Chapter 407c

Chapter 407c

2-in-1-chapter

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Moreover, siding with the New United States would make their nations the front lines against Arasaka. Since the New United States lay to the east, they would become the first line of defense in the west.

That would make them little more than pawns.

Anyone with a brain would realize this.

Thus, when President Myers sought their support, she was met with rejection across the board.

No matter how eloquently she spoke, they held firm in their neutrality.

That was when President Myers realized that words were not enough. She would have to make concessions—real ones.

So she offered economic aid, incentives, and favorable conditions.

It still didn’t work.

The leadership of the Western States, Texas, and the Pacific Alliance were not easily bought. Their neutral stance wouldn’t be shaken by petty profits.

In truth, by staying neutral and refusing to aid Arasaka, they were already indirectly helping the New United States.

But siding with the New United States outright? That was impossible.

If they antagonized Arasaka, and the New United States turned on them again in the future—who would protect them then?

Seeing that there was no way to draw them into her camp, President Myers had no choice but to accept the outcome.

At the very least, they hadn’t joined Arasaka. Remaining neutral was a small mercy in itself.

And so, amid this tense and volatile climate, the New Year of 2079 quietly arrived.

From January to February 2079, Arasaka’s security forces spent the entire month mobilizing.

Then, between February 1st and 10th, Yorinobu Arasaka ordered nearly all available troops to be transferred to North America.

Arasaka deployed a vast fleet of warships and began sailing toward the continent in a show of overwhelming force.

The scene was eerily familiar—the last time such a massive naval deployment occurred was over a century ago, when the Imperial Japanese Navy launched its surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

But this time, Arasaka wasn’t planning a hit-and-run. They would not stop until the New United States was broken apart.

And yet, to everyone’s surprise, Arasaka’s troops did not land in Night City.

They landed in Canada.

Passing through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, they entered Canadian territory and disembarked in Vancouver, the nation's capital.

It was only then that people realized: the country once thought of as America’s backyard—Canada—had, at some unknown point, already pledged allegiance to Arasaka.

President Myers and the generals at the Pentagon convened an emergency meeting.

Their original assumption had been that Arasaka’s forces might move through the Pacific Alliance or the western states. They had not anticipated that Arasaka's military would choose a route through Canada.

Since the collapse and fragmentation of the United States, Canada too had fallen into disarray. It had never been a particularly independent-minded country—first following the United Kingdom, then aligning with the U.S. Once America fell into chaos, it inevitably dragged Canada down with it.

Still, Canada had enough institutional and material foundation to avoid descending into the kind of disorder seen in Latin America, Africa, or the Middle East. However, it no longer qualified as a developed country. Competing in global power politics was out of the question; managing to control its own fragmented territory was already a challenge.

Although it was unclear what Arasaka had promised Canada, President Myers and the generals quickly reached a conclusion. They redeployed troops to Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and New York, fortifying each of those states.

If Arasaka’s security forces were coming in through Canada, then these four states would likely be the targets.

Although this strategy diluted their military strength across multiple areas, it allowed them to quickly reinforce any single point of attack. If Arasaka assaulted one state, forces from the others could converge and encircle them.

Even so, Militech did not withdraw all troops from the southern borders. Significant forces remained stationed at the frontiers shared with Texas and the western states. In particular, Oklahoma and Louisiana—bordering the Republic of Texas—still held heavy garrisons.

The grudge between Texas and the New United States ran deep. Long ago, Texas had declared itself an independent republic. Even after it was subdued, secessionist ambitions never faded.

When the U.S. collapsed, Texas was the first to declare independence. Among all the breakaway regions, none took more pleasure in New America’s misfortunes than Texas.

So even though it was clear that Arasaka was using Canada and not moving through Texas, the Pacific Alliance, or the western states, New America still couldn’t afford to relax its guard. It left troops behind to keep Texas in check.

And while Arasaka and Militech were mobilizing, what was Leo doing?

He was inside Militech’s tower in Night City.

Dozens of guns were aimed at his head. More soldiers loomed in the background, pouring in from all directions. Leo, wearing only a white coat without so much as an exosuit, stood calm and unshaken.

He smiled toward Meredith, who stood at a distance, surrounded by soldiers like stars encircling a moon.

“This is how you greet an old friend who’s traveled so far?”

“Friend? I don’t recall us being that close.”

“I didn’t even bring a bodyguard. If that doesn’t show my sincerity, I don’t know what does. Come on, I’m the CEO of Aurora PMC. Have you ever seen a CEO strap on a bomb vest just to die with someone?”

Meredith fell silent.

She realized his words weren’t without merit.

She and Leo had never been at odds. Their cooperation had always been smooth.

Even though Arasaka had recently ramped up its support for Bolivia, and Aurora PMC seemed increasingly close to them, she knew she wasn’t important enough to be targeted.

She was merely a middle-tier manager in Militech. In Night City, she held some authority, but within the corporation, she was just another cog.

Even if Aurora were to formally join the Fifth Corporate War, Leo had no reason to kill her. Her death wouldn’t help Arasaka win.

She raised her hand, signaling the soldiers to stand down, though a core squad remained nearby for security.

“Speak. What’s your purpose here?”

“Not here,” Leo said. “This isn’t the place for a proper conversation.”

Meredith gave him a long look. “Then follow me.”

Ten minutes later, the two sat across from each other in a meeting room.

Perhaps remembering how Leo had once effortlessly taken down her two bodyguards during their first encounter, Meredith chose not to bring any this time. It was her way of showing sincerity.

“Alright, then. Say what you came to say. I’m busy and don’t have time for small talk.”

Since she put it that way, Leo got straight to the point.

“Ms. Meredith, do you realize you’re in serious danger?”

Her brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“You really don’t know? Arasaka and Militech are at war. Do you still not understand how precarious your position is?”

Her eye twitched.

“You’re saying that Yorinobu Arasaka would dare come after me? We’ll see if he’s got the guts. Militech isn’t exactly weak.”

Of course she was worried—but she wasn’t about to show it in front of Leo.

Leo nodded. “You’ve got spine, and I respect that. But tell me—does Militech really deserve your loyalty?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Leo spread his hands.

“You’re a smart woman. Smarter than me, I’d wager. With the Fifth Corporate War already underway, and with Night City being Arasaka’s turf, someone like you—openly affiliated with Militech—is in serious danger.”

“Think about it. If I were Yorinobu, I wouldn’t tolerate a Militech thorn in my backyard.”

“And yet, Militech hasn’t evacuated you. Why is that? Is it because your leadership lacks Yorinobu’s foresight? Because they haven’t thought of it?”

“No, I think you already know the answer.”

Meredith let out a cold snort, saying nothing.

But in truth, she agreed with his assessment.

Leo didn’t need to stir up suspicion—she had thought the same.