Chapter 229: As Time Passes
After finishing his conversation with Roland, Yorinobu Arasaka felt a strangely subtle unease. After all… what kind of experience was it to be handed the remains of your own idol?
At the same time, Roland had told him that if he wished, he could arrange a full cyberware modification for him—one that would provide the highest level of personal protection and ensure his safety when it truly mattered.
Yorinobu replied that he needed time to think it over. He then left the PROJECT Corporation building. As for the cooperation agreement between the two companies, that had already been finalized without issue.
On the return trip, Smasher stared at the iron box cradled in his arms, his mood just as complicated—especially after learning that it contained Johnny Silverhand’s remains.
I killed him… and now he’s ended up back in my hands?
His impression of the man was vague. He only remembered killing someone like that, and feeling almost nothing when it happened.
“But… Silverhand’s consciousness chip…”
The thought caused Yorinobu’s gaze to drift. Especially after learning about the capabilities of relic 2.0, a certain idea immediately surfaced in his mind—though for now, he suppressed it.
The timing wasn’t right yet. And in any case, he couldn’t access Silverhand’s consciousness chip at the moment. Still, he believed that his “Father” would eventually involve him in relic 2.0-related matters.
By then, his “Father” would either be fully prepared… or already unable to hold on any longer.
“Hanako Arasaka… did you know all of this?”
...
After seeing Yorinobu off, Roland also took the time to review V’s final trial. V had participated in the large-scale operation between PROJECT and Gene Power, showing respectable combat capability. However, when faced with Wind—whose performance and technology utterly overwhelmed hers—she had no chance to resist.
Wind ended the trial with a single strike. When V woke up afterward, she instinctively touched her neck, her lingering fear still fresh.
Louis XVI gave an approving nod.
What followed was V’s training schedule at the base. Most of it focused on reinforcing the Justice Template. Roland had chosen Justice for her because it allowed for secondary upgrades, making it one of the strongest Templates available—second only to a few monsters he already possessed.
“Next… we’ll be entering a period of silence…”
Roland narrowed his eyes slightly at the thought.
The cooperation with Arasaka had been secured. Militech wouldn’t interfere for the time being. Control over Nevada was still incomplete, and the seeds planted in Pacifica were only just beginning to sprout.
The underground base was still under construction, and the Orange Essence had been completely spent. All of it would require time to ferment before yielding results.
“Lucy should be about done making contact with Zed…”
Roland rubbed his chin. Sending Lucy to Zed had been intentional—he wanted Zed to temper her through combat. Their fighting styles were, after all, remarkably similar, especially since Ambition had originally been one of Zed’s subordinates.
Zed undoubtedly understood Ambition far better than Roland did. As for how badly Lucy would be beaten—cough—or what kind of training she’d end up with, that was anyone’s guess.
Roland also took a moment to review the situation with the Mox. They had absorbed many territories that once belonged to the Maelstrom gang, putting them at odds with a newly emerging faction in the area.
It was more or less the same as splitting the original Maelstrom gang in two.
“Tell Elizabeth to avoid making unnecessary moves for now. Stabilizing the current situation is enough.”
“Understood.”
As for Jackie… hmm. Just give him a few field assignments to keep him busy. Oh, right—send him to Nevada. Things are a bit livelier over there.
And then there was David. That kid had been living a little too comfortably lately. Finding him something to do would be enough.
After roughly organizing everything that needed attention, Roland issued his general instructions to Lissandra.
“Hah… now all that’s left is to wait.”
...
Several months passed in the blink of an eye.
On the main front, the New United States advanced almost unopposed, encountering virtually no serious resistance. Aside from some initial caution against a possible surprise attack from PROJECT, their momentum never really slowed.
Once it became clear that PROJECT had been unusually well-behaved during this period, the New United States adopted even bolder policies, rapidly swallowing up the Free States’ sphere of influence.
Perhaps fearing that delays might cause complications, their actions were far faster than in the original timeline. A unification war that once would have taken a full year was now nearing its conclusion in just about half that time.
Jamde was all smiles at the development, happily adding another achievement to his record. At the same time, a new idea began to form in his mind.
Night City.
Previously, due to PROJECT’s excessive activity and the delicate circumstances at the time, they had chosen to avoid provoking them.
Now that the Free States had been more or less dealt with, they could finally spare the attention to settle accounts with PROJECT Corporation. A full reckoning might still be premature, but collecting a bit of interest was well within reason.
As a result, a unit received orders to move toward the Pacifica region near Night City.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Night City, a towering skyscraper stood at the center of it all, crowned with PROJECT’s unmistakable inverted triangle emblem.
“The New United States is finally making a move? I’ve been waiting for this day.”
Roland stopped what he was doing, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for you?
“Try to tone it down. That smile is way too creepy.”
Lucy, reclining on a nearby chair, glanced at him as she spoke.
“Ahem. You’re getting more and more disrespectful.”
Roland cleared his throat, adjusted his expression, and shot Lucy a helpless look.
Lucy rolled her eyes at him and put her braindance headset back on.
Roland smiled wryly. The favored were always fearless—but he supposed this was fair compensation for how badly Lucy had suffered in Pacifica…
After all, Zed hadn’t gone easy on her at all.
“Hm. Looks like it’s finally time for a second expansion. This time, my appetite won’t be so small.”
Roland lowered his head with a quiet laugh and unfolded the current power map of PROJECT Corporation.
A massive three-dimensional projection, resembling an underground city, instantly filled half the office. At its very center sat a half-completed structure that looked unmistakably like an aircraft carrier.
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