Levi navigated the streets of Little China, two Kang Tao G-58 Dian smart SMGs hanging heavily from his hands.
The locals, hardened by a life of street warfare, gave him a cursory glance before hurrying on.
Only a few “Ghouls”—local Tyger Claws punks—loitered in the alleyways, their eyes tracking him with a mixture of professional scrutiny and malicious intent.
Levi caught their gaze and flashed a sharp, toothy grin.
Whether it was the grin or the fact that he lacked the nervous, cowering demeanor of a typical victim, the ghouls backed off.
He wasn’t interested in them; he just wanted a ripperdoc.
He stopped a passerby in garish, neon-drenched clothes and asked for the nearest clinic.
Five hundred meters later, he turned into a narrow alley and heard a booming, oratorical voice.
“But you are not the master of your own memories!
Because your eyes do not belong to you—or at the very least, they don’t belong to you alone!” “Found it.” Levi remembered the passerby’s directions: Dr.
Viktor’s clinic is behind the mystic’s house.
A mystic?
In an age of high-tech cybernetic grafting?
Levi was intrigued, though he put his curiosity about futuristic religion on hold.
He needed to get the lead out of his gut.
He entered the “Esoteric Room” to find a woman behind the counter, shuffling a deck of tarot cards with practiced ease.
She had short, messy brownish-yellow hair, smoky makeup, a spiked collar, and a constellation necklace.
She looked every bit the modern punk.
“Traveler.
What brings you here?” Her voice was soft, surprisingly kind.
“If you’re feeling lost, perhaps a tarot reading could provide some insight?” Levi approached her, the scent of lavender incense instantly calming his frayed nerves.
“Tarot…
not really my thing.
I’m looking for Dr.
Viktor.” “Doc is in the back,” she said with a gentle smile.
“But you shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the cards.
They can clear the fog.” Levi looked at her, stunned.
In a city of rot, she was a rare, beautiful anomaly.
“You’re the first normal person I’ve met since I got here.” “Sounds bleak,” she laughed softly.
“But that’s Night City.
Welcome to the land of legends, my friend.” Levi, feeling a rare urge for human connection, extended his right hand.
“I’m Levi.
It’s a pleasure to meet you.” “I’m Misty.
Owner of this shop.
Pleased to meet you, Levi.” She shook his hand gently.
“You have manners, but be careful.
In Watson, that ‘corporate polish’ makes you a target, especially when you’re not loaded with high-end combat cyberware.” “Duly noted, Misty.
Can I head to the doc now?” Misty’s eyes glowed blue for a split second, processing something, then dimmed.
“He just finished a surgery.
He’s free.
Go through the back door and straight down to the basement.” “Thanks, Misty.” As he headed out the back door, he saw a hairless cat sitting by the stairs, licking its paw.
It felt like a safe haven—a piece of a different world.
He walked down the stairs, passing graffiti-covered walls until he reached a heavy metal grate.
Just as he reached for the door, it buzzed open.
A towering man, six feet of raw muscle, leather jacket, and samurai-style hair, stomped out.
He was heavily modded.
“Jack, make sure you come back to Vic in a week,” a calm,middle-aged voice called from inside.
“I want to check for rejection.
Don’t trust those other rippers.” “Haha, Vic, I got it!
Since when did you become such a nag?” The man, ‘Jackie,’ let out a booming laugh and strode past Levi, his eyes lingering briefly on the Kang Tao SMGs.
Levi stopped, recognizing the name.
He pulled up the man’s data: [Name: Jackie Welles] [Affiliation: El Coyote Cojo] [Cyberware: Kiroshi Optics, Titanium Bones, Pain Editor, Militech Berserk Mk.1] [Threat Level: Moderate] Jackie Welles?
The name tugged at a memory, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it.
He walked into the clinic and faced the man behind the desk—a burly, bespectacled middle-aged man.
Levi’s breath hitched as his scanner hit the man.
[Name: Viktor Vektor / The Legend] [Affiliation: Ripperdoc] [Cyberware: Kiroshi Optics Mk.3, Biotechnica OS, Medical Manipulator Arms] [Threat Level: High]