《Cyberpunk:edge of darkness》


 1.world of freedom

    "Are you already tired of this ordinary world and the boring life?"


    Wang Zheng, wearing a white coat, clicked ''yes'' with a mocking expression. Suddenly, everything went black, and he felt himself engulfed by darkness in an inexplicable sensation as if his soul were being drawn away by some mysterious force.


    His last thought before everything went black was¡ª("Damn! This isn''t some scam advertisement.")


    A knocking sound echoed, breaking the darkness.


    Struggling to open his eyes, Wang Zheng was greeted by a series of faint blue prompts: ["Ding, welcome to the world of freedom."] Wang Zheng blinked in surprise, feeling a warm surge wash over him.


    Another, louder knocking followed, indicating the person at the door had lost patience.


    With a sudden burst of energy, Wang Zheng pushed himself up. The sense of weakness and emptiness from before dissipated.


    Taking in his surroundings, he found himself in a small, unsettling room with a metal-framed bed where he had just been lying, and a metal table with various tools whose names he didn''t recognize.


    His eyes narrowed at the sight of a particularly metallic-looking handgun on the table, its barrel length and thickness indicating significant firepower.


    Picking up the gun, a series of faint blue messages appeared before him:


    [Item Name] Judge II [Category] Handgun [Capacity] 16/17 [Description] A decently powerful classic handgun, worthy of collection.


    The knocking at the door ceased, but the door lock began to turn.


    Wang Zheng didn''t hesitate to raise the gun, aiming it at the door.


    With a metallic click, the metal door slid open to reveal a burly man standing before Wang Zheng. As thoughts of firearms basics flashed through Wang Zheng''s mind, he instinctively released the gun''s safety and chambered a round, emitting a faint click.


    Seeing Wang Zheng aiming the gun, the burly man raised his hands. "Hey, hey! Don''t shoot! Wang Zheng, this joke isn''t funny."


    Frowning at the burly man, Wang Zheng''s mind swirled with confusion. He might not know how to use a gun, but why did his muscle memory handle it so deftly?!


    Glancing at the metallic wires embedded in the door frame, Wang Zheng asked, "Why did you break my door!?"


    The burly man looked at Wang Zheng strangely. "I knocked so hard, and you didn''t answer. I thought you were dead."


    Furrowing his brow, Wang Zheng muttered, "Dead?"


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    The burly man grumbled, "Looks like your bio-brain assist program has some issues... Anyway, Wang Zheng, you better check your head. You''ve been acting weird today. It''s not just the 3,000 credits driving you crazy, right?"


    Lowering the gun, Wang Zheng''s expression was inscrutable. "I seem to... have forgotten a lot of things."


    The burly man gave a resigned look. "I told you, don''t trust old Jack''s nonsense. After this job, go get yourself checked by a doctor. It''s for your own good."


    Wang Zheng tightened his grip on the gun, his expression showing a mix of hesitation. "Who are you?"


    The burly man shrugged, a hint of resignation in his expression. "Hans Wengel. If you can still move, we need to make a delivery."


    "A delivery?" Wang Zheng asked, uncertain.


    Hans nodded. "Yes, it''s a big order. Let''s go, buddy!"


    Wang Zheng''s mind churned, vaguely recalling memories not his own, then suddenly his head throbbed with pain.


    Grasping his forehead, his body swayed.


    Hans, somewhat nervously, supported Wang Zheng, concern evident in his voice. "Wang Zheng, are you okay?"


    Wang Zheng''s face contorted in pain, sweat beading on his forehead. "I feel... uncomfortable. Can we skip today?"


    Hans fell silent for a moment, then whispered, "We can''t! Wang Zheng, this is your last chance. Finish this job, and you''ll get 2,000 credits. I''ll lend you another 1,000. You''ll be free from the Ghost Hand Gang''s trouble, buddy! I don''t want to collect your corpse."


    Wang Zheng''s headache gradually subsided, his mind emerging from the intense pain, revealing a pale smile tainted with distress. "Hans, you''re right."


    Finally, Hans smiled. "Let''s go, buddy! Don''t forget to bring your weapon."


    Following Hans out, Wang Zheng stepped into a world that stunned him.


    It was nothing less than a wasteland.


    In the distance stood a tall metal tower, several metal columns pointing skyward from its top, beneath which was a massive circular lid resembling a radar.


    The surrounding area was littered with parched brown soil, dried weeds, and rolling plant balls blown by the wind.


    As far as the eye could see, desolation prevailed.


    Wang Zheng instinctively looked back, realizing his room was a modified container.


    Hans opened the car door, creating some noise, and shouted from the driver''s seat, "Wang Zheng, close your door. And your lock needs changing; it''s too old."


    Wang Zheng nodded mechanically, pulling the metal door closed. Hearing the metallic click as it shut, he then followed Hans, still dazed, into the car.


    It was an old car, adorned with graffiti, exuding an alternative wildness.


    As Hans drove, he glanced worriedly at Wang Zheng through the rearview mirror, who was lost in the continuous faint blue prompts, caught between shock and confusion.


    [Name] Wang Zheng [Race] Human [Occupation] Scavenger [Status] Poor (Malnutrition)


    [Attributes] Physique (7): Determines the body''s basic physical strength, allowing for the use of more powerful weapons and prosthetics. Reaction (6): Determines the body''s nerve response speed and coordination, slightly improving muscle control. Intelligence (8): Determines the brain''s upper limit in processing information, mainly in information processing ability. Calmness (9): Determines the body''s resilience; when damaged, it can temporarily suppress negative effects and mitigate adverse effects caused by prosthetics. Technical (8): Represents the application of technological knowledge to the body, mainly in enabling the body to withstand and use certain types of high-tech weapons.


    [Skills] Basic Rapid Repair: Can perform the most basic repairs on simple mechanical constructs. Primary Hacking: Proficient in using basic hacking tools. Basic Combat: Acquired from years of wandering, providing some understanding of close combat. Basic Small Arms Proficiency: A skill every scavenger must master for survival.


    [Brief Introduction] A wanderer in the wasteland, scavenging scrap yards, plundering oil depots, and eking out a living on the roads. Raised by wanderers, cunning and crafty, adept at seizing opportunities, and deeply in love with freedom.


    In addition, there is a personal inventory space of sixteen slots, along with a newcomer''s gift pack.


    The newcomer''s gift pack has a string of notes: Welcome to the world of freedom.

 2.Gene Optimization Fluid

    [Ding, you have opened a newbie gift package: you will definitely get a skill, and you will definitely get the matching items and props. ]


    [Ding, you get: Basic Gene Optimization Fluid (certain) Intermediate Prosthetic Modification Technology (Random) Combat Weapon Type C-IV (Random)].


    Wang Zheng took out the basic gene optimization solution, and immediately a small light green injection appeared in his hand, and then a light blue system prompt appeared in front of him.


    [Item Name]Gene Optimization Fluid¡¤Basic


    [Category]Consumables


    [Introduction] After injection, various body values will be greatly improved, and five points of freely allocated attributes will be obtained.


    Wang Zheng felt that this was becoming more and more like a game, with its attribute panel, backpack column, skills, and gift package for beginners. In an instant, Wang Zheng''s mentality underwent subtle changes without realizing it.


    Wang Zheng just hesitated for a moment and gave himself an injection. His body felt numb as if it was electrified, and a series of light blue prompts immediately popped up in front of his eyes.


    [Ding, you were injected with Gene Optimization Fluid¡¤Basic. You gain three points of body, four points of reaction, five points of intelligence, three points of calmness, two points of technology, and a total of 17 attribute points are randomly obtained, leaving five attribute points. ].


    Wang Zheng then turned his attention to the intermediate prosthetic modification technology, which was a memory-like chip, about the size of a fingernail, with a golden coating.


    [Item Name] Prosthetic Modification Technology¡¤Intermediate


    [Category]Chip


    [Requirements]8 physical points and 12 technical points.


    [Introduction] It allows you to master the most basic knowledge related to prosthetic modification technology.


    Hans started to speak at this time, "Wang Zheng, do you still believe that old liar?"


    Wang Zheng was slightly startled and asked casually, "Who?"


    Hans curled his lips and glanced at the chip in Wang Zheng''s hand in the rearview mirror. "Old Jack, there''s no good stuff there. The chip I gave you looks good. But you shouldn''t use it. You''ll know by looking at your condition." , you must have encountered a damn defective product."


    Only then did Wang Zheng realize who the old liar Hans was talking about was, and then a series of images flashed through his mind, followed by a slight tingling sensation in his head.


    Hans slowed down the car, closed his mouth, and looked worried again in his eyes.


    Wang Zheng recovered from the pain again, glanced at Hans who was concentrating on driving, and hesitantly pressed his fingers behind his left ear.


    There was a slight sound in his ear, and a small chip popped out behind Wang Zheng''s ear.


    He pinched the chip with his fingers and pulled it out. Resisting the strange psychological discomfort, Wang Zheng looked at the chip he had just pulled out from behind his ear.


    This is a chip with a red gold intersecting coating, and it doesn''t look like an ordinary chip.


    [Ding, you found: Fighting Skill¡¤Advanced (semi-destroyed state), whether to repair it or not. ]


    [Ding, you chose basic quick repair. Since your skill level is too low, this repair is likely to directly lower the chip level, and there is a high probability of completely damaging the chip. Please choose carefully. ]


    Wang Zheng thought about putting this high-end chip into his backpack. He tried several times, but the chip remained in his palm without any change.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.An idea appeared in Wang Zheng''s mind. You can only take things out of the inventory, but you can''t put things in it.


    This system felt a bit confusing. Wang Zheng tried to ask the system in a low voice, but there was no feedback.


    He took out the prosthetic modified chip in his hand and pressed the back of his ear again with a strange mood.


    [Ding, the intermediate prosthetic modification technology chip has been detected and is being linked simultaneously... ]


    Wang Zheng''s mind was instantly filled with a lot of prosthetic modification technology, which made Wang Zheng feel dizzy, and a series of data streams appeared on his retina.


    [Ding, your technical attributes are not enough to support reading and understanding the content. Please take it out as soon as possible otherwise it will cause irreparable consequences. ]


    Wang Zheng couldn''t help but curse inwardly. His fantastic experience had left him in a state of confusion, and he didn''t even pay attention to this fatal situation.


    A thought flashed through my mind, the half-destroyed advanced fighting skill chip, the death of the original owner, and his own time travel...


    Enduring the swelling pain in his brain, Wang Zheng tried his best to wake himself up, and without hesitation, he invested all his free attribute points into his skills, reaching fifteen points immediately.


    A wave of warmth spread from all parts of the body to the brain, and the swelling and pain in the brain was instantly reduced.


    A lot of knowledge about human prosthetic modification immediately came to mind, which shocked Wang Zheng.


    Is this the learning effect of the future world? It''s so powerful and incredible. Wang Zheng was immersed in the sudden knowledge and couldn''t extricate himself.


    Hans'' car stopped and whispered "Man, we''re here."


    Only then did Wang Zheng come back to his senses from the huge ocean of knowledge and looked up ahead.


    It was a base built in the wilderness. The metal fence seemed to be four or five meters high, with sharp barbed wire on top. There were four unmanned machine gun sentry towers on the wall at the entrance.


    When Wang Zheng looked at the sentry tower, a light blue message immediately appeared in front of his eyes.


    [Item name] Light defense machine gun sentry tower


    [Category] Automatic defense weapons


    [Introduction] This is a product from military technology and is the most basic remote control self-defense weapon.


    [Remarks] (can be controlled remotely)


    Looking at the notes in green font under the introduction, Wang Zheng frowned.


    The camera at the gate turned to the car body. Under the red light, Hans couldn''t help but swallowed his saliva and made a "gudong" sound.


    Wang Zheng looked at Hans strangely.


    Hans explained in a low voice "This is a branch of the Scavengers, which is a group of desperadoes. So... man! Get your weapons and brace yourself."


    Just as Wang Zheng was about to speak, a "didi" sound came from the door.


    The door opens to both sides.


    Hans immediately sat upright with a serious expression on his face and drove the car towards the base.


    The base is very large, with various defensive buildings everywhere, and countless figures swaying among them.


    After two rounds of manual inspection, the vehicle drove to the entrance of the central building of the base, which is also the only three-story building in the entire base.


    A guy in colorful clothes came to the car with a rifle in his hand, looked at the two of them through the car window, and shouted, "Get down."


    Hans opened the door and got out of the car without hesitation, followed closely by Wang Zheng.


    The colorful guy opened the small door, and there was a long corridor inside.


    On one side of the metal door is a duty room, in which there are seven or eight figures looking at the gorgeous man who just came in.


    A man holding a rifle stuck his head out and asked maliciously, "Greenie, Hair, who are these two?"


    Greenie, also known for his colorful appearance, wearing a floral shirt and probably dubbed Greenie due to the green Mohawk atop his head, curled his lips. "The boss'' men have arrived. Someone come and confiscate their weapons."


    Pulling back, it wasn''t long before four oddly dressed guys appeared at the door, their unfriendly gaze making Wang Zheng somewhat nervous. The four men escorted Wang Zheng and Hans into the duty room, where three men sat smoking on the sofa, merely glancing at them before continuing their conversation.


    A guy with a scarred face took out a device resembling a temperature gauge and began scanning the two. "Greenie, this chick is something else, very impressive."


    Greenie smirked, revealing a repulsive expression. "Yeah, that chick does have some appeal. I''ll treat next time."


    The scarred face guy showed a lecherous expression. "You said it, I remember."


    "Beep beep." Scarred face looked at the device in his hand emitting a warning, then turned to the two. "No need for further words from me, hand over all your weapons. It''s the rule."


    Hans directly placed his two handguns on the table, and Wang Zheng followed suit, mimicking Hans in setting down his handgun and discreetly surveying the surroundings.


    Scarred face nodded in satisfaction, and Greenie turned and said, "Follow me."

 3.goods

    In a luxurious hall filled with melodious classical piano music, Wang Zhen''s expression suddenly froze. A middle-aged man in a tuxedo was seated on the sofa in the hall, surrounded by eight burly men armed with guns.


    Greenie hurried over to the side of the middle-aged man and whispered a few words softly.


    The middle-aged man, who had been resting with closed eyes, opened his eyes halfway and glanced at the two with indifference. "Are you here to pick up the goods?" he asked casually.


    Hans immediately responded in a low voice, and the middle-aged man waved his hand casually, prompting a large man behind him to walk away.


    Wang Zhen looked warily at the armed men, and the middle-aged man seemed to sense his caution.


    With a hint of amusement, the middle-aged man said kindly, "There are many people interested in me."


    Wang Zhen forced a standard smile. "Sir, truth hides in mystery. It seems quite difficult to meet you in person."


    The middle-aged man pulled out a cigar, and a henchman immediately stepped forward to light it. After a puff of smoke, he said nonchalantly, "I''ve survived because I''m cautious. No one can say for sure how many people around me want me dead. Hosey, not far away, met his end quickly because he got used to being the boss."


    Wang Zhen''s smile grew broader. "I recall someone formidable saying, ''A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall.''"


    The middle-aged man, his eyes squinting from the smoke, continued, "Exactly. I''ve survived precisely because I''m cautious. This world is cruel, and there aren''t many who can truly claim to be alive; they merely exist. Those clueless people out there aren''t worthy of being called humans. They''re nothing but fodder for us, or should I say, ''it''."


    The middle-aged man flashed a row of white teeth and continued in a low voice, "If we don''t trade, we can''t survive. I''m what many people hope for¡ªa proxy. Without me, who else can do it? You should understand what I mean. So, why are you in this line of work? For money?"


    Wang Zhen''s expression turned sour, and he murmured, "If it were for money, I wouldn''t be sitting here." He hesitated for a moment before asking, "And what about you? What''s your reason?"


    The middle-aged man, somewhat surprised by Wang Zhen''s question, thought for a moment and chuckled. "Initially, it was for money and power, but it became a habit. So, are you in this for power?"


    Wang Zhen glanced at the ''human stick'' and caught a glimpse of those fierce eyes, feeling a surge of thoughts in his mind, then smiled ruefully. "Perhaps. I have an awkward request."


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    The middle-aged man, taken aback by Wang Zhen''s request, paused before saying, "I didn''t want to entertain any requests from you initially, but I have a good feeling about you. State your request."


    Wang Zhen pointed his finger and said loudly, "The one with the scalpel, stop." Afterward, he apologized with a smile and approached the person holding the scalpel with a somewhat stiff expression.


    Wang Zhen politely smiled and extended his hand.


    The doctor, looking puzzled, glanced at Wang Zhen, then at the middle-aged man.


    The middle-aged man, with keen interest, nodded, and the doctor placed the scalpel in Wang Zhen''s hand. Blood immediately stained Wang Zhen''s hand as it dripped down his fingers.


    Wang Zhen smiled and approached the ''human stick,'' gazing deeply into her eyes¡ªwolf-like eyes, full of hatred.


    After a brief moment, Wang Zhen picked up a pair of rubber gloves and covered his bloodied palm. The scalpel danced in his hand, while the doctor, initially impatient, became increasingly astonished.


    After more than ten minutes, Wang Zhen set down the suturing needle and looked at the doctor.


    The doctor, snapping out of his daze, immediately applauded and looked at Wang Zhen with excitement.


    The middle-aged man, appearing beside them unknowingly, stood a bit farther from Wang Zhen, somewhat puzzled. "What''s this?" he asked.


    The doctor, excitedly, exclaimed, "Boss, just now, this guy... he directly sutured the blood vessels I just cut, perfectly astonishing!"


    The middle-aged man, even more puzzled, turned to Wang Zhen.


    Wang Zhen removed the rubber gloves and tossed them into the nearby trash bin. "To meet my boss''s satisfaction, I had to harvest the kidney. You know, safety is the boss''s priority. Money is not an issue. That''s why I''m here."


    The middle-aged man suddenly understood Wang Zhen''s implication and extended his hand. "I''m Mark. Nice to meet you. You truly are a corporate person."


    Wang Zhen also shook Mark''s hand, stained with blood, and smiled. "Wang Zhen."


    This time, they conversed on equal footing.


    Mark wiped his hand on the doctor''s white coat and said, smiling, "Move the life-support system along with Mr. Wang Zhen, but double the price. I think... your boss won''t mind."


    Wang Zhen smiled. "Of course. Pleasure doing business with you."


    Hans pushed the life-support system behind Wang Zhen, and Greenie respectfully placed it in the trunk of the car.


    Due to the need for smuggling, the car''s trunk had been modified, providing ample space even after accommodating the life-support system.


    After securing the system, Greenie reminded, "This life-support system can only operate for seventy-two hours."


    Wang Zhen''s gaze was icy yet calm, and he smiled, patting Greenie''s shoulder. "Thank you."


    The door slammed shut, and the car swiftly left the area.


    Watching the car disappear from the doorway, Mark hurriedly returned. Greenie, somewhat puzzled, asked, "Boss, why did you do that?"


    Mark, with a dark expression, looked back at Greenie, who immediately lowered his head.


    In a low, ominous tone, Mark said, "He''s a corporate man, and he knows a secret delivery route. Not everyone can safely transport such goods into the city. Have you made all the arrangements, Greenie?"


    Greenie, bowing respectfully, replied, "Yes, boss. The maximum tracking distance is ten kilometers."


    Mark turned to Greenie, "Send the bloodhounds. I must know this secret smuggling route. Try not to let them notice, but if necessary, do whatever it takes."


    Greenie nodded, "Yes, boss. I''ll arrange it immediately."