2077: V really knows how awesome he is

In the prosthetic clinic, Victor praised Genuine Leather's ink: "I never expected the Tiger Claw Gang to have such technology. It's truly an imaginative idea. However, it's still too rudimentary compared to the 'Hand Prosthetic - Smart Connection.' It can neither provide more RAM nor shorten the lock-on time of smart weapons."

"But the burden on the nerves is almost negligible," V said with a wry smile. "My current condition doesn't allow me to be picky anymore."

"Okay, give me some time, I'll prepare the materials."

V nodded and lay down on the medical bed.

The so-called "genuine skin ink" is actually tattooing, but the Tiger Claw Gang added specially programmed nanorobots to the tattoo ink, allowing the tattoo to connect with the nervous system in the skin, thus enabling the use of intelligent weapons.

V's actions are like dancing on the edge of a cliff; she needs greater power. Since she is a hacker, it is reasonable for her to carry several smart guns with her.

By the time Victor finished his work, it was already 1 a.m.

V pulled down his suit sleeve to cover the tattoo on the back of his hand, pulled out a smart submachine gun he had recently stolen from the Arasaka warehouse from his lower back, pointed the muzzle at Victor, and fired without hesitation.

Da da da!

Bullets gushed out.

But just as they were about to hit Victor, the bullets all changed direction, arcing around and hitting the wall behind Victor precisely.

The 30-round magazine was emptied, but every bullet hit the same spot, leaving only a single bullet hole in the wall.

This is a smart weapon. Each bullet is equipped with a small booster and navigation program to adjust its trajectory at any time. Once locked on, it is guaranteed to hit, making it very suitable for beginners.

Although V is not a novice, she lacks the strength to maintain accurate shooting due to her inability to use her prosthetic body. For now, smart weapons are her best option.

"Cool." Victor whistled. "What a beautiful gun. Is it from Arasaka? I've never seen it on the market before."

"Shingen V-type, prototype gun, exclusively for personal collection by Arasaka employees."

“That’s the advantage of being a big company,” Victor shrugged. “So please settle the bill for the wall repairs.”

V: ...

After V finished transferring the money and prepared to leave, Victor called her back.

“V”.

"What? I've already transferred the money."

“It’s not about the money,” Victor said seriously. “Don’t forget, three minutes.”

V felt a warmth in her heart, gave a thumbs-up, and left.

"What a worrying kid," Victor muttered, turning on the TV to watch his favorite boxing match.

While passing by Misty's fortune-telling shop, V was drawn to some of the new decorations and went inside.

Those were masks hanging on the wall, tarot-themed, and although the artistic styles were quite different, they were out of place in Night City.

"What do you think? This is a new idea I came up with to revitalize the business," Misty said confidently.

V thinks that since her 2077 self has never seen these trash masks, Misty has probably failed.

However, it is worth encouraging.

"Give me one." V decided to support her friend.

"Okay, which one do you want?"

"grim Reaper."

Chapter 13 The Night-Walking Grim Reaper

Watson North, the former industrial hub of Night City.

After the nuclear explosion in 2023, this area became the most prosperous part of Night City, providing abundant industrial supplies for the reconstruction of Night City and a valuable living space for displaced people.

Unfortunately, time flies.

The revitalized Night City no longer needed these low-end industries. With the re-entry of major corporations, the once-thriving Watson Industrial Complex was completely relegated to the dustbin of history. Factories closed, workers lost their jobs, residents moved away, and the tall, spacious factory buildings became gathering places for gangs. In just a few years, Watson Industrial Complex transformed into a paradise for demons and monsters, a place where all sorts of evil spirits roamed freely.

V rode in Drumman's car, cruising through the industrial area.

She is hunting, but has not yet decided on her prey.

Joanne Koch needs guinea pigs, and she also needs a more suitable sparring partner, so she might as well do both at the same time.

So, is it the Vortex Gang or the Cleaners?

The Vortex Gang are lunatics obsessed with cybernetic modifications; each member is a potential patient with cyberpsychosis.

The Cleaners are a group of unscrupulous kidney harvesters who dismember humans like synthetic meat, then laughingly remove organs and prosthetics and throw them into shop windows for sale.

V personally hates the latter more, after all, she herself...

Delaman stopped because a group of Vortex gang lunatics had piled burning cars in the middle of the road, laughing maniacally and firing blanks into the air.

Was it a highway robbery, a planned ambush, or just a spontaneous midnight revelry?

no one knows.

You can never truly understand what the Vortex Gang is thinking, because it's hard to say whether their brains are filled with more flesh or circuit boards.

But V knew that the prey had been identified.

Besides her, several other vehicles were also stopped, with passengers huddled inside in terror, screaming as the vortex gang drew ever closer.

V lowered the car window.

V rolled up the car window.

With just one glance, the madman from the Vortex Gang collapsed, his body convulsing, the electric sparks shooting from his head like the most beautiful fireworks in summer.

V took a sip of his tequila and said, "Old De."

"I'm here."

"Whole Food Factory".

"Yes."

In the darkness of night, the largest synthetic meat production plant in Night City resembles a sinister monster, ready to devour anyone who dares to enter.

Two henchmen of the Vortex Gang stood guard in the corridor, smoking and telling vulgar jokes.

Suddenly, clear footsteps came from the other end of the corridor. The two henchmen quickly threw down their cigarette butts and raised the "Copper-spotted Snake" in their hands.

"Who the hell is here? Get out here!"

No one answered. Suddenly, sparks flew from the heads of the two henchmen, and they collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth.

In the very end, they only saw a pair of blue eyes floating in the darkness.

V entered silently, and wherever it went, not only did the Vortex Gang members fall one after another, but even the surveillance cameras and automatic turrets fell silent.

Not only living things, but even non-living things are subject to the jurisdiction of death.

"So, get away, another away..."

V hummed a song that made your stomach ache, did things that made your head ache, and was in a good mood because she found being a hacker quite interesting.

"Woo!"

"Wow!"

"Uh!"

One by one, members of the Vortex Gang fell, and after a certain number of deaths, they finally caught the attention of the Vortex Gang leader.

"Wait, why is it so quiet outside? Let's go take a look!" Brick was a man with a buzz cut. His cybernetic modifications were extremely advanced. His entire body was covered with exposed coils and tubes, and even his face had been completely removed, leaving only his jaw. The rest of his body was replaced with six red prosthetic eyes and a breathing apparatus that could produce sound.

He and his two underlings walked out of the office at the All Foods factory and were met with a scene of "corpses" lying haphazardly in the workshop.

"Damn it, who is it?" Brick yelled angrily, and then he saw a pair of blue eyes floating in the darkness.

Brick immediately raised the Sadara Tech shotgun in his hand, but a burst of sparks exploded and the Sadara turned into a pile of scrap metal.

V, wearing a death mask, slowly walked out.

"A monster!" The two henchmen screamed in fright amidst the eerie atmosphere.

Brick slapped him away: "You motherfucker, this is a weapon malfunction, she's a hacker!"

Hackers? If they're hackers, then there's nothing to be afraid of. Just die!

The Vortex Gang may revere gods, but they never revere humans. Two henchmen, one drawing a spiked club and the other grabbing a crowbar, charged toward V with shouts.

[Reactivate the Prosthetic Eye]! [Sonic Shock]!

The two henchmen instantly lost consciousness, passing by the sides of the V like two pieces of trash, and crashed into the wall with a thud.

V walked toward Brick.

Brick was shocked and quickly pulled out the DR5 Nova Kinetic Revolver, raising his hand to fire.

V didn't dodge, because there was no need to.

Brick pulled the trigger, but the gun barrel went wildly off course. V had already thrown a Reboot Eye over, and Brick had now lost all his vision.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck!" Brick cursed. He couldn't believe that his ICE had been punctured like a piece of waste paper. It was clearly set up by the gang's top hacker!

When we get back, we'll throw that kid into an industrial microwave oven!

As Brick made up his mind, he kept pulling the trigger. With each gunshot, the DR5 Nova spewed fire, and bullets shot out.

V didn't stop. Bullets kept hitting the machines next to her and the walls behind her, exploding into debris and sparks, but they could never hit her.

Brick, true to his reputation as the leader, recovered faster than most. He vaguely saw V almost within reach and was startled. However, the desperate situation also ignited his ruthlessness. Brick simply threw away his revolver, stretched out his arms, and snapped out a pair of mantis knives.

"Go to hell, you stinky bitch!"

Brick rushed forward.

V stopped, his eyes lit up, and he uploaded the puppet.

[Prosthetic body malfunction]!

With a whoosh, sparks flew from Brick's arms.

[Prosthetic body malfunction]!

Sparks burst from Brick's entire body.

The first [Cyber ​​Malfunction] only destroyed his Mantis Blade, but the second [Cyber ​​Malfunction] destroyed all of his cybernetic implants.

The man who struck fear into the hearts of countless people knelt down in front of V with a thud. With all his prosthetics burned, he couldn't even control his own body, like a broken, nine-handed washing machine.

Now Brick understood why the ICE set up by the gang's top hackers was ineffective—because the person standing in front of him was a super hacker who surpassed even the top level!

The upload speed of this puppet is outrageous. Is it facing a cyborg robot?

"Have you had enough?" V asked.

Brick spat out parts and oil, and asked in a synthesized voice, "What the hell are you...?"

"Then go to sleep." V's eyes lit up with blue light, and the leader of the Vortex Gang completely lost consciousness.

V activated [Target Location], confirmed that all the Vortex Gang members in the entire food factory had fallen asleep, and quietly withdrew.

Just like she came quietly.

"The sun's up, it's a bit blinding." V squinted in the sunlight. "But it's quite warm."

“Joanne, you know Whole Foods, right? Send some people over. The first batch of experimental materials is ready.”

V boarded Delaman's car and headed to Arasaka Tower.

She should go to work.

Daytime shift.

Sasha arrived on time at 9 o'clock.

Compared to yesterday's self-abandonment, Sasha has returned to her former Rainbow Cat form.

“I was fired by Mann.”

V was taken aback: "You're so happy about being fired?"

Sasha laughed and said, "Because it's out of kindness. I'm really not in a good condition to go on missions right now, so they told me to rest. They said, 'You're so rich and powerful, I can make a fortune just by serving you.' How about it, interested in taking care of me?"

"Support you?" V looked Sasha up and down and asked, "You're only half usable right now, can you give me a 50% discount?"