Here I Come

Discovering that his ability, obtainable in 2075 just by installing a translator, was actually a cheat, Karl felt a surge of excitement. He had mentally prepared himself to face this chaotic world stark naked and empty-handed, but knowing he was actually wearing underwear before the ordeal was a definite comfort.

He wasn't some 'Water of Life' addict; naturally, he felt more secure with underwear on.

Alright, emotions adjusted. What should I do next?

After a moment's thought, Karl had his answer.

First, find a place to stay and enough food to stave off starvation for a few meals. Oh, and get some kind of mobile communicator. I wonder if they still sell normal phones in this world, besides installed and external cybernetics.

Karl had no intention of pitting his flesh against machines. If he could install cyberware, he definitely would, but he could imagine that such high-tech stuff would be ridiculously expensive. Maybe the older models would be cheaper?

Then again, they might be expensive because they're old.

Lost in thought, Karl walked back to the guy he'd seen pissing earlier, who was now sprawled on the ground in a daze.

Karl noticed a handgun lying next to the young man, who had a green mohawk, metal plates on his cheeks, and looked to be in his mid-twenties.

'Militech Lexington.'

Huh?

Karl thought he saw something on the gun, but it vanished in a blink.

Intrigued, he focused on the handgun. To his surprise, words he could understand appeared in his vision as he stared at it.

[Militech M-10AF Lexington]: Manufactured by Militech. A lightweight, easy-to-use, small-sized kinetic pistol with low recoil, suitable for subduing targets.

Oh, so my cheat isn't just about understanding languages; it works on weapons too.

Does it work on people?

With that thought, Karl looked at the green-haired youth. The same words appeared before him.

[Insufficient Data]

Insufficient data?

Why insufficient data? What's the difference between a person and a weapon?

Just as he was wondering, a flash of insight struck Karl. He suddenly understood why.

To test his theory, he focused on other people passing by. In his gaze, the words "Insufficient Data" appeared for everyone, but some of the weapons they carried could be identified, while others also displayed "Insufficient Data."

'I see.'

Karl understood. This cheat wasn't a translator at all. It was a summary of his memories. Karl had seen those words before, heard those terms, and his cheat was simply compiling the meaning of those words and terms from his brain, digging up the buried memories and translating them for him.

The reason Karl figured it out was that he remembered seeing information about the Lexington in pre-release game leaks, and the description matched exactly what he was seeing now.

In a way, it was an automatic, recall-assisting photographic memory.

Not bad. The ability is more than just a translator.

Karl stared at the Lexington, then at the green-haired head lying there. After a moment's thought, he decided not to pick up the weapon.

It wasn't because of some high moral ground. Karl just noticed that the guy's body was still twitching.

What if he suddenly woke up, instinctively grabbed the gun, and shot him?

'Better think of another way...'

Just as Karl thought this, he suddenly noticed that the green-haired head's body had stopped twitching, and the words he was focusing on had changed.

[Deceased. Cause of death: Drug Overdose]

Karl looked around. He was in the apartment building's garbage area, and there was basically no one around. In other words...

"Generally speaking, respect for the dead is paramount, but for me right now, survival is paramount. Sorry for disturbing you."

Picking up the handgun from the ground, Karl noticed that some colorful pieces of paper had slipped out of the green-haired head's pocket as he stopped twitching.

[Eurodollars]

"How thoughtful of you."

After taking a total of two hundred and thirty Eurodollars, Karl gave the green-haired head a moment of silence as a memorial before turning to leave.

He had memorized his face. Karl would remember this chaotic act of kindness.

'If you have any family, I'll repay them once I have the ability to find them.'

Karl wasn't some incredibly virtuous person. He simply believed that debts of gratitude and revenge should be repaid, even though, in the truest sense, he was committing theft.

Hiding the Lexington under his clothes, Karl, wearing a black jacket, walked towards the elevator. In any case, he would take it one step at a time. He would go to the streets to see if there was a place to get a phone or similar item. In this future world, even monks needed a receiver to collect offerings.

Entering the noisy elevator, which was playing various advertisements, Karl pressed the down button. As the elevator descended, the light filtering through the dilapidated doors reflected on his face, making his expression appear blurred and unreal.

"Boom."

With a mechanical creak caused by age, the elevator doors opened, and Karl stepped out of the super-skyscraper.

What greeted his eyes was light.

Colorful, dazzling light illuminating the skyscrapers and bustling crowds.

Night City is a city located in the Free State of Northern California, on the West Coast's Del Coronado Bay. It's described as a city of dreams, a city of crime, and other things, but Karl's first impression upon seeing the real Night City was an idea that was completely incompatible with it, even a little ridiculous.

City of Lights.

A city overflowing with light.

Too dazzling, almost blinding.

Karl looked at the city and suddenly smiled.

But whether it's the City of Dreams, the City of Crime, the City of Lights, or even Night City, it doesn't matter.

Because he is certain that he already exists within this city.

Anyway, I'm here.

Karl closed his eyes, facing the sky, then lowered his head again, opening his eyes to look at the street.

I, Karl, have arrived!