Chapter 13"Huh? What did you say?""No, nothing. Next up is a real heavyweight. See that guy over there?"Following Lucy's indication, a colossal figure entered his field of vision.This... was indeed a heavyweight, in every sense of the word.Standing over two meters tall and built like a sumo wrestler, he looked as if he had been raised on growth hormones from childhood, to the point where even his suit seemed on the verge of bursting.His massive cybernetic hand gripped the handrail as if it were a toothpick.Judging by appearances alone, this guy had to weigh at least five hundred pounds, looking just like Po Kong.He even wondered if a guy this fat wouldn't end up crushing the train car."Don't let his looks fool you, he's a bodyguard hired by Arasaka."Lucy's voice came through the comms again.As if to warn him, she briefly went over the details regarding this fat guy."Alright, get ready to work. Three, two, one..."Lucy gave him absolutely no time to think, immediately initiating the eject program.Beep—A tiny chip ejected from the Arasaka bodyguard's slot, tracing a perfect parabola in the air, but this time David didn't appear to catch it.Tap, tap!The faint sound of it hitting the floor had barely rung out before it was ruthlessly swallowed by the clatter of the train tracks.The chip lay quietly on the floor.Seeing this made Lucy's heart skip a beat.If another passenger noticed, it would be a disaster; they would instinctively touch their neck, only to realize the datashard in their slot was missing.By then, the NCPD would surround the area, and the two of them wouldn't stand a chance of escaping.Fortunately, these people seemed completely blind and didn't notice the chip on the floor, allowing her to finally breathe a sigh of relief."Hey, David, what are you doing?""Wait a second, look over there.""Look at what..."Hearing David's strange reply, she instinctively turned her gaze in the direction he was looking.Because the NCART was traveling through a tunnel, the overall lighting was dim, and the lights in the adjacent carriage seemed to have malfunctioned, leaving it pitch black.But it sent a sudden shiver running up her spine.For some reason, that place gave her a really bad feeling.It was as if something was writhing in that darkness, harboring immense malice.The sensation made her highly uncomfortable, her brow furrowing slightly. "David, let's head to another carriage and get off at the next stop."Her instinct to avoid danger prompted her to make a run for it.But it was already too late.Thump, thump—Accompanied by the dull clanking of the tracks, the carriage shook slightly, and blinding sunlight suddenly flooded in.The light shining through the windows illuminated everything inside the carriage.A person was standing right by the connecting door.Normally, this would be a common sight, but looking at the background behind him... it seemed anything but ordinary.Severed limbs and blood had repainted the carriage, and a metallic iron trunk slid back and forth on the slippery floor as if asserting its presence.The person's head was tilted at an extreme angle, and his external cyberoptics—resembling night vision or thermal imaging goggles—were staring straight into this carriage, his grin stretched almost to his ears.The sight was as terrifying as terrifying could get.Seeing this, Lucy's pupils dilated instantly."David, run!"Oblivious to staying hidden, she bypassed the comms and shouted out loud, an orange glow flashing in her eyes as she immediately locked down the door connecting the carriages."Huh?"Everyone in the carriage turned to look at Lucy.They didn't understand what this girl was suddenly screaming about.However, in the next second—*Screeech—*An incredibly ear-piercing metallic screech pierced their eardrums, shattering the silence in the carriage.A blood-stained cleaver, appearing from nowhere, impaled the metal doorframe and ripped through it with brute force, instantly slicing open the reinforced bulletproof glass along with it.The man, looking like a butcher, slowly stepped out from the vestibule.Everyone stared blankly at the man, terror written all over their faces and eyes."It's a cyberpsycho!!!"The man closest to him screamed at the top of his lungs, only to have half his head sliced off by a backhanded swing of the cleaver.Red and white fluids immediately spilled out together, his mouth still twitching continuously as if repeating his final words."Hehehehe, hahahaha... Big pork chops!!!"The cyberpsycho's cybereyes flared with a red light as he raised his cleaver and charged into the crowd."Aaaaah—help!!!""...Don't kill me, I still have loans to pay off! I don't want to die!!!"Instantly, the carriage was filled with screams and shoving, with the sound of flesh being torn from bone echoing from time to time.The cyberpsycho hacked at anyone in sight with his cleaver, carrying out a massive slaughter, and the carriage fell into complete chaos.Several of the corpo rats who had just had their shards stolen drew their concealed weapons, aimed at the cyberpsycho, and began frantically emptying their magazines.But the psycho seemed to teleport, dodging the bullets with a few swift movements, leaving afterimages in the air.Even though a few stray bullets hit him, they couldn't even scratch his skin and were deflected instantly.Quite a few people were killed by these ricocheting stray bullets."David!"Lucy was pushing through the crowd, struggling against the flow of people to find David.But with her slight build, she was no match for the sheer force of the crowd; far from moving forward, she was even pushed back a short distance."Hahahahaha... Muda muda muda muda muda! Waaaaagh!!!"Closing the distance, the cyberpsycho used his fierce blade work to effortlessly slice those gun-wielding corpos in half, along with their weapons.Even that Arasaka bodyguard who weighed hundreds of pounds—the Po Kong-like fellow—could not escape the fate of being slaughtered—The bullets fired from his pistol couldn't pierce the enemy's armor at all; instead, a wind-splitting slash sliced his belly open.Like a plump soup dumpling with its skin torn open, yellow grease mixed with blood and viscera poured out, splashing onto the floor like a waterfall.Then, with a heavy thud, his body crashed onto the floor.His head, which still retained a sliver of consciousness, was crushed to pieces under the cyberpsycho's boot."Hahaha, big pork chops!!!"17. First cyberpsycho Kill"Holy shit, what is that cleaver made of to be this sharp? Titanium alloy?!"While the corpos were fighting a bloody battle, David was hiding to the side, quietly observing the situation."Military-grade Sandevistan, military-grade Kerenzikov, Gorilla Arms... Tsk, how many good things does this guy have installed?!"The cyberware on this cyberpsycho made his eyes light up with greed.Just those two items alone could sell for over ten thousand, just like before, and that wasn't even counting the bionic lungs, metabolic editor, Gorilla Arms, subdermal armor, reinforced tendons, and other miscellaneous gear.This was all pure cash!However, the excitement in his heart had its limits, suppressed firmly by the chill rising up his spine.It was true that he was short on cash, and it was true that he wanted to sell this cyberpsycho's cyberware for money.But he wasn't an idiot.Just watching the way the guy fought told him this was someone you did not want to mess with.At a rough estimate, he was probably a veteran fresh off the battlefield.And with so many cyberware implants installed, he was a complete and utter combat maniac."Maybe... wait for MAX-TAC to handle it? And then I can scavenge?"The thought couldn't help but pop into his mind.Anyway, those guys wouldn't care about the cyberware on a cyberpsycho; they would just leave after dealing with him.And going by the timing, MAX-TAC should be arriving soon.To be fair, with his current puny strength, he really couldn't beat a heavily chromed cyberpsycho like this. Charging in would basically make him no different from those corpos—just giving himself up on a silver platter.However, he was even more curious about where this cyberpsycho had come from!This scene definitely hadn't happened in the anime; the first time a cyberpsycho appeared was when Pilar died.There also seemed to be restraints on his hands and feet..."I finally found you!"Just then, he suddenly felt his wrist being grabbed, and a familiar voice sounded in his ear."Lucy?! How did you...""Don't talk so much, let's go!"Seeing that David was unharmed, Lucy finally breathed a sigh of relief.Thank goodness, the sidekick she had just taken in today was still alive.It would have been a real shame if he had died at the hands of a cyberpsycho, especially since he was so skilled.As for this place, they could just leave it to those corpos.Most importantly, she still had some critical matters to confirm.However, while the ideal was beautiful, reality was harsh.Even though everything had been planned perfectly, things always seemed to go awry."David?"She tried to drag David away, but found she couldn't budge him at all."Lucy, we might not be able to leave that easily."The moment the words left his mouth, a sharp flash of a blade appeared above their heads."Big pork chops!!!"The butcher-like cyberpsycho screamed his mad ravings, instantly swinging his cleaver down at the two of them.David's figure suddenly flashed out of the way.*Clang—*The cleaver struck empty air."Damn, that was close..."
Chapter 14Using the Sandevistan to dodge the slash, David Martinez looked at the handrail that had been cleaved in half behind him and couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat.The smooth cut sent chills down anyone's spine, and getting hit by a slash like that would pretty much result in the same fate as those already dismembered corporate rats.Meanwhile, Lucy, whom he was holding in his arms and protecting with his body, was blankly gazing at the youth who was even younger than her.A special feeling faintly flickered in her eyes.She wasn't even aware that a strand of white short hair was slowly draping over David Martinez's shoulder.She only knew that the boy in front of her had protected her…"Lucy, leave this place to me. You should find a way to leave first.""Eh? David, wait…"Before she could even react, she felt her feet touch the ground, and at the same time, David Martinez's figure vanished."Damn it!"Lucy cursed under her breath, orange light immediately welling up in her eyes as she began brutally cracking the ICE of the cyberpsycho in front of her.Since this brat wanted to go crazy, she would accompany him to the end!"Bang!"The deafening gunshot echoed inside the carriage.David Martinez held a shotgun in his hands and frantically outputted close-range fire against the cyberpsycho, but the spit-out dart projectiles only sparked against the target's body, failing to even damage the artificial skin on the surface.The cyberpsycho instantly froze in place, instinctively glanced down at his body, and then stared blankly at him eye-to-eye for a few seconds.The Rostovic DB-2 Satara is a kinetic double-barrel shotgun.However, despite its intimidating name, it was actually completely useless; the bullet's lethality wasn't even as loud as its noise.This thing was originally positioned as a hunting shotgun, and its original intention was even meant for hunting chickens or something.Even after flowing into the market of Night City, it was regarded as an antique that even the poorest and most desperate people wouldn't touch.But he had no idea about this; this gadget was picked up as a bargain during a shootout involving the 6th Street Gang."F*ck, what kind of trash gun is this!"Reacting, David Martinez hurriedly tossed away the shotgun in his hand and once again used the Sandevistan to speed run to the position of the black bag thrown onto the seat.However, the cyberpsycho also moved along with him.Accelerating as well, he closely followed behind David Martinez, raising the kitchen knife in his hand, preparing to slice off David Martinez's head."David!"Sensing danger, Lucy shouted out a warning to him.However, the work at hand was still not dropped, and she was happily playing with the puzzle game.She couldn't figure out where this guy got military-grade ICE from, and it was even the extremely hard-to-hack kind.On David Martinez's side, he naturally discovered the cyberpsycho's attack.Casually pulling out a katana from his bag, he blocked upwards.Clang——With a crisp sound, the katana in his hand was cleanly cut into two halves.But thanks to this move, the opponent's kitchen knife didn't hack into his body.Instead, it slid down past the side of his face.The distance between the two was so close that he could clearly smell the rust and blood stench on the blade, making his heart leap into his throat and all the hairs on his body stand on end.This was truly the first time he discovered that a cyberpsycho was such a terrifying thing.Originally, dealing with cyberpsychos in the game was just a matter of moving the mouse and keyboard, but arriving at the scene made him truly understand what it meant to only be on the receiving end of a beating.Even if he were willing to face a gang alone right now, he wouldn't want to sniper-duel this thing head-on.It was seriously f*cking terrifying!Right at this moment, the system's prompt tone rang out uncooperatively.[Ding, the opponent's cyberware modification degree is very high, suggesting the host run away quickly.]"F*ck you, I know even without you reminding me!"Anyone with a brain could see that!Without even thinking, David Martinez directly grabbed his package and started fleeing inside the carriage.He ran in front while the other chased behind, and that was under the condition that both sides were constantly using the Sandevistan.It felt as if the Cyberpunk set had suddenly been swapped into Resident Evil.Like an invulnerable Tyrant stepping on countless severed limbs, chasing relentlessly right behind his tail.That ultimate sense of oppression was simply suffocating.This was far more horrifying than the slaughterhouse of Redwood Psychiatric Hospital.However, the cyberpsycho chasing behind would occasionally take a few bullets, but they were basically painless, unable to even halt his footsteps for half a second."What the hell, when on earth is MAX-TAC going to arrive!!!"David Martinez stepped over the corpse remains of the corporate rats and let out a desperate cry.Casually pulling out another double-barrel shotgun from his bag, he suddenly turned around and slammed the trigger."Go to hell!!!""Bang——""Big chunk of meat!!! I'm going to tear you apart…"Before he could even finish shouting, the sharp electromagnetic steel nails spat out like the descent of the Grim Reaper, nearly twenty projectiles all accurately plastered across the cyberpsycho's face. Instantly, the entire person flew backward, leaving a graceful arc in the air.Likewise, the strong recoil almost made him fall, but more than that, it was a face full of utter bewilderment."What happened?"He lowered his head to look at the DB-2 Satara in his hand, then looked with a dazed expression at the cyberpsycho collapsed on the ground, having lost half its head and being completely unrecognizable.If he remembered correctly, this gun was produced by Rostovic, right?Was it actually this badass?However, what he didn't know was that this shotgun was the standard configuration for violently beating up cyberpsychos; even a wall might not be able to withstand its bullets.It's just that the weight was somewhat touching.However, Lucy, whose hacking was interrupted, was similarly dumbfounded.One-shotting a cyberpsycho with a massive amount of military-grade cyberware?Even Bushido wouldn't be scripted like this, right?!Right at this moment, roars coming from outside the window caused David Martinez and Lucy to simultaneously cast their gazes over.They saw a black armed AV jetting blue exhaust flames hovering outside, maintaining the same speed as the monorail.Inside the slowly opening cabin door stood an elite fully armed and wielding heavy firepower.That equipment and posture—anyone could guess with their toes that it was MAX-TAC.But aren't you guys arriving a bit too early?!18. Legendary Cyberpsycho — Melissa RoryMAX-TAC is an elite special operations unit raised by the NCPD, and also the strongest violent organization in Night City.They enjoy the finest cyberware, the newest prototype equipment, and have autonomy in operations without needing to take orders from anyone.And their existence has only one point: to be responsible for eliminating cyberpsychos.Wherever cyberpsychos run amok, their figures will definitely be there, no matter when or where.Just like right now.The monorail stopped at the platform, and the huge armored AV hovered right beside it.David Martinez and Lucy were sitting on a bench, and like other survivors, were undergoing questioning by MAX-TAC."Put the package aside and keep your hands where I can see them."A female police officer wearing auxiliary equipment of two triple-mounted external optical cyber-eyes on her head was fiddling with a small tablet in her hand, going through the motions routinely.It was just that Lucy didn't look very willing, seeming to want to leave this place quickly.But seeing that the surroundings were full of MAX-TAC personnel, she obediently sat back down on the bench."According to Article 105 of the Cyberpsychosis Protocol Guidelines, all statements regarding this incident will be recorded and used as evidence in court.""I am Melissa Rory, a senior officer of MAX-TAC. Please state your name and occupation.""David Martinez, previously a student, now... a freelancer."On the surface, he answered the questions calmly, but inwardly he couldn't help lamenting: "Ah ah, Melissa Rory, yet another familiar name."Regarding Melissa Rory, he understood her quite well.She was the protagonist of the 2013 teaser trailer for the work *Cyberpunk 2077*.Melissa in the video wore a white outfit, and was both a beautiful and badass... cyberpsycho.That's right, don't look at how she is now a majestic MAX-TAC inspector, previously she was an equally terrifying cyberpsycho whose name struck fear into others, and she could be considered a major legendary figure in Night City.Relying on a pair of Twilight 2013-model mantis blades on her arms, she hacked her way from Japantown to Westbrook's affluent district, wiping out countless people along the way.However, not only her, most people in MAX-TACwere just like her.Rumor has it that in rare cases where a cyberpsycho is captured alive, the prisoner is quietly modified and then joins the department.How did that saying go again?Oh right, only magic can defeat magic.Therefore, wanting to clear out cyberpsychos naturally requires using cyberpsychos."And you?"Officer Melissa shifted her gaze toward Lucy.It was just that Lucy didn't seem to want to answer much, her brows slightly furrowing, her eyes faintly revealing disgust.It seemed that the senior MAX-TAC officer in front of her had stirred up some unpleasant memories."Ah, Officer, she is my girlfriend, but due to some reasons it's inconvenient to reveal her name."Seeing that Lucy looked like she was about to come into conflict with the MAX-TAC personnel, David Martinez immediately put an arm around her shoulder and answered in her place."Oh? Very well."Fortunately, Officer Melissa didn't intend to dwell on it too much; after just glancing at them briefly, she went back to tinkering with the tablet in her hand.However, Lucy cast a mysterious, half-smiling glance at him.As if she was plotting some bad idea.This made him involuntarily shiver.To be fair, I did this all for your own good, you corporate runaway graphics card girl.You wouldn't want MAX-TAC to discover that you're property of the Arasaka Corporation, right?However, he had overthought it.Aside from solving the cyberpsycho incident, MAX-TAC was completely uninterested in anything else.Even now, it was purely routine work, and the kind they were extremely reluctant to do."Verification complete. Please describe the situation at that time, starting from when you were attacked in the monorail.""There wasn't much to it at the time, just taking the monorail normally, but after passing through the tunnel…"David Martinez vividly described the situation at the time.Of course, the matters of cooperation between him and Lucy, as well as the matter regarding the Sandevistan, were not mentioned.
Chapter 15Although I don't know what the deal with this Sandevistan is right now, I have some understanding of it from the anime. It's said that everyone in the city is looking for its whereabouts.After all, a military-grade implant is more than enough to drive those mercenaries and gangs crazy.Otherwise, why would that ripperdoc David knows so well be so obsessed with it?"So you're saying you used a Rostovic db-2 satarato headshot the cyberpsycho?""It was a fluke, a fluke..." David said, sounding a bit unsure of himself.He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt like Miss Melissa's tone was a bit strange."Right, I see."Melissa just gave the young boy a deep look and didn't say anything more.There was no way she would believe such nonsense.An un-augmented body being able to use a db-2 satara at will?Even though guns weren't banned in Night City, this was just too ridiculous. The recoil of that thing was enough to fracture this kid's small frame.However, she had no intention of looking into it too deeply.After all, this report was only meant for the higher-ups. She just needed to record whatever the other party said truthfully.Whether it was true or false didn't really matter.As for anything else, it was none of her business."Anything else? Any other unusual behavior?""Aside from that maniac hacking the corpo rats and most of the passengers in the carriage to pieces, there wasn't anything else unusual.""Alright, thank you for your cooperation. This questioning is now concluded."With that, seeing Melissa put away her tablet, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.Despite his calm appearance just now, his heart was actually pounding wildly.The Melissa Rory standing before him was a true, cold-blooded executioner. He had been terrified that she would notice something amiss.Just then, a MAX-TAC officer suddenly walked over, also holding a tablet."Captain, the autopsy report is out."Ah, another young lady, but he didn't know her at all."Right, let's talk over there."Melissa and the officer walked over to a corner."I didn't expect you to be so good at handling people."A playful voice suddenly sounded in his ear. Turning his head, he saw that Lucy had lit a lady's cigarette at some point and was taking a drag.Through the curling wisps of smoke, he seemed to see the teasing look in Lucy's eyes."So, do you think this money was well spent, Miss Lucy?" he asked with an equally playful expression."Well, it does seem worth it now. However, you did call me your girlfriend just now, so I'm going to have to deduct a cut for that.""Eh? No way, Miss Lucy! I was the one who just helped you out of a tight spot."Seeing him get anxious, the corners of Lucy's mouth curled up slightly."Relax, I'm just kidding.""Tch, don't joke about money..."Hearing Lucy's words, he couldn't help but curl his lip.He couldn't afford to make such jokes right now; he was still short on money to buy cyberware.19. Targeted by MAX-TAC, what should I do? Waiting online, quite urgent."The suspect's name is unknown, and they might not be in the Night City database.""But there is a corporate barcode on them, confirmed to be a Militech test subject.""However, they were intercepted by Scavengersduring transport, who stole the anesthetized subject.""Due to some bumping during transport, the sealed container's anesthesia system failed, causing the subject to wake up."In the corner, listening to her subordinate's report and glancing at the damaged sealed container brought down from the monorail, Melissa's brow furrowed deeper beneath her helmet."Tsk, those Militech bastards again.""Yes, it really is Militech again.""At least eighty percent, if not a hundred percent, of the cyberpsychos wandering the streets come from the NUSA.""And standing behind the NUSA is the behemoth that is Militech.""Just like before the split, the nation's lifeblood is still controlled by certain corporations.""Because of this, MAX-TAC, which is supposed to maintain peace in Night City, ends up acting like Militech's cleanup crew.""Having to clean up their mess every single time.""Though, those scavs sure have some nerve, actually daring to intercept Militech cargo.""Alright, is there any other information?""Yes, the fatal wound was to the head, caused by a steel flechette fired from a Rostovic db-2 satara.""But there's another strange point in the report. The military-grade implants on the usage log—a Sandevistan Mk.1, a Kerenzikov, and the arm cyberware—are missing.""Oh?"Hearing this, Melissa couldn't help but sound puzzled. "Were they harvested?""Yes, according to the coroner's autopsy report, that is indeed the case.""Oho~"Hearing this, Melissa immediately turned her head, casting her gaze toward the bulging black package next to David not far away.It seemed a few traces of blood could still be seen on the package.She just didn't know whether the blood had been smeared on from the outside or was seeping out from within.But in reality, the things originally inside had long since been sold to the System by David in exchange for money.Now he was just waiting to save up a bit more money to find a way to buy those Wolverine claws. They looked pretty cool."Alright, I've got it. But remember, don't report this to the higher-ups.""Yes, understood. Do we need to notify the EMTs to collect the body?""No need. Notify Militech directly and let them collect the body themselves. And if they ask about the implants, tell them they were destroyed in battle."Since it was Militech's property, it was only natural to let them retrieve it themselves, saving them from having those NCPD parasites, who did nothing but eat, coming to nag at their door afterward.She was sick and tired of those disgusting creeps. Every single time, she wished she could tear those idiots to pieces."Understood, Captain."The officer nodded seriously, then tapped on her tablet and left.This wasn't the first time they had engaged in such blatant falsification.For example, recruiting useful cyberpsychos into MAX-TAC.In short, they were used to it.Meanwhile, Melissa's gaze had already fallen on David, a barely perceptible, pleased smile appearing at the corners of her mouth."What an interesting kid."Her purpose in doing so much was simple: she merely felt that David was a promising talent who could perhaps add some fresh blood to MAX-TAC.Not only could he kill a cyberpsycho head-on, but he also dared to steal the implants off them. The latter was definitely not something an ordinary student could pull off.Although the EMTs sometimes pulled stunts like this, in most cases, they wouldn't be so blatant about it.Moreover, he had done it right under MAX-TAC's nose.Melissa crossed her arms, her full chest shifting slightly under the constraint of her combat bodysuit.At the same time, David, who was sitting on a chair, suddenly shivered."What's wrong?"Lucy asked with some curiosity."No, it's nothing..."His eyes swept warily over his surroundings, but he didn't find anything strange.What was going on?That feeling just now was like being targeted by an apex predator..."Clack, clack, clack..."Just then, the sound of combat boots stepping on the concrete ground suddenly echoed, the interval between each step almost perfectly precise."Alright, the investigation is over. You may leave.""Oh? Really? Thank you, officer."Hearing that they could leave, he couldn't have been happier. He didn't want to stay in this godforsaken place for even another minute.Especially this woman, who gave him a sense of danger at every single moment.That gaze just now couldn't have been hers, right...Looking at the woman before him who was dressed like some kind of blademaster, David couldn't help but shudder.If that was really the case, it would be absolutely terrible.Gotta slip away, fast...However, just as he took a step forward, the familiar voice sounded from behind him once again."Wait a moment, the boy named David."Melissa called out to stop him."Uh... Officer Rory, is there something else?"What did this woman want now?"Hmm... I just wanted to ask, are you interested in joining MAX-TAC?""...You said what?!"David suspected he had misheard, digging a finger into his ear to confirm once more."I asked if you are interested in joining MAX-TAC."Melissa repeated her question once more and explained, "Since you were able to take down a cyberpsycho head-on, you already meet the requirements of our MAX-TAC.""So, join us. We need many young people like you."He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but the Miss Melissa in front of him seemed to enunciate every single word with deliberate emphasis, as if hinting at something.But the more she did this, the more bewildered he felt."...Uh... Officer Rory, that cyberpsycho really was just a fluke... and I'm still a minor. Doesn't this count as employing child labor?""Heheh..."Melissa suddenly burst out laughing, dumbfounding even a few passing officers.This was the first time they had ever seen their captain laugh outside of combat!"Age isn't an issue. Besides, I don't believe that was a fluke..."Melissa's gaze gradually grew meaningful.Indeed, how could there be so many coincidences in this world?If a mere fluke could kill a cyberpsycho, what would they even need MAX-TAC for?And what's more, the one killed was a test subject selected by Militech.
Chapter 16If it really was that supernatural, those NCPD bugs might as well just go worship fucking coincidences and miracles."But... it really was a coincidence..."At that time, he really had just pulled out his weapon and pulled the trigger, nothing more.Even though it was neither scientific, magical, nor fantasy, it was the truth.The words "wanting to cry but having no tears" were practically written all over his face.It wasn't that he didn't want to join MAX-TAC.Putting aside the issue of strength, the benefits of this identity were numerous—such as autonomy, and being able to hunt cyberpsychos at will.But now was not the time to join, at least not at this stage.At the very least, he had to wait until he installed a few good implants first...Besides, working for MAX-TAC wasn't an easy gig. If things went wrong, his bowl might remain intact, but he would be smashed to pieces by those cyberpsychos first."Alright, since you are unwilling right now, then give it some proper thought."Seeing his miserable face, Melissa didn't force the issue, a gleam flashing in her eyes."This is my number. If you change your mind, you can contact me anytime."After saying this, Melissa and the other squad members boarded the armed AV, leaving the area amidst the fading roar."My, my, it seems this Lieutenant lady thinks highly of you, David."Looking at the AV that had already shrunk to a black dot in the sky, Lucy said with schadenfreude."...Damn it, do you mind not making fun of me?"But the more he said so, the brighter Lucy's smile became.Being invited to join MAX-TAC was not a good thing; it was an invitation that everyone in Night Cityavoided like the plague.And not only that, he had also just received a message from Miss Melissa.In short, she used an implicit way to state that she knew he was the one who had harvested the cyberpsycho's implants, and subtly pointed out that he also had military-grade implants installed.Finally, she left a sentence—"My intuition tells me we are of the same kind."What do you mean 'the same kind'?! (Table flip)"What a disaster..."David casually closed the text message.However, this time wasn't too bad either. After all..."This time, we can be considered teammates who have gone through thick and thin together... right?"As he turned his head, he suddenly felt something was wrong."What's going on...?"His vision suddenly blurred, his steps grew unsteady, and something seemed to be trickling out of his nostrils.He was certain it wasn't snot."Holy shit... no way..."His vision went black, his knees buckled, and he immediately passed out."David?"In his daze, he seemed to hear Lucy calling his name, but his eyes were already shrouded in pitch darkness, and he could see nothing.The only thing he knew was that he seemed to have fallen onto something soft.20. Is this the prelude to having my kidneys harvested?"How bad is the situation?""A very common rookie mistake. No protective measures were taken after the implantation... What immunosuppressant is he using?""Does he have health insurance?""Don't know, doesn't look like it.""Then is there any family we can contact? Or an emergency contact?""I said I don't know. He must have parents, right?"In the darkness, voices could be heard faintly.And one of the younger voices seemed rather impatient."Who is it?"The voices were a bit muffled and indistinguishable.The only certainty was that his consciousness was gradually returning to his body.He slowly opened his eyelids, which still felt somewhat heavy."An unfamiliar ceiling..."No, to be precise, it wasn't even a ceiling.What met his eyes was a mottled vehicle roof covered in bloodstains and rust. Although he was wearing an oxygen mask, the air inside had a strange smell.Scanning his surroundings slightly, a heavily-built woman of either Latina or Black descent was sitting near the head of his bed, looking as if she had come from Pacifica.She was holding a tablet, constantly messing with it, and occasionally muttering strange things."An Arasaka Academy student... no wonder he has the money to install this kind of thing..."Remarks like this made absolutely no sense to him.Then, his gaze shifted slightly downward.By the vehicle door, Lucy sat there utterly bored, her slender hand lightly propping up her fair chin, looking extremely impatient.At this moment, he finally understood where he was."Ah, so I'm in an ambulance."Just as he was staring at Lucy, she noticed his gaze and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly: "You're awake? The surgery was a great success, you're a girl now.""...Please don't make that kind of joke, thank you."A girl? Why don't you say I've been turned into a doll?And this vehicle is specifically taking me to Jig-Jig Street.He grumbled a bit in his heart and rolled his eyes at Lucy.This woman was great in every aspect and very attractive, but her sadistic and slightly devilish personality was a bit hard to handle.She especially loved to tease people, particularly him."Well, just a joke to break the ice. Since you don't like it, forget it."Lucy waved her hand dismissively and asked in her usual lazy tone, "So, how are you feeling now?""Not too bad... just a bit sleepy."This was the truth; even now, his eyelids couldn't help but droop, as if he would fall asleep at any moment."Is that so? Then what kind of suppressant are you using?""...A mild stimulant prescribed by the ripperdoc... It's said to enhance neural transmission in the short term and suppress the side effects of the implants...""Whoa, really? You're actually using high-end stuff."His words surprised Lucy a little.ripperdocs in Night City rarely prescribe such legitimate goods. Usually, they just casually hand out some low-end stuff to get it over with.He didn't expect there to be such a conscientious ripperdoc."Yeah... there's one in my pocket, but I forgot to inhale it today..."To be precise, not just today; he hadn't inhaled it once since he got the implants.After all, the system had said that this body was immune to the side effects of cyberpsychosis, so he hadn't paid any attention to the suppressant, only carrying one with him just in case...Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger."Damn it, what the hell is going on? System! Get the hell out here!"[Ding! Cyberpunk Fourth Calamity is at your service. What does the host require?]"Cut the crap! Didn't you say I'm immune to the side effects of cyberware? What's going on now?!"[This system only stated that the host's body is completely immune to the physical dependence and psychological effects brought by implants, but never said it could immune the physical load that implants place on the body.]"What do you mean?"[In other words, the host's current physical fitness is too weak.][It is recommended to install a Second Heart, Adrenaline Booster, Synthetic Lungs, Nanofibers, Blood Pump, and Pain Editor. This is currently the most suitable plan for the host.]To put it simply, it was just one sentence—The flesh is weak, ascend through machinery, abandon your mortal flesh, young man!"Fuck... you might as well have said nothing..."The light instantly vanished from his eyes, and he lay on the stretcher bed, staring blankly into the void.Just the few things the system mentioned would cost over a million in total.Then looking at his wallet balance, which had barely broken into six figures...This was truly a fucking sad story.*Clank!*Just as he was playing out a little theater in his mind with the system, the vehicle suddenly went over a speed bump and drove onto an overpass."Wait a minute, we've driven past..."Lucy looked out the window, wanting to ask what was going on.But before she could finish her sentence, a "click" interrupted her.It was the sound of a gun being chambered."Oh my... ♦"Lucy let out a troubled sound.Only to see that Black ripperdoc holding a small pink pistol against David's temple.That's right. Don't be fooled by the woman's burly, street-gang-like appearance; she was indeed a ripperdoc.And the kind who cooperated with the Scavengers, running a clinic upstairs and a slaughterhouse downstairs."I advise you to mind your own business. The cyberware on this punk is worth a lot of money."The ripperdoc tapped her pistol against the railing with a clacking sound, then pressed the muzzle back."If you keep quiet, I can give you a cut.""What? I didn't expect you to sink to the level of working with organ harvesters."Lucy said in a slightly mocking tone.It seemed the two of them were somewhat acquainted."Hmph, if you're unhappy about it, I'll harvest your implants too."The woman was completely bluffing.She didn't dare touch Lucy.Because she knew that behind Lucy stood the mercenary squad led by Maine.Although their reputation wasn't that prominent yet, they were still not someone she could afford to provoke.Lucy naturally saw through this, so she remained as nonchalant as ever, even teasing him who was strapped to the stretcher."Oh dear, what should we do now, David?""Sigh... don't ask me, I'm the one tied up here."
Chapter 17Sighing helplessly, he slightly shifted his head to move the muzzle pressing against his temple to a comfortable position.He was already long used to this kind of threat.In recent days, he was either being chased and slashed by cyberpsychos or weaving through the crossfire of gang turf wars.Something like having a pistol pointed at him was completely a minor incident.It was even less oppressive than the slaughterhouse of Redwood Psychiatric Hospital.What's more, this was also one of the defining features of Night City; people struggling at the bottom simply lived in a situation where today I point a pistol at you, and tomorrow I aim a rocket launcher at you.There was simply nothing to be afraid of.21. The Passionate Street Rock 'n' Roll of the Two"Oh right, ma'am, please mind your muzzle a bit and don't keep your finger on the trigger.""If this accidentally misfires, me dying is a small matter, but this bullet will also shatter the Sandevistan in my head along with it."He used a fairly calm tone to provide careful firearm guidance for this ripperdoc."Hahahaha, David Martinez, you really are funny when you talk."Hearing his words, Lucy laughed so hard her stomach hurt.After all, how many people would dare to make such a teasing act while having a pistol pointed at them?Probably no one else in the entire Night City except the youth before her.She was becoming increasingly interested in this youth named David Martinez."Shut up! Cut the chatter!"The middle-aged woman shoved hard, seemingly wanting to break through his temple with the muzzle to vent her anger at being made a fool of.But she still obediently moved her finger away from the trigger.She was also afraid that an accidental misfire would ruin the expensive Sandevistan. You must know that the Scavengers' asking price for this thing was as high as nearly fifteen thousand.This was quite a hefty income, and being able to run into it today was sheer dumb luck."And what about you? What's your decision? Planning to stick your nose into other people's business?!"Then she shifted her gaze back to Lucy, putting on a fierce yet weak front.But Lucy had no intention of paying attention to her at all, mimicking his tone as she said, "David Martinez, it looks like that ten percent of yours probably really can't be kept.""I know... but please, considering that I'm still a wounded patient, could you please be a bit gentler...""Rest assured, leave everything to me, it won't hurt."What else could he do at this point?He could only compromise.It's just that the duo's coordinated act left this Black woman completely bewildered."What are you guys talkin— Heh ah—""Bang!"Within this cramped space, the stretcher was kicked away when Lucy stepped on its tail end, crashing right into the Black woman's stomach.It was truly hard to imagine that the girl's slender legs could actually burst out with such strength.The woman's pistol slipped out in the momentum, tracing a graceful arc in the air and landing right beside his hand.Lucy backhanded the door lock open, conveniently picked up his package, jumped onto the stretcher bed, and flashed a feral smile at him, as if she was about to let loose.It was also like the prelude to a rock 'n' roll show about to begin.With a "Bang!", the car door was kicked open, and the smile on Lucy's face became even more brilliant.The passionate street rock 'n' roll began right then and there.Amidst the ambulance's acceleration and deceleration, the shaking stretcher instantly flew out.At the same time, in that instant, the hand gripping the pistol suddenly broke free.Instantly transforming into an American police officer, he raised the pistol and fired into the ambulance."Bang, bang, bang—"In less than two seconds, the magazine was emptied out.The unscrupulous doctor in the car was shot into a sieve in an instant, and blood flowed from the flickering ambulance back door onto the street."Beep beep—""Clatter—""Oh ho! Awesome! Ahahahaha—"The piercing sound of horns, the stretcher's unbearable groans in the middle of the wide road, and the girl's unbridled laughter—the three constantly teased his nerves, stimulated his heart, and sent his adrenaline soaring rapidly.Fearing that the stretcher would flip over from the shaking on the road?No, it wasn't; that wasn't fear.Rather, it was an inexplicable excitement, an excitement that made his eyes shine, as if the door to a new world had been opened.The roaring engines of passing cars acted like a bass player, accompanying the girl's wild rock 'n' roll.The howling wind in his ears mixed with the girl's screams, the weightless feeling of flying up from time to time due to running over a tiny pebble, and this sensation of speeding wildly on the road was truly..."So damn exhilarating!"It was as if all the cells and nerves in his body were jointly experiencing this excitement, and even the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve slightly upwards.And it was precisely because of this that David Martinez was deeply fascinated by this girl named Lucy.Clearly possessing an angel's appearance, yet her heart was as wild as a beast's.And Lucy seemed to have also seen the excitement overflowing from the corners of his mouth, the girl's smile growing even wilder.She made the shaking amplitude of the stretcher even larger, seeming not to worry at all about whether the stretcher would fall apart.In the current situation, if they encountered a vehicle too late to dodge, it would definitely mean two lives in one car.But the two of them right now had no time to care about this issue, both immersed in this madness."Screech—"The girl's foot replaced the brake, the hard soles leaving a pitch-black mark on the ground.At this point, the two had already left the viaduct and arrived at a remote corner near Japantown.On the deserted street, the neon colors spilled from the sky and the searchlights cast by flying AVs in the sky provided the few lights here."Fuck, that goddamned ripperdoc..."Supporting himself against the stretcher, David Martinez slowly crawled down from it, but his legs went soft and he almost knelt on the ground."Hey, wait, are you alright?""For now it's still OK... at least picking back up that damn bastard doctor's corpse, chopping it into mincemeat, and then throwing it to those kidney-cutter scumbags should be no problem..."Although he said it with his mouth, in reality he could barely take a single step.Like a gushing flood, after the final floodgate was breached, the fatigue accumulated over the past few days was released all at once.Yet even so, even having taken care of that bastard doctor couldn't vent the gloomy air in his heart.This matter had indeed been forgotten by him, or rather, he hadn't thought about it at all.After all, everything had already changed drastically; who the hell knew this kind of thing would still happen.Could this be the legendary convergence of world lines?"I didn't expect you to hold such a grudge.""Of course, I repay kindness and exact revenge... Especially since it's those kidney-cutters, there's no reason to let them off.""Forget it, the streets are already full of NCPD right now, and with your current appearance, going to look for trouble with the Scavengers is completely going to your death." Lucy stood aside with one hand on her waist, waving her hand as she spoke discouragement.Although this looked like dampening his enthusiasm, what she said was indeed a fact.With his current appearance running over there, it would be a wonder if those son-of-a-bitches didn't pin him to the operating table and harvest his kidneys."Tch, dammit..."The moment he thought of that ripperdoc and those kidney-cutters, his anger flared up out of nowhere.In Night City any gang could be spared, but only these kidney-cutters had to die!No reason needed!The existence of those bastards was a mistake!However, judging from his current physical state... he'd better write it down in his little notebook for now and talk about it later.He stood up by supporting himself on the edge of the stretcher, barely managing to keep his stance from collapsing.He then pulled an inhaler from his pocket and took two heavy puffs.In that instant, like a rusted gear coated with lubricating oil, his already exhausted body instantly got charged up.Although not the fully-charged kind, it at least allowed him to stand independently in place and discard the stretcher.Yet his legs were still as heavy as if filled with lead, so he showed a bitter smile and said:"Lucy, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you a bit more next...""Sigh, there's really no helping you."Lucy scratched her hair, looking helpless as she walked over to support him."Just this once."Afterwards, the two followed the previous path back to the street and flagged down a taxi.Heading to Bradbury Street, limping down the stairs, and arriving at that familiar basement."Viktor! Come out and take a client!"Supported by Lucy, David Martinez shouted while pulling open the iron door with a clatter."Let me see who is paying a sudden visit this late..."Viktor, sitting on the swivel chair, paused the boxing match he was watching and slowly turned his seat around: "David Martinez, what happened to you?"Seeing David Martinez being supported over looking haggard, the gaze beneath his glasses seemed somewhat surprised."Ah, nothing, my body has a small problem, need your help to check it..."Start a Bounty1,000 Recommendation Votes for an extra 2K words update100 Monthly Votes for an extra 2K words update100 Blades for an extra 2K words update100 Tips for an extra 2K words updateNo upper limitThat's about it.Today's data: Monthly Votes (224), Recommendation Votes (1,513), Tips (6,688), Blades (44).Hope you big shots can support me, and don't let me end up unable to even add a single update by the end.In other words, I'm fearless when it comes to extra updates; I just hope you reader big shots will smash me to death with votes.22. You Really Are a Medical Miracle"How is it, Viktor?""Mhm..."In the dim basement, Viktor sat in front of the instrument, falling into deep thought as he looked at the data results on the display screen.
Chapter 18"How is it, Viktor? Don't stay quiet. Could it be especially serious?"The moment he saw Viktor like this, he panicked a bit.To be fair, the result given by the system back then wasn't this pessimistic; it just urged him to undergo mechanical ascension.Could it be that having a proper doctor take a look would detect other issues?Just like some doctor named Shaun?What started as a minor ailment turns into cancer or something when he looks at it?Thinking of this, he felt restless, even shuddering with cold.Damn it, don't do this, Viktor. You're not that kind of ripperdoc; you're a living legend of Night City.Don't you dare learn from that damned bastard doctor Shaun! Though his medical skills are equally brilliant, he sure takes lives!"Whether it's serious or not is hard to say right now. Before that, you have to answer a few questions of mine first."Viktor slowly rolled his swivel chair in front of him."Have you been feeling very exhausted the past few days, and without any relief even after waking up?""Holy shit, Viktor, as expected of you, how did you know?"He was utterly shocked.He had never mentioned these symptoms to anyone else, yet Viktor was able to draw such a conclusion just by glancing at the data...Truly the best ripperdoc in Night City.But Viktor fell into contemplation once again, "Then, how many times have you used the Sandevistan in the past few days?""Uh... Can I not answer?"Mentioning this, his gaze shifted uncertainly, but Viktor said with unquestionable authority: "No, you must answer truthfully.""Fine... About thirty-something times in total... I guess."Come to think of it, it should be around that many times, right?After all, he had used it nearly ten times just today, and all to evade the pursuit of that cyberpsycho.Plus participating in gang turf wars earlier and reaping the benefits as a third party, that should add up.Yet his answer caused a rare ripple on Viktor's face, his skin twitching involuntarily as if he had just witnessed some medical miracle."Then what about the inhibitors I gave you? Have you been taking them properly every day?""Uh... I forgot recently...""How many times did you take them?""Probably under ten times?"David scratched the back of his head and said tentatively.That look felt as if he had returned to his student days, facing a teacher when he hadn't finished his homework."Exactly how many times?!""About three or four times?"Viktor didn't speak, just quietly looking at him.I have to say, Viktor truly is Viktor; the oppressive feeling in his gaze was even stronger than that cyberpsycho on the monorail.It gave him the creeps."Fine, fine, just once, and that was right before I came..."As for inhibitors, he had seen V inhale them only once from start to finish, whether before or after the incident.So he didn't care that much."Hiss——"Viktor instantly drew a sharp breath, then spun his swivel chair back in front of the screen with a whir, looking at the data on it and exclaiming: "As expected..."However, his answer shocked even Lucy, an outsider standing in the corner.Using the Sandevistan dozens of times within a few days, and without using inhibitors the entire time...If it were a regular civilian model, it would be fine, but this was a military-grade implant, and the burden it placed on the body multiplied exponentially.Is this even human?"No smoking here, thank you."Viktor, who was looking at the screen, suddenly reminded politely."..."This caused Lucy's movement of reaching into her pocket to pause.David's condition had completely exceeded her cognition; she even doubted whether she had misread it back then, thinking it wasn't a military-grade Sandevistan.However, when she walked to the iron door, she couldn't help casting her gaze back at David sitting on the operating chair.Her gaze was somewhat complicated.Deep within those dark purple eyes, which radiated a spectrum-like magnificence matching her short hair, it was unknown what kind of emotions were swirling.It was just that she needed to smoke a cigarette to calm down right now.Then she took long strides toward the basement stairs.Seeing Lucy's figure disappear at the basement stairs, Viktor's voice came again: "Is that your little girlfriend?""Not yet..." David blurted out subconsciously."Meaning there's a possibility in the future, huh?"Viktor suddenly stirred with gossipy curiosity and teased: "Still, to care about you so much even though she's not your girlfriend... Just now, all her attention was focused on you.""If only that were the case..." David's voice was filled with regret.He could now clearly feel that there was still a thick barrier between himself and Lucy...Thinking of this, he couldn't help feeling vexed.They always say that saving a damsel in distress is the easiest way to capture her heart; why doesn't it seem to work in his case?Clearly, the warming speed of the two in the anime was so fast...Was his pose not cool enough?Or was something else not quite working?Or some other reason?Anyway, he didn't want to dwell too much on this topic.So he changed the subject:"Alright, stop joking, Viktor. How is my body right now? Is it serious?""Sigh, it's not a question of whether it's serious or not, kid."Viktor shook his head helplessly, "It's that you being able to live until now is simply a medical miracle.""To not have completely collapsed by now, you have to thank your physique for being tough enough.""If you didn't have such a resilient body, you probably would have been crippled long before you became a cyberpsycho.""Really... is it that serious?" He scratched the side of his face awkwardly."What do you think?"Viktor, operating on the instrument, raised his head slightly and glanced at him, "How do you think those cyberpsychos on the streets come to be?"According to the definition in Trauma Team medical records, so-called cyberpsychosis is a general term for all anxiety-related mental and personality disorders triggered by hardware implanted in the body and various behavioral modules including software.Simply put, implants are merely strong catalysts, responsible for catalyzing everyone's painful inner experiences.And what truly collapses is the psyche and body of the individual involved.In Night City, everyone probably knows one or two acquaintances whose neighbor got too heavily augmented with cyberware, and one day stepped out with a gun and opened fire on a crowd.Or this neighbor refused to find a reliable ripperdoc to save money, resulting in being plagued by nightmares every day, experiencing auditory hallucinations after using hormone blockers, and finally going mad.Some say cyberpsychosis is a disease caused by social inequality.Others say it's the price to pay for a morbid obsession with technology.Still others feel it's completely made up.Until the day they see their neighbor randomly shooting outside their front door and have to call MAX-TAC.For a case like David's, where his body didn't completely collapse and the ultra-strong load didn't cause nervous system damage, calling it a medical miracle is completely unproblematic."Sigh, I understand, Viktor. I'll take inhibitors regularly from now on..." David sighed slowly."Not only that, but you must not continue using the Sandevistan for the next few days. If you keep using it like this, I'm afraid you won't have such good luck again." Viktor said as he rummaged around underneath, seemingly looking for something."What about installing more implants? Can I?"Since he had already come to Viktor's place, he might as well install a few more implants.For example, Kiroshi optics or something; he was quite tempted by that stuff, being able to prevent security cameras from capturing a clear view of his face and all."Sure, if you want to die."Viktor spoke the most terrifying words in the gentlest tone.Afterward, he pulled out a pneumatic injector from underneath and placed it in his hand."Alright, I understand."He looked down at the bottle shoved into his hand that looked similar to Max-Doc, and asked: "What is this?""This is a flexible booster I've modified. Its effect is stronger than the one you took before, and it doesn't have overly terrible side effects.""Take it according to the dosage: inhale twice now, inhale twice again tomorrow morning, and then inhale twice every hour after that. It will help your body recover a bit faster.""Oh."Nodding half-understandingly, he took two deep breaths according to the dosage Viktor gave.Instantly the colors before his eyes changed, just like turning on night vision goggles; his entire field of vision turned green, and his body seemed filled with endless power once again.He suddenly jumped down from the operating chair.Hu Hansan has returned once more!!!He really wanted to shout that out loud, but there were people nearby, so forget it."Thanks, Viktor, how much is this thing?""Money isn't necessary; I actually hope you'll come patronize my business more often."Seeing him become full of life and vigor again, a kind smile appeared on Viktor's face.This feeling was just like being back in front of the computer screen, seeing the smile Viktor gave to V.23. Judy and LucyAt the back door of Misty's Esoterica, Misty, dressed like a street girl, was chatting idly with Lucy, who was standing nearby smoking.The general content was recounting their respective processes of meeting David.And Lucy didn't intend to hide anything at all, slowly telling Misty everything.For some reason, she felt an inexplicable sense of affinity toward this woman named Misty."Hey, David, how is your body?"Right at this moment, Misty suddenly waved toward the direction of the basement entrance, causing Lucy's gaze to instinctively turn over there as well."Viktor said there's no major problem, just need to take inhibitors regularly."David, walking out from the basement, responded with a smile, but his gaze inevitably met Lucy's.Misty naturally noticed this as well, so she stood up and said softly: "You guys chat, I'm going back inside to prepare to close up."She left the space here to the two young people.
Chapter 19"How about… we go for a walk?""Hmm."Lucy nodded, not turning down David's suggestion....It was already late at night, and most people in Night City had already fallen asleep.Only a small number of people remained immersed under the dazzling neon lights, either seeking their own pleasures on Jig-Jig Street in Westbrook, or gathering in bars bathed in a pink atmosphere to indulge in the most primal desires.Lucy and David walked alone down Bradbury Street, occasionally encountering a few vagrants that brought some signs of life to the empty street.Perhaps only at this time were the slums of Night City at their quietest."How is your body feeling?"Lucy, walking side by side with him, asked in a nonchalant tone.A half-burnt women's cigarette was still dangling from her mouth."Hmm, there are no problems anymore. Viktor is the best ripperdoc in Night City.""Is that so?"Lucy's expression and tone still remained completely unchanged, "Then, didn't that ripperdoc prescribe you any new blockers?""He did, but only one. After finishing it, I can just use the previous ones.""Hmm…"The two strolled down the street, chatting idly.They didn't look like people who had met just today at all, but rather like old friends who already knew each other inside out.But that was normal, after all, they had jointly experienced something like a cyberpsycho and street raced together on the overpass, so they understood each other to some extent."David."Right at this moment, Lucy suddenly stopped in her footsteps, pointed at a bench in a nearby park, and suggested, "Let's go sit over there."Since the beauty cordially invited him, naturally there was no reason to refuse.The two sat on the bench, gazing at the projected forest in the distance, and then raised their heads to look at the night sky shrouded in dark clouds."Hey, David, this is the first time I've met someone like you."Recalling everything that happened today, a strange smile curved at the corners of Lucy's lips.Clearly just a student, yet he installed military-grade cyberware like the Sandevistan and the Kerenzikov, and even used them so many times consecutively without taking blockers…He even fought head-on against a cyberpsycho, and dismantled an implant right under the noses of MAX-TAC.It really was crazy enough.However, how could David not understand what she meant?Leaving aside the fact that he forgot to take his blockers, the rest was really unavoidable."Because… I need money…""Is that so? Since that's the case…"Lucy suddenly stood up and crushed out her burnt-out cigarette with her foot.At the same time she turned around, an orange glow flashed across her eyes, as if she was messaging someone."Follow me.""Eh?""I have a job to introduce to you."Thus, without waiting for an explanation, she led him away from here.After a not-so-long journey, they arrived in Japantown.Looking at this apartment not too far from the neighboring skyscraper H8, David was somewhat dumbfounded."This is…?""My home."A very concise answer."Hurry up and keep up."Under Lucy's lead, he entered this low-rise apartment building.As soon as he walked inside, he was completely stunned.This actually really was Lucy's home!Dim lights illuminated the hallway, and the walls everywhere were covered in various graffiti.It was practically a perfect replica of that apartment on Charter Street.The only difference from the apartment on Charter Street was that there weren't so many crazed guys lingering in the hallway here.But these two lived in the exact same model of small apartment building…Is this apartment style called the widow style?Look, Judy was originally with Maiko Maeda, and Maiko Maeda was chopped up by V, leaving no corpse behind.Then there was Evelyn Parker, a woman who thought herself extremely clever, who also ended up driven to suicide by Scavengers, with her body even dumped in the reservoir.Finally, there was female V, the legend of Night City, the new boss of the Afterlife Bar, yet with only a few months left to live.Then look at Lucy, dating David so well, only for David to get blasted into dust by Adam Smasher.The two shared too many commonalities, and both became widows. (Laughs)Thinking of this, he couldn't help asking curiously:"Hey, Lucy, do you know someone named JudyAlvarez?""Judy Alvarez? I've crossed paths with her a few times. She's a tech expert skilled in braindance editing… But why are you suddenly asking this?"Lucy seemed to have thought of something, suddenly stopped, turned around, and teased, "Could it be… you like Judy?""...I was just asking casually.""Oh~ Really?"Lucy slowly narrowed her eyes as she stared at him, trying to see something from it, before suddenly returning to her usual calmness."Well, if that's the case it's best, you'd better not harbor too many fantasies about her.""She's not your type."As she spoke, silvery laughter echoed through the hallway.She found that teasing this half-grown teenager seemed to be a very interesting thing."Tch, of course I know, you're my type."He curled his lip and muttered under his breath.Having played 2077 for so long back then, let alone what kind of person Judy was, even how many hairs she had on her body and what kind of tattoos she had and where were crystal clear to him.Did you need to remind him that she was a lesbian?"Come on in, make yourself at home."Under Lucy's invitation, he walked into the room on the top floor of the apartment."Pretty spacious."The space inside wasn't too big, but it wasn't small either.The furniture inside was complete, simple and tidy, yet there weren't too many girly elements.The bathroom in plain sight was blocked by a plastic curtain, but one could still see it filled with ice used for artificial cooling, and two bags of blockers were placed on the hacker chair surrounded by numerous screens.At a glance, one could tell it was standard hacker equipment.But the most eye-catching thing was still the yellowish poster pasted next to the bedroom, depicting an advertisement for the lunar base.That was Lucy's wish.A humble wish to escape Night City.24. Where is Hell"I only have beer, is that alright?"The sudden inquiry interrupted his thoughts.He saw Lucy standing uninhibited in front of the refrigerator, stretching her slender figure, her graceful curves laid out completely bare before his eyes."Hmm, thanks.""You're really polite~"Lucy pulled two bottles of iced beer from the fridge, handed one of them into his hand, while the teasing words on her lips showed no sign of stopping."As expected of a student straight out of the academy~""Tch, dare you stop bringing that up? I've already said it several times, I've been expelled.""Hehehe~~"Seeing his embarrassed look where he almost puffed his face up like a globefish, Lucy let out another mischievous laugh, and then like a cat, brushed past him and nimbly darted onto the balcony.Reaching past one side of his neck from behind, she gently clinked her beer bottle against his."Cheers~""Cheers."He tentatively picked up the beer bottle and slowly drank from it.However, Lucy put her beer bottle aside and once again held a women's cigarette in her mouth.The sound of flint rubbing echoed quietly in the room, and Lucy leaned lazily against the throw pillow, quietly watching David, who was cautiously drinking beer.He really was just an inexperienced little brat; why did he have to force himself when he wasn't used to drinking?Suddenly, she seemed to have thought of a good idea, a smile once again slightly curling at the corners of her lips.Then she gently breathed a puff of air toward his neck."Hoo—"The wisp of exhaled smoke mixed with a bit of warmth gave him goosebumps and made him shiver."Pfft! Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough—"This unexpected move almost made him spit out the beer in his mouth, coupled with the irritation of the carbonation, he immediately started coughing violently."Ha... What are you doing!"David wiped his chin and the corners of his mouth; that move just now had almost choked him to death."Nothing, just thought you looked interesting and wanted to tease you a bit... But don't tell me this is your first time drinking~""..."He turned his head to glance at this girl full of curious colors, then shrugged helplessly."Alcohol is OK, it's just this carbonation…"This body was good in every way, except that it couldn't adapt to carbonation.In the past few days, he had tried countless times to make himself adapt to carbonated drinks as much as possible.But every time ended in failure, splendidly spraying the drinks and beer into a mist that blended into the air.As far as today was concerned, this performance was already considered not bad.And because of this, his fun in Night City was reduced by more than half."Haha, are there really still people like this nowadays?"A faint shimmer flashed in Lucy's eyes, and her tone was filled with disbelief, as if she had seen some rare treasure.