Chapter 39 My Stupid Ou DoudouIt was already nine in the evening when he returned home.The moon hung in the dark sky, and in its pure light, the brightly lit manor in the distance was like a luminous lighthouse in a vast ocean. The vegetation on the surrounding hillsides was dim, rustling in the gentle breeze, and a feeling of returning home after a long absence inexplicably rose in Leon's heart.He got out of the car, and with the bald AI's polite farewell, the taxi slowly drove away. Leon walked to the electronic gate and pressed the open button.A slightly cool night breeze blew, making Leonsuddenly feel a chill.He stood alone in front of the gate, looking up at the steel door, which was three to four meters high, and suddenly felt a sense of unease.After a long while, the gate showed no Reflexes.Leon fell silent, standing dazedly at the entrance of his own manor, like a wayward teenager who had stayed out late and was locked out by his parents.After a long time, he walked to the communication device next to the gate, pressed the doorbell, and softly spoke into the microphone:"Sis, it's me. Could you please open the door?"Another minute passed, and still no Reflexes.Leon looked up at the camera mounted on top of the gate.The camera was pointed directly at him."Sis, it's a bit cold out here..."Leon pondered for a moment, then used a slightly pitiful tone.A few seconds later, the electronic gate clicked and slowly opened.Leon sighed and silently walked inside.The manor was quieter tonight than usual. Although the villa not far away was brightly lit, these lights did not bring much warmth to Leon, and the combat robots that usually patrolled the manor were nowhere to be seen.In the distant parking lot, a AV was quietly parked. Its elegant, streamlined design and silver-gray tone seemed to blend into the night sky, like an owl concealed in the darkness. The vehicle's exterior was as smooth as a mirror, without any crude decorations.Such a luxurious and expensive vehicle could only be ridden by his sister in their family.Walking to the villa's main door, Leon tried pressing the door switch. This time, it opened smoothly.The "seed" chip in his finger connected seamlessly to the house's internal network. After identity verification, the thick wooden door slowly opened.At the entrance foyer, Yenefer leaned against the wall, behind her was the brightly lit hall, with glass lamps dotting the ceiling like stars, elegant and tasteful.Seeing Leon enter, Yenefer said nothing, but her eyes seemed to have said everything.She extended her hand from behind her back and threw the padded winter coat she was holding onto Leon.Leon:...He always felt a strange sense of déjà vu about the scene before him.If his sister had thrown not a padded coat, but various changes of clothes and bedding, and then shouted, "There's no place for you in this house anymore," that sense of déjà vu would have been even stronger."I'm sorry, Sis, I shouldn't have come back so late."Leon could only soften first, as he was indeed at fault.However, Yenefer did not appreciate it. She still said nothing, only looked at Leon, extended her fair hand, and crooked her finger, signaling him to follow her, then walked upstairs.Leon obediently followed behind her, silently watching Yenefer's back. Her loose pajamas could not conceal her graceful figure, and her body, which had matured with age, was enough to evoke various fantasies in any man.Yes, Leon was also wildly imagining some scenes.For example: Yenefer, holding a stick as thick as a baby's arm, was eager to teach him a lesson;Or taking him back to the bedroom, then letting him pick out some casual clothes, and making him sleep on the manor's lawn tonight.But these imaginings ultimately did not happen. Yenefer only led him to the small kitchen on the second floor.The villa's architectural structure was "narrower at the bottom, wider at the top," meaning the second-floor area was larger than the first floor. This was a unique architectural feature of their home.The reason for this was that their home was located halfway up the mountain in North Oak District.Standing on the second floor of the villa and looking into the distance, the entire landscape of Night Citycould be seen. No matter how much pent-up emotion one had, it could be dispelled at that moment, leading to a feeling of peace and joy.Therefore, when the villa was built, a small kitchen was also set up on the second floor, so that meals could be prepared and brought to the large balcony outside the house, where one could sit on a wicker chair, eat, and enjoy the night view of the city in the distance.With the cool night breeze blowing, and the boundless starry night sky above, one could also enjoy the snow in winter, and if idle, even go for a swim in the open-air swimming pool on the balcony.That's right, when she first got the villa design plans, Yenefer strongly insisted on having a swimming pool, but she couldn't decide whether to build it outdoors or on the second-floor balcony indoors.So, after much deliberation, Yenefer finally made a grand gesture.Not only was a swimming pool built next to the villa, but a small swimming pool with hot spring functionality was also built on the large balcony of the second floor. When needed, even in winter, there would be enough warm, clear water for the owner to swim in.After so many years of living together, due to Leon's strong independence, even though Yenefer was gentle and pleasant, she still couldn't avoid sulking.But whenever she got angry with Leon, she was able to effectively release her negative emotions by taking Leon to the second floor for dinner together.The private bar in the second-floor hall was filled with expensive but merely decorative fine wines, and elegant music drifted from the music cabinet. Even the greatest sulk would dissipate with the cool night breeze.Familiar memories flooded his mind again. Leoncame back to his senses and found himself sitting on a wicker chair on the second-floor balcony, the glass table laden with the dinner Yenefer had carefully prepared.He casually tasted a bite with his chopsticks, and sure enough, it was the familiar taste from his memories.A charcoal flavor permeated his mouth."Do you know why I'm angry?"Looking at the brightly lit and prosperous scene of Night City in the distance, Yenefer held a stemmed wine glass, the liquid inside swaying with her hand."Because I came back late." Leon rummaged through the dishes, barely finding some meat and vegetables that hadn't been burnt."Are you playing dumb, or just being obtuse?" Yenefer chuckled, taking a small sip of red wine.Leon, clinging to a sliver of hope, still didn't answer."Tell me honestly, my brother, are you taking advantage of the fact that I won't do anything to you, and so you keep trampling on my bottom line, again and again?"Yenefer placed the wine glass on the table, leaned her hands on the surface, and stared intently at Leon.It was a line that should have sounded utterly cold, yet spoken by Yenefer, it carried such a melancholic tone.She waited for Leon's answer, and she didn't explain what her "bottom line" was.Because she knew very well that both parties in this conversation understood.Ms. Yenefer's only bottom line was Leon."Sis, I've grown up." Leon sighed, putting down his chopsticks."Yes, I know. As your older sister, I naturally understand that my brother is different from other people his age. Your mind is very mature, and many times I even feel that your youthful appearance is just a disguise, but you are still my brother, and that will never change, no matter what.""Leon, promise me, don't do such dangerous things again, okay?" By the end, Yenefer's words had almost turned into a plea.Leon looked at the distant Night City, beautiful like a blooming flower, and quietly said, "I'll try.""Then tell your sister, what is it that you seek? In Night City, is there anything your sister can't buy for you?"Leon looked at her face. Even though she was approaching 30, his sister still exuded captivating charm. Time had left few traces on her face, as if it were the Creator's will that beauty should not fade with age.But now, this charming face appeared somewhat haggard from days of overtime, and a touch of melancholy was added due to her troublesome younger brother."Sis, I want to become a legend of Night City... no, I want to become a legend of this world!"
When Leon seriously said, "I want to become a legend," Yenefer was stunned for a few seconds, and finally couldn't hold back, bursting into laughter.Her mood at this moment was like that of ordinary parents watching their child solemnly declare, "I'm going to be Ultraman when I grow up and defeat you two monsters."It was funny, amusing, yet also a little comforting."Tell me, how do you plan to become a legend?"Yenefer hugged her knees, tilted her head, and looked at Leon with a radiant smile.She naturally remembered how Leon used to secretly train in his private little base, hiding it from her.But in her opinion, these so-called physical exercises were ultimately just childish games; in an era where Cyberwares are popularized, physical training is the most useless and time-wasting activity.Even the Animals, those muscle fanatics who worship Body and pursue animalistic wildness, wouldn't do such a thing.Although they are all big and burly, and exercise their muscles every day, Yenefer even suspected that those people probably had muscles filling their brains, making them not very bright.But they wouldn't be so foolish as to waste time on ancient physical training; their current training methods involve using various synthetic hormones and agents to rapidly enhance muscles, supplemented by high-intensity muscle stimulation exercises.The result of this reckless injection of agents is that the strongest Animals members often possess physical strength comparable to fierce beasts!When Yenefer first discovered Leon was exercising, she was worried he would use those various hormones exceeding reasonable dosages.But thankfully, he didn't.Otherwise, Yenefer couldn't imagine her younger brother transforming from a sweet and delicious crisp pear into a bloated, sturdy rotten sweet potato.Facing Yenefer's skepticism, Leon didn't explain much, turning to walk into the house, and when he returned, he was holding a ruler."You hold the top end, I'll put my hand at the bottom of the ruler, then you suddenly let go, and I'll catch the ruler," Leon said."Measuring Reflexes speed, not bad. I often do similar experiments at the company."Yenefer immediately understood the meaning of this little game and was happy to play it with Leon.Once both were ready, Leon placed his hand at the bottom of the ruler, his gaze intently fixed on it, while Yenefer held the very top of the ruler, looking at Leon and then casually letting go.The next second, she froze.Because she saw that the ruler didn't fall due to gravity; instead, it stayed suspended in mid-air, as if she hadn't let go at all.Looking down, she saw Leon easily pinching the very bottom of the ruler, barely letting it drop even half a centimeter."Such fast Reflexes... Did you implant Kerenzikov? No, your spine doesn't have any Kerenzikov implant marks," Yenefer muttered to herself in disbelief.Kerenzikov, known as the neural reflex component, is a Cyberware that, like the SandevistanCyberware, emerged during the technological explosion.If the Sandevistan, known as the "Speedware," is the sharp spear of top mercenaries, then Kerenzikov, bearing the name "neural reflex component," will be the indispensable evasion shield for mercenaries.The Cyberware's appearance is a long, strip-like shape, similar to a spine, and many mercenaries jokingly call it a centipede.Because anyone who implants this Cyberware must undergo surgery by a ripperdoc to remove several segments of their native spine and replace them with Kerenzikov.After the surgery, individuals with this Cyberwarewill have an exposed metallic shell-like device along the posterior midline of their back, like a metal centipede parasitizing their spinal column.Unless the person implants bionic skin for concealment, the implant marks of this Cyberwareare immediately visible.In the game, this Cyberware, like Sandevistan, has a "time-slowing" effect, but it's passively triggered and short-lived, while the latter is actively triggered.Now, having arrived in the real Cyberpunk world, after so many years of immersion, Leon is very familiar with this Cyberware, and the game's settings are no longer 100% reliable after transitioning to reality.This Cyberware claims to enhance a person's neural Reflexes ability, but in reality, it cannot compare to the miraculous time-slowing effect of Sandevistan.Its greatest effect is to raise the limit of human Reflexes ability and load a kind of neural reflex effect.This effect is similar to unconditional reflexes like the "knee-jerk reflex."When the implant recipient is under stress, such as nervous tension or mental strain, the Cyberware will passively enhance the recipient's neural Reflexesspeed, achieving a "pseudo-time stop" effect.Under this effect, you will feel the surrounding time slow down, but you will also be slowed down.Because the Cyberware only enhances your neural Reflexes ability and does not stimulate the Body like Sandevistan, which allows the implant recipient to maintain original speed in a time-slowing state."The effect provided by Kerenzikov is only passively triggered under nervous tension, but I'm different; my own Reflexes speed is just that fast," Leonexplained.He put the ruler back on the table, suddenly feeling an inexplicable chill. He looked up and saw his sister staring at him with a fervent expression."As expected of my younger brother, such high talent! If all the experimental personnel in the company had talent as high as yours, the product development speed would at least increase several times over," Yenefer couldn't help but exclaim.If she were to discover an ordinary person with such high talent on a normal day, Yenefer would undoubtedly use every means to get that person to participate in the company's product development human experiments.But the person displaying such talent before her now was her younger brother, and Yenefer was absolutely unwilling to let him be a guinea pig.Leon was stunned by her words, seemingly connecting something, and asked:"Do the talents of the experimental personnel also affect the effectiveness of Cyberwares?"Yenefer tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, took a delicate sip of wine, and looked at Leon, who was like a curious baby, hesitating whether to tell him about the company's research findings.But ultimately, indulgence won out. She put down her wine glass and answered the question:"Yes, this is also what troubles us the most. Everyone is a unique individual, and it's very difficult for us to control the differences in each experimental personnel's physical functions, innate abilities, etc. Experimental data for various products also show the importance of talent.""Some people have great talent, for example, those with strong Reflexes power. They have extremely high tolerance for Cyberwares like Sandevistan and Kerenzikov. Ordinary people can only use them a few times a day, but they can use them dozens of times.""Not only that, but talented people using Sandevistan also experience an enhanced time-slowing effect. Currently, the Type 2 Speedware on the market slows time by 50%, but for highly talented individuals, they can achieve 60-70%."Leon was stunned, then asked, "Why?"Yenefer spread her hands, helplessly saying:"It's all because of the complexity of the human nervous system. Do you think the real world is a game? People aren't machines; do you really think you can just set a value and it will stay that way forever?""Those Speedwares on the market, which claim to slow time to 50%, are actually the result of averaging a large amount of experimental data. For most people, it should slow down to around 50%."Leon suddenly understood.As Yenefer said, he had indeed been understanding Cyberware-related knowledge with a game mindset.After all, humans are not machines; they are variable. Although Cyberwares can be implanted now, humans are still the primary subject.How could it be like in a game, where if it says time slows to 50%, it just stays at 50%...Leon frowned, and a conjecture suddenly surfaced in his mind, so he quickly pressed on:"Does this rule also depend on the Sandevistanmodel? The higher the model of the Cyberware, the harder it is for ordinary people to withstand the Cyberware's side effects?"Yenefer looked at her younger brother in surprise, her expression seemingly saying, "How did you know that?""Is this your intuition again?" She shook her head and chuckled helplessly.No, this is a setting from the game... Leon grumbled, but outwardly, he maintained a mysterious smile.In the game cyberpunk 2077, most of the in-game Cyberwares require the character's attributes to meet certain requirements before they can be implanted by a ripperdoc.But according to Yenefer, ordinary people can also implant those highly overloaded and highly side-effect-ridden Cyberwares, it's just that their tolerance varies?Come to think of it, if there were a strict requirement that attributes must be met to implant high-model Cyberwares.Then these Cyberwares would not be able to fall into the hands of ripperdocs, let alone be sold to top mercenaries, and might not even be developed.Yenefer sighed. After so many years of living together, she was already accustomed to Leon's intuition, which was almost like "foreseeing the future.""It's just as you said. According to our research, the higher the model of the Cyberware, the greater the load. For example, Type 2 is inherently a generation apart from Type 1; while performance is enhanced, it's normal for the load to increase.""And we also found that some highly talented individuals, when they implant lower-model Cyberwares, experience no side effects no matter how many times they use them."Yenefer lowered her head, swirling the remaining wine in her glass, the liquid reflecting her deep eyes."But Type 3 and above are exceptions. We've tested that the talent required to accommodate Sandevistan 3 or Kerenzikov 3 far exceeds human limits.""The company not only has our testing data but also data obtained from other companies. So far, no experimental subject's talent has been strong enough to ignore the side effects of Sandevistan 3."Leon frowned. Regarding this piece of information Yenefer mentioned, he seemed to recall a setting from the game.Any Sandevistan of Type 3... seemed to require the character's Reflexes attribute to reach 12 to be equipped.Reflexes 10 is already the human limit; to break this limit, one must implant other Cyberwares that enhance Reflexes and break attribute limits.So, people who can meet this attribute condition would not fall into the category of experimental personnel.In reality, this means that one must meet the corresponding attribute requirements to ignore the Cyberware's load and become like the game character V, who can use it as many times as desired each day.Given this, do Cyberwares for other body parts also follow this rule?Leon fell into deep thought.Yenefer continued to watch Leon, then stood up and walked to his side, gently stroking his hair:"Actually, with me here, you don't need to implant those Cyberwares that are harmful to your body.""Even if you want the stars in the sky, with current aerospace technology, I can have someone bring you back a meteorite from the sky!""Is there anything else you're not satisfied with?"Yenefer stared intently at Leon, her eyes full of tenderness....PS: An additional setting chapter. Also, let me reiterate, the alias for [Sandevistan] is [Speedware].
Chapter 41 The Emperor and the Sun (Two in One)What a gentle and understanding older sister she was; for her beloved younger brother, she would do everything in her power to give Leon her all.To outsiders, she was the newly appointed Vice President of Qian Ti Corporation, cold and decisive, perhaps a single decision of hers could destroy an innocent person's future, and when researching products, she treated herself as coldly as a machine, making her difficult to approach.But only in front of Leon did she shed all her disguises, the mask called "Arrogant and Cold" was casually discarded, and her face, like a melting iceberg, transformed into spring rain and ice springs nourishing all things on earth, finally blooming into a magnificent flower with a smile.Even someone with a heart of iron and will of steel would likely soften in this endless tenderness; no one could refuse such a relative who thought of them with all her heart.Leon was no exception; he met Yenefer's gaze, seeing the hopeful sparkle in her gentle eyes, like countless stars.This seemed to be the first time Yenefer had shown him such an expression in a long time.But in the end, Leon averted his eyes, looking at Night City, brightly lit in the distance, and said firmly, his heart hardened:"I'm sorry, Sis, I also have things I must do. The persona of a good boy ultimately doesn't suit me."Having been in this world for sixteen years, he understood what he wanted and what he wanted to do and was willing to keep doing.Yenefer's hopeful gaze gradually dimmed, like the setting sun obscured by gray clouds.She followed Leon's gaze, looking together at Night City, the striking neon lights reflecting in her somber eyes.And so, myriad colors of light illuminated her vacant eyes, reflecting in her dim pupils, and she suddenly seemed to grasp a few of Leon's thoughts."Is that so?"She murmured softly and gently, slowly embracing Leon's head in her arms, silently closing her eyes.Leon leaned into her embrace without resistance, following her hand."But you can't make your sister worry. When I heard you call the SSI security forces, I don't know how panicked I was then. I probably wouldn't feel that panicked even if I were fired by the company later."Yenefer narrated quietly, then half-way through, she slowly knelt down, cupping Leon's face in her hands, her eyes full of tenderness as she gazed at him.She spoke as if pleading:"Leon, promise me, don't do anything foolish in the future. Night City is an invisible abyss, and below, dazzling glimmers shine. People foolishly try to descend to seize the treasures at the bottom, hoping for overnight fame, but they don't see the piles of bones at the bottom, nor do they remember the lessons of those who stumbled and fell before them.""As long as you can live healthily, your sister can promise you anything!""Anything? Including supporting my dreams?" Leon's eyes flickered slightly.Yenefer suddenly chuckled, as if agreeing to Leon, yet also as if comforting herself."If you insist on doing that, as your sister, what power do I have to stop you…?"She finally made her decision, standing up straight, her expression and demeanor once again transforming into the formidable Vice President who dominated the company.She looked at Night City with a grand air, her hand still resting on Leon's shoulder. After a long moment, she looked at Leon again, her gaze softening as she smiled:"If my younger brother wishes to go to the battlefield in armor to slay enemies, then as his sister, I naturally must equip him with the best armor and battle attire, prepare the finest warhorses and weapons in the world, and ensure he returns alive!"Before Leon could fully grasp the meaning of her words, Yenefer suddenly walked into the villa, leaving him looking bewildered.A minute later, she returned, a string of keys now in her jade-like fingers.With a slight, reminiscent smile, Yenefer finally held the keys in her hand and tossed them towards Leon, who bewilderedly caught them with both hands."After confiscating your small base back then, knowing you as I do, I anticipated a day like this would come, so I prepared two plans. One of them was to sell all your junk and replace it with the best for you."Yenefer leaned against the frame of the balcony's French window, tilting her head to look at the swimming pool on the balcony. The crescent moon in the sky was reflected in the water, and the gentle breeze played layers of ripples like sound waves, also gently swaying her long hair.Leon was stunned, looking down at the keys in his palm, feeling as if he held the key to a king's treasure.When his self-built small base was discovered back then, it was indeed sealed by an enraged Yeneferwith a seal that read: [Whoever enters shall be punished by the deduction of all pocket money].With only two people living in the house, it was clear who the note was aimed at.After that, he could only miserably pack his bags and go to school, never approaching that small base again."What's inside?" Leon blinked, countless conjectures rising in his heart."You can guess." Yenefer smiled, keeping him in suspense.Leon decisively shook his head, "I can't guess."So Yenefer walked over with a pleased expression, stroking Leon's hair; she seemed very happy to see her younger brother looking flustered.She recalled for a moment, counting on her fingers one by one:"Kang Tao's latest Dragon-style exoskeleton armor, a box of military equipment I 'borrowed' from the company, several ammunition boxes, a Trauma Team platinum membership contract that takes effect with just a signature, a stone sword for your daily travels, and a chevrolet emperor 720 for when you get into trouble…""I also bought you a 1940s AV-4 AV. Don't mind that it's old; the latest AV models cost billions now. Even if you sold me, I couldn't afford many.""I didn't prepare any Cyberwares for you; I don't want you to become a monster like those cyberpsychosis cases. Biological implants, however, are something to consider. I'll call Scandinavia another day; their biological components are the best in the world."Leon's eyes widened, his mouth agape in an "O" shape in surprise. He never imagined Yenefer would consider things to such an extent for him.This was more than just doting; it was an ocean made of molasses and cream. Never mind drowning one person, even a few more would drown multiple times in such affection.Although it wouldn't be a big problem for him to purchase this equipment with the hidden funds he had accumulated over the years, many of the items Yenefer prepared for him were things that couldn't be bought with money alone.Leaving aside other things, just consider that AV-4 AV.Although it was an antique-grade AV that had been active on the historical stage as early as the 20s, its market price would still be in the tens of millions, and it also required a certain status and connections to purchase!"Sister, how much did all this cost you?" Leoncouldn't help but swallow."Tens of millions, I suppose, not much, not yet a hundred million. Many of the pieces of equipment I bought through company channels were quite cheap. That AV was the most expensive." Yenefersaid, seemingly unconcerned.Leon:...He was aware of Yenefer's annual salary; it was thirty million a year.She was quite wealthy, but all these things probably emptied out her savings for one or two years.Suddenly, Leon finally remembered why his top-tier Cyberwares were targeted by Scavengers during his first [Life Simulation].With a sister like this, never mind those Scavengers, carrying Cyberwares worth millions, who wouldn't be envious?Watching Leon stammer, not knowing what to say, Yenefer smiled and tucked a strand of her long hair, swayed by the evening breeze. Noticing the wind was a bit noisy tonight, her eyes glowed faintly blue, connecting to the villa's local network.A circular glass curtain wall slowly rose from the edge of the large balcony, blocking the wildly blowing night wind, eventually forming a hemispherical glass dome enclosing the balcony.Above the night sky, the stars still shone brightly."Sis… are you really that good to me?" After a long silence, Leon could only manage this one sentence.From his perspective, he understood Yenefer's doting on him, and their past interactions had countless times proven the fact that "Yenefer loves Leon." Often, between them, a single glance was enough to understand each other's thoughts.Just like today when he got into trouble, Leon clearly knew that Yenefer was worried about his safety, not about the minor issue of him coming home late; she just refused to back down.But even now, Leon found that Yenefer's doting on him had once again refreshed his worldview.Spending tens of millions on equipment, just to help her younger brother fulfill his wishes and dreams… This love was too heavy and extravagant, and Leondidn't know how to respond."It doesn't matter, I don't plan on dating in this life anyway, and the old folks at home don't need me to worry about their retirement. So much money has to go somewhere, right? I'm usually busy and don't have time to be with you, so I can only spend some money to make up for it," Yenefer said indifferently.Leon sighed again, not knowing how many times he had sighed that night. After a few seconds of thought, he suddenly remembered another question."Sis, you said you prepared two plans? What about the other one?" He suddenly realized the second plan Yenefer had just mentioned.What did she mean? Did Yenefer also pave two life paths for his future?"The other plan? That would naturally be for you to study diligently, get good grades, and then send you to the top academy in the world for further study. In the future, whether you go into politics or work in a company, I will use my connections to handle everything for you," Yenefer said with a light chuckle.She walked in front of Leon, reached out and flicked his forehead, and said with a slightly complex expression:"As an older sister, I naturally hope my younger brother takes the latter path, but it's a pity you little rascal are so troublesome."The company path… Leon's heart stirred, but he quickly calmed down.Not a direct descendant, nor a trusted confidant of some top big shot… Walking this path, to the very end, to the very top of that pyramid, one would only see countless people who had already gotten there first.They wove an impenetrable net, and anyone else who climbed up would only fall into the net's trap, be completely devoured, and then be kicked off the top of the pyramid.In all companies, there is a rule that transcends all laws:Pledge absolute loyalty to the company, never harm the company's interests, and never betray the company.This kind of ultimate power makes countless people flock to it, and likewise, it makes countless people value the company more than their own children to maintain this power.Leon looked at Yenefer, who was leaning against the railing of the floor-to-ceiling window, his eyes filled with inexplicable complexity.Perhaps only his sister would value him more than the company."But that ultimately doesn't mean freedom, Sis. Actually, I'd rather you live a leisurely life at home, instead of working overtime day and night," Leonsaid in a low voice."You, you really don't know the cost of living until you run a household!" Yenefer reached out and flicked his forehead again."If I don't go to work, how will I support you, this money-eating beast?"Leon was momentarily speechless.Although he now had a considerable hidden fortune, it was an undeniable fact that this money was indeed obtained because Yenefer provided the initial capital."Although the company will usurp your freedom, what you gain will be power above countless others, and the stable life that countless people pursue… Isn't this better than becoming that broken legend?" Yenefer whispered.Leon remained silent, finally standing up from the chair and slowly walking to the wooden railing, gazing at Night City shrouded in the moonlight below the mountains.No matter how many times he saw it, Night City at night possessed astonishing beauty.Like a sun blooming in the darkness.But Leon knew the boundless shadows beneath this sun."Sis, there was a period of eight years when I didn't spend time with you, but instead lived a hard life in Twisty Street," he suddenly said, out of the blue."I know, but the future is long, and when we are both a hundred years old, eight years is merely eight years; compared to a century, it doesn't account for much," Yenefer whispered.She silently walked behind the boy, wanting to hug him like before, but when she reached his back, she was startled to realize that Leon was already half a head taller than her.If she were to hug him like that now, it would be her looking like a small woman leaning against Leon's back."But these eight years, to me now, are half a lifetime, Sis. If I really live to be a hundred, leaving only memories with you in those long years would be a bit monotonous.""These eight years have made me realize that people in Night City, no matter what position you hold, refer to you only as 'company dog.'"But there is one type of person who is an exception, and that is people like Saburo Arasaka. The world no longer calls them 'company dog,' but rather reverently hails them as 'Emperor.' Their children are the princes and princesses… This world already has an Emperor. If you try to go higher, that is defiance, that is rebellion!"Leon tightened his grip on the railing, his gaze distant, his words like the recitation of an epic poem, or like a devil singing to tempt the world, tempting Yenefer to believe his words."But on another path, there is still another type of person missing. This path is paved with shadows, with cemeteries on both sides burying skeletons and vengeful spirits. There is no sunlight in the sky, only bitter rain. When you reach the end of the path, you are a legend, with an unmarked grave before you, but if you take one more step forward…"That would be the Sun!" Leon said slowly.Taking the company path, even his sister, at her current age becoming a Vice President, was already considered young and accomplished.Now, with only two years until the main storyline, in such a short time, even if he worked himself to death and gave his all, he might not necessarily become a company executive.But if he walked on the edge of the world, then he would inevitably be in the shadows, invisible to anyone.That is the ultimate shadow, the opposite of the ultimate light.And the ultimate light bringing the ultimate shadow is the Sun!...PS: A side note.When writing this part of the story, Author-Jungenuinely felt that the protagonist's behavior was like a rich kid suddenly losing his mind one day and telling his parents that his dream was to work in Syria…Also: Given the game's baffling economic system, Author-Jun referenced anime and various lore books for this novel's economic system, and also relevant plots in the game. It should be fine, right… probably?Anyway, if you choose the company dog origin in the game, you can see the personal data of Special Operations Director Abernathy in the chip provided by your superior, which includes her bank balance (though you only have one second to see it).Her personal savings are over seven million. Given that foreigners are not accustomed to saving, and living in a place like Night City where life is "precarious," having over seven million in savings means her annual salary is basically no less than ten million.So, Yenefer's annual salary of thirty million, Author-Jun thinks is quite reasonable. In this worldview, the poor get poorer, and the rich get richer.The so-called 250,000 for a moon trip ticket might really be, as David said, "pretty cheap."Furthermore, in the game, you can also find the box office revenue of a movie, at the level of thirty to forty million eddies per day. I don't know what blockbuster it is, but the text says someone played a gorilla… (No wonder selling Black braindance is so profitable).
Leon, remember, since you've chosen this path, my only request of you is to survive."The heart-to-heart conversation between the siblings had ended, but Yenefer's words still echoed in Leon's mind, lingering long after.Perhaps in her eyes, it didn't matter if Leon achieved any world-shaking feats; she only hoped Leonwould always be safe and sound, preferably living to a ripe old age.When he returned to his bedroom, Leon's mind still felt hazy, and the string of keys in his hand felt like he was holding tens of millions in colossal wealth.He knew Yenefer was very rich; as a Vice Presidentof Qian Ti Corporation, her net worth was definitely beyond his imagination.But he really hadn't expected his sister to be this rich, giving away all sorts of military-grade weapons so casually. When she left for bed, she even left a message saying that if he wasn't satisfied with anything, he could continue to ask her, and she would find a way to meet Leon's demands."This is insane. With these armaments, let alone breaking into Arasaka Tower alone, if I converted them all into money and gave it to V, wouldn't it be enough to blow up the entire Night City!" Leonmuttered to himself.After all, in the game, the protagonist V was notoriously a 'big sucker,' taking on any job, and the remuneration was completely disproportionate to the actual difficulty of the Delegation.For a few thousand or tens of thousands, you could command the most powerful living Yama in Night City."But no matter what, my sister's doting on me has truly reached an appalling level…" Leon sighed deeply.This day had been perhaps the most exciting day Leon had experienced in his entire life.Taking on a commission then completing it, going to a Braindance experience center to appreciate art, getting into trouble at night then summoning help, getting acquainted with a mercenary squad, and even inheriting "family property" upon returning home!Just thinking about it made Leon too excited to sleep, tossing and turning in bed."Forget it, I'll use up today's simulator uses first."Leon got up, found the hidden BD Headset, put it on, and began today's simulation.If nothing unexpected happened, he probably wouldn't be going to Arasaka Academy tomorrow.He had been frank with his sister tonight, and she was willing to support his dream.Going to school? That would only slow down my sword draw![Simulation Begins][The next morning, due to the exciting experiences of the previous day, you had a rare good night's sleep. Just as you thought you could skip class today and sleep in at home, your sister called you, telling you to go to school obediently.][You are puzzled, you are confused. Didn't you talk things over well last night? Why the sudden change of heart?][However, Yenefer's words made you feel utterly ashamed: If you can't even complete your studies properly, what makes you think you can become a legend? If you can't even handle such a small matter, do you think you can save the world?][And so, you could only begrudgingly pack your bag and take your sister's AV, heading together to Corpo Plaza.][Daily academy life was always so dull and boring, but today was very unfortunate, because you suddenly discovered that today was the academy's midterm exam, and most importantly, you hadn't reviewed at all!][Wearing the BD Headset, entering the virtual examination room, you looked at the test paper placed before you and fell into the ultimate contemplation of life.][Why, in 2075, is the method of assessing grades still a written exam? The only change is the location of the exam, from a bright classroom to the virtual space of a Cyberspace Dream device.][Why do you not know most of the questions on the test paper? You should know that your Intelligence attribute is as high as 4 points, which is an excellent level.][Why can't you move your body in the virtual examination scene?][Because of this, even with a BD Headset on and in a virtual space, no matter how capable you are, you cannot cheat.][You secretly cursed under your breath, BD Headset truly is a trash invention.][During the lunch break, while you were idling at the academy, bad news reached your communication device.][You were shocked to discover that your stocks had plummeted due to some inexplicable reasons, and this disastrous day in the stock market caused you to lose thirty percent of your savings!][You wanted to cry but had no tears, so you could only force yourself to cheer up, commit all the day's losing stocks to memory, and then silently note down the stocks that had appreciated today.][Today's losing stocks, from most to least, are Moore Technology, Zetatech, Dinara Technology, and Fuyutsuki Electronics.][Today's appreciating stocks, from most to least, are Kang Tao, Militech, Arasaka Corporation, and Venerable Logistics.][Alas, those who came before mourned but did not learn from it, thus making those who came before become those who came after.][Understand?][Feeling indignant due to your financial loss, you suddenly received a call from your sister, saying she had to work overtime again tonight and wouldn't be coming home.][You felt very regretful, as it was another day you couldn't spend with your sister.][So you decided not to go home tonight and instead go to Lizzies Bar to have some fun.][As the saying goes, shared joy is double joy, so you happily invited Hiroshi to continue playing games tonight.][But this guy, who forgot his brothers once he had a sister, declined your invitation, saying he needed to accompany his newly awakened sister today and it wasn't appropriate to indulge in entertainment.][That evening, you arrived at Lizzies Bar, wanting to vent the frustration of your stock market losses and, incidentally, continue the adventure you left unfinished last night.][During the Braindance experience, you couldn't help but marvel that Braindance truly is the greatest invention in this world.][After some time, you fell into contemplation about the meaning of life, beginning to ponder the relationship between human desire and rationality.][Thinking...][Thinking...][Thinking concluded, you walked out of the bar intending to get some fresh air, only to meet unexpected people—Pilar, the tech expert you met last night, and the nomad driver, Falco.][Meeting friends, the three of you conversed happily, and you gained a lot of knowledge from them, broadening your horizons considerably.][Playing games...][Playing games...][With company, you were in high spirits, so you used your money to treat these two friends to the bar's most expensive drinks, increasing their favorability towards you.][At ten o'clock at night, you and Falco escorted a drunken Pilar back home. During this time, you also learned his home address, a small apartment in the North Industrial Zone of Watson.][You carried Pilar upstairs, and after knocking, his sister Rebecca opened the door.][You were very surprised, because this irritable little girl (young woman) pointed a gun at your head the moment she opened the door. Such vigilance truly amazed you, and most importantly, she was wearing a three-piece set at home.][Could you endure this grievance? You just learned... Well, you didn't learn anything, plus you were carrying Pilar, so you couldn't free your hands. You could only endure this sense of crisis, like daggers in your back.][Rebecca saw it was you and, with a look of surprise, lowered her pistol, asking what was wrong. You spent some effort explaining.][Upon learning that her brother was drunk and needed you to carry him back, Rebecca's face visibly showed an expression of disgust.][She glanced at Pilar as if he were trash, then let you into the house, unceremoniously throwing Pilaronto the floor.][You felt regret for your newly acquainted good brother Pilar, but you were powerless to do anything about it.][It seemed he would have to sleep on the cold, hard floor for the night.][Before you left, Rebecca transferred 500 € to you as a hardship fee and smiled, saying you were very interesting and to come visit again sometime.][Suddenly, you immediately found this long-haired, legally adult loli much more pleasing to the eye.][Back home, exhausted from a night out, you washed up and then collapsed into bed.][Simulation Evaluation: A slightly unlucky day.][Simulation Rewards: Arasaka Academy Midterm Exam Questions and Answers for the First Semester of 2075, 500 €.]Leon's gaze sharpened.This happened?My stocks are going to plummet tomorrow?Leon quickly took off the BD Headset, walked to the computer desk in the room, opened the computer, and quickly clicked into his stock trading website, selling all the losing stocks that appeared in the simulator.Immediately after, he bought the stocks that would appreciate tomorrow.After a series of operations, Leon finally breathed a sigh of relief and lay lazily back on the bed.It had to be said that with a foresight cheat like the simulator, when it came to stock trading, he could practically make money while lying down.It was just a pity that stock-related events didn't always appear in the simulation experience's text records.However, whenever stock-related events did appear in the simulation experience text, it meant he could earn a profit.And this was one of the reasons he was now immensely wealthy.
Chapter 43 Lin Mo's Diary and Daily SimulationAs the vice-head of the family and one of only two residents of the Jen, Leon's living room on the second floor of the villa was as large as the main hall.On the room's balcony, two chairs and a table were placed close to the wall.When he had nothing to do, Leon often sat on the chair, facing the wind and scenery outside, and no matter whether it was day or night, the distant view from this direction always had something worth appreciating.Leon also often came here, gazing at the mountain scenery while conceiving ideas in his mind, and then penning his diary.Chip diaries, in this era, almost everyone has a brain-embedded central processor, coordinating Cyberware data and biological data throughout the body.Naturally, basic Cyberware devices like communicators also rely on its assistance.When idle, one could also write diaries on it; simply find a blank text chip, insert it into the chip slot, and immediately write whatever one wished, without even needing to move a pen.But Leon still preferred to write his diary by hand.Because it allowed him to think more clearly about his past experiences, rather than just conceiving text in his mind; while the latter method was convenient, it inevitably felt somewhat superficial and empty.Writing a diary was also a habit he had developed long ago, because of the simulator's existence, he could use the simulator every night to predict the next day's course of action.This ability to glimpse fate brought him great convenience, but it was immediately followed by the unpredictability after changing fate.If he knew what would happen the next day, then the events of the next day would also change due to "pre-knowledge."Therefore, by writing a diary every day and comparing it with the simulated experiences of the previous day, Leon could gain a deeper understanding of the simulator.Thus, for the format of his diary entries, Leonadopted a unique method.The initial section recorded the initial mental journey of the day, the text chip instantly recorded the day's experiences and thoughts, and the summary section was a summation of the day's experiences.A breeze ruffled the diary on the table, the pages fluttering, as if someone gently turned them open, revealing Leon's schedule for the week.[Initial Entry: March 19, 2075, Tuesday.Today, the simulator's divination said it would be another uneventful day, which I scoffed at, utterly disbelieving it.Simulation Reward: A tiny bit of pocket money, utterly useless.Man proposes, God disposes. My generation must act against the will of heaven. Since I know what events will happen today, I certainly cannot spend today meaninglessly.][Text Chip Notes: Regarding going to school, I am extremely reluctant, unfortunately.This was a request personally made by my older sister; after all, she spent so much time and effort for my future, I can't let her down.It's just a request to go to school, so I'll go. Although it will waste a lot of time, after school, it's my time, and I will definitely make this day more meaningful during that period.Spent a boring class time, too lazy to listen, conserving energy to prepare for the evening.Class dismissed. The simulator said I would still spend the evening alone at Lizzies Bar.I didn't believe it, so I immediately invited David, but that scoundrel refused, truly thoughtless.No choice, I could only call Hiroshi, but he said: "Working, do not disturb."So I called Pilar and Falco, both were free and gladly went with me.After leaving Lizzies Bar, our three friendships deepened even more; this was definitely a meaningful day.[Summary Evaluation: Acceptable]...[Initial Entry: March 20, 2075, Wednesday.Today, the simulator's divination wasn't very good; it said it would be an unlucky day. The simulation reward was a moon travel ticket.If you say this thing is useless, it's actually very expensive. I checked the ticket price for the travel ticket, damn, it's actually worth over two hundred thousand eddies.It's just useless to me. I can't sell it, and two hundred thousand isn't worth my time to go there, so I can only keep it as a collection.But I'm very curious, simulation rewards are usually related to the day's experience, why would I get this travel ticket?I looked at the record and found that today I would meet a small thief at Corpo Plaza; she would try to steal my chip while I was on my way to the academy.Of course, she didn't succeed, after all, my Reflexesis 10.I scoffed at this. A mere petty thief trying to steal my chip, how ridiculous.][Text Chip Notes: Holy crap, this little thief is actually quite pretty. White hair, an older sister vibe, slender figure, a bit of a crazy woman's aura, and she's even a Netrunner.I got my chip back. I originally wanted to hand her over to the police, but seeing her stubborn expression suddenly reminded me of my days struggling in Twisty Street.Everyone has it tough.As the saying goes, a magnanimous person doesn't dwell on the minor faults of others. I let her go. Before she left, she gave me a deep look. I'm very sure it wasn't a look of gratitude. She probably intends to get even next time. How unlucky, to be entangled with a crazy woman.Spent a boring class time, conserving energy to prepare for the night battle.Class dismissed. I invited David to Lizzies Bar and told him I'd treat.As a result, this brat refused again. His repeated refusals made me very annoyed.So I asked for his mother's contact information and called her, reporting that David was unsociable and wouldn't even go to friends' gatherings.His mother was very angry and strictly ordered him to go out and socialize with me. As expected, David was speechless about this and could only go to Lizzies Bar with me.Of course, I paid for everything. It seemed that because I snitched, David didn't mind who was paying this time and loudly declared that he would make me bleed this time.At night, he seemed to have entered a new world, like a horny dog. Alas, how embarrassing.][Summary Evaluation: Acceptable, friendship with David increased]...[Initial Entry: March 21, 2075, Thursday.Today, the simulator's divination was mediocre; it said it was payday. The simulation reward was double the eddies earned today.Even without the simulation, I knew what day it was—pocket money day.The only day of the month for pocket money, my older sister certainly didn't forget. The moment I woke up, I saw the pocket money credited. Not too much, not too little, just 50,000 eddies. After the simulator's double reward, a total of 100,000 eddies.This pocket money is also my living expenses for the month, as well as the cost of purchasing school supplies. For a student, it is undoubtedly a huge sum.It's a pity that after so many years, I'm no longer the ignorant person I once was; this amount of money, for me now, is indeed "pocket money."Alas, having money is also a kind of trouble. I can no longer experience the joy of receiving pocket money for the first time.Perhaps my older sister should have noticed these funds of unknown origin by now. After all, over these many years, my pocket money has not decreased but increased, virtually turning me into a rich person.Even if I deposit all this money into a private account, she couldn't possibly not notice the anomaly.No choice, with the aid of the simulator, I'm almost invincible in the stock market.And there's also the simulator's daily simulation reward, which gives me the total amount of funds acquired that day one more time. It's impossible for me not to become a rich person even if I didn't want to.Life with money is truly dull and boring.][Text Chip Notes: Still a boring class time, conserving energy to prepare for the night's battle.In the evening, David eagerly followed me to Lizzies Bar. This guy really seems to have developed a taste for it.I am guilty. I led a good young man astray, causing him to fall to this extent. I am truly too sinful.So, to atone for my guilt, I told David not to come again for the next few days.He asked why.I replied that my back hurt and I needed a few days of rest.He could only agree with a regretful expression.][Summary Evaluation: Not bad, got money]...[Initial Entry: March 21, 2075, Friday.Today, the simulator's divination said it would be a lucky day. The simulation reward was the answers to the evening class homework.I looked through the records and found that today's news broadcast would report a robbery case: a group of gang members attacked a Dynalar Corporation transport convoy and stole a batch of valuable Cyberwares.This is a great omen; I love this group of gang members.Dynalar Corporation has unique achievements in the field of neuro-Cyberwares, and among this batch of stolen Cyberwares, there must be the Dynalar Sandevistan Mk.3 I need.As soon as the goods flow into the black market, Wakako will definitely notify me immediately!][Chip Text Notes: As expected, after watching the news, a Dynalar Corporation transport convoy was indeed intercepted and robbed. I wonder which gang is so capable.From noon to evening, it was still boring class time, conserving energy to prepare for the night battle.Damn it, I've skipped too many classes. Today, the principal specifically called me in for a chat. It seems I definitely have to attend evening class tonight, how sad.Although I knew about this beforehand from the simulator, I didn't expect to still be unable to avoid it.After class, it was already 9 PM. I thought for a while and realized there was really no time to fool around at Lizzies Bar tonight, so I could only regretfully go home.When I got home, my older sister was actually home. She said her research work was nearing completion and she had a rare break to come home and spend time with me.We had dinner together, lay on the balcony watching the stars together, and as we watched, my older sister fell asleep.I carried her back to her bedroom, covered her with a quilt, adjusted the air conditioning to the optimal temperature, and quietly left the room.][Summary Evaluation: Home is warmer than a Braindance experience hall]...[Initial Entry: March 21, 2075, Saturday.Today, the simulator's divination was a minor fortune. The simulation reward was some Netrunnerequipment parts.Why would the simulation reward give these things? I truly can't figure it out.][Chip Text Notes: Because my older sister was still home, to avoid being caught, I could only get up early.It turned out she was still sleeping. No choice, I had to personally cook her a loving breakfast. After eating my fill, I had to go to school again.Arrived at Corpo Plaza. According to the simulator's records, I would meet a special person.Sure enough, I saw that white-haired older Netrunner sister there again. She also saw me, but she didn't give me a good look.I looked at her face and thought to myself, realizing that the reason the simulator gave a minor fortune evaluation seemed to be because I would meet her that day.I was very curious about this. Could there be some secret about this Netrunner?Before I could think further, she seemed to notice me looking at her. As a result, this Netrunner sister, without a word, actually tried to hack into my brain processor right in front of me.Could I endure such humiliation?I am a man with Reflexes 10!Moreover, I don't have many Cyberwares, and with the latest ICE installed, she wouldn't be able to hack in successfully in a short time.I interrupted her casting, grabbed her arm. She still looked at me with a cold face, not saying a word.After staring at each other for a while, I suddenly had an idea, took out the moon travel ticket, and handed it to her.The first time I saw her, the simulator gave such a reward... Perhaps there was some hidden connection?Indeed, upon seeing this moon travel ticket, her expression instantly changed, looking at me in disbelief.I didn't explain anything, just left a sentence: "No need to thank me. My name is Lei Feng, and I do good deeds without leaving a name." Then I left gracefully.At that moment, I felt a sacred light shimmering around me.Back in the classroom, I suddenly found David lying in his seat, looking dejected and annoyed.I asked him what happened.He replied that his chip had been stolen.What a big idiot.I immediately did what a good buddy should do: I started to mock him wildly. After laughing, I gave him my unused second-hand chip.He didn't want to accept charity, so I could only sell it to him at a steep discount. What a proud child.Incidentally, I also reminded him to often touch his chip slot when walking on the street, lest he gets stolen without knowing.... Boring class time, conserving energy to prepare for the night battle.Class dismissed. Since I had already checked in for evening class yesterday, I didn't go to evening class.Originally, I wanted to continue going to Lizzies Barfor gaming, but then I looked at the date and realized today was Saturday, and tomorrow was a holiday.So I gave up the idea of clubbing and went home to plan my schedule for tomorrow.When I got home, I unexpectedly found my older sister still at home.When asked why, she said that the biological components she ordered for me in Europe would arrive tomorrow, so she came back early to arrange the remaining matters.I was very touched, gave her a hug, and said: "Thank you, older sister."She didn't say anything, just smiled and stroked my head.][Summary Evaluation: Truly a meaningful day.]...Early morning.Leon yawned and walked to the balcony.Seeing the diary on the table, he slapped his head, realizing he had forgotten to put it away after writing it last night."Almost made a careless mistake," Leon reflected, "From now on, I'll put it back as soon as I finish writing."He took the diary back into his room and placed it in his most private storage box.Many companies store similar important data in private databases, but this also carries the risk of being seized by network Netrunners.Conversely, writing it on paper and placing it in a specific storage cabinet, if not opened with a specific password, the cabinet would destroy the internal data.As for the risk of destruction, Leon didn't care much, because he himself would destroy these things after a certain period.After all, it's just a diary. After writing it and analyzing a week's records, plus the next week's diary volume, it doesn't have much value, so destroying it is fine....PS:A transitional chapter, hoping to make it more humorous.I originally thought this chapter could be a two-in-one to be lazy for a day, but the previous chapter didn't have enough words, so I had to send this chapter out. I wrote more today, what a loss...
Chapter 44: Calm as Water, Strong as ThunderSimulation activated.In the morning, while you were still sprawled on your bed, your older sister kicked you awake.You groggily opened your eyes, only to find it was barely 6 AM. Why wake up so early?Your sister replied that the breakfast you made that morning was quite delicious, and she hadn't seen you cook in years, so hurry up and get up to treat her.You had no choice but to get up early and make breakfast, feeding your sister until she was full.After a satisfying meal, you felt like sleeping, but with nothing else to do, you remembered the saying, 'The whole day's plan rests on the morning.' You didn't want to waste the precious morning and decided to go outside to exercise, starting the day beautifully.Your idea was good, but unfortunately, reality is always cruel. Your sister ordered you to wash the dishes, by hand.You were puzzled. Didn't the house have a dedicated dishwashing robot? Why did she want you to wash the dishes?Your sister replied,'Stay home and keep me company, is that such a hardship for you?'You surrendered and obediently went to the kitchen to wash dishes. Halfway through, you suddenly heard a dull jet sound from outside—the unique engine sound of a hover transport vehicle.You ran out in a daze and saw biological components being air-freighted to your home, which filled you with immense joy.During this time, you met a ripperdoc, and she was very interested in you.You two got along very well.However, these components needed some preparation time before full implantation, so you couldn't immediately replace all biological components. She only implanted a small portion of Cyberwares.You didn't feel disappointed. After the implantation was complete, you took your leave from your sister.Your sister didn't stop you; she gave you a hug and let you go.Laughing heartily, you stepped out, knowing you were no common person. You were like a dragon returning to the sea, an eagle soaring through the sky. Having gained freedom, your first thought was to experience the joy of it.You drove out in a Rayfield stone sword sports car, the most powerful street-legal vehicle in Night City, and considered one of the best vehicles in the game. As you sat in her, gripping the steering wheel, you became the most dazzling person on the hillside of North Oak District.Along the way, you received a new commission from Wakako. She also informed you that the Sandevistan was already in hand.You were overjoyed and quickly contacted Hiroshi to go on the mission together. You both went to Wakako's shop and retrieved the Cyberware.You found Viktor, the ripperdoc, and he helped you implant the Cyberware. You two were fully prepared.Your Reflexes limit was broken through.The process of completing the commission was quite convoluted but still relatively safe, because you felt you couldn't win alone, so you called in a mercenary squad.You successfully completed the mission.You killed all enemies that appeared in the commission!After successfully completing the mission, you found a hotel, rented a room for a day, and used the hotel's bathroom and public laundry room to clean yourself.You and your friends gathered at TURBO Restaurant, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.A wonderful day ended just like that.Simulation evaluation: Hello, Mr. Ink Shadow!Simulation rewards: 1 Attribute Point, 1 Perk Point, Sandevistan Cyberware data information, 100 Sword Skill Experience, Mysterious Prize (locked, will unlock at a specific time tomorrow)....Saturday night.After taking some time to watch a new movie with his sister, Leon had already finished his evening routine and lay in bed, preparing for tomorrow's simulation.Seeing the text records provided by the simulation, his heart couldn't help but stir with excitement.Attribute Points, Perk Points, and a Mysterious Prize!And most crucially, tomorrow he would be able to implant his first combat Cyberware!Biological components, Sandevistan..."This evaluation, though, is a bit intriguing."Leon lay on his back in bed, hugging the troll baby pillow with his left hand, his mind filled with thoughts.This simulation experience once again confirmed his conjecture: the way to acquire Attribute Points was linked to combat scenarios, while the way to acquire Perk Points seemed to be related to the simulation evaluation?After all, so far, only two rewards included Perk Points, and both appeared when the simulation evaluations seemed quite good.For example, this time's "Hello, Mr. Ink Shadow!" just looking at it made him feel a sense of mystery surging within him.It was much better than the usual evaluations like "An ordinary day" or "Occasional lucky moments."The last one was "A small test, First Blood," which seemed to be an evaluation for his first actual combat, and the simulation reward also gave him a Perk Point.Leon looked at the evaluation column, feeling quite complex:"I just don't know how this evaluation is determined, and I also don't know if the quality of the evaluation affects the quality of the rewards."After thinking for a while with no clear answers, Leon simply stopped pondering these irrelevant things and instead focused on the rewards, extracting them from the database.First was the Sword Skill Experience. After extracting it and putting on the Braindancesimulator, Leon saw himself appear in some unknown space, surrounded by indistinct figures.He held a Katana and tirelessly slashed at these rushing figures. With each swing, a figure would dissipate into dust.Experience, insights, and proficiency—even though he wasn't controlling his body, these experiences of using a Katana felt as if he had personally lived through them.Finally, according to Leon's calculations, the number of figures that died by his hand was exactly 100."Awesome!"Exiting the simulated scenario, Leon could still feel waves of soreness from his body, and even the sensation of his palm gripping the Katana seemed to linger in his hand.There were no screams, no wails, not even the sound of a Katana cutting through Body.All actions were in silent motion, like a soundless black-and-white silent film. He saw no blood or cruelty. He stood at the center, and black-and-white figures attacked from all directions. He moved sometimes like a dancing butterfly, sometimes like a brushstroke.This was how the simulator provided skill experience (proficiency).Skill experience could not be observed numerically like Attribute Points, but it was still a tangible reward. Leon preferred to think of it as a hidden mechanism; only he himself could perceive this increase in experience."Then there are the Attribute Points and Perk Points."Leon shifted his attention to the attribute panel.Current character attributes are as follows: Body 4, Reflexes 10 (Human limit, further progress requires Cyberware), Technical 3, Intelligence 4, Cool 5.There was nothing to consider. Leon didn't even think about it and directly added this Attribute Point to [Body].His current attributes were destined for a combat build. Intelligence was a must-have attribute for a Netrunner build, and Technical was an attribute that could be invested in by all builds in the game.If he were playing a game, there would be nothing to say; he could put points into whatever he wanted.At worst, he could join the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect and transform into a five-sided warrior with all five attributes at 20.The Technical attribute was also very important; maxing it out might allow him to modify weapons that could destroy the world.However, reality was not a game; he only had one life. Although the Technical attribute was good, it couldn't quickly enhance his life-saving ability at the moment. Leon preferred attributes that showed quick results and directly affected the body.Reflexes, Cool, and Body were his top choices.Now his Body attribute was 4. According to past patterns, reaching 5 in an attribute should unlock special Perks.Sure enough, Leon looked at the Perk page and found that the Perks for the Body attribute were also unlocked.Body: 1. Sprint Champion (Your explosive power has been effectively enhanced. When this Perk is activated, your stamina consumption during rapid sprinting is reduced by 40%). 2. Long-Distance Champion (Your stamina has been effectively enhanced. When this Perk is activated, your stamina consumption during running is reduced by 40%).3. Breathing Therapy (During your rapid breathing, some small wounds can actually heal quickly. This is simply a miracle of life!). 4. SWAT Officer (You have undergone long-term training; the gun in your hand is as stable as a rock. When activated, all firearm recoil is reduced by 20%)....8. Real Man, Big Sniper (After years of training
The next day, it was still dawn, the sun had not yet risen from the other side of the mountain, and the entire world was still shrouded in gloom; dawn had not yet arrived.Leon had rarely woken up early; the simulator had given him a demonstration last night.Instead of being woken up by Yenefer halfway through his sleep, it was better to wake up consciously himself; at least he could make a good impression.And indeed, it was true. Seeing Leon already in the kitchen cooking breakfast, Yenefer, who had just gotten out of bed, was utterly shocked and exclaimed that the sun had risen from the west.Heaven help her, this little troublemaker was actually willing to wake up early!She couldn't help but ponder the reason in her heart, eventually connecting it to the touching familial embrace she shared with Leon last night.Could it be that this rare hug and heart-to-heart talk made this guy feel he should mature a bit and not make his older sister worry?Holding this thought, Yenefer walked behind Leonand hugged him again.Her long, smooth hair cascaded to her lower back, her head rested lightly on Leon's shoulder, and her loose pajamas couldn't conceal her graceful curves. Her body was soft and delicate yet uniquely full, like a begonia flower covered in morning dew, still beautiful and charming even at the break of dawn.Leon showed no change in expression, calmly turning around, picking Yenefer up by her waist, then walking back to her bedroom, tossing her onto the bed like a piece of cargo, and calmly closing the door."Go back to sleep!"Yenefer stared blankly at the door, her mind a fog....After breakfast, Yenefer poured a cup of hot coffee to perk herself up.She was currently sitting on a wicker chair on the balcony. The warm morning breeze came from beyond the sky, gently swaying her long, dark hair and rustling her thin, loose lace pajamas, causing the hem of her skirt to sway.Her graceful figure was reflected in the swimming pool beside her, the shimmering water rippling, a perfect springtime morning scene.Leon had no lingering attachment to such a beautiful scene. He leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed intently on a black dot in the distant sky.Under his gaze, the black dot approached from afar, gradually transforming from a small speck into a massive dark-colored drone. Four jet nozzles beneath it spewed blue exhaust flames, adjusting its balance in mid-air before slowly descending into his home's parking lot.Yenefer looked at Leon, a pending confirmation window having just popped up on her retina.Without her entry permit, that drone would have been shot down by the house's security system upon entering the estate's airspace.Closing the window, her gaze remained on Leon. In a trance, she seemed to see the young man before her transform into his childhood self, always staring intently at things he liked after bringing them home.Thinking of this, Yenefer sighed again.What a pity. Other children liked the latest toys or Braindance games.But he, on the other hand, had loved violent things like child-sized firearms and Katanas released by military companies since he was little, and he even secretly built his own private base."What are you still standing here for? Aren't you going to go see the darling your beautiful and charming older sister bought for you?"Seeing Leon still standing motionless by the railing, Yenefer playfully scolded him with a chuckle.Leon turned his head to glance at her, then looked towards the estate's main gate.After last night's simulation, he knew that a ripperdoc would be coming to the house, so there wasn't much point in going to look at those biological components now.However, he still casually responded to Yenefer's teasing, and the words that came out of his mouth made Yenefer's heart tremble:"My only darling now is you, older sister. Don't talk nonsense.""Ugh, how disgusting." Yenefer feigned nausea, picked up a nearby water gun, and began to spray Leon.Leon glanced at her again, too lazy to fool around with her anymore. He propped himself on the railing with one hand, nimbly leaped over to dodge the water gun's spray, and instantly dropped down after clearing the railing.Yenefer got up in a panic, ran to the railing, and seeing that Leon hadn't fallen and gotten hurt, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. But what followed was an inexplicable surge of anger."Do you want to die?! Don't do such dangerous things next time!" she yelled angrily.Leon didn't look back, waving his hand dismissively, and walked towards the estate's dark gold gate.It was then that Yenefer, standing on the second-floor balcony, noticed a dark grey sports car slowly approaching their home.It was a mizutani hayabusa MZ2 sports car, a high-performance two-door sports car, and one of the most common sports cars in Night City, beloved by countless middle-class corporate employees."Looks like she's here," Yenefer said, leaning her hands on the railing and tucking back a strand of hair that was gently swaying in the wind....Upon arriving at the main gate, before Leon could open it, the sports car waiting outside began impatiently honking its horn. The car's owner seemed not to care at all whether the horn would disturb the residents, continuously creating a noisy racket outside the gate.Leon pressed the open button, and the dark gold gate gradually swung open.The sports car behind the gate, like a race car given the signal, whizzed past Leon, kicking up a gust of wind.The sports car performed several drifts on the estate's spacious road, its speed seemingly never decreasing, until it finally smoothly drove into the estate's outdoor parking lot."Are you trying to die?! How dare you show off your driving skills in my house!"Yenefer had, at some point, put on her clothes. A sharp and exquisite suit added a touch of heroism to her, and her long hair, tied into a ponytail, swayed as she moved.The mizutani hayabusa sports car's door opened upwards, its slightly glowing LED lights giving it a futuristic feel.What appeared next was a graceful long leg adorned with a crystal high heel, lifted high and highlighted by the warm morning sun, showcasing its beautiful whiteness and smoothness. This was immediately followed by a thick white lab coat and a head of fiery red curly hair, with strands slightly covering her eyebrows. She wore sunglasses, exuding an air of high-spirited confidence.The woman stepped out of the car with elegant and poised movements, but the next scene shattered all that beauty.As soon as she got out of the car, she frantically and immediately rushed to the nearby lawn, feeling dizzy and dry-heaving."Damn it, that's my lawn!" Yenefer erupted in anger.Fortunately, the woman didn't actually vomit; she was just a bit carsick from the drifting and calmed down after a few dry heaves.She took off her sunglasses and put them in her pocket, then turned to Yenefer and chuckled, "Long time no see, Xue. It's rare for you to invite me to your home."Yenefer's eye twitched slightly, and she said disdainfully, "If my brother didn't need these Cyberwares, I wouldn't want you visiting my house for anything.""Let's not talk about that for now. Where's your brother?"The woman waved her hand up and down, as if wanting to dismiss this small interlude, her eyes scanning around, as if searching for today's protagonist."Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Leon. It's a pleasure to meet you, Auntie."Leon also slowly walked from the main gate.Sunlight spilled onto the ground beside him, half of his face bathed in sunlight, the other half in a dimmer shadow. His gentle smile made his entire face appear like a rising spring sun, beautiful and serene.No one could resist such a naturally beautiful face, and this sudden arrival of a woman was no exception. The moment her gaze caught Leon, her Cyberware instantly went rigid.The latest high-vision Cybrid Cyberware magnified to 8X, filling her entire field of vision with Leon's face, as if to imprint the young man before her firmly in her mind.It wasn't until Leon walked up to her and politely extended his hand that she suddenly snapped back to reality."Hello, my name is Liu Ruoying, Chief CyberwareSpecialist at Qian Ti Corporation." She smiled brightly, her eyes fixed eagerly on Leon, stepping forward and gripping Leon's hand tightly with both hands."May I be so bold as to ask, will you marry me?"