"Jackie, I really appreciate this. Is this what you meant by needing help?" V strained, gritting her teeth.
Beside Misty's shop, Jackie and V were struggling to carry a large surgical chair into the store.
"Hey, life isn't just about street gunfights, V. This is what you call daily life." Jackie was also sweating profusely, yet he still had the presence of mind to joke.
"Thank you, two 'volunteers'. Come on, put it right here." Misty, with her fluffy hair and dressed in purple, moved aside so the two could set down the imitation leather reclining chair.
"Phew!" They carefully set the chair down, stood up, wiped their sweat, and felt a sense of relief.
"Does anyone need water?" The thoughtful Misty brought over two cups of water.
"Thanks." V took the cup and took a sip. This chair was heavier than three people stacked together; she definitely needed hydration now.
"Mmm, sweet, so sweet! Much sweeter than the water in Heywood!" Jackie looked completely unfatigued, pretending to savor the water before tilting his head back and downing it, treating the drinking water with the same respect as whiskey.
"Hehe, really?" Watching Jackie's comical behavior, Misty couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
"But all the city's water comes from the same reservoir. How could the taste be different?"
"Uh, maybe it's the special atmosphere?" Jackie scratched his head and laughed. "Like you used to talk about, some kind of Field Energy? Or was it Aura?"
"Hahaha..." Misty covered her mouth, her eyes curved into crescents from smiling. "No, Jackie, Field Energy doesn't have that effect."
V had just caught her breath on the side. Seeing Jackie and Misty being so affectionate, a sour feeling rose in her heart. She felt like she was some kind of extra baggage right now.
"Ahem." V pretended to cough, interrupting the two who were deep in conversation.
"I say, you two..." V looked at Jackie, then at Misty. "Can't you spare a thought for me, the single person here?"
"Hey, uh..." Jackie burst out laughing, as if he had just remembered V was standing next to them. "Haha, V, I told you long ago to find a partner, didn't I?"
"Go to hell with you." V elbowed Jackie, not liking being singled out for teasing.
"Speaking of which, does Mrs. Welles know about you two?"
Seeing that Jackie and Misty seemed to have been together for a while, V leaned against the bar and asked curiously.
"Uh, how should I put this, V..." When his mother was mentioned, Jackie immediately recoiled.
"My old lady seems to have some misunderstandings about Misty. In short, it's a basketful of trouble, hard to explain."
"Mrs. Welles might think I'm a bit unconventional?" Misty leaned on the counter, looking thoughtful.
"Ah, sorry." V raised her hands to show she meant no offense. "But, good things come to those who wait, right?"
"Psh, it's no big deal." Jackie waved his hand, indicating he didn't care. However, his gaze shifted to V, revealing a gossipy expression.
"But, V, what about you?"
"You've been in the City for a while now. Have you really not taken a liking to any guy? Or Girl?"
Hearing Jackie say this, Misty also turned her gaze to V. Although she didn't speak, anyone could see the curiosity in her eyes.
"Uh, this..." Seeing that she had brought trouble upon herself, V quickly tried to brush it off with a laugh. "Actually, it's nothing. I'm not thinking about those things right now."
"That won't do, V. This is Night City; you have to be brave and explore." Jackie clapped a large hand on V's shoulder, acting like he could handle anything.
"Tell me who you like, and I'll help you contact them. I, Jackie Welles, still have some face in the City."
"Or you could let Misty predict a good match for you using her tarot cards. I'm telling you, they're super accurate."
"Yes, V, would you like to try?" Misty also nodded in agreement.
"This..." V had originally wanted to refuse, but before the words left her mouth, a silhouette of black hair flashed through her mind, and she suddenly hesitated.
"How about, I try it?" V agreed, albeit with some hesitation.
The three leaned against the bar, and Misty quickly pulled out a stack of tarot cards.
"V, think carefully about what has happened to you recently and what you hope for the future." Misty's expression became mysterious and serious once she held the cards, making both Jackie and V nervous.
The tarot cards were small, a square stack being shuffled in Misty's fair hands.
V was nervous, clenching her hands, her beautiful blue eyes moving with the cards, wondering what was on her mind.
Soon, the shuffling was complete. Misty drew a card and flipped it onto the table.
"The Hierophant reversed." Misty looked at it.
"The World reversed. You stand at the beginning of a journey. It will be completely different from what you imagine, and much longer."
The next card. "The Lovers reversed. A force will challenge you and surround you. You will also clash with another internal force."
Misty continued drawing cards.
"The star, also reversed. You will need to overcome unknown desires and become closely linked to something. I can't quite see what it is." Clearly, Misty was also confused.
"Death reversed. Your opponent will turn you into their own enemy. This journey will bring transformation or destruction." This was the final card.
The four tarot cards constituted the fate of the near future, and V's were all reversed.
Looking at the four cards, which had nothing to do with good fortune, the three fell into a brief silence.
"...My God, that doesn't sound good." Jackie broke the silence first.
"Hmm, it's not great... but don't worry, maybe my interpretation is wrong." Misty collected the cards.
"It's fine, your buddy's got your back!" Jackie suddenly raised his voice, smiling as he shook V's shoulder.
"No matter what trouble comes up, I'm here. Girl, fate has to get past me before it messes with my choom."
"Thanks, Jackie, and Misty." V managed a smile, but her mind was focused on another person.
Did she truly have no chance?
This was the first time V had formally confronted this question.
Meanwhile, at the Garage Workshop in Skyscraper 10.
"...Viktor, come quickly and look. This is the masterpiece I told you about."
The Cyberware Doctor, Viktor, carrying a black bag, had to navigate many twists and turns before finding the designated workshop.
As soon as he opened the door, a joyous Berry invited him inside.
Inside, there was a jumble of various tools, lathes, and mechanical arms, and even several freezers.
Everything was packed so tightly there was hardly room to step. Most of the money V and Berry had spent went into acquiring this equipment.
"My God, Berry, what have you built?" Although Viktor was wearing sunglasses, Berry could still sense his astonishment.
In the middle of the large workshop stood a gate-like frame equipped with various mechanical arms, drills, and files.
And in the center of the "gate," a robot stood upright.
Its entire body was composed of exposed wires and metal tubes. The battery pack in its chest was clearly visible, and its skull-like head was drooping.
From a distance, it looked like a human formed from a metal skeleton, which was why Viktor, the Cyberware Doctor, was so surprised.
Viktor had initially thought it was a person entirely covered in metal cyberware, but when he realized the head was also metal, he understood it was just a robot.
Berry also looked at the robot, her eyes full of appreciation.
V's and her money hadn't disappeared; it had simply changed form to stay with them.
Thanks to the huge sum V gave her this morning, the last few materials were ready, and all that was missing was the item she had previously reserved with Doctor Viktor.
Once that item was installed and she dressed it in her custom-made synthetic human skin, a multi-functional Combat Chassis would be born.
That's right. Berry's Grand Plan first required sufficient combat power.
Creating a bloodless, fleshless Combat Chassis with no inherent flaws was the way to go.
Every man and woman has a hidden dream of being a pilot, and Berry was no exception.
"Hehe, no wonder you said you needed a Projectile Launch System. It's for this thing." Viktor, having seen much of The World, quickly calmed his surprise.
He then looked admiringly at Berry, whose hands were covered in oil. "Berry, you are truly amazing."
"I had thought about inviting you to learn a few cyberware installation tricks from me if you had the chance, but now it looks like I should be asking you to be my master."
"Hey, Viktor, stop complimenting me, I'll get conceited." Berry spoke modestly, but the slight, proud smile on her lips couldn't be hidden.
"Let's hurry up and install the Projectile System. I can't wait to finish it."
"Alright, let's get to it." Viktor was also intrigued.
"I've never installed cyberware on a robot before. This is a first, a precious first time."
Zipping open the package, Viktor pulled out the Projectile System—an arm-shaped cyberware covered in countless wires and tubes.
Once installed, this system could fire immensely powerful projectiles from the arm, easily taking down an armored vehicle.
The one Viktor held was military-grade, meaning its power was even greater.
Yes, that's right. Berry was broke and couldn't afford military-grade cyberware.
In fact, what Berry intended to buy was the civilian imitation, the 'monkey version.' But who said transactions had to be equal? Old Viktor liked giving massive discounts to the folks he favored.
"Come on, let's see if your tools here are complete!" Viktor injected a sedative into his own arm, adjusted his glasses, and reached out towards the skeleton-like robot.