"You old man! Your methods are outdated, and the world is changing every minute! Night City is no longer under your control! If we don't innovate, Arasaka will eventually be left behind!"
Laixuan Arasaka pointed at Saburo Arasaka, calling him a "dead old man" in a tone dripping with anger.
"Is this your excuse for mediocrity and incompetence? You have truly disappointed me. And now you want to sell the company's Soulkiller technology to Militech? Don't you understand the ramifications of that?"
Saburo Arasaka's voice was sharp, though his words were interrupted by a fit of violent coughing. His frustration with Laixuan's actions was evident.
Peter, hiding nearby, shook his head in disbelief. He whispered to his companions, "Laixuan Arasaka is a complete fool. Does he not understand the importance of Soulkiller? He's willing to sell it to Militech, jeopardizing the very foundation of Arasaka's dominance!"
Jack, crammed into the inspection shaft with Peter, nodded in agreement, muttering under his breath, "This guy's not just dumb—he's suicidal."
Saburo, however, wasn't finished. "Even if you disagree with me, you must never betray your family. We don't need to fear the Western barbarians. Our real threat lies across the ocean, in China. Kang Tao is our true enemy!"
The mention of Kang Tao made Peter's eyes narrow. The implications of this statement hit him hard. So, Arasaka's ultimate goal is not just global control—it's dominance over Kang Tao and its tech empire.
Laixuan, however, was too enraged to listen. "Enough! I'm in charge of Night City, not you! You can take your lectures and go back to Tokyo. I'll run things my way!"
Saburo, calm yet visibly disappointed, shook his head. "Night City is too valuable to leave in the hands of someone as reckless as you. You've dismissed competent people, abandoned critical projects, and now you're handing over Soulkiller to Militech. Do you have any idea what kind of damage you're doing to our empire?"
"You have no right to judge me!" Laixuan screamed, his face flushed with fury. "I've had enough of your interference. This is my city now!"
In his rage, Laixuan began smashing everything within reach. Glasses shattered, wine bottles were thrown, and furniture was overturned. Saburo stood his ground, unflinching, watching his son's tantrum with an expression of deep disappointment.
Peter, observing through the hidden camera on his shoulder, whispered to Jack and David, "This is it. This is the proof we need. Keep recording."
Saburo's voice cut through the chaos like a knife. "Your mother would have been ashamed to see what you've become."
The room fell silent.
Laixuan froze, his eyes blazing with fury. "Don't you dare mention her!" he roared, his voice breaking with emotion. "You have no right!"
In a blind rage, Laixuan lunged at his father, wrapping his hands around Saburo's throat. The older man struggled but was no match for Laixuan's strength.
Peter kept recording, capturing every detail. "This is it," he whispered. "This is the moment that changes everything."
Saburo's struggles grew weaker until his lifeless body slumped to the floor. Laixuan stood over him, breathing heavily, his hands trembling.
Jack and David, still hiding, were frozen in shock. "Holy s**t," Jack whispered. "He really did it."
David could barely speak, his voice a whisper. "What do we do now?"
Peter remained calm, his eyes fixed on Laixuan. "We stick to the plan."
Laixuan stumbled back, staring at his father's lifeless body. His face was a mix of fear, regret, and strange relief. "What have I done?" he muttered, his voice barely audible.
Before he could collect himself, Peter stepped out of the inspection shaft, the camera on his shoulder still recording.
"Who's there?!" Laixuan shouted, spinning around to face Peter.
Peter smiled, holding up the custom Arasaka pistol he had taken earlier. "Looking for this?"
Laixuan's face turned pale. "You... who are you? How did you get in here?"
Peter ignored the question, gesturing to the camera on his shoulder. "You're quite the actor, Laixuan. This little performance of yours is going to make headlines."
Laixuan's eyes widened in horror as the realization sank in. "You... you recorded everything?"
Peter nodded. "High-definition, too. Courtesy of Kang Tao. I think the board of Arasaka—or perhaps Michiko Arasaka—might be interested in seeing this footage. What do you think?"
Laixuan's knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the floor, his head in his hands. "No... no, this can't be happening."
Jack, David, and V emerged from the inspection shaft, their expressions a mix of fear and disbelief.
"You've lost, Laixuan," Peter said, his voice calm but firm. "Your dream of controlling Night City? It's over. You've crossed a line you can't come back from."
Laixuan's head snapped up, his face twisted with desperation. "What do you want? Money? Power? I can give you anything. Just... just don't release that video."
Peter smirked. "You think this is about money? This is about justice. You've betrayed your family, your company, and your city. There's no redemption for someone like you."
Laixuan's face crumpled, and he let out a guttural scream, pounding his fists against the floor.
Peter turned to his companions. "Let's get out of here. We've got what we need."
As they moved to leave, Peter glanced back at Laixuan one last time. "Oh, and one more thing," he said, his voice cold. "Saburo Arasaka isn't dead."
Laixuan's head shot up, his eyes wide with shock. "What are you talking about? I saw him die!"
Peter's smirk widened. "Let's just say Arasaka has a way of cheating death. You'll find out soon enough."
With that, Peter and his team disappeared into the shadows, leaving Laixuan alone with his guilt and the ghost of his father.
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