For the first time, David Martinez understood the meaning of the word "stunning."
Never before had he seen such beautiful colors in Santo Domingo's grimy, run-down neighborhoods.
A gorgeous silhouette that stood out completely from everyone else there, and even here.
She leaned lazily yet elegantly against the railings of the waiting area behind the ceremony platform, her tailored high-end Arasaka women's uniform showing off her graceful, tall figure to perfection.
Her soft, pale gold hair was styled in a loose high ponytail tied with a deep red ribbon, cascading brilliantly and freely behind her.
Her profile, illuminated by the natural light from the venue's carefully designed windows, made her fair skin seem to glow with the delicate luster of pearls. Two slender fingers held a cigarette, wisps of smoke curling around her.
Light and mist, dreamlike and ethereal.
In that moment, she seemed to radiate light itself, her entire being emanating a dazzling brilliance and captivating charm.
"So beautiful..."
David's eyes couldn't help but freeze, his mouth unconsciously opening slightly.
Simply emphasizing appearance was too crude, and David, lacking much literary knowledge, racked his brains but could only manage this soft murmur.
"David... David?"
"It's nothing." Quickly averting his gaze and looking somewhat evasive, David lowered his head.
Poor kids might not take charge of households early, but they do understand some things sooner. David could vaguely but accurately sense how out of place he was here – the positions up on the ceremony platform were far too distant.
"..."
Gloria naturally noticed her son's gaze. She turned and followed David's line of sight.
Undoubtedly a beautiful woman, but equally deadly and dangerous.
In Night City, staying glamorous and polished without being targeted by the scumbags here often proved one thing: the more beautiful something was, the more lethal it was. Stare—!
"Ah...!!" Gloria instinctively stepped back.
Because right in front of her, an Arasaka agent with combat cyberware embedded around his eye sockets and nose bridge had walked over, his electronic eyes glowing dark red as they coldly observed her.
"..."
Soon, seemingly confirming the threat was eliminated, Gloria and David's identities as new student and guardian at Arasaka Academy were verified, and their danger level deemed negligibly low. The Arasaka agent quickly moved away.
"Huff... huff..."
Like a survivor of disaster, Gloria placed her hand on her chest, making the sign of the cross that few people in today's society still believed in, and let out a long breath.
Unlike David, who though understanding some things still had eyes that sparkled with clear-eyed naivety, Gloria worked as emergency medical personnel at Night City Medical Center and knew quite a bit about the corporate hierarchy rules of Night City's major companies.
That woman was definitely a high-ranking Arasaka official.
So David had reached that age too...
Young love, indeed.
David was at just the right age for his first crush – developing feelings of admiration and affection for beautiful, elegant women was perfectly normal.
Gloria thought silently.
But—
Gloria looked again toward the VIP waiting area behind the ceremony platform.
A bodyguard built like a black bear, heavily modified with combat cyberware, was holding a crystal ashtray from the rest area while the female Arasaka executive stubbed out her cigarette, then slowly returned to her seat in the waiting area. Arasaka Academy staff members respectfully bowed while serving beverages...
Really not suitable.
David, you'd better give up on this infatuation completely, and soon.
...
"Yes, I understand." Receiving the report from agents maintaining venue order and security, Vera's white bodyguard Laurie said, "Ma'am, it's a new student. Security threat has been eliminated."
Unaware of what impression she'd left on certain people, Vera nodded and glanced toward the venue.
She wasn't worried about assassination attempts here or terrorist attacks at Arasaka Academy in the Civic Center.
After the Fourth Corporate War, with those legendary hotshots having faded away, in the past fifty-plus years in Night City, no "legend" had been foolish enough to cause trouble in Corporate Plaza or the Civic Center and lived to tell about it.
Though that red-haired woman in the Night City Medical Center yellow jacket...
Huh?
The boy with the mohawk and shaved sides, those eyes revealing clear-eyed stupidity.
Was this the enrollment year for that future youngest legend of Night City?
Whoosh.
[Scanner activated]
Scan results:
Gloria Martinez
Civilian, employed at Night City Medical Center, Trauma Team member, cyberware modification level: Low, hackable
Cyber modifications: Basic processor, chip slot
No weapons
David Martinez...
...
The scan results appearing in her field of vision reminded Vera that today's haul was pretty good.
"Get me a list of this year's external academy enrollees and their admission test scores." Orange light flickered in her eyes as Vera, habitually planning ahead to add reasonable justification for future actions, requested another document from the school.
As for Vera meeting this future little legend right now?
That would be harming him.
Besides, a sixteen-year-old brat who knew nothing, had learned nothing, no foundation, no experience, hadn't even finished growing – what use would he be?
No blood relation, no connection – Vera wasn't here to be a babysitter. What she wanted were loyal subordinates who could take bullets for her and carry out her orders.
Let him settle for a year first, understand the coldness of Night City society and the hardships of his mother's struggle to raise him alone. Then Vera would appear by chance, offering help in the snow under the guise of an appreciative "kind" senior.
That way, a future "legendary" enforcer recognized by Adam Smasher, a loyal and devoted subordinate, would be in hand.
Edgerunner? Forget about it – come be a corpo dog instead.
Sigh, I really am a bad person.
Vera felt she definitely had some talent, especially when it came to scheming.
She'd never thought about how to handle this young legend before, but upon meeting him, she didn't need any advisors – in no time she'd thought of everything, figured out exactly how to win him over and use him.
Well, it's all Arasaka's fault!
Arasaka made me bad.
"So first, struggle and survive at Arasaka Academy, endure the beatings, and work hard to improve yourself."
Her slender fingers elegantly lifted a glass filled with ice water. After taking a small sip, Vera leaned back on the sofa, watching through the glass window as the increasingly crowded but relatively quiet and orderly formation of new students grew.
Soon, the new student orientation ceremony began. Entering the venue, Vera was invited onto the central podium as a former valedictorian, outstanding alumnus, and Arasaka executive, leisurely listening to the short, fat principal's speech.
In a while, she'd have to give a speech too. According to the rehearsal schedule, she'd also need to field some questions from the underclassmen.
No big deal.
Nothing worth mentioning – as a director at Umbrella, Vera was already used to giving speeches and attending these kinds of ceremonies.
In America, dealing with various reporters, all sorts of rights organizations, charitable organizations, and so on, Vera had already mastered the skills of lying with a straight face, making something from nothing, not answering, avoiding the important while dwelling on the trivial, changing the subject, switching concepts, invalidating premises, turning accusations back on accusers... and more.
"Now let's welcome the 2070 class valedictorian of Arasaka Tower Academy, Director Vera Adelaide Russell, to give us her enrollment blessing!"