Chapter 71: Arasaka Raizen!

Chapter 71: Arasaka Raizen!

Japan, Chiba City.

This abandoned metropolis, nestled behind the port of Tokyo Bay, is a cluster of massive cube-like ecological buildings. The domed roofs of factories blanket the city, sealing it off from the sky.

Between the port and the city lies a narrow, unnamed zone formed by some ancient streets. This area is known as "The Night City of the Far East"—Chiba City!

At the heart of Chiba City is Jinshu Street.

Inside the most luxurious izakaya on Jinshu Street, Arasaka Raizen and Xu Shiming, CEO of Cantao Group Corporation, sat across from each other, toasting and drinking merrily.

"Mr. Xu, having a friend like you is truly an honor for me, Arasaka Raizen! No need for more words; let me toast to you!"

With that, Arasaka Raizen enthusiastically downed a cup of sake, expressing his heartfelt gratitude.

"The Steel Dragon Gang is in your hands now. Please take good care of my friends; one day, they'll be of great use."

Since Arasaka Raizen openly opposed his father Saburo's company, he formed a yakuza gang in Tokyo called the Steel Dragons to resist Arasaka Corporation's tyranny.

Unfortunately, under the relentless purges of Arasaka's security forces, the Steel Dragons suffered heavy casualties. As the gang leader, Arasaka Raizen was forced to bow to his father.

Just when Raizen thought his resistance against Arasaka Corporation was doomed, Xu Shiming from Cantao Group Corporation in China reached out to him.

This square-faced, upright Chinese man offered to shelter the remaining members of the Steel Dragons and provide them with advanced weapons, pharmaceuticals, and cybernetic prosthetics.

"Don't worry, Mr. Raizen. I'll arrange for them to stay safely in Kowloon Walled City. Whenever you want, you can take them back. You're still their leader."

Xu Shiming smiled faintly, gazing steadily at Raizen as he spoke.

His personal visit to Chiba City to meet Arasaka Raizen was at the behest of his boss, Li Ang. Otherwise, Xu Shiming wouldn't bother chatting and drinking with a playboy.

"Mr. Raizen, I think it's time we discussed business. My boss, Li Ang, wants to talk about a collaboration with you."

At these words, the half-drunk Arasaka Raizen sobered up instantly. He knew exactly who Li Ang was!

The CEO of LA Corporation, the new majority shareholder of Militech, a Trauma Team partner, and a major thorn in his father Saburo's side—a fierce competitor.

According to Arasaka's executives, LA Corporation currently poses a greater threat to Arasaka than Militech has in the past several years.

"What? Your boss at Cantao Group is Mr. Li Ang?" Raizen was taken aback. He hadn't expected Li Ang to extend his influence all the way to the Far East.

"Yes, including this meeting—it was personally arranged by Mr. Li Ang," Xu Shiming replied calmly, his expression as composed as ever. "Mr. Raizen, you're facing difficulties only Li Ang can help you resolve. You should talk to him."

Hearing this, Arasaka Raizen nodded thoughtfully. Since Li Ang was his father Saburo's most troublesome adversary, he might as well see if he could make good use of him.

'It won't hurt to hear him out.'

With this in mind, Raizen agreed to meet with Li Ang.

Xu Shiming breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Raizen was willing to talk to Li Ang, his trip wouldn't be in vain.

Immediately, Xu Shiming inserted a synchronization chip into the neural port on his head.

Once the chip was installed, Li Ang, who was far away in Night City, could fully control Xu Shiming's speech and actions.

This chip technology, akin to "cyber possession," allows for remote control of another person during conversations.

[Connection established!]

With a faint electronic beep, Xu Shiming's pupils turned blue, signaling that he was now under Li Ang's control. Every word and action henceforth was orchestrated by Li Ang.

"Hello, Mr. Raizen. I'm Li Ang, the executive officer of LA Corporation."

When "Xu Shiming" began speaking in a different style, Arasaka Raizen wasn't particularly surprised. He'd seen plenty of cutting-edge technology.

"Mr. Li Ang, it's rare for someone of your stature to take the time to chat with a playboy like me."

Raizen wasn't a fool; he knew that Li Ang wouldn't go to such lengths without a purpose.

"Let's be honest—why did you send Xu Shiming to find me? Surely it's not just to have my gang run errands in Kowloon Walled City?"

"Given your influence, Mr. Li Ang, you could at least back a bigger gang to challenge my father's Arasaka Empire."

"The Steel Dragons are just small fry—not even enough to withstand a single strike from my father's battleships."

Facing Raizen's sharp insight, Li Ang responded candidly:

"I've heard you've acquired Arasaka's Relic chip and plan to deliver it to the Night City division for optimization."

"Hand me that chip."

'As expected… another company after the Relic chip!'

Raizen sneered internally. This AI soul-killer chip was truly a prized treasure, enough to make even Li Ang send someone to curry favor with him.

Since Raizen decided to yield to his father and return to Arasaka Corporation, numerous corporate forces had tried to woo him, all aiming to get their hands on the AI soul-killer technology.

These included Europe's NetWatch, Night City's Zetatech, and now, LA Corporation.

Of all these offers, NetWatch's conditions tempted Raizen the most—not money, but support from European powers!

If Raizen handed the Relic chip over to NetWatch, he would gain the backing of various European conglomerates to ascend as the new head of Arasaka Corporation.

Raizen had only bowed to his father Saburo as a strategy. His real goal was to send the old man to the afterlife and become Arasaka's new master!

True reform often comes from within. If an external assault with the Steel Dragons didn't work, he would dismantle the old ideologies from within the company.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Li Ang. I can't give you the Relic chip because you're an enemy of my family. I won't betray my family."

Raizen's refusal was firm and righteous.

In truth, he only disagreed with his father Saburo's corporate policies. Raizen never intended to overthrow Arasaka Corporation; he merely wanted to make it better.

If Raizen became the leader of Arasaka, his first act would be to steer the company back into healthy competition with others, rather than monopolizing technology and stifling society.

Humanity would eventually perish if things continued this way.

Corporate reform was Raizen's true mission—not simply dismantling his father's empire.