Chapter 162

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Arasaka Tower. 

33rd Floor, Counterintelligence Department. 

Kate was sitting in her office, awaiting a report from her subordinates. 

Soon enough, the office door automatically opened, and Douglas, an employee of the Counterintelligence Department, walked in. Douglas had been one of her subordinates who followed her into the Counterintelligence Department and is currently a team leader. 

Once they met, they immediately began discussing business. 

In a cold tone, Kate asked, "Did you catch the person?" 

Hearing the question, Douglas looked somewhat grave and felt a bit nervous. He replied, "Yes, but..." 

Kate frowned, clearly displeased. 

"The target has been successfully captured, but Mr. Tang took them away..." Douglas reported honestly, not daring to withhold any information. 

He had received frontline intelligence from subordinate agents earlier stating that the target, Lucy, had shown abnormal behavior and was heading to the Bay Marina alone, showing signs of attempting to escape. 

So, Douglas reported this to his direct superior, Kate, seeking her decision on whether to apprehend the target. 

Lucy, an Arasaka fugitive netrunner, had long been detected by them. The reason for the delay in action was Kate's orders. 

Douglas knew Kate was playing the long game. 

He also understood why Kate wasn't in a rush. For those targeted by Arasaka, escaping their grasp as long as they were alive was impossible. 

If the target escaped Night City tonight, it would only make the arrest a bit more troublesome. 

Once Douglas received Kate's unexpected approval to arrest, he led the Counterintelligence Special Task Force to the Bay Marina in Night City to capture the target. 

He found the target on a luxury yacht already heading out to sea. 

To prevent the mission from failing, Douglas unhesitatingly brought his men, using aircars and speedboats to pursue. 

Surrounded by the sea, the target had nowhere to escape. 

Just when he thought everything was going smoothly, Douglas was utterly surprised to see someone standing on the yacht deck — Tang Yu. 

The owner of this luxury yacht was none other than Tang Yu, who had arrived on the scene with another Counterintelligence Special Task Force ahead of them. 

Douglas was stunned but quickly regained his composure and reported to Tang Yu upon landing on the deck. 

Though his mission was arranged by Deputy Director Kate, encountering the acting director, he had to follow company protocols. 

Initially, Douglas suspected Tang Yu might be connected to the target. But to his surprise, Tang Yu unhesitantly ordered the arrest, citing the theft of Arasaka's top-level secrets, and personally escorted the target back to the Counterintelligence Department. 

On the way, Douglas had to follow Tang Yu's arrangements and returned to Arasaka Tower together. 

After hearing the report, Kate's frown deepened, sensing something was amiss. 

She had not informed anyone about Tang Yu's encounter with Lucy on the subway, intending to dig deeper along this line. 

To her surprise, Tang Yu had brought the person back to Arasaka Tower so openly. 

Could they really have no hidden connections? Kate vividly recalled Tang Yu's actions towards Lucy, suspecting there was a twist. 

Fortunately, the person was captured. She only needed a chance to deep dive into Lucy's mind to uncover the truth. 

With evidence in hand, Tang Yu would have no escape. 

Kate asked expressionlessly, "Where are they being held now?" 

Douglas sighed in relief and replied, "In the Counterintelligence Department's interrogation room." 

The Counterintelligence interrogation room was designed to break the target's will and neural system; no one could come out withholding the truth, willing or not. 

No one could withstand Arasaka's methods, given even souls could be extracted. 

Kate rose from her seat, coldly stating, "Let's go there now." 

Douglas nodded and hurriedly followed Kate out of the office, heading straight to the interrogation room. 

Kate walked briskly, and employees in the Counterintelligence Department quickly made way to avoid crossing paths with the vicious Deputy Director. 

She needed to extract information from the target quickly. If Tang Yu destroyed the brain or data first, a corpse would be useless to her. 

At the interrogation room entrance, the guard was seated by the gate. 

She ordered, "Open the door. I need to interrogate the detainee, Lucy." 

The guard's synthetic eye whirred as he searched for Lucy's location. 

Soon, the guard responded, "Miss Kate, I'm sorry, but you don't have permission." 

"Mr. Tang has upgraded the security level to director-level. Only he can interrogate or meet the target." 

Kate's face turned dark; she said, "Use my Deputy Director privileges. I'll take full responsibility. I need to interrogate now." 

She had to act before Tang Yu did, or the lead might break. 

The guard seriously replied, "Miss Kate, I execute the highest orders. If you object, you'll have to apply to Mr. Tang." 

Kate held back her anger, pondering how to override Tang Yu. 

She decided to contact her direct superior, a hawkish member of the Arasaka Board, and seek higher-level privileges. 

Kate knew Tang Yu had attended Saburo's banquet recently and gained his favor. This move had caught the attention of Arasaka Yoshinobu. 

Her digging into Tang Yu was subtly encouraged by Yoshinobu. 

Clearly, Tang Yu not only attracted Saburo's attention but also Yoshinobu's curiosity, who wanted to know what Tang Yu was doing for the supreme leader. 

Kate stood at the interrogation room door, her synthetic eye activating as she contacted the board member. 

The reply came quickly. 

"Permission denied." 

She read the message, hardly believing it. 

What was going on? Even board members couldn't get access? 

Kate immediately realized Tang Yu must be working directly for the top echelons in Arasaka, using Saburo as a shield to set the restrictions. 

In all of Night City's Arasaka Tower, no one could interfere but Tang Yu. 

Kate reluctantly stared at the gate, just one step away. 

Previously, she had assigned other forces, like the Animals gang, to monitor and seize the target. 

But those incompetents failed, getting themselves killed and alerting the other side. To avoid further alerting the target, Kate had Douglas handle it, deploying more competent Arasaka agents, yet Tang Yu intercepted them. 

Essentially, Kate was doing Yoshinobu's private work. With Yoshinobu in Kyoto, many things couldn't be directly reported, and his influence on Night City's Arasaka Tower was limited. 

She could only quietly plan alone. She didn't even dare disclose the information on Lucy and Tang Yu to anyone. 

The depths of Arasaka Tower were too dangerous, and she didn't trust anyone fully. 

Even Douglas was merely an obedient subordinate, not privy to internal secrets. 

Failing to interrogate Lucy, Kate returned to her office to await another opportunity. 

If Tang Yu dealt ruthlessly with the target, she could still follow other leads. 

If Tang Yu released the target, it would confirm her suspicions, allowing her to continue investigating secretly. 

Kate left the interrogation room. 

... 

Director's office. 

Tang Yu sat on the sofa in the reception area, holding a tea cup with faint wisps of steam rising from it. 

It had been a long time since he'd returned to the office late at night, just after coming back from the bay. 

After a brief rest, he received a message from the interrogation room's guard, reporting that Lucy had awakened and that Deputy Director Kate had been there trying to interrogate her. 

Tang Yu set down his cup, feeling a rare surge of murderous intent. 

Persistent. 

That was his impression of Kate. 

When Kate transferred here from the Research Department, Tang Yu had rarely been in the office, seeking peace. 

But she came to the Counterintelligence Department only to dig into his background all the time. 

Tang Yu had deliberately visited Saburo Arasaka's office to set top-level restrictions on Lucy's interrogation access. 

Kate hit a wall and was likely still trying to dig deeper. This persistence and insight were commendable. 

In all of Arasaka Tower, only she was brave enough to hunt down Tang Yu. 

If so, then when darkness falls, the wolf bares its fangs. 

This time, Kate had to understand the single most important word in her life: death.

Tang Yu put down the teacup in his hand, left the office, and headed straight towards the interrogation room. The guards opened the gate for Tang Yu and then unlocked the door to Lucy's holding room.

Tang Yu walked into the small, cold interrogation room, and the gate behind him closed. He saw Lucy curled up on the cold ledge, her expression blank, her gaze hollow. The life simulation interface visible only to Tang Yu had turned gray once again. 

After ending her life simulation, Lucy had not fully recovered from the realistic experiences and was brought here by the Arasaka Special Task Force. Her frightened mind was blank, seeming to have forgotten fear or dread.

Tang Yu had gained new talents and life points.

[Life Points: 3]

[Fusion Ability 1: Unyielding Resilience (Rare)]

[Fusion Ability 2: Bullet Time (Rare)]

[Fusion Ability 3: Weak Electrical Manipulation (Common)]

The 'Weak Electrical Manipulation' talent was obtained through Lucy's life simulation, along with two additional life points. He upgraded 'Weak Electrical Manipulation' by one point, improving its quality to Excellent.

[Fusion Ability: Weak Electrical Manipulation (Excellent)]

With the increase in talent level, Tang Yu's palm emitted faint arcs of electricity, extending secret currents from his right hand, allowing him operation. This talent enabled him to invade and control electronic components within a certain range using weak electricity, or focus electricity to cause burning at a single point. As his talent level increased, the range and distance would expand, and power would gradually intensify.

Noticing someone entering the room, Lucy looked up and saw Tang Yu. A glint of recognition flashed in her eyes but quickly dimmed. She rested her chin lightly on her knees without speaking.

Tang Yu understood that it would be difficult for Lucy to accept her current situation. Just moments ago, she had been chatting and laughing with him, and now she was silent and desolate, lost from being brought into the interrogation room by the Arasaka Special Task Force right after her disorienting life simulation. Anyone would be bewildered.

He had learned all about her life simulation and was more surprised by Lucy's attitude than the fact that he had become the No. 001 test subject. Maybe she wasn't as free-spirited and strong as he had imagined, not like the wild silver-haired girl he remembered. Lucy didn't leave Night City of her own will.

From Lucy's perspective, she was now in a dire situation, captured by Arasaka. But sometimes, the most dangerous places are the safest. In the Arasaka Tower, Tang Yu could use his various permissions and company rules to protect her. If she fled outside, even the slightest mistake could lead to capture or death by Arasaka agents. Saving her would be nearly impossible.

In Arasaka Tower, Tang Yu could offer reasonable explanations for sparing Lucy on the subway and keep her under watch for future actions.

As Lucy remained lost in her thoughts, a clear voice suddenly echoed in her ear, "Don't be afraid. Trust me, nothing will happen."

It sounded so close, as if it echoed inside her head, making her look up at Tang Yu in surprise. Tang Yu was far from her and hadn't spoken. Where did the voice come from? Was her brain implant invaded?

She noticed a faint arc of electricity at Tang Yu's fingertips, barely visible unless closely observed. Just as she was about to speak, the familiar voice echoed again.

"Don't speak. I will explain everything."

Stunned, she couldn't fathom how the man before her did it. Through some mysterious power, he had entered her brain and conveyed information. Tang Yu's secrets were more than they seemed. Lucy resumed her hugging-knees posture, but her gaze softened.

Tang Yu had activated the 'Weak Electrical Manipulation' talent, penetrating Lucy's brain's electronic components so she could hear him speak. For a former top hacker, this talent could maximize his previous skills, though its range and power were currently limited to micro-operations.

Seeing Lucy calm down, Tang Yu continued to speak in her mind.

"You can't entirely escape Arasaka. No matter how far you go, it's impossible."

Lucy stayed silent, knowing Tang Yu was right. Even on the Moon, she couldn't escape Arasaka's reach. She was certain that Arasaka's interest wasn't just in her identity but also her association with Tang Yu. 

Someone at Arasaka wanted to use her to find a way to bring Tang Yu down. 

Tang Yu summarized, "I will find a way to clear Arasaka's records on you, but you need to do something."

Lucy bit her lip, staying silent but agreeing internally.

"Join Netwatch."

Lucy looked puzzled. What did cleaning her records have to do with joining Netwatch? She lacked enough information to understand Tang Yu's intentions. As a netrunner, she knew Netwatch was responsible for tracking rogue hackers, combating AIs, rebuilding the Net, and hunting dangerous AIs. They were tricky foes for all unregistered netrunners, forcing them to avoid detection during deep net dives.

Tang Yu couldn't stay in the interrogation room too long. He quickly explained and then confirmed Lucy's stable mental state before walking out of the room. Keeping her safe under Arasaka's watch was temporary. 

Getting her into Netwatch would eliminate her compromised netrunner status at Arasaka. If Kate's silence could be guaranteed, no one would question their encounter on the subway again.

A different perspective could turn the same story into another narrative. 

A cyberpunk girl steals top secret data from Arasaka, gets caught, and is sent to Netwatch for special missions, ultimately staying. Arasaka and Netwatch had an agreement, so Lucy's records would change to a Netwatch agent.

This was the safest route for Lucy. Removing her information with Saburo Arasaka's authority would force her into the shadows, likely causing more trouble. Sometimes, the more you try to hide, the harder it becomes. It's better to bring things into the open, dissuading curiosity and doubt.

Tang Yu returned to the office. Many counterintell colleagues were surprised to see him working so late, suspecting something serious. Tang Yu decided to stay in the office overnight to avoid any sudden issues and ponder over the matter between Netwatch and the Voodoo Boys. This involved not just Lucy's future but also his need to report to Saburo Arasaka.

Tang Yu leaned back in his chair, feeling his brows tighten with fatigue. He unconsciously glanced at the empty deputy workstation. Sasha wasn't in the office; she should be at Gloria's place. To ensure Gloria kept her position at Lizzie's, preventing any assassination attempts, Tang Yu had Sasha stay close to her.

Tang Yu wearily closed his eyes, pinching the spot between his brows.

Meanwhile, Sasha, sleeping beside Gloria, suddenly stuck her head out of the blankets and sneezed. "Achoo!" She rubbed her nose, found nothing strange, and snuggled back into the covers, chatting excitedly with Gloria about Tang Yu, their faces flushing, unable to feel any sleepiness.