"Body...20?"
"Reflexes 20?!"
"Cool 16"
"Intelligence...6."
After Vik finished speaking, V was stunned for a moment before looking at Mercer: "How are these numbers calculated? What level is 20 supposed to be?"
"This means you truly have the potential to rival, even surpass Adam Smasher."
Viktor exclaimed in amazement, momentarily at a loss for words.
Mercer, however, said leisurely: "6."
"What?" V was taken aback, then quickly understood, her pretty face flushing bright red.
Mercer wore a mask, so V couldn't see his expression, but from his trembling body at that moment, it was clear he was struggling to hold back laughter.
"Ahahahaha! Intelligence 6, hahaha!"
Mercer finally couldn't contain his laughter, while V angrily clenched her fists: "No! No no no! There must be something wrong with the machine! 20 points; I've heard people mention this, isn't that the maximum? The machine must be inaccurate! Doctor Viktor, test me again!"
Viktor didn't know whether to laugh or cry; it was the first time someone had doubted his machine's accuracy.
"There's no problem with it, V." Viktor said gently: "Your physical condition is excellent, and the Intelligence attribute doesn't represent your... I mean, it doesn't fully represent your IQ. This attribute mainly refers to the computing power your brain can provide for programs, which is more important for netrunners. For ordinary people, even a score of 3 is normal."
"What about him? What did he get?" V asked, clearly unconvinced.
"Ah, you're better off not knowing the exact number; I'm afraid it might make you feel inferior." After Mercer finished speaking, V turned away angrily and fell silent.
Kiwi, somewhat confused, asked: "This number... 20 points, isn't that a bit too high?"
"It is indeed very high." Viktor sighed deeply: "This is the first time I've measured such a value. Based on the data, it's almost the same as Mercer, both hitting the maximum my machine can test. Mercer, the reason she's slightly lower than your data is that my machine actually uses 21 to represent values beyond the upper limit. Compared to you, V just hasn't exceeded it by much yet, not reaching that extreme value. Strictly speaking, 20 points is the upper limit my machine can measure, and it's also widely considered the human limit."
He glanced at Kiwi and said meaningfully: "Let me put it this way; if I hadn't deleted the built-in corporate backdoor from my machine, the company would be calling right now."
Kiwi fell silent, quietly glancing at Mercer and V.
Hearing this, V became excited again: "So, I really am a genius?"
"Yes, you truly are a genius."
Viktor spoke honestly: "Before installing cyberware, you might have only felt that you were just a bit stronger and reacted a bit faster than others. But once you equip cyberware that can fully utilize your physical potential, you'll quickly discover just how vast the gap between you and others really is.
Let me put it this way: if someone with a Body of 10 had the same Sandevistan cyberware installed as you, they'd probably only be able to use it once or twice, lasting just three or four seconds each time before their nose starts bleeding, their body goes weak, and they feel dizzy.
But you, you could easily handle seven or eight seconds, catch your breath after stopping, and then activate it again. You could do this four or five times in a row and at worst, you'd just be completely exhausted.
And take something like the Sandevistan. Although it's described as "slowing down time," what it really does is accelerate your body.
In the one second that feels slowed to a normal person, they might only run twenty meters, but under stimulation, you could reach speeds of nearly thirty or even forty meters per second.
Or consider Gorilla Arms. Even if an average person replaces their entire arm, they might max out at three or four hundred kilograms per arm. But with your natural physical gifts, you could achieve an astonishing seven or eight hundred kilograms.
And this is still far from the limit of what your body is capable of."
At this point, Vik shook his head with a sigh, but then his expression turned serious as he looked at V and said, "But I absolutely do not recommend modifying yourself to become like Adam Smasher, all machine and no flesh."
He turned to Mercer, addressing him as well: "Even Gorilla Arms, at their core, just use additional Muscle Enhancement to strengthen your own muscles. But if you replace your body with machinery like Adam Smasher did...
It means your Body potential becomes almost meaningless. Your physical strength would then depend solely on the power of the machines you're equipped with.
Mercer, for a netrunner like you, it's not as big a deal; your brain is what matters most. But for a genius like V with limitless physical potential, it's best to maximize her innate physical abilities and modify in that direction.
It's better to use Muscle Enhancement all over rather than casually replacing all her flesh with artificial parts, and definitely don't swap her arms with standard Gorilla Arms.
That could very likely cause permanent damage to the physical potential of her arms."
Mercer nodded in understanding. "I get it. It's best to stick with enhancement components and avoid full mechanical replacements."
"However... if there are some truly powerful components, sometimes you have no choice but to replace," Viktor shifted the topic. "Humans are just too fragile in some areas, like joint cartilage or Achilles tendons.
With her Body potential, once she has Muscle Enhancement installed, if she doesn't also replace corresponding parts with artificial cyberware, her original components will wear out quickly. She'd end up with sports injuries like torn Achilles tendons or ACL tears.
I guess that's the downside of being a genius."
Viktor gave Mercer a wry smile. "Just like you; if you don't install additional cooling, the better you utilize your brain's potential, the more likely you are to overheat and damage your own body."
V's breathing grew heavy as she listened, so she really was a super genius?
She instinctively glanced at Mercer. Before today, even she hadn't known her potential was this extreme. But Mercer...
Well, it was almost as if he'd recognized her potential the moment he first laid eyes on her.
So by that logic, are people like Kiwi, or even that little girl Rebecca, also some kind of geniuses among ordinary folks? His insight is just too sharp, isn't it? How does he even do that?
"Alright, V, if you don't have any questions, we'll get ready for the surgery." Viktor turned away, picking up the tablet on the table to start discussing business with Mercer.
Friends are friends, but business still needs to be done properly.
"First, the cybereyes. Her current ones are too low-grade. I suspect that with her reaction speed, she might even see motion blur or experience frame drops when looking at certain fast-moving objects."
After Mercer finished speaking, V looked surprised: "How did you know? Uh, I do occasionally feel like there's a blur when looking at really fast things."
"Because I'm smart." With that one line, Mercer left V speechless, and she turned away in frustration. She had a feeling that the whole "Intelligence 6" thing was probably going to be something Mercer would tease her about for the rest of her life.
"Heh, so... what about this Kiroshi model?" Viktor knew Mercer understood cyberware, so he consulted him first.
V trusted Mercer too, but she couldn't help sitting up to take a look as well, mostly out of excitement; she was curious about what kind of high-end gear Mercer would pick for her.
"Seems a bit ordinary. Don't you have any special models, like something similar to the "Oracle"?"
Mercer glanced at the list Vik had provided.
"No, those high-end models are usually too expensive for anyone to afford. If I stock them, I'd need a specialized refrigeration unit to store them. But I can place an order now; with their efficiency, it'll be delivered within half an hour."
As he spoke, Viktor flipped to another page of the list, which contained the supplier catalogs provided to doctors like him.
After looking for a while, Mercer finally made a decision: "Let's go with this Kiroshi Cockatrice for her. Its built-in smart analysis scan will help her more accurately identify enemy weak points.
Plus, the 10x zoom and ultra-high frame rate will improve her reaction speed.
Although its ability to scan electronic devices is a bit lacking, she doesn't really need that anyway. This cybereye is pretty much top-tier for close combat, right?"
"It's just a bit pricey. The standard version alone costs 70,000 eddies. I heard they'll release a premium Cockatrice later; maybe you should wait?"
Vik couldn't help shaking his head at Mercer's extravagance: "My suggestion is to just go with a regular high-end cybereye. For example, this standard optical model, with a couple of plugins, isn't much worse than the Cockatrice.
Not many people use the Cockatrice right now. I think the tech needs another version or two to stabilize."
"Then let's go with the Kiroshi "Clairvoyant," and add a Threat Detector. That'll help V quickly highlight targets in chaotic fights, scan for dangers, and assist her judgment."
After Mercer finished, Vik nodded: "That's a good choice. Combined, it'll only cost 50,000 eddies, and I also have plenty of compatible apps, like the same one you have in your cybereye for interfering with cameras."
"Mm, once I crack the NCPD's database, I might even be able to install an NCPD-grade scanning program. Hey Vik, want me to sell it to you cheap when it's ready?"
After Mercer said this, Viktor chuckled lightly: "Sure, if you can really get your hands on a scanning program that links to NCPD data, the street kids are gonna love you for it.
They're always afraid of getting into arguments on the streets without knowing who they're messing with."
"Easy enough. V, what do you think?"
Mercer turned to look at V.
V looked bewildered: "The Clairvoyant does look expensive, but are they really necessary? I think the basic model, the one for twenty-something thousand, should be enough."
"First, the zoom speed. The Clairvoyant model zooms much faster than standard ones. Second, the scanning speed is about 1.4 times quicker compared to regular versions, plus it has a person-highlighting feature.
Most importantly, although it's a cybereye primarily designed for long-range observation, it doesn't drop frames when you activate your Sandevistan. The ultra-high refresh rate and resolution perfectly match your accelerated body.
With a standard cybereye, I'm afraid if you accelerate too fast with the Sandevistan, your vision might get blurry, and that could be deadly."
After Mercer finished, Vik also nodded, agreeing with his point: "True, your speed is probably way faster than most people's."
V said nothing more, just clicked her tongue quietly to herself.
How much would she owe Mercer after this?
"The neural link isn't expensive; just get the same model as mine. But Vik, I'd like an extra storage slot installed for her. I'll need to add one myself later too; two slots just aren't enough.
From now on, my people will standardize with three slots."
Mercer and Vik continued discussing.
"Mm, that's doable. Not difficult," Vik nodded.
"Subdermal Armor... Vik, any suggestions?" Mercer asked.
Vik thought for a moment and said, "I don't recommend installing heavy Subdermal Armor. Cellular Adapter would actually be better.
This Cellular Adapter uses nanite injection technology. By injecting nanites, it forms a protective nano-layer under the skin.
Its bulletproof capability might be slightly weaker than Subdermal Armor, but it's very resilient, provides excellent cushioning against impacts, and has some self-repair ability.
Most importantly, it's flexible and doesn't require major surgery to open up the skin; just inject the nanites.
For street combat these days, it offers sufficient defense against regular firepower. With her Sandevistan, she won't need to face heavy firepower head-on anyway.
Honestly, against really heavy firepower, even heavy Subdermal Armor has its limits. Against that kind of weaponry, wearing solid body armor is more useful than having a thick layer under your skin."
Mercer nodded, also tempted: "Get me one of those too..."
"Let's wait until after the netrunner cyberware is installed," Vik shook his head.
"This is so expensive. The basic model costs seventy thousand eddies," V couldn't help but say. "Regular heavy Subdermal Armor is only fifty thousand."
"What's more important, your life or your money?" Mercer retorted, and V fell silent, sulking.
"And the Kerenzikov, she should get that too, right?
It'll help her control the Sandevistan's acceleration effectively and maximize her reaction speed and physical strength even when the Sandevistan isn't active.
Combined, her combat effectiveness in slowed time should reach the top tier."
After Mercer finished, Vik sighed: "How about we take it slow? At least don't install the Kerenzikov and Sandevistan together. Let her adjust a bit first, Mercer."
"Alright, Vik, I'll take your advice. Let's skip the Kerenzikov for now and just add the energy-saving shock absorption mod for the hands, along with matching artificial joints and tendon reinforcement. Then we'll install the Sandevistan."
After Mercer finished speaking, Vik turned to V: "You sure you're going with his plan?
While I think your physique can handle it, the Cellular Adapter injection alone is already a significant burden. Adding joint and tendon modifications could easily trigger inflammation and rejection reactions.
On top of that, the Sandevistan, a piece of cyberware that accelerates your neural responses, will put a lot of strain on your nervous system once installed.
You might suffer from headaches for days, and the inflammation could make you really miserable."
"...Do it." V gritted her teeth and agreed.
She felt Mercer wouldn't harm her.
"V," Mercer hesitated at the last moment, "maybe we should just install the Sandevistan first and let you adjust for a while... I'm actually not entirely sure about your tolerance."
Seeing him hesitate, V relaxed and smiled. "It's fine, go ahead. Worst case, I'll be laid up for a few days. I've got the Pain Editor; if it gets bad, I'll just crank up the settings."
"No, you should actually lower that setting; no, better yet, just remove it entirely. Numbing the pain might improve your combat performance, but it'll also make it easy to ignore your body's warning signs.
By the time you realize something's wrong, it's often too late."
Mercer shook his head firmly, speaking seriously. "Listen to me, V, let's just take out the Pain Editor altogether."
"...Alright, it's just a piece of junk anyway. No big deal if it's not installed."
V was surprisingly compliant.
Viktor glanced at Mercer and chuckled. "She trusts you a lot."
"Of course, my charm speaks for itself; those who get it, get it." Mercer laughed heartily before adding, "That's all, then. We'll hold off on the Self-ICE for another week. Don't want to overload you too much."
Viktor grumbled, "I wouldn't allow anything harsher anyway. Girl, if the pain gets unbearable, just curse him out; not everyone has nerves of steel like him."
"Haha, it's fine, Vik. I can handle it." V said, affectionately using the nickname "Vik."
Viktor shook his head and started contacting suppliers to arrange delivery.
Mercer reminded him, "Vik, you got any new cyberdecks in stock? Don't forget, I've got a lady here who needs one too."
"Yep, aside from Arasaka's new MK3 that hasn't hit the market yet, I've got all the good stuff; Zetatech, NetWatch, you name it."
Vik nodded and glanced at Kiwi. "Should we do hers first? Just swapping out the neural link and cyberdeck won't take long."
"Sure." V got up from the operating chair.
"I..." Kiwi looked hesitant. "It must cost a lot, right, Mercer? My current gear still works fine..."
"I know it works, but "works" and "works well" are two different things. It's not like I'm giving it to you for free; I'm offering you a loan. You'll have to pay it back.
Just don't blame me for pushing you to upgrade your cyberware."
Mercer said.
Kiwi shook her head. "How could I blame you? I just... never mind. Thank you, A. I'll pay you back as soon as I can."
Mercer counted the money in his wallet. Thank goodness he'd made some cash from El Capitán, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to afford upgrading both their cyberware today.
V's setup was fortunate in that the Sandevistan didn't cost anything, but even so, the cybereye, subdermal armor, joints, tendons, and neural link still came to around 150,000 to 160,000 eddies.
A cyberdeck would set her back another 40,000 to 50,000.
Sigh. Broke. Still way too broke.
V scratched her head and stayed silent; mainly because she didn't know what to say.
The money spent on this round of cybernetic modifications was enough to buy her outright.
"Alright, Kiwi, go get checked out."
Mercer had Kiwi lie down for a scan as well.
After examining the results for a while, Vik delivered his conclusion.
"Intelligence 14, Reflexes 12, Cool 13, Body 9… Finally, an ordinary genius."
Vik let out a long breath.
"I count as a genius?" Kiwi sounded a bit lost.
"Yeah, don't compare yourself to Mercer or V. Their stats aren't exactly a useful benchmark."
Viktor spoke lightly, "Let me put it this way; for ordinary folks, most attributes don't go past 8.
A score between 6 and 8 is already considered passable.
8 to 10, that's excellent by normal standards.
10 to 12 is basically what you'd see in standout mercs and top-tier street operators."
He smiled at Kiwi and said, "If you plan on becoming a merc later, with your Intelligence stat, as long as you focus on honing your skills and keep your gear up to date,
you could definitely become a top-tier netrunner here in Night City.
Plenty of corporate net techs are considered promising with evaluations around 12 or 13. Higher than that, say, 14 or 15, and they'd be fast-tracked right into the company's talent database.
If you don't believe me, ask Mercer. He knows this stuff better."
Mercer nodded in agreement. "Pretty much. At Arasaka, if you test above 10 in any attribute before age 10, you get sent for standardized training.
Those in the 12 to 14 range usually graduate straight into full-time positions.
Anyone scoring higher than that generally gets funneled into special projects or advanced training; it's a whole complicated process, but most end up in specialized divisions like counter-intelligence right out of training."
In Mercer's estimation, the novice netrunners recruited for the Star Project averaged around 14 to 16, any lower, and they wouldn't have the skill to handle the Old Net; any higher, and it'd be a waste to use them as mining GPUs.
In other words, Kiwi really was something of a genius among ordinary people.
"Mmm… Your physical condition isn't great. The potential is there, but you don't look healthy."
That was Vik's assessment of Kiwi.
Kiwi nodded silently, offering no explanation.
Mercer simply added, "She's had a rough past."
"Looks like it. You've put your body through a lot with back-alley ripperdocs and taken your share of damage… At least you didn't install any sketchy cyberware. You've had some skin replaced?
Parts of your skeleton, too," Viktor remarked.
Kiwi kept her head down, her expression calm, and said softly, "Some injuries… I didn't have the money for proper treatment, so I had to make do with cheap replacements."
During her time as a doll, employees at the club forcibly required those whose looks didn't meet standards to undergo procedures. They were forced to get cosmetic surgery, body adjustments, even injected with certain drugs. Kiwi, blessed with natural beauty, escaped that fate, yet she suffered all the more for it. After all, cyberware can be replaced when broken, but what about her?
When her bones were shattered, she could only replace parts of them; when her skin was torn, she could only graft on new patches.
"Mm." Viktor, with his wealth of experience, could tell what she'd been through just from some of her physical data.
He wasn't one to poke at sore spots, so he simply said, "I'll need to replace and fix all the damaged parts. I'll also swap in better RealSkinn so you'll feel like you were never hurt at all."
"As for the rest, just get some proper rest for a while and you should recover. Netrunners' bodies aren't exactly known for being in great shape anyway."
Kiwi stayed silent. She hated surgery, she'd seen some of her sisters go under the knife only to lose their minds not long after.
Others, fitted with second-hand cyberware, suffered constant discomfort, vomiting blood, even festering wounds at the surgical sites, unable to open their eyes or mouths.
She'd seen it all, over and over.
Those broken dolls usually didn't last more than a month before being tossed out like trash or repaired repeatedly until they were utterly spent.
But when Kiwi glanced at Mercer beside her, she found herself surprisingly calm. Softly, she replied, "Alright, whatever you say, doc."
"I'll be right here, don't worry," Mercer reassured her.
Kiwi smiled faintly and relaxed into the chair.
"What cyberdeck are you planning to switch to?"
Viktor began prepping for the surgery.
"Just something that keeps up with the times. NetWatch's? What models do you have here?"
Mercer asked curiously.
"NetWatch's consumer models are usually a step below what their agents use. The Tetratronic Rippler Mk.3, Raven Microcyber Mk.2, and Militech Paraline Mk.3 are all solid choices," Viktor explained.
"They probably won't update for another year or two. But honestly, just pick any, cyberdecks get updated so fast, whatever you choose will be outdated in a few years anyway."
"That Arasaka Mk.2 you're using is decent too. Wait for the Mk.3 to drop and upgrade then; it should serve you well for two or three years. With the new version coming out, the old ones are on clearance, so prices are low."
"How much for the Mk.2?" Kiwi suddenly spoke up.
"With my insider clearance price, just twenty-seven thousand," Viktor said. Kiwi nodded and looked at Mercer.
Mercer thought for a moment. "What about the Militech Paraline Mk.3?"
"That one's a bit pricier, thirty-six thousand. It just came out, and its performance is on par with the upcoming Arasaka Mk.3."
After Vik finished, Mercer said, "Let's go with the Paraline 3 then. No need to skimp over ten thousand eddies."
"Swap her cybereye for Kiroshi 'The Oracle' Optics too. No need for extra plugins; the built-in electronic scan is enough."
Kiwi could only nod, though she felt a complicated mix of emotions knowing Mercer was still using an Mk.2 himself.
"Alright then. Relax, girl. The neural link procedure will require a short nap... it'll be over before you know it." Old Vik caught Mercer's drift and couldn't help but feel impressed.
Mercer really knew how to take care of his own.
He'd seen all sorts of people, including so-called "big shots" from gangs bringing in their underlings. They'd talk a big game about getting the best gear, but once the prices came out, many would balk and start hunting for "value." In all his years of practice, Vik had only encountered someone like Mercer a handful of times, someone willing to lend money to those beneath him and even insist on using top-tier equipment.
Kiwi gave a soft hum and took one last look at Mercer before the anesthetic was administered.
"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."
Mercer saw right through her thoughts, and Kiwi, slightly embarrassed, closed her eyes, gave a faint acknowledgment, and waited for the injection.
Once the anesthetic took effect, Kiwi quickly drifted into unconsciousness.
Viktor took out an injector and gave himself a dose of stabilizer in the arm.
"You and V go watch some TV. There's cold beer in the fridge, just don't get drunk."
Mercer nodded but suddenly asked, "Vik, mind if I use your machine? I want to take another look at my old cyberdeck."
"Sure," Viktor replied casually.
Most people weren't even allowed to touch his equipment, but for Mercer, he showed unexpected leniency. Though he'd never say it out loud, Vik saw him less as a friend and more as a kid who'd been through too much, someone he couldn't help but feel protective of.
Mercer told V to wait on the couch, and V obediently grabbed a beer and settled in to watch a boxing match. Meanwhile, Mercer picked up the tools and retrieved the cyberdeck containing the "Soulkiller" protocol, which Vik had stored in a cooling unit.
Not daring to connect it directly to his own ports, Mercer used Vik's offline terminal to interface with the disconnected cyberdeck, studying its programs through the screen.
His fingers flew across the keyboard. Even without a neural link to browse data via brainwaves, his skill with hardware and code was more than enough to navigate the system effortlessly.
The deeper he dug, the more focused his expression became.
Just as he'd suspected, this thing contained Soulkiller.
And not just any version, it was pre-programmed and ready to deploy.
As he delved further, analyzing the code structure, he realized it was nested, layer upon layer. Once he deciphered the purpose of that embedded program, he frowned and scoffed inwardly: That old woman really was trying to screw me over.
The subroutine hidden within Soulkiller was simple: the moment this cyberdeck connected to a human consciousness, it would automatically trigger Soulkiller.
Soulkiller would instantly rip the user's soul away, uploading their consciousness directly into storage.
Mercer guessed the next step would be an immediate local backup of his consciousness, sent straight to Mikoshi. After that, would his consciousness be altered and then reinjected? Is that something Arasaka can already do?
He thought it over. It wasn't entirely impossible. Back when Alt Cunningham was still human, Soulkiller had uploaded her directly to Mikoshi, though she'd managed to fight her way back out. The key was not to disconnect, to keep the consciousness linked to the body.
Or maybe they didn't even care if he could return. Maybe the primary goal was just to get Soulkiller to upload his consciousness into storage.
Then what? Was that old woman's real aim to test whether this cyberdeck could achieve a local upload, modify the consciousness, and then shove the altered version back into Mercer's body? Did she actually have any successful cases?
Mercer continued studying it for a while, then attempted an offline operation first, deleting the auto-start code.
That was when he discovered... damn it, this piece-of-junk cyberdeck actually had a built-in mini AI!
Mercer swiftly unplugged the cable, then scowled as he quickly secured Vik's computer.
Well, no luck for now.
Even if Mercer could take on a small AI without server computing support on his own, he'd still need to connect first and program using his own brainwaves.
And the moment he connected, that built-in AI would immediately activate Soulkiller and attack him.
Could Mercer withstand a Soulkiller program driven by an AI?
Uh, he'd rather not find out.
He was a little crazy, but not crazy enough to challenge Soulkiller for fun.
If he really had a death wish, why not try playing with the Blackwall instead? He could learn from NUSA's "Songbird" and use the Blackwall to kill, wouldn't that be more exciting than messing with Soulkiller?
The real significance of Soulkiller was achieving complete digitization of human consciousness for cybernetic immortality, but Mercer wasn't afraid of death right now. If he really wanted cybernetic immortality, he could just go straight to Alt.
Mercer set down the cyberdeck, fixed Vik's computer first, then fell into deep thought.
Why not just delete this damn Soulkiller program altogether?
Crack this thing open, find the storage drive, and force-format it. No matter how powerful the AI is, it'd be useless then.
Once he learned how Soulkiller worked, he could rewrite it himself or make a copy, then replace the AI inside with his own Morning Star.
Or he could just set up his own server dedicated to running Soulkiller, then he'd have his own "little Mikoshi."
An AI that could control Soulkiller was far inferior to Militech's Canto Mk.6, which could manipulate the Blackwall. Mercer wasn't exactly lacking a rogue AI or two.
If the AI he trained wasn't strong enough, he could always ask Alt and her kind to help capture a rogue AI, shouldn't be too hard, right?
The more Mercer thought about it, the more he believed his judgment was correct. At the very least, if he wiped the AI, this cyberdeck would be usable right away!
The hardware specs of this cyberdeck were almost on par with Militech's Mk.6... massive 11 standard units of RAM, ultra-fast data transfer, top-tier CPU and GPU.
What more could he ask for?
"Vik, what if I just format the program inside?" Mercer suggested.
Viktor gave a soft hum. "Sure, but if you do that, your cyberdeck will be left with just the hardware. You'll have to handle all the software yourself, even the basic operating system will need to be rebuilt."
"Honestly, though, I think that might be for the better. I took a look at the programs in there and, to be frank, I can't make sense of them."
"Arasaka's software is tricky, but their hardware is truly top-notch. This is probably the best cyberdeck I've ever seen."
"You could just port your Mk.2's operating system and programs over, optimize them a bit, should be compatible."
Mercer decided to act on it immediately. "Then I'll just format it myself and install it today."
"Today? Mercer, your previous surgery hasn't fully healed yet, has it?" Viktor said disapprovingly. But Mercer had made up his mind: "I feel perfectly fine, as you can see. I'm not the slightest bit uncomfortable. You could say the previous cyberware installation was just like replacing a part for me, no real burden at all."
"You're really insane."
Viktor paused his work because the Kiroshi delivery had arrived.
He said to Mercer, "Go get it. The ordered cybereye is here. I told them to leave it at the door and go. It's right outside."
Mercer got up to retrieve it for him. The speed of Kiroshi's delivery service was truly impressive, it had only been twenty-some minutes, and they'd already made it to this remote alley.
V voluntarily stood up to help. While moving the refrigerated container storing the cyberware with him, V whispered, "Just listen to the doc, will you? Is upgrading your gear that urgent?"
"First, because I really don't feel burdened. Second, we're pulling that job on Biotechnica, I need to ensure I'm in peak condition."
After Mercer finished speaking, V fell silent, just glancing at him a few times before somewhat preoccupiedly putting the items away and returning to sit on the couch.
Mercer, steeling himself, proceeded to fully format the programs of the "SoulKiller" cyberdeck.
He borrowed Vik's spare Exogloves, slipped them onto his arms, and gave himself a shot of stabilizer.
Viktor was somewhat worried about his skill level, but seeing Mercer's adept movements, he expressed surprise: "You've used something like this before?"
"Arasaka's cyberware courses even teach you how to perform surgery. They use BD wreaths for immersive hands-on practice, I've gone through similar procedures during training."
"Vik, I did graduate from the intermediate course, after all, and made it halfway through the advanced one... just didn't have enough time to finish."
"Though, in Arasaka's terminology, your method is called an 'emergency measure.' They don't use these external mechanical arms anymore, modifying your own arm directly is more efficient."
"I'm not like you; I'm not interested in modifications. But you're really something, managing to graduate from Arasaka's intermediate course, that's no small feat."
Seeing how skilled his movements were, Viktor stopped worrying and focused on replacing the cybereye for the unconscious Kiwi.
After who knows how long, Vik spoke up: "Kiwi's surgery is done..."
"Kiwi, rest for a bit first," Mercer said without looking up.
He had now powered down the cyberdeck, separately removed the program chip and storage chip, and planned to format each one individually.
These chips were extremely delicate; Mercer had to be extra careful to avoid any scenario where, during formatting, an AI with some special program might initiate electronic countermeasures, fighting back and ultimately burning out the chip.
The simplest and most direct method was to first disassemble it to ensure the chip couldn't access the cyberdeck's CPU and GPU, then limit the power supply voltage to prevent the chip from overclocking.
Finally, he would try to format it. If that failed, the only option would be to delete and rewrite the chip's program entirely.
Kiwi softly hummed in acknowledgment, rubbed her head, and was helped by V to rest on the couch, while V immediately lay down on it. Vik gave himself another injection... V watched with curiosity. "I've seen docs get their hands modded, Vik. Why haven't you tried it? Always jabbing yourself can't be comfortable."
"Not too bad, really. Got plenty of strength in these arms. Main thing is the precision needed for surgery, better safe than sorry at my age."
Vik smiled gently. "No need to worry."
V shook her head, then glanced over at Mercer and whispered, "How much is that Sandevistan he's gonna install for me?"
Vik chuckled. "Hard to say. If it were corporate retail, could run you hundreds of thousands. But this one's secondhand, refurbished, so not too pricey."
"Still gotta be two or three hundred thousand, right?" V sounded uneasy.
"Yeah, most used ones go for tens of thousands, but this one's a bit pricier."
After Vik's reply, V couldn't help sneaking another look at Mercer. "Is he always this nice?"
"I thought you knew him better than I do."
Vik picked up his tablet to set up the procedure. "Alright, I need to remove your Pain Editor first, then swap out the neural link and cybereye, finally install the Sandevistan and inject the Cellular Adapter. The surgery'll take all afternoon."
"Got it."
V was nervous, though not about the operation itself, more from the thrill of soon becoming one of those street toughs who could activate a Sandevistan. She was practically itching for it.
But just before the surgery, Vik suddenly teased in a playful tone, "The Sandevistan's not too bad, just need to work on your back. But the Cellular Adapter requires a full-body injection... so you'll have to strip naked. Maybe let Mercer handle that part? It's the simplest procedure, I'm sure he learned it at Arasaka. I'll just step out and chill with Misty for a bit."
Mercer looked up, baffled, taking a moment to process Vik's meaning. He scratched his mask awkwardly and, for reasons even he didn't understand, nodded. "I don't mind... good practice, I guess."
V's face flushed bright red. "Vik! No, it's not like that between us... Mercer!"
"Then you choose," Mercer said matter-of-factly, handing the decision to her. "Who do you want performing your full-body procedure?"
Vik found it amusing, watching the two young ones squirm.
He'd only meant it as a joke, but now V was blushing, and Mercer seemed oddly willing. Looks like he might actually have to vacate the operating table.
V was speechless, her face burning. She really didn't have those kinds of feelings for Mercer...
Well, not exactly none. She thought he was decent, but that was about it, just a tiny bit of a crush.
Who'd fall for a short guy who always wore a mask?
Certainly not her, V decided.
No way! The kind of guy she'd like had to be built, handsome, reliable, not some old horndog like Mercer who made a habit of rescuing pretty girls.
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
But, uh... V glanced at Vik, then at Mercer.
It was just a surgery, after all. Better to let Mercer do it than have the old man handle it.
Even though you shouldn't really care who your doctor is, given the choice, she'd rather it be Mercer.
"Are you sure you can actually do this? Don't screw up the surgery and leave me dead on the operating table, that'd make me the biggest joke ever."
V muttered under her breath.
Mercer, however, spoke with complete seriousness: "The Cellular Adapter procedure really isn't that difficult. It's just about precisely injecting the nanites under your skin, a matter of poking you seven or eight times all over, and that's it. After that, it's just monitoring the machines to make sure the nanites spread evenly, and guiding them with surgical tools if necessary. Don't worry, this kind of surgery was basically beginner-level in the courses I took."
Mercer had to admit, upon reflection, that he wasn't too keen on V being seen by anyone else, even if it was a doctor.
How to put it... a 2D waifu is still a waifu, right? He had to admit, he did have a bit of a soft spot for V, both in the game and now in reality, this carefree, pretty girl was genuinely likable.
If he had no other choice, fine, but the thing was, he actually knew how to perform the surgery.
Might as well do it himself.
Gain some experience now, so that if he ever needed to operate on Lucy in the future... he could handle it himself.
Nearby, Kiwi wore a complicated expression. She was starting to believe V's nonsense, was this guy really not being so nice to them just because they were pretty?
"Ahem, I really just want to practice," Mercer's transparent excuse made both Vik and Kiwi burst out laughing.
V turned her face away, her eyes darting around. "Fine, you do it then... but you'd better have some medical ethics, no groping! I'm being nice letting you gain experience here. But if I wake up and something feels off, I won't hesitate to cause a scene. Women from Heywood aren't to be messed with."
Mercer glanced over at Kiwi, and her complicated look made him a bit awkward, but then he thought better of it and declared righteously:
"What kind of person do you take me for? My main goal is to gain experience, so in the future, when we have the means, we can handle our own people's surgeries ourselves. V, I'm a good man with principles!"
"Mainly experience operating on girls, right? If it were Pilar, you'd probably be too disgusted to even touch him," Kiwi said meaningfully.
"Don't be so vulgar about a doctor performing surgery!" Mercer stated with righteous indignation.
Viktor chimed in with a teasing tone: "Oh really? Then I'll have to keep an eye on things."
"Ah, come on, Vik, not you too... no good deed goes unpunished," Mercer grumbled.
V rolled her eyes and made up her mind, let Mercer handle the injection procedure. "Do I need to change into surgical gowns?"
"Yeah, there's a bathroom in the room. Just change in there and come back out."
V got up, grabbed the surgical gown, and went to change. When she returned, she saw Mercer once again absorbed in tinkering with that cyberdeck.
Her mind was a mess. She didn't get it, originally, it was just a surgery, and she hadn't thought much of it. But after what Vik said, she couldn't stop thinking: Mercer was going to see her naked.
This is surgery! What am I even thinking?
Lost in these chaotic thoughts, V sat down in the chair and resorted to an ostrich mentality, saying, "Vik, just put me under already. I can't wait any longer."
Viktor stifled a laugh and, without another word, picked up the anesthetic and knocked her out with one quick injection.
And Mercer, after a brief moment of awkwardness, truly focused wholeheartedly on the task at hand. He worked with deft efficiency. With no AI interference and just a simple format, he restored the cyberdeck to its factory settings within an hour, wiping it clean as a blank slate.
After reassembling it, he ran several tests on the device to confirm that no residual data remained in the cyberdeck. Only then did Mercer dare to plug in the data cable and begin programming using his own brainwaves.
This time things moved much faster. Mercer first studied the original software program, compared it with his MK3 system software, and ultimately decided against a simple program transfer.
Instead, he used the original program architecture to write a new operating system from scratch, preserving the framework that could support AI functionality.
Unlike his brute-force method of cramming Morning Star into his cyberdeck, Arasaka had specifically written software and paired it with hardware for AI in this special model, allowing the AI to more efficiently utilize the cyberdeck's data.
After tinkering for another half hour, Mercer finally got the thing fully operational, naming the internal operating system "Morning Star V1.0."
Afterward, he sterilized the cyberdeck and placed it back in the refrigeration unit, waiting for Viktor to finish up on his end.
Viktor quickly completed the neural link and cybereye procedures, also removing the junk Pain Editor that had originally been installed in V.
He probably thought Mercer had real feelings for V, why else would he spend so much money on her?
So, he took extra care, unlike his usual approach with patients where he'd just cut open the surgical gown and start operating.
Instead, he turned V over, carefully cutting open only the necessary part of the surgical gown for the procedure, then opened her back to perform the Sandevistan installation.
Once the installation was complete and tested, Viktor let out a long sigh of relief and sat up.
"Mercer, she's all yours now. Once you finish the injection, the anesthesia should be wearing off. Remember to adjust her cybereye, calibrate it, and don't forget the other tests. If you run into trouble, just call me."
After saying this, Viktor leisurely stood up, grabbed a cigarette and a beer, and headed out: "I need a drink to wind down for a bit."
"Take it easy, Vik. You still have to operate on me later."
Mercer reminded him as he took over Vik's spot and sat down.
Viktor chuckled a couple of times: "Don't worry. This is the first time I've had someone take over mid-surgery. Just don't ruin my reputation."
"Don't worry, I'm confident. I may joke around, but I would never mess with V's body."
Mercer's expression was dead serious as he picked up Vik's stabilizer and injected himself, then put on surgical gloves and a gown, familiarizing himself with Vik's equipment.
He then began operating the instruments with professional ease, checking and setting the data.
Seeing this, Vik cheerfully took his beer and left.
He thought it would be nice if Mercer really did like V. He felt that although V seemed careless on the surface, she was actually quite sensitive.
And she was capable enough to handle the trouble Mercer brought with him.
She was well-suited for someone like Mercer, who had a lot on his mind.
And though V never said it out loud, she seemed both grateful and trusting of Mercer. Maybe with a little push, things could work out between them?
Of course, if Vik had known about Rebecca and Lucy, he would never have gotten involved in Mercer's love life.
Mercer unceremoniously opened V's surgical gown to prepare for the procedure, giving her a once-over and nodding to himself.
Not a bad figure at all.
But he only looked for a moment, a doctor should act like a doctor. V trusted him enough to let him perform the surgery, and if he stared with the mindset of a lecher, he'd disgust himself.
Mercer quickly immersed himself in the procedure, treating V as just another "virtual NPC" from the Arasaka training modules, performing the surgery with detached precision.
The injection procedure's only requirements were a steady hand and accurate needle placement, something Mercer handled effortlessly. He precisely administered the serum beneath V's skin.
Monitoring the nanites' expansion in real-time through the equipment, he occasionally made minor adjustments by reopening small sections of V's skin.
In just over twenty minutes, the dermal injection was complete, an astonishingly fast pace.
Mercer closed the incisions. In the Net, sutures weren't necessary; a simple application of Bone and Tissue Glue sufficed, followed by antiseptic and anti-inflammatory sprays.
A final spray of MaxDoc topical treatment ensured the skin healed almost completely. No recovery time was needed, once the anesthesia wore off, V would be up and moving.
After covering V back up with the surgical gown, Mercer activated the nearby monitor to check her vitals and ran a scanner to confirm the status of her other cyberware.
"Smooth procedure?" Kiwi asked curiously.
Mercer nodded. "Yeah, all done. Just waiting for the anesthesia to wear off. Once she's awake, we'll calibrate the cyberware and wrap things up."
"You work fast. I thought you'd take a moment to... appreciate the view," Kiwi joked.
Mercer shot her an unamused look. "Even if I like looking, it's only fun if they're willing to show me. Sneaking a peek? That's just creepy."
Not entirely sure of her own motives, Kiwi took advantage of V's unconscious state and casually asked, "You into V?"
"I'm into pretty girls in general," Mercer replied honestly. "But actual feelings? Not sure. I just want to date around."
"Date around? One after another, or all at once?" Kiwi laughed.
"Doesn't matter. I don't say no, but I don't chase either. If someone falls for me, that's on them," Mercer said with a frank smile. "We only live once in this world, gotta keep an open mind. It's not like anyone here worries about the future anyway."
"You're going to have a lot of trouble, then," Kiwi said soberly. "Let me tell you, girls like V might seem easygoing, but they're pretty traditional. Not the type to sleep with you one night and move on the next day. If you mess around while you're with her, she will absolutely pull a gun on you."
"I know. But whatever happens, happens." Mercer chuckled. "It's not like I'm short on options."
"So you've decided not to be a good man, then," Kiwi concluded.
"I'm just kind, can't bear to turn anyone down. Is there a better man than me?" Mercer replied shamelessly, just as the monitor's readings began to fluctuate.
V was waking up.
Kiwi shook her head, unsure how she felt, glancing between Mercer and V. "I'm going out for a smoke."
"Go ahead. Try to cut back a bit these next few days, better for your recovery," Mercer said.
Kiwi nodded and stepped out.
When V woke up, she found Mercer sitting beside her, wearing surgical scrubs and a mask.
Her mind was still foggy. "I..."
"Don't rush, take it slow. The surgery is over, and everything went smoothly," Mercer said in an exceptionally gentle tone.
V blinked groggily. "Mhm."
"Stay still for now, just lie down. Once your head clears up a bit, we'll start calibrating your cybereye," Mercer instructed.
V lay quietly for a while until her thoughts sharpened, then said softly, "I feel better now."
"Then let's begin the calibration. Your vision will blur at first, then gradually clear up. Once it feels perfectly sharp and the image stabilizes, we'll move on to the next step."
Mercer tapped on the equipment.
V's vision quickly grew clear, clearer than ever before.
She blinked again. "I can see very clearly now."
"Good. Now let's run the program. Try scanning me, will you?"
V attempted a cybereye scan. Soon, Mercer's outline was highlighted, along with numerous networked devices.
Detailed information flooded in, wind speed, distance readings, item analysis...
"Looks a bit cluttered, right? You can customize the display mode using your neural link. Turn off things like wind speed and distance if you don't need them, to avoid visual overload."
"Looks stable. Vik's surgical skills are top-notch."
"Next, we need to test the Sandevistan. I'll activate it remotely. If you feel uncomfortable, let me know and I'll stop. This is mainly to test your safe activation duration."
"During the process, try using your cybereye to observe your surroundings. I want to check the compatibility between the two."
Mercer's soft-spoken manner was still a bit unfamiliar to V, but it made her unusually compliant. She simply nodded. "Alright, go ahead."
Then, V noticed Mercer's movements suddenly slowing down.
No, she was the one speeding up!
Mercer's breathing became an extremely slow rise and fall of his chest. His blinks were clearly visible. Excited, V turned her head left and right, feeling as though her mind had suddenly grown sharper.
It was as if all the details she usually overlooked now flooded into her awareness. While her brain raced, her body also felt an urge to break free from constraints.
V reached out her hand, feeling like it took more effort than usual, as if her arm was moving slower than she expected. She waved it a few times before it finally responded with force.
"Mercer?" she tried to speak.
Mercer's voice came through, stretched out like slowed-down audio: "Slo-o-o-w do-o-wn... wh-en... yo-u... ta-a-alk."
It felt like it took him five seconds to finish one sentence. V could barely make out what he was saying.
She stared at the mask on Mercer's face and felt a sudden, intense impulse for the first time, to see what was underneath.
V reached out, eagerly placing her hand on Mercer's mask, but then hesitated. After a moment's thought, she withdrew her hand.
Instead, she playfully gave his head a light tap, resulting in a dull thunk against the mask.
Mercer's backward head tilt made V feel a bit guilty, had her strength been greater than she realized?
"Shit," he muttered, making V feel even more self-conscious.
So the Sandevistan's acceleration also increased her physical power?
But that made sense, wasn't velocity part of what determined striking force?
Ah, she'd forgotten about that.
V felt her mind racing until a pressure began to build, breathing grew labored, and a faint headache emerged.
She immediately raised her hand. "Stop."
Time abruptly returned to its normal flow.
The sudden shift left V slightly disoriented, but after just one breath, she recovered. "Got a bit of a headache just now, and breathing was tough."
"Normally, most people feel the respiratory pressure the instant they activate Sandevistan, followed quickly by a headache."
After speaking, Mercer sighed like Vik. "Seven seconds. You lasted a full seven seconds before feeling the strain on your first activation. Based on the data, your theoretical safe activation window is probably around 10 to 13 seconds. Beyond that, the burden won't suddenly increase too much for you. And you recovered after just a few seconds off? V, you... really are something to envy."
He wanted to be a time-stop swordsman too!
V felt a little embarrassed by the praise and gave an awkward, silly smile. "So, the results are good?"
"Yeah, extremely good. But don't go sneaking off to test it yourself later. Wait at least a few hours until your wounds are properly healed. Wouldn't want you tearing your skin open from the force, that'd be trouble. Also, watch out for inflammation and nerve discomfort."
Mercer smoothly began listing post-op instructions for V, including warnings against using the grimy water from her rundown hotel to shower and avoiding questionable food.
V nodded obediently, thinking how reliable Mercer seemed at times, just like a real doctor. It then occurred to her that Mercer actually had quite a few skills.
His netrunning prowess went without saying, she didn't know much about it, but everyone praised how amazing he was.
He also understood cybernetic modification and could perform surgery.
His shooting skills weren't bad either; though his physique was lacking, his combat sense and reflexes were sharp.
And his ability to earn money was remarkable... though he spent it pretty freely too. Wait, what am I thinking?
V quickly shook her head. "Can I get down now?"
"Sure. Take a hit of MaxDoc and some anti-inflammatories, then go change. I'll call Vik to come install my gear."
After a moment's thought, Mercer added, "You should head out with Kiwi later. Hang out at Misty's place, and once my surgery's done, we'll all grab dinner and discuss Wakako's job."
V then spoke somewhat awkwardly, "How much did this surgery cost? I... I'll work hard to pay you back as soon as possible."
"Let's call it 200,000."
V glared at him unhappily. "I'm not stupid! Your Sandevistan alone costs that much!"
"It's my loot. Until it's sold, it's worthless," Mercer said dismissively.
"Four hundred thousand, so I owe you four hundred thousand eddies." V said, feeling her heart bleed.
That was four hundred thousand eddies!
Enough for her to buy a decent used sports car, move into a high-end apartment in Heywood, and live lavishly for a long time!
"Alright, then four hundred thousand eddies it is."
Mercer finished, then laughed: "You getting stronger means you're working for me anyway. Think of it this way, I'm no different from the corps, forcing a hefty loan on you for some top-tier gear."
"...Thanks, A." V looked at him seriously, her tone sincere: "I'll definitely work hard with you from now on."
"You think I'd let you slack off? Alright, cut the sentimental stuff, it makes me uncomfortable."
Mercer said, then couldn't help but grin as he eyed her: "But, gotta say, you've got a great figure."
V froze, then looked down to see her surgical gown fluttering to the floor: "Shit! Why didn't you put it on properly?"
"Taking it off just required cutting it open, but putting it back on would've taken actual effort."
Mercer didn't even blink, not bothering to pretend: "Didn't want to piss you off."
"Close your eyes, close your eyes! You're still looking!" She angrily reached out as if to poke him, and in the moment he shut his eyes... Sandevistan, activate!
The reckless girl completely forgot Mercer's warnings, darting into the bathroom in the blink of an eye.
"Don't tear your stitches!" Mercer hurriedly called out.
She was seriously fast. Even with Mercer's reflexes, he only caught a blur flashing past before she vanished like a gust of wind from beside him, too quick for him to even turn his head.
By the time Mercer looked over, she was already gone, her speed was downright spine-chilling.
"I'm taking it slow!"
Her voice came from the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she walked out wiping her nosebleed: "Damn, why am I bleeding?"
"You should be glad you're not gushing blood!" Mercer glared at her disapprovingly: "Come here, let me check."
She could only offer an awkward smile, adjusted her clothes, lay back down, and let Mercer run a scan.
"Not bad. Your body just needs to adjust. Do it a few more times, get used to it, and the nosebleeds will stop."
Mercer said irritably: "If you tell me to close my eyes, I will. What's the rush?"
"How should I know!" V's face flushed red: "You wouldn't use your cybereye to sneak a photo, would you?"
"Damn, what kind of person do you take me for? Do I need photos?" Mercer said righteously: "V, my Intelligence is high, I have a photographic memory!"
"Screw you, A! I should've had Vik do it instead!" V raised her fist in embarrassed anger: "You've never been punched before, have you?"
"Getting worked up." Mercer chuckled.
V suddenly fell silent, then slowly narrowed her eyes.
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