Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 953, Section 163: The Black Wall and Ultraman

Otto Cunningham.

Who is she?
It would be ridiculous to ask that question.

Because she is so famous, or rather, so renowned.

She has many identities.

For example, she is a famous legend, once the best hacker in Night City, and Johnny Silverhand's current girlfriend. Among these identities, there is one that cannot be ignored now.

The creator of Relic.

"Otto Cunningham."

V murmured the name, his brow furrowing slightly:
“But Johnny clearly said that she was no longer here. He said he made a mistake and lost the person he loved most forever.”

“Relic”.

Carl said calmly, "It seems that this thing not only revived Johnny in Night City, but also saved its creator. However, compared to Johnny stored in Relic, Ultraman, who was killed by his prototype Soul Killer, had already infiltrated the depths of the network and become part of cyberspace."

"you mean"

Oliver frowned: "Ultraman has become a wandering AI, and now he's on the other side of the Black Wall. So, what are you planning to do?"

Seeing the storage chip already inserted into Carl's body, Oliver, knowing what it contained, couldn't help but gasp: "You're planning to break through the black wall and run to find Ultraman?!"

“That’s right.” Carl’s tone was as calm as if he were talking about what to eat for dinner. “Although Relic is an improved version by Arasaka, the original creator was Ultraman after all. To ensure Johnny’s safety, we’d better ask—his girlfriend, who is also the true owner of this program.”

"This"

Oliver was momentarily speechless.

He suddenly understood why Carl hadn't noticed them during the T-BUG mind-body connection check, which was why he said that.

If Karl had brought this up beforehand, even if T-BUG didn't object, he would definitely have preferred her to handle such a career-related matter. Karl's coming to them at this time clearly indicates that she's prepared to do it herself.

Oliver understood why Carl did this.

Because the Black Wall is just too dangerous, so dangerous that any voodoo gang that drills holes in it can be considered a traitor, an organization for which death is no exaggeration.
The danger has reached the point where the new US President, Rosalind Myers, is so desperate to take action against Hansen because of the Lark, that she's considering bombing Dogtown with a nuclear weapon.

This kind of thing is no longer at the level of standing next to a nuclear bomb, but rather actively touching a nuclear bomb that is about to explode.

Carl was clearly unwilling to risk the safety of one companion by putting another one at risk, so he chose to do it himself and touch the nuclear bomb.

Whether it was Oliver or Jack and V listening, their first thought was to stop it, but each of them fell silent just as they were about to speak.

Because they also know this friend, this companion, this brother.

Carl's decision must have been made after careful consideration and with a firm resolve; in other words, he was actually a very stubborn person.

Carl wouldn't listen to Oliver and the others' advice.

Because he's very willful, that's just the kind of person he is.

A guy who puts himself at risk so that others can be safer.

V was the first to react.

He took a deep breath and looked at Karl with a determined gaze: "How can we help you?"

V knew he couldn't dissuade his friend, so he decided to help, at least taking on some of the risk, to prevent Carl from going through the ordeal alone.

He knew that Carl was asking for their help at this time because he needed something. And V...

willingly.

“The device Johnny is in is essentially a high-speed connector. I can use it to access cyberspace, which is the best interface for interacting with the network of consciousness entities.”

Carl's voice was as calm as if he were directing a routine operation: "Once the body is fully adjusted and the connection is established, I need you to help me stop T-BUG and then assist her in executing the emergency cutoff procedure. Once she finds out my decision, she will be both angry and anxious. But in the end, she will still take action to help me. That's the kind of person she is."

He continued, “After passing through the black wall, I will use Johnny’s identity information to test her. If Otto still remembers her boyfriend, if she still retains her humanity, she will respond to me.”
I need to obtain the security plan and core code for Johnny's consciousness transfer from her. Throughout this process, I will utilize the rogue AI we previously contained—its understanding of data networks is unparalleled. I believe I can accomplish this, but to prevent Ultra from losing his humanity, I may need your guarantee that I can be disconnected if necessary.

While Carl was speaking, Jack and Oliver had also calmed down. Just like countless times before team operations, they listened quietly to Carl's instructions.

Carl had planned everything meticulously, even calculating T-BUG's reaction with perfect clarity. He even entrusted them with the "most difficult" task: "persuading T-BUG."

Because he knew these partners who were willing to do anything for him so well, he had to act in this way, acting first and informing them later.

Otherwise, they would definitely stop him and want to replace him.

Everyone wants to help others, and since it involves danger to one's life, then I'll do it.

This was Carl's idea, and it was also V's idea.

These kinds of things are something you have to fight for, but Karl is shameless.

As the team leader, he naturally has to use his privileges and act as a privileged user.

After all, he always had a veto power.

In a quiet atmosphere, everyone got to work.

"You'll be alright, Carl."

As V passed by Carl, he said, "If Johnny gets better, but you get into trouble, will no one be happy to remember? Johnny said that one of his comrades died because of him. Now that he's a human again, he has to get his dog tag back. I don't think he'd want to see another comrade."

"How could anything happen to me?"

Carl smiled easily: "I've prepared everything. What problems could possibly arise? Even if there are, you're all here for me. I'm not the kind of person who can't handle things well on my own. With you all here, I feel very reassured."

"You'll be absolutely fine."

V said this, then slapped Carl hard on the shoulder.

Then Jack came over, and Oliver came over, one of them each.

"Don't just focus on one shoulder when you pat it, there's another one too, it hurts a bit."

"That's not enough. Let T-BUG and Johnny come up and film later."

Oliver shook his head, and as he watched, the men arrived with Johnny's body.

"It feels like we're some kind of evil scientists from some weird mewtwo."

Jack sighed, but his gaze was serious.

"Get ready, Carl!"

"I am ready."

As the body arrived, T-BUG completed its final adjustments to the connection. The moment it raised its head, Carl pulled out its monomolecular wire, completing the connection.

(End of this chapter)