Starting from Night City

A modified Nomad vehicle passed through the border checkpoint from the north of Night City.

"Is this good enough, little lady?"

The white-haired girl nodded and got out of the modified car. "This is good enough. Thank you. How much is the fare?"

McCoy waved his hand.

"No fare. We were heading into the city anyway. We just saw you and gave you a ride, no trouble at all. Be careful, little lady. Night City isn't what you think it is. It's a city that devours people."

McCoy assumed the white-haired girl came to Night City to achieve the American Dream.

But he didn't know that the white-haired girl had other troubles.

Compared to where she had lived before, Night City might actually be safer—at least until Arasaka's people found her.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Why Only Thirty Percent?

Back at the Wolf Bar.

They drove the car into the garage first.

Then the three of them went into the bar for something to eat.

In a corner on the second floor of the bar, the three of them ate and chatted.

V bit down on her straw and came up with an idea.

"Su, I have a suggestion. You don't really need to open your own gun shop. You could cooperate with the Priest."

"Don't you need the Priest's help for your materials and parts anyway? Why not just make it a one-stop shop and have the Priest handle the sales for you too."

"This might mean giving the Priest a larger cut of the profits, but it'll save you a lot of headaches. What do you think?"

Jack, sitting nearby, agreed. "That's a good suggestion. And the Priest is a pretty reliable Fixer. At least in all the years I've known him, I've never seen him abandon or betray anyone—as long as you don't betray him."

"Can you ask him now?"

"Hold on, I'll call him right now."

Jack put down his chicken burrito.

His eyes lit up.

A moment later, Jack finished the call.

"The Priest agreed, but he has a proposal."

"What proposal? Let's hear it."

"After selling each Tech Weapon, we'll deduct the cost of materials and parts from the earnings. The remaining profit will be split seventy-thirty."

Before Su Xiao could say anything, V said with some disappointment, "Why only thirty percent?"

The price of Tech Weapons was not lower than Kinetic Weapons.

It was higher.

But a thirty percent cut seemed a bit low.

From V's understanding of the Priest, he shouldn't be this kind of person.

"V, you misunderstood. Thirty percent is for the Priest. Su gets seventy percent," Jack said with a grin. The Priest valued Su Xiao highly, which also brought him, as a brother, some prestige. "The Priest said it's just to make a friend."

"Oh, right, I almost forgot to ask, how many Tech Weapons can you assemble per day?"

Su Xiao didn't answer immediately but pondered for a moment.

The complexity of Tech Weapons far exceeded that of Kinetic Weapons.

There were quite a few gunsmiths in Night City who could repair and assemble Kinetic Weapons.

But those who could handle Tech Weapons were absolute rarities.

Otherwise, the major gangs would have long ago abandoned Kinetic Weapons and switched to Tech Weapons for everyone.

As for Smart Weapons, that was a battle for gods.

You could see that the manufacturers capable of producing Smart Weapons were all top-tier, first-class entities.

The structure of Tech Weapons was more complex than Kinetic Weapons.

The manufacturing speed was slower.

Su Xiao figured he could guarantee two hours a day.

He could probably manufacture about five.

"Five? I remember seeing at the gun shop that the cheapest Tech Weapon costs at least twenty thousand. You can make five a day, so that means..."

Jack's eyes widened.

No wonder they always say comparing people leads to death, and comparing goods leads to them being thrown away.

For unknown mercenaries like them, a single commission only paid a few thousand Eurodollars.

And that was split three ways.

Su Xiao sure is doing well.

He can earn so much in a single day.

And he doesn't even have to fight for it; he can just lie there comfortably and make money.

Seeing that Su Xiao and Jack had reached an agreement, V, who had just returned from the restroom, sat back down and looked at Su Xiao.

"Su, I noticed you don't even have neural slots. Haven't you implanted any cybernetics or undergone any body modifications?"

Hearing V's words, Su Xiao subconsciously touched the back of his head.

While the Buckle Family's gunsmiths might not be great, their cybernetic doctors were truly exceptional.

The gunshot wounds he sustained when he first arrived in this world had completely healed.

There wasn't even a scar left.

Su Xiao shook his head. "Sorry, I don't like that feeling."

V and Jack exchanged glances.

"But it'll be really troublesome if you don't even have the most basic neural slots."

In 2077, cybernetics had long become as commonplace as smartphones, a part of everyday life.

Even the poorest people would find a way to at least install a first-generation implant.

Although the latest implants had already been updated to the fourth generation, and the first generation was completely outdated and obsolete, for those who couldn't even afford to eat, a first-generation implant

was still a very cost-effective option.

Of course, there were also pure humans like Su Xiao who resisted cybernetic modification.

These were the cyber monks who sought the path of soul sublimation.

The monks believed that the reason for the cyberpsychosis plaguing society

was actually the loss of flesh and blood.

The human soul and flesh complemented each other; neither could be lost.

The soul needed the nourishment and sustenance of the flesh.

If the body gradually became cybernetic, it would cause the soul pain, leading to madness.

This was the birth of cyberpsychosis.

"Maybe I'll buy a phone tomorrow."

"Buy a phone? If you really don't want to install implants, how about I get you a pair of AR glasses?"

Current AR glasses could be considered miniature mobile phones.

Making holographic calls and sending text messages were just the most basic functions.

Transferring money, sending red envelopes, and other functions were already available.

Furthermore, they included neural slots and personal connection cables.

With a pair of AR glasses, even without implants, most daily difficulties could be easily overcome.

Some might ask, if that's the case, why do so many people still get implants instead of just using AR glasses?

The reason is quite simple.

AR glasses are not cheap.

A pair costs tens of thousands of Eurodollars, which is comparable to a basic military-grade cybernetic implant.

And their function is merely to replace the most basic implants.

The cost-effectiveness is so low.

It's somewhat similar to choosing between a Herman Miller ergonomic chair costing over ten thousand, a Baoyou ergonomic chair costing two to three thousand, and a regular rattan chair.

Most people would choose the latter two.

It's not that Herman Miller chairs are bad, but the exorbitant price is simply too high, creating too high a barrier to entry.

With an investment of ten thousand, many people would rather buy a new computer or a phone than a chair.

This is why AR glasses are out of reach for the lower class.

Of course, AR glasses were never intended for the lower class anyway.

They are merely a toy for the rich.

In the following days, the three of them did not take on any more commissions.

Jack was busy with Su Xiao's business, running back and forth.

V was in charge of logistics.

Always able to deliver delicious and abundant food and drinks to Su Xiao and Jack when they were hungry or thirsty.

Su Xiao, meanwhile, was in the garage, manufacturing Tech Weapons with the tools, parts, and materials delivered by the Priest's subordinates.

Just as V and Jack had said.

The Priest was a very reliable Fixer.

He settled Su Xiao's share daily, never falling behind.

The Priest even learned from Jack that Su Xiao needed a pair of AR Glasses.

He directly had his subordinates bring them along when delivering materials and parts.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Tactical Goggles, Activate! I See Your Whiffed Attack

The AR Glasses were silver-white all over, exuding a strong sense of technology.

As soon as Su Xiao got them, he couldn't wait to put them on.

"Beep beep beep--beep beep beep--"

A phone call sounded, audible only to Su Xiao.

A small square box popped up in his vision.

The caller ID showed Jack Wells.

Upon answering, Jack's voice clearly entered his ears.

"Hey, Su, how's this little gadget from the Priest?"

"It's okay, pretty good."

He felt almost no weight on his nose bridge.