"What is a leek?"
AA asked curiously, clearly having never heard of a plant that grows back so quickly after being harvested.
"We are the leeks, the leeks are us. Speaking of which, do all the children produced by this so-called fertility factory owe the company money?" Sun Jack continued to press.
AA nodded, "Yes, they list the cost of birth and education as a bill, and send it to our system on our 16th birthday."
"We have to work hard and earn money to pay off all the money on the bill before we can gain freedom."
As she spoke, a hint of fear flickered in AA's eyes, and the work in her hands stopped.
"If... if we are overdue for more than 6 months, the fertility factory will send people to take our organs one by one as collateral, and return them to us when we have money."
"Even going to the BCPD is useless for this kind of thing, because according to the contract, our bodies do not belong to us, they are the property of the fertility factory."
"Contract? Between whom? A contract with the embryo?" Taipai asked in surprise.
AA lowered her head and looked at her flat abdomen, "They have already taken one of my kidneys and half of my stomach... I don't know what else they will take next time they come..."
"Fuck!" Sun Jack's face was full of disgust. Forcing people to be born, then forcing them to repay debts, and using debt to force these people to be corporate slaves, what kind of living Yama came up with such a beastly method.
"No, I really can't figure it out. What do they want organs for? Don't they have prosthetic limbs now?"
"I don't know," AA shook her head, "Maybe they're for eating. I heard that the top-ranked internet celebrity restaurants sell human dishes, and they're membership-based."
"...Eating people?" Sun Jack was speechless. He used to think that capitalism eating people was just a metaphor, but he didn't expect it to be true.
But upon closer thought, it didn't seem wrong. This city was eating people all the time, it was just a more direct way now.
Now Sun Jack suddenly felt that the Kejia Cuisine from last night wasn't so hard to swallow anymore.
"But it's okay now, I have a 3@ reward!" AA showed that familiar smile again. "It can help me get through for a while."
Sun Jack looked at the girl in front of him with some heartache. Even though life was so tormenting, she always faced it with a smile like a sunflower.
If she had lived in his era, she would surely have had a very beautiful and happy life, instead of barely surviving like now.
While Sun Jack was still sighing, AA had already focused all her attention on modifying the prosthetic limb.
"By the way, Jack, the Cannon Launch Device and this Arm Blade, how do you plan to activate them?" AA sent him various design drawings to choose from.
"Whatever, as long as it can guarantee that it won't be hacked."
"Okay, then I'll directly remove the Network Module." As AA quickly disassembled, Sun Jack's Nervous System UI directly popped up a prompt, "Prosthetic Limb 1 disconnected."
Upgrading the system and changing the firmware of a Combat Prosthetic indeed required professional skills, but turning something from a Cyberpunk world into a Steampunk product was not that difficult for a talented student like AA.
It didn't take long for AA to finish. After Sun Jack reinstalled his new arm, he found that there was no difference except that his system didn't display the number of shells.
"Jack, not only is there no shell count display, but the aiming assist and system self-check/self-inspection, and fault reporting are all gone too," AA reminded him kindly.
"I fire at medium to close range, so I don't need aiming assist. As for fault diagnosis, don't I have you?" Sun Jack reached out and gently patted her head.
AA immediately smiled happily, revealing her small canine teeth.
"The trigger is on the inside of your little finger and ring finger. You can trigger it by pressing with your thumb. Jack, you try it first. If there are any problems, we'll debug it again."
After a period of tinkering with AA, Sun Jack's cybernetic limb was modified. From now on, he wouldn't have to worry about any damn hackers.
"By the way, can you modify cybernetic eyes too?"
"Cybernetic eyes?" AA looked at Sun Jack's eyes, a hint of difficulty appearing on her face. "Sorry, I'm not too sure. Let me check some information online before I reply to you."
Sun Jack wasn't disappointed. Being able to modify his cybernetic limb already exceeded his expectations.
If it couldn't be modified, so be it. The modification was to prevent hackers, but his enemies wouldn't all be hackers. He couldn't put the cart before the horse.
"What are your plans for the future?" Sun Jack asked.
AA shook her head. "I don't know. I'll take it one step at a time. I used to look for work in North City because it was close to my home. I'll try looking in South City to see what jobs are available there."
Although she said that, Sun Jack knew that finding a job wasn't easy. Without any other special circumstances, AA would soon return to her previous situation.
Sun Jack looked at her thoughtfully, making AA think there was something dirty on her face.
"Are you really willing to become a mercenary? If you are, I can take you under my wing."
Although Vajra could also handle this kind of repair and modification work, Sun Jack didn't quite trust that unscrupulous merchant. If he could cheat Song 6, why wouldn't he cheat himself? It was best to have someone reliable for this.
Moreover, this way, AA would also have a job. Although this job wasn't great, it was better than having her organs removed.
"I'm willing! I'm willing! I want to earn big money like you guys! Then I'll be completely free after just a few more jobs!" AA nodded her head like a pecking chicken.
Sun Jack was about to tell her to think carefully, that being a mercenary was dangerous, but he swallowed the words back. Where in this broken place wasn't dangerous?
Besides, AA was a local. She would definitely know some things better than he did.
"Alright, you go back and pack up first. When I find a job, I'll notify you so we can earn big money together."
AA nodded vigorously, stuffed various tools into her backpack, and walked towards the door.
After only a few steps, AA happily spread her arms and hugged Sun Jack tightly. "From now on, I'll follow you, boss!!"
"What title is that? Where did you learn it?"
"Mercenary movies! I heard they all call each other that!" AA said, then turned and left Sun Jack's apartment.
"You're really planning to take her with you?" Taipai, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"Mm."
"Her preferences aren't even on the same channel as yours. No matter how much you help her, it'll be in vain."
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