MHGA Chapter 226 – Arasaka Yorinobu's Solitude
Following behind Kairo Retsu as they stepped into the Afterlife's private lounge, both V and Jackie were visibly nervous.
But just as they reached the door, a distinctly youthful voice could be heard from within—despite the lounge's excellent soundproofing, the excitement inside was spilling out.
"Quick, quick, quick! Headshot them!" Kazuma shouted. "Charge!"
"Hey... could you all quiet down a little? We're not here to play games…" Naofumi Iwatani said with exasperation.
"It's fine! The caffeine's kicking in full force right now!" Rakuro Hizutome shouted enthusiastically inside.
"Uh... what is this?" V shot a suspicious glance at Kairo Retsu.
"Obviously, my dazzling companions," Kairo Retsu rubbed his nose, somewhat smug. "Want them to show off a bit?"
He pushed open the door. V saw the people inside the room.
Most eye-catching of all were the weapons beside them—far too conspicuous and rugged to belong in Night City.
Inside the room, a man wearing only underwear and a bizarre Qurupeco headpiece was furiously playing on a laptop—a model so old V hadn't seen one in years. Next to him, a guy with a bow cheered on loudly.
On a couch sat two young men. One was armored, a small shield on his arm, brows furrowed with a stern expression. The other, blue-haired and gentle-featured, had a look that naturally inspired goodwill.
Still, no matter how she looked, V couldn't figure out how this ragtag group could possibly be "dazzling."
"Got 'em!" Rakuro whooped triumphantly, letting go of the mouse. "Whew! Finally beat it! Only cutscenes left now!"
"…Are you retro-enthusiasts or something?" V raised an eyebrow at Kairo Retsu. "This is the first time I've seen someone gaming on a laptop like that in a high-end bar."
"Mind your own business. That's my laptop," Kairo Retsu said, face darkening, then turned to Rakuro: "Did you record it? The ending?"
"Of course I did!" Rakuro shook his Qurupeco headpiece proudly. "Highest difficulty! Sun Ending! All done—only cutscenes left!"
"Heh."
Kairo Retsu grinned. "That's what I like to hear."
"What's a Sun Ending?" V asked, baffled. "So… this is your 'team' to infiltrate Konpeki Plaza and meet Yorinobu Arasaka?"
"You really think just us few could get into Konpeki Plaza?" V said, watching him close the door. "The penthouse there is for the richest of the rich! The security system alone is equivalent to a full riot squad!"
Looking around at the people present, and their conspicuous, primitive weapons: "You're not seriously planning to barge in through the front door, are you?"
"How could we be that reckless? Do we look like the type?" Kairo Retsu raised a thumbs up. "At the very least, we'll go in from the side."
"…Goodbye."
V turned to drag Jackie away, but Kairo Retsu swiftly grabbed her arm. "I'm kidding—we've got a well-thought-out, thorough plan."
"Really?" V still sounded doubtful.
She wanted to respect Kairo Retsu, but every time he opened his mouth, that respect felt harder to maintain.
"Really, truly."
Kairo Retsu patted her on the shoulder. "Tomorrow. We set out tomorrow night, under cover of darkness… to meet Yorinobu Arasaka."
"I think… Yorinobu Arasaka will want to meet us."
...
——That night, atop Konpeki Plaza——
"Dammit!"
A curse in Japanese rang out on the top floor. Yorinobu Arasaka hurled the object in his hand to the ground, shattering it.
His face was dark with anger.
He'd mobilized every resource at his disposal to investigate the monster dwelling in the Badlands, but came up empty-handed.
That creature acted as if it had claimed the area as its domain—anyone attempting to enter was attacked or forcibly driven off.
All Yorinobu knew was that the creature could unleash powerful electric discharges and electromagnetic pulses.
And… it seemed to be growing more aggressive by the day.
At first, it merely drove people away. Later… it began actively attacking intruders.
He not only failed to learn anything useful, but also lost several of his most trusted operatives.
Yorinobu stared at the console at his side, contemplating whether to head down for a drink to ease his frustration.
But if he went down… Adam Smasher might be watching from who-knows-where. That would be even more of a pain.
Adam Smasher—that cyberpsycho crammed with more implants than flesh, supposedly his "bodyguard," but really just a watchdog raised by Saburo Arasaka to monitor him!
"This can't go on…"
Yorinobu rubbed his temples hard.
He had to get in contact with the Hunters. He had to get to the bottom of that strange potion's secrets.
Only then could he realize his ideals…
That was what Yorinobu believed.
He sighed and walked to the penthouse's floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the lights of Night City.
He felt… utterly exhausted.
It was like he'd been walking this path alone for far too long. The pressure from Saburo Arasaka threatened to crush him.
This world had grown too rotten. These massive corporations—too large to be destroyed even by nukes. These weren't things external forces could break.
That's why Yorinobu had returned to Arasaka Corporation. He wanted to destroy the monster Saburo had created from within.
But… the road ahead seemed so hopelessly long. He could see no clear future. All he had left was a desperate will to push forward.
"What should I do next…"
He muttered at his reflection in the glass.
Then, suddenly—he noticed something. Off in the distance… something was falling in his direction.
Then he realized—it was two people, riding a Wingdrake.
"Out of the way! Out of the way!!!!"
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