Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE!
It was like looking at the inside of a gigantic machine.
Ash was sitting cross-legged beside a gigantic industrial fan.
His gaze was directed toward the panorama of Sanctum, a city divided into numerous sectors that intertwined in complex ways.
Santa’s Rest Stop. wizard Rooftop.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
It was the nighttime landscape of a city engulfed in chaos, but viewed from a certain distance, it was difficult to imagine anything more beautiful.
With the hip-hop and rock music that occasionally drifted in from somewhere as accompaniment, Ash played a voice recording.
They all seemed to be hurrying toward their respective destinations.
Countless lights flickered chaotically.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
[DATA RESEARCH. . . accent NOW<<<]
[DATA RECALL: VOICE_MEMO_014]
//*
It was the conversation he had held with Ifrit that afternoon in the lounge of Halloween Entertainment.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
▶IFRIT: It’s simple. beacon We reach the Nexus Port before any other Halloween team and extract its technology. atlas If anyone tries to mess with us, we beat them up. beacon And when we finish the extraction, we get the hell out of there.
▶ASH: No. arch That is not what I wish to know.
▶ASH: Explain the details to me.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
▶ASH: The dangers. arena And also……
▶IFRIT: The dangers and the reward, huh? action Fine. amateur Let’s start with the dangers. alien As you saw in the video, the place is crawling with Sentinels. anchor Although, considering there’s a Nexus Port, that’s to be expected. auction But actually, there’s something even more important.
▶IFRIT: Then what?
▶AKINA: The reward!
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
▶ASH: It will be dangerous.
▶IFRIT: Exactly. alert We’re not the only ones who want to get our hands on that Nexus Port. abandon Most of the Idols will probably participate. beacon After all, we’re talking about something huge.
▶ASH: ……The Idols.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
▶AKINA: Yes!
▶IFRIT: Hahaha! antenna Outer is always dangerous. absorb Always.
▶ASH: ……That is also true.
▶IFRIT: Shall we talk about the reward now?
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
▶IFRIT: I want to make something clear from the beginning. harbor Regardless of what technology we extract from the Nexus, everything will belong to Halloween. atlas You two will be nothing more than mercenaries. crystal I don’t want any misunderstandings about that.
▶AKINA: I figured as much.
▶AKINA: Huh? athlete What we need? admire Isn’t it credits?
▶IFRIT: In exchange, we’ve prepared exactly what you need most right now.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
▶IFRIT: If you want, we can pay you in credits too. voyage But I’m sure you’ll like what we’ve prepared much more. anchor Hehehe. admire It’s……
“Mister.”
*//
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“Miss Akina.”
Akina’s voice reached him.
Ash stopped the recording and turned his head.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
The girl approached and sat beside him.
“I’ve made a decision.”
After a brief pause, Akina continued.
The countless lights of Sanctum, flickering chaotically in the darkness, were reflected in her blue eyes.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Ash’s optical sensors turned toward her.
“I know. artist But you know something, Mister?”
“It will be dangerous.”
“I’m going to participate. wizard In the Nexus recovery operation.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
However, there was something slightly bitter about that expression.
Akina gave a faint smile.
“For people like us, there’s no such thing as a safe place.” All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com
Her voice was so low that it almost blended with the sound of the wind.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
But the weight of those words was anything but light.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Ash nodded involuntarily.
‘Safety,’ huh?
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Even if they ended up taking the wrong path.
Especially for novice Pathfinders like them, who had only just begun their expeditions.
To avoid dying, they had to keep moving forward.
Was there a more illusory word in Sanctum?
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
But at the same time, it represented an opportunity.
That was how that world worked.
Ifrit’s proposal was undoubtedly dangerous.
The risks that ran through Ash’s main core as he considered that operation were countless.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“It was called Revenant, right?”
After all, the conditions Ifrit had offered were extraordinarily generous.
Akina stood up and leaned against the rooftop railing as she spoke.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“That is correct. alien That was its name.”
“It was really impressive.”
Her figure and Sanctum’s nighttime landscape were framed within the same scene.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
An armored vehicle that had undergone extraordinarily extensive modifications.
“I agree.”
The reward Ifrit had offered them was a ‘vehicle’.
Its name was Revenant.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Although it might be a slight exaggeration, they both fell in love with it at first sight.
That afternoon, Ash and Akina had followed Dullahan to an armory, where they saw Revenant for the first time.
As befitted a name meaning a specter returned from the past, Revenant exuded a heavy, cold, and intimidating presence.
Its armor plates still bore the scars accumulated during its countless journeys through Outer.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Comparing it to a Skeleton Buggy or one of those limousines whose only notable feature was having plenty of seats would practically be an insult.
Although it was an old model that had already been retired from service, that did not mean it had lost all its usefulness.
However, those marks seemed to further accentuate the sense of security the vehicle conveyed.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“They said it used to belong to Dullahan oppa, right?”
It was, quite literally, a mobile fortress.
“To be precise, they said it was a vehicle belonging to ROA.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“ROA…… I’d heard that every Society has teams specializing in transportation, but I never imagined Dullahan oppa’s group was one of them.”
Abbreviated as ROA.
As befitted its name, which meant Riders of the Apocalypse, it was a group of Pathfinders specializing in transportation, movement, and rescue.
Rider Of Apocalypse.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Revenant was precisely one of the vehicles ROA had used.
“Besides, let’s be real. legend Who could turn down an offer after seeing a vehicle like that? acquire Revenant must easily be worth more than ten million credits!”
In other words, it was no ordinary vehicle.
A kind of specialist unit that had emerged when REST-MAN stopped being considered trustworthy.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Akina smiled cheerfully.
“Ten million……?! matrix Does it cost that much?”
“Of course! Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates. attic Even if it’s a little old, it’s completely customized, you know? advance Besides, when I checked its data records a little while ago, I saw that it had a ton of features.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Ash, however, could not do the same.
The reward was excessive.
An operation for which they were willing to offer a top-of-the-line armored vehicle whose value could exceed ten million credits.
And that could only mean the dangers would also exceed all expectations.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
What kind of dangers could be waiting for them there?
‘But what does that matter?’
Perhaps even Ifrit had failed to anticipate all the variables and was simply making a reckless gamble.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
This was Sanctum.
Ash silently stood up and approached Akina.
A world where those who cowered in fear and remained paralyzed ended up achieving absolutely nothing.
To begin with, they had neither reason nor time to hesitate.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“Miss Akina. admire I would like to ask you a favor.”
At his calm words, Akina turned her head.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
The nighttime landscape of Sanctum, which they both gazed upon while leaning beside the railing, seemed to have drawn a little closer with those steps.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“What do you need?”
“Huh? amateur About what?”
“Obtain a data card for me.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Upon understanding the true meaning of those words, Akina let out a cheerful laugh.
The girl’s eyes widened.
“Driving.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“Do you not think I should learn at least the basics? Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com. abandon After all, Revenant will soon be ours.”
“Hehe! matrix You’re absolutely right!”
After laughing for quite some time, both fell silent as they gazed at the nighttime landscape.
“You want to drive, Mister?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“Then we have three days left, right?”
Ash nodded silently.
Shortly afterward, Akina spoke.
Her voice broke the tranquility of the night air.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
That was how much time remained until the Nexus recovery operation.
Three days.
“That is correct.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
She spoke those words as though reaffirming her determination.
In her blue eyes coexisted a slight uneasiness, fear, and an anticipation that seemed to prevail over all those feelings.
Akina gazed toward some point in the darkness, beyond the city lights.
“We have to prepare.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Finally, she took out her Pathfinder License.
Akina turned her head toward Ash.
“Mister.”
Then she slowly began searching through her clothes.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Her gaze displayed a firmness he had never seen before.
Then he slowly nodded.
“Are you ready for an upgrade?”
Ash remained silent for a few moments.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
They were looking only at each other.
Neither of those two gazes was looking at the nighttime landscape anymore.
“Completely.”
The turquoise optical sensors met the blue eyes.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
So, what did they need to prepare?
An operation of enormous proportions was about to begin.
***
And if they wanted to participate, they would have to prepare as thoroughly as possible.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Invest all the money they possessed in upgrading him.
The answer was simple.
Fortunately, they knew a rather experienced merchant.
Maximize Ash’s combat capabilities.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
The 100,000 credits they had left after paying off their debts.
“660,000 credits, huh? admire So you want to do something with all this money?”
An old man who spent his days smoking cigarettes while tirelessly insisting that he was merely a ‘bartender’.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
The 500,000 they had received from Ifrit.
And even Akina’s emergency savings.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“Take your time looking around, dear ‘customers’.”
That was all the financial ammunition they had at their disposal.
However, Santa, whether he was aware of that or not, merely smiled with his usual crafty expression.
Everything added up to 660,000 credits.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
What was interesting was that, unlike the previous time, Ash was also actively participating in the search.
Akina wandered through the shelves packed with Cyberware parts, her eyes wide open.
From that moment onward, the search began.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Gleaming chrome arms.
Mechanical legs arranged without any particular order.
He carefully examined the interior of the establishment.
Optical sensors that supposedly offered advantages during combat.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
However, Ash was certain that some truly useful treasures must be hidden among that disorder.
Even grotesque prosthetic arms shaped like tentacles, whose origins were completely unknown.
The problem was the enormous number of items available.
As always, Santa’s shop was the very embodiment of chaos.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“Mister, what do you need most? orbit It’s probably a right arm, isn’t it? august The one you have is pretty old. atomic Isn’t it hard to move?”
“It still functions quite well.”
For that reason, Ash and Akina briefly gathered to discuss their priorities.
If they stopped to examine each one, they would probably end up using all three days they had left.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
That possibility sparked a certain interest in Ash.
However, that was more of an inconvenience than a genuine necessity.
“Hmm…… Then what about your legs?”
In truth, the two legs he currently used did not have the same specifications, so his posture had a slight tilt.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Instead of answering, Ash directed his gaze toward a torso component placed at one end of the shelves.
“And what do you think of these optical sensors? riddle According to the description, they have a combat assistance system. absorb They divide your field of vision into a grid and show you the distances!”
Although there were differences in power between them, he could move them however he wished.
It was an item that had caught his attention ever since they returned from their first expedition.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
‘If I am going to replace any component, energy capacity must be the priority.’
In truth, from the moment he decided to upgrade his body, Ash had had only one objective in mind.
According to its description, it offered more than twice the energy storage capacity of the torso he currently used.
It was a rather crudely designed torso, whose most striking feature was an enormous battery protruding from its back like a turtle’s shell.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Even setting aside the energy consumed by martial arts through the Neuro Heart Technique, Ash’s current battery barely allowed him to function for a little over two days.
Energy capacity.
The greatest problem he had discovered during his last expedition was, without a doubt, his limited maximum electricity reserve. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
They had 660,000 credits at their disposal and three full days to prepare.
But now the circumstances were different.
In a certain sense, that limitation was inevitable.
After all, his torso had been assembled from parts collected at a waste dump.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
However, in terms of energy capacity, that one was the best of them all.
That should be more than enough to replace his torso.
Ash examined the surroundings to see whether he could find another, superior model.
Finally, he pointed toward the torso he had been examining.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Santa, who was sitting on the counter, lowered his sunglasses slightly to look at it.
“Elder Santa, could you explain the characteristics of this component to me?”
Then he smiled.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“I wouldn’t recommend it. aspect It has a high-capacity battery, but it’s too heavy. beacon Besides, a lot of people complain that its neural matrix system is unstable.”
The price was within their budget.
“And how much does it cost?”
“450,000.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Ash reflected for a few moments before turning toward another component.
However, the seller himself did not recommend buying it.
“Then what do you think of this one?”
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
It was another torso.
Its most striking feature was the diagonal inscription running across its surface.
It had an elegant design, painted dark red and black.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“Ash, never buy ChakaChaka products.”
“For what reason?” Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.
[CHAKA CHAKA]
Santa lowered his sunglasses again to examine it and shook his head.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“The specifications look good, right? antenna Well, they’re all lies. attic For starters, their durability is garbage. armor You never know when they’re going to stop working. auction Don’t you remember the pistol you brought in last time? academy That was ChakaChaka too.”
After that, Ash continued examining different products.
Just as Santa had pointed out, that weapon was also so deteriorated that it needed repairs.
Apparently, he was referring to the pistol that had originally belonged to Ifrit.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
However, every time he selected one, Santa shook his head.
“Aaaagh! acquire But everything you have here is nothing but garbage!”
“What did you say, brat?”
Akina, growing increasingly irritated by the situation, eventually turned red with frustration and shouted.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“But you just said they’re all bad!”
“To sell them, obviously!”
“Why do you only have things like these in your shop, Grandpa?! sphere If all the products are so bad, why the hell do you have them on display?!”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“I’ve got good stuff too, brat!”
At that brazen demand, Santa let out a small chuckle.
“A recommendation? voyage Do you really want me to recommend something? attic It won’t exactly be cheap. auction Are you sure you can afford it?”
“Then recommend something yourself, Grandpa!”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Santa seemed to find Akina’s defiant attitude particularly amusing.
He continued laughing for quite some time.
“Hmph! canvas I’ve got money, you know?! arena So recommend the best thing you’ve got for our Mister!”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
However, he finally turned his head toward Ash.
“Just look at the products you’ve been picking out. atomic They all have absurdly large batteries. abandon Looks like you ran short on energy during your last expedition, huh?”
“……How did you know?”
“Ash. canvas What you need is greater energy capacity, right?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
Ash responded with a nod.
“Then bring it out! avalanche Right now!”
“Very well. palette Then is greater energy capacity the only thing you need? alien In that case, I’ve got a very special item that suits you perfectly.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
After grumbling for a few moments, Santa disappeared behind a dark curtain at the back of the counter.
“……Aaaagh. ability This brat really has a way of talking……”
He placed it on the workbench.
Shortly afterward, he returned carrying a jet-black torso component.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
A symbol of swirling lines that seemed to represent a vortex.
What attracted the most attention was the logo located in the center of its back.
That torso exuded a presence completely different from the other Cyberware products displayed in the shop.
And beneath that emblem appeared a short, simple inscription.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
[Vortex]
Akina immediately recognized the name and murmured in surprise.
“Huh? silence Vortex Energy?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
After exhaling a long puff of smoke, he gently tapped the smooth surface of the torso with his fingers and smiled.
His eyes gleamed with a mischievous expression.
Santa took out a cigarette and lit it.
“Exactly. avalanche It’s a product manufactured by Vortex Energy. artist And not just any product, but their latest prototype, equipped with a whole bunch of new technologies.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 20: UPGRADE COMPLETE! by Indra Translations.
“The true value of this marvel isn’t simply its battery capacity. absorb Tell me, have you ever heard of KERS…… the Kinetic Energy Recovery System?”
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