“Wow, this is actually pretty impressive.”
Leon clicked his tongue in amazement.
He had never seen such an interactive braindance before.
As for why this BD was modeled after Cyberpunk 2077, he did not care too much.
After all, he did not have much time left anyway.
He owed the company money, and the debt collectors were supposed to come knocking on his door in a few days.
Given their methods, they would squeeze the last eddie even out of the stingiest person.
Based on his years of experience working for corporations, Leon assumed that they would most likely send him to some corporate research center to serve as a test subject.
“Come to think of it, in the world of Cyberpunk 2077, at least there are still government institutions maintaining what little order remains. That is still better than the world I live in, right?”
Leon tried with all his strength to recall the memories of his previous life, but even he was not completely sure.
It was a twisted world where megacorporations stood at the very top of society, and many multinational corporations held real power in their hands, possessing more capital and influence than most countries.
But at least in that world, some national governments still existed and maintained a certain level of order.
What was shown in the game Cyberpunk 2077 mostly concerned Night City, a city-state on the North American continent; one game certainly could not portray the entire world.
According to the information he remembered from the game, it seemed that life in some cities in Asia was considerably better.
However, in the real world into which he had transmigrated, nations and governments had long since disappeared, and their place had been taken by corporations that ruled the world.
All in all, this real world was even worse than the world of Cyberpunk 2077.
After comparing them, Leon concluded that the game world seemed far better to him.
After thinking for a long time, the confirmation window was still floating in front of his eyes.
Leon was extremely curious.
During all these years he had spent in this world after transmigrating, he had never heard of the term [cyberpunk], let alone a game called Cyberpunk 2077.
Both that concept and that game had existed only in his previous life.
So why had he suddenly received such a special device today of all days?
“Start the simulation.”
Driven by curiosity, Leon chose YES.
[Simulation begins.]
[Please choose how you wish to begin your new life: 1. Transmigration — I am the savior of this world. 2. Reincarnation — First I will stay under the radar, become stronger, and survive.]
Leon thought for a long time.
In the end, he concluded that only someone who survived the worst could one day rise above others, so without hesitation he chose option 2.
[Please choose your place of birth: 1. Night City 2. Hong Kong 3. New United States of America 4. …]
[Does that even need to be asked? Night City is definitely the first choice!]
Leon Mercer chooses option 1.
[Would you like to retain your existing memories?]
Does that even need to be asked?
Leon chose YES.
[All options have been selected. The first life simulation now begins.]
[In the year 2060, you were born into an ordinary family in Night City. Your father works for a small company, while your mother is a cleaner at a hotel.]
[Because you possess memories from your previous life, you know the world of the game and are aware of the chaos and lawlessness that rule Night City.]
Because of that, you decided to live inconspicuously and not attract attention.
From the age of one to twelve, thanks to the memories of your previous life, you lived a peaceful life without any particular incidents.
Your parents were lucky; during those twelve years, they managed to avoid any major misfortunes and provide you with decent conditions for growing up.
At the age of four, you received your first implants: a Chipware Socket in your neck, a basic Neuralware Processor, and a bio-adapter.
This is basic cyberware that almost everyone uses, just as necessary as a mobile phone once was to people.
At the age of six, you started school together with other children.
Like the parents of the other students, your parents did not have enough time to stay by your side as you grew up, so together with several other families from the neighborhood, they rented a Guardian childcare drone that took care of you and three other children.
From the age of seven to twelve, you had excellent grades in elementary school and were always the best among your three childhood friends.
One girl had a crush on you, which made the other two boys jealous.
At the age of eight, your father decided it was time for you to learn how to handle firearms, whether for self-defense or to protect the people around you.
In Night City, weapons are practically a necessity.
For your birthday, he gave you a Constitutional Arms Unity, an affordable, simple, and reliable pistol for everyday use.
At the age of thirteen, you were admitted to Arasaka Academy thanks to your excellent grades.
Your parents were proud of you, but at the same time they were worried about the extremely high tuition.
Because you were much more mature than would be expected of someone your age, you understood your family’s financial difficulties and began thinking about whether you should continue studying at Arasaka Academy at all.
During the first month of summer vacation, your elementary school organized a field trip.
Although you knew it was only another activity through which the school was trying to squeeze the last eddie out of the families of its graduating students, you had to participate because your parents insisted.
On the day of departure, the school bus you were in collided with a stretched limousine carrying the CTO of MoorE Technologies, resulting in a fatal accident.
The worn-out school bus fell apart on impact, and everyone inside died.
You died.]
Leon: ?
I just died like that?
[Calculating the final simulation rating and rewards.]
[Rating: Your life was a complete tragedy, but you were not the cause of that tragedy. Perhaps you have the right to say: “It wasn’t my fault. This whole damned world is to blame.”]
[Rewards: Basic Neuralware set — Chipware Socket. Basic Neuralware Processor and Interface Plug. Constitutional Arms Unity — standard Power Pistol, includes 100 rounds of ammunition and basic knowledge of firearm handling.]
[Simulation complete. Would you like to experience this life through a fully immersive simulation and try to change this damned fate?]
What the fuck?
Looking at the string of text that had appeared before him, Leon was left speechless.
When he initially saw how his life was developing, he thought that he would at least live a slightly better life than in reality.
But just when everything looked like it was going well, some corporate idiot suddenly got him killed?!
This damned life did not even make it to adulthood.
What normal person would choose a fully immersive simulation?!
“Cancel!”
Leon said it in complete disbelief.
Then he turned his attention to the rewards.
“These rewards… can they really be transferred into the real world?”
Leon frowned and muttered uncertainly under his breath.
Judging by the instructions and messages from the braindance simulator, it seemed that the rewards really could be transferred to him…
Although the very existence of this braindance simulator already far exceeded anything he could imagine, Leon still found it difficult to believe that something virtual could become real.
But what if all of this really was real?
While Leon was still hesitating, the text on the simulator changed again:
[Once you claim the rewards, this simulation will be permanently concluded.]
[If you refuse to claim the rewards, you can simulate the same life again until you obtain rewards you are satisfied with.]
“There is even such an option?”
Leon was surprised.
In any case, the result of this simulation really was rather absurd; the only reward that had any obvious value was the pistol…
Everything else was practically useless to him.
The basic set of neural implants was equivalent to a mobile phone in the world of Cyberpunk 2077; he had absolutely no need for such things in his real world.
The only thing that truly had value was the Unity pistol.
In the real world, because of restrictions imposed by the major corporations, ordinary people practically had no legal access to firearms.
Only professional security companies had the right to own and use such weapons.
As for prosthetics and implants, they also existed in the real world, but most of the available technology involved external prostheses.
Implanted cyberware was incredibly expensive and almost inaccessible to ordinary people, unlike in the game world, where various implants could be acquired and installed relatively easily.
“If these rewards really can be transferred into the real world… then I have to achieve as perfect a life simulation as possible in order to extract the maximum rewards!”
Leon made up his mind inwardly.
“I choose to simulate again!”