KyokaSuigetsu
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Chapter 61 – V the Overclocked (爆改V震天)
🕑 Added 2025-05-07 11:09:17 +0000 UTC"Don't panic. That's a normal response after installing the Kerenzikov," Vik explained as he operated the console swiftly.
"This continuously active implant boosts your reflexes, but the side effect is—you see everything in slow motion, like you've stepped into a time-dilated world."
He tapped on a few icons.
"Everything looks good. Hold on… Okay, I've installed the Kerenzikov control software. Can you see it?"
[Militech (M) Kerenzikov Control Software Loading...]
[Configuring system... 75%]
[Scanning neural net data.]
[Installing controller.]
[Updating version...]
[Diagnostics complete. Implant functioning normally.]
[Thank you for purchasing authentic Militech products. Choose Militech—choose a safer life!]
[Kerenzikov Mk II: Selectable modes 1–5. Current setting: Level 3 (default). Please consult the user manual for further details.]
"I see it. Looks like this thing has adjustable levels."
"Yeah, that's the Mk II model, top of the line in my shop. It has five selectable levels," Vik explained.
"But let me give you a warning—unless you're in a life-or-death situation, don't ever turn it up to level 5. The software has a safety lock. Once you enter level 5, you can't downgrade for 24 hours, and it's going to be hell."
"Got it."
Since V was up next for her cyberware upgrades, Leo dialed it down to level 1.
A faint current pulsed from the implant, sending a shiver up his spine. It only lasted a few seconds before the discomfort faded.
Leo flexed his limbs and slowly sat up.
The feeling of everything being in slow motion had mostly subsided, but now another kind of discomfort took its place.
His whole body felt… numb and stiff. He'd never felt anything like it before. Even walking made him feel off-balance.
V walked up and grabbed his arm, offering support.
The two of them paced slowly around the clinic, letting Leo adjust to his new state.
Leo smiled at her gratefully. "I heard something once—supposedly, when you're in perfect health, you don't even notice your organs. You only feel them when something's wrong. Never thought that was actually true…"
"Right now, I'm hyper-aware of my skin, bones, spine… everything feels alien. It's weird."
"It's normal," V nodded. "The sensation fades after a few days."
After a few more laps, Leo felt decently adjusted and turned to V.
"Your turn. Go get checked."
"I only have €7,500. Let's see what that gets me…"
V looked mournfully at her slowly recovering account balance. Every euro hurt.
But with a big job ahead, she couldn't afford to cut corners like Scrooge McDuck.
Leo frowned. "Use my credit. I've got €53,000 left—it should be enough."
€53,000…
The sheer number made V hesitate.
"That's way too much. I can't pay you back that fast…"
Also, why was he spending money on her again? It felt so… weird.
"It's not that much. Once we raid Biotech and snag some data, I'll make it all back a hundredfold."
Leo gave her a push toward Vik and shot him a look that said, Get started, doc.
Vik chuckled as he went to wash his hands. Watching them bicker like this brought a smile to his face.
A rich young heir and a proud street merc? Weird combo—but love's always weird. Especially in Night City. Nothing's too strange here.
They ran through the routine again.
Vik sat in front of his monitor, fingers interlaced beneath his nose like Gendo Ikari, eyes locked on the screen.
"These numbers… are you sure this data's accurate?"
V was about to speak when Leo shoved in beside her.
"Let me see!"
"Body potential: 16. Reflex potential: 16… Wait, why is it so low?"
His confused outburst earned him a sharp look from Vik.
"Kid, this isn't a school test out of 100. The scanner maxes out at 20. Anything beyond that and you're not even human anymore. If her 16s are real, she could walk into a special ops unit without breaking a sweat."
Leo understood the scale—20 was the human ceiling.
Still, this was V we're talking about. She's been out in the field for five years—how was she not maxed out?
"Intelligence potential: 5. That tracks."
Bonk!
V smacked his head lightly.
"I filled that in myself. The street doc who tested me said the machine must've been bugged. I feel like my potential is higher than 16!"
Now that caught Vik's attention.
Higher than 16? But she didn't look like it… That'd make her stronger than Jackie, and she was much more compact.
But the scanner's readings were legit—high enough to raise eyebrows.
"Honestly, I'm not sure anymore. Your bio-scanner's a fossil. It lacks modern metrics and sensors, so I can't trust it 100%."
Vik leaned back and crossed his arms.
"Here's the plan—upgrade your existing cyberware across the board. Add two new combat implants max. Once we get readings from a newer scanner, I'll consider high-load implants."
"…Sandevistan?"
"Forget it. That thing burns out users faster than any other mod. It's the fast lane to Cyberpsychosis."
V sighed as her dream died. "Fine. Then I want Kerenzikov… and reinforced tendons."
Vik double-checked her vitals. "Should be okay. Your numbers look solid."
"Let's do it."
She lay back on the surgical table, took two deep breaths—and suddenly a pretty-boy face popped into her vision.
"…What are you doing?"
Leo had snuck over with a tablet. "Helping you pick implants. You'd cheap out and nerf your own loadout."
"I know more than you do, you know. I'm a professional merc. My implant knowledge runs deep."
That confident front crumbled within minutes.
Leo did know what he was doing—always pick the latest model, made by the big corps, with the highest price tags. That combo guaranteed top-tier quality.
Cold, hard truth: in Night City, pay-to-win is the law.
"I think my grip mods and dermal armor still have life in them—"
"I don't care what you think. I care what I think."
Leo made the decisions for her, replacing everything with the best Vik had in stock.
Final Loadout:
Standard-issue net-compatible interface (public edition)
Ballistics Processor Mk III
Dermal Armor Mk III
Kiroshi Optics "Tracker" Mk II
Biomonitor Mk II
Kerenzikov Mk II
Reinforced Tendons Mk II
Reflex Tuner Mk II
Elastic Joints Mk II
Total cost: €55,000
After trading in her old gear, V still had to cough up €2,000 out of pocket.
She insisted on adding the Reflex Tuner at the last minute, claiming it paired perfectly with Kerenzikov.
Leo suspected she'd planned it all along… but then again, this was V the Unstoppable. That kind of gear loadout was probably just par for the course.
