23 Chapter 23

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Arasaka Tower.

Tang Yu took the elevator to the thirty-third floor, headed for the counterintelligence department. He looked at the back of his slightly reddened hand, recalling how he had just put an old woman in her place.

"Susan Abernathy, your counterintelligence homework is still lacking," Tang Yu thought.

The reason why Tang Yu could openly trample over her dignity was because he had more intelligence on her than she could imagine, and she likely had no clue about his trump cards yet.

"But I should also schedule some time to work on my combat skills. In the past, a bout wouldn't leave my hand looking like this."

While he was in the elevator, as usual, the digital screen looped footage of the "great" life story of the patriarch of Arasaka. Despite seeing these old, dated black-and-white photos countless times, Tang Yu's feeling of disgust only grew.

Every time, it reminded him of that degenerate, Johnny.

A ghost, an electronic specter truly wandering above the heads of the Arasaka family, a genuine warrior against empires, tyranny, and capitalism.

"He's got spunk, just lacks a bit in strength," was Tang Yu's consistent assessment of Johnny.

With this thought in mind, Tang Yu put his earphones back on, playing music, and humming softly.

The announcement on the screen droned on.

"Arasaka Sasai suffered a severe injury in 1942 which sadly prevented him from continuing his combat flight missions for his country."

"He could only watch helplessly as the empire that he had defended began to suffer defeat after defeat, culminating in an unconditional surrender in 1945."

"According to family members of Arasaka Sasai, he felt such despair and shame that he decided to commit seppuku to apologize to his country, but at the last moment, he changed his mind."

"The reason remains unknown..."

Ding Tang!

The elevator doors slid open automatically, landing smoothly on the thirty-third floor where the counterintelligence department's office area was located.

Following the usual path, Tang Yu walked through the department's main hall, passed by the reception and the public office area to the left, then entered the corridor flanked by the red-lit data processing centers of the intelligence department. Staff members busied themselves within. Finally, he reached his office, verifying his identity to enter.

He immediately used the office communication system to summon Carter to report for work, then hung his black overcoat on the silver-steel coat hook on the wall, boiled some hot water for drinking, undid his suit buttons, and sat at his desk with a cup of hot water in hand.

"Whew, whew..."

Tang Yu gently blew away the steam rising from his cup, then took a sip of the hot water, which was a bit scalding but felt good.

He figured he was probably the only one in the entire Arasaka Tower who drank hot water, a personal habit he had retained amongst his few. He didn't quite trust Night City's water supply, so boiled water always felt cleaner and more comforting.

Soon after.

Carter arrived in the office, the picture of feeble obedience, and stood across Tang Yu's desk with his back hunched and eyes cast downward.

To Tang Yu, people like this were more disgusting than Abernathy, playing one game to your face and another behind your back, the quintessential sycophant. If he got the upper hand, one could be dead without even knowing how they'd offended him.

"Report on the last assignment you were monitoring. What's the latest development?"

Carter, as always, stuttered through his update, rambling on until he finally managed to make things clear.

"Uh, early this morning, I monitored a transaction on the 'Night City Love' underground black market, offering an unknown standard model of a Sandevistan cyberware for sale at a high price. But the offer was pulled shortly after."

"I traced the IP associated with the transaction and found that there was a private chat with a liaison from the Maelstrom gang. Unfortunately, the specifics have been destroyed and I couldn't find out more details."Tang Yu didn't nod, convinced in his mind that Maine must have already started to make his move, signaling both to himself and Arasaka's people that it was time to fan the flames and give support.

So, with a stern face, Tang Yu cursed: "Do you have the brains of a pig? Is this how you work? Even when you see clues you don't know to follow up. If this transaction is completed under the table, are you going to Watson's factory to fight the cyber-crazies of the Maelstrom gang for cyberware?"

"Get lost, lost, lost!"

Carter was scolded by Tang Yu and kept nodding and bowing, with a forehead so sweaty that when he heard the word 'lost' he instantly turned and exited the door, only to be called back.

Tang Yu said, "If Mr. Jenkins asks about this, you play dumb. With such useless clues, in future reports you must show results! Understand what results mean?"

Carter quickly nodded at the doorway, and as he was about to close the electronic gate of the office, it detected someone and stopped halfway.

Carter, who had just turned to leave, suddenly slowed down and stood by the wall, quietly eavesdropping on the noise from the office, as it seemed Tang Yu was reporting the cyberware search to Jenkins.

Tang Yu: "The transaction trail has been found; it seems to have been bought by someone from the Maelstrom gang. Just need to follow this lead, and getting the data won't be a problem."

Jenkins: "..."

Tang Yu: "Okay, I'll definitely complete the mission."

Carter heard Tang Yu presenting his work as if it was his own to Director Jenkins, and his originally honest expression gradually darkened.

Waiting until the office gate closed automatically, Carter stared straight ahead with a cold gaze, twisted his neck, and walked back to his own workstation.

Carter Smith, back at his workstation, booted up his office computer and resumed decryption work. As his fingers worked in tandem with his brain, lines of code flowed, windows of information popped up, and the screen finally froze on a chatbox.

Carter's eyes gleamed as he read the encrypted IP's chat log, detailing the negotiation between the cyberware smugglers and the Maelstrom gang's contact, agreeing to meet at 9 PM the next night at the abandoned steel factory in the old Watson industrial area for the trade.

Carter, with a sneer watching the screen: "Dealing with those cyber-crazed loons of the Maelstrom gang, these cyberware smugglers don't know the meaning of death."

"With this intel, the probability of being promoted to a H-Level department head is pretty high."

"Tang Yu, oh Tang Yu, so young yet only know how to bully others by pulling rank."

"Pity, even with a promotion, I'll never surpass you. Heh, but your good days are coming to an end."

"After this, just wait for death!"

He downloaded the decrypted data to a disposable secure chip; as he was preparing to continue, his mother, Mary, suddenly sent him a message.

Mary: "How was work today? Tomorrow is your birthday, can you make time to come back?"

With the message from his mother, Carter's dark expression softened a lot.

Arasaka's work is relentless, requiring 24-hour availability. He had more than one deputy director's assignments on his hands, and had to push and be responsible for a multitude of projects within the group.

He was extremely envious of those at the M-Level managing layer who had full freedom over their work hours, unlike him who had to pick a day even for a short visit to see his mother.

But if all goes well tomorrow evening, he'd be able to celebrate his birthday with his mother. So he replied: "I'll try my best. If things go smoothly, I aim to finish work by 8 PM, and should be able to get back by midnight."

Mary: "All right, but don't worry if you can't make it. Work is the most important, after all."

Seeing his mother's understanding, Carter didn't add more. He inserted the secure chip into the neural slot at the back of his head and got up to deal with a business that could potentially change his fate...

AN:

Random questions: I'm probably going to translate Naruto : Starting as a Worker. This is already translated up to Chapter 68 by ZhouXi but he stopped translating it for two months already. Should I pick it up from the start and translate every chapter? Or translate a few chapters first to gain traction and then jump to Chapter 69 (haha funny number)?