If the other party was connected to the public network, or had bought safety insurance, that wouldn't be too bad. At most, they'd just swipe cash from your offline account or plant a virus ad, quietly drop a magic puppet to seal your account through the back door, or engage in a bit of extortion and such.
But if you're hopelessly immersed in the deep web, or haven't installed any security systems and antivirus software, well, congratulations to you, because next, they're going to harvest your kidneys.
And these thieves just love to commit their crimes in overcrowded commuter trains, targeting those social livestock whose accounts have a bit of spare cash but who still can't afford private cars or armed prosthetic bodies. That's what you call picking on the honest folks.
Li Pan guessed he might have been mistaken for a rich man since he had changed into formal attire, looking somewhat presentable, and quickly logged out of the virtual network; he didn't want anyone slicing up his clothes.
As he logged out of the website, Li Pan reached out and wrapped his arms around the waist of the person in his arms. When he touched, however, he felt a strange sensation—smooth, firm, yet soft. Li Pan was drawn by the touch and couldn't help but squeeze a couple of times, rub, pat, and toy with it, before he opened his eyes to see yesterday's female vampire from the Ye Clan glaring at him, grinding her teeth.
"Let go if you want to keep your hands!"
Li Pan broke out in a sweat,
"How did you find me?"
The other's blue eyes were coldly fixed on him,
"Is it hard to track down a commuter social livestock like you who travels back and forth between just two points? What other places of consumption do you frequent?"
Li Pan felt as if he was stabbed in the chest, but given that the woman in front of him could literally stab him multiple times, he had no choice but to endure,
"Give it back to me, the handgun."
The vampire's brows furrowed slightly, then she seemed to remember,
"Oh, I threw that piece of trash away."
"You threw... I endure... What the hell are you here for, then!?"
The vampire glanced at him sideways as a 'Private Link Request from K' communication request popped up in front of Li Pan.
Despite the fact that random connections were utterly unsafe, with the overcrowded carriage pressing her against him, he had no other choice, did he?
So, Li Pan connected to the communication, and the female vampire's voice resonated in his head.
"Are you Broomhead?"
"It's all mistakes made in youth. All right, spit it out if you have something to say."
The vampire K glared at him and sent over a contract.
Hmm? A contract? Li Pan glanced at it,
A personal health assistant? Oh, like a personal trainer...
Li Pan realized,
"Damn! You want me to be your blood slave!?"
K's brows knitted,
"Don't put it so crudely. Strictly speaking, it's just a blood servant, a private arrangement. You'll donate blood once a month. I won't charm you, nor interfere with your personal life."
Li Pan looked at the contract. It was certified by the public safety system, so it was legal.
Indeed, whether faithful to the source material or a design flaw, vampires do need to drink blood.
According to all sorts of rumors and unofficial histories on the internet, these Blood Clan members of the Ye Clan can gain enhancement and recovery through blood consumption. Li Pan had witnessed this before, and rumors stated that during the blood drinking, both the vampire and the consumed could experience an intense pleasure similar to a climax, almost like being on a high dose of drugs. That's why ordinary people could easily be seduced and fall into decadence, becoming pets specially bred by vampires, known as blood slaves.
Naturally, there are conditions to be a blood slave—only the good-looking are chosen as pets by the Blood Clan of the Ye Clan. Some fools think this gives them a chance to become a member of the Blood Clan, but in reality, they are dreaming too big; they are just a meal or a human toy for the vampires. The Ye Corporation only offers 'first embrace' to the core members of their subsidiary companies as a reward for their loyal service to the company.
Take Huang Dahe, Li Pan's neighbor, for instance; if he manages to join a Ye Clan Direct Subsidiary Company after graduation, excels in performance every year, achieves multiple promotions through meritorious service, and picks the right side in office politics, then he might indeed have a tiny chance to be selected for transformation by the group.
But I digress, this vampire K was certainly not interested in Li Pan. She simply craved his body—ahem, his blood.
According to the contract, all Li Pan had to do was to regularly sell his blood to her. It didn't involve anything sexual or personal; there wouldn't be any of the intimacy that comes with master-servant or slave relationships, so there was little risk of being charmed or drained dry.
Moreover, her contract required two units of red blood cells a month, which means drawing 400cc of blood each time, at a price of 4000 in cash.
"Wow, 4000? And in cash?"
Li Pan quickly checked online. If you're injured and need blood at the hospital, one unit costs only about 500 yuan, and it's not that much more expensive without medical insurance. After all, this is Night City, where the two things in least short supply are dead people and clones; the Ye Corporation has already supplied synthetic blood, so these vampires aren't exactly starving, able to have their pick of celebrities and public figures clamoring to be their blood slaves.
Damn, do I look like someone who needs that 4000 yuan? Am I afraid of being jumped by an Immortal?
Seeing Li Pan's doubtful look, K explained,
"This price is quite fair. Any more and it would draw the attention of the tax bureau.
Your blood is unexpectedly efficient, almost comparable to enhancement drugs, and it suits my taste, free of synthetic drugs. In Night City, it's rare to find a human as healthy and pure as you.
You saw it yesterday; I work in the company's field operations. I need your special blood as a combat enhancer. I found out you are also a company executive, so you probably wouldn't accept being kept, but I don't ask for much—a couple of units each month, and proprietary medication to ensure the quality of the blood and provide protection is enough."