“Boss, here’s your cigarette.” Canris finally returned to Victor’s office and handed over the precious pack that had somehow caused far more trouble than it was worth.
Victor accepted it and raised an eyebrow.
“Hmm.
What took so long?” Canris immediately explained everything that had happened outside the company building, from the argument at the vending machine to the unfortunate encounter with the two recently fired Militech employees.
By the time the story was finished, Victor was quietly shaking his head.
People were strange creatures.
Especially in Night City.
Those two former employees had probably convinced themselves that everyone still employed by a corporation had somehow stolen opportunities that rightfully belonged to them.
Once the protection of corporate employment disappeared, resentment often followed shortly afterward.
Eventually that resentment turned into hatred.
And hatred usually needed a target.
Unfortunately for them, they had chosen the wrong one.
Victor took a slow drag from his cigarette and released a cloud of smoke.
“They deliberately picked the company plaza because they assumed nobody would touch them there.” Canris nodded.
“That’s what I figured too.” “They weren’t entirely wrong.” Victor leaned back in his chair.
“Security around the corporate tower is excellent.” He paused.
“The surrounding streets aren’t.” Night City never truly belonged to corporations once you moved far enough away from their walls.
Even Arasaka couldn’t completely control every alleyway and side street.
If those men had encountered ordinary office workers instead of Canris and his team, the outcome might have been very different.
Most corporate employees lacked access to personnel databases.
They couldn’t instantly determine whether someone was a genuine threat.
Nor could they legally initiate violence the way Special Operations personnel could.
In that situation, most people would simply swallow the insult and walk away.
Canris grinned.
“Too bad for them.” Victor laughed.
“Very.” After another puff of smoke, Canris finally voiced a question that had been bothering him for quite some time.
“Boss.” “Hmm?” “Why this brand?” Victor glanced at the cigarette between his fingers.
Canris continued.
“The company supplies far better cigarettes.” “Not to mention the premium cigars.” “In terms of quality, this brand isn’t even close.” Victor stared silently at the cigarette for several moments.
Then he smiled.
“It’s a habit.” Canris waited.
Victor slowly exhaled smoke toward the ceiling.
“The taste reminds me of something.” His voice became quieter.
“Or perhaps someone.” For a brief moment, his gaze lost focus.
Memories.
Old memories.
Memories from a different life.
Twenty-two years had passed since his reincarnation into this world.
Yet occasionally, fragments of his previous existence still surfaced unexpectedly.
A smell.
A taste.
A sound.
Sometimes those tiny details carried more emotional weight than entire decades.
The moment passed quickly.
Victor’s eyes regained their usual sharpness.
“Enough nostalgia.” He stubbed out the cigarette.
“We have work.” — Victor stood from his chair.
“Pack your gear.” Canris immediately straightened.
“Mission?” “Field trip.” That answer only confused him further.
“Where?” “The Arasaka Waterfront District.” Canris froze for a moment before nodding.
Now that made sense.
The Arasaka Waterfront District was one of the corporation’s most important facilities within Night City.
Located in the northwestern region of the city, the area had once consisted of abandoned industrial zones and deteriorating sections of Watson.
Following Arasaka’s return to Night City, the corporation had completely transformed the district.
Entire neighborhoods were demolished.
Factories were rebuilt.
New infrastructure was installed.
Massive ports were constructed.
Officially, the district existed for manufacturing and transportation.
Unofficially…
It was a military fortress.
One of the largest Arasaka strongholds on the entire West Coast.
Large sections of the district were restricted even to Arasaka employees.
Access permissions varied depending on rank.
Security clearances.
Department affiliation.
Need-to-know status.
In truth, the Waterfront District represented one of the foundations of Arasaka’s power in Night City.
It was where the corporation’s confidence truly came from.
— Canris immediately departed to make preparations.
Brandt received the notification shortly afterward and headed directly toward the aerodyne hangar.
Meanwhile, Victor notified the Waterfront District administration regarding his visit.
Approval arrived almost instantly.
This wasn’t unusual.
Victor visited the facility frequently.
Partially due to his role within Special Operations.
But more importantly…
Because of his position within Research and Development.
Unlike most executives, Victor maintained active involvement in multiple research programs.
Weapons development.
Cyberware enhancement.
Biotechnology projects.
Experimental prototypes.
Whenever he required testing facilities or production resources, the Waterfront District was often the best location.
The facility possessed advanced manufacturing lines capable of creating prototype equipment directly from design specifications.
It also contained research laboratories unavailable elsewhere within Night City.
For Victor, it was practically a second workplace.
— Soon afterward, the aerodyne lifted off.
The aircraft soared above Night City, offering a breathtaking view of the urban landscape below.
Daytime Night City looked dramatically different from its nighttime counterpart.
Without the neon lights dominating every street, the city seemed almost ordinary from a distance.
Industrial exhaust clouds rose from countless facilities.
Traffic flowed endlessly through elevated highways.
Corporate skyscrapers cast enormous shadows across surrounding districts.
At first glance, the city even appeared prosperous.
Modern.
Successful.
But that illusion only lasted from a distance.
The closer someone looked, the uglier reality became.
Homeless encampments.
Violence.
Gang activity.
NCPD patrols rushing from one emergency to another.
Desperate people struggling to survive.
The glamorous façade only existed until someone got close enough to see the cracks underneath.
Night City excelled at hiding its problems.
Not solving them.
— Unfortunately for Victor, he wasn’t the only one making the trip.
V and her temporary team had continued tracking him.
The moment they discovered his destination, enthusiasm vanished.
The entire group exchanged uneasy glances.
Nobody wanted to enter the Arasaka Waterfront District.
That place was practically a military installation.
After several seconds, everyone collectively turned toward V.
The message was obvious.
This was her problem.
V clicked her tongue.
“Of course it is.” Still, the mission remained the mission.
There was no alternative.
The team continued toward the facility.
— Victor’s aerodyne passed through multiple security checkpoints before landing inside the district.
V’s team wasn’t nearly as fortunate.
They were stopped immediately at the entrance.
Several heavily armed guards approached.
Nearby combat robots silently tracked every movement.
The atmosphere alone was enough to make most people uncomfortable.
One guard stepped forward.
“Identification.” V presented her credentials.
“Counterintelligence.” The guard examined them carefully.
“Reason for entry?” “We’re conducting operational monitoring related to Minister Victor.” The guard communicated with someone through a secure channel.
Several moments passed.
Then authorization arrived.
“You may enter.” V relaxed slightly.
“Thank you.” “You’ll remain inside the designated waiting area.” The guard’s expression remained neutral.
“If Minister Victor leaves, you’ll be notified.” Not exactly freedom of movement.
But acceptable.
V nodded.
“We understand.” The team followed the guards deeper into the district.
— Elsewhere, Victor had already reached his destination.
He entered a secured receiving facility where walls, floors, and ceilings were constructed entirely from reinforced metal.
Storage containers filled the room.
Robotic transport systems moved silently between designated routes.
A technician wearing white coveralls quickly approached.
“Minister Victor.” Victor nodded.
“The materials I requested.” “They’ve arrived.” “Good.” The technician immediately began issuing commands.
Automated systems activated.
Large containers were unloaded one by one and transferred onto transport drones.
Within minutes, the entire shipment was moving toward the research laboratories.
Satisfied, Victor proceeded directly toward the research section.
Canris and Brandt, meanwhile, headed toward the lounge area.
They had experienced this routine many times before.
Their boss entered laboratories.
Several hours disappeared.
Then he emerged with new ideas.
Sometimes dangerous ideas.
— Inside the laboratory, Victor began reviewing several blueprints obtained through his mysterious system.
Some focused on practical weapon designs.
Others involved cybernetic enhancement technology.
Over the years, numerous products available through Arasaka had benefited from his contributions.
Several weapon platforms currently generating corporate profits included modifications or improvements developed by Victor.
Naturally, he received a percentage of those earnings.
Some of the more advanced designs never reached public markets.
Arasaka retained them exclusively for internal use.
Those prototypes remained among the corporation’s most closely guarded assets.
Victor preferred it that way.
— As he worked, his thoughts briefly drifted toward one particular blueprint.
A blueprint he had no intention of revealing.
Ever.
At least not yet.
Bio-Enhancement Type II.
A terrifyingly valuable medical technology.
The blueprint originated from research involving the genetic repair mechanisms of Arctic right whales.
The resulting drug possessed a remarkable capability.
It could theoretically extend the natural human lifespan.
The implications were obvious.
Anyone controlling such technology could influence the future of humanity itself.
More importantly…
Powerful people would kill to obtain it.
Corporations.
Governments.
Executives.
Every major power on Earth would immediately become interested.
Victor understood this perfectly.
That was why the blueprint remained locked away.
Some treasures attracted more danger than profit.
— Three hours passed before Victor finally emerged from the laboratory.
After taking a shower and changing clothes, he entered the lounge area where Canris and Brandt were waiting.
“Boss.” Canris immediately stood.
“I’ve got some updates.” Victor accepted the tablet.
Most of the reports were routine.
Nothing urgent.
Nothing particularly interesting.
Except one item.
Tomorrow’s meeting with Dangerous gal.
Victor studied the information carefully.
Arasaka had recently developed a new biological medical product intended to compete with emergency medical supplies used by trauma response organizations.
Market penetration remained limited.
Therefore, Arasaka planned to cooperate with Dangerous Dolls to expand public visibility.
The product’s primary purpose was straightforward.
Rapid wound stabilization.
Accelerated healing.
Bleeding control.
Treatment of minor external injuries.
However, the real selling point wasn’t emergency medicine.
It was cosmetics.
The biological treatment dramatically reduced scar formation.
In some cases, it could eliminate visible scarring entirely.
That feature had immediately attracted Dangerous Gal’s interest.
After all, appearance represented one of their most valuable assets.
Victor smiled slightly as he reviewed the report.
Tomorrow’s meeting suddenly seemed far more interesting than a routine business negotiation.
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