Cyberpunk: Ultimate Cyborg System

The Pit housed one of the largest markets for bionics in the entire Radmir Union, most of which are either second-hand, forgeries, or original works. Strangely enough, the last one was the most affordable option for anyone whose Gold wallet never reaches past five digits.

The world still ran on greed and capitalism, so anyone who had something worth selling would try to get the most out of it. Gearheads capable of designing high-quality bionics could always license the design to one of the big companies or try their luck at starting their own. Even if there was something preventing them from doing legal work, they could always make deals under the table with big corpos.

Since the good engineers have no need to sell through the black market, the only ones left are those with subpar skills, low funds, and outdated or lacking tools. The products they create would never compete with even the worst of those on the white market, and so they go to the black one where some people are desperate and foolish enough to replace their body parts with things that will never meet their expectations.

Logically speaking, it wasn't impossible to find a freelance Gearhead skilled enough to create high-grade bionics, but it might as well be. Even with a unique implant of the highest grade he has ever seen right in front of him, Dante still found it difficult to believe it didn't come from one of the major corporations.

[Maybe it is an unreleased prototype.] Volcan suggested.

'No, they would've put their brand on it if that was the case.' With the blue gauntlet in his hands, Dante rotated it around and inspected it from different angles. 'They would have marked the box as well.'

[There might be another explanation.]

'Or it's just my knowledge that's lacking…'

Though he had spent the last four years on the streets, gradually descending to the depths of the underworld, Dante still felt that he was closer to the surface than the bottom. He was aware that he had a lot more to learn, but what he didn't expect was that the new stuff would contradict the old.

'It might be just a one-off…'

Putting back the bionic arm in its box, Dante leaned back and stared at it. For a moment there, he thought about finding the Gearhead who made it so he could ask for more of the high-grade bionics, but the more he considered it, the more of a bad idea it sounded.

First of all, a unique piece such as the blue gauntlet would undoubtedly be costly. He didn't have anything to compare it to at the moment, but he was sure it was near Titan Forge level. With that being the case, the creator would surely charge a hefty sum for it, likely the same or even higher than what it would cost if it were mass-produced. Then there is the fact that he might have made an enemy out of the Gearhead.

Dante had an inkling that the dark-haired, red-eyed girl was the one who created the gauntlet, not that that's her actual appearance. Considering her reaction to what he did to her android, it was clear that their next meeting would go well, even if there was one.

The girl likely changed her appearance already so finding her was going to be certainly impossible, and the likelihood of her coming back to the pit was very low, especially after everything that happened.

As he let the thought simmer, Dante closed the box then the bag around it, before returning it to his storage. He was going to produce another item right away, but he saw that the table was too small so he went with the bed instead.

A humanoid figure dropped on the soft mattress, sinking into it right away. Having failed to consider how much it weighed, Dante was glad he didn't place it on the table.

'Now that I look at it, this thing is… incredible…'

It was unmistakably a machine, with limbs slightly longer than those of a human, and angular, boxy heads with no facial features, except for the large lens at the center. Most of it was covered in a sturdy alloy shell with an intricate, harp design, entirely white, with a touch of gray around the gaps between the plating.

Dante refrained from touching the white hunter while inspecting it, afraid that it might start moving at any moment. He got over the irrational fear eventually, but even then, he still failed to move it.

[Type 4-1 should help.]

'Or you can just take control of it and move around…' Dante thought aloud. He gave up on moving the android and just continued inspecting it. 'You figured it out right away with the Scorpio-bots, right?'

[These androids were created to be autonomous. They do not have a remote control function.]

'Well, make one.'

[Right away.] Going silent for a few seconds, the AI then added. [Done.]

The android's single lens turned on, its ominous red light almost giving Dante a heart attack. He backed away, watching it raise its upper half then turn to the side of the bed, placing its feet on the floor and standing up.

Its movements, although precise, were slow and robotic. As it stood there, still looking at him with its glowing red lens, Dante felt his danger bells ringing.

[This should do for the time being.]

To Dante's surprise, the voice didn't come from his mind.

"You almost gave me a heart attack!"

[My apologies. Was I not supposed to move after creating the remote control function?]

"At least change the color of the lens." Dante held a hand to his forehead. "Sheesh, don't you know red means the robot is out of control?"

A moment later, the color of the lens changed to white.

[Is this better?]

"Better." Heaving a sigh, Dante glanced at the floor for a moment before returning his gaze to the android. 'We shouldn't talk out loud. Who knows who is listening.'

[Agreed.] Volcan replied, this time though his NIM.

'Turn around.'

It would b a weird coincidence for two separate pieces of tech to not have a brand or a mark, especially with how their owners seem to be at odds with each other. Having found nothing of note on the front, Dante wasn't expecting much from the back as well. Nevertheless, something caught his attention right away.