century ago, there were too many companies engaged in mining and transportation in Africa, and most of them were European companies. The collapse of the old network caused by Lucky Bartomos led to the bankruptcy of too many companies, the suicide of several CEOs of listed groups, and the loss of massive amounts of data, or being swallowed up and carried away by out-of-control AI."

As he spoke, Shintaro Takayama tapped the data panel, and the embedded video recorder in the corridor started up, displaying detailed records. Vera's experience of training her mental and computational abilities by passing through the "black wall" under the protection of cybersecurity experts from Arasaka was also documented.

It's just that we don't know exactly which day she deciphered it after defeating the roaming AI.

No matter how you look at it, Shintaro Takayama doesn't think Vera is a spy at all; she doesn't seem like one, there's no motive, and it makes no sense. Even if there are traces of 'collusion,' in the end, it will either be found that the evidence is false, or it's simply a frame-up by other 'friendly companies' to try and bring her down.

"Genius?"

After much deliberation, Saburo Arasaka finally put aside his doubts. "The unexpected collaboration with Michiko, from developing beauty and health products to rehabilitation and recuperation medicines, has led to such a discovery along the way."

Geniuses are the most incomprehensible kind of people in the world.

Like Lucky Bartmos, and like Otto Cunningham, who invented the 'Soul Killer'.

After a long investigation, Sanlang's analyst was certain that Vera's research and improvements were new formulas and combinations not available on the market.

No matter how you look at it, it's impossible for biotechnology companies to abandon their monopoly on new drugs and fund Arasaka like this. As for military science, it's even less likely, since medical technology is their weak point.

Vera's plan piqued Saburo's interest.

"Let's see what she discovers after arriving in Africa. Takemura, order the security forces to secretly monitor and pay attention to Vera Adelhaid's unusual behavior, and send out security teams to protect her safety at all times."

"Yes!"

Standing with his hands behind his back, Saburo Arasaka pulled up a half-length image of Vera Adelheid. He stared at her, “…” After a while, he looked away and gazed at the faintly visible Tokyo skyline.

Saburo's memory did not decline with age; he clearly remembered the location of Arasaka Tower in Tokyo.

The black, towering silhouette, standing over 600 meters tall, makes it tower out from the crowd, able to look down on any man-made building in Tokyo.

But that's not enough; he wants it to be even higher.

He needs time to achieve this.

longevity.

Longer lifespan.

Saburo Arasaka longed for it so much.

No matter how much respect the outside world has for him, or how exaggerated his power is, stripping away all external factors, he is now an old man who is physically frail and nearing the end of his life.

He wouldn't let any opportunity to prolong his life slip by.

“I cannot die yet. Michiko compromises, Hanako is conservative, and Yoriyuki lacks the leadership qualities of Arasaka. He cannot lead Japan to regain its former glory (as Saburo believes)... I cannot fall before I have completed my mission…”

......

2075/5/25，上午10点15。

At Tokyo Haneda International Airport, a huge projection screen displayed the time. Vera got out of the car with her suitcase and glanced at the business class flight bound for Cape Town, South Africa from Arasaka Private Airport.

She looked relaxed after changing out of her black and red University of Tokyo uniform, as if she were really going on a school trip.

Vera, dressed in light brown sunglasses, a black shirt with a silver clover pin at the collar, a buttonless red jacket, black slim-fit trousers, and black mid-heeled high-top boots, walked up the gangway in what she considered to be a casual outfit.

A school trip should look like a school trip. Other places don't have the same obsession with uniforms as Japan, and Vera isn't traveling under an official name. So don't be so stiff, even though her attire would be considered quite formal in other worlds.

Just ...

Vera glanced out of the corner of her eye at the crowd boarding the plane and the people on the airport platform; the feeling of being spied on was very strong.

Perhaps due to the fusion of souls, her senses have been extremely sensitive since childhood.

Furthermore, with the activation of "Heavenly Gift," as if gathering the power of time and space counterparts, she interacted more and became more sensitive, beginning to evolve towards "Mind's Eye" and "Sixth Sense." In battles during field missions, she was rarely ambushed at close range.

The sense of being spied on by this group only began to emerge significantly after Vera submitted the "Solar Ladder Project" in early May. Although she did not know the specific details, she guessed that it might have attracted the attention of some old codger and his filial son.

It's uncertain, and it could also be their subordinates acting on their own initiative.

The fish has taken the bait.

Although it was faster than Vera had anticipated, it didn't matter, since she knew nothing about it.

For the next two weeks, she lived under their watchful eyes.

She attended classes as usual, met up with her "plastic best friend," went to the Tokyo theater to cultivate her mind, spent time in the library and laboratory, and ordered leeches, until the first term of law school exams were over, which Vera passed with an A, and summer break began.

Following the established procedure, Vera booked a flight to Cape Town, South Africa, which had been prepared in advance.

Then, sure enough, those guys followed us. It looks like they're going to Africa too.

Is he one of Saburo Arasaka's men?

Or is he one of Arasaka Yorinobu's men?

Will I be caught in the crossfire?

Better safe than sorry; she had no idea what kind of orders Old Deng and Little Deng had given.

My own safety must be guaranteed. Once I arrive in Cape Town, I'll borrow a few of Arasaka's reaction squads based on my rank.

After calming her agitated emotions, Vera looked at the military-grade sealed briefcase in her hand, which contained the leech DNA she had prepared.

As for the Progenitor Virus sample, the Sun Steppe flower, including plants that have lost the Progenitor Virus characteristics, and the fresh Sun Steppe flowers currently blooming in the flowerbed of the West African Dubai tribe ruins in Resident Evil—

With the help of the flight attendants, Vera entered the first-class cabin of the flight. She adjusted her seat, sat down, and turned to look out the window. In the clear glass, she could vaguely see her reflection. For a fleeting moment, she saw 'herself' in the Ambrella African Research Center.

Everything is ready.

"Central African Republic: Remains of ancient Bantu-speaking tribes that have since disappeared..."

The Bantu language branch is a branch of the Niger-Congo language family and the Atlantic-Congo language group in Africa. It is widespread throughout central and southern Africa. There are too many relics of these tribes to count, enough for Vera to 'find slowly' and work on slowly. She is not a pure scientific researcher; she has the same kind of resources as them.

"A 'door-knocking stepping stone.' Whose door will you knock on first?"

Vera was both wary and expectant.

------

Chapter 050 Vera Goes to Africa

Africa, a magical and ancient land.

When people think of that place, the images that immediately come to mind are always those of primitiveness, chaos, war, hunger, many refugees, beautiful scenery, many animals, and economic backwardness.

But today, ding-ding—

On May 26, 2075, in the early morning of Cape Town, South Africa (UTC+2 time zone), Vera looked up as she walked down the gangway carrying a suitcase.

Good evening, Cape Town.

Seeing is believing. Today, her last bit of preconceived notions were completely shattered. She didn't see a vibrant, thriving land; all she saw was a forest of steel, glass, and cement beneath cold neon lights and giant advertising screens.

It's quite bustling, isn't it?

It's just that the bustling area isn't really for the locals.

Looking into the distance, there was not much green in the wilderness.

In the cyberpunk world, even Africa, with its best-preserved natural scenery, seems to have little nature left.

After descending the gangway, Vera saw a small team of Arasaka grassroots security personnel waiting for something outside the railing, and a standard 'Holy Sword' type hovercraft parked and waiting in the distance.

A moment later, seemingly noticing Vera, the security team leader, who was holding a PDA tablet, immediately stepped forward, bowed to Vera, and asked, "Excuse me, are you Director Russell?"

“I am Vera Adelheid.”

"It is my duty to verify your SID chip in accordance with procedure."

Vera has no objection.

Beep! Scanned, identity verification passed.

Vera boarded the hovercar smoothly, greeted by security personnel from the Cape Town Arasaka branch.

In-car AI: [Welcome to Cape Town, Ms. Russell. We wish you a pleasant study trip.]

Since Vera was traveling through the official channels of the University of Tokyo and Arasaka, the Cape Town branch had already prepared accommodation, transportation, security team, and travel materials such as maps, information on South African products and customs, and local precautions for visitors of the appropriate level before she officially boarded her flight to South Africa.

Inside the hovercar, Vera lowered the dedicated internal data board prepared by the Cape Town branch, as well as a storage box containing the discrete chip.

"That's really thoughtful."

Lifting the lid of the chip storage box, she even saw the beacon chip of the trauma group. The trauma group's African branch.

Trauma groups, or Trauma Groups International for short, provide services in different regions.

Even for Platinum members, the price varies depending on the region.

After all, you can't expect people to equate prices in lawless, chaotic areas with prices in peaceful, orderly areas. They are private companies, driven by profit maximization, and they won't leave such loopholes for others to exploit.

beep.

Trauma Team: [Ms. Russell, thank you again for your trust in our trauma team. We have 53 medical service centers in South Africa and Central Africa. Based on your current coordinates, Cape Town International Airport, the nearest rapid response team will arrive at your side in approximately 2 minutes and 26 seconds if needed. We will continue to do our best to provide you with...]

While identifying the beacon, Vera also deactivated the shielding of her internal biochip and transferred her subscription to the trauma group's platinum service from Tokyo to Central and Southern Africa.

She is the top security commander of Arasaka. Even though the Trauma Team's credibility is undoubtedly No. 1 among all companies, it is impossible for the Trauma Team's biochip to monitor the coordinates at all times.

Normally, company dogs will block beacons, and the blocking will only be automatically lifted when they are attacked or their biological health readings become abnormal. They can also be manually unblocked.

If there are clandestine company missions that cannot be made public, that's a different story, and there will be specific requirements.