8  Chapter 8

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 Arasaka Tower.

 Thirty-third floor, Counter-Intelligence Department.

 The Director's Office.

 Jenkins was spewing vitriol about Susan Abernathy, filled with hatred even though she was effectively his senior.

 "Hmph, that bitch Abernathy wouldn't dare play her games with me in the open."

 "A year ago, when she was still in Special Operations, she liked to play dirty with me."

 "Before coming to Night City, when we were both in Osaka handling a job, that bitch dug me a hell of a hole."

 "Now that she's been promoted to Director of Special Operations, she's constantly trying to stretch her tentacles into Counter-Intelligence."

 "The attack on you by the Animals—I'll have someone take care of it. It won't end just like that."

 "If she extends her claws, we will chop them off."

 Deep down, Tang Yu understood that even if solid evidence of the Animals' attack was obtained, it wouldn't be enough to take down Abernathy.

 Whether it was the preemptive destruction of evidence or finding a scapegoat, these were typical high-level Arasaka tricks.

 Jenkins moved on to the primary subject.

 "Now that you're back, there's a task I want to assign to you."

 "You saw it just now, didn't you? The cyberpsycho attacked the NCPD officers."

 "This happened the night before you returned, right at the Plaza beneath Arasaka Tower."

 From the video footage just reviewed, Tang Yu had already guessed the content of the new assignment.

 "The cyberpsycho incident has got everyone on edge."

 Jenkins tapped on the desktop, and a microchip popped out, which he then handed to Tang Yu.

 "This cyberpsycho's name is James Norris."

 "He's someone that the R&D department has been monitoring."

 "Classified information."

 Tang Yu accepted the microchip from Jenkins, inserted it into his communicator, and read the contents.

 [Name: James Norris]

 [Occupation: Mercenary]

 [Background: Formerly served in the New America forces, ex-Navy SEAL Lieutenant]

 [Subject of Study: Military-tech experimental cyberware implant observation subject. Current hypothesis suggests the illness stems from the inability to withstand intense cyberware implants to the nervous system.]

 [Data: Military-grade Steinman cyberware.]

 ...

 After reading the relevant data, Tang Yu quickly grasped the nuances.

 "Even if we secretly wanted to obtain experimental military-grade Steinman, it shouldn't require the Counter-Intelligence Department to intervene."

 "The upper echelons should be very clear that the main duty of Counter-Intelligence is handling internal corporate intelligence leaks, as well as preventing and resolving intelligence infiltration by hostile corporations."

 "This matter shouldn't fall within our department's scope of business."

 Jenkins sipped his drink and continued.

 "You're right; if it were just about obtaining this Steinman, I wouldn't have you take care of this."

 "There are many channels through which our company could obtain this Steinman—military, black market, or even internal sources from military-tech."

 "But the key issue here is that this request comes from Director Katsuo of R&D."

 Tang Yu mused, "So this also involves the R&D department?"

 Jenkins nodded, "Yes, every year Arasaka and military-tech pour massive funds and resources into cyberware implant experimentation. But you know, not all these experiments come out of the lab. James Norris is an excellent experimental observation subject; he has received experimental cyberware implants from the military-tech, and R&D has already been watching him."

 It was no secret to Tang Yu that Arasaka and military-tech would let experimental cyberware flow into Night City, then observe its actual performance from the shadows.

 Many newly developed cyberwares, especially those developed for military use, needed complete human experimentation data reports.

 And these detailed and authentic data reports were mostly acquired through various dark methods.

 The data reports that the corporations sought weren't from the penniless drunks or addicts on the streets.

 They wanted legitimate data from healthy individuals with a military background, as only such reports could persuade the military to make large-scale purchases of equipment, and even influence the companies' armed forces.

 Tang Yu asked, "So what Director Tanaka and R&D are interested in is the neurological data from the Steinman, not the experimental cyberware itself?"

 Jenkins nodded in agreement: "Exactly, and according to reliable intelligence sources in our department, there might be some shadiness between James and R&D—otherwise, how could a cyberpsycho like James suddenly appear at the base of Arasaka Tower?"

 "Since the nuclear blast fifty years ago, Arasaka Tower has been the most secure fortress of Arasaka. With this incident, R&D is also worried about military-tech finding a foothold."

 Understanding the task, Tang Yu stowed the microchip, "If there's nothing else, I'll head to my office."

 Jenkins downed his whiskey in one gulp and stood up, adding, "Alright, but keep one thing in mind."

 "Military-tech currently has no intentions of reclaiming that Steinman; they seem to want to keep it circulating on the black market for further experiments."

 "NCPD has confirmed that the cyberware has been stolen and is no longer in their possession."

 "Once you get the Steinman chip, extract the operational data from it. As for the destination of the cyberware, well, whichever unlucky soul ends up with it can deal with it themselves."

 Tang Yu remained silent.

 Every time a new high-grade cyberware was developed, who knew how much innocent blood was spilled, and of the cyberpsychos killed by the max-tac squad, how many had no connections to the corporations?

 Cyberware, experiments, cyberpsychos.

 Like a dark chain, it tightly strangled everyone's throat.

 Some people never even knew the manner in which they were being exploited to the last drop of their value.

 As Tang Yu was about to turn and leave, jenkins called out to him again: "Your car is broken; the company has arranged for a replacement.Before getting a new car, you can use my aerodyne.

 Tang Yu directly refused: "No need, I'll just take the subway."

 After making his point, he left the minister's office.

 Tang Yu just wanted to wash his face at this moment, to wake up a bit more and to reconsider his ideas.

 Standing in front of the washbasin mirror, Tang Yu turned on the tap and fiercely splashed his face with water several times, then took out a dry paper towel to wipe off the water on his face and hands.

 "Too much has happened today."

 "My head still feels really heavy."

 "And I feel a bit nauseous."

 [Health Monitoring: Your physical condition is not optimal. It is suggested to undergo a comprehensive examination at the Trauma Team medical center. //You have reached the age for full cyberware compatibility. If you require hospital...]

 Tang Yu raised his hand to turn off the communicator alert.

 "Nothing but useless stuff!"

 He gazed at his reflection, still youthful with sharp features, but with a hint of weariness in his eyes that couldn't obscure the depth of light within.

 "Heh, Johnny that rogue is still locked up in his little digital prison,"

 "Sure do miss those old friends,"

 Tang Yu muttered helplessly.

 At this moment, the communicator suddenly displayed an incoming call.

 [Jackie Welles is requesting a call.]

 Note 1: New United States of America, transliterated in English, refers to the country reformed after its division.

 Note 2: In the original anime, Adam Smasher referred to David's Sandevistan as a "junior cyberware," but given David's exhibited time-stop ability and the actual meaning in English, translation as "basic cyberware" or "standard cyberware" is more accurate. It suggests that Sandevistan is the most rudimentary form of cyberware, which requires standard enhancements such as the Kiroshi Optics, neural synapse, etc. It does not imply that David's Sandevistan is of inferior quality. If David's Sandevistan was low-grade, he wouldn't last a moment against Smasher. Since the anime doesn't provide a specific model and it's not found in the game, the author speculates it must be an experimental military grade cyberware, and the story will proceed with this setup.