April 16th, 2074. Monday.
Countless employees in black or burgundy suits hurried through Arasaka Tower like soulless puppets. For the vast majority of Arasaka employees, the word "rest" felt like a myth. Pumped full of stimulants to suppress fatigue, they toiled relentlessly to "shine and burn" for the corporation.
Under the manipulation of the "warlord" Saburo Arasaka, the company resembled a feudal domain from Japan's Sengoku era more than a modern enterprise. Naturally, the internal structure inherited the long-standing tradition of gekokujō—the strong overthrowing the weak.
If an Arasaka employee wanted to pad their résumé, there were many ways. The mild route was to bypass their supervisor and report directly to upper management or expose their superior's embezzlement. The more direct method? Force the superior into "physical retirement."
Interestingly, it was often safer to target peers rather than superiors. In such an environment, mastering the art of backstabbing colleagues was a required course for every new hire. Oppression, brutality, and coldness—this was the true face of Arasaka beneath its civilized veneer. Every employee had to prove their worth, and now, a newly promoted female operative was reporting to her superior.
The woman waited expressionlessly for the elevator, her eyes betraying a trace of impatience.
Her appearance perfectly aligned with Arasaka's ideals: long black hair neatly tied up, the bun tucked under a black peaked cap. Her face bore a chilling beauty, lightly made-up, exuding an aura of cold rejection. Her burgundy shirt was fully buttoned, tucked into a matching pencil skirt. A tailored, black blazer sat atop her frame. The skirt followed Arasaka's new militaristic aesthetic: clean lines, no decoration. Her legs were sheathed in black stockings per headquarters' requirements, and her glossy black heels were spotless.
Finally, she stepped into the elevator, and the internal scanner activated.
> "Name: Akiyuki Setsugekka.
Gender: Female.
Position: Field Agent, Counterintelligence Division."
She curled her lip slightly before returning to her stoic expression. A subtle irritation flickered in her eyes.
The Arasaka Counterintelligence Department had been in chaos ever since a recent internal information leak. Setsugekka walked through the commotion without expression. Wherever she passed, agents who had been arguing moments before all lowered their voices instinctively.
Suddenly, an employee stepped out from around a corner, colliding directly with her. Strangely, despite his size, he was sent sprawling while Setsugekka remained unmoved. She didn't say a word or even glance at him, simply stepping over his body and continuing forward.
> "Damn, who the hell is she? So arrogant."
"You don't know? That's the big shot sent personally by that guy in Arasaka HQ to serve as Miss Michiko's bodyguard."
"Then why's she stuck in the trenches with us office drones?"
"Who knows? But don't pry into that family's business—unless you want to disappear without a trace…"
After passing two more security scans, Setsugekka entered the office of Arthur Jenkins, the Counterintel Division Director. As she stepped in, Jenkins turned his chair away from the window where he'd been admiring the cityscape.
She bowed silently.
> "Miss Akiyuki, please—take a seat," Jenkins gestured. "Tell me, how did it go?"
Her eyes flashed blue, transmitting her mission report directly to his terminal. Jenkins skimmed the document and said:
> "Akiyuki Setsugekka… or should I say Victoria Valleote? The records show you prefer the latter."
Setsugekka frowned slightly but said nothing.
> "Miss Michiko believes someone like you—nearly a perfect graduate from the Hokkaido training camp—is wasted as a personal bodyguard. She thinks the Special Ops Division is where you truly belong."
Still silent.
> "But this is Night City, Arasaka's North American headquarters and the front line against Militech. We can't hand over key operations to a fresh graduate. So you start from the bottom. That's my decision… and Miss Michiko's. I trust someone with your skills will rise quickly.
Now go—retrieve that data chip. Don't disappoint me. Or Miss Michiko. Understood?"
Setsugekka stood, bowed, and left wordlessly.
---
"Beep. Beep."
Jenkins answered a holo-call.
> "Miss Michiko."
"Well?"
"Setsugekka located the body, but the chip wasn't there."
"Hmph. Typical of someone sent by that side of the family. Even with minimal resources, she found the most likely middleman."
"I deeply apologize."
"Get it done quickly. Tokyo is already aware of the leak. If we recover the intel, we all benefit. If another corp gets it… you know the consequences."
"Wait, Miss Michiko."
"Speak."
"She was sent by Lord Saburo himself—"
"I already have enough spies from the main family."
"Understood. I apologize."
"Still, she's capable. Your entire department couldn't resolve this, yet she did in two days. Use her well."
The call ended. Jenkins lit a cigar, took a couple of puffs, then angrily smashed it against his desk.
He quickly composed himself.
> "Connect me to Counterintel Units One and Two."
The system dialed.
> "That new girl solved the case in half your time and with a tenth of your budget."
"Apologies, Director—"
"I don't want apologies. I want results!"
He cut the call and stared out at the neon-lit city beyond the window.
---
Setsugekka sat in a car, answering a call from the middleman.
> "Miss V, as you know, I'm a fair guy… but there's been a hiccup. I think we need to renegotiate our deal…"
She didn't interrupt, instead starting a tracking program to triangulate his location via the call.
> "…So, I'm gonna need more money this time. Miss V? You listening?"
Her progress bar ticked upward. A crisp, icy voice finally cut in:
> "How much more?"
> "I knew you were straightforward. Just another 30,000 eurodollars, and the chip's yours—safe and sound."
> "You'll get 10,000 upfront. In person. I don't want anyone else involved."
She sent a second program to track the money flow.
> "Of course, of course, Miss V."
Once the funds were received, the man chuckled.
> "Pleasure doing business, Miss V."
He hung up. The trace completed. Setsugekka's engine roared to life as she sped off toward the destination.
---
Westbrook, Crescent Street.
Setsugekka clicked her tongue. As soon as she neared Johnson's location, she realized she was being tailed. Thinking quickly, she approached a scantily clad street worker and stopped.
> "Get in."
Later, in a nearby motel, the woman inside her arms went limp. Setsugekka retrieved her yellowjacket drone that had injected the sedative, and climbed out the window.
Outside, the surveillance car was parked across the street. It was camouflaged to look like just another junker on the street. A yellowjacket drone landed on the roof and picked up their conversation.
> "Didn't expect that hot chick to be into girls."
"It's Night City—nothing surprises me anymore."
"If only I could spend a night with her…"
"She outranks you by a lot. Try it and you're dead—just don't bleed on me."
Setsugekka narrowed her eyes. The ones tailing her were Arasaka employees.
> "I just don't get it. I understand watching the target—but why spy on our own people?"
"It's Director Abernathy's call. Just shut up and do your job…"