Chapter 45: Chapter 45
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In Night City.
Even at 9 PM, the city was still at the height of traffic congestion.
Streams of cars crowded the main arteries leading to various districts from the corporate plaza, moving slowly in lines.
Seen from above, it looked like a glowing serpent snaking through the city streets.
Some were out for a night of fun, others were just getting off work, hurrying home.
Carter Smith was driving home, squinting against the glare of headlights and growing frustrated by the traffic congestion, he couldn't help but lean on the horn.
Beep! Beep! Beep!!!
Suddenly.
A gleaming car covered in graffiti pulled up to Carter's left. The driver rolled down his window and shouted, "Corporate scum, full of bravado, huh? Keep honking that horn, and I'll believe you want to be run over, you mutt!"
Carter Smith was driving his personal vehicle, but for convenience, he often displayed a pass issued by Arasaka.
Having the Arasaka pass usually spared one from a lot of trouble; for instance, passing through NCPD checkpoints was often smooth sailing.
However, today this tactic was clearly ineffective. The street thugs didn't care about it, and seeing the corporate car seemed to anger them even more.
So, Carter could only pretend not to see them, shaking his head in resignation. He didn't bother arguing with the lowlives and moved his hand away from the horn to push the accelerator, squeezing forward two car spaces.
But Carter's tolerance did nothing to satisfy the thugs; instead, they could see that Carter was just a corporate coward, and they couldn't let go of a corporate stooge when they found one.
Thus, the thugs forced their way through two car spaces and pulled up alongside Carter again.
The thug sitting in the passenger seat spat viciously at Carter and laughed maniacally, "Cower like the corporate dog you are! Apologize on your knees, or I swear I'll finish you! Haha!"
Carter Smith frowned in annoyance, as he had no time to waste with these punks.
He simply searched for gaps in the traffic flow and continued to avoid their harassment.
It was nearly 9:30 PM.
This was the time he had informed Deputy Director Tang Yu about the mission.
The actual intelligence was deciphered at 9 PM; a half-hour delay was enough for the Special Operations Department to deal with the Maelstrom gang's trading issues.
Carter Smith chose to delay the Counter-Intelligence Department's action by half an hour and no longer, mainly to leave a way out for himself.
A time discrepancy in intelligence decryption was excusable, and with the cyberware operation data in hand, the higher-ups wouldn't delve too deep into the matter.
Susan Abernathy had promised him a promotion to team leader upon success, along with a generous sum of money.
At the moment, the key problem was the possibility that the mission had not been accomplished; there was no word from Caitlin.
The failure of the Special Operations Department's mission must be considered since the promised reward should have been paid by now.
A failure meant that the cyberware operation data couldn't be obtained, and if the higher-ups decided to investigate...
The friction between the two departments would surface, and his leak of information to the Special Operations Department couldn't be hidden.
Abernathy would certainly blame him, claiming his intelligence had led to the lack of coordination between departments, and even Caitlin wouldn't escape blame.
So now, Carter could care less, choosing to flee directly from Arasaka Tower, even if it meant leaving Night City behind.
For he knew that returning to the Arasaka Tower was a dead end; it was essential to stay as far away from Arasaka as possible!He was now driving back to pick up his mother, intending to flee Night City with her before Susan Abernathy's cleanup operation began, to escape from Arasaka's watchful eyes.
Suddenly.
Carter received a call from his mother.
Could something have happened to her?
Unable to bear the thought of Arasaka's cruel methods, he quickly steadied his mind and answered the call: "Mom, are you alright?!"
On the other end, Mary's tone was calm, with a hint of anticipation: "I'm fine. I was preparing your birthday meal at home. Since you hadn't come back so late and there was no news, I just wanted to ask how you are."
"Will you be able to come home tonight for your birthday?"
Carter heard the caring words of his mother and realized that this call might be the last chance he had to talk to her.
Although he knew what he should do and had a large sum of cash hidden on him—enough to escape Night City with his mother and find a remote place to hide—he couldn't escape his deep-rooted fear of Arasaka.
Having worked for Arasaka for many years, he knew all too well their bloody methods and formidable power.
Even as he had a head start on his escape, he could feel Arasaka's reach slowly inching closer to him.
When he was of value, Arasaka clung to him like a demon, sucking the soul's nutrients 24 hours a day.
And once his usefulness was gone, the nourished demon would open its maw wide and consume him, bone and flesh, leaving no blood behind.
At this moment, Carter's only feeling towards Arasaka was disgust and fear.
In such a vast world, the only person who truly cared for him was his mother, Mary.
He never felt any warmth at the company, only the biting and clawing amongst colleagues and superiors.
He had thought that joining Arasaka was the highest honor of his life, but after years of servitude, it all ended in utter failure.
Carter choked up, thinking of his mother waiting at home alone, and tears involuntarily filled his eyes.
"Mom, I miss you."
"I'm sorry... I'm a failure."
"Mom, you must wait for me, don't open the door for anyone, okay?"
On the phone, Mary didn't quite understand; why talk so negatively on a birthday? Still, she comforted her son.
"Carter, it's okay."
"Don't be discouraged by setbacks at the company."
"Are you working overtime and can't come back today?"
"Mom will light a candle at home to celebrate for you. The company's affairs come first."
Carter clenched his jaw, tears flowing uncontrollably.
"I'm... I'm fine over here..."
Damn this watch!
Damn the company!
Damn Arasaka!
If it weren't for Susan Abernathy's temptation, he never would have taken this step.
If it weren't for seeing the young and promising Tang Yu gain favor with Minister Arthur Jenkins, he wouldn't have become so insanely envious.
If he hadn't chosen this path of no return, he could still have spent a peaceful birthday with his mother.
Carter was filled with regret.
Regret so deep it turned his insides blue, and his heart ached with pain.
He wanted to say more, but the street gang he had sped past earlier caught up, ramming hard into the rear of his car.
Bang!
Carter's whole body shook.
"Corporate dog, try and run again, eh?!"
"Get out and apologize to me, you hear?"
"Watch it, or I'll break your three legs!"
Hearing the taunts behind him, Carter Smith's face grew increasingly grim, his once meek and compliant demeanor gone.
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