"Peter, you've been busy with those tasks all the time. I bet you haven't played this popular game in the past couple of days."
Rebecca smirked, tilting her head playfully.
"Do you want me to play with you? I'm a diamond rank in this game," she added with a proud grin.
Peter chuckled. Over the past few days, he had given Philip 100,000 Euros to purchase a server capable of accommodating 500,000 players online simultaneously. This allowed him to introduce a ranking and matchmaking system.
In his previous life, Rebecca's ability to go from zero to expert in just a few days would have made her a prodigy.
"You mean this game, APEX?" Peter asked with a knowing smile. "I bought the first edition of the chip, but I haven't played much. You'll have to guide me later."
He was indulging Rebecca, giving her face. After all, in his past life, he had watched Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and had seen her fate countless times. No matter how many times he defeated Adam Smasher, he couldn't change Rebecca's tragic ending.
But now, in this real world, he had the chance to do things differently. Even if it meant spoiling her a little.
Rebecca's expression suddenly changed as she clutched her head dramatically. "Oh, I'm feeling a little dizzy, Peter. Can you take me home? I have no idea where that idiot Pilar is fooling around with Jack."
She pouted, putting on a pitiful act. Anyone who didn't know her might really think she was just an innocent middle schooler.
Peter shook his head with a smirk. "It's getting late. I'll have Delamain take you home."
At his command, a luxurious Delamain taxi pulled up in front of the Ritz Bar.
Rebecca's eyes widened in confusion as Peter effortlessly guided her into the car and shut the door.
"Delamain, take Rebecca home."
"As you wish, my most esteemed member."
After hacking into the Delamain system earlier, Peter had slightly altered his membership level. Now, as the highest-tier member, he enjoyed a 40% discount on rides and always received the most luxurious Delamain vehicles.
No matter the occasion.
"Hey! Hey! Peter!" Rebecca shouted through the window as the car started moving. "This isn't what we agreed on! You said you'd take me home!"
Peter simply grinned. "We'll talk about it when you grow up!"
Rebecca's frustrated expression disappeared into the night as the taxi drove off.
Though he liked her wild personality, she still had a childlike impulsiveness.
He wasn't some creep from Japan.
Noon the Next Day
Inside Victor's clinic.
"Peter, is this your friend?"
Victor glanced at the burly man standing next to Peter.
"Yeah, Old Vic. His name's Mann. He's a merc like me. He wants to buy one or two Heavy Hitter prosthetics and have you install them."
Peter nodded casually.
Victor raised an eyebrow. "What? Heavy Hitter prosthetics? Two of them?"
Even for an experienced ripperdoc like him, this request was shocking.
Victor had been hesitant when installing so many prosthetics on Jack and V, fearing they'd develop cyberpsychosis. But Peter's presence reassured him—he wasn't worried about Jack and the others losing their minds.
However, this Mann guy?
Victor studied him closely. The man's limbs were already fully cybernetic. His internal organs might have also been augmented. If he wanted additional prosthetics, he'd need to replace his lungs and heart to support the enhancements.
Without those modifications, his heart would explode from the strain.
At least 50% of his body needed to be cybernetic to handle the added stress. Otherwise, installing more prosthetics was nothing short of suicide.
"Young man, I'd advise you to reconsider," Victor said seriously. "One more prosthetic is fine, but two? I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."
Victor prided himself on being an ethical ripperdoc. Unlike many in Night City, he wasn't out to make a quick buck by installing cyberware recklessly. He always tried to dissuade impulsive clients from making dangerous choices.
And Mann?
Victor could tell at a glance that the guy was already pushing his limits.
But Mann wasn't deterred.
"Doc, you don't need to worry," he said firmly. "I can handle it. Peter already took my money for the prosthetics. He told me you were the best, so I want them installed here."
"If you won't do it, I'll find another ripperdoc who will."
Victor sighed.
Of course, Mann understood the risks. But that didn't matter to him.
The Heavy Hitter prosthetics offered unparalleled combat power. The Fifth-Gen Bioconductor, for example, drastically reduced cooldown times for cybernetic abilities.
Then there was the Fifth-Gen Full Spectrum Resistance mod, which would make him highly resistant to fire and electricity. With that installed, he wouldn't have to worry about burning alive or being electrocuted in a fight.
These were the only two prosthetics he lacked.
Victor hesitated for a moment before relenting. "Alright, alright. Since you insist, I'll do it."
He had done his duty by warning Mann. If the guy still wanted to go through with it, Victor had no choice but to comply.
Three Hours Later
"All done," Victor said, removing his glasses and wiping the sweat from his brow. "You can move now."
Installing a Bioconductor and an Immune System Enhancement prosthetic was no simple task. These modifications required major internal adjustments—practically taking a person apart before putting them back together.
Even for a seasoned ripperdoc like Victor, it had been an exhausting job.
Mann sat up, stretching his limbs.
To his surprise, there was no lingering pain. Every prosthetic surgery he had undergone before had been excruciating.
But Victor's work?
It was practically painless.
Mann gave him a look of newfound respect.
"Huh. Feels like nothing's changed."
Peter smirked, sipping his drink. "That's because these are enhancements. You won't notice the difference until you activate your cyberware."
Mann nodded. "Good point. Let's test it out."
He bent his knees and jumped.
In an instant, he slammed into the ceiling with a THUD!
Victor groaned, shaking his head. "I can't have you wrecking my clinic. Go test it outside."
Ten Minutes Later
Mann stood outside, running diagnostics on his new enhancements.
The results?
Incredible.
"This is insane!" he exclaimed. "I can now use my leg boosters five times per minute!"
Before, he could only manage two bursts. Now, he was five times faster.
If he faced his past self in a fight, he could take himself down in seconds.
It was no exaggeration—these upgrades had pushed his combat potential to a whole new level.
Adam Smasher's cyberware truly was top-tier.
But just as Mann was basking in his newfound power, Peter's expression turned serious.
"Mann," he said in a low voice, "I know these enhancements are amazing, but don't rely on them too much."
Mann frowned. "Why not?"
Peter exhaled slowly. "The boost is great, but if you get addicted to the feeling, you'll lose yourself."
Cyberware dependency was a dangerous road.
In his previous life, Peter had explored the true causes of cyberpsychosis in Cyberpunk 2077. He had replayed the game multiple times, experimenting with different choices and outcomes.
And he had learned one thing—relying too much on cyberware was a slippery slope.
He had seen what happened to those who crossed that line.
Mann scoffed. "Relax, Peter. I can control myself."
Peter didn't respond immediately. He simply stared at Mann with an unreadable expression.
"I hope so," he said after a pause.
Because once someone lost themselves to cyberware, there was no coming back.
And Peter had no intention of losing any more friends to that fate.
---
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