Vela Decides to Go to Africa in Search of the T-Virus

"Supervisor Russell."

In the Biotech Research Division, a receptionist at the records room smiled and bowed to Vela. "The relevant research archive records from the Africa branch are stored in Area A-06."

Vela nodded in acknowledgment, casually holding a disposable paper coffee cup as she stepped into the records room. Walking in office slippers, she took a winding path past several embedded scanners until she found the corridor beside the sign labeled "Africa — 06."

Luxurious yet understated, filled with a strong metallic-tech aesthetic in dark cold gray tones, she entered a long, vaulted room.

Its layout resembled the book galleries popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, except instead of books, it housed towering, massive database server racks. In the center stood a lavishly decorated oval table, equipped with a holographic projector, personal connection line interfaces, and detachable chip slots for downloading and storing data. Several fixed sofas were arranged around the table, giving it the look of a salon.

After casually picking a seat and sitting down, the holographic projector before Vela gave a beep, and a female-shaped blue-light bald AI figure appeared.

"Index: South Africa, from 2016 to present, geographical survey reports from the manufacturing and R&D departments after the 'Metal Vein Incident.'"

AI: "Please wait."

Connecting through a data line, Vela tapped her fingers on the armrest, eyes half-lidded as orange-red glints flickered in her pupils. Multiple projection screens filled the projector's display with data characters.

In 2016, Arasaka discovered a vast amount of rare metal veins beneath its training facility in South Africa.

As a result, the Cape Town branch in South Africa became a critical part of Arasaka's global footprint.

Though local warlords all claimed ownership of the rare metals, Arasaka withstood the pressure, drove out and cracked down on the surrounding warlords, and later repelled and suppressed the Militech-backed factions.

Arasaka's Manufacturing Division, along with its affiliates and partner companies, built numerous factories in South Africa. The original training facility was also expanded and heavily fortified.

Even during the Fourth Corporate War, when Arasaka was betrayed by Militech, suffered a nuclear strike on its North American headquarters, had its CEO Saburo Arasaka assassinated, and was forced to withdraw from North America in defeat, a substantial portion of its South African assets remained under its control.

Vela indexed a document.

It was a small archaeological file, recorded incidentally during the Manufacturing Division's underground mining operations—full of diagrams and notes on animal bones and geological strata.

There were also records from the R&D department detailing experimental samples of local flora and fauna.

"Africa, huh..."

Something crossed her mind, and a smile tugged at Vela's lips. "What a land of vast resources."

In Resident Evil, it seemed the key precursor to the T-virus—the Progenitor Virus—was extracted from a flower called "Sonnentreppe," which grew in the ruins of the Ndipaya tribe in West Africa, discovered by the three founders of Umbrella.

So then, in Cyberpunk, could she not engineer a similar discovery in Africa?

The African region lacked any powerful nations or corporations. Fragmented by various dictatorships and plagued by the encroachment of next-gen corporate colonial powers and their so-called "intensive development" strategies, the land was in shambles.

Tragic, yes—but it had nothing to do with Vela. The chaos only made it easier for her to fish in troubled waters.

Unfortunately, West Africa fell within the traditional sphere of influence of Old Europe. France and its major corporations were not like that "little Britain that's lost Northern Ireland and can't even hold its own union together with no king anymore." (PS: In the Cyberpunk world, the UK underwent a coup in 2001 and abolished its constitutional monarchy.)

In Africa, the supreme power was the EEC (European Economic Community), which held absolute dominance in North and West Africa. Arasaka had regional offices there, but it was a participant, not the leading force. Otherwise, Vela might've already gone for a reenactment.

As for finding an African tribal ruin within Arasaka's South African territory to stage something...

Not viable.

Why could you extract something, but not our Tokyo headquarters? Once Vela made a discovery, Arasaka would undoubtedly dig up the entire area and turn it inside out. Explaining it all would be far too troublesome…

"Central Africa."

Pulling up a projected map of the African continent, Vela let her gaze settle on the central region.

At the intersection between Arasaka's Cape Town presence in South Africa and the EEC's power in West Africa—deep inland—this area was littered with warlords supported or planted by corporations like Militech. Overflowing with weapons, marred by constant clashes between warlords and tribal factions, it was undoubtedly one of the most lawless and chaotic zones in the world.

"There really are quite a few underground ruins from extinct Bantu-speaking tribes (one of Africa's major indigenous language families)."

With a silent murmur, Vela pulled up Cape Town branch's reconnaissance reports on local tribal warlords.

She skimmed through them and frowned.

Sparse, short, and shallow—the typical high-and-mighty attitude of corporate dogs. From their perspective, delving into such matters was clearly a waste of time.

By comparison, Umbrella's documentation on Africa was far more detailed, comprehensive, and accurate.

Then again, it made sense. In the Cyberpunk world, there were no rights organizations, charities, environmental groups, or archaeological societies driving exploration. Corporations thrived on violent plunder—protests were crushed, resistance met with brute force. After the global internet collapsed, the world's perception of Africa largely froze at the "tyrannical warlord rule" era of the last century.

After a moment of contemplation, Vela stood up, slotted a detachable chip into the port, and began copying and downloading the Cape Town branch's tribal survey reports and documents on regional customs.

She had a general idea now—the rest was refinement.

Clack.

She took a sip of cold coffee and checked the time before withdrawing the chip and naturally stepping away from her seat.

Ding.

Passing by the respectfully bowing front-desk administrator, Vela estimated the time and prepared to leave the floor where the R&D department was located.

In front of the express elevator—

"Supervisor Russell."

Upon hearing a familiar voice behind her, Vela turned her head. "Tanaka?"

A stocky figure appeared.

With hazel bangs swept to the side and wearing stylish sunglasses, though not particularly burly, he had broad shoulders and a thick waist. It was none other than Shinichi Tanaka, the man she'd once met at Arasaka Academy—the father of Katsuo Tanaka.

A mid-level member of the Arasaka R&D Division in Night City, he oversaw a sub-unit responsible for testing new cyberware, exoskeletons, and mechs. Rumor had it he was leading a project codenamed "Kongou," which Vela found quite intriguing.

Well, here he is.

Vela thought silently.

This guy was the epitome of a company man who treated Arasaka like family—utterly loyal, diligent, with a rigid daily routine. His activity within Arasaka Tower was extremely predictable.

"Didn't expect to run into Supervisor Russell here."

Tanaka stepped forward, offering a respectful half-bow before glancing with mild curiosity in the direction Vela had come from—the Biotech Research Division office area.

"As expected of Night City Arasaka Tower's most famous genius. I assume you've had another breakthrough? Congratulations."

"You flatter me. I've had a few thoughts—I hope they're on the right track. Let's walk."

As she spoke, Vela turned slightly, the orange-red glint flickering in her eyes.

[Any progress on the 'Kongou' project?]

Given Vela's status in Night City's Arasaka Tower, she was fully in the loop regarding the "Kongou" project.

After all, besides Adam Smasher, if the project succeeded and alleviated the burden of neural strain, she would certainly be requesting allocation slots for her subordinates—as one of the senior military leaders of Arasaka Night City's armed forces.

Two steps behind Vela, Tanaka's pupils also flickered with orange-red light:

[Not yet. Even with the most physically capable captured mercenary test subjects, equipping them still results in madness. Forced activation leads to neural system burnout and complete personality loss. It seems only someone like Adam Smasher can endure it—but that defeats the original purpose of the 'Kongou' project.]

[Take it slow. No rush.]

[Ashamed to admit, I've failed the company's expectations.]

Finishing their brief business exchange, Vela smoothly shifted the topic to a more casual tone. "I reviewed Tanaka Katsuo's practical assessment and academic performance. Quite impressive. Like father, like son."

"Arigatou (Thank you)." Hearing exactly the response he'd hoped for, Tanaka bowed once more in gratitude.

"He's earned it."

Ding.

The nearby express elevator's indicator lit up.

Tanaka proactively pressed the door button for her and asked, "Is Supervisor Russell heading back to the Security Division..."

"No, to the landing pad. I'm going to Arasaka Academy to meet a professor from my Military-Government Administration and Law Department."

As she entered the elevator, Vela glanced at Tanaka, who had paused slightly, and asked knowingly, "Is there a problem?"

"Not at all. My son Katsuo is currently studying at Arasaka Academy, and I was just about to pick him up."

"Well, what a coincidence. We're heading the same way. Come with me."

"Ah… I'd hate to impose."

After a moment's hesitation, Tanaka clenched his jaw and bowed again, then followed along with calm humility.

They ascended via the express elevator and entered Arasaka Tower's internal landing pad.

Vela's personal bodyguards, the "Black and White Shades," were already waiting. She boarded.

Vrrrm…

Seated, Vela picked up the PAD tablet on her seat and quickly lost herself in her own world.

By contrast, Tanaka looked a little stiff inside the heavily modified hovercar—clearly more customized and reinforced than standard models. On either side of him sat the heavily cybernetically enhanced combat beasts: Blackshade Bryan and Whiteshade Laurie.

"Exam prep."

Noticing Tanaka's barely concealed tension, Vela explained, "The entrance exams for the University of Tokyo differ greatly from Night City in terms of foundational concepts and answer logic. I asked a professor from my Military-Government Administration and Law Department to help compile some key points."

University of Tokyo?!

Tanaka's respect deepened.

So that was it—he'd heard that Supervisor Vela Adelheid Russell was planning to further her education, but hadn't imagined it would be at the University of Tokyo. Many in the Arasaka family had graduated from there. Lord Yorinobu Arasaka, Arasaka's heir, was a Tokyo University alumnus!

His son had finally managed to connect with someone like Vela. This opportunity—he had to seize it.

He must!

It was decided. When he returned, he would enroll Katsuo in more prep and military courses.

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