I really miss this place. I never expected to come back here again," Johnny's voice echoed in Alex Carter's mind.
Looking at the completely restored Arasaka Tower around him, he couldn't help but feel emotional.
Alex said with a smile, "Didn't expect it? Fifty years ago, you flattened this place with a nuclear bomb, and now Arasaka Tower has been rebuilt to its former glory."
"What a damn failure..." Johnny sighed and then fell silent.
Alex, incarnated as an Arasaka employee, skillfully navigated through Arasaka Tower using the plundered memories.
He sought out his target once more to acquire useful information.
As for why he was seeking this target...
Arasaka's hierarchical system was too strict, making it difficult to access more information without a certain level and authority.
Moreover, the Blacklight Virus was a bit picky.
After each assimilation, a lot of implants had to be expelled.
The simulated target was in a state without implants.
If someone observed this situation closely, it would definitely expose him.
So Alex could only target individuals without visible implants on their faces.
The quality of Arasaka's employees was high enough, and finding such a target wasn't difficult.
After nearly an hour of work, Alex finally reached the floor where Hanako Arasaka was located after assimilating a waitress responsible for Hanako's meals.
As he entered, Alex was momentarily stunned.
Johnny couldn't help but sneer.
"Heh... Damn it, what are they saying over there, something about a smell and bones outside?"
"What?"
After listening to Johnny's description, Alex didn't immediately understand.
"What are you talking about, 'The wine and meat of the rich stink, while on the road lie frozen bones'?"
"Yes! That's it!"
"Please don't quote if you don't understand it...," Alex rolled his eyes helplessly.
Johnny, this guy—Alex could see clearly.
His proficiency in Chinese was limited, but he loved to dabble in phrases.
Amusing himself with his limited knowledge.
But then again...
Alex looked at the level of luxury belonging solely to Hanako Arasaka, and it would be a lie to say he wasn't shocked.
Who could imagine that an entire floor of Arasaka Tower, covering thousands of square meters, with interior landscapes, hot springs, and even woods, belonged to Hanako Arasaka alone?
Think about the people at the bottom of the city who walk on garbage and drink chemical waste water to survive.
Don't say...it's a little cyberpunk.
"It's not Miss Hanako's meal time, please leave!"
A shout with a Japanese accent interrupted Alex's thoughts.
He saw a man wearing a high-level Arasaka uniform, with a sleek haircut, staring at him with cold eyes.
It was none other than Hanako Arasaka's bodyguard, Oda!
Seeing Oda's cold demeanor, Alex's anger flared up.
Of course, it wasn't the same as with Dexter and Placide, the two deceased men.
The reason Alex was angry with Oda was purely because Oda had given him a hard time when he first started playing the game.
Talking about the spirit of Bushido, but stealthily retreating and healing when losing.
Even street gangsters weren't that sneaky!
So much so that by the end of the third week, Alex manually saved his progress and fought Oda five times!
But aside from these things, Oda's personality wasn't all bad.
Typical of someone with the same mindset as his master, Goro Takemura.
"Please leave, or I won't be polite."
With that, Oda gently flicked his arms...
*shing... shing...*
A pair of mantis blades popped out of his arms.
The thermal components on them made the mantis blades emit a searing heat!
Clearly, he wasn't joking.
But Alex wasn't joking either.
He was serious about taking Hanako Arasaka away!
*Swish!*
In an instant, the Blacklight Virus covered his entire body, and the "armor" took shape.
Seeing the familiar waiter suddenly transform into such a creature, Oda frowned.
"Hmph, there is indeed a problem! Die!"
With a snort, Oda wielded his pair of thermal mantis blades and quickly attacked Alex.
The reinforced prosthetics in his legs allowed him to burst forth with a speed ordinary humans couldn't reach.
*swish*
After a few feints to confuse the enemy, Oda's double blades thrust forward suddenly.
On the other hand, Alex didn't seem to react. He just stood there in his armor, seemingly dumbfounded.
*Crack...*
A crisp sound echoed as the mantis blades pierced Alex's chest accurately.
However, Oda frowned.
Something was wrong!
How could the opponent's strange armor be so hard?
His mantis blades only pierced a small part and couldn't go deeper...
Hmm, but that's okay.
This depth was enough to pierce his heart.
However, in the next second, something shocking happened to Oda!
Alex calmly raised his hands, gripping the two mantis blades tightly.
Then slowly pulled them out.
As the mantis blades were removed, the armor formed by the Blacklight Virus quickly healed, along with Alex's body inside.
These two blades hadn't caused much damage to Alex, apart from the pain.
What? Heart?
For him, since when is the heart a critical point?
This thing isn't as important as a limb, right?
Well, although that thing can regenerate, the psychological shadow can't be compensated for.
Alex remained calm, even making internal complaints.
But Oda, on the opposite side, was utterly stunned.
"You... who are you?"
He couldn't believe his eyes now.
He was 10,000% sure that the sensation from the mantis blades was real and had pierced this man's heart.
But why did he act as if nothing had happened?
No... This man's strength is immense! The blades can't be drawn!
Seeing Oda struggling to pull the mantis blades from his grasp, Alex felt a sense of satisfaction.
Oda Sandafu, you have met your match today!
"Sit down!"
Alex shouted loudly, and his hands suddenly applied force.
*boom!!!*
With a loud thud, Alex smashed Oda's forehead with a fierce headbutt.
In an instant, blood flowed from Oda's forehead, and snowflakes flew in his vision.
Even the operating system in his brain began to malfunction.
Relying on the protection of the Blacklight Armor, Alex wasn't holding back.
It was estimated that the steel plate in front of him would have been deformed.
Let alone the mortal Oda.
So much so that as soon as Alex released his grip, Oda staggered back a few steps.
Then, with a "thump," he fell.
He was rolling and retching on the ground, likely suffering from a concussion...
Knocking him out easily, Alex began searching for Hanako Arasaka's location on the entire expansive floor.
Of course, with his hacking skills, the method was straightforward.
He connected to the network equipment on the floor and confirmed the location through wireless signals.
"Well, that's clever..."
Alex smiled slightly and walked towards the indoor woods not far away.
At this time, Hanako Arasaka seemed to have noticed something and was hiding within, constantly trying to use communication to contact the guards.
However, Alex had used hacking methods to temporarily block the signal on this floor long before he arrived.
No matter how much she struggled now, it was futile.
"Ms. Hanako, hello, would you like to come to my place as a guest?"
Looking at Alex with a smile on his face, Hanako Arasaka's expression turned cold.
She said angrily, "Who are you? You want to kidnap me? Do you know what will happen if you do?"
Alex shrugged indifferently: "Anyone who isn't a fool knows."
"I advise you to abandon this dangerous idea. We can discuss anything now," Hanako Arasaka gradually calmed down.
Because she realized that the man in front of her didn't seem to have any intention of killing her.
Since she wouldn't die, there was still room for negotiation in everything.
"Discuss now..." Alex rubbed his chin.
This proposal... seems reasonable.
After all, if he chose to kidnap Hanako Arasaka, there would still be the risk of exposing his location.
"Hey... that's fine, wait for me to make a call."
With that, Alex opened a communication channel for himself, and he intended to call Takemura.
Unexpectedly, just as the channel opened, Takemura's call came through first.
"Alex, you can answer. I've thought of a way. Ms. Hanako will take the float in a few days..."
"Ahem, Takemura, come to Arasaka Tower now," Alex interrupted Takemura, embarrassed.
"Arasaka Tower? I don't want to die yet," Takemura smiled and shook his head.
"No, I'm already at Hanako Arasaka!"
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