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Kael pushed open the door. Inside the spacious top-floor office, only two people sat facing each other. One was naturally Yorinobu Arasaka, and the other was a young woman with exquisite features and an outstanding figure.
The contours of their facial features actually bore a slight resemblance to each other.
"You're here, Kael."
Yorinobu Arasaka stood up to greet him, only to see Kael take a step back out of the room. Kael nudged Adam Smasher's chest with his elbow and said with a playful expression,
"The one inside is your old flame, right? She's indeed quite a beauty."
"..."
"..."
If there was anyone left who could touch Adam Smasher's nearly fully mechanized heart and help him rediscover a trace of his past humanity, it was likely his former 'white moonlight'—Michiko Arasaka.
The two once maintained an intimate relationship for a long time, leaving behind a trail of scandalous stories in the various bars of Night City.
However, they didn't end up together in the end. Michiko Arasaka married her current husband, Marc Sanderson.
But according to the intelligence Kael had gathered, the two hadn't completely cut off contact and would occasionally find time to relive their youthful days.
It seemed that Marc Sanderson wasn't entirely unaware of this.
It was just that, in his eyes, given Adam Smasher's current state, he was no different from a fully automated smart vibrator.
Of course, this was purely Kael's personal speculation.
It was also possible that the social climate of the upper class was simply that open and free.
"..."
Adam Smasher clenched his fists, suppressing the urge to punch Kael's detestable smiling face. He stared straight ahead, pretending he hadn't heard a thing.
"Keep pretending."
Kael gave Adam Smasher a hard poke, then stepped back into the office with a beaming smile. He brushed aside Yorinobu Arasaka's reaching arm and stepped forward to give Michiko Arasaka a cheek-to-cheek greeting.
As someone born in the 2000s, Michiko Arasaka was very well-preserved. Despite being old enough to be a grandmother, she still looked young and beautiful, her skin still full of collagen.
Well, it was all thanks to technology and 'harsh' enhancements.
"First time meeting you, Miss Michiko."
"Hello, Mr. BT."
Michiko Arasaka's gaze fell on Kael's face, scratching it lightly like a kitten's touch.
In terms of looks alone, only Valerie could compare to her. Combined with her innate nobility and elegance, one could only say she was truly a woman who could keep even Adam Smasher yearning.
"Didn't you come here to see me? Kael."
Yorinobu Arasaka's tone carried a hint of resentment.
Although he knew he wasn't as likable as Michiko Arasaka, your attitude doesn't have to be so blatant, right?
Clearly, I was the one who arrived first, okay?
Kael ignored Yorinobu Arasaka's dramatic flair and sat down boisterously on the million-dollar leather sofa. He leaned back lazily, reached out to take the tea Yorinobu had already brewed, and took a large gulp, acting as casually as if he were in his own home.
This display left Michiko Arasaka a bit dazzled.
This was the owner of the Water Plant?
The new-generation legend who had nearly overturned the Biotech Corporation?
"Yorinobu, I heard your days haven't been very easy lately."
Kael said, smacking his lips as he savored the lingering tea fragrance.
Yeah, Coke still suits me better.
"...They all want to force me to leave this place,"
Yorinobu Arasaka said, his expression shifting slightly and his tone becoming heavy.
As the first-in-line heir of Arasaka Corporation, Yorinobu Arasaka should have returned to headquarters as soon as possible to inherit everything after Saburo Arasaka's 'death.'
If he didn't know the truth behind Saburo Arasaka's death, he certainly would have done so.
But now that Yorinobu Arasaka knew what was waiting for him at Arasaka headquarters, how could he possibly walk into the trap? So, he simply stayed in Night City and refused to leave.
However, things weren't that easy to resolve.
Regardless of the considerations, various factions did not want Yorinobu Arasaka to remain in Night City.
After all, this place could be considered the stronghold of Arasaka Corporation's Dove Faction, while Yorinobu Arasaka's views were considered radical even by the Hawk Faction. If he were allowed to take control of Arasaka Tower in Night City, it would not align with the group's internal interests.
One wrong move could lead to a conflict that would sweep through the entire city.
Other megacorporations included, everyone hoped to maintain the current situation in Night City as much as possible. After all, the last Corporate War hadn't been long ago, and everyone still had lingering fears about it.
So, the best solution was to send Yorinobu Arasaka back to Arasaka headquarters.
What outsiders couldn't understand, however, was why Yorinobu Arasaka was so stubbornly unwilling to go back.
"I need your help..."
Yorinobu Arasaka's gaze swept past Michiko Arasaka's face and finally settled on Kael.
He had already tried his best, but the internal constraints within the company were much larger than he had anticipated.
The support of just the Counter-Intelligence Department wasn't enough for Yorinobu Arasaka to fully control Arasaka Tower, even with Adam Smasher as the security chief.
His previous act of promoting Adam Smasher was still a bit wishful thinking.
This hunk of metal was only good at killing people; he wasn't suited for internal corporate political struggles at all, nor did he know how to manage things.
Having a mercenary or bodyguard take up a high-level executive position was actually a desperate move.
Yorinobu Arasaka truly had no one he could trust, and even for his own safety, he could only rely on Adam Smasher.
"Wait a second."
Kael interrupted, making Yorinobu Arasaka roll his eyes. He had finally built up his emotions, and just as half of it was coming out, he had to forcefully swallow it back down.
"You first..."
Yorinobu Arasaka avoided the strange look from Michiko Arasaka and awkwardly took a sip of tea.
Kael stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at Corpo Plaza below.
(...Successfully locked onto Goro Takemura's position... coordinates...)
Dove uploaded the message.
She had been trying to lock onto Goro Takemura's location since last night.
Thanks to Delamain's city-wide 'beep-beep' business, it was only a matter of time before Dove found someone in Night City.
The reason it took a whole night, besides Goro Takemura's outstanding personal abilities, was primarily due to the interference of other forces.
However, after frying five 'raw melon' brains, the other party seemed to have given up on Goro Takemura.
"I see you."
Kael's gaze shifted downward, meeting the eyes of an ordinary-looking middle-aged man from across the distance.
This guy was Goro Takemura. His methods of concealing his identity were as good as non-existent to Dove.
The man's body stiffened.
Despite a distance of several kilometers, under the visual enhancement of top-tier 'Cybernetic Eyes,' it was no different from being a few meters apart.
Goro Takemura could clearly see the playful smile on Kael's lips, and his scalp tingled.
Without time to think, Goro Takemura immediately vanished silently into the crowd in the plaza, like a drop of water falling into a lake, without causing a single ripple.
Coming from a ninja background, his specialty was concealment.
Seeing this, Kael reached out and gave a gentle push. The composite tempered glass, capable of withstanding high-caliber sniper rounds, shattered instantly.
The high-altitude gale instantly swept into the office from the opening.
Adam Smasher, hearing the noise outside, immediately pushed the door open and entered, just in time to see Kael jumping off the roof. His Cybernetic Eyes contracted and expanded twice.
"...What is he doing?"
Michiko Arasaka squinted her eyes and asked in confusion.
"...How should I know?"
Yorinobu Arasaka shrugged, looking unconcerned.
After Saburo Arasaka's 'death,' the two had collaborated many times and could now be called friends. But with Kael, every time Yorinobu thought he understood him, the man would shatter his perceptions.
Just like that war where Kael single-handedly annihilated the Biotech Corporation's armed forces.
A Night City Cyber Legend?
That was just an unremarkable label on Kael. Nowadays, the megacorporations were more focused on the Water Plant he had established.
Many outsiders speculated that the Water Plant was a force supported by Arasaka, but a little thought would show that was impossible.
The artificial intelligence technology, biomedical technology, new energy technology, and so on demonstrated by the Water Plant were not something Arasaka Corporation possessed. The latter had long ago placed heavy bets on bio-chips.
Perhaps other megacorporations didn't understand the Water Plant yet, but they knew Arasaka Corporation all too well.
They had been rivals for over a hundred years.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say 'I am in you, and you are in me.'
Yorinobu Arasaka leaned toward the edge of the window and looked out, but he couldn't find Kael's figure.
"Where is he?"
"...Not detected."
Adam Smasher replied in a deep voice.
Except for the howling wind rushing in from the opening, which proved Kael's recent action, it was as if nothing had happened.
After waiting for a while.
"Ding-dong."
The notification sound from the elevator.
Kael walked out slowly, dragging a mangled body. His leisurely posture made it look like he had just gone downstairs to buy a pack of cigarettes.
"This is?"
Yorinobu Arasaka looked at the nearly lifeless person and then at Kael, asking in confusion.
"You wanted Goro Takemura. This guy changed his body and facial features; general identification systems really couldn't recognize him. This technology doesn't look like Arasaka Corporation's."
Kael explained casually.
"Thank you."
Yorinobu Arasaka breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
Goro Takemura had been his biggest concern these days.
Saburo Arasaka's personal bodyguard was the family's strongest former ninja. With him wandering around outside, Yorinobu would have had to sleep holding Adam Smasher to feel at ease.
And to some extent, Goro Takemura was also the symbolic representative of the current internal resistance within the group.
Taking him out would greatly reduce the internal pressure Yorinobu Arasaka currently faced.
This was no small favor.
"It was just a small matter."
Kael handed Goro Takemura over to Adam Smasher.
The latter took him with a grim face.
It was natural for him to be unhappy, as Kael had done the job he was supposed to do but failed to do.
"Let V handle this guy. I want to know exactly who is supporting him behind the scenes,"
Yorinobu Arasaka said to Adam Smasher.
"Yes."
Adam Smasher nodded.
"Then shall we continue in another office?"
Yorinobu Arasaka said with a smile. The original office was no longer suitable for entertaining guests.
What he wanted to communicate was to deepen their cooperation into an alliance.
Yorinobu Arasaka originally didn't want to rely too much on Kael's power, but the current situation left him with no choice, and Michiko Arasaka was a variable he had introduced.
Anyone who had studied elementary school math knew that a triangle was the most stable shape.
Michiko Arasaka's life wasn't actually going very well either; her capital chain was facing the risk of breaking.
After NUSA President Rosalind took office, she almost completely cut off financial support for Michiko Arasaka.
Many years ago, when Arasaka Corporation lost the Corporate War and was forced to withdraw from Night City, Michiko Arasaka reached a secret cooperation with the NUSA government.
She exchanged Arasaka Corporation's intelligence for her safety and support in Night City.
However, as the intelligence she could provide became less and less, this secret agreement was unilaterally terminated by Rosalind.
Now, the income from the 'Danger Girl' Detective Agency alone could no longer support Michiko Arasaka's expenses.
Once she faced bankruptcy liquidation, the result Michiko Arasaka would face wouldn't be as simple as a drop in social class; the 'kill zone' of Night City applied to her as well.
It was likely that many people had already smelled the scent of blood from Michiko Arasaka and were secretly planning how to carve her up.
This was the main reason why Michiko Arasaka had accepted Yorinobu Arasaka's invitation.
She desperately needed new financial support now.
And Yorinobu Arasaka also needed the intelligence network Michiko Arasaka had painstakingly built over decades in Night City, as well as those dangerous 2D-style beautiful girls.
Of course, the surname Arasaka could sometimes play an unexpected role.
If Michiko Arasaka were willing, with Yorinobu Arasaka's tacit support, she could even return to the Board of Directors and become the new generation's representative of the Dove Faction.
There were even more areas where Kael could help Yorinobu Arasaka.
Instead, Yorinobu Arasaka and Michiko Arasaka needed to carefully consider their own value to Kael.
This negotiation was just the beginning of a tripartite alliance.
Only after having a clear intention would it be time to discuss the details.
It hadn't reached that stage yet, but from the relaxed expressions of Michiko Arasaka and Yorinobu Arasaka, they were clearly satisfied with the current progress and gains.
"Next time, please come to my agency. I'll have my girls take good care of you."
Michiko Arasaka gave a slight smile, looking dignified and elegant, but her wording was quite ambiguous.
"It's a deal!"
Kael was quite interested in Night City's '2D girls.' It was just that in the past, the 'Danger Girl' Agency only accepted business from acquaintances and wasn't open to the public.
It was called a detective agency, but using 2D-style beautiful girls as its external promotional gimmick made it seem improper just thinking about it.
However, 'danger' was indeed danger.
The girls under Michiko Arasaka had all undergone deep cybernetic modification, and their strength could be compared to MAX-TAC; there were just fewer of them.
"What about me?"
Yorinobu Arasaka blinked his eyes. He also loved beauty.
"Sorry, Uncle, you're better suited for Clouds."
Michiko Arasaka politely expressed her refusal.
"Wait a minute, what does that mean?"
Yorinobu Arasaka felt a bit offended.