Bab 29: Chapter 29: Nobodies II
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Chapter 29: Nobodies II
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There was, however, the pool of blood left there, swimming through the cracks of the alleyway... X followed through the cracks of this godforsaken city to his home.
"Welcome back," The feeling of going back home to find someone awaiting your return... It isn't so difficult to make happen when AIs like Joi are all over the place for cheap.
"What happened," Joi frowned as she eyed X's hands which were covered by bioplastic bandages.
"Work," X plainly replied as he directly lied down on the couch, just contemplating things.
"Are you okay?" Joi sat down by his side and asked.
"..." X stayed silent a while longer, and Joi waited till he finally responded, "You know, there is this kid and his sister that stay by Vik's clinic."
"I'm not that close to them by any means. The kid was more like the mischievous neighbor, taken care of by his older sister."
"I'm used to having a chat with them here and then... Now, the kid is gone and the sister is left mind broken," X explained.
"Are you sad for them?" Joi curiously asked.
"I'm sad about the state of this world," X muttered.
"The state of the world?" Joi needed a bit more than that.
"Humanity has become disposable, with lives valued only by what they can contribute to the corporate agenda."
"Freedom, love, even individuality are under constant threat from oppressive surveillance, social engineering, and engineered societal decay."
"Crime is rampant, with gangs serving as both rivals and pawns to corporate agendas, fueling an underworld where information, organs, and even memories are currency."
"The people have given up on the idea of a future altogether, embracing nihilism as a survival tactic in a world that's lost its humanity."
"Even nature seems to have abandoned this world, with toxic rain, smog-filled skies, and polluted waters."
"Environmental collapse is a forgotten disaster; people are too busy trying to stay alive to notice the planet is dying."
If this world has one rule, it's that nothing; neither the environment, human rights, nor morality; has any value unless it can be exploited for profit." X gave her more.
"What are we going to do about it?" Joi asked the most important question in her mind.
"I can not change the world... Change is too difficult, nigh impossible. Destruction is easy," X stated before closing his eyes.
The answer brought joy to Joi as she silently slow danced in the room, not making a sound lest she disturb his peace.
X did seem very tired, which is why he quickly delved into the lands of dreams, again finding himself in his restaurant.
"Are we truly sad about the state of the world?" Y asked a very confusing question.
"We are... The world is missing a very vital piece... Us at the top," Z nodded.
"I must admit though... I'm a bit sad about how easily I give up on things around me, leaving them behind like nobodies." X plainly muttered.
"That's called emotional desensitization or compassion fatigue, witnessing so much death, trauma, or suffering makes one become numb to it."
"Over time, they lose the ability to feel empathy or concern, which allows them to cope with a harsh reality but at the cost of their own emotional well-being and humanity." Z seriously explained.
"Is that truly what we have? I mean, we've seen much death, but aren't our problems bigger than that? I can feel plenty of emotions but there are these urges that drive me to forsake them just to reach my goals," Said X.
"We are mind broken, are we not?" Y thought that was common sense.
"Yeah, we are... And in this world, we're also physically broken. Even with our mental capabilities, I found it difficult to keep up with a few lowly Maelstrom grunts," X pointed out.
"We wait a while to heal. We meet Wakako, then get our money and enhance ourselves. Otherwise, we can not compete with the capable individuals of Night City," Z agreed.
"Why do we need to compete with them physically? We should use our minds instead of putting ourselves in dangerous situations," Y questioned.
"Just in case," X.
"Just in case," Z nodded.
"I'm quite tired... Good night," X yawned before truly falling asleep.
"Good night." "Good night."
X wouldn't be able to use his hands for about a week, but fortunately, there is something such as an Interface plug in this world, allowing him to link to things and operate them without using his hands.
The interface plug was intact, and X was someone who hates wasting time and just not working in general.
Therefore, he went back to the clinic only after two days, linking with the mechanical arms and using them as his arms.
Vik could only shake his head at X's dedication and didn't even try to stop him knowing that he couldn't stop him from working.
Another unfortunate news was that Marrie isolated herself, suffering from depression. Misty did the best she could to soothe her mind, but nothing worked.
Well, things just moved on from there. Such are things in Night City, people just people.
The little kid was just another nobody losing his life in a world where many nobodies lose their lives every single day.
The interface plug also allowed him to link to his computer and continue his studies in the field of medical tech.
After the last fight, X realized just how valuable being a Ripperdoc can be in his future endeavors.
The Ripperdoc line of work would not only allow him to make connections, but it would also allow him to know and understand his enemies, their makings, and what cyberware they have.
X also heard of the Maelstroms snooping around, although they didn't seem to have figured out who killed their boys.
That was reasonable, X went above and beyond to make sure he eliminated his traces.
He didn't allow the Maelstroms to see his face, because he knew that their cybernetic heads could give feedback of what they see back to their headquarters.
Still, just to be safe, he went through some minor cosmetics, such as turning his hair blonde.
And it wasn't just temporarily turning it blonde, but truly changing his natural hair color from black to blonde.
There are many ways to do so such as Nano-Dye Injections, Bio-Hack Genetic Reprogramming, Chromatic Augmentations, and even introducing Chemical Modulators to the Bloodstream.
X also used Cosmetic Lenses which are Completely aesthetic, offering various holographic effects, patterns, or even animated scenes within the eye, like swirling galaxies or glitching pixels.
He had also used them when facing the Maelstroms, knowing that it's easy to detect you based on your eyes.
Just like fingerprints, the cornea has a unique pattern. Advanced surveillance systems can use high-resolution imaging to scan corneal details from a distance and match them with stored records.
It's very difficult to go unnoticed in Night City, thus why X took all those precautions.
Now, however, he wants to be noticed, thus his planned visit to Wakako, a more dangerous endeavor than his fight with the Maelstroms.
Therefore, he had to be ready, establish some connections, make some calls, prepare for the worst, and write some codes and malware.
Most importantly, he has to cook something up, something that will at least increase the chances of his survival if things go south.
No, there is something way way more important, and that's to investigate Wakako Okada and her boys.
The operation is just too risky... I have to study her psychology, then make a personality construct of her and talk to her... Will you listen to my voice, Wakako? Will you answer?
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
[22 Chapters in Advance on Patre.on]
Bab 30: Chapter 30: Wakako Okada 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
[22 Chapters in Advance on Patre.on]
Chapter 30: Wakako Okada I
...........
The operation is just too risky... I have to study her psychology, then make a personality construct of her and talk to her... Will you listen to my voice, Wakako? Will you answer?
Wakako Okada is the top fixer of the Westbrook district of Night City. Her office can actually be found near X's apartment.
Just by the Cheery Blossom market, you can find Jig-Jig Street. There lies her office.
She had had five husbands over her long life, outliving them all, as well as nine sons who were all high-ranking members of the Tyger Claws.
However, she kept them strictly in line to ensure that they were never the target of a gig picked up by another fixer.
Everyone who pursues the darker shades of work knows of her, knows her for her cunning, ruthlessness, and business acumen.
She has a sharp mind, a steady hand, and a demeanor that commands respect, drawing on a combination of traditional values and pragmatic.
Most importantly, her cold-hearted decisions that make her formidable in the unforgiving streets of Night City.
Meeting with such a woman on her home turf... It's gotta be difficult, and X has to weigh his steps carefully.
"You've just handed me evidence I can use against you... Very brave indeed. You're a man of purpose and ambition. I do not mind people like you... If they see the boundaries of our line of work." W stated.
"Why do you care about boundaries in this context? You approach situations in calculated pragmatism."
"To you, people are assets and liabilities, constantly weighing who is worth keeping around and who could be sacrificed for a better deal."
"Your focus is on maximizing value, profit, and influence. By your words, you seem to have realized my value... Too good to miss." X responded.
"Hmm, no. It can work, but it will leave behind unnecessary tension. The conversation can go better," The one to interrupt the conversation was none other than Z.
Speaking of the conversation, it looked odd, abnormal, insane, something which left even Joi speechless, just standing by the side and watching the two parties talking.
The two parties were X and W... Again, The two parties were X and X himself as he seemed to be talking to someone no one but Z could see.
Z could see what X sees, and before X was W, short for Wakako, looking exactly like the real thing, seemingly a personality construct mimicking Wakako, created by X's bizarre mind.
"Ruthless. Pragmatic. Master Manipulator. Loyal, but only to a Point. Diplomatic and Discreet. Patient and Cunning," X described Wakako's personality.
It wasn't as if he had just started. He had been talking to her for more than fourteen hours, looking up news about.
He thoroughly studied her public routines, track record, and most importantly, her sons.
How they are was a big part of shaping Wakako's personality construct.
"It's crucial to remember that working with her means walking a fine line between trust and constant vigilance." Z reminded.
"It's time," Y also reminded, "It's 9 O'clock in the morning."
X stood up, catching the projection of Joi from the corner of his eyes, "Joi, good morning."
"Good morning," Joi didn't seem to be as confused, or rather, she studied X's psych enough to understand what he was doing.
X went to take a long comfy shower before walking to his bed where he found his attire for the meeting.
For a high-stakes meeting with someone as traditional yet street-savvy as Wakako, X needed to make a good first impression.
His chosen attire conveys that he's not there to be flashy or overly casual but as a professional who understands both the culture of Japantown and the seriousness of the occasion.
He basically used all of the money he acquired from a recent small-time gig to get a fitted black tailored suit with subtle metallic threads, a high-quality shirt, and black leather shoes.
It isn't anything special or expensive by any means, nor is it from any famous cyber brand, but it did its job, showing formality.
X combed his blond hair backward and put on a cologne. He picked up all of his necessities, some shards, and made some calls.
It was raining, albeit only slightly, so the last thing X did before heading out was pick his umbrella.
X slowly walked himself to the Cheery Blossom market, able to see the entrance to Jig-Jig Street from there.
However, he couldn't help but stop before the most striking thing about the area, a stature so enormous it looms over the entire street.
In the midst of Cherry Blossom Market stands a bronze-like statue of a four-armed deity, illuminated by the market's neon lights.
The lower arms are clasped together in a serene, meditative pose, creating a feeling of calm and reverence.
The top arms extend outward, each hand holding a glowing orb that resembles a light bulb, casting a gentle, almost ethereal light that blends with the surrounding neon hues.
Around the statue were a few infrastructures with traditional tiled roofs as well as several holographic cheery blossom trees, giving the scene an ethereal unreal feeling.
So gorgeous was the place that X lost himself in the scenery for a minute or two.
'Avalokiteshvara? Or Vishnu?' X wondered as he took a deep breath, the faint glow of the orbs casting a subtle light on his face, 'Keep watch over me; This is just the first move in a longer game.'
Every city needs its red light district, does it not? That's what Jig-Jig Street is for Night City.
It is located in a section of Japantown where not only can you buy love by the hour, but also encounter suspect dealers offering exotic, rare, and very illegal wares.
Jig-Jig Street doesn't have a reputation for being safe - it's not uncommon to enter with your wallet and leave with a black eye and empty pockets.
But in spite of its reputation, it's popular with corpos who like to get their game on before venturing deeper into the city's many attractions.
Bars, the most salacious of ads, prostitutes wearing skimpy outfits made more revealing by the rain running over their skin.
"Hello handsome, wanna have a lick," X naturally attracted the attention of many of them, "I have a very long and lovely tool right here."
X was dressed very well, and he is very handsome, so it wasn't strange that they'd see him as a customer.
Many corpos come here simply for Jig-Jig Street's Joytoys which are basically advanced sex workers with implants that are popular in their line of work.
The first one to approach him was beautiful. It's easy to look however you want to look in this day and age, just like it's easy to get a cock if you want to.
"No need, thank you," X shook his head and went on his way.
"Humanity is very interesting, always pursuing something new, more exciting," X muttered.
"Do we want to try them? Those exciting things?" Y wondered.
"Eh, waste of my time," X shook his head, "I just find them interesting. For example, the guy who had a horse cock biosculpted on himself or the girl who had rabbit fur biosculpted on herself... It's fascinating."
Speaking of individuals who biosculpt themselves with non-human elements such as fur, long ears, fangs, etc; There were some in the street, one stranger than the other. They are called Exotics.
That's why X genuinely loves Night City, or this entire world for that matter, the insanity and possibilities within nearly rival the absurdity within his own mind... It's a mesmerizing World.
X soon reached the Pachinko parlor. Wakako has an office in the backroom of the place where she conducts biz.
Before getting to her, however, you have to go through Wakako's Huscles, her hired muscle.
Not just anyone can meet her, "Please let lady Wakako know that I have important information for her... About Johnson and Mr. M."
The huscle didn't question X, but merely nodded as his eyes shifted blue, likely in contact with Wakako.
He was used to all the different ways customers' approach Wakako, and in the end, she has the final say.
The Huscle nodded again and stepped aside, allowing X to enter Wakako's office.
What a delight it was. Wakako's den is a simple old-school oasis of calm, refined elegance.
There she is, Wakako Okada, exuding an aura of elegance and danger, her appearance refined and meticulous.
She was dressed in richly colored, traditional Japanese attire, a silk kimonos with intricate patterns; cherry blossoms and koi fish; stitched alongside metallic accents.
Her hair is styled neatly, in a classic updo and pinned back with delicate hair ornaments.
There, she sat, in the middle of a phone call while studying him from behind a cup of tea, with that trademark, calculating gaze.
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
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