Chapter 168: The Temptation of Unification
"So your actions must be ahead of the curve." Myers' voice was decisive and uncompromising. "Find them. Assess them. That woman named Mower, and the 'Boss' behind her—they are the key.
"If cooperation is possible, ensure they stand on our side. Trade orders, resources, even special franchises for their technology. At the very least, ensure they remain neutral.
"If they cannot be controlled, or if their threat level is confirmed to be too high..."
She paused, her eyes cold.
"Then we must have plans in place for physical elimination before they become a bigger problem. The NUSA will prepare on the diplomatic, public opinion, and necessary military deployment fronts to create a favorable environment for reclaiming lost territory and to bear the international pressure.
"But the blade of action, the tentacles of intelligence, and the mission to ultimately ensure that technological advantage falls into our hands—that requires you to execute."
She emphasized finally, her gaze sweeping over every tycoon present. "Remember, this is not a simple commercial competition. This is the prelude to national unification! Militech's interests will be tied to the fate of the NUSA more tightly than ever before.
"Seize this 'opportunity,' and we will write history together. Profits and territory will reach unprecedented heights."
The communication cut off. The screen reverted to the image of the burning Arasaka Tower.
The conference room fell into a deeper silence.
Myers' intervention had instantly elevated a corporate strategic assessment to the level of combined national warfare and strategic speculation.
The CEO exhaled slowly, his eyes sharpening. His previous hesitation was replaced by a pragmatic greed and sense of urgency.
"Pass the order down," his voice was now full of resolve. "Fully upgrade combat readiness levels. Expand production lines. But externally, maintain a low profile of 'shock and regret.'
"Intelligence departments get top-level clearance and an unlimited budget. I want to know everything about 'Maine's Squad,' the 'Boss,' and Mower. The priority is establishing a direct channel of contact.
"At the same time, closely monitor all of Arasaka's movements, especially the mobilization of their home fleet and elite troops."
He looked around at everyone, adding the point Myers hadn't explicitly stated but everyone understood. "Also, draft a 'Unification Day' contingency plan. Cover everything from full-scale military intervention to post-war order reconstruction. Evaluate the feasibility of acquiring and reverse-engineering that faction's technology.
"We must ensure that no matter how this storm evolves, the ultimate winners in technology, market, and territory must be the NUSA—and us, Militech."
The brief excitement had long been replaced by immense responsibility, risk, and a hunger for technology and markets.
The titans of Militech clearly realized that Pandora's Box of war might have been opened by an invisible hand.
They not only had to guess the owner of this hand but also find a way to guide or even control this power. While destroying their nemesis, they intended to firmly grasp that coveted technological legacy and the massive dividends of war.
The prospect of unification and infinite business opportunities were equally tempting, but the road to the throne was already strewn with unknown thorns and opportunities.
In the soundproof office on the top floor of the Kang Tao Night City branch, overlooking the city's neon lights, the grim atmosphere was almost solid.
The branch director had just cut the emergency video link with Asia Headquarters. He leaned back in his high-backed chair, looking slightly exhausted. His knuckles unconsciously rapped on the smooth desk surface, beads of sweat on his forehead reflecting faintly under the cold light.
He looked around at the core management team sitting around the conference table. His voice carried a suppressed calm, yet couldn't hide a trace of imperceptible resentment. "Headquarters has once again explicitly denied it. This matter has nothing to do with them."
He paused, as if chewing over every word of HQ's directive. "They believe we are facing a severe strategic misjudgment and demand we avoid direct conflict with Arasaka at all costs."
"Avoid conflict?" The Security Chief almost squeezed the words through gritted teeth, slamming his fist on the table. "The whole city is saying we did it! Motive, capability—we fit everything!
"The friction with Arasaka in Southeast Asia is common knowledge. This debt is being tallied entirely against our North American branch!
"The market and relationships we've worked so hard to build here could be destroyed overnight because of HQ's 'caution'!"
The Financial Director pushed up his glasses, his tone cold. "Headquarters is far away in Asia. They consider global strategic balance. But can they personally feel our performance metrics, our profits and losses here?
"Once Arasaka retaliates, the first to bear the brunt will be our North American assets and personnel.
"We cannot carry this black pot for someone else for nothing. We must take action. At the very least, we need to muddy the waters. We cannot sit and wait for death."
"Action? What action?" The Director interrupted the increasingly heated discussion, a trace of mockery in his tone. "Headquarters has already decided. They are sending a 'Senior Operations Director' over to handle this matter with full authority. He's bringing an elite special ops team directly under HQ command."
This news made the faces of the few people present look even worse.
"Full authority" usually meant the power of the local management would be hollowed out.
"Parachuting in again?" The Operations Director muttered a complaint. "They don't trust our judgment at all. We've been here for years; we know the rules of Night City.
"When the people from HQ arrive, they'll only follow their rigid procedures. Forget about turning the crisis around; I'm afraid they won't even be able to maintain the current situation."
The Security Chief snorted coldly. "I'm afraid HQ wants to do more than just solve the problem. Using this crisis to take over North American affairs and turn us all into puppets executing orders—that is their true objective.
"The autonomy we've fought so hard for over these years..."
The Director raised his hand, stopping the rest of the sentence, but his eyes silently acknowledged this speculation.
The long-standing undercurrent of power struggle between Headquarters and the North American branch became clear at this moment.
Headquarters wanted to control the situation and avoid getting burned; the North American branch leaned more towards exploiting the crisis to fight for greater independence and benefits amidst the chaos, perhaps even thoroughly breaking free from HQ's constraints at some future point.
"Before HQ's special envoy arrives," the Director took a deep breath, lowering his voice, "our mission is clear. On the surface, follow all HQ instructions. Keep a low profile. Absolutely no active provocation of Arasaka.
"But in the shadows, activate every network we have in Night City. Use every secret channel unreported to HQ. Find Maine's Squad, or any fixer who can contact them.
"Speed is key. We must establish our connection before HQ's people intervene."
His gaze swept over his confidants, his tone becoming meaningful. "This force... is a disaster, but also an opportunity. If it can be grasped by our North American branch first—or rather, if we 'cooperate' first—then our voice before Headquarters will be completely different.
"When that time comes, whether Headquarters takes us over, or we use this achievement and strength to gain greater autonomy, or even... remains to be seen."
Driven by the dual pressures of Headquarters and their own ambition, the strategy of Kang Tao's North American branch became increasingly clear and dangerous.
They not only had to deal with Arasaka's potential retaliation and the unanimous suspicion of the outside world but also had to seize the initiative in the internal game against the HQ faction.
In their eyes, this unknown force that destroyed Arasaka Tower was not just a key, but potentially a heavy hammer to smash the existing power structure.
(End of Chapter)