Chapter 48: Unlocking the Reaction! [Please Continue Reading]

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[Character "Valerie (V)" affection updated]
[Affection Level: 20]
[Rewards: Calm +1, Reflex +1, Reflex specialty unlocked, additional Reflex specialty points +1. Received €200,000, cybernetic maintenance upgrade...]

Lin Yue: ?

No matter how he looked at it, it felt like he was stealing the spotlight from this outstanding employee of Arasaka’s counterintelligence department. Could affection really update like this? Lin Yue was a bit speechless at the woman in front of him, whose thoughts were unreadable.

But since V was still here, he couldn’t just excitedly check his reflex specialties immediately. He had to make a call to Jenkins first.

After all, V was waiting.

“I’m Jenkins.” The voice on the other end was steady and powerful. If Lin Yue didn’t know about Jenkins’s covert assassination work in the European Space Council, he might have mistaken this slightly stern-faced man for a dependable corporate manager.

Lin Yue watched Jenkins sitting firmly behind his desk, his expression calm and unruffled.

“Rin, real name Lin Yue. Field agent, Arasaka Counterintelligence Department, 01344.”

Jenkins was quite pleased with V’s choice of candidate. Lin Yue’s straightforward attitude suited him perfectly, as it matched his own style.

If it weren’t for the overseas operations, Jenkins would have personally handled the messy business in Dogtown. Yet, in just over a month, this young man with sharp features in the call’s video had uncovered such critical information.

“V did well, knowing what that hacker in Dogtown is up to. And you… you’re impressive too.” Jenkins spread his hands. “Welcome to Arasaka. You’re now an Information Officer in the Counterintelligence Department assigned to Dogtown — my capable subordinate V is your peer. I want you to know every detail about Dogtown and report to me whenever needed. Can you do that?”

Lin Yue said nothing. The company’s worst trait was clear—no small talk, just orders.

“Mr. Jenkins, I’d like you to first respond to the matter V discussed with you.”

Jenkins hesitated for a moment, then smiled, whether out of mockery or amusement: “Arasaka breeds wolves; I know how to satisfy you. V will withdraw the tracking program on you. You can also find a trusted hacker to verify. Arasaka won’t track you anymore. You’ve signed an indefinite labor contract with us now; you owe loyalty.”

In 2075, the company no longer entertained resignations or job-hopping.

The HR department issued guns, kidnapped or coerced executives and technical leads from rival firms—or handled “defectors.” The commercial intelligence division had become counterintelligence; the security section was even more absurd, staffed entirely by corporate private soldiers and agents... But when business was settled by gunfire, it was efficient—if the business failed, the people disappeared too, clean and decisive.

Just not very humane, with no retirement standards.

The optimist Lin Yue could only smile bitterly inside. “I understand, Mr. Jenkins. If I go rogue... you’ll find all sorts of ways to use others to eliminate me, or send someone directly—no need to be so subtle.”

An indefinite contract was essentially a dog leash.

Lin Yue just hoped he wouldn’t be treated like a stray dog to be bullied at any time. The less Arasaka restricted him, the more chances he had to break free from their control.

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Jenkins regarded the young man before him with a bit more respect. As long as he understood how the company operated, there would be far fewer problems.

“Good to know. I don’t need to explain your benefits; HR will handle that. Now that I’ve granted your request, Arasaka will back you up in Dogtown when you need it. But one thing—remember to keep abreast of the Hellhound’s intel. Cooperation is a two-way street, so show me what you can do!”

“Understood.” Lin Yue agreed, and the call ended immediately.

V crossed her arms, watching Lin Yue with a teasing expression. “Hmm, you can actually hold a conversation with Jenkins... your heart’s pretty dirty, huh? You’re even more suited for Arasaka than I am.”

Lin Yue pretended not to understand her meaning. “Then, Miss V, are you going home to wash up and sleep?”

“No rush. Let’s wait for them to check out Hellhound’s hideout first.” V clapped her hands and casually gestured for Lin Yue to move some of the large stones beneath him. Her neat suit did not mind getting dust on it.

She carried a faint scent of rain-drenched forest and sandalwood, paired with her cool profile, embodying a beauty that warned strangers to keep their distance.

Though they were close physically, their relationship couldn’t be called good.

V refused to reveal her real name, signaling her distrust—this included the fact that she allowed Arasaka agents into the Hellhound’s puppet workshop.

Lin Yue covertly glanced toward the nearby overgrown field, where behavioral trackers were hidden.

He hoped those Arasaka agents wouldn’t find any information about the trackers. Even though Lin Yue had preemptively searched and dealt with them, these keen-sensed hunting dogs were not so easily fooled.

“Why are you so eager to join Arasaka? Dogtown isn’t a good place either. It’s much easier to eat in the city.”

V gazed at the starry sky and asked Lin Yue.

“To be free, you must accept disorder and chaos.”

Lin Yue stretched his stiff arm. “Dogtown’s just a rundown place no one controls. As long as you don’t disturb the colonel’s business, the restrictions here are far fewer than in the city.”

He wouldn’t admit that in the city, with Arasaka watching, it was harder to make a big move.

Nor would he boldly declare, “I’m going to be the underground king of Dogtown!”

“I have a friend, like you, who likes to find meals on the street—carefree, always shouting about becoming a legendary figure. You’re as relentless as he is in chasing your goals, but not as simple-minded...”

Lin Yue didn’t reply to V.

Her affection panel was uncannily accurate; she wouldn’t even say that friend’s name was Jack Wells.

Unexpectedly, the slightly warm-hearted V had a shy, secretive side.

Not bad—cyber beauties really uplift one’s body and soul.

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Changing the subject—

“I’m V. Now we’re officially colleagues—even if you might not come to the office often.” V composed herself and extended her left hand, adorned with faint golden cybernetic patterns.

Lin Yue chuckled and reached out his large, scarred gorilla-like cybernetic hand to meet hers, the light collision echoing softly.

“Rin.”

Just then, a vehicle appeared on the distant road, painted with the Voodoo gang’s markings.

V released Lin Yue’s hand and leisurely stood up. “Those hackers are too slow coming.”

Lin Yue propped himself against the stone, watching with amusement. “Hellhound ran off, yet his men showed up—this big hacker sure knows how to handle tongues.”

These people were ruthless! Lin Yue felt disdain.

Hellhound had his remaining men come to sacrifice themselves for the company, just to ensure no one exposed his escape.

Why was everyone so calculating? Couldn’t they be a little more ‘simple’ like me?

“I heard Hellhound didn’t have many men left. This should be the last batch. Let’s finish this quickly and get off work early.” V’s eyes gleamed brightly.

Lin Yue was momentarily stunned—

Bang!

Suddenly, the distant vehicle lost control, accelerating onto a nearby flowerbed with a loud crash.

Good grief!

Lin Yue felt cold sweat trickling down his back.

The Voodoo gang members, shaken and cursing, staggered out of the vehicle, oblivious that the woman from the company dozens of meters away was the mastermind behind this.

They were still trying to trace who had hacked their vehicle.

And the famed counterintelligence agent V patiently waited as these low-skilled hackers slowly hunted for her location.

Lin Yue closed his eyes as the Voodoo gang’s gunfire and curses filled his ears. V stood in front of him, her ghostly crimson eyes fixed on the darkness until those men fell silent, one by one…