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Chapter 006: 'Persona'
🕑 Added 2025-09-26 03:07:59 +0000 UTC"Arasaka Academy's 2074 freshman orientation ceremony, to give a speech."
With the invitation spread on her desk, Vera lit up a premium ladies' cigarette with some satisfaction, her fingers tapping the chair's armrest intermittently.
She never used to smoke, but the self-imposed grinding study experience at Arasaka Academy, combined with the genuinely high work pressure within Arasaka Corporation, had gotten her hooked without realizing it. Environmental influence, she supposed.
Beep beep.
Vera's office terminal screen chimed with an unread email notification.
"Huh." Glancing at it, Vera chuckled softly.
These academic types really understood ceremony. Both paper and electronic versions, each invitation had a recipient, and only after the invitee opened the paper invitation and its chip was recognized would the electronic version be sent.
Inviting Vera as an outstanding Arasaka Tower graduate and distinguished alumnus to speak.
To be realistic, they wanted to use Vera's personal testimony to inspire and deceive those consumables who joined Arasaka with various dreams—those cogs who would burn themselves as fuel to illuminate Arasaka's path.
The ceremony was scheduled for June...
"Interesting..." The timing was so precise, they must have received definite word. Their purpose was blatantly obvious—trying to capitalize on her post-promotion appearance in her new capacity to add credibility to the academy's educational prowess.
Lost in thought and remembering something, Vera raised an eyebrow and cheerfully accepted the invitation.
No harm in it, mutual goodwill, each taking what they needed.
Clicking confirm on her terminal screen, Vera confirmed to Arasaka Academy that she would attend the 2074 freshman orientation ceremony.
Time to serve up some chicken soup for the soul.
"Phew..."
Stubbing out her cigarette in the nearby ashtray, watching the wisps of white smoke curl up, Vera flexed her fingers. After her knuckles produced a series of crisp pops, she leaned back toward her personal terminal, reviewed the information and files once more to ensure nothing was missed, then stood and stretched, loosening her neck before leaving her desk to approach the wine cabinet built into the recessed wall on the left side of her office.
Vera opened the glass door and selected a amber honey whiskey from among the collection of Champagne Paradise, Piquette Winery, and Kyoto Gekkeikan reserves.
Look at that, what does an Arasaka dog drink?
Pop.
Uncorking it, Vera poured herself a glass and took a light sip, feeling the sweet liquid flow down smooth as water-polished river stones. She settled comfortably into her executive chair, gazing back at the floor-to-ceiling windows and the Night City scenery beyond—
4 PM, sunset approaching, a steel jungle of towering buildings in stark black and white divisions.
The bulletproof glass curtain wall provided one-way visibility—no privacy concerns.
After some time passed, ring ring ring.
"Hey, Vera, finished work and having a little drink here."
Accompanying the phone ring, a middle-aged man in a flashy black suit with red trim appeared on the virtual grid screen of Vera's optical implant.
"Mr. Thomas, good afternoon. I'm just waiting for the handover. If you're jealous, I'll pick out a few bottles of Paradise Champagne to send over."
James Thomas, the boss of Vera's boss's boss, Deputy Security Director of Arasaka Night City's Security Department, overseeing the Security Bureau. Also her adoptive father's former superior.
Vera's 'family friend,' the trustee who had once helped manage her 'inheritance.'
As Arasaka's largest, most famous, and most important department, Security didn't establish a Director position unless absolutely necessary. Board members directly held the highest positions, with Deputy Directors managing specific areas as the department's highest officials.
Unless you were direct lineage from the Tokyo Arasaka estate—the elite of the elite—it was very difficult for outsiders to climb to Security Director.
"Hahaha..."
Vera's intimate yet respectful words made Deputy Security Director James Thomas's face, showing minimal cybernetic modification traces, beam with paternal kindness as he nodded continuously, like truly watching an outstanding junior.
"Then I'll look forward to your collection. That Fred always had an unusual fondness for quality spirits—didn't drink much, but loved collecting and storing them everywhere."
After simple pleasantries to warm relations, Thomas's tone became serious.
"Captain Vera Adelheid Russell, your promotion has been approved in Tokyo. You did well in Brasília. In 30 minutes, there's an internal Night City Security Bureau meeting where the news will be officially announced and take immediate effect. Congratulations, Vera. Fred and Mia would be proud of you."
"Thank you, Director Thomas."
Vera displayed appropriate excitement barely contained, standing up. "Thank you for your guidance."
"No need for that, this is what you earned. Arasaka treats capable people well. The meeting starts in exactly 29 minutes."
Beep beep.
Communication ended.
The subtle expression Vera had struggled to display gradually faded as she drained her glass and leaned back in her chair.
"Phew..." All that diligent 'family friend'-calling wasn't wasted. Working at Arasaka was no different from working within any system. Especially departments heavily influenced by Japan - bloodline, backing, background, connections were everything.
Vera took a deep breath.
Had to admit, relationship management really worked.
Even in Arasaka's snake pit, as long as you could consistently demonstrate value, create value for the company, and knew how to climb, you really could make it.
Of course, if you failed, that was an entirely different fate.
That president of the New United States, Rosalind Myers, started her political career during her Marine Corps service, got noticed by Militech, earned attention from Militech's upper echelons through raw capability, was selected as CEO successor from the competition, and ultimately became president.
That path wouldn't work at Arasaka, but it didn't stop her from being Vera's role model.
Someone to learn from...
In the remaining half hour, Vera didn't cause any trouble, staying in her office to process several routine documents submitted by her subordinate Arasaka soldiers from Team 6.
Right on time, beep beep—
Internal meeting notification.
Vera lowered the partition wall as several holographic imaging devices outlined a conference round table.
Soon enough, Security Bureau executives appeared one by one in the projected seats: Deputy Security Director James Thomas in the center position, people from other Special Assault Force teams, garrisoned mobile teams, heavy armor units, rescue units, disaster response units [chemical defense], security units [regular corporate security], escort units [bodyguards]...
A sharp-eyed, gray-haired, bald man with obvious cybernetic lines covering his body looked at her. Vera's built-in communication chip rang, and after connecting, the man's voice came through.
"Commander Russell, congratulations."
He looked old—probably the eldest-appearing person present—but Vera didn't dare underestimate him.
"Old man Ram." Right, another familiar face, her adoptive father's acquaintance.
So many corporate dogs privately grumbled that Chief Adelheid's work and promotion within Night City's Security Department was like coming home and reclaiming belongings.
The person Vera's promotion would displace should be him.
The head position of the Special Assault Force.
Vera looked at Ram's noticeably thinner upper limbs, clearly, his combat implants had been removed. The reason was simple: he'd reached his limit.
Neural deterioration couldn't handle high-intensity combat. Pushing further would mean cyberpsychosis. Before symptoms appeared, the company's safety maintenance personnel had forcibly removed his combat implants for 'load reduction.'
Old man Ram had served the company for over twenty years.
"Want to comfort me? Little Vera, haha... Instead of comforting me, better focus your energy on the biotechnology research that interests you. Fred raised a good daughter... Haven't thanked you yet, Vera. That experimental improved suppressant you recovered and modified from the old Net saved my life."
Ram looked at Vera with burning intensity.
Vera only smiled back, saying nothing.
Let them continue the misunderstanding.
A misunderstanding that 'Vera joined Security to follow in her parents' footsteps, while biotechnology research is her personal hobby.'
"Alright then."
Finally, Deputy Security Director James Thomas interrupted the whispered conversations.
"I won't rehash the Brasília operation commendations. Deputy Security Chief Vera Adelheid Russell is promoted one rank to Special Assault Force Director, participating in Security Bureau internal management affairs with Security Chief rank."
"Arasaka Corporation Tokyo Global Headquarters: Order issued, effective immediately."
...
The meeting ended quickly.
After all, everyone had tasks and assigned garrison areas. Announcing a promotion order—not parachuting in some outside official—didn't take long.
Looking at her updated personal file and clearance level on the office terminal, Vera smiled.
Beep beep—
A new unread message popped up.
Sender: Arasaka Transportation Authority — Night City
Dear Director Vera Adelheid Russell, please visit our office during your free work hours to pay management fees and collect the 'Rayfield Excalibur.'
Her exclusive flying car had arrived.
But before that...
Vera left her office, carrying a bottle of champagne and leading two bodyguards to Arasaka Tower's first-floor reception hall, walking toward the Arasaka memorial erected outside the reception area.
Besides commemorating the 2023 nuclear explosion, the memorial here also honored Arasaka's 2069 return to Night City operation. Her biological parents' names were inscribed there too.
Not caring about the Paradise Champagne's expense, finding the memorial bearing her biological parents' names, Vera silently poured the wine in her hand. When only half the bottle remained, she paused, drained it in one gulp, placed the empty bottle before the stone monument, stood straight, then quietly bowed her head.
Her two bodyguards maintained watch nearby.
Under the setting sun, from within Arasaka Tower's towering glass curtain walls, shadows silently observed this scene.
