Opening the subsystem revealed a sleek, minimalist UI with only two modules displayed:
Mod Library and Installed Mods.
After a brief exploration, Loki had a general grasp of how the system worked.
In short, it functioned like a mod shop.
He could download and install mods from the Mod Library to gain items, abilities, or tech.
Downloading mods cost currency, with prices varying based on value.
The system’s currency synced directly with Night City’s economy—Eurodollars.
The account balance displayed in the upper right corner matched his personal bank account balance.
Opening the store page revealed various mods, complete with filter and search functions.
Loki clicked on the largest, most prominent mod listed.
[Basic Production Mod Bundle]
[A bundled mod containing five basic production facilities: Workbench, Anvil, Furnace, Brewing Stand, and Enchanting Table.
Serves as a prerequisite for various recipe extension mods and includes a Workbench Scanning Function Extension.
Top pick for beginners!]
[Price: 10,000 Eurodollars (Adjusted)]
[Price Adjustment: 10% (World Adjustment +30%) (Bundle Discount -30%) (Starter Pack Discount -90%)]
The original price was 100,000 Eddies, but after a series of adjustments and discounts, it dropped to 10,000.
The “World Adjustment” reflected how well the mod fit into the current reality—the higher the compatibility, the lower the price, and vice versa.
For instance, installing a magic mod would incur a massive markup, whereas realistic tech would be much cheaper.
The bundle discount was standard savings for purchasing a package rather than buying individual mods separately.
As for the Starter Pack discount, it was unique to this bundle.
Loki browsed other bundles and found no such perk, concluding it was a beginner benefit.
Loki didn’t rush to download it.
Checking his account balance, he had 30,000 Eurodollars left.
Not a whole lot, which severely limited his choices.
He didn’t make much assisting Vik.
Vik ran an honest shop, so his profit margins were far lower than other shady ripperdocs.
On top of that, Loki was just an assistant.
Even though Vik gave him a generous cut, between heavy rent and the high cost of nutrition required for his boxing training, it had taken Loki two full years to save enough capital to open his own clinic.
This 30,000 Eddies was his entire remaining savings, and he still owed Vik for fronting the cyberware order.
He had to use the system’s mods to generate a quick return on investment.
‘PROJECT Cyberware Bundle…
oh, nice.
Uh…
five million?
Never mind.
What about buying them individually?
200,000 apiece?
Screw off.’
Loki kept browsing through various mods, but most were obscenely expensive, while the cheap ones were practically useless.
Fortunately, perseverance paid off.
Loki soon spotted a mod that caught his eye.
[Titanfall Stim Mod]
[Stim from Titanfall.
Drastically increases the user’s movement speed and regeneration rate for a short duration.
May cause physical harm to users with low physical endurance.]
[Price Adjustment: World Adjustment -10%]
[Item Mod: 900 Eddies / 2 Doses]
[Brewing Stand Recipe Extension: 9,000 Eddies (Requires Brewing Stand Mod)]
[Tech Extension: 13,500 Eddies]
This was the most suitable and affordable mod Loki had found so far.
It fit realistic tech parameters and had clear market demand.
If he installed the recipe extension to manufacture and sell it, he could turn a solid profit.
‘If I buy the Basic Production Bundle plus the Stim recipe extension, I’ll still have nearly 10,000 Eddies left.
That should be enough to cover the production costs.’
Loki planned to buy the Stim’s Brewing Stand Recipe Extension mod, which would allow him to craft Stims using the Brewing Stand facility.
As for the pricier Tech Extension, it would adapt and install the full manufacturing tech directly into his mind, enabling mass production without relying on a Brewing Stand.
But without a factory or the capital for mass production, the recipe extension was more than enough for now.
Yields would be lower, but it was far safer.
Small-scale sales were less likely to attract corporate eyes.
Until he had absolute strength, Loki didn’t want to get put on any megacorp’s radar.
Loki first spent 900 Eddies to buy two doses of the Stim item mod.
Feeling the tangible weight in his hand and looking at the glowing green liquid inside the vials, he finally confirmed the system’s reality.
Pressing the mechanism on the Stim vial, he slammed the pop-out needle directly into his shoulder.
The drug surged into his bloodstream instantly, washing through his entire body in a split second.
A light, weightless feeling washed over him.
Testing out some quick dashes and jumps, he found his overall speed had surged by nearly 50%.
At the same time, vibrant vitality erupted through his frame under the Stim’s effect.
The aches and bruises left by Vik’s heavy fists during their recent sparring were rapidly mending.
The Stim effect lasted for half a minute.
As it wore off, Loki checked his condition and felt no adverse side effects—and his injuries were completely gone.
‘So strong!’
Loki was deeply shaken.
Short duration aside, a buff of this magnitude was insanely powerful.
Just as he was still reeling from the Stim’s performance, his holocall rang.
“Jackie, what’s up?”
Calming his nerves, Loki answered.
The caller was none other than V’s famous best friend, a true Night City legend in the making: Jackie Welles.
Jackie was an old buddy of Vik’s.
He always came to Vik for cyberware maintenance and medical care, spending plenty of time in the shop.
Over the past two years, Loki had crossed paths with him often enough to become good friends.
“Hey, L!
You free right now?
Come down to El Coyote Cojo for a drink.
Got some business to talk about,” Jackie’s voice boomed from the line.
“What kind of business?
I’m a bit busy at the moment.”
“Your favorite kind.
Smashing those organ-harvesting bastards.”
“Alright, count me in.
I’ll be there soon.”
By day, Loki worked as Vik’s assistant; by night, he occasionally moonlit as a Night City mercenary, taking gig work with Jackie to earn extra cash.
Loki originally intended to pass on the offer since he was busy exploring the mod system.
But hearing it involved taking down Scavengers, Loki couldn’t refuse.
He loathed those scumbags more than anything.
Besides, it was a perfect opportunity to test the Stim in real combat.
Gathering his composure, Loki closed the system, grabbed his gear, jumped onto his motorcycle, and headed for El Coyote Cojo.