chapter 108

That's the Reason

Tanaka Katsuo wasn't in a good mood today.

He couldn't quite pinpoint why. Maybe it was the sudden shift in the class atmosphere—students who once ignored or rejected David Martinez were now talking and laughing with him. Or maybe it was the way his two loyal followers seemed to be hiding something.

It feels like everyone's keeping secrets from me—even my own lackeys.

With this uneasy feeling, Katsuo spent the day studying in silence. By the end of the school day, he stepped into a sleek Villefort Alvarado.

The car belonged to his father, and every day, Maxim, his father's driver and bodyguard, picked him up from school. Maxim wasn't just any driver—he was employed by Arasaka Corporation, specifically assigned to Katsuo's father. Technically, this didn't count as misuse of corporate resources, as Maxim's role was to serve his father directly. Such perks were available to those who reached a certain status within Arasaka, and Katsuo's father was one of them.

Katsuo climbed into the car without saying a word to Maxim. To him, bodyguards and drivers were disposable. He'd seen countless men like Maxim come and go—some reassigned, others killed in the line of duty. They were temporary, fleeting figures in his life, unworthy of his attention.

Those truly capable of protecting someone would've already climbed higher within the company hierarchy, Katsuo thought. Why waste time as a bodyguard for someone like my father—a middle manager at best?

In Arasaka's corporate ecosystem, there were two kinds of people who climbed the ladder: those with exceptional talent and those with years of seniority. The talented rose quickly, while the others slowly climbed through sheer persistence. Maxim, being young, clearly lacked seniority. If he were truly skilled, he wouldn't be stuck as a bodyguard.

To Katsuo, Maxim was just another cog destined to be replaced. What mattered to him was his own future and the expectations his father had placed upon him.

---

Katsuo's father held two titles within Arasaka Corporation: Executive Director of the Arasaka Academy Board of Directors and Section Chief of the Arasaka Experimental Department in Night City.

While these might sound impressive, the reality was far less glamorous. The executive director role was largely superficial—more about taking blame when things went wrong than wielding any real power. His position at the academy was, at best, a stepping stone.

The role Katsuo's father truly valued was his concurrent position as Section Chief of the Experimental Department. It was in this role that he had actual authority and the chance to climb higher.

Arasaka's corporate hierarchy was rigidly structured:

Minister: Senior management, overseeing multiple section chiefs and departments.

Section Chief: Middle management with significant responsibility over employees.

Department Head: A step below section chief, managing general staff.

Director: A position attainable through seniority, slightly above general employees.

General Members: The lowest-level employees.

If Katsuo graduated from Arasaka Academy, his father's connections could quickly elevate him from a general member to a director. With effort, Katsuo was expected to reach department head within a few years and, eventually, surpass his father's achievements.

His father dreamed of Katsuo becoming a minister someday—a position that would solidify their family's status as part of Arasaka's middle-tier elite.

---

Sitting in the back seat of the Villefort Alvarado, Katsuo glanced at the private tutoring schedule displayed on his prosthetic eye. His mind wandered to his future.

What Katsuo didn't know was that shortly after his car left the school grounds, a Quartz EC followed closely behind.

Inside the Quartz EC were Karl, Jack, and Oliver, all disguised and prepared for their task.

---

"Are you keeping a close eye on it?" Jack asked, staring at the Villefort Alvarado weaving through the city traffic.

"Relax," Oliver replied confidently. "I've got this under control. Sure, I couldn't plant a tracker because of the bodyguard, but tailing them? That's my specialty."

Oliver was at the wheel of the Quartz EC, a car he hadn't driven in years. If it weren't for his Sky Hera being under repair, he wouldn't have thought of using it. Despite that, he seemed at ease.

"Since I got this as a birthday gift from my sister when I turned twenty, I've been driving it through Santo Domingo and even the Badlands. Compared to those places, following someone in Night City's orderly traffic is child's play."

He smirked and added, "And let's not forget—the Quartz EC might be a cheaper model compared to the Sky Hera, but it's still a damn fine sports car."

Karl, seated uncomfortably in the middle, tried to maintain his balance as the car swerved. He couldn't help but comment on Oliver's boasting.

"Sure, it's got horsepower and durability. The Sky series is solid, but hearing you praise it like this feels strange. For me, Sky cars are practically domestic models."

Oliver grinned. "If it's reliable, I'll drive it. I don't care where it's made, as long as it's quality and affordable."

Karl nodded in agreement but quickly refocused as he noticed the Villefort Alvarado taking a turn.

"That direction... Is it heading toward Japan Street?"