Chapter 16: Friend of Villains
Vera knew she had a talent—especially when it came to scheming.
She had never dealt with someone like this young legend before, but upon meeting him, she didn't need advisors or strategies. Instantly, dozens of plans ran through her mind. She already knew how to win him over—and how to use him.
Hmph. This was all Arasaka's fault.
Arasaka made me like this.
"So, first, survive in Arasaka Academy. Endure the torment, push yourself, and improve."
Her slender fingers lifted a glass of ice water. Vera took a delicate sip, leaned back on the sofa, and watched the crowd of incoming freshmen through the massive window. Despite the chaos, it was still relatively calm and orderly.
Soon, the orientation began. The students were guided into the venue. Vera—once the Academy's top student, now a renowned Arasaka executive—was seated on the central podium, quietly listening to the short, stocky principal drone on.
Later, she would give a speech herself. She'd also be expected to answer a few rehearsed questions from the new students.
No big deal.
She was used to it. As a director at Umbrella and a public face of Arasaka, Vera had long mastered the art of corporate performance.
Back in the States, she'd handled the media, advocacy groups, charity panels—you name it. She could lie without blinking, evade tough questions, misdirect, spin narratives, ignore premises, and flip the blame with ease.
> "Next, let's welcome the 2070 Arasaka Tower Academy valedictorian and current Arasaka executive, Director Vera Adelheid Russell, to share a few words with our freshmen!"
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Chapter 19: Friend of Villains
(Good morning)."
Vera stood tall and dignified, her face compassionate but firm.
"I'm Vera Adelheid Russell."
"As your senior, I'm honored to be here today at the Arasaka Tower Academy freshman orientation in Night City."
"To quote Lord Saburo Arasaka: 'Fallen blossoms rarely return to their branches.' From the moment you were born, you've been inching toward a future where you must face the storm alone."
"Coming here is your first step into independence."
"The path ahead will be harsh, but the future is full of promise. Just as old blood makes way for the new, Arasaka thrives by injecting fresh strength—your strength."
...
"Thank you."
Conventional. Formulaic.
With a warm smile and smooth delivery, Vera gave the textbook Arasaka speech. Family, duty, succession, hope. She hit every beat, delivered with mechanical perfection.
It was exactly what the corporation wanted.
Clack, clack.
Stepping down from the stage, Vera didn't return to the VIP section. Instead, she moved to the sidelines where Arasaka's executives gathered, scanning the crowd with quiet interest.
There were kids with no connections, sent here by struggling parents. Wide-eyed, excited, naive. Clinging to the dream of graduating, joining Arasaka, and repaying their families.
Some were semi-aware—teenagers who grasped the cost of getting in. Vera's words lit a fire under them.
And then there were the indifferent ones.
The children of corpo families acted superior, arrogant, their behavior carefully shaped by years of corporate grooming. When leaders spoke, they applauded like clockwork, well aware of Vera's rank and influence.
Their paths were already paved.
David Martinez fell into the second category.
Of course he recognized Vera. He wasn't dumb. He didn't shout or make a fuss—that would've been suicidal.
Instead, he listened. Closely.
He hadn't been selected to ask any questions—those were pre-scripted. But her words struck a nerve.
Somewhere inside, David knew this world didn't fit him. But Vera's speech made him second-guess that belief.
His mother had always told him he was smart. Getting into Arasaka Academy had been his shot at something bigger. And on the entrance exam, he'd outperformed most corpo kids.
Now, with his mother's tearful smile still fresh in his memory, David clenched his fist.
Family. Duty. Responsibility.
He didn't understand the corporate jargon. But he understood his mother had bled for this.
And he had to make it count.
Clap clap clap ––
The ceremony wrapped up. Corp families mingled, exchanging greetings and business cards, subtly showcasing their children's value.
Vera had no interest in mingling.
She offered some encouragement to a few children from the security division, then excused herself, citing work. Not a lie—Arasaka didn't give breaks.
As the principal gave her a warm, greasy farewell, Vera and her bodyguards exited the venue, moving through a landscaped garden toward her flying AV.
That's when she spotted a middle-aged man in a black-and-red Arasaka uniform, standing beside a mushroom-headed boy near her AV.
"Director Russell, good day. I'm Tanaka Shinichi. I took the liberty of waiting for you."
The internal scan in Vera's augmented vision pinged.
Tanaka Shinichi – Mid-tier executive in Arasaka's Night City R&D Division. Specialty: cyberware, exoskeletons, and mecha testing. Member of the Academy Board. Loyal, senior. Involved in corporate experimental weapon projects.
"Mr. Tanaka."
She nodded, extended her hand.
Technically, Tanaka's rank was beneath hers. She ran security; he ran a lab. But old-school loyalists like him still carried weight in Arasaka's bureaucratic machinery.
"This is my son, Tanaka Katsuo," Tanaka said, motioning to the boy. "He's not interested in R&D. He's always admired the Security Division."
Ah. So that's the angle.
A corpo dad pulling strings to get his kid into the more glamorous side of the company.
"Like father, like son," Vera replied. "But we'll see if we cross paths again."
She stepped toward Katsuo, her expression unreadable.
"In the Academy," she said, voice low, "don't waste time. Don't get lazy. If you've got the talent, train your body. Learn to shoot. Hack. Fight. This isn't cosplay."
"Y-Yes…"
Katsuo stood frozen under Vera's gaze. Even during his wildest braindance sessions, he'd never felt such pressure. He straightened up without thinking, cheeks flushed.
Her bodyguards didn't help. They loomed silently, all eyes on him.
"Good. Keep it that way."
With a nod to Tanaka, Vera boarded the AV. The "Black and White Demons" flanked her, while other guards took company vehicles. The convoy exited the Academy and headed for the Arasaka plaza.
Buzz… Buzz…
The vector engine's blue flame roared to life. Vera's AV lifted into the cloudy sky, vanishing into the mist.
Only after the AV disappeared did Tanaka straighten from his polite bow and glare at his son.
"From now on," he said coldly, "cut ties with your idiot friends."
"Study. Graduate. Pass the trials. Join Security. I don't care if this was a whim from last night's Watson shootout or just some childish ambition."
"Director Vera knows who you are now. There's no room for half-measures."
"If you don't measure up... don't expect me to show mercy."