Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

[You have obtained Level 6 Street Technology: Solidification Brainwashing Program]

[You completed the first part of the job change task: trade/pillage/steal ten exclusive modification blueprints from the Prosthetic Doctor]

”Solidification Brainwashing Program?”

Gao Gong raised an eyebrow, ”You didn’t install this program on every modified prosthetic, did you?”

”So what if I did?” AI Big Head retorted angrily, ”Others don’t get it, but don’t you know? If a Prosthetic Doctor isn’t ruthless, how can he be a Black Market Doctor! If you’re talking morals, then give those tech materials back to me!”

Gao Gong chuckled, ”If I were you, I wouldn’t risk getting discovered by installing red programs. Gangsters are easy to bully, but if you install this on corporate employees, believe me, their security department will trace it back to you the next day, and those enforcers nurtured by Corporate Will aren’t weaker than Cyber Hackers.”

”You’re breaking the rules; street wars don’t target neutrals!”

AI Big Head remained indignant, indicating that his Personality Module hadn’t been fully installed. If it were truly ’devoid of conscience,’ there wouldn’t even be any anger.

”Rules,” Gao Gong smirked, ”In a few days, there’s only going to be one rule in the Outer City District, and that’s my rule!”

...

After leaving Little Emperor Street, Gao Gong switched the task panel.

[Job Change Task: Advanced Modification]

Task content:

1. Trade/pillage/steal ten exclusive modification blueprints from the Prosthetic Doctor (completed)

2. Undergo a Level 2 Mechanical Civilization modification (arms/AI/energy) (completed)

3. Conduct a large-scale prosthetic experiment

The second task was the first to be completed. Both the Carbon Atom Reactor and the Shuttle-shaped Mayfly Spear are considered advanced modifications.

He got the first blueprint from the Butcher from the desert, four from the Welfare Gang, and added the five he obtained today.

Finally, only the last step remains.

And in fact, this last step can be completed anytime Gao Gong wants.

When modifying members of the Welfare Gang, he wasn’t idle either.

The task required ’a large-scale prosthetic experiment,’ without specifying the type of prosthetic.

After all, biological exoskeletons also count as prosthetics.

Lady Red Dream, who hadn’t spoken much, suddenly opened her mouth.

”Surprisingly, despite your young age, besides being a Prosthetic Doctor, you’re also a Cyber Hacker.”

From Lady Red Dream’s ability to set up a local area network, it’s clear she’s connected to some hidden entities in Cyber Space.

”One must have excellent professional skills to adapt to more roles. A modern-day male escort naturally needs to be versatile.”

Lady Red Dream didn’t respond to Gao Gong’s nonsense, hinting:

”So, are you one of those people?”

”Those people, which ones?”

”Arasaka Rebels.”

Gao Gong paused, turning his gaze to Lady Red Dream.

The ’Arasaka Tower Fall Event’ takes place in a year’s future. In this plot, Arasaka Tower, besides the Mechanical Mother City’s ’Deep Net,’ serves as the largest public data center on this planet and one of the core assets of the Mother City, is breached by a group of Cyber Hackers known as ’Terria.’

This group is already active now?

Gao Gong pondered and asked, ”Madame, where did you hear about these people?”

Lady Red Dream smiled, ”These individuals are known for their restlessness; I heard some of them recently arrived in Nightless City, possibly plotting something.”

Arriving in Nightless City, plotting something.

Is there some big plot in Nightless City?

In Gao Gong’s memory, there are two major plots related to Nightless City. One is where it’s conquered by the Knight Order, but due to his butterfly effect, the Beast Tide never really rampaged.

The remaining major plot involves the replacement of the Nightless City Main Brain, the Mechanic.

Does this plot involve those hacker radicals?

What was the content of this plot?

The old Mechanic being replaced by a new one, with the new one being more radical and crazier.

It certainly sounds like the style of ’Terria.’

”What do you mean, Madame?” Gao Gong countered.

”I want order, even the most basic order,” Lady Red Dream said as black liquid slowly flowed through the seams of her face.

”Then we’re not enemies,” Gao Gong smiled.

Lady Red Dream gave Gao Gong a deep look, ”Remember what you said.”

”Boss Hong, you can come out now.”

In the darkness, a bald, muscular man adorned with gold beads stepped forward, his custom-made suit stretched tight by his muscles.

It seemed there were more people standing in the darkness.

”Madame,” Boss Hong grinned, revealing a mouthful of gold teeth.

”Old Hong, some money is worth earning, some isn’t necessary,”

Lady Red Dream took two steps forward, standing in front of Gao Gong.

”Madame, it’s just business; no need to get so tense, we’re old friends,” Boss Hong’s face stiffened upon seeing the black liquid on Lady Red Dream’s face, forcing a smile.

”Go back; tonight will be peaceful.”

”Madame —”

Lady Red Dream said no more, and the cracks on her skin began to exude black liquid, resembling the appearance of that old virus lady from the Deep Web Weaver.

However, unlike the old lady, the black liquid from Lady Red Dream’s face turned into red droplets upon hitting the ground, reminiscent of digital rain to Gao Gong.

Speak of Cao Cao, and he appears. Suddenly, a drizzling rain began falling from the sky, unlike clear rain, this time, it was red.

The buildings on both sides, including skyscrapers over a hundred floors high, began to slowly dissolve under the effect of this rain.

”Such a level of big data usage, and such a degree of virtual reality technology—”

”No wonder they’re friends with the Rose Rich Lady.”

Boss Hong said nothing, instead pulling out a cigar and placing it in his mouth. He took a deep breath, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

Boss Hong’s lungs began to heave like bellows. Soon, the dense smoke enveloped him, and even from a distance, Gao Gong could smell the nicotine. But besides nicotine, there seemed to be something else.

”Interesting.”

In the mist, Boss Hong’s burly figure occasionally bulged, as if some monster was about to crawl out of his body.

However, as the rain intensified, each time the mist gathered to a certain extent, it was scattered by the rain.

Finally, the smoke dwindled, revealing Boss Hong drenched like a drowned rat.

Boss Hong glared at Lady Red Dream, furiously spitting the cigar onto the ground, ”Breach of contract! 24k Golden Diamond Security won’t be involved in this matter!”

With that, Boss Hong turned and left, quickly followed by shadows slipping away in the darkness.

Lady Red Dream said nothing, elegantly unfurling a small fan, gently swaying the courtesan-style hairpin a couple of times.

Gao Gong clicked his tongue twice, making up his mind, a Rich Lady’s friend is a Rich Lady; even an older Rich Lady is still a Rich Lady. Sacrificing a bit to serve such Rich Ladies isn’t out of the question.

[Your Personality -1]

Red Dream Club

Idol Aidoru’s new group, ’Black Seven Lucky Gods,’ successfully debuted. They made a killing at their concert, performing hallucination doubles and hallucination personalities, killing one if one came, a group if a group came, ultimately leading to a successful concert, with not a single fan leaving alive.

”So, so awesome!” Sister Ji’s mouth hung open in surprise, even Miss Sakura was taken aback, completely unprepared for how formidable this suddenly appeared youth was.

”That’s nothing,” said Ahong, drenched in sweat from cheering as he removed his otaku must-have headband ’One Life’s Love.’

”Sheer numbers don’t mean much; the other side isn’t a Secret System, merely piling up data. As long as you find program vulnerabilities, dealing with these Capsule Men isn’t that troublesome.”

”What’s a Secret System?” Sister Ji quickly asked.

”Have you heard of Data Concept Body?”

An otaku has no resistance to Tentacle Girl, so Ahong answered Sister Ji’s every question.

”I know,” Miss Sakura interjected for once.

”The Secret System is equivalent to a non-personalized Data Concept Body; it could be the main execution program of a major research project, the data boundary of the ancient internet, or even an old version of the Mechanical Main Brain, that is, remnants of the Mechanical System.”

”Uh, still don’t get it,” Sister Ji blinked, completely perplexed.

”Simply put, they’re unfinished buildings in Cyber Space; though unfinished, they are filled with various things inside. Even an ordinary person who obtains the keys to these buildings will gain unimaginable power.”

Miss Sakura revealed a pensive expression.

Why does this description sound so much like Madame?