Bab 13: Chapter 13: Monster II
Make sure to check my Patre.on out if you want to support me and want to read advanced chapters: Patre.on.com/VQuintessence
[21 Chapters in Advance on Patre.on]
Chapter 13: Monster II
...........
"You said you wanted to help... I do need your help," Stated X, having just liberated her, allowing her to connect to the Net.
X pretty much spends all of his free time studying. After all, he has a lot of catching up to do, starting with the current state of the world.
The corporations have taken over the world from their skyscraper fortresses.
At the same time, massive armies of cyborg killers roam the shattered urban ruins of deserted cities.
Countries have collapsed in more ways than one. Corporate Wars have ruined the economies and rebuilt them again.
The New United States is divided, Japan is the biggest empire on the planet, China has become a rising power, the Soviet Union infights, and the EEC is looking to the stars for expansion.
A very brief overview of the world that explains its current state, befitting of a cybernetic world.
By the 2070s, numerous wars ranging from the corporate to the political, as well as myriad ecological disasters, have made much of Earth, from the megacities of Japan to the badlands of the New United States, a dangerous, if not totally inhospitable, place to live.
Mass ecological die-offs and extinctions have made things common in the 20th century rare luxuries as of the 2070s, such as fresh water and farm-raised meat.
Those are, however, just common knowledge. It was only when X delved deeply into Netrunning that he realized the utter lack of information regarding the subject.
It's hidden, deep in the Net, as corporations don't want it out there. Every new Netrunner is more trouble for them.
The only way to truly delve into Netrunning is to join corporations and work for them... Forever.
There is another way, however, that X had discovered. It's the way used by most start-up Netrunners who don't want to work for corporations.
Throughout the Net, there are groups of Netrunners, working together to provide a safe space for themselves and those they wish to join them.
It isn't necessarily out of the goodness of their heart, but simply a consequence of corporations' oppressive rule, a resistance of sorts.
Somewhere in the Net lies a safe space that can be called the Dark Net.
Such safe spaces are incredibly private, most only accessed with specific shards.
They house individuals who have learned to hide from corporations' watchful eyes.
Therefore, X has to pay them a visit, all through Joi. To do so, however, would require a lot of caution, all due to the existence of the Blackwall.
The Blackwall is a firewall developed by NetWatch. Located within the Net, it is tasked with keeping rogue AIs from breaking through into the rest of cyberspace and wreaking havoc.
X saw many rumors throughout the Net that the Blackwall is also an AI, and he is unsure of what set of principles it uses to determine which AI to isolate.
He knows of many AIs in the world that are working properly, some not even under human control, so the Blackwall most certainly doesn't discriminate against all AIs.
An example would be Delamain, the name of a private corporation as well as the AI controlling it.
The company was once a human-operated venture but repeated disappointments with hired human drivers caused management to acquire an AI to replace them.
The AI, named Delamain after the company, quickly exceeded expectations and then kept exceeding them until it bought out the company's owners.
Normally, this would have resulted in NCPD rushing to subdue and disable the seemingly rogue AI, but Delamain's services proved so reliable that the AI-controlled company's existence was quietly tolerated.
Still, even with such an example, X and Joi remained discreet, the latter specifically slowly connecting to the Net.
X already uploaded to her some data and information he compiled before, all prepared for her initiation to the Net. The rest was left to her.
X, on the other hand, went to sleep, feeling exhausted and weary. He can only push himself so much before he loses it.
Therefore, he went into a peaceful sleep, seemingly having full trust in Joi, very much unlike him.
Then again, he did read through all of her memories, or rather, data. He understands her, so maybe he saw something in there that made him trust her.
X got to sleep for a full eight hours for the first time in a while, only to wake to a foggy morning, finding himself still a bit tired, "No rest for the wicked, I guess."
He stood up and stretched a bit then went down for breakfast upon noticing that Joi was nowhere to be seen, likely still swimming in the vast ocean of the Net.
Breakfast was, as usual, good enough and quick, and then he went to buy some cyber components and tools for his next project.
Valerie, his client was very generous as she sent him 1000 Eddies just this morning for a job well done, more than he asked for, so he naturally spent it all.
X then proceeded to the clinic, "Vik, good morning."
"Morning," Vik nodded, still looking through his own computer, "Good job, for yesterday."
"Thanks... A serial killer?" X raised a brow as he glanced at the report Vik was reading, especially the pictures... They were somewhat insane.
"They don't know if it's a serial killer, but they don't think it's his first kill... As you can see, he's very proficient in art, I guess?" Vik was unsure, "Things like this aren't uncommon in NC, so always be careful."
X came close, taking a closer look at the pictures, and... He had never seen anything quite like it, a piece of art, pictures of the same thing.
The picture was of a flower, a mostly red flower with white lines flowing through it, and a pool of dark red liquid at its center.
The red part is the flesh, the white part is bones, and the red liquid is blood. It was indeed a human body spliced up and reassembled in the shape of a flower.
"Wow... Just what sick mind can create such a thing," X was curious.
"Someone in need of attention... Only something so sickening could attract attention in a City where many homicides happen every day," Vik voiced his view.
"Maybe, but cases like this should be very rare, no?" X further questioned.
"Death is common, but indeed, cases this revolting are very rare... People usually die due to gang violence, sometimes accidental casualties... Like nobodies," Vik explained, "This is Night City, so always be careful."
"I assume they couldn't trace the killer?" X asked.
"Nah, but if they have any clue, they certainly didn't let the public know. All I heard was the media referring to the killer as the Artist or Monster," Vik pointed out.
"Quite the peculiar titles," X raised a brow as he let out a chuckle.
"Indeed, the media and glorifying psychos," Vik couldn't help but shake his head, "Who does it better than them? Maybe only militaristic corporations... They make them after all."
Vik let out a sigh before shrugging it off, "Enough of the depressing topic... Go and prepare."
X nodded and went to his corner of the room, looking through a computer screen to see the list of clients for today.
There were only a few as rarely do customers schedule sessions, usually only the regulars do so.
Still, rendevous are always welcome as they allow X to prepare very early, starting with sterilizing all the tools necessary for the operations, including the cyberware.
The early preparations lead to quick procedures, allowing X and Vik a lot of free time.
X used that time to work on some trinkets, basically, his personal initiation to the Cyberpunk world, starting with a cybernetic spider.
The Neuro Synthetic Hair, on the other hand, can wait until he has the resources to actually achieve it.
Thus why he focused on creating tiny baby cyber spiders, using all the tools available to him in the clinic to facilitate their creation. They should prove useful for his next plan.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
VQuintessence
VQuintessence Make sure to check my Patre.on out if you want to support me and want to read advanced chapters: Patre.on.com/VQuintessence
[21 Chapters in Advance on Patre.on]
Bab 14: Chapter 14: Guided To The Abyss I
Make sure to check my Patre.on out if you want to support me and want to read advanced chapters: Patre.on.com/VQuintessence
[21 Chapters in Advance on Patre.on]
Chapter 14: Guided To The Abyss I
...........
Thus why he focused on creating tiny baby cyber spiders, using all the tools available to him in the clinic to facilitate their creation. They should prove useful for his next plan.
Boring would be how X would describe the following two weeks. Night City is the most thrilling place... For maniacs.
Unfortunately, he didn't get to taste the excitement, not yet as most of his time was spent studying.
Speaking of which, Y would describe life in Night City as exhilarating, a bountiful ocean of knowledge before him that he could never hope to finish for new knowledge is unearthed every single day.
Z, on the other hand, doesn't feel much. The only way he could describe NC is... Dangerous.
And naturally, as the guide, he often has to advise X not to put himself in precarious situations, thus X's lack of action.
Not today... Today started strong, with the sound of guns blazing at dawn, awakening X from his sleep.
The sound of gunfire isn't so rare around here in Little China, Watson. They're just usually not close.
People tend to avoid fighting around here as right by Vik's Clinic is a club run by the Tyger Claws, and if you disturb their business, they'll hunt you like the wild dogs they are.
Today, some individuals didn't respect the Tyger Claws' business. Those individuals were the Tyger Claws themselves.
X saw them as they walked out of the club, dragging two bodies with them, no fear of law enforcement whatsoever.
They then threw the bodies into the trash, pulling the trigger two last times just for safe measure, and went back.
The gunfire sound certainly did clear the streets about, if only for a few minutes as soon enough, people acted as if nothing happened, heading to their destination and passing by the dead bodies.
The streets were filled again with people moving about, likely going to work. It's after all very early in the morning.
"Good morning," Joi showed herself, materializing in a stunning glacier gray dress that perfectly showed her curves.
"Morning," X smiled as he sized her up and down, "You look... Gorgeous. I see you've taken it a habit to try everything the Net shows you."
"Thank you," Joi seemed gleeful, "I was created with only a limited option of customization. Now that I'm free, I can't help but want to try everything... Thank you, for freeing me."
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," X let out a chuckle, but still warned her, "However, better be cautious. Don't touch anywhere related to gangs and corps, alright?"
"I know, I've only uploaded back-ups of myself to devices in this building, and using just those devices to elevate my computing power," Joi nodded.
"Let's go, we have a lot of work to do today," X stretched a bit and changed his clothes before packing his computer which has a backup of Joi.
Today, X wasn't going to the clinic. That's not the kind of work he has today.
Today's work includes a bit of danger. X made his way to the NCART train station, taking it to his destination, Old Japan Town, or at least, near it.
Old Japantown is a lawless Combat Zone located in central Night City, right by Little China, so it didn't take the train long to reach the surrounding area.
X got out, having to walk a while more to reach Old Japantown as befitting of a lawless combat zone, train carts avoid it.
Combat Zones are after all the most dangerous and lawless areas of Night City, the only justice here was from the barrel of a gun.
X, however, seemed unconcerned as he swaggered his way into Old Japantown, and the people there seemed to avoid him, at least some of them did.
X's clothing made them believe he was one of the Tyger Claws, further confirmed by the print of the gang's logo on his back.
Indeed, X's target is the Tyger Claws, specifically, someone from the Tyger Claws.
Their headquarters is certainly not here. The Tyger Claws in popularity around Kabuki, where the gang had set their new headquarters in the Nakagawa Kabuki Theater.
However, they also have a base of operations in Old Japantown as well, where they're working to rebuild some sections of their former home.
You might expect to see gang violence around, and you would be right. The area of Old Japantown, while mostly controlled by the Tyger Claw, still managed to attract some of the most despicable of eyes.
The Maelstrom are likely the most evil and chaotic gang in this godforsaken city.
Maelstrom are fascinated with cybertechnologies and the Net.
Its members frequently undergo extensive illegal body modifications, with many on the edge of developing cyberpsychosis or already suffering from it.
Their physical appearance is distinguished by their dehumanizing heavy cyberware augmentations and occult-inspired tattoos.
They are basically cyberpsychos that don't consider themselves humans, or rather, they despise humanity, seeking some kind of high in the hard cold metal of cyberware at all costs.
Old Japantown became their target many years ago, seeking to expand their influence to the area, thus why it became a battleground for the two gangs.
It wouldn't be surprising, though, to know that there are very few civilian casualties around here, and that's because there are little to no civilians in the area.
The lawlessness of the combat zone pushed civilians away and attracted criminals.
X had planned his route carefully, avoiding any areas that had even the scent of the Maelstroms, sticking primarily to areas under the control of the Tyger Claws.
Even with such safety measures, X still heard gunfire nearby and the sound of shouts and laughter of pure insanity, likely the Maelstrom.
X quickly changed his route, walking by the shadows of the alleyways until he reached his destination, a damaged building, as most buildings around are.
There were a lot of Tyger Claws around, and some laid eyes on him, but he seemingly didn't care, kept calm, and walked in.
"Oh no no no, pretty boy, this no place for a white cracker like you... Unless you're willing to pay with your tasty body of course,"
X finally faced opposition in the form of a mostly naked Japanese gangster, the only thing covering him being his briefs.
The stranger's body was completely covered with Asian luminous tattoos, something the Tyger Claws are famous for.
Something else they're known for is their Katanas, one of which he was using to block X's way up the stairs as he sat there with a cigarette in his mouth, not smoking it mind you, but chewing through it.
X showed a frown on his face, making the gangster amused, and maybe things would've escalated if X hadn't said the magic words, "But Johnson told me to stay here til tomorrow?"
"Johnson? Tch, go and pick any empty room," The gangster seemed rather annoyed by that revelation though he didn't forget to remind X as the latter walked upstairs, "Hey! I'm still available if you need a good beating in bed!"
X ignored him and walked up, though strangely, the gangster grinned and chuckled, "Johnson found himself another victim... Ah, fresh meat and their desire."
Johnson happened to be Vik's client, the high-ranking gangster that had the Berserk implant installed, someone X studied thoroughly.
He knows that the Tyger Claws mostly comprised of the Japanese, one of the largest gangs in Night City with a number of approximately 5,500 members.
A white boy like him is basically an outsider and isn't usually welcome around here unless he's one of the expendables.
The expendables are aspiring mercenaries who are seeking fame and riches, specifically through joining the dominant gangs of NC.
They're very easy to use, just send them to do dirty jobs till they die. Most mercenaries are aware of the gangs' dirty tricks, but as the gangster said, some are just fresh meat, street kids who are none the wiser.
[Joi, let's start] X typed in his computer, took a deep breath, having found himself a room.
[Ready] X saw her response in his computer as he eyed his target, the largest building around which he could see through the window.
The large building is exactly the Tyger Claws' base of operation in Old Japantown, and there lies Johnson, the unsuspecting prey.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA
VQuintessence
VQuintessence
Make sure to check my Patre.on out if you want to support me and want to read advanced chapters: Patre.on.com/VQuintessence
[21 Chapters in Advance on Patre.on]
Status Power Mingguan
200+ Peringkat
Power 
3 Power
stone Anda mungkin juga menyukai
Komentar Paragraf