Cyberpunk: Nirvana of Shoko Toyokawa

Page 22

"……rustle……"

What happened to Xiangzi? Chuhua was a little confused.

The signal from Xiangzi's communication equipment sounded not very good, mixed with heavy noise, as if it was dialed from a pay phone.

“…Please, Chuhua.”

It was hoarse and distorted, but it was indeed Xiangzi's voice coming from the other end of the phone.

"Let me forget everything."

Chapter 20 Forget Everything

"Good morning, City of Music! Yesterday, RAS's new song [Hey Kids] sold a million copies! I think they should thank the riots in Kabuki District. Seventeen streets were blocked off, and those who drank too much were locked up at home with nowhere to go but to listen to songs!"

"Roselia and Afterglow are arguing over territory again. The A group accused the R group of installing cameras that were 'immoral' and captured a lot of situations in their territory, but the R group said that they couldn't stand their 'incredibly lax management'. Do you think Roselia and Afterglow will fight again? I guess not! Because everyone knows that the BCPD gave these gangs a lot of targets a few days ago, asking them to control their actions... Their own weak police force can't handle it at all!"

"The leader of Pastel*Palettes is still missing. Everyone says she went to another city! Hello, Happy World! Still busy with their Michelle Paradise. Finally, Poppin'Party won the lottery yesterday! Seventeen cases of effective intervention and control! How do they have so much time?"

"No matter what, it's a new day! I'm your announcer, Marina. Join me as we begin a new day in Band City..."

The sound of the TV broadcast was blaring overhead. Xiangzi, dressed formally, passed under the shelf where the TV was placed and walked into the dim, narrow corridor of the bar. She passed the bartender who was drowsy in the early morning, passed the colorful record racks, and walked to the deepest part of the bar.

There was a dark brown sofa, and a girl with black hair and a wolf tail, wearing a black leather jacket and red lining, was already sitting there.

"You're so early."

The girl raised her green eyes and looked at Xiangzi.

"Arriving early is a transactional etiquette."

Xiangzi gracefully gathered the hem of his skirt with his hands and sat down opposite the girl.

"I didn't expect Miss Hachiman to arrive first. My apologies."

"Nothing. I just finished my last job and happened to be on my way here, so I'm a little early."

The two simply pulled up their information and quickly checked each other's identities. The girl named Hachiman Kailing said:

"I appreciate people who arrive early. Because it saves time."

"Thank you. Me too."

Xiangzi smiled. She took out a small black paper bag from her bag.

“This is something that was agreed upon.”

Hai Ling took it, opened it, and took out a chip from it. She lifted her hair and inserted the chip into the brain-computer interface at the back of her neck.

There was a slight sound, and Hai Ling's eyes glowed green, then disappeared.

She pulled the card out again. The shiny electronic components on the card had turned gray.

Hailing broke the card.

"Just use it. You trust me a lot." Xiangzi looked at her, "Why not leave it for 4 hours for virus observation?"

"You were introduced by Chu Hua. She is very good at judging people, so there is no need for that."

"Chuhua's reputation is indeed good...how is it?"

"The points have been increased. Here you go."

Hai Ling took out a gray card from her breast pocket.

"Gray card. It lists 480,000. The price we negotiated."

Xiangzi reached out to take it. She scanned it with the external headband worn beside her ear and put the card away.

“It’s a pleasure to work with you. Although, I still think the price is a bit low.”

"It's been a while since the [point chip] has been in short supply. Since you're in a hurry to sell it and you're not willing to go through the Hello, Happy World! certification auction, this is the only price you can offer. Moreover, the gray card you requested, which [can temporarily store electronic currency and conduct transactions without directly accessing personal accounts], also costs money."

"Yeah...I know."

Xiangzi said.

"That's rude."

Hailing stood up and prepared to leave, but she noticed that Xiangzi was still sitting there, not moving.

Xiangzi looked at Hailing.

"Ms. Toyokawa, what's going on?"

Hai Ling noticed the gaze and asked.

"I just care a little about you." Xiangzi sat upright and said slowly, "At this age, your reaction points are already 12... No, it's 13 now."

"You have reached the level of [Extraordinary], but you are still [Unaffiliated] and have not joined any faction. It is rare to find an excellent lone wolf like you."

"The information shows that you are a dropout from the BCPD Hanasakigawa Preparatory Police Academy."

"..."

"It's not an easy school to get into. There are very few people who drop out."

"Ms. Toyokawa, this is not normal concern for the person you are doing business with."

Hai Ling turned slightly. The molecular samurai sword [Black Unicorn] on her waist made a slight metallic collision sound due to the vibration.

"Ms. Hachiman, I didn't mean to offend you."

Xiangzi continued speaking calmly, as if he hadn't heard the voice.

"I want to establish a long-term cooperation with you."

"...I don't think [point chips] are the kind of goods that can be supplied stably over a long period of time."

"Do not."

Xiangzi said.

“It’s a deeper cooperation project.”

……

Consciousness slowly emerged from the darkness, and Xiangzi slowly opened his eyes.

The right half of his vision that had been missing since his eyeball was removed returned. Not only that, there were also a few lines of small, floating, red technical indicators.

"Give it a try."

The voice of the prosthetic doctor came from the side. Xiangzi blinked and focused his consciousness on his right temple.

The infrared scanner was turned on, and the names and detailed information of various electronic components and electronic devices around him popped up.

She raised her right hand and looked towards it.

Under the skin, a thin black [Palm Ballistic Co-Processor] plug-in is clearly visible, which allows the holder to check the status of the gun while holding it.

The interaction box that pops up shows that it [works normally].

"It's all normal. It works very well, thank you."

Xiangzi slowly straightened his body and got down from the operating table.

"There is no error window, the vision is very stable, and there is almost no pain from rejection. Qilusi's artificial eye and the Palm Ballistic Co-Processor are both completely stable. It's so efficient, no wonder Chuhua and Mu recommended you to me."

"Sumimi's Hatsuka and Wakaba's daughter?"

The prosthetic doctor who was washing his hands said with a smile.

"Of course. Although not many people know it, the owner of our underground clinic is Maya Yamato. We are the best in the whole city of Joy."

"Haha, how dare you talk about the boss like that. She's the backbone of Pastel*Palettes."

"Oh, it's okay, it's okay. The boss himself likes this title! Ah, I also installed the chip you bought, remember to take a look. And I also changed the name you wanted to change."

"sorry to bother you."

Xiangzi blinked again. In Yi's eyes, she saw her identity information.

……

[Name: Oblivionis]

【attribute】

[Body: 3]

【Intelligence: 3】

[Reaction: 3]

Technical ability: 3

【Calmness: 4】

……

The [Point Chip: Calmness] that I purchased has already worked faithfully.

Composure went from 3 to 4.

In addition, the name was changed from a string of numbers to English according to his own request.

"Is this really the best thing? Most people would give themselves a shorter name..."

"That's all right. Thank you, doctor."

Four hundred and eighty thousand.

The burned and damaged skin around the eyes was replaced with a lowest-level chip, a hand plug-in, and a prosthetic eye.

In exchange for the qualification to stand at a new starting point.

Xiangzi stood up.

She looked around in her new, digital vision.

Information appeared before her eyes. She saw doors, windows, cameras, various medical equipment, guns and knives for emergency use, and the formula information of the prosthetic doctor.

I saw my coat and bag placed aside.

Information popped up there, too.

Xiangzi walked over and opened his bag.

The knife that saved her life twice lay quietly inside.

This time, Xiangzi finally saw Xiaodao's message.

The panel is very ordinary. However, surprisingly, it is not like ordinary knives, with only "Knife" written on it.

This knife has a name.

【Nirvana】.

These two words shone faintly in Xiangzi's artificial golden eye, which was the same color as his natural eye.

[End of Volume 1]

Summary of Volume 1

[Information that can be disclosed now]