Chapter 55

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Arasaka Tower.

Thirty-third floor, Counterintelligence Department.

Tang Yu was already sitting at his desk, leisurely pouring a cup of hot water as usual, quietly waiting.

After last night's significant events, this morning's board meeting would surely involve discussions and decisions.

However, the Arasaka Tower's board meeting in Night City is not the highest executive board of Arasaka headquarters but a division of the Arasaka board in the Americas.

The American division's board primarily deals with matters in the Americas, especially decisions related to New America and Militech.

As expected.

Arthur Jenkins called. Tang Yu answered, talking through his 'Dragon Fist' smart glasses.

This board meeting was crucial for Jenkins, and his tone was grave: "Tang, the board meeting is about to start. Come to my office."

Tang Yu acknowledged and set down his tea cup. After a quick tidy up, he headed to Jenkins' office, carrying a chip with military-grade Si An Wei Stan biometric data.

Walking through the office area, passing corridors and two corners, then going through a scan in the passage area, he finally entered the minister's office, as opulently dark and spacious as ever.

Upon entering, he saw the giant floor-to-ceiling screen already switched to the live feed of the board meeting.

Arasaka 78th floor, Jungle High-Level Meeting Center.

The boardroom was simply designed, surrounded by lush greenery like bamboo and banana plants.

On the silver meeting platform was a large marble table with a rock pattern, flanked by five silver chairs on each side.

Jenkins, seeing Tang Yu enter, gestured for him to sit down.

Tang Yu took a seat, focusing on the board meeting happening on the screen.

Since this discussion involved the Counterintelligence Department, Jenkins could only join remotely.

Usually, Arasaka's president and senior M-level managers attend the meeting, but most often via remote connection.

Soon.

Arasaka bodyguards started to enter, taking up their positions for security.

Then, the board members entered one by one, taking their designated seats.

They were dressed in fine suits, their advanced cybernetic implants indistinguishable from those of ordinary people.

After the nine board members were seated, only the topmost seat on the right remained empty.

This was reserved for the sole Arasaka family member on the board, Michiko Arasaka.

Once all nine were present, Michiko Arasaka, with her blue hair, gracefully entered from the back door.

Michiko didn't take her seat but chose to stand at the head of the table, looking towards the board members.

In Night City's Arasaka Tower, Michiko represented the Arasaka family in handling affairs.

Although every decision at the board meetings had to be reported to Saburo Arasaka in Kyoto, she was still the manager of Night City's Arasaka Tower.

Even though her uncle, Raizo Arasaka, was established as the heir to the Arasaka empire, she only obeyed her grandfather, Saburo Arasaka, until he was succeeded.

Tang Yu remembered Michiko Arasaka, who just entered.

In Night City, the reason Arasaka always avoided Militech was closely tied to Michiko's management.

Michiko was the daughter of Kei Arasaka, Saburo's eldest granddaughter.

Her father Kei was the former CEO of Arasaka.

Because Saburo greatly missed his wife Michiko, he named his granddaughter after her.

Tang Yu, to distinguish them, still habitually called her "Little Michiko Arasaka," even though she was no longer young.

Unlike her grandmother, Little Michiko didn't grow up under cherry blossoms but flourished under the glory of New America, a true New American.

After graduating from college, Little Michiko was mostly active in New America, rarely returning to Kyoto.

She became a mediator between Arasaka and Militech companies, advocating cooperation with New America, leading the dove faction in Arasaka.

Thanks to her efforts, since 2070 when Arasaka announced its return to Night City, these two top giants have coexisted peacefully for six years.

With these achievements, Michiko Arasaka joined the board and took full charge of American affairs.

Scanning the room, Michiko sternly reprimanded: "Why did such an egregious incident happen yesterday? A vice-minister, a deputy group leader, three Arasaka special forces teams wiped out, we must deal with this severely today!"

Michiko was already aware of last night's situation and came to seek accountability.

The board members remained silent, focused inward, as they were not in charge of specific departmental affairs.

Soon, the board connected with Susan Abernathy, Special Operations Director. Her holographic image appeared on the marble table.

Michiko looked coldly at the projection, demanding from Abernathy on the table: "As the director of special operations, explain yourself to the board."

Abernathy, standing in her office, tried to calm her nerves.

Despite being well-prepared, her voice trembled slightly before the imposing board.

She shifted the primary responsibility to Caitlin and Carter Smith, blaming their private collusion for the discrepancies in departmental actions, leading to this disaster. She admitted her oversight.

However, Michiko's anger wasn't quelled by the explanation. She coldly retorted: "Are you just a useless figurehead, unaware of such a major issue in your department?"

Abernathy, sweating profusely and looking extremely distressed, nodded apologetically, promising to improve departmental management.

Michiko then asked: "Is the mission complete? Did you get the data the R&D department wanted?"

Abernathy, unable to face Michiko, whispered: "The target cybernetic body was stolen by the Maelstrom gang."

Michiko's expression turned even colder, no longer looking directly at Abernathy, and cut off the communication.

"What about Counterintelligence? Wasn't there a report?"

Just as she finished speaking.

Jenkins' holographic image was connected to the board, appearing on the table.

"Director Michiko Arasaka, I'm Arthur Jenkins, head of Counterintelligence. I have an important report. The R&D data needed by the R&D department has been obtained by Deputy Head Tang Yu..."

Hearing Jenkins' report, Michiko was surprised.

She hadn't expected the Counterintelligence Department, even with an inside job colluding with Special Operations, to secure the target cybernetic data.

Why did Jenkins specifically mention Tang Yu?

Michiko patiently waited for the rest of the report.