Cyberpunk: I didn't cheat.

Chapter 103 In the End

The smoke from the gunpowder in the laboratory had not yet dissipated, and the pungent smell of the kinetic bullets burning mixed with the cold disinfectant smell emanating from the experimental equipment, creating a nauseating odor in the confined space.

Vito still clutched the euro in his hand, the cold metallic feel of the gun pressed against the researcher's temple. He applied slight pressure with his knuckles, which made the researcher tremble all over, and his already pale face lost all color.

"Explain yourself clearly, what kind of bio-behavioral chip? Don't give me that piecemeal explanation."

Vito's voice was utterly impatient, his eyes gleaming with wariness. Tommasino had gone to such lengths to have them raid a laboratory; it was no mere campaign stunt. Behind this chip lay Zeta Technologies' far greater ambitions.

The researchers' teeth chattered uncontrollably, their gazes involuntarily sweeping across the experimental chamber in the center of the lab before quickly returning to the ground. They dared not look into Vito's cold eyes and stammered out more of the truth.

"Yes, it is behavioral chip research based on military technology — that is, the later sex pair chip."

The chips developed for military technology could precisely control biological behavior and erase self-awareness, but their high military cost led to the project's abandonment. The technology was then transferred to the development of sex doll chips.

That was a taboo research project that military technology had suppressed all information about. Its original purpose was to create completely obedient humanoid weapons and controllable spies, which could manipulate the behavior and emotions of the host through neural implants, and even erase independent personalities. It was arguably the most inhumane neural manipulation technology. Unexpectedly, biotechnology has now picked up this thing again.

Vito thought that biotechnology was just about producing alcohol 2 and selling inferior painkillers.

"continue."

Vito lowered his wrist slightly, bringing the gun barrel even closer.

"The company wants us to reduce chip costs and mass-produce them—the target is the homeless and undocumented in the Badlands, to be captured and used as test subjects. Women are chosen because of their higher neural compatibility—"

The researcher's voice was choked with sobs as he spoke rapidly.

"Research and development is going smoothly, and costs have been brought down to mass production standards. However, all the experimental subjects with implanted chips have developed cyberpsychosis, without exception—"

As soon as he finished speaking, Vito's gaze abruptly shifted to the experimental chamber inside the laboratory.

Inside the transparent cabin, many homeless women remained in tense fighting stances. Their cybernetically modified arms gleamed with a cold metallic light, their eyes were bloodshot and their pupils were unfocused and lifeless, yet they exuded a ferocious ruthlessness that seemed ready to devour anyone who might harm them.

Their limbs twitched incessantly, and they emitted low, inhuman roars from their throats, constantly slamming their bodies against the bulkhead with dull thuds. Each impact carried the uncontrollable rage unique to cyber madmen.

"You work for the company, right? The new chip is in that safe, take it! Let us go, the new chip is much more stable, you'll do a great job if you take it! Please, there's no need to make things difficult for us, we're just working for the company!"

The researchers pointed to a temperature-controlled safe and pleaded with Vito.

"Why establish a laboratory in Night City instead of at the European Continental Biotechnology Headquarters?"

Vito loosened the gun barrel pointed at him by the researchers.

The researchers breathed a sigh of relief, and he quickly answered.

"The spy war in Europe is troublesome. Although the situation in Night City is not stable enough, it has a foundation, and research can be carried out better in Night City."

"Why choose the wanderer from the badlands?"

"Well, because these people have relatively higher tolerance, and taking care of them will allow the various projects in the Badlands to proceed smoothly."

.

At that moment, on the other end of the encrypted channel, T-bug had just finished a battle with the enemy hacker. Data blocks flashed before her eyes as she cleaned up the traces of the intrusion to avoid being tracked by biotechnology.

"Vito! What are you still doing in there! It's time to retreat."

T-bug didn't retreat immediately, but instead came back to check on his teammates.

"Xiao Cha, has the data download finished?"

"No! The data is too large; it will take quite a while!"

At this moment, T-bug's tone suddenly became urgent.

"Zeta has entered! It's probably Tommasino's backup plan. You must evacuate! Forget about the data."

"Challenger, stop the download. Mr. Scientist, please tell me if the safe is encrypted."

When the researchers saw that Vito was about to leave, they were overjoyed and told him about the encryption.

"Little Cha, bring that thing up."

Vito looked at the experimental chamber, his gaze complex as he watched the female test subject pounding wildly inside.

In Night City, watching a once vibrant homeless man transformed into a monster devoid of self by capitalism, Vito felt a chill run through his heart.

These wanderers of the Badlands, far from the core conflicts of Night City, only wanted to survive in the wasteland, yet they still could not escape the fate of being captured and used for experiments. In the eyes of giant corporations, the lives of the lower classes were not even as valuable as experimental data.

"Sir scientist, is there any hope for them?"

"They are failures. The reason why the chips induce cyberpsychosis is probably because the low-cost chips contain residual neurotoxins that continuously damage the host's brain nerves. It's pointless to save them; it's simply impossible."

The word "impossible" definitively sealed the fate of these experimental subjects.

"Alright, thank you for your explanation, Mr. Scientist."

"You're welcome----"

boom!

Vito shot the researcher in the head, and the sudden gunshot caused the researchers on the other side of the laboratory to scream.

He didn't look at the test subjects or the researchers again, and began to evacuate with Xiao Cha.

Upon reaching the gate, Jack saw only Vito and Cha and asked, puzzled.

"Didn't they say someone was arrested? How come it's just you guys?"

Vito walked quickly past Jack.

"They've all gone cyber lunatics; we can't save them this time."

Jack remained silent and followed Vito.

As they rushed out of the laboratory, the sound of NCPD vehicles could be heard in the distance, their headlights piercing the night as they sped toward the industrial park.

Vito immediately activated the Magician, the engine roared furiously, the wheels screeched against the ground, and the car shot out of the industrial park like an arrow, disappearing into the night.

The carriage was silent, save for the roar of the engine and the heavy breathing of the passengers.

After they left, a group of company soldiers dressed as mercenaries entered the laboratory. Several hackers downloaded experimental data, while the gunmen executed all the researchers.

A few minutes later, the team destroyed the data core and quickly withdrew.

The NCPD then arrived and set up a cordon.

News Channel 54's hovercar descended from the sky, and Gillian Jordan immediately got out, composed himself, and began broadcasting live in front of the drone.

"An extremist attack has occurred in Watson District! The attack targeted a biotechnology company's humanitarian laboratory in Watson. According to sources at NCPD, all staff members on site were brutally murdered by extremists; there were no survivors."

The arrival of NCPD was timely, and News Channel 54 arrived just in time. At that moment, Tommasino was listening to his subordinates' reports from inside a floating vehicle in the distance.

"Just one? I thought someone like him would take care of everyone. Send the data to headquarters and let those little tricksters go home. They're pretty good, they deserve it."

The hovercar that had been following Vito and the others turned around and flew away.

The magician sped through the neon lights and shadows of Night City, the Watson District laboratory receding into the distance behind him. But a storm of corporate conspiracy and life-or-death struggle was just beginning to unfold over Vito's team.

The darkness of Night City extends far beyond the street shootouts; it lies hidden within the dark, unseen evils intertwined with capital and technology. And they, at this moment, have stepped into the heart of this evil.