Chapter 118 King
[Big Mike: Hey, friends! There is something I want to talk to you about. Remember Busan, South Korea? ]
[Perhaps you still remember that that place was in the news. In 2022, it was still a city with a population of four million... and it was also the most tragic battlefield of the fourth corporate war. Just one year later, it became a city of four million ghosts, and everyone died... The cause of death was infection with an unknown disease, which developed very quickly and could kill people within a few days. ]
[No matter what the disease was, the Koreans finally got it under control. Even today, the ghost town is still under lockdown. is this real? ]
[Magnetic——]
[This is News 54]
[Military Technology Company has once again been elected as the best employer in Night City. This is the second consecutive year that they have won the title. 】
【Winning this honor is due to the many employee benefits provided by the company, such as five days of paid annual leave per person per year, unlimited access to stimulant drug supplies, and a large number of implants to choose from. Subsidies and so on. In addition to enviable benefits, 34 percent of military technology employees also received the company's promise of a pension. ]
[In other news, NCPD's law enforcement authority has been enhanced again. According to the new regulations, police can target the suspect's limbs when firing warning shots, which will improve personal safety during law enforcement. 】
【Due to severe budget cuts, the Network Technology Office recently announced that it will officially disband and go home. ]
[Magnetic——]
[Good afternoon, City in the Sky! 】
【At the beginning of 2076, when Araban Company decided to rename Night City to "Sky City", many people protested. ]
[The most interesting thing is that some of the protestors turned out to be cyberpsychotic because they were too radical. ]
[However, Huangban Company is currently considering whether to adopt the Sky City plan. ]
[As for the reason... You should already know that Arasaka Tower was attacked by an unknown person, and then the Adam's Hammer is still missing. Of course, there is also the Kabukicho fire that was suspected of being committed by aliens. ]
[In short, Arasaka may want to consider postponing the Sky City plan to 2077 this time. ]
[I don't know...]
[Beep]
"Oops! Someone turned off the TV!"
"Stop watching these nonsense news. Military technology has exhausted two of our relatives to death. This is the best employer." "
Damn it, that's because you've never been to Huangban."
"What? Do you have any objections?"
"Damn... Judging from the skin color of this naughty boy, he must be from the Voodoo Gang, right? Ah... By the way, The Voodoo Gang is gone."
Bang!
There was a fight inside the restaurant, with bullets shattering windows and shelves, something that is not uncommon in Night City.
"Sorry, there's a fight going on downstairs, so your ham sandwich and milkshake might be a little late," the waiter said, stroking the old robotic arm.
"It doesn't matter." Mirror Master smiled and waved his hand.
"Okay." Before the waiter left, she turned around and glanced at the strangely dressed old man with strange eyes: "Sir... I suggest you, if you want to walk around Watson District, it's best not to wear homeless clothes. At least you You need to buy yourself some...normal clothes."
Mirror Master looked at the shabby coat on his body and nodded: "Sorry, I will pay attention."
The waiter turned away and muttered in a low voice: "It's quite polite, stupid... ...Where did this stupid old man come from?"
Mirror Master looked out the window.
Buildings made of reinforced concrete cover the sky, floating vehicles fly above the sky, and the roads are full of people, so densely packed that it’s like looking at a swarm of ants.
"I'm sorry, can I sit here with you?"
Mirror Master heard a man talking to him and looked over. He saw a man with a ponytail, eyebrow-cut bangs, and "beautiful" facial features.
He is a yellow man.
But in Night City, race is no longer so important.
"Whatever you want, please sit down."
The man sat down, picked up the sandwich from the tray, put it in his mouth, chewed and swallowed, and then said: "This city is crazy. When I came here just now, a bastard bumped into me. , and he even asked me to pay for it."
Mirror Master looked at him and smiled: "Then what?"
The man said: "I stuffed his two friends into his mouth."
"Sir, you are very humorous. "Since Mirror Master came to this world, he has not been able to fully adapt to it because of the thin magic power of this world. Although he can see the thoughts and memories of some people, most people have undergone prosthetic transformations, so he is embarrassed. Now, he has no memory for certain special people.
You can't expect a mage to absorb magic from a robot,
such as the man in front of you.
"Sir, what do you call me?" the man asked: "There are very few people in Night City who have not undergone prosthetic transformation. Even homeless people need to have prosthetic limbs more or less. You are not from here, are you?"
"I came from a long way away," said the Mirror Master.
"Oh? How did you get here?" the man asked.
"Heh..." Mirror Master said: "A friend sent me here, but I don't plan to go back in the short term." "
Is it because I saw something newer?" The man took a sip of beer and said: " Country people will inevitably linger when they see a big city, but the dangers in the city are not superficial. It may be much scarier than your hometown." The
mirror master said: "It seems that you are not from here either."
The man said: "Of course. After all, neither you nor I use the words 'fuck', 'bastard', 'bastard', well, roughly the same kind of curse words, and neither you nor I carry a gun, nor have we modified our bodies, ah... ...Speaking of transformation, I would like to change my mind somewhere. I heard that the Ye Group is an expert here."
Master Mirror frowned slightly.
He said...he had never had any physical modifications.
The man asked at this time: "Can I ask your name?"
"Ronald Omdis."
"Haha..." The man dusted off the crumbs on his hands: "What a strange name, but it's better than just The name Te O'Dimm feels more like a good person."
Snap.
Mirror Master clapped his hands.
Everything around him became quiet.
The man is sitting there.
Then Pupil looked at Mirror Master and said: "If you need me to cooperate with you in acting, I will pretend to be still."
Mirror Master: "Incredible..."
"You are not able to stop time, but you use the ability of higher dimensions to slow down the speed of time. From the perspective of low-latitude life, it seems to be still. Let me explain it another way. When we watch TV and need to pause, we just need to press The remote control, because the TV is 'controlled', but does the TV have its own fixed rules and time standards... Well, who knows." The man's mouth raised, and he squinted his eyes to show a kind but incomprehensible smile. Meaning: "Tell me, am I right, Mirror Master?"
"Who is sir?"
The man pointed to the roof: "Hey, you can take a guess."
Mirror Master looked at him with interest and smiled. Then he said: "A traveler from another world, or a so-called god?"
"I've already said it, let's take a guess." The man smiled: "Master Mirror, you haven't used your brain to think about problems for a long time, right? I'll give it to you. You have a chance."
Mirror Master's eyes began to darken, and he revealed the sign of the devil's true form, and said slowly: "Sir, I suggest you not to consume my patience." "Don't be angry~" The man waved his hands and said, "
Yes In this way, I have two things I want to talk to you about. The first thing is about the person who sent you here...your so-called 'friend'." When the Mirror
Master heard this, his eyes turned back to a 'human' one. Seemingly, he said, "Is this an exchange of interests?"
He had realized that the person sitting opposite him at least belonged to the same high latitude as himself, and he was no longer just asking for it.
The man said: "Would you like to hear a story?"
Mirror Master: "I am all ears."
The man said: "A king manages dozens or hundreds of cities and villages. It is impossible for a king to know what is happening in each area, such as... …The door of Widow Li’s house was unlocked tonight. Did Xiao Wang drink too much and cause trouble again?”
“It seems that your hometown is very interesting.” Master Mirror said with a smile.
The man continued nonchalantly: "The king cannot detect these trivial things, but once something strange or shocking happens in a country, for example, a person who can please the king appears in a village located on the border of the country. If there are interesting clowns or talents, these anecdotes will naturally reach the king's ears." "I think it's because this country is not big enough." Mirror Master commented with interest.
The man nodded and said: "Indeed, the size and ambition of a country are related to ambition. It just so happens that my ambition is a bit... weak."
Mirror Master: "I didn't see it."
"Back to our story." The man continued. "The king knows about the interesting person, what should he do next?"
The man bent down and put his chin in his hand, curling his lips and smiling. "If it is the emperor of Nilfgaard, I think he should ask the soldiers to invite that person." 'Come here, or ask someone to observe that interesting guy first, but unfortunately... this king is a loner. He has no army, no retainers, and no so-called family. He can only stay in the castle alone, spending his time alone. Hundreds and hundreds of years later, all the news was detected and experienced by their own senses. The people did not even know the true identity of the king, and no one had seen the king himself. Even the lonely castle, No one can see that he has turned himself into a rumor. He cannot read the people's memories and can only rely on his own legs to verify the authenticity of the anecdotes." After a moment of silence, the Mirror Master said: "What a man
. Weird story, His Majesty the King."
"No need to salute~"
"Ha~" Master Mirror laughed, and then asked: "If Mr. Li Nuo is your citizen, then who am I?"
The man thought and said: "In the village The tallest and most prosperous thousand-year-old tree, or the most ferocious beast on the border."
"Wonderful metaphor." Mirror Master sighed: "Aren't you going to tell me your identity in a more direct way?" "
I Already told you." The man said: "King, emperor, god, human, lower creatures, higher dimensions, witness, neighborhood jerk, capitalist, employee dog, everything can be used as a title for me." "
King ..."
"I am bound by certain rules and can only say so much. It's your turn, Mirror Master." "
So, you want to know Li Nuo's story?" Mirror Master asked.
"Of course, in return, I will give you something." The man said.
Not too long, not too short. After more than ten minutes, the Mirror Master finished speaking. The man held his chin and smacked his mouth.
"Thank you for your explanation, Mirror Master, but you lack a story line in this world." The man said.
Mirror Master said: "Prosthetics and electronic brains hinder my ability to absorb memories. I can foresee stories that will happen in the future. For example, a year later there will be a woman named Valerie (V) who destroys I went to Arasaka Tower and embarked on a legendary road, but the world has not changed, and Arasaka still exists many years later. But again, this place is completely different from the world I live in, so I can't find any traces of Li Nuo ."
The man said: "Actually, it's the same. You have to thank Li Nuo, the friend you call him." "
How to say?"
"Suppose he sends you to a world with a destiny modifier (Final Fantasy 7). Your so-called high-latitude life forms are no longer so rare." The man picked up the beer glass, took a sip and said: "Let's put it this way, the dimensions of the world are different, and you happen to be in a low-latitude world. , in some worlds, someone with a long knife can kill the 'god', which is unbelievable in the world of "The Witcher"."
Then the man paused and said in a more serious tone: "But in the game Cyberpunk, in this more interesting world, you are still a 'god' with endless power and cannot be challenged."
Mirror Master felt the other party's temptation and said: "You are right about one thing, it is indeed more interesting here. "
The man continued: "Of course, the 'Ancient God' you have painstakingly studied can turn people into madmen, but you see, just in this city, the streets are full of madmen, and the fear of spiritual vision is like a prosthetic body. Transformation is something people fear but yearn for in the world of witchers and Yharnan, but in the City of Night, turning into a madman? Haha... All the people raised here are madmen!" Mirror Master laughed: "What are your thoughts
? It's very interesting, but the essential gap still exists."
"Yes, the gap lies in whether there are some people at a high level who are directing the flow of the world in the name of the company and brainwashing people all over the world. Be a madman." The man began to speak like a speech: "Water sources, land, people's livelihood, everything has been taken away by the company. This is normal in any era, but the company has plunged the world into madness, making people Their thinking is no different from that of a psychopath, ha... They are exactly the same as the ancient gods you have been studying."
Mirror Master was silent.
If he is the so-called king.
What will the country he leads... look like?
But there's one thing the Mirror Master agrees with.
The ending given to the world by the company, and the ending given to the city by the ancient gods, are both madmen creating walking corpses.
But the former is even scarier.
Because he will not let the world be destroyed, and things that are not destroyed symbolize the possibility of no new life.
"I'm not trying to trick you." The man said, "I just want to watch a show."
"Oh~ do you want to watch my show?" Mirror Master smiled.
"Yes." The man nodded: "Aliens have brought the beginning of change to this world, but no one can deny that in Night City and around the world, companies such as Huangban, Kangtao and Military Technology are still the bottom. The 'devil' incarnates in the eyes."
Demon...
Mirror Master's pupils shrank slightly.
The man said: "You know what I want to say, let the world see the real devil." "
What is your purpose?" asked the Mirror Master.
"Create interesting scripts and stories to create an amusement park where travelers from other worlds can come and 'play'," the man said.
Mirror Master analyzed: "You need a pusher to make the already chaotic world into a world that does not develop according to the original path, right?" The man nodded: "Well, there is no problem with this
explanation."
Mirror Master asked: " So, what can I get?"
"The more chaotic the world, the higher the probability of travelers from other worlds appearing. If you are interested in them, that's what you can get." The man paused and said, "Other than that Besides, with your power, I don't think I can give you anything. After all, you are invincible in this world."
Mirror Master: "Huh... I suddenly became interested." "
But I have to remind you not to provoke anyone casually. Aliens, some aliens...forget it, let's stop here." The man stood up, lowered his head and said: "That's it, I'll leave first, by the way, I remind you, the sandwich you ordered is in There were cockroaches, so that's why I didn't send them over for a long time."
Mirror Master said, "Wait a minute, you've already told me what I should do... In this way, there will be problems with the development of many things." The
man touched in silence. Touching his chin, he said after a few seconds: "Indeed, but I won't let this happen." "
Then what are you going to do?" Mirror Master smiled: "Delete my memory? Keep me interested in this place. idea?"
"At least I will keep your idea of making you no longer want to return to the world of "The Witcher". This is my original intention. As for what you will do... In fact, wherever you are, there will be chaos, no "
So, you want to delete my memory?" Mirror Master laughed and looked at the man as if he were joking. He is the supreme being in the world, and even people from other worlds cannot control his thinking.
This is the common thought of those in high positions.
"Do you still remember that I just pointed upward and asked you to guess the riddle?" The man paused here and said word by word: "The answer is, I am far above you, Mr. Big Tree in the village." Bang
...
man Snapped his fingers.
Mirror Master's vision went dark.
After returning to consciousness, he forgot about the man he had just seen, and the bustling crowd was still moving on the street.
Downstairs there was the sound of gunfire.
This damn city still retains its violence and madness.
The mirror master, Ronald Omdis, walked out of the restaurant. The old man walked on the street filled with people, and the sound of mechanical electronic music and the roar of cars filled his ears from time to time.
No one noticed the man's appearance slowly changing.
Even he himself was wondering why he no longer wanted to return to that world.
He glanced around.
On the roof of the building, a huge word "Huangban" hangs on it.
People in this world think of corporations as demonic beings who take things from you but keep you alive.
The company considers itself to be the master of the cyber world.
They can control everyone's thinking, control the economy and the direction of war.
But today.
A real evil descends on cyberpunk.
In this world, change has begun.
(End of chapter)