Chapter 127: Chapter 89: Qiao’s Relocation
John was in a miserable state.
He hadn’t closed his eyes for several days: first being chased by the cyber police, then having his kidney removed at the Harbor, killing Necktie Clip right after, and then engaging in a fierce fight with the motorbike assassin at Sakura Cross Street...
His entire body was covered in gunshot wounds and knife scars.
[Durability: 43%]
The integrity of the subcutaneous armor was more than half damaged. It required professional repair fluid for surgical treatment, and all the bullets embedded in his back needed to be removed.
Bolago Club was a den of depravity for the wealthy and powerful.
Lying in the luxury clinic, John enjoyed services that only platinum members of the emergency unit could experience.
Plato’s experimental subcutaneous armor was indeed rare, even piquing a small curiosity in the lead surgeon.
But when he saw John’s bio-data report and prefrontal cortex stimulation values, he stopped smiling.
John suffered from cyberpsychosis.
If the lead surgeon used the wrong medication or caused excessive stimulation while repairing the implants, it could potentially turn him into a super lunatic, wreaking havoc in the clinic.
After a round of surgery, the critical value soared again to 85%.
[Eden City - Dan Street No. 013]
This residential building, adjacent to Bolago Club, was an improved option on Dan Street.
Compared to the previously mixed apartment, residents of No. 013 were generally somewhat notorious in the underworld, with at least some accumulation of wealth and social connections.
The building had sixty floors.
Excluding the hotel lobby, gym, banquet hall, high-end private dining, and other various facilities, there were still twenty floors used as independent apartments.
Each floor had one apartment.
The entire floor was open, with a living area of approximately three hundred square meters. According to the current consumption levels in Eden City, it’s a privilege only enjoyed by small-time boxing stars or chart-topping rock musicians.
John estimated that for his next residential upgrade, he’d have to aim for detached villas like Necktie Clip’s.
It’s simply a matter of size, location, security measures, and the types of services available.
John walked into the carpeted lobby carrying his bag.
Behind the mirrored service counter was an administrator in a short skirt. She must have undergone vocal and facial modifications, as her mannerisms were very pleasing.
She also had a behavior chip inserted in her neck—including various procedures for reception and service appointments, which would automatically connect to a database during work hours to cater to guests’ habits and preferences, while ensuring memories from this time wouldn’t be taken into personal life.
John handed over the access key.
The administrator’s cybereye flickered, confirming his information, and then asked him to place his palm on the panel for scan confirmation.
[Apartment Lift Authority/Confirmation]
The elevator doors closed and automatically went to the corresponding floor, with the metallic panel adorned with a very delicate dark pattern featuring the Black Gold Gang’s emblem.
The elevator opened directly into the room, iron grille sliding door, entryway carpet made of polyfiber material.
John saw his new apartment.
This was an industrial-style double-layer loft, with a steel load-bearing column in the middle of the living room for shock absorption.
The wall on the right was equipped with an electric fireplace, and there was a workspace and computer under the stairs.
Black leather sofa.
Sunken living room.
Opposite was an empty storage platform, shelving units, and various connected furniture with screens.
John’s previous apartment had only a microwave.
Street mercenaries rarely considered cooking at home; fast food products and protein meals were the norm, all of which only needed to be heated to eat.
The new apartment catered to clients with a higher standard of living, featuring an open kitchen and dining table, with an independent bar by the window.
The wine cabinet and direct drinking machine were embedded in the wall, preventing some collectibles from direct sunlight.
The freezer and wine racks were empty and bare.
The room had a shopping terminal, even fresh and cold chain supplies, subject to robbery at clearly marked prices.
John went into the first-floor bathroom to wash up.
Warm water washed away the dirt and blood stains, with fatigue seeping from the inside as if trying to dissolve him into the steam.
There was also an enticing massage bathtub.
But sleep was more important.
John found unopened personal clothing in the second-floor bedroom.
The bed could adjust its softness, with bedding ready to use straight out of the compression bag.
John collapsed onto the mat with an industrial scent.
He thought about buying some change of clothes online, but as soon as the site popped up, he didn’t even manage to scroll a few times before he passed out completely.
It wasn’t a restful sleep this time.
John would occasionally feel dizzy, with phantom pains in the implanted muscles when he turned, subcutaneous armor itching, and even nightmares of seeing his muscles turning inside out...
When he woke up, it was already dark.
He felt groggy.
Checking the prosthetic body critical value again, he found it had skyrocketed to 92%.
[Omega Inhibitor (Injection Type)]
Poof—
[Critical Value: 57%]
The efficacy was starting to weaken.
John was plagued by a strange sense of urgency, unable to sleep again, so he drank an energy drink and worked out in the gym area until late at night.
The large floor-to-ceiling window was divided by steel beams.
The high-rise buildings of Eden City and the blue shadows were in full view, with billboards and hovercar taillights flashing.
The entire city had come alive again.
But those bustling and joyous scenes felt so distant.
John ordered a few sets of clothes—online prices were higher than in physical stores, and the quality wasn’t necessarily better either.
When he passed through the living room, he saw a notification light flashing.
Delivery arrived?