Ripperdoc Viktor

Following the route, Carl passed through a narrow alley with an iron gate and arrived at a cyberware clinic converted from a basement. He politely greeted the middle-aged, dark-haired man watching a boxing match on a computer.

"Sorry to disturb you. Hello."

"A customer?"

Hearing the voice, the man turned around. He wore glasses, had sharply defined features, and carried an air of calm steadiness. He saw Carl and Oliver standing beside her.

"You're the first customer I've met in this city who's been this polite."

Ripperdoc Viktor's gaze swept over Oliver before settling on Carl.

An unmodified young man.

As an excellent ripperdoc, Viktor could tell at a glance that Carl had no cyberware installed. Because of that, he roughly guessed why the two had come.

"Planning to install an Access Port?"

"Something like that, Doc. What models of Access Port do you have here, and about how much do they cost?"

Oliver spoke up for Carl first. If the price was too steep, she could drag Carl away right away.

"I have a Militech Paraline operating system for five thousand Eurodollars, and a Rizco Electronics Type One for seven thousand five hundred."

Hearing that price, Oliver's mouth twitched. "Doc, don't tell me all your operating systems are brand-new."

Oliver had previously told Carl that the three thousand-odd Eurodollars she had scavenged would be more than enough to buy an Access Port, but that was based on her being used to secondhand, outdated cyberware. The only reason this ripperdoc dared charge so much was because the merchandise was new. If he could sell old goods at genuine-product prices, this shop would never be open in a poor place like Watson District.

"I'm not some gang ripperdoc, or one of those damned organ harvesters. Of course I only carry legitimate cyberware here."

Viktor casually picked up a certificate beside him and showed it to them. It was indeed an official ripperdoc certification.

"Well, this is bad."

Oliver's eyes flickered as she checked her savings and found that she only had fourteen hundred Eurodollars.

Even added together, it still isn't enough.

Oliver had considered the possibility that a ripperdoc's secondhand and old stock might be overpriced, and she had been ready to leave immediately. But she had never imagined that he would be selling brand-new, legitimate goods.

A cyberware shop that only sold brand-new, legitimate products—this wasn't Pacifica. In Pacifica, those guys had racial talent bonuses, and with the help of gang "hackers," they kept scoring good loot. Shouldn't a normal ripperdoc also deal in used goods?

But Viktor's words also made Oliver decide that, even if she had to borrow money, she would get the Access Port installed here for her newly met teammate. The reason was simple: ripperdocs who bought used and outdated cyberware were usually tangled up with the Scavengers.

Someone who could openly say he only carried legitimate goods would never stoop to hanging around with those scum. At the very least, the surgery would be safe here. She would not have to worry about waking up from anesthesia in a Scavenger bathtub with her organs already carved out.

So she immediately typed out a message and sent it to her older sister.

Sis, emergency. V me 500.

"Do you need five thousand?"

After hearing the price and catching Oliver's changing expression from the corner of his eye, Carl, who did not have enough money, took out his Eurodollars and counted them. Even at most, he only had thirty-two hundred, still eighteen hundred short of the Militech Paraline.

He had gotten loot from gangsters, and still could not even afford an Access Port?

"Beep."

Where the hell did you run off to? Your location says you're not in Santo Domingo.

Oliver saw that money had arrived in her account. It was not five hundred, but five thousand.

Thanks, Sis. I met a friend outside. I'll be back later. Love you.

You only say sweet things when you're asking for money. I won't be back in Night City for another two days, so make sure you get home early.

Got it.

After finishing the exchange with her sister and receiving the money, Oliver was about to tell Carl the good news when Carl had already placed thirty-two hundred Eurodollars on the table beside Viktor and turned toward the exit.

"Wait a moment, Doctor Viktor. Here's thirty-two hundred Eurodollars. I'll bring the rest back soon."

Carl pulled the slide of his Lexington, confirming that it could fire properly. He planned to go outside and find something else to do. Given how often shootouts broke out in this city, he should be able to earn something soon enough.

"Wait, Carl!"

"Hold on, young man."

Both Oliver, who felt that her companion was being far too decisive, and Viktor stopped Carl.

The ripperdoc watched Carl turn back. In a relaxed tone, he pointed at the few bloodstained bills. "That's enough money. It's not like I can't negotiate. Why are you in such a hurry? I'll charge you three thousand for a Militech Paraline Access Port. No problem with that, right? Take the two hundred back."

"Huh? You can negotiate?"

"Of course."

A smile appeared on Viktor's face. He said to the surprised Oliver and Carl, "I'm more curious about why neither of you tried to negotiate and just accepted my price."

"I only just found out ripperdocs can negotiate."

Oliver wanted to seem more experienced in front of Carl, but in truth, her sister had always personally handled her cyberware replacements. This was Oliver's first time as well. Hearing that it would only cost three thousand Eurodollars, she hurriedly transferred the money back to her sister and pulled Carl over to Viktor.

Viktor stood up as well. After carefully examining Carl from head to toe, he spoke. "From what she called you earlier, your name is Carl, right? How old are you this year? Have you ever undergone any special surgeries?"

Carl decided to answer according to the age he currently looked. "Eighteen. As for surgeries, never."

"So you're pure flesh?"

"Yes."

"Then this surgery may take a while, and you'll need some time to adjust afterward. Everyone has a first time, so don't be afraid. I'll anesthetize you properly. Do you want to stay conscious, or do you want to feel the surgery as it happens?"

The anesthetic would numb the pain, but some sensation would still remain.

Carl considered it and felt that experiencing surgery firsthand might be something worth trying, so he chose the latter.

"All right. Get ready. Brace yourself for the knife while I prepare the medical equipment. In a few hours, I'll remake you from the ground up."

Ten minutes later, after Carl lay down on the specialized equipment, the operation began.