If we look back half a century, what would have been the undisputed jewel of human technological achievement?
The answer would have been unanimous—Cyberspace.
But after AI expelled humanity from the Net, that jewel had to be replaced. Over time, the crown shifted to another field: medicine, advancing at an astonishing pace.
Take Meredith's wounds, for example. With the help of cellular editors, she made a full recovery in just two hours, quickly slipping back into her usual poised, no-nonsense self.
"Come on... let's go get the gift I promised you. I guarantee you'll like it."
The elevator hummed as it carried the three of them down to the ground floor.
When the doors opened, a wave of voices crashed into their ears. In the vast, gleaming lobby, every person clutched a micro-terminal, talking rapidly, conversations blurring together into a constant murmur.
Meredith, clearly used to the chaos, stepped out with ease.
No one spared her a glance—they stayed buried in their work.
"We're not going to the parking garage? Don't tell me you actually live in this dump."
Arthur's brow furrowed at the hectic scene.
"Dump? This is the City Center—the real heart of Night City."
Meredith shot back sharply.
"My apartment's here. A bit small, but perfect for work."
Three enormous gates provided access. Beyond them stretched a long walkway leading straight toward Corporate Plaza.
Above, holographic fish swayed their tails as they drifted gracefully through the air, casting rippling blue light across the glass dome below.
Three stairways dropped away like paths into the underworld, while the roar of traffic thundered from overhead—a highway, unmistakably.
After a stretch in the dim passage, they emerged back into sunlight.
Past the plaza, the flow of people finally felt normal again.
What put Arthur most at ease was that among the crowd, there were few eccentric outfits to make him uncomfortable.
No car was needed. After only a few blocks, they reached Meredith's apartment building.
Arthur vaguely recognized the area—it seemed close to the shop where V had ordered his custom suit, somewhere near a temple, if he recalled correctly.
The elevator carried them up to a quiet corridor lined with a thick, spotless carpet.
After passing several doors, Meredith stopped at her own.
"Hardly anyone ever comes here—almost no one besides me."
She ran her fingers through her hair, then kicked off her shoes, stepping barefoot onto the floor.
Light from the window stretched her shadow across the room—softer, almost delicate, a sharp contrast to her usual commanding presence.
She turned, shifting her body to leave space for them to pass.
"Come in."
The apartment wasn't large. Facing the entrance was a sleek bar counter, fully stocked with a liquor cabinet, coffee machine, and more.
To the left, a cluster of lush bamboo formed a soothing screen. Through the long leaves, a sunken sofa pit came into view.
The circular recess was lined with couches along the edge, a coffee table in the center, and a large TV mounted on the wall opposite.
Though compact, every detail radiated refinement—the kind of high-end pieces that screamed expensive at a glance.
"Alright... let's see what kind of treasure...
our big-shot corporate friend has been hiding."
Arthur gestured casually and strode into the living room, tossing a look back at Meredith as he spoke.
At the doorway, Meredith caught his unreserved demeanor and let the corner of her mouth twitch ever so slightly.
Here, in her own space, she seemed softer than usual.
"Pour yourselves a drink. I'll get it."
With that, she walked down a corridor deeper into the apartment.
"Look at this place—City Center, Corporate Plaza. Do you know how many eddies it costs to spend a night here?"
Unlike Arthur, who instantly made himself at home, Jackie held back.
Only after Meredith left did he let a grin spread across his face, leaning close to Arthur.
For every resident of Night City, the City Center was sacred ground.
Arthur said nothing, his eyes fixed on the view outside. The Militech tower and Biotechnica headquarters loomed ahead, blocking much of the horizon.
But between the two skyscrapers, a sliver of space opened, revealing the holographic goldfish drifting freely above Corporate Plaza.
"Seems you don't mind my cramped little place."
Meredith's voice rang out behind them. She was carrying a black leather case, which she placed on the bar counter.
Arthur turned, eyeing it.
"This is what you meant?"
He rubbed his chin, studying the case.
"That's right."
Without hesitation, she flipped open the lid.
Inside lay a pistol. At first glance, it resembled a revolver, though its design was anything but ordinary.
The barrel was almost cylindrical, with faint angular ridges along its body.
Stranger still was the material: a transparent, glass-like casing that revealed precise circuitry inside. A pale blue glow pulsed through the channels, fading completely at the barrel's end.
Even the cylinder looked specially treated, shimmering faintly as though filled with liquid plasma.
In stark contrast, the grip was plain metal—smooth, simple, and unadorned.
"Not bad. A finely crafted revolver.
It's like putting a dress on a brawler."
Arthur commented instinctively. The weapon's design was beautiful, but not in a feminine way.
It carried a stark industrial elegance, its precision and rigor giving it the look of a futuristic concept piece rather than a traditional firearm.
"Its designer named it 'Frontier,' a tech revolver.
It can fire standard large-caliber rounds, like... 500 S&W Militech ammo, or Arasaka's Yuzhong-series rounds."
As she spoke, Meredith picked up the pistol and spun it smoothly in her hand several times.
...