Renraku for the money he needed. The megacorporation had originally intended to destroy Leonardo's facility to eliminate the threat he posed, but after hearing the report of their agent and seeing the technology the elf had at his command, Renraku saw the advantages of an alliance with the eccentric elf. So far, that alliance had proven most profitable. Leonardo got the nuyen and privacy he needed to carry out his pet project while Renraku gained technological developments years ahead of its competitors. They were able to use the most basic applications of Leonardo's Matrix and cyberdeck research to jump-start R amp;D work on new products and to supply deckers with the means to lift additional research information from their competitors' own computer systems. Aneki knew the company's finest research and development personnel were still working on unraveling some of the finer applications of Leonardo's technology. He also knew Leonardo referred to much of what he gave Renraku as "toys" and that there had to be other technological secrets he was keeping to himself. Aneki had heard other things, too, stories that Leonardo believed he was immortal and had lived for thousands of years, that he was the original Leonardo DaVinci and had been secretly learning and developing his scientific and artistic skills for uncountable human lifetimes. Aneki found few things impossible to believe in an age of dragons, magic, and virtual worlds contained in desktop computers, but he personally thought Leonardo was mad. Yet, it didn't really matter one way or another to him what the elf believed, so long as Renraku was not threatened. Now, both he and Watanabe had to wonder what the limits of Leonardo's abilities were. The elf had taken the data they had prepared from a datastore protected by Renraku's finest new ice, apparently with ease. Was it possible he was spying on them even now? Did Leonardo have unlimited access to the Matrix? Was there any data Renraku could trust? Aneki did not know for sure. What he did know was that such thoughts were paralyzing and a waste of valuable time.

"Now that the ball is in the elf's court," Watanabe said with a note of distaste, "what is our next move?" She didn't care for dealing with Leonardo. In addition to the fact that he was kawaruhlto, a "changed person," as the Japanese referred to metahumans, Leonardo was obviously mad and Watanabe did not share Aneki's tolerance for his eccentricities. "Now, Yuki, we proceed just as we would if Leonardo had refused to help us. Renraku cannot rely on a mad inventor in some African backwater to solve our problems for us. Being beholden to Leonardo for our every success will make those successes meaningless. Renraku must have the ability to maintain its position without Leonardo or any other individual. We will report the situation to the Board and update them on the measures we are taking. If they are successful, Renraku will not need Leonardo or anyone else to stand up to the Corporate Court. They will cease to be a concern, because we will have the power to dictate any and all terms that please us." Watanabe bobbed her head a bit. "Any word from our agent yet?" she asked, already knowing the answer. Aneki shook his head. "No, but there will be." "How can you be so sure, Inazo?" Aneki looked her straight in the eyes, his old face resolute and set like stone. "Because we must succeed, Yuki, or everything we have built may be lost."

If a man desires peace, let him prepare for war. -Sun Tzu, The Art of War All but one of the members of the Renraku Computer Systems Board of Directors were gathered in the spacious boardroom overlooking the cityscape of Chiba. Some were present physically, but most attended the meeting virtually, via the Matrix. Sophisticated holo-projectors built into each place at the table created near-perfect simulacra of the attendees in their correct places at the long table. It was not unlike the manner in which Leonardo appeared in Inazo Aneki's office. Although the images of the Renraku board members lacked the animation and the sheer presence of the elf, the holographic technology and the neural/visual algorithms Renraku used to make the holographic simulacrum process possible were rapidly advancing. It would have been simpler for everyone if all of the board members were jacked into the Matrix directly. In the world of cyberspace it was possible to project any image directly into the user's sensorium without the need for holographic projectors and the often fussy nature of projected light and sound. But that was not considered an option. Despite Renraku's reputation as the one of the top computer corporations in the world, many of the board members preferred to keep themselves grounded in the physical world. Those who were forced to attend sudden afternoon board meetings in person insisted on the right to remain in the physical world and have their Matrix associates join them there.

Nearly all of the board members had already taken their seats when Yuki Watanabe entered along with Inazo Aneki, the CEO yielding the right of way to the Chairman as she swept into the room and made her way to the head of the long table with bows of greeting to many of the members. As Watanabe took her place, Aneki seated himself on her right and glanced around the table. Nearly everyone was in place, the meeting almost ready to begin. He went over again in his mind what he would relay to the board members to quell their concerns about the news that was of such concern to them all, the reason they had been summoned here on such short notice. Watanabe checked her watch and let her gaze make a final sweep around the gathering. She tapped a control on the panel set into the polished wood surface of the table and a musical tone chimed from hidden speakers, signaling that the meeting was beginning. The board members ceased their conversing with their neighbors and over their eel phones, both internal and external, and turned their attention to the chairman and Aneki at the head of the table. "Honored board members," Watanabe began in a clear and confident voice, "the purpose of this meeting is to discuss the accusations now being presented before the Corporate Court even as we speak, regarding Renraku Corporation's phenomenal growth and success over the past few years. The board is entitled to be informed on all of the particulars of this case as well as the action Renraku Corporation is taking regarding it." As Watanabe spoke, another image shimmered into place at the sole empty seat farther down the table. "Pleased you could be bothered to join us, Lanier-san, especially considering your involvement in this matter," Watanabe said tartly to the holographic image of Miles Lanier. Lanier shrugged off the slight with an expressive gesture. He had endured many worse slings and arrows from the Renraku board in the past. Aneki found himself admiring Lanier's tenacity in the face of such adversity. Few people stood up to Watanabe-sama, or Renraku Computer Systems so calmly. But, of course, Miles Lamer was not just anyone. He was the former the head of Internal Security for none other than Fuchi Industrial Electronics, the corporate rival now bringing the case against Renraku in the Corporate Court. Lanier had served Fuchi well during his time, and he likely would still be in his position with Fuchi if not for a strange twist of fate. The will of a dead dragon had granted Lanier ownership of a substantial portion of Renraku stock-more than even Aneki owned, in fact-enough to entitle him to a seat on the Board of Directors. The dragon, Dunkelzahn, had apparently been an investor in Renraku through a series of shell companies and other blinds. Lanier's appointment to the Renraku board had created a considerable stir in the corporate community. Lanier was a valuable Fuchi employee, but the conflict of interest involved in becoming such a major Renraku shareholder clearly made it impossible for Lanier to continue to serve Fuchi if he wished to retain his newfound stock. So Lanier left Fuchi and took up his seat on the board. Rumor had it that his resignation from Fuchi had led to an explosive argument with his former employer and friend, Richard Villiers. Fuchi slammed the door behind Lanier and started work on changing the locks. The reception Lanier received from Renraku was nearly as cold. Most members of the board, including Watanabe, didn't trust Lanier as far as they could throw him and the ex-Fuchi man submitted to what Aneki considered invasive security checks and surveillance to prove his loyalty to his new corporate community. Lanier passed every test with flying colors and his advice to the board on how to handle certain relations with Fuchi had proven invaluable in securing Renraku's new market position against its formidable rival. Lanier was considered a full member of the board, but Aneki knew Watanabe and other board members still did not accord him their full trust, even after so many months. Chairman Watanabe ignored Lanier's dismissal of her sarcasm and continued as if she had not been interrupted.