The doctor opened the data slot behind John's ear and inserted the adjusted chip.
He pulled out the interface from the surgery chair: "I'm going to connect the slot now, you'll see the installation progress."
This was also the reason John purchased the product.
[Confirm connection to data terminal? Confirm.]
The installation progress bar flashed by, and Black Light overrode the chip made by Atlanta Company.
[Operating System: Virtual Net]
John's biggest growth during this time was learning to remain silent while hacking someone else's system.
He had attempted it once in Alonna's car.
At least no one at Damascus Camp has come looking for him yet.
[Modification Center Main Control System (Hacked)]
The doctor tapped the keyboard with one hand, furrowing his brows, feeling that something was odd about the chip.
He couldn't help but observe the client's expression with his peripheral vision.
At the same time.
A bunch of access requests popped up in front of John.
This doctor's skills were far superior to what he seemed—he cautiously restarted the system, but all the requests were intercepted by Black Light.
John allowed him the operational privileges.
The doctor's face improved considerably, thinking he had eliminated the problem, he said to John, "I'll give you a deep cleaning package for free, mainly because I like you."
"Is it because I mocked the boss's poor taste?"
"Maybe."
The doctor laughed while adjusting the chip, assisted by two mechanical arms.
He didn't realize all his operations were in vain.
The system and devices had already been taken over, and everything displayed on the screen was what Black Light wanted him to see.
John pointed at the moving mechanical arms and asked:
"Why don't you just replace your limbs with prosthetics? You'd have greater sensitivity and operational space, plus a medical chip could assist you."
"Hahaha."
The doctor shook his head with a laugh. "Surgeons using prosthetics and chips are just amateurs, trust me, top doctors rarely modify themselves."
"Why?"
"Reverence."
The doctor stopped typing and looked seriously at John. "Having adequate reverence for the human body itself keeps you from getting lost in technology and mechanics."
John pursed his lips and nodded, then countered.
"Top doctors working in a sleazy bar?"
"You think I enjoy being holed up here? Facing jiggling bodies every day, either stitching cuts or scarring skin. Damn, I've had enough."
The doctor aggressively finished his drink and grabbed a new bottle of Botskann Brandy from beside the box.
"They trash my skills, I trash the booze, seems fair."
He didn't rush to drink, instead turning around to perform rejection tests, tapping the keyboard a few times before turning back to ask John about his feelings.
The Virtual Net chip was operating normally.
The captured information would appear in front of his eyes through neural conduction.
John detected the data from the Nocturne Bar and connected to the signal, gaining control over the entire arsenal's system.
He tried to manipulate the surveillance…
The view immediately switched.
John was overlooking himself from above, with the doctor guzzling down alcohol beside him.
The room was flooded with neon lights.
He tried to extend into other rooms, only to encounter a firewall.
Black Light could only execute infiltration while connected,
The clinic system was separate from other security main controls, so to gain control over the entire Nocturne Bar, he had to go to the surveillance room for a deep connection and have Black Light take down the main server.
But the goal had already been achieved, and there was no need to die for it.
"I've got nothing more to do."
Just as John was about to stand up and leave, a message appeared in the contacts.
[New Contact Created - Ryan Randall]
The doctor wobbled the bottle and said:
"This is my number; I can handle any private prosthetic modifications, contact me if needed."
"I wouldn't dare, not a good habit to drink on the job."
John laughed as he walked out the door.
He didn't leave Nocturne; instead, he sat back in the corner and ordered a new drink.
[Task Objective Updated]
[Access the Modification Center's System. (Not Achieved)]
The Virtual Net chip could connect remotely.
As long as John stayed within the bar's range, he could continue accessing the system.
But after scanning through the client files and staff records, there was not a single girl named Maya Weitz.
"Could it have been deleted? What the hell."
John switched back to the surveillance camera.
Another customer had entered the arsenal, lying spread-eagle on the surgery chair for modification.
Doctor Ryan was still drinking and working.
The customer was clearly unhappy and started shouting.
"Hey, can you focus? I spent a lot of money on this."
"I suggest you shut up, sir, the alcohol helps my focus, and anger will just make my hands shake. You wouldn't want me to carve a design, would you?"
"I..."
The customer gritted his teeth and reclined back.
John raised an eyebrow.
He had seen the last memory of Maya Weitz when she was alive, and the guy lying on the surgery chair was the one who shot her.
"Well, turns out he's here."
The mission had sent John into Nocturne targeting him, and sure enough, the prompt's content changed the next second.
[Task Objective Updated]
[Get Information on Maya Weitz. (Not Achieved)]
John already had his next steps planned.
He used the medical system to find out information about the customer.
[Name: Mato Maddox]
[Level: Black Diamond Member (Nocturne)]
"Black Diamond Member, damn, I hate dealing with these rich idiots."
They usually buy packages from medical institutions and insurance companies.
As soon as they get a small scratch, their internal chip receives a signal, and a hovercar full of doctors and armed mercenaries swoops in.
"Hmm?"
John suddenly noticed the order information.
Mato had customized the latest and most expensive model, even including remote start and some special features.
This thing also had a strong firewall.
But Mato was lying on the surgery chair, connected to the medical system, Black Light had already dominated the Modification Center's system.
John hacked in through [Virtual Net].
He left a backdoor through the system for the new toy.
Now, he could remotely control Mato's new gadget.
But John wasn't reckless enough to act inside the Nocturne Bar—the behind-the-scenes boss and his muscle-bound crew would drown John in a sea of bullet casings.
He pulled up his hood and patiently waited.
Excited after completing the modification, Mato spent the whole night playing in the VIP room, only coming out with an exhausted body at dawn.
He hummed a tune as he headed to the bar's parking lot.
Mato was about to open his car door when he saw a living person through the glass.
The other person suddenly appeared behind him like a ghost.
"F*ck!"
Mato pulled out a gun to shoot, yet in the next second.
"Oh, damn, ah ah ah, oh~~"
Mato clutched his groin, curling up like a shrimp, his trembling lips unable to speak.
He resisted the urge to reach for the back of his head, but before he could touch it, he was already down on both knees, nearly fainting.
John emerged from the shadows.
"Haha, let me guess, you disabled the emergency protocol. After all, no one wants medical personnel barging in while you're having fun."
He didn't rush to draw his gun.
Because gang members in the parking lot were already heading over.
Two hulking men with half-bionic bodies approached, holding submachine guns, clearly the bouncers for the Nocturne Bar.
The gang leader shouted at John:
"Don't move, or I'll blow your head off!"
The other strong man leaned in to inspect, seeing Mato with his butt in the air, trembling all over and making strange noises.
John was unafraid in the face of the gun.
He spread his hands and retorted, "Hey, my boss is having a great time, if you want to join in, you'll have to pay and line up, capisce?"
The two gang members snorted, holstered their guns, and reprimanded:
"Scram, the hotel's right across, don't cause trouble in the parking lot."
John frowned as he watched them leave, then turned to Mato with a wicked smile and said:
"You heard them, right? Open the car door, I'll help you to the passenger seat."