75: Chapter 74 Lai Xuan: Hey! I have a plan

The ambition burning in Yorinobu's eyes like a raging fire did not make Lin Yi lose his composure.

Meeting that scorching gaze, he posed the most practical question: "A grand goal, Mr. Yorinobu. But have you considered how you will guarantee our cooperation? In a corporate empire built on lies and betrayal, verbal promises are more fragile than glass."

[Insight] operated silently, analyzing every reaction from Yorinobu.

"Guarantee?" Yorinobu chuckled, picking up the bottle on the table to pour himself another glass of whiskey. "The current Arasaka may look solid on the outside, but it is already riddled with holes on the inside. The Hanako faction clings to the old man's legacy, refusing to move forward. The Michiko faction is busy using the influence of my older brother, Kei Arasaka, to lay out plans in Night City. And there are countless other factions, large and small, each harboring their own ulterior motives."

"I have to admit, if it weren't for my old man engraving fear into the bones of every faction, this company would have fallen into endless internal strife long ago," Yorinobu said, staring at the drink in his glass.

He turned around, his gaze sharp: "So right now, I need a sword—a Damocles sword hanging over everyone's heads, including my own. And that sword is you, Lin Yi."

"Me? A Damocles sword?" Lin Yi shook his head. "Mr. Yorinobu, doing this won't convince the factions; instead, it will incite the fiercest resistance. Suddenly giving an outsider the power of life and death over everyone is a path to destruction in any organization. Mr. Yorinobu, you are too impatient."

"I understand that, of course." Yorinobu took a sip of his drink. "So before that, you need to do something to prove your irreplaceable value, demonstrate the closeness of our relationship in front of them, and earn the capital to establish a foothold. So, have you heard of the 'Little Beidou' project?"

[Insight] keenly captured the subtle energy fluctuation in Yorinobu when he uttered that term—this was a carefully selected probe.

"That secret project from Militech?" Lin Yi feigned thought. "According to information I recently obtained, they wanted to try borrowing the power of the Blackwall during the Second Corporate War. The project code name was 'Little Beidou', although no news of a successful application ever circulated."

"What?" The glass in Yorinobu's hand paused abruptly, the amber liquid sloshing violently. "Kono yarou (These bastards)! To dare to do such a thing right under Netwatch's nose!" A flash of genuine anger crossed his face. "These big corporations, they really are all birds of a feather!"

Lin Yi confirmed through [Insight] that this anger was real, but mixed with it was a trace of... satisfaction that the plan had succeeded—what on earth was he up to?

Lin Yi took the opportunity to lay out the intelligence he knew: "Actually, Netwatch was involved in the early stages of the 'Little Beidou' project. But after a major accident occurred in the second phase, Netwatch withdrew from the project and demanded that Militech destroy the relevant facilities. It seems now that Militech clearly deceived Netwatch."

"I see..." Yorinobu paced to the floor-to-ceiling window, his back to Lin Yi, but [Insight] could still capture the slightly upturned corner of his mouth. "In that case, Lin Yi, my plan might proceed even more smoothly."

He turned around, his eyes shining with the gleam of a successful scheme: "I want you to lead the team. I will provide unlimited resources within my authority. The goal is to completely destroy and expose the 'Little Beidou' facility beneath Dogtown. Let this scandal be made public and muddy the waters. When that happens, Netwatch will certainly not sit idly by, and companies like Kang Tao will swarm like sharks smelling blood..."

Yorinobu detailed his plan: through this operation, draw in multiple forces like Netwatch, Militech, and Kang Tao to create chaos. By using media supported by Arasaka to apply pressure through public opinion, Netwatch would inevitably target Militech to protect its reputation and image, and then Arasaka would take the opportunity to unite with Netwatch and Kang Tao to encircle and annihilate Militech.

"With this 'achievement,' plus my endorsement, the status of you and your team will be unshakeable, and your reputation among the public will be even greater." Yorinobu walked up to Lin Yi. "At that point, you will be able to naturally intervene in my... correction of Arasaka's internal affairs."

[Insight] comprehensively analyzed this plan—it was logically rigorous, highly feasible, and indeed, as Yorinobu said, could win them the necessary capital to establish a foothold.

The two engaged in in-depth communication regarding the details of their cooperation.

Finally, Lin Yi stood up: "Yorinobu, I personally support your ideals. I believe the others on the team will join as well, but I cannot make the decision for them. I will communicate with them. However, I can guarantee that the content of today's conversation will never be leaked to anyone other than my team members."

"No problem." Yorinobu revealed a rare, sincere smile. "There is an old saying from the Eastern ancient nation: 'Do not suspect those you employ, and do not employ those you suspect.' You and I have had a pleasant conversation, and I believe in my own judgment."

Lin Yi walked toward the elevator, then suddenly turned around before the buttons, as if mentioning it casually: "Oh, right. Your father should have his personality construct preserved in Mikoshi. And... be careful of Hanako."

Yorinobu's pupils contracted sharply, and [Insight] clearly captured his instantly skyrocketing adrenaline levels and violently fluctuating brainwave activity.

He remained silent for a moment, then nodded slowly: "Okay, I will keep that in mind."

The elevator doors closed slowly, taking Lin Yi away from this pinnacle of power.

Yorinobu stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking Night City at his feet, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

"Old man..." He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "Hanako... did you really choose to remain under his shadow after all?"

Outside the window, the afterglow of the setting sun stretched the shadow of Arasaka Tower long, like a giant beast awakening.

And in the heart of this giant beast, the seed named Revolution had already been quietly planted.

The elevator descended smoothly, the inner walls of the cabin reflecting Lin Yi's thoughtful face.

[Insight] continued to run in the background, sorting, analyzing, and archiving the massive amount of information obtained during the conversation just now—Yorinobu's calm that suppressed a storm, Adam Smasher's cold gaze, the key intelligence regarding "Little Beidou" and "Mikoshi," and that road to an unknown future of revolution—one by one.

He leaned against the cold metal wall of the cabin, clearly realizing that what he had just accepted was not just a dangerous corporate cooperation agreement.

He had accepted a spark.

A spark cultivated in despair and anger by Yorinobu, a rebel at the core of power, capable of burning down the old world.

This spark was now in his hands, and it would be up to him, V, and Jackie to cast it into the chaotic quagmire of Dogtown, hoping to ignite a prairie fire capable of burning through the thick clouds of Night City.

The road ahead was destined to be filled with thorns, and sacrifice was inevitable.

But this was no longer chaotic, disorderly destruction; it was the birth pains necessary to establish a new order upon the ruins.

The elevator made a soft sound indicating it had reached the ground floor, and the doors opened slowly.

Outside was the luxurious yet cold lobby of Konpeki Plaza, symbolizing the stability and hypocrisy of the old order.

Lin Yi took a deep breath, straightened his back, and stepped out.

He knew the spark had been ignited.

What remained to be done was to let the wind fuel the fire, making it burn brighter until it illuminated this land shrouded in corporate shadows.

Inside the room, the neon lights of Night City shone on Yorinobu's face, reflecting a glint of light in his obscure, inscrutable eyes.