There's a drug, let's call it a drug for now, that can enter a person's brain, erase the synapses formed by their original memories, and replace them with blue, editable structures.
Memory synapse remodeling, subconscious overlay—this is a method that allows one person to live on through another.
Was he in such a situation himself?
Clearly, it wasn't exactly the same; he hadn't overwritten the previous body's memories, but rather seemed to have consumed them.
As for the philosophical questions involved, whether Arthur was a real person...
Well, he couldn't even think about these questions. Philosophy, or anything like it, could never appear in a cowboy's mind.
Although the situation wasn't a perfect match, it clearly had some similarities to Arthur's condition.
Just as he was about to copy these things to show Viktor, the screen in front of him suddenly went dark, and the power on this entire floor was cut off with it.
"This laboratory's system is a subsystem of a higher-level system. In this situation, it's likely that the higher-level system directly intervened."
Jessica explained the current situation.
"Let's go! We've been discovered!"
Arthur reacted instantly, grabbing Jessica by the back of her collar.
In the current dark environment, he naturally didn't have to worry about Jackie losing track of him; he only needed to worry about this little girl.
Guided by memory and the emergency lights, the three quickly reached the hole blown open by the explosion.
Jessica obediently let Arthur carry her. When they entered the room and she saw Joseph lying on the floor, she couldn't help but gasp, covering her eyes with both hands.
Putting her down on the ground, Arthur urged, "Hurry, climb up here, and be careful not to touch that cable."
As he spoke, he pointed to the flickering sparks above their heads.
Hearing Arthur's urging, Jessica spread her fingers and peered upwards through the gap.
Then she started to scramble up on all fours.
Arthur followed closely, occasionally pushing her from behind. It took a lot of effort to get the little girl up.
Turning back, he pulled Jackie up behind him. They casually picked a car and drove straight out of Diman Slaughterhouse.
"That was exciting."
Jackie, who was driving, said excitedly with both hands on the steering wheel.
"Last time, we got 300,000 in payment but did work only worth 50,000. This time, it's only 100,000, but it's worth 400,000 or 500,000.
Counting it up, it seems like we lost money."
With his mind at ease, Jackie became more talkative, looking very excited.
"Just helping someone out along the way, a crybaby who easily gets lost."
Saying this, Arthur turned his head and asked, "Crybaby, where's your home? We should still take you home. If you get lost on the way, it would ruin our reputation."
In this operation, this dirty little girl in front of him had helped a lot, so Arthur naturally had a good impression of her.
"Westbrook, Charter Hill, Arasaka Waterfront."
Jessica, having escaped the demon's den, was clearly very happy. Although her voice was still weak, the trembling sound was gone.
"As expected of a corporate employee's daughter, that's a good place."
Jackie's voice came from the front.
Hearing Jackie's words, Arthur also chuckled and teased, "Then let's take our young lady home first. Although I really don't like doing these odd jobs, you truly helped us a lot this time.
Remember to be careful in the future and don't fall into the hands of Scavengers again."
Night City, as the largest free trade port in all of America, its outstanding qualities are not just its nighttime scenery, which resembles the eye of the Earth.
Its urban transportation design is also extremely ingenious, especially the high-altitude highways surrounding the city's edge, which, like arteries, deliver nourishment to every corner of the city.
Speeding along, the three arrived at Charter Hill in Westbrook.
On this small hill, exquisite buildings were arranged in neat rows.
Charter Hill was a luxurious community initiated by corporations during the reconstruction period.
Although twenty years ago, North Oak replaced its coveted status, it remains one of Night City's most prosperous areas.
Exquisite buildings are dotted among carefully trimmed greenery. They generally adopt minimalist designs, but occasionally some appropriately flamboyant touches appear.
The pedestrians on the road seemed very leisurely, strolling through the beautiful streets, all with the air of corporate elites.
After parking the car, led by Jessica, Arthur and Jackie entered a community.
The fresh scent of greenery lingered in the community. The roads here were also spacious, and the environment was quiet.
Jessica's identity was clearly recorded in the system here. After checking her biometric features, the apartment door opened.
The three of them were quite relaxed until Jessica stopped in front of a door.
This was naturally her home, but something unexpected had clearly happened.
The sounds of shouting and arguing came from inside.
"I'll say it one last time, your so-called daughter is dead, understand? But you can't short us a single cent of the money you owe, plus interest.
I advise you to be smart. Your house, your car, they can all be sold, but you only have one life.
If you, old dog, still want to live a good life, then find a way to pay us back.
As for your unlucky daughter, even if she wasn't dismembered, she must have been driven mad.
If you dare not pay, I can send you to reunite."
As soon as these arrogant words fell, another weary voice immediately rang out.
"Please, I'll pay you back, but you have to find my daughter.
She's still alive, she must be still alive. My daughter is very smart; she'll definitely hold on until someone comes to save her.
Please..."
"Useless. I said your daughter is dead, and she's definitely dead. Why would we lie to you?
I don't want to waste any more words with you. The money, on time, or else, you'll suffer."
The conversation inside fell into the ears of the three outside the door, word for word. Jessica had long since lowered her head, her shoulders trembling.
Arthur found it amusing as well. He actually encountered colleagues here, but it sounded like these colleagues had even fewer bottom lines than he did.
At least their usury was clearly priced: how much they lent, how much they collected, and they never resorted to extortion.
But from the meaning of those guys inside, they didn't do the work, but they still wanted more money. How interesting.
Arthur supported the girl's trembling shoulders, signaling her to open the door.
So, just as the argument inside was escalating, the door suddenly opened.
The group of people inside looked at each other, staring at the dirty little girl and two men outside the door.
Especially Jackie, with his cold expression and towering physique, his deterrent power was truly considerable.
The first to break the silence were the father and daughter. Jessica said with a trembling voice, "Dad..."
Inside, the gaunt middle-aged man in the innermost part of the room stared blankly at her. When he heard that "Dad," tears instantly streamed down his face, over the furrows and stubble, dripping onto the ground.
Seeing this scene, Jessica burst into tears and rushed into the man's embrace.
Looking at the scene before him, Arthur's mood also brightened. Although this trip was a loss...
It wasn't a loss. The two of them had simply taken on the task as an afterthought. Thinking about it this way, it seemed they had simply earned 100,000 for free.
With that thought, Arthur's mood improved even more.
Until—
Those guys who had just caused trouble started making noise again.
"Good! Now your daughter is back, so you can't say we didn't complete the task.
If you can't pay, we'll kidnap her again."
Listen to those utterly shameless words. Arthur thought back carefully. Although he was a scoundrel, at least he wasn't this shameless.
These guys were truly disgusting to Arthur, to the point of affecting his physical and mental well-being.
Without further ado, Arthur's revolver was pressed directly against the forehead of the guy who was barking.
"Who are you people? A gang? Or freelance mercenaries? You can't possibly be black detectives."
Arthur's hoarse voice was so casual, yet it made the guys opposite him tremble.
Of course, it wasn't Arthur's voice that was so lethal, but his swift action of drawing his gun that scared those noisy underlings.
"This world is always like this. Useless villains bully honest civilians. It's you vermin who are the most disgusting.
Speak, where are you from? If you don't speak, the next person will."
"We're from the Tyger Claws! I advise you not to meddle!"
With a gun barrel pressed against his forehead, this guy actually still had the courage to put on a brave front.
"Tyger Claws, huh."
Muttering to himself, Arthur thought, "That's really not a good answer."
For the other party, this was indeed not a good answer; it only meant a different kind of death.
Tyger Claws, they're like a persistent rash. If you don't kill them cleanly, these guys will think you're nothing special, and then they'll stick to you for life.