Capítulo 204: Chapter 202
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With Tang Yu's public announcement that Arasaka was responsible for the attack on Militech and his subsequent apology, the entire press conference fell silent, as if the attendees hadn't yet fully processed the outcome.
Initially, everyone thought there would either be a major fallout between the two giant corporations or some form of compromise from both sides. But now, Arasaka was unilaterally backing down. Meredith, sitting beside him, had an increasingly pronounced smile on her lips but remained silent.
Jefferson, seated in the front row, watched as Tang Yu took full responsibility on behalf of Arasaka while Militech made no response. He was completely stunned. He couldn't believe Tang Yu dared to make such a significant concession. Was his previous tough stance just a bluff? Or did Militech hold more incriminating evidence that forced Arasaka to yield? Or perhaps, there was another possibility.
Tang Yu had to achieve peace talks at all costs, whether by force or choice, which is why he agreed to Militech's conditions in the final round of private negotiations. Jefferson then realized that Tang Yu was effectively aiding him. His fists clenched with excitement; if the peace talks succeeded, he would have more leverage to compete.
Although he had some doubts about Tang Yu's motives, everything would be revealed once he became mayor. He glanced at Mrs. Peralez beside him, who smiled softly and gently placed her hand on his tightly clenched fist. At that moment, Jefferson felt truly fortunate to have such a wise wife by his side.
He had always insisted on not getting entangled with any big corporations, even keeping his distance from Night Corp, which had funded his education. But now, he believed his wife's perspective was more practical: if you don't want to be enslaved by a corporation, you must learn to navigate among them. With power comes responsibility.
On stage, Tang Yu announced the results of the talks with a calm tone. He merely apologized on Arasaka's behalf; it had little to do with his personal actions. By speaking up at this moment, Arasaka had no room to backtrack. This was why he chose to attend the press conference immediately to reveal the outcome, catching those in Arasaka Tower who were enjoying the show off guard.
In the past three days, he had given Meredith enough face. As their alliance was completed, they each held sufficient secrets of the other, establishing a common ground of interest. Tang Yu believed this move was worthwhile; Arasaka might not be a place to stay long-term, and having more allies meant more options. Even if he were eventually kicked out by Arasaka and became a nobody, he reckoned Aunt Mei wouldn't dare betray him rashly.
In any case, Aunt Mei had acknowledged that he was definitely a long-term ally worth keeping. After all, Aunt Mei stated more than once that she valued capability over position. Reporters in the audience seized the opportunity, eagerly raising their microphones to ask questions. Tang Yu casually picked a reporter, and the conference secretary passed the microphone over.
"Mr. Tang, may I ask, on what basis did you publicly declare Arasaka responsible for this action? And why wasn't this admitted at the beginning?"
Tang Yu candidly replied, "Your question is incorrect. Arasaka never denied anything from the start. If you're asking why we are only making a public statement now, it's because now is the appropriate time."
He then pointed to a WNS reporter who promptly stood up to ask, "Mr. Tang, first of all, it's an honor to hear that you are willing to make a proactive concession for the success of the peace talks, contributing to the stability of Night City. But I'd like to ask, was your decision discussed with the Arasaka board of directors?"
Tang Yu casually replied, "I represent the company in the negotiations, so naturally, it was approved by the board. And let me add, Arasaka is a responsible company; if we dare to act, we dare to take responsibility."
Another reporter asked, "So what do you think were the reasons for the success of these peace talks?"
Tang Yu listed several reasons, including that the attack was indeed organized by Arasaka and highlighted the mediation efforts of City Councilor Jefferson.
After speaking, he cooperated with the reporters' questions, explaining each one thoroughly and playing his part well. Aunt Mei, sitting next to him, smiled even more, feeling Tang Yu's sincerity once again. Many reporters in the audience directed their questions to Militech representatives. Aunt Mei signaled other delegation members to answer on her behalf. Now that they held the upper hand in negotiations, they could afford to act like winners.
As the press conference progressed, news began to dominate headlines.
#History Repeats: Arasaka Surrenders!
#Peace Talks Conclude; Arasaka Issues Public Apology!
...
In Arasaka Tower.
"Heh, you've got guts." Susan Abernathy couldn't help but chuckle as she watched the projected screen. The footage showed Tang Yu publically apologizing to Militech during the intercorporate peace talks.
She was well aware of the details of the meeting. Initially, the board assigned Tang Yu to represent the company and negotiate with Militech, with the mandate to uphold several bottom lines. Now, Tang Yu not only admitted to the attack but also publicly apologized without any board discussion, which was a huge blow.
If the Arasaka board had agreed to apologize proactively, they would have issued a statement and made appropriate compensations a long time ago. The disgrace Tang Yu brought upon Arasaka meant he would face severe consequences upon his return.
"Just newly appointed to the Public Relations department, and already making such a mess, goes to show how success can go to one's head," she muttered.
She brought up another projection screen and casually browsed the trending headlines. The narrative had completely shifted from exaggerated war apocalypse scenarios to showing Arasaka conceding to Militech once again. She knew that the main responsibility for this failed operation would fall entirely on Tang Yu and was ready to watch the ensuing drama.
At that moment, she received a call from a senior board member. The call emphatically stressed how seriously and angrily the upper echelons viewed the incident, likely leading to severe accountability measures. She was advised to voluntarily take on minor responsibility for the operational failure.
Susan Abernathy decisively agreed. When the heat was on, minor responsibility could serve as a protective shield. Tang Yu, as the focal point, would face the brunt of everyone's anger.
After hanging up the phone, Susan Abernathy observed that the press conference was nearing its end. Tang Yu and Militech's high-ranking official, Meredith, had left first, while City Councillor Jefferson continued speaking on stage. She estimated that Tang Yu was probably rushing back to Arasaka Tower, anxious about how to explain everything to the board.
Feeling exceptionally pleased, she rarely indulged herself by having her secretary pour her a glass of wine to savor alone in the office. She sat at her desk and brought up another image, displaying the personal information of two individuals: David Martinez and Gloria Martinez.
This was her ace in the hole prepared for Tang Yu. Susan Abernathy knew that taking down Tang Yu wouldn't be easy with just one or two failures; she needed more damaging information to make a decisive move.
She even suspected that the deceased Kate might have known something crucial, which could explain why she was terminated from the company and subsequently died mysteriously.
In short, Tang Yu was far more dangerous than he appeared. To investigate him, she had to remain inconspicuous. David had been attending Arasaka Academy and joined Arasaka Corporation with outstanding results, which, although unusual, was not impossible. What caught her attention was not David's success in his initial mission but his assignment to the Counter-Intel Division during his internship.
To this end, she had personally visited David in the hospital, seeking an opportunity to probe him. After meeting David's mother, she sensed something fishy. Further private investigation confirmed some suspicions. Mother and son had been involved in a car accident last year, coincidentally the same day a certain someone returned to the city. All clues pointed to one person: Tang Yu.
The mother and son might have a connection with Tang Yu, though it was still unclear. She continued to have her team quietly investigate but found no significant clues. They only gathered surface-level information, such as Gloria being the current owner of Lizzie's Bar and the former owner dying in a mysterious car accident.
To uncover more deeply buried secrets, she needed more insider information about the mother and son. She knew that Tang Yu, being a high-ranking official deeply trusted by the Arasaka Family, couldn't be easily toppled. The best approach was to target people associated with him.
Susan Abernathy called in her personal secretary and asked, "Any leads on the people I asked you to look into?"
She had instructed her secretary to investigate anyone with useful information about Gloria, who had extensive connections as a middleman at Lizzie's Bar.
The secretary respectfully replied, "We have identified a few candidates. One of them, a middleman, claims to know quite a bit about Gloria but demands an equivalent exchange."
"Who?" Susan Abernathy asked coldly.
The secretary's cybernetic eye adjusted, transmitting the individual's information to the desk, before stating, "Faraday."
Glaring at the white-haired man on the screen, Susan Abernathy said icily, "Engage him. If he has real information, consider giving him some incentive. But if he's not reliable... well, a Militech asset isn't of much use. Just keep the brain."
After saying that, the secretary informed her that Tang Yu had just arrived at Arasaka Tower, and the board was convening an emergency meeting. Knowing the exciting moment had arrived, Susan Abernathy knew the board members were probably arguing fiercely, thinking of various charges against Tang Yu.
She dismissed her secretary and then turned on her office system, pondering how to frame her report to shoulder part of the minor responsibility.
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