Chapter 94: Are You the Famous V?

Chapter 94: Are You the Famous V?

The sky, clear and bright as if washed clean, rarely revealed such blue skies and white clouds. It seemed the overnight drizzle had cleansed the filth hanging over the city.

V squinted against the glaring sunlight, barely able to open his eyes. Through his fingers, he saw the lean, strong figure of Li Ang.

"Are you the famous V?"

Before Alt could introduce them, Li Ang had already turned to V and asked.

"Yes, that's me."

Looking at the familiar face he had seen countless times on TV and in newspapers, V was momentarily at a loss for words. Standing before this true legend of Night City, he didn't know how to start.

"Congratulations, V. You've escaped the jaws of death. It seems Dexter DeShawn's small-caliber bullet didn't scramble your brains, and here you are, alive and kicking."

Li Ang smiled, not mentioning the Relic chip or Johnny Silverhand but instead waiting patiently for V to ask him for help.

"Yes, Mr. Li Ang, but it won't be long before your good friend Johnny Silverhand jumps out of the Relic chip and pushes my soul out of my own body!"

"What's that Chinese idiom... Oh, right—'the cuckoo occupies the magpie's nest!'" V, unable to contain his anger, vented his frustration to Li Ang about his grim predicament.

Seeing V's agitation rise again, Alt, standing nearby, looked slightly panicked. She grabbed his arm and reminded him, "V, control yourself. Don't lose it."

"It's fine. I completely understand how V feels right now," Li Ang said, waving a hand. He motioned for V and Alt to sit down, preparing to patiently explain his plan for dealing with the Relic chip.

"V, have you ever wondered why some people develop cyberpsychosis?"

Before sharing his solution, Li Ang posed a seemingly unrelated question.

"I've heard it's caused by installing illegal cyberware, getting infected with some kind of unknown program virus, or something like that."

"Every day in Night City, there are cyberpsychos rampaging and killing on the streets. It seems like anyone could catch this condition," V replied, puzzled. He didn't understand why Li Ang was asking this. Could the Relic chip actually turn him into a cyberpsycho?

After hearing V's answer, Li Ang shook his head lightly. That explanation was merely a lie fabricated by corporations to make people buy their products.

The real reason was far more complex.

Li Ang then began to explain slowly:

"Many times, the root cause of cyberpsychosis isn't the direct impact of cyberware but rather the subtle psychological changes in its user.

"Simply put, it's a psychological disorder—a condition caused by humanity's apathy and despair. Under the powerful yet cold influence of cyberware, the basic human capacity for empathy gradually erodes.

"Excessive reliance on the strength brought by cyberware, combined with disregard for others' lives, leads to an unrelenting desire for more augmentations.

"This is somewhat akin to the cosmetic surgery addiction among young women decades ago, but the power granted by cyberware often pushes people toward violence and slaughter."

Li Ang's insights left V scratching his head. He had come seeking a "neurologist," but this sounded more like "psychiatry."

"Mr. Li Ang, I don't understand what you're getting at," V admitted, rubbing his head in confusion.

"In simpler terms, Johnny Silverhand's presence enhances your neural count and quality. With him stuck to you 24/7—chatting, bantering, and entertaining—you'll actually develop an empathy far exceeding that of ordinary people.

"Moreover, your nervous system is strong enough to handle the most advanced cyberware."

Li Ang then dropped the bombshell:

"You can install and swap out the best subdermal armor, recoil dampeners, tendon reinforcements, skeletal reconstruction, bionic joints, and neural coordinators at will—without any risk of developing cyberpsychosis."

Hearing this, V was stunned. This outcome was something he had never expected.

It turned out that V's potential to become a cybernetic powerhouse stemmed from the Relic chip's impact on his neural activity and Johnny Silverhand's unconventional companionship.

The Relic chip created the perfect hardware environment for V's body, while Johnny Silverhand kept him from feeling loneliness or fear.

Hardware and software working hand in hand forged V into an unprecedented cybernetic juggernaut!

Now, V could easily withstand any legendary-grade cyberware without adverse effects.

Li Ang's revolutionary explanation of cyberpsychosis completely redefined V and Alt Cunningham's understanding of the condition.

If what Li Ang said was true, the Relic chip had turned V into a case of: "I'm dying, but I'm stronger than ever!"

"No, no… I don't care about some stupid cyberware tolerance. I just want to go back to being my old self! I don't want to end up like Adam Smasher. What good is this strength to me?"

V protested, his resistance clear.

It was evident he didn't want to trade his life for a few months of superhuman power.

"V, for someone who dreams of becoming a legend, this is great news. Right now, you're the strongest mercenary Night City has ever seen. Even Morgan Blackhand would have to bow before you."

"Of course, that's assuming you equip yourself with enough high-grade cyberware. And on that front, you have nothing to worry about—LA Corporation has plenty of top-tier products."

Li Ang's words left V feeling heavier than ever. The prospect of becoming a true legend excited him, but the price—his life—was one he wasn't willing to pay.

At this moment, V recalled Dexter DeShawn's question: to die a nobody or live fast and die young as a legend?

If given a choice, V would rather be a legend who died of old age in a hospital bed. He wasn't ready to accept death so easily.

"Mr. Li Ang, I'm really not interested in becoming a legend right now. I just want to survive. Alt also hopes Johnny Silverhand can return to her," V sighed deeply.

When death truly loomed, most people would abandon fame and fortune to cling to life.

"Boss, is it possible to use the AI White Queen to extract Johnny's consciousness from V's body?"

At this point, Alt Cunningham could only pin her hopes on the White Queen AI, the most powerful AI tool she had ever encountered.