Chapter 22: Flowing FireKill one person to gain 10% movement speed and 10% hand speed!Eat Raw and Drink Blood!After beheading the man, Leon didn't hesitate for a moment, charging forward and knocking the stunned Kitagawa Hiroshi into the abandoned vehicle beside them, both taking cover behind it.Blood spurted from the headless corpse, raining down like a shower.The man, who had just been arrogant and cursing, died without even a chance to Reflexes.His gun-raising arm gradually went limp, the pistol falling to the ground, and his body became slack, collapsing straight to the ground.Intense gunfire immediately erupted, as the Tyger Claws, having come to their senses, raised their firearms and roared in fury; bullets struck the abandoned vehicle but couldn't harm the two behind it.Everything happened too quickly; Leon's actions were like a heavy Adam Smasher slamming into their heads, and by the time they recovered, boundless rage was burning within them.Rage can make people fearless, but it can also make them lose their minds.The Tyger Claws minions desperately pulled their triggers, bullets pouring onto the abandoned vehicle like a dense downpour; in just a few seconds, everyone had emptied their magazines.As the opponents entered their reload-induced lull in firepower, a hand emerged from behind the car, holding a black firearm, and without aiming, fired wildly in the general direction.Bullets equipped with miniature guidance devices shot towards the heads of the remaining Tyger Claws, like venomous snakes finding their prey, rapidly striking at the enemy's fatal throat; once unleashed, they would not stop until death.In an instant, three Tyger Claws members were unable to dodge; the bullets spun and curved in mid-air, hitting their heads, forming a large bloody hole between their eyebrows, and their bodies collapsed weakly to the ground."Smart weapons! That kid has smart weapons!"One of the Tyger Claws members reacted.Consequently, the remaining Tyger Claws quickly grabbed motorcycle helmets and put them on, then found reliable cover and hid.While the auto-aim function of smart weapons is very powerful, its main purpose is to correct bullet trajectories.It doesn't mean you can shoot into the sky and have the bullet turn 180° to hit an enemy on the ground.Moreover, during the bullet's deviation and curving process, its kinetic energy will rapidly diminish, so wearing a helmet can often prevent instant death.If the body also has Cyberware skin armor, ordinary kinetic weapons cannot penetrate it, and smart weapons certainly cannot.Therefore, the best way to deal with smart weapons on the battlefield is to immediately put on a helmet to prevent instant death.Next, you need to find reliable cover to hide your body and avoid being locked onto by firearms, which will likely exempt you from most damage.Of course, this is relative; for the fragile human Body, no matter how weak the power of smart firearms, it is not something a fragile body can withstand.At this moment, Leon also took the opportunity to switch to a new magazine, and Kitagawa Hiroshi, whom he had tackled to the ground, also rolled over and leaned against the other end of the abandoned vehicle.Kitagawa Hiroshi was breathing heavily, his heart pounding as if it wanted to drain all the blood from his body; the previous scenes flashed through his mind.When Leon suddenly attacked, in just the blink of an eye, he saw the man in front of him go from "alive" to "headless," and then he was tackled to the ground, hitting his head and feeling dizzy.How could that kid be so fast!Bang, bang, bang!Gunfire erupted in his ears again; Kitagawa Hiroshilooked up and saw that several Tyger Clawsmembers who had just peeked out from behind cover, attempting to retaliate, were "headshotted" again.The bullets hit their helmets, barely saving their lives, but the impact still sent their bodies reeling backward, falling behind cover."Baka! How is that kid's Reflexes so fast!""Kerenzikov? Or Sandevistan? That kid definitely has neural Reflexes Cyberware, or a Speedware!"The two warring sides entered a strange ceasefire, as no one wanted to experience the feeling of being instantly downed the moment they popped their heads out.Ding.A faint pin-pulling sound rang out, and a grenade was thrown from where the Tyger Claws were hiding, but before it even landed, Leon shot it, and the roaring explosive aftermath reverberated in mid-air.Leon's gaze was sharp; he glanced at the exploding afterglow in mid-air, then retracted his arm and continued to lean against the back of the car, occasionally glancing at the situation outside.As soon as he saw an enemy pop out, his A-22B Ultima immediately opened fire."What do we do next?"Kitagawa Hiroshi tilted his head and glanced at Leon; after what had just happened, he had also put aside his arrogance and adjusted his attitude, treating Leon as a powerful Edgerunner.Having been on the streets for so many years, he wasn't an ignorant novice.The strength this young man displayed was so extraordinary that his outward age was merely a disguise, and once torn away, the inner lion would be revealed!Facing someone stronger than himself, one must always maintain reverence; Kitagawa Hiroshicouldn't help but feel ashamed of his previous disdainful attitude and was also fortunate that Leon, being a great person, didn't hold grudges against a petty one."The firearms these guys are using are Arasaka Corporation's Yofune and Shigure, a kinetic assault rifle and a submachine gun. The common point between them is their extremely high rate of fire, but their power is mediocre." Leon turned his head to stare at Kitagawa Hiroshi, his eyes bloodthirsty."You have basic subcutaneous armor implants, right! I need you to be a decoy and rush out to create an opportunity for me!""If we drag this out, I can't guarantee they won't have heavy firepower or technical firearms with extreme penetration. We can't stay here forever!"Kitagawa Hiroshi was stunned for a full second before recovering from Leon's astonishing words.Holy crap, little brother, do you really think subcutaneous armor makes you invulnerable? If I get shot a few more times, no matter how tough I am, I'll die here!But thinking of his sister, whose fate was unknown, Kitagawa Hiroshi gritted his teeth and fiercely agreed to the request:"Let's be clear upfront, I can only stall for five seconds at most!"As soon as he finished speaking, he didn't hesitate to stand out from behind the vehicle cover, his Cyberware right arm gripping the Copperhead like a god of war, sweeping fire towards the enemies, suppressing them within their cover so they couldn't peek out for a moment."Come on, you bugs hiding in the gutters!"On one hand, he used the powerful grip of his Cyberware arm to control the rifle's recoil with one hand, and on the other, he placed his left hand horizontally on his forehead to prevent stray bullets from hitting vital points.At the same time, Leon, hidden behind the vehicle, also darted out quickly, bending low, moving swiftly like a special forces soldier trained for many years.With Kitagawa Hiroshi drawing most of the fire, only a few scattered stray bullets shot towards him, missing their mark and causing no serious harm.His Reflexes was now at the human limit; after using the muscle stimulant injector, his Bodyattributes had also temporarily increased by two points.And he also had the 30% speed bonus provided by Eat Raw and Drink Blood!Under the combined effects of these factors, his current maximum running speed had already broken the ten-meter-per-second barrier!The remaining Tyger Claws also noticed his movement and immediately diverted some of their firepower towards him.Bullets furiously shot from the gun barrels; the air was filled with a lingering smell of gunpowder. Leoncould feel bullets splashing behind him, as if Death was chasing his footsteps, his scythe already at his neck, and only one stray bullet hitting his vital point would send him to the grave.This short distance took only two seconds, yet Leonfelt as if time stretched endlessly.When the remaining Tyger Claws were completely exposed before him, he finally leaped into the air.Leon turned sideways in mid-air, the iconic submachine gun pressed against his chest, its muzzle aimed at the enemy, spitting out gunfire furiously.Landing, rolling, precise crouch aiming, continued firing, emptying the magazine!Bullets flew through the air, like twisting vipers, veering off course to accurately hit the remaining Tyger Claws members.Without cover and directly in front, the bullets' kinetic energy was barely diminished; the expressions of those Tyger Claws minions were blank, and they died unwillingly from the bullets.Leon was breathing heavily, adrenaline surging through his blood; his internal blood flow and heartbeat also accelerated, still not disengaged from the combat state.He reloaded the iconic rifle with a new magazine, then cautiously walked over, delivering a supplementary shot to each Tyger Claws member lying on the ground before going to check on Kitagawa Hiroshi's condition.Because he had attracted a large amount of frontal fire, Kitagawa Hiroshi was now leaning against an oil drum, his body covered in several bullet wounds that were steadily bleeding.But fortunately, no vital organs were hit, and due to the obstruction of the subcutaneous armor, the bullets did not penetrate too deeply into his body, resulting in a smaller "cavitation effect.""I think I can still be saved..."Kitagawa Hiroshi's breathing was erratic; looking at Leon approaching, he spoke weakly.Leon walked forward, looking at this teammate, his first-ever combat partner. He hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed, casually pulled out an injector, and jabbed it into the other's heart area."Holy crap, Rapid Hemostasis Nanoinjector Type 3! Leon-kun, where did you get that?"Kitagawa Hiroshi's face was filled with shock; he could feel a warm current spreading from his heart throughout his body.The gunshot wounds quickly began to itch, and a coagulating substance plugged his wounds, quickly stopping the bleeding."I just hope this commission breaks even," Leoncomplained, dissatisfied.He stood upright, looking down at the man, then extended his hand; the surrounding flames illuminated his face crimson, like the afterglow of a setting sun.Kitagawa Hiroshi also extended his hand and clasped Leon's, using the leverage to stand up."Damn it, what happened?!"Several hurried footsteps came from outside the street; presumably, the recent gunfire had finally attracted the remaining Tyger Claws members from the restaurant."You can still move, right?" Leon tilted his head, looking at the alley's exit, which was also its entrance, and asked with a smile."With that medicine of yours, I think a hundred-meter dash wouldn't be a problem now."Kitagawa Hiroshi also smiled, then bent down to pick up the Copperhead from the ground, neatly reloading its magazine.Leon slowly drew his Katana; he didn't want to waste any more money on smart bullets.Several Tyger Claws rushed over, but the scene before them made them freeze, their hearts seemingly stopping at that moment.What they saw were the lingering fires and corpses after the battle, along with already loaded gun muzzles and drawn blades.
Chapter 23 WreckageWith the crisp final gunshot of the Copperhead, another body fell in this wasteland.Leon swung his Katana, shaking off the accumulated blood on the blade. The smooth blade was spotless, without a trace of bloodstain. The few blue-green runic lights shimmered, only dimming their sharpness when sheathed.Kitagawa Hiroshi also flung his firearm, letting the magazine drop and tossing it aside, then deftly loaded a new one."That was the last one, right? He shouldn't have that much influence in the Tyger Claws; it's already quite good that he could mobilize eight lackeys," Leonasked uncertainly."It should be the last one, Leon-kun. Thank you for this time."Kitagawa Hiroshi relaxed a bit, looking at Leon with gratitude.If it weren't for his help, even with all his skill today, he wouldn't have been able to clear out so many Tyger Claws members.At most, he would have taken out that disgusting man, then fought to the death with a few subordinates, ultimately ending in a mutual destruction.His sister would also be forever trapped in that dark cage, her future either suicide or complete degradation, becoming the protagonist of a Black braindance, reduced to disposable consumables.Having been in Night City for so many years, Kitagawa Hiroshi was not afraid of death, but his only weakness, his only soft spot, was his sister. The thought of his sister suffering such a fate made him unwilling to die."Taking people's money, resolving their troubles." Leon shrugged indifferently, as if thinking of something, and chuckled, "I hope this little brat can satisfy you, Mr. Client.""I'm sorry, I admit my tone was a bit harsh this morning," Kitagawa Hiroshi apologized sincerely:"The compensation you received from Wakako is probably not enough to cover the hard work this time, but to place the commission, I've used up all my savings. I don't have anything to repay you with now. I owe you a favor. If you need anything in the future, just call me; I will never refuse!"Leon put the Katana back into its cloth bag and retrieved the empty magazines he had just discarded, seemingly not too concerned about Kitagawa Hiroshi's gratitude:"We can talk about these things later. It's not over yet. Shouldn't your top priority now be to rescue your sister?"Kitagawa Hiroshi nodded steadily, then turned and immediately sprinted towards the street. But halfway there, he seemed to remember something and turned back to Leon, asking:"Leon-kun, are you staying here to clean up the battlefield?"After all, the other person had provided great help. If Leon were left to clean up the scene, he would feel somewhat guilty."No, I want to stay here and take these Cyberwares back to sell." Leon lowered his head, his gaze constantly sweeping over the firearms dropped on the ground:"As for the bodies, forget it. Those Scavengers' noses are sharper than dogs'. They're best at scavenging in the city; they definitely won't miss this place."These scraps... are they worth recycling? Kitagawa Hiroshi was greatly puzzled.Weapons used by gang members, and all of them low-level lackeys, what valuable things could these people have on them?Even those guns weren't worth much. If sold to a gun store, the owner would probably find them inauspicious, as they were scavenged from dead people.Moreover, compared to these second-hand goods that had exchanged hands countless times, even if the price was cheap, anyone willing to buy firearms would surely choose genuine, authentic products.Because firearms produced by Arasaka Corporation, like Shigure and Nowaki, aren't that expensive even if bought new.Unless it's particularly valuable equipment, for example, after annihilating a corporate convoy, the firearms, bulletproof vests, and other tactical gear dropped from corporate security personnel are often quite valuable spoils of war that can be resold on the black market.Kitagawa Hiroshi estimated that if he collected and sold these broken guns on the ground, he could probably earn two or three hundred eddies...People aren't donkeys; their physical burden can't carry too many things. At most, carrying a few guns would be about it."It seems Leon-kun is a thrifty person who manages his household well." Although he was very confused, Kitagawa Hiroshi attributed it to Leon's virtue.After understanding, he didn't linger, said goodbye, and left, running towards that restaurant.Leon pouted and began to wander around the wasteland, like a junk collector, putting some of the desirable firearms back into his bag.How to put it... In fact, he originally thought he shouldn't have a Hobbies for collecting trash.But seeing the discarded firearms and equipment after a battle, Leon always felt an itch in his heart, as if he had returned to his gaming days, where not picking up the trash scattered everywhere felt like losing a hundred million.After all, it was her first formal actual combat; she had to pick up some spoils of war.After much deliberation, Leon still decided to follow his desire.As for the rest, he was too lazy to bother with it.A city has its own "ecosystem." Such discarded items are generally cleaned up by the Scavengers in the city.Scavengers, commonly known as kidney harvesters, are like vultures in the wilderness, grave robbers in cemeteries. From Leon's perspective, they are absolute scum and degenerates.Unlike other gangs in the city, they don't have fixed territories or domains; the entire Night City is their "business scope."Mugging, kidnapping, they will use any simple and effective means, then put the unlucky victims on the operating table, without even wasting anesthetic, using knives and drills to strip the victims layer by layer like an object, and then take away all useful parts.Organs and Cyberwares can be exchanged for money on the black market, and even spirits and emotions can be used as consumables to film and sell Black braindance for profit.The individual human body is utilized to its extreme by them, like a juicer, extracting all value until it's completely dry.But few people know that the "business" mentioned above is only for professionals; they are the vultures of the wilderness, high above, not only eating the freshest meat but also possessing the ability to hunt.More Scavengers lack hunting ability; they are maggots in the gutter, incompetents who wait for opportunities.Homeless people seen everywhere on the roadside, unlicensed black clinics in street alleys, and even low-level "corpse transporters"... When the time comes, they will seamlessly switch to being Scavengers, cleaning up the city's "defective products."Things like the remains lying in narrow alleys and discarded firearms will not be overlooked by the homeless; they are a godsend.As for the reason?Just living in the moment.Before leaving, Leon took one last look at the messy scene.Every gunfight and brawl that happens in this city inevitably leaves behind debris and scraps, just like a "whale fall" in the vast ocean, attracting the prying eyes of countless marine creatures.But the final outcome is always that those who eat meat eat meat, those who drink soup drink soup, and those who lick the bowl lick the bowl.Until the very end, some will even rinse the bowls with water and drink it down, savoring that hint of aftertaste that exists only in fantasy.And just as Leon walked out of the alley and onto the road, he happened to glimpse several shabbily dressed homeless people carefully avoiding his gaze and walking inside.The alley was dark and cramped, with tall buildings on both sides blocking all sunlight, while the road was bathed in bright yellow, lazy gold, warm and gentle.Leon tightened his sling bag, sighed, and walked towards the restaurant.
Chapter 24 Victor-VictorReturning to the restaurant, Leon saw that the waitress who had originally been at the front desk was now knocked out, lying on the table, sleeping soundly like a baby.The back door leading into the store had been violently broken open, its center riddled with bullet holes.On the iron door, several indented fist marks were still visible; seeing these violent signs of disassembly, one could imagine the urgency in the assailant's heart.However, this door was an electronic one, seemingly very sturdy, and even if the assailant used all his might, he only managed to break open a small, half-meter-high hole.Leon pondered for a while, comparing heights, and finally let out a soft sigh.He silently fumbled the access token from the sleeping waitress on the table, swiped it on the nearby controller, and the door instantly opened wide.Of course, he didn't forget to take some pocket money from the cash register inside the store and put it into the pocket of the poor waitress.Following the tracks, Leon arrived on the second floor and coincidentally ran into Kitagawa Hiroshi, who had a cold expression.He was bent over, carrying a young girl on his back.The girl was wearing the jacket Kitagawa Hiroshihad taken off; she was unconscious, her face buried in Kitagawa Hiroshi's back, unidentifiable, her black hair, which swayed like willow leaves, was somewhat disheveled, and even a few patches of hair on her head had been pulled out."Do you need a hand?"Leon asked in a low voice, unwilling to provoke the girl's brother, whose heart was already bruised and battered.Kitagawa Hiroshi looked up at Leon, and a hoarse sound, like the low growl of a wounded beast, escaped his throat:"No, thank you for your kindness, Leon-kun."He carried the girl alone, walking quickly downstairs; it seemed that if he weren't concerned about the girl on his back, he would have been sprinting down the road.Leon followed behind, silent.The group quickly reached the parking spot.Kitagawa Hiroshi gently placed the unconscious girl, who seemed to have lost her soul, in the back seat, then quickly moved to the driver's seat.Once Leon also sat in the passenger seat, Kitagawa Hiroshi floored the accelerator, the needle on the dashboard rapidly swung to the other end, the old, dilapidated antique car's engine let out a beast-like roar, and the tires spun and howled as it drove onto the road.It was hard to imagine that this tattered antique car could still have such a "crazy old man" side to it.Leon even fantasized about a personified image of this antique car in his mind: an aging body lying on a sickbed, startled awake by its owner's will, instantly "sitting up in a deathly illness, asking its owner with a smile, 'Where are we going?'"The sudden acceleration also startled Leon, causing him to fall back against the headrest behind him.It was then that he remembered something.In the Tyger Claws, any ambitious gang member would try every means to buy a Quadra Turbo-R 740, then paint its body with alternating bright red and light green colors, and then inscribe the four large characters "Unrivaled Under Heaven," just like the arrogant man's sports car from before.After that, the vehicle would be renamed "Thunder God," symbolizing its lightning-fast speed on the road; passersby often only saw a fiery red streak like lightning when they saw the sports car!This man, who had once served in the Tyger Claws, could not have not experienced those years of speeding on the highway.At that time, he was full of vigor, chasing gang enemies in his sports car, his eyes as cold as ice, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, a pistol in his hand, controlling the steering wheel with one hand, his aura powerful and formidable.It was only for his younger sister that he gave up his glory, reining in and selling off his flamboyant personality and those flashy, impractical items.Finally, he bought this unassuming, dilapidated vehicle, using it daily only to pick up and drop off his sister at school.But his past wildness and racing skills had not disappeared; they were merely dormant in the depths of his memory.It was an indelible instinct, and now, to get his sister to the emergency room, the brother had reawakened that instinct.This wolf-like wildness would make him gallop through the steel jungle of Night City!Even if the vehicle under his rear was a tractor now, he could still drift on the highway with the steering wheel in his hand!...However, the burst of inner strength ultimately has its limits, and it is not without cost.Although the car burst with unprecedented vitality at that moment, before it could even rush onto the road, there was a "bang," black smoke billowed from the engine hood, and the car's speed slowed down as if it had deflated.Kitagawa Hiroshi:...Leon:...Leon watched this scene speechless, thinking that his recent worries had indeed become reality.He didn't even need to look at Kitagawa Hiroshi's face to imagine that he must have been utterly livid."Baka yarou! Why now of all times!"Kitagawa Hiroshi punched the steering wheel, his expression visibly turning ugly.Well, it seemed that even if Takumi Fujiwara possessed him, with the racing skills of Akina's Mountain God, he would probably be helpless in the face of this situation, like a clever housewife with no rice to cook."I've called my car over, no need to rush, just wait a moment," Leon comforted him from the side, silently sending a message to Delamain.Kitagawa Hiroshi slumped back in his seat, turning his head to look at the girl lying in the back of the car, his eyes revealing a hint of pity and sadness."Leon-kun, am I very useless... If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't even be able to save my own sister, and now I still have to trouble you...""No, to think of your closest kin and even risk your life to rescue her, you are definitely stronger than anyone else," Leon said truthfully.Kitagawa Hiroshi irritably reached into his pocket, seemingly looking for a cigarette, but found none, so he could only sullenly punch the steering wheel again."When I found her, she was already like this; there were other women held in that room, and I asked them too, but everyone said they didn't know, so I had no choice but to let them all leave. Now I want to find a doctor to check on my sister's condition.""Do you have a doctor already scheduled?"Leon rummaged through his pockets, finally pulling out a lollipop and handing it to Kitagawa Hiroshi."Sweets can relax you and keep your nerves from being so tense," he explained, facing Kitagawa Hiroshi's astonished expression.Kitagawa Hiroshi smiled, took the lollipop, tore open the wrapper, and put the candy in his mouth."No, at most I can find a few acquaintances, but those people are old friends, and I don't know if they'll be willing to do me a favor and help me. You know, I don't have much money now.""How about I introduce you to one?" Leon asked casually."If Leon-kun can introduce me, then I will certainly listen attentively!" Kitagawa Hiroshi looked at Leonwith a serious expression."Viktor, a ripperdoc living in Chinatown. His clinic is in the basement behind a psychic shop. Don't let the remote location fool you; he is absolutely the best ripperdoc I've ever seen... period!"Leon made no secret of his praise.Kitagawa Hiroshi was also a little surprised; after a day of getting along, he no longer regarded Leon as a junior but as a comrade-in-arms who had shown him great kindness.Since Leon was so unreserved with his praise, that person must indeed have many outstanding qualities."That person can receive such praise from Leon-kun; I look forward to meeting that doctor," Kitagawa Hiroshi said solemnly and seriously.Amidst their casual chat, a noble black and gold vehicle unexpectedly arrived by the roadside, subtly honking its horn, drawing Leon's attention."Oh, my car's here, let's get in quickly." Leon opened the car door and walked towards the Delamain Taxi.Kitagawa Hiroshi also picked up his sister from the back seat and followed Leon to the Delamain Taxi.However, when he clearly saw the taxi, a hint of surprise appeared on his face.He placed his sister in the back seat, and this time it was his turn to sit in the front passenger seat, while Leon took the driver's seat."Chinatown, that psychic shop I frequent. Also, please be quick; the girl in the back probably can't wait much longer," he ordered the bald AI."Understood. Please fasten your seatbelts, both esteemed guests. For the lady in the back, I will proceed to the destination at the most suitable speed."The autonomous driving function was so convenient... Leon leisurely reclined in the front seat.He didn't need to control the steering wheel at all; the in-car AI would automatically select the closest and most suitable route for him, taking the optimal path to their destination.Kitagawa Hiroshi took in the scene before him and couldn't help but exclaim:"I never thought I'd have a day when I sat in a Delamain Taxi.""What? You know about this company's taxi service?" Leon asked curiously."I've heard about it. A few years ago, when I was still in the Tyger Claws, I was once ordered to lead my subordinates to deal with a corporate lackey. He ended up getting into one of these taxis, and we even used heavy weapons... a single-man guided rocket launcher, but the taxi only got a minor scratch," Kitagawa Hiroshi recalled."Thank you for your affirmation of Delamain Taxiservices," the bald AI interjected at this point.Leon smiled at this, saying nothing more.Having understood the game's plot, he naturally knew how formidable Delamain Taxi was.Let alone a rocket launcher, even an entire Arasakaelite unit, if caught off guard, might not be able to stop this taxi!
Chapter 25: Prosthetic DoctorWatson, Chinatown.If time were to rewind ten or twenty years, this district was once the beating heart of Night City, the second most prosperous area besides the city center.But all of that ended in 2069 when the Arasaka Corporation arrived in Night City, bringing with it a financial crisis.At that time, to thank the Arasaka Corporation for its help in truly making Night City an internationally independent metropolis, the then-Mayor Rhyne—the very senator who had requested aid from the Arasaka Corporation when the New America Federation sent troops to surround Night City—also grandly allocated one of the four major areas within the district to the Arasaka Corporation for management.Today, that area has been renamed Arasaka Waterfront, an excellent bay exclusively belonging to the Arasaka Corporation.Precisely because of its colossal influence and status, the Arasaka Corporation ruthlessly crushed various companies and factories in Watson during the business war, leading to the collapse of many enterprises and countless people losing their jobs and becoming displaced.As if overnight, Watson transformed from a flourishing district into the poorest area of Night City.Leon is very familiar with this district because, at the beginning of the game, the protagonist's activity area was within Watson, which, in a sense, could be called the game's Novice Village (newbie village).And their destination, Chinatown, is also one of the four major areas of Watson.Like Japantown, it is a general term; though called a "street," it is in fact a relatively large area.The remaining two major areas are the Industrial Zone in the north of the city and Kabuki; the former is territory ruled by Maelstrom, while the latter is a relatively prosperous commercial district.As the name suggests, Chinatown is home to a large number of Asian immigrants, predominantly Chinese; however, compared to Japantown, this area does not share Japantown's good fortune, as it is a poverty-stricken area of Night City.Of course, from certain perspectives, most areas in Night City are, in fact, poverty-stricken areas.If there's anything special here, it's that Night City's medical center is located here.Every time he comes to Chinatown, Leon feels a strange sense of familiarity; the style of this area is largely replaced by an Asian ethnic feel, and there are many shops with Chinese names in the streets and alleys.Finally, they took a Delamain Taxi and arrived at Bradbury Street in the Chinatown area.There weren't many pedestrians on the street; only a few of the most common sex doll parlors and Braindance experience centers were located here.These two most popular types of businesses are ubiquitous in Night City, followed by bars and casinos.On Bradbury Street, amidst so many shops, an exceptionally unique store unexpectedly appeared.The shop's exterior was adorned with mystical and fantastical elements, and the sign above the door read "Misty's Esoterica.""A psychic parlor? Leon-kun, could it be that this ripperdoc is also a fortune teller?"Kitagawa Hiroshi carried his still-unconscious sister from the back seat and, led by Leon, arrived here.When he saw that the storefront before him was actually a psychic parlor, even after so many years of living in Night City, his mind struggled to comprehend it.Could it be that this doctor not only treats patients but also moonlights as a funeral director when patients unfortunately pass away, reciting obscure and difficult-to-understand elegies from several mystical books?"No, the person we're looking for is in the alley behind the shop; there's a basement there." Leonwalked up and pushed open the shop door.The atmosphere inside the shop was a dark purple hue, a stark contrast to the golden glow of the setting evening sun outside; it felt more like the home of a mystical master secluded from the world, with dim lighting that invited contemplation and warm orange light that evoked a sense of comfort.As soon as he entered, Kitagawa Hiroshi smelled the incense in the shop and saw the orange-yellow candles placed in various spots.A woman was leaning slightly, providing counseling services to a client; the client was reclining on a soft lounge chair, and the woman sat beside him, gently and softly helping him resolve his worries.Kitagawa Hiroshi observed the young woman; there was no one else in the shop besides her, meaning this young woman was the owner of this psychic parlor.Before entering, he had expected to see an elderly woman with white hair and various bizarre ornaments on her head.The woman's face wasn't overly beautiful, but it had a unique style: dark golden, fluffy short hair and a typical Caucasian face.Her attire was also quite peculiar: a gear ring around her neck, a light blue off-the-shoulder long-sleeved shirt, and dark purple lipstick on her lips, giving her a mysterious yet melancholic aura.With the last few gentle whispers, the client visibly relaxed significantly, even falling into a deep sleep on the lounge chair.Misty turned around, her gaze falling upon the two uninvited guests who had entered; after scanning them, her eyes finally settled on Leon."Leon, why are you here?" Her tone held a hint of surprise."This is a long story; I'll tell you later, Sister Misty. Right now, I need to find Uncle Viktor to check on this sister's physical condition."Leon turned to look at Kitagawa Hiroshi.Following his gaze, Misty also noticed the girl on Kitagawa Hiroshi's back and, covering her mouth, whispered softly:"Poor girl… Viktor should be able to help. He doesn't have any clients right now and is watching TV. You two go ahead.""Thank you for your help, madam." Kitagawa Hiroshiquickly carried his sister and entered the back alley through the shop's back door.Upon reaching the back alley, he immediately saw a staircase leading underground and, without much hesitation, went down.Leon originally wanted to follow but then thought it wasn't necessary, as he had already sent a message to inform Viktor.Even if he followed, he would only be an unrelated bystander."What happened? Can you tell me, little brother?" Misty walked up to Leon, patted his shoulder, and asked softly, her eyes filled with concern.Leon didn't hide anything, revealing everything that had happened that day to Misty.This gentle older sister with a mysterious aura was not an outsider in his eyes.As a major supporting character who occupies a significant portion of the game's storyline, Misty, like ripperdoc Viktor, can be considered family to the game's protagonist, V, even though they are not blood-related.Therefore, ever since he transmigrated to this world and was adopted by Xu Wanxue, and once he grew up and gained autonomy to go out from his sister, Leon also tried every means to get in touch with these two major supporting characters.The reasons were simple: for example, if his basic Cyberware malfunctioned, or if he needed to implant the latest smart link, or help upgrade learning software, and so on.As for why he wanted to befriend them, the reason is actually very simple.These two characters are positioned as purely good people in the game; making friends with them would definitely not be a loss, and perhaps in the future, he could even bridge a connection with the game character V.Even in a city like Night City, where humanity is extinguished, their humanitarian brilliance would not be an exaggeration to call them saints.By now, Leon didn't know how many times he had interacted with them; over time, with frequent visits, their relationship was close enough to be considered acquaintances."So that's how it is. For that gentleman, his sister suddenly being taken away was truly an undeserved calamity. Fortunately, you stepped in to help, Leon. I'm proud of you, little brother."Misty's expression was quite downcast, seemingly saddened by Kitagawa Hiroshi's unfortunate encounter."Oh, Leon, do you want me to do a fortune-telling for you? Don't worry, it's free." Misty suddenly perked up and pulled out a deck of Tarot cards.Leon's expression changed, and he quickly waved his hand, saying, "Forget it, Sister Misty, I don't really feel like having my fortune told right now. Next time, let's talk about it next time.""Sigh, you always say that. Do you dislike my fortune-telling?" Misty sighed.Leon vehemently denied it:"No, absolutely not. Sister Misty's Tarot card readings are definitely the most accurate I've ever seen, but I really don't want to experience that kind of fortune-telling… It just feels strange."It's a joke. As one of the few mystics in the game, Misty's divination skills can even predict the player's future outcome in the storyline, in other words, predict the future fate of the game character V!She's practically a master fortune-teller!And the main reason Leon didn't want a fortune-telling was that he had a better simulator, and he really wasn't keen on such mystical, seemingly supernatural methods.What if Misty predicted his original fate, which was the outcome in the simulator where he had his kidneys harvested by Scavengers...?He wouldn't know what kind of mood to face Mistywith.
Chapter 26 V's Traces"You're still as glib as ever, and stubborn to boot. There's just no reasoning with you."Seeing that her attempt to tell his fortune was futile, Misty helplessly put down her tarot cards."Oh, by the way, has Big Brother Jackie visited you recently?" Leon asked, changing the subject at the opportune moment."Still the same, busy with his own things as always. After leaving the Valentinos, he went solo, taking jobs from various middlemen, always dreaming of becoming a big shot in Night City," Misty sighed softly."Although I haven't met Big Brother Jackie much, I believe he definitely wants you to live a better life, and his family to live a better life... Never mind, I won't comment too much, after all, I don't know him as well as you do."Leon smiled, not continuing to speak.Misty covered her mouth and chuckled, "If Jackieheard you evaluate him like that, he would definitely say, 'Hey, little brother, you're practically the worm in my stomach!'"Towards the end, she even emphasized her tone, mimicking Jackie's voice."Actually, I really admire Big Brother Jackie. The fact that he can take on jobs and work alone, as a lone wolf, shows that his talent and strength far exceed mine. Perhaps I should take him as an example."Seemingly tired from standing for too long, Leonsquatted down, brushed the dust off the steps in front of the door, and sat down.Misty also squatted down, smiling and teasing:"I'll help you relay these words to Jackie. I'm sure he'll be very happy to hear them. After all, having a little fan who worships him, he'll definitely think you have great taste.""I hope so," Leon smiled, not replying.In fact, he was well aware that as a future comrade-in-arms fighting alongside the game's protagonist, V, Jackie's talent and strength were absolutely not to be underestimated.In the early stages of the game, the two always worked together.The two most significant achievements were, first, fighting their way out of the Maelstrom's stronghold, and second, breaking out of the hotel surrounded by Arasaka forces.These two achievements alone were enough to demonstrate that Jackie's combat talent was definitely above a high standard.Even in the latter achievement, Jackie escaped with V while severely wounded!After transmigrating to this world, in the few times they met, Leon managed to get acquainted with Jackie through Misty.In his conversations with the other party, he subtly learned that the other party did not have a childhood friend named V.In the game, the character V has three starting identities, and each identity has an exclusive storyline entry point.Jackie not knowing V also indicated that in the current world view, the game character V was not from a Corporate background, because a Corporate V and Jackie were long-time friends.Moreover, Leon had also wandered around the Heywood area and hadn't heard of a Street Kid named V.It seemed that V in this world should be a Nomad.Only when the timeline reaches 2076 will she drive that dilapidated red car to Night City.Thus, Leon finally confirmed the true identity of the protagonist V in the current world!He still clearly remembered playing through all three identities in the game.For the Nomad V, he remembered choosing a female character, and the combat style seemed to be a Netrunner build, which he had leveled to max, with all three attributes maxed out...The kind where whoever she stared at died!Even the final boss, Adam Smasher, would be instantly killed!And Leon also remembered that the face he created was quite beautiful.Alas, if he could cling to the leg of this living Buddha, Leon truly wouldn't have to worry about anything.After all, Night City produced legends, and above legends, only V stood alone.Because she was a living King of Hell...The fantasy time ended, and Leon continued to chat idly with Misty. Not long after, the customer in the shop finally woke up, and Misty had to get up and go back into the shop to collect payment.Leon could only continue to sit there, waiting for the person inside the clinic to come out.Speaking of which, the unique ripperdocs in this world made Leon a little nostalgic for his medical student days. Back when he was on the Blue Star world, he happened to be a novice who had just started studying medicine not long ago.However, compared to pure doctors, ripperdocs were more like a combination of engineers and doctors.They were very good at surgery, but few were proficient in medical disciplines such as pharmacology and pathology.If you were sick with a cold, the ripperdoc would advise you to get a Cyberware for your immune system; if you had tuberculosis, the ripperdoc would advise you to replace it with a new bionic lung... They would remove the disease, but they didn't seem to be very good at treating it.The reason for this was the deformed scientific development in this world; it was impossible to develop medicines for the general public, simply because it wasn't profitable, and no one was willing to research it.Therefore, many prescription drugs were only available to the wealthy. These drugs were very effective, embodying the technological crystallization of biomedical advancements of this era, guaranteed to cure illnesses, and there were even drugs that could extend life!But similarly, this world couldn't even produce the simplest vaccine. During periods of large-scale infectious diseases, the decision of the Night Citycouncilors was to eradicate all poultry within the city, completely driving these animals to near extinction in Night City...The sound of an iron gate opening came from the basement, interrupting Leon's reverie. He saw North River Hiroshi walk up with a calm expression, no longer showing his previous anxiety and worry."How are things?" Leon stepped forward to ask.North River Hiroshi exhaled, replying easily:"Thanks to Doctor Viktor, he said there was nothing serious. It was mainly due to excessive abuse of Braindance devices, which caused a virus in my sister's brain processor, and she finally fell unconscious after being tormented for many days.""Doctor Viktor helped clean up the virus and also injected her with nutrient solution, saying she should wake up after one night..." At this point, his expression was a mix of struggle and gratitude:"Most importantly... he saw that I didn't have much money left, and he was actually willing to let me owe him! Leon-kun, he's simply the kindest doctor I've ever met!"In today's materialistic era, an ripperdoc willing to let customers owe him money was practically a living saint."He must have understood what happened today. Uncle Viktor is very good at reading people. He probably thinks that someone willing to go through fire and water for his sister wouldn't have bad character," Leon explained with a smile."No, these qualities couldn't save my sister. What allowed me to successfully save my sister was you, Leon-kun. Please allow me to thank you again."North River Hiroshi's expression suddenly became solemn, and he bowed deeply and earnestly to Leon. With that serious expression, Leon estimated that if he were told to commit seppuku, he wouldn't hesitate for a second."Enough with the pleasantries. Since your sister won't wake up until tomorrow, why don't we take this opportunity to go out and have some fun?" Leonlooked up at the sky.It was nearing dusk, and the sun was about to set. The unique joy and entertainment of the night were about to descend upon Night City.Only then would Night City truly come alive with new vitality.Speaking of which, neither of them had eaten dinner yet."Near Chinatown, perhaps, or we could go to Lizzies Bar. I'm very familiar with that place," North River Hiroshi suggested, but his face quickly fell again.Because he realized that he was now a genuine pauper....PS: (Side note, you can skip if you don't want to read it)In the game, before the prologue begins, V and Jackie live in Night City for half a year. The timeline of their arrival in Night City is actually October-November 2076.This time point is not difficult to calculate. When the story enters the point of Saburo Arasaka's death, when going upstairs to find the Katana - Satori, you can also find Saburo's diary.According to the diary's records, a simple inference shows that the Konpeki Plaza storyline takes place on May 1, 2077.
Chapter 27 Lizzie's BarLeon saw Kitagawa Hiroshi's embarrassment, patted him on the shoulder, and said nonchalantly:"Today I earned money, and it's also my first time completing a commission. You just need to be the client and put in a good word for me with Wakako. This meal is on me!"Kitagawa Hiroshi looked troubled, but thinking he already owed so many favors, owing a little more seemed fine.So he nodded seriously, agreeing to Leon's suggestion.Originally, his plan was to just buy some food outside, then sleep on the ground in this back alley, ready to look after his unconscious sister in the clinic, making do for the night.But now that Leon had invited him and his sister's condition had stabilized, letting her rest in the clinic with a doctor nearby was undoubtedly the best option.After much thought, Kitagawa Hiroshi felt he couldn't refuse Leon's offer and that it would be good to go out and have some fun together.The two hit it off immediately. After greeting Viktorin the clinic and Misty in the shop, they began exploring Chinatown.Calling it exploring, they simply found a decent restaurant to eat dinner, which consisted of barely palatable synthetic food.After dinner, Kitagawa Hiroshi took Leon to Lizzies Bar in Kabuki, a well-known night bar in Night City.It was also the city's most famous Braindanceexperience center.In fact, in Night City, many entertainment venues, whether bars or Braindance experience centers, are inseparable from three elements:Alcohol, Braindance, and sex dolls.These three are like inseparable sisters; their traces can be seen in any entertainment venue.This was no exception at Lizzies Bar. Besides being able to drink freely, it also offered Braindanceexperiences.The local gang controlling this bar was a small gang—the Moxes, Night City's latest-formed gang, traceable back to 2067.Arriving near the bar, a vast empty parking lot came into view.Several women carrying blunt weapons like baseball bats guarded the entrance. They were dressed more or less like sex dolls, with flamboyant makeup and brightly colored clothes, even their hair was dyed in various vibrant hues."Leon-kun, have you heard about the Moxes?" On the way, feeling the atmosphere was too quiet, Kitagawa Hiroshi found a topic and asked.Leon shrugged:"I've heard a little, but not too much. I only know they are a gang that protects street workers and seem to have a feud with the Tyger Claws."In the game, there wasn't much about the Moxes' storyline, plus they were a small gang with little profit… so Leon didn't pay much attention to them.After so many years in this world, although he had a more concrete understanding of Night City, he wasn't an encyclopedia and couldn't know everything perfectly."The birth of this gang is full of tragedy. I heard bits and pieces about that incident back then. I was also with the Tyger Claws at the time. If Leon-kundoesn't mind, I can tell you about it."Kitagawa Hiroshi turned his head to Leon, seeking his opinion."Please do." Leon also wanted to hear some gossip.Kitagawa Hiroshi nodded and began to narrate:"Going back to 2067, there was a sex doll woman named Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Borden. After years of hard work, she finally established a 'clothes-understanding' club here. Unlike other bosses, Elizabeth deeply cared for her employees and treated them equally.""However, in that year, a female employee of the club was brutally raped by a Tyger Claws member. To avenge her, Elizabeth used an axe to chop off the heads of three Tyger Claws members and hung them in front of the club…"Leon exclaimed repeatedly: "What an extraordinary woman! Did she then form the Moxes?""No, she died. That same night, the Tyger Clawsbrought people and kicked down her place. Publicly, she was brutally murdered, but only those within the Tyger Claws knew that she suffered unspeakable torment before dying in agony. This was her punishment for defying the Tyger Claws' authority."Kitagawa Hiroshi's tone was indifferent, as if he considered it a commonplace occurrence."Indeed, this is Night City," Leon paused for a moment, sighing softly."The situation escalated to a point the Tyger Clawsnever anticipated. At that time, there was a riot in Night City targeting various gangs, which ultimately led to some street workers uniting. They established a bar on the site of that club, named Lizzie, to commemorate Ms. Elizabeth."Kitagawa Hiroshi explained in a low voice."Small figures huddling together for warmth, huh…" Leon put his hands in his jacket pockets and looked up at the bar's neon sign.As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance. A Moxesmember stopped them—primarily stopping Leon."Hey, kid, you're not underage, are you!"The woman's clothing was quite scanty and revealing. The sun had already set, and the evening breeze was blowing, making one wonder if she would catch a cold.She looked at Leon with disdain. Although his elegant and natural handsome face was indeed captivating, not everyone fell for that. Night City's aesthetic was often very diverse.Clearly, this Moxes woman thought this place wasn't for someone Leon's age."Ms. Riki, it's me." Kitagawa Hiroshi coughed a few times, drawing her attention.Since going out with Leon, he had noticed a very frustrating yet realistic thing: whenever they met someone, the other person always noticed Leon first and ignored his presence."Oh, Kitagawa Hiroshi, long time no see. What? Is this kid your junior? Or did you suddenly want to try something new?" The Moxes woman rested her mace on her shoulder, leaning against the wall.Leon frowned slightly.Kitagawa Hiroshi's Reflexes was even more intense. His expression turned cold, and he quickly walked to the woman, leaning in and whispering menacingly:"Ms. Riki, I hope you'll be more discerning in the future! Don't speak carelessly. You can offend me, but don't offend Leon-kun."The woman called Riki was also stunned, but realizing that he wasn't joking, her expression became serious.She then looked at Leon, her eyes no longer containing contempt. Changing her attitude from just now, she smiled warmly:"Sorry, kid, I misjudged you. Welcome to Lizzies Bar!"Kitagawa Hiroshi smiled, easing the atmosphere, and gestured towards the door, inviting: "Come on, Leon-kun, I believe you won't regret coming tonight."Stepping into the bar, pleasant music immediately filled their ears. It wasn't the kind of passionate, throat-shredding rock music, but a very soothing melody.The interior of the bar was lavishly decorated, with purple and pink walls everywhere the eye could see. Overhead spotlights moved around the venue, and hazy red projection rays wove a web of desire like spider silk, enveloping the guests who came here.In the bar's main hall, some people were rocking and dancing, some sat at the bar enjoying drinks, and others sat quietly, wearing Braindance headsets, entering that dreamlike world.However, what piqued Leon's curiosity the most was a peculiar man sitting on a sofa.His eyes seemed to have Cyberwares resembling protective goggles, his face was gaunt as if from overindulgence, his skin was grayish-blue, and his hands were completely replaced by two elongated metal Cyberwares, long enough to touch his calves when he lay on the sofa.Beside him was an older man dressed as a Western cowboy, with a thick mustache above his lip, adding a touch of mature masculinity to him.Both wore Braindance headsets, sitting on the main hall sofa, their expressions slightly blissful as they experienced the virtual space created by the Braindance device, lost in a beautiful dream from which they didn't wish to wake.They seemed to be two mercenaries; ordinary people wouldn't have so many Cyberwares.However, Leon only took an extra glance and didn't pay too much attention, turning his head to ask again:"Weren't you with the Tyger Claws before? That woman isn't wary of you?"Kitagawa Hiroshi shook his head and said blandly:"I left the Tyger Claws a long time ago. In fact, because leaving the gang freely had a bad impact, most people in the Tyger Claws, except for a few old friends and acquaintances, don't have a good impression of me. The Moxes have no reason to make things difficult for me."Leon nodded thoughtfully: "Oh, I see. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."Kitagawa Hiroshi smiled and patted Leon's shoulder, speaking much louder to ensure his voice wasn't drowned out by the venue's sound system:"Don't think so much, Leon-kun, let's have a blast tonight."...PS: Um... to avoid censorship, I'm sure everyone understands what "clothes-understanding" means, right?Chapter 28 I Will Return to Secular Life"Leon-kun, what do you think? This is the best Braindance experience center in the city. Every time I step in here, it feels like there's a fire burning in my heart!"Kitagawa Hiroshi shouted loudly. The deeper they went into the bar, the louder the music became, as if it wanted to ignite all the passion within people!Leon silently followed behind him, watching Kitagawa Hiroshi spread his hands out as freely as a fish returning to the sea, and couldn't help but feel suspicious.Is it really that fun?Reality and games always have quite a few differences. Leon recalled that when he played the game, he would only occasionally come to Lizzies Bar for missions and would never waste time stepping inside normally.Furthermore, there was no Braindance service experience in the game, so Leon was truly not very interested in this bar.Currently, he also had a very controlling older sister above him, who had put her heart and soul into his character development.Yenefer would absolutely not agree to him coming to this kind of low-class nightlife spot.However, the tracker data on him had already been tampered with, so there was no need to worry about Yenefer discovering him coming to this place.This was his first time experiencing this kind of entertainment, and Leon didn't want to waste such a significant "first time."So he chose a small private room at the front desk, opting not to openly enjoy himself in the main hall.Compared to Leon, a novice with no experience, Kitagawa Hiroshi was more like a jackal entering a sheepfold.His aggressive gaze swept over the women in the bar's main hall, but his face still maintained the solemn and upright demeanor of a samurai."Leon-kun, do you need any drinks?" Kitagawa Hiroshi suddenly asked."You go ahead, I don't need any; just a little fruit juice will do." Leon smiled and politely declined. He had been a bit allergic to alcohol since he was a child.Kitagawa Hiroshi nodded and walked to the bar alone, like a devout servant. Seeing his master come to such a service establishment for the first time, he was naturally dedicated to giving him the best experience.Leon, on the other hand, went to the private room alone. On the way, he inadvertently glanced at the peculiar man who had a strange Cyberware.The other person was still immersed in the Braindance experience, a lewd grin on his lips, his expression vulgar, seemingly unaware that someone was observing him from outside.Ever since his Reflexes attribute reached the human limit, Leon found that he would occasionally develop a sixth sense-like intuition.And now, his intuition told him that this man was definitely not simple...He was just too vulgar.Leon withdrew his gaze and walked towards the inner part of the bar, following the direction indicated by the front desk lady.He arrived at a corridor lined with small private rooms. Each room was separated by soft, exquisite curtains, allowing guests to enjoy their own private space.If one felt lonely, they could also pay to have a few Moxes ladies or gentlemen come and "guard" them, to prevent themselves from becoming too immersed in the Braindance experience to extricate themselves.As for how to distinguish between Moxes members and regular guests in the establishment, it was actually quite simple: they could be distinguished by their different clothing styles.Moxes members usually wouldn't wear cumbersome clothing that hindered their movement, so their attire was often very revealing, full of punk and sex doll styles. Their skin would also often be replaced with plastic rubber skin made with [Dermal Bio-Tech], so their appearance looked more textured and lustrous than natural skin.Even though he wasn't particularly interested in this style of dress, Leon had to admit that every Moxeswoman and man was a mass-produced stunner.Entering his private room, Leon placed his Black Unicorn aside and sat on the sofa, beginning to browse a digital screen.—Strictly speaking, all renowned public service establishments generally strictly prohibit unauthorized individuals from bringing weapons inside.Ordinary firearms must be placed in a locker before entering.If one had ranged Cyberwares, such as [Grenade Launchers] or [Miniature Guided Devices], they would also need to remove the grenades or miniature missiles from the ammunition chamber.However, other melee equipment was not prohibited. Melee Cyberwares like [Gorilla Arms] or [Mantis Blades], though seemingly dangerous, actually depended on the user's skill.After all, they were melee weapons; they couldn't be easily picked up and be as lethal as ranged firearms.Leon opened the data screen panel in his hand. This cyber data panel, similar to a computer tablet, had rudimentary net connectivity.In the cyberpunk 2077 worldview, due to historical issues from the past, there is currently no netthroughout the entire world.Or rather, the net only existed in a past era.The reason for this was also due to a character in the game who was somewhat like a background figure—Bartmoss.According to the lore, this guy, as the first Netrunnerwhose Intelligence attribute reached 20, created the [Bartmoss's Wanderers] (RABIDS) virus, which caused the entire net to completely collapse, destroying 78% of the net.It was like a mirror smashing onto the ground, breaking into countless shards. These small shards were the various local area networks.The 78% of the net that was destroyed was called the Old Net, filled with dangerous viruses and Rogue AI, constantly spying on the remaining netdata in the human world.But thankfully, a neutral organization called Netwatch established an AI defense system called the "Blackwall" in cyberspace, specifically to block those viruses and Rogue AI from destroying the remaining net.As the best Braindance experience center in the city, Lizzies Bar naturally had its own exclusive internal local area network.Through this rudimentary digital screen, Leonconnected to Lizzies Bar's intranet, which listed countless Braindance resources, like stars in the sky.Additionally, other special services could also be purchased through the digital screen.Leon was silent for a moment, then typed a few keywords into the search bar.[White hair], [red eyes], [Eastern charm], [Chinese ancient costume], [white stockings], [petite]After a moment of thought, Leon removed the last keyword and then prohibited the [heavy taste] option.The search result still yielded over a hundred Braindance titles."I understand why that guy was so excited now."Leon looked at the dazzling array of Braindanceresources and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.No wonder Kitagawa Hiroshi usually appeared so serious, his behavior like a stubborn Easterner who adhered to the path of loyalty and righteousness, yet when he came to this establishment, he acted like an experienced regular, not at all as proper as he usually was!Let alone him, even the abbot of Shaolin Temple, if he came here, would probably immediately throw off his kasaya and shout, "This humble monk shall now return to secular life!"Leon didn't dwell on it. He directly paid for two of the most popular titles, then looked up and saw Kitagawa Hiroshi just walking over with drinks."Leon-kun, have you chosen?" Kitagawa Hiroshipushed the glass of fruit juice towards Leon, a knowing smile on his lips.Leon tossed the digital screen onto the other's lap and teased:"What, are you in such a hurry? I thought your eyes could hold nothing but your sister."Kitagawa Hiroshi smiled dashingly, his fingers moving swiftly across the screen, expertly searching for the Braindance he wanted."Leon-kun, there's an old Chinese saying, 'A spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold.' Look, now it's more than just a thousand pieces of gold; this bar is simply full of gold. To take care of my sister at home, I haven't been to a place like this in a long time."Leon inadvertently shifted his body, glancing at Kitagawa Hiroshi's search keywords:[Street fight], [artillery barrage], [sunset glow], [post-battle revelry], [smoke]As expected of a veteran. Just with these few words, Leon envisioned a scene in his mind of a sunset:The twilight glow cast a warm, yellow filter over the world.Kitagawa Hiroshi leaned against a bullet-riddled sports car, a smoking pistol casually placed on the hood. He was badly wounded and was bandaging his injuries.Beside him, a graceful and gentle woman coiled around him like a snake, licking his wounds, her eyes filled with tender affection.Kitagawa Hiroshi looked straight ahead. The dark alley was strewn with corpses, all killed with a single shot.The sound of continuous gunfire echoed in his ears, seemingly the artillery fire from the recent fierce battle, its resonance still lingering....PS: Some settings, though tedious, still have to be written. Moreover, having come to the Cyberpunk worldview, how can one not experience Braindance
Chapter 29 AccidentAs expected of the best Braindance experience center in the entire city, these meticulously edited Braindance scenes are simply the most perfect dreams people seek.Whether it's squalid or filthy, whether it's beautiful or sacred… all of humanity's chaotic desires, like colorful candies adorned with mud, can be fulfilled here.If you like unique smells, put on the BD Headset and you'll appear at the feet of several beautiful girls in white socks; you'll personally experience how the editor magnifies this tactile sensation and scent several times over for you. If you like pain, put on the BD Headset and you'll appear in a hot room, where a graceful woman/man will pick up a whip and give you a satisfying strike.Furthermore, some ordinary Braindance are all like this.They simply amplify comfortable sensory experiences and reduce other uncomfortable feelings…"No wonder people in this world are so addicted to Braindance; this is so much better than 'brain activity' in the real world!"Leon exhaled comfortably and took off the BD Headset.Even with his current Cool attribute, after leaving that dream-like virtual space, he couldn't help but feel a bit dazed and lost.Before, he generally looked down on such insignificant ordinary Braindance.Because he was subconsciously influenced by Yenefer, he always felt that these Braindance would destroy people's minds and make them degenerate.Therefore, the Braindance he usually came into contact with were Black braindance provided to him by David.Black braindance, as the name suggests, are illegal films that only circulate in the black market and other secret corners, not openly sold.These Black braindance are not as "gentle" as ordinary Braindance; instead, they are full of gore and brutality.The "Edgerunner" series of Black braindanceprovided by David were filmed by madmen suffering from cyberpsychosis, and the content was all about cyberpsychosis patients fighting with police and SWAT, eventually being eliminated by the MAX-TAC that arrived.Leon was not a pervert; others might "enjoy" these films for the thrill, but he watched them to experience the feeling of combat.After all, nothing could be more immersive than Braindance.Watching Black braindance, understanding the fighting styles and combat experiences of those with cyberpsychosis, and then comprehending and learning—this alternative learning method was probably something no one would have thought of.Undeniably, the emergence of Braindance has indeed changed people's lives.Perhaps one second you're still rummaging through a dumpster for scraps, looking for today's food, but as soon as you put on the BD Headset, the next second you are the master of the entire world.You will sit at the top of the pyramid, looking down through the clouds, things becoming minuscule and all within your grasp; you will be able to experience the daily life of top superstars, enjoying the food and drinks they consume, even if it's all fake.You can appear in every corner of the world, and the edited BD Headset will amplify the most wonderful physical sensations.Dreamlike and fantastical, heaven on earth, nothing more.Recalling the scenes experienced in the Braindancespace, and those few delicate and frail young ladies, a flame once again involuntarily ignited deep within Leon's heart, as if scorching his inner being.If he were to describe it more vividly, he was like a brave warrior who had fallen into a succubus's lair, where countless succubi used every means to try and make him submit.But the warrior's face was resolute, unyielding, and he ultimately succeeded in subduing these little imps. After the matter was concluded, he felt refreshed and showed no signs of weakness.One word.Awesome!Leon looked at the Braindance chips on the table again; each chip represented a supreme and blissful heaven, a fantasy land where one would willingly sink forever and never return.These were the remaining films.Turning his head, Leon looked at Kitagawa Hiroshi's situation and found that he showed no signs of fatigue, still looking calm, as if the plot experience in the Braindance space was merely a gentle spring breeze and autumn water, brushing across his cheek like nothing.What powerful resolve! Leon couldn't help but give him a thumbs up.When wearing the BD Headset, the photographer's personal experience will be fully and completely transferred to the viewer.Furthermore, due to the editing and customization by the Braindance editor, some sensations even far exceed the imagination of the person involved.Even his excellent resolve with a Cool attribute of 5 nearly made him lose face, yet Kitagawa Hiroshilooked perfectly fine. This guy's Cool attribute must be no less than his!Seeing that Kitagawa Hiroshi was still fighting hard, Leon, feeling he couldn't fall behind, picked up another chip, just about to insert it into the BD Headset, when he heard a soothing hum.He turned his head and saw Kitagawa Hiroshi reach out and take off the headset, his expression radiant, no longer showing the lifeless look from this morning."Leon-kun, it's truly exhilarating! It's been so long since I've been here, I feel like every cell in my body is trembling comfortably now!" Kitagawa Hiroshilaughed heartily."Mine's not bad either. The viewing experience is truly unforgettable; those Braindancephotographers and editors are geniuses!" Leonpraised.Kitagawa Hiroshi placed the BD Headset aside, picked up the bottle on the table, and began to guzzle it down, finally letting out a big sigh:"I see this is your first time experiencing this kind of Braindance too, Leon-kun. You're truly a young hero! Not only are you calm and composed in battle, but you're also just as calm here. I remember making quite a fool of myself the first time I came here."His gaze towards Leon was full of admiration.What the hell is a young hero in a place like this… Leon silently complained in his heart."Speaking of which, I can also understand why the global birth rate isn't high."Leon picked up his juice and took a sip.Juice drinks like these, squeezed from real fresh fruit, cost far more than other alcoholic beverages in the bar; just this one glass was already worth hundreds of eddies.Kitagawa Hiroshi spoke philosophically, in the tone of an experienced person: "Braindance can give people unimaginable beautiful dreams. Normal pleasure can hardly compare to Braindanceanymore. In Night City, a woman who sleeps with you for free and is willing to bear your children is absolutely the most sincere love."Leon also heard that Kitagawa Hiroshi seemed to have something more to say, but he didn't delve deeper or ask.Fate is truly a wonderful thing. He and Kitagawa Hiroshi were only strangers who met today, yet they became as familiar as old friends who had been close for a long time within a single day."We shared a classroom, carried guns together, drifted together, and split the spoils together."Of the four great bonds of friendship in life, they had experienced two of them.Suddenly, Leon remembered someone and, after a moment of thought, made a call.Seeing orange astigmatism suddenly appear in Leon's eyes, realizing he was on the phone, Kitagawa Hiroshi didn't continue chatting. He quietly took a sip of his drink, waiting for Leon's call to end."What is it, Leon? Calling me at this hour?" David's voice came from the other end of the communicator.Since it wasn't a holographic call connected to the internet, neither of their images were projected onto the other's retina, and David didn't see the smug expression on Leon's face.He picked up so fast… Leon was slightly surprised."Nothing big, just wanted to tell you something. I'm at Lizzies Bar, the Braindance experience center you've been looking forward to for a long time," Leon said with a smile."Lizzie's? The best Braindance experience center in the city? Holy cow, Leon, you're so lucky!" David's voice was full of envy, but then it quickly dropped: "Oh right, your family is so rich, it's not strange for you to go there."It was rare to hear David's voice sound so low, like a defeated puppy, and Leon couldn't help but laugh:"I didn't call you to show off. I wanted to ask, if there's a chance in the future, do you want to come together?""I don't have that much money," David replied glumly, but he quickly realized what Leon meant."You want to invite me to go together?""Yeah, it's no big deal if there's one more person. Just come over, I'll pay."After a long silence, David finally replied in a low voice:"...Let's not, Leon. Thank you for the invitation."Tsk, as expected… Leon had anticipated it.People like David often have a bit of rationality and a bit of impulsiveness, like precocious children who think they understand society, indifferent to everything. Even when facing major setbacks and hardships, they will swallow it all, and when they are occasionally impulsive, they will be as stubborn as several horses pulling in vain.Both sides were silent for a long time until Leonfinally broke the quiet.He spoke faintly, as if stating a predetermined truth:"David, actually, you don't have to worry too much about not being good enough. I once said that sentence, and now I'll say it to you again.""Perhaps you are still ordinary and unremarkable now, but I believe that one day you will become a legend."And on that day, I will surely bring you into my team, to add a spark to this Night City…Leon didn't voice the latter thought.After all, saying it now would only sound ridiculous.Because many past simulation experiences have already proven that the text plot on the simulator is not 100% accurate.Rather than calling it a written book of destiny, it's more like a live play, where every action of the characters on stage affects the future outcome.But the plot point of "David becoming a legend and dying at Adam Smasher's hands," which seemed like DLC content, perfectly fit the tragic ending under the Cyberpunk worldview.Although with his intervention, this tragic future would certainly not happen, it was enough to prove one thing:David has the potential to become a legend!No matter how he achieved it, whether through cheating or a sudden power surge, the fact that he became a legend would ultimately be undeniable, and all of this was achieved when he was 17 years old.Just thinking about it, Leon found it utterly absurd.What does 17 years old mean?Even the game's protagonist V only became the living Yama of Night City at 27, and at 17, V was probably still just a nobody.This was also why Leon was so concerned about David; such an uncarved jade, even if he couldn't control him, befriending him wouldn't be a loss.Just as Leon was about to continue encouraging David, Kitagawa Hiroshi, sitting beside him, suddenly frowned, reached out, and tapped on the table to get Leon's attention, saying with a serious expression:"There's gunfire outside!"