The year was 2074.
Night City, the freest city in North America, was already awake long before sunrise.
Neon advertisements painted the sky in shifting colors while countless vehicles moved through the streets below.
Above them, AVs crossed the skyline like mechanical birds, carrying executives, mercenaries, and politicians to their destinations.
Inside a luxurious apartment in Charter Hill, a tall, well-built man slowly opened his eyes.
Beep—Beep— The alarm echoed through the room.
Victor reached out and silenced it with practiced precision before sitting upright.
The floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the sprawling urban jungle beyond.
Towering skyscrapers pierced the clouds while holographic billboards projected advertisements large enough to be seen from miles away.
To many people, Night City was a place where dreams came true.
To Victor, it was a battlefield.
Every corporation, gang, politician, and mercenary fought for survival in one way or another.
The weak were crushed beneath the gears of the city.
Only the strong survived.
Rising from bed, Victor walked toward the mirror.
His reflection stared back at him.
Sharp features.
Cold eyes.
The appearance of a man who had spent years navigating the ruthless world of corporate politics.
Carefully, he put on his Arasaka uniform.
Every button was perfectly aligned.
Every fold was flawless.
Only after confirming that his appearance met corporate standards did he nod with satisfaction.
Then he stepped outside.
Two heavily armed bodyguards were already waiting.
“Boss.” “Good morning, Boss.” Victor gave a small nod.
“Let’s head to the office.
If there’s anything important today, report it now.” One of the guards, Canris, immediately spoke.
“Mostly operation reports that require your approval and signature.” Victor smirked.
“And you’re worried about your bonus.” Canris froze.
Brandt burst into laughter.
“Boss, your instincts are terrifying.” Victor shook his head.
In the Special Operations Department, performance reports determined bonuses, promotions, and punishments.
A successful mission could make someone rich overnight.
A failed report could wipe out months of income.
Naturally, everyone cared.
A few minutes later, the trio arrived at the rooftop helipad.
Waiting there was a sleek black Excalibur AV.
The aircraft represented power and status within Night City.
Only governments and corporations possessed the authority to legally operate AVs.
For ordinary citizens, owning one was nearly impossible.
Even if someone somehow acquired an AV, flying it without authorization would place them on every law enforcement and corporate watchlist in the city.
Victor boarded the aircraft.
Unlike standard executive transports, his AV had undergone extensive modifications.
Additional combat drones.
Advanced countermeasure systems.
Security robots.
Concealed vehicle-mounted machine guns.
Every upgrade had one purpose.
Keeping Victor alive.
Though such precautions were rarely necessary.
After all, few people were foolish enough to attack an Arasaka executive in Arasaka-controlled territory.
The engines roared to life.
Moments later, the AV lifted into the sky.
Night City unfolded beneath them.
Neon lights.
Crowded highways.
Megabuildings stretching toward the heavens.
The city looked beautiful from above.
Victor knew better.
Behind the glittering facade lay poverty, gang warfare, cyberpsychosis, organ trafficking, and endless violence.
That was the true face of Night City.
As the aircraft traveled toward Arasaka Tower, Brandt glanced toward Victor.
“Boss, is it true you’re getting promoted?” Victor remained calm.
“The paperwork has already been approved.” The two guards exchanged excited looks.
“Department Head?” “Most likely.” Canris couldn’t hide his grin.
That position would officially place Victor among Arasaka’s upper management.
Power.
Influence.
Authority.
Everything that ambitious corporate employees dreamed about.
Yet Victor himself wasn’t particularly excited.
Instead, his thoughts drifted to the past.
To a life that nobody else knew about.
Victor wasn’t originally from this world.
He had memories of another life.
Unlike many stories involving transmigration, he hadn’t possessed another person’s body.
He had been reborn.
A true reincarnation.
For over twenty years, he had lived as Victor.
Compared to most Night City residents, his childhood had been fortunate.
His father served as Director of the Special Operations Department.
His mother managed both the Cyber Security Division and portions of Arasaka’s Research Department.
Both were influential figures within the corporation.
Had fate been kinder, they would have risen even higher.
Unfortunately, Night City rarely offered happy endings.
In 2070, Arasaka returned to Night City and engaged in a major conflict with Militech.
The war reshaped the balance of power across the region.
When the fighting ended, Arasaka emerged victorious.
The corporation reclaimed its position as the dominant force within Night City.
Militech suffered significant losses.
Dogtown rose under the control of Kurt Hansen.
And Victor’s parents never returned.
They died serving Arasaka.
Many people believed corporations treated everyone as disposable tools.
Victor knew the reality was more complicated.
Arasaka certainly exploited people.
However, it also valued loyalty.
Executives who devoted their lives to the company were remembered.
Because of his parents’ sacrifices, Arasaka extended its protection to their son.
The corporation paid for his education.
Provided security.
Opened doors that would have remained closed to ordinary citizens.
Of course, nothing came free.
During his years at Arasaka Academy, Victor was required to surrender management rights over all inherited assets.
Half of all profits belonged to the corporation.
Thirty percent went to designated managers.
Only twenty percent reached him.
Many people would consider the arrangement unfair.
Victor considered it acceptable.
The alternative was far worse.
Without Arasaka’s protection, a wealthy orphan in Night City was little more than prey.
Scavengers would strip him for cyberware.
Kidnappers would sell him to the highest bidder.
Gangs would see him as easy money.
Arasaka’s protection guaranteed survival.
And in Night City, survival had value.
The aircraft suddenly announced: “Arasaka Tower has been reached.
Please proceed carefully.” The massive structure dominated the skyline.
Even among Night City’s countless skyscrapers, Arasaka Tower stood apart.
It wasn’t merely a building.
It was a symbol.
A declaration that Arasaka ruled this city.
The AV landed smoothly.
Victor stepped onto the platform.
Canris and Brandt followed closely behind.
Without hesitation, Victor began issuing orders.
“I’m heading to my office.” He looked toward Canris.
“Check my emails and prioritize anything urgent.” “Understood.” Then he turned toward Brandt.
“Coordinate with Public Relations.
Make sure the cleanup from last night’s operation is properly handled.” “Got it, Boss.” Victor nodded.
“We’ll discuss everything else later.” With that, he walked into the tower.
Employees moved aside immediately.
Some bowed.
Others greeted him respectfully.
Victor barely noticed.
This place had been his home for most of his life.
His current position as Manager of the Special Operations Department already placed him above thousands of employees.
But that was about to change.
His promotion to Department Head would officially elevate him into Arasaka’s senior leadership.
It would also expose him to dangers far greater than street gangs or cyberpsychos.
Corporate politics.
Inside Arasaka, power was divided among several factions.
One faction in particular had shown considerable interest in Victor.
The Hawks.
Supporters of Yorinobu Arasaka.
They actively attempted to recruit talented executives who might support their vision for the company’s future.
The Doves were more moderate and maintained friendlier relations with the NUSA.
The Pheasants remained neutral in corporate conflicts.
Or at least they claimed to.
Their true loyalty belonged solely to one man.
Saburo Arasaka.
The founder.
The emperor.
The undisputed ruler of the corporation.
Several Hawk representatives had already approached Victor.
They wanted his support.
His loyalty.
His future influence.
So far, Victor had avoided making a commitment.
His answer remained simple.
“I’m still considering.” For now, that was enough.
His current rank wasn’t high enough to make him a priority.
But once he became Department Head?
Everything would change.
The invitations.
The pressure.
The political games.
The hidden battles.
They would all begin.
The elevator doors opened.
Victor stepped inside.
As it carried him toward his office, he stared silently at his reflection in the mirrored wall.
Most people believed his rapid rise came from family connections.
Others credited his intelligence.
Some pointed to his education.
All of them were partially correct.
Yet none of them knew the truth.
A secret that had accompanied him since birth.
A power that had helped him seize opportunities others could never see.
The foundation of everything he had achieved.
His greatest advantage in Night City.
The Cyberpunk System.
Of course, Victor never relied solely on it.
A system could provide opportunities.
A system could provide advantages.
But only hard work transformed opportunity into power.
And Victor had spent more than twenty years doing exactly that.
Now, standing on the threshold of promotion and greater influence, he could feel fate beginning to move.
His rise through the ranks of Arasaka had only just begun.
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