Didn't need neural interfaces to use effectively a simple microchip In his spine was more than enough with an automatic rifle whose caliber was clearly smaller but the projectile used was the same as mine.
A fat merchant, with an advanced scanner, Inspected the goods that a beggar tried to sell him.
Homeless people with missing limbs were everywhere.
Some used canes while others sported robotic limbs that were either worse or better than real ones.
People who were only skin and bones at this point crowded the streets.
Militant patrol squads patrolled the streets, It seemed like as long as no one started randomly shooting or fist-fighting they didn't give a f*ck about what was happening.
This was evident by the firing squads executing beggars who although still alive were already rotting from the inside out.
And slaves with steel chains around their necks and lifeless eyes being sold In broad daylight.
"You're my ticket out of this s*ithole are you not?"
I asked while keeping my eyes on the road.
"Is that all I am to you In you're eyes?"
Hope asked with a tingle of anger, sensing this I turned my head to look at her.
"It's just been slightly over 24 hours since we met, do you think I'm some kind of a f*cking simp?"
I asked not sugarcoating my words as I did I saw Hope's face morph Into dozens of expressions until It settled on a pouting one.
Which I won't lie was cute as f*ck, but as I said we've known each other for only slightly more than 24 hours.
Sure I'll keep her safe as long as I'm capable of accomplishing It, but that's It, I'll do It only as long as I'm capable.
After all, she was a ticket, and If I got killed, then that's It.
As we continued to drive at snail's speed, I finally spotted a road store that looked like the place where you would sell your junk.
As I did, I pressed the wheels honker and made a left turn towards the store.
"Hey watch it asshole!"
"F*ck Off!"
I roared as I gave the middle finger while parking the car on the supposed pedestrian walkway.
After fixing my battle brother's combat katana on my back I with Hope In tow walked to the store's counter.
"Whatever you are offering It better be worth my time"
A fat merchant sitting on a chair behind a counter grumbled as a naked woman with a steel collar sucked his d*ck.
I didn't react at all because I had seen worse, but Hope on the other hand was completely disgusted, I could feel the wrath emanating from her.
"The car and Its contents which are inside"
I said while pointing with my thumb, hearing this the fatso grumbled in displeasure as he grabbed the woman's head and forcefully pushed It down causing the slave to start gaging as he burst his loud.
Once he was done he kicked the woman in the face while fastening his pants.
"You..."
Before Hope could say another word I closed her mouth with my hand while grabbing her waist with another and pressing her against me.
"Not a word more, this Is the reality of my world, face It, you can't help her unless you are ready to murder the man and take charge of the woman, because without her master she'll end up suffering a fate much worse"
I whispered Into Hope's ear.
"Are you going to behave?"
Hope nodded Indicating her answer, as she did I let her go.
"I thought I already saw, the darkest side of humanity but this takes the top"
Hope said to me not daring to look back at the slave.
"This Is just an appetizer, you haven't seen anything yet"
I said as I did Hope swore she saw flashes of such atrocities In my eyes that she couldn't even begin to describe them.
"Alright let's see what you're selling"
The f*tso said as he finally came out from his store.
"Hmmm I'll give you 30 low-grade crystals for the car, and as for the gear and weapons 10 more low-level ones, do we have a deal?"
The f*tso said after Inspecting the goods.
"Deal"
I answered because I had no idea how much It was actually worth and how valuable the low-level ones were.
"Here"
The f*tso said as he threw me a leather pouch while I threw the car keys.
"Hmmm"
I mused as I took one out only for my AI to Identify It as the same one I took from my battle brother only that this one was much smaller.
"Say got any Idea where I can find top-shelf gene resequencing serum?"
I asked the f*tso.
"Go right, then right, and then straight until you see the sign butcher"
The f*tso said as he started transporting the goods Into his store from the back of now his car.
"Let's go and stick to me like glue"
I said as I grabbed Hope's hand and specifically Interlocked our fingers so that she would find It harder to slip out, not that she ever possibly could but I was a cautious man.
It didn't take long before we found the butcher, once we did we walked Inside, and immediately a doctor In a white coat smeared with dried bloodstains, electrified hair, and a robotic arm that instead of fingers had medical tools such as scalpels and drills came to the counter from the back of the shop.
"Huh? Why can't I scan you?"
The man asked while looking at me.
"Simple my tech Is better than yours"
I said while motioning at the middle-aged man's crude mechanical right eye.
"Fair point"
The middle-aged man said as he turned his focus to Hope, only to start tinkering with his right eye.
"Excuse me It seems like my eye is malfunctioning"
The man said as he yanked out his eye with the eyes cables directly connected to his brain through his eye socket.
"It Isn't shes as clean as a sheet"
I said causing the man's brain to shut down for a second.
"What?"
"You heard what I said"
"H... how Is this even possible, no the more Important question Is how the f*ck is she still not a zombie?"
The doctor practically screamed.
"Shes on anti-rad meds"
I said while shrugging my shoulders.
"I see so I'm guessing you'll want the full package then?"
The doctor asked as he stuffed his eye back Into his eye socket.
"Say did you find her In some kind of pre-gene resequencing era cryo pod?"
The doctor couldn't help but ask as he started calculating the full package cost.
"Not your business doc"
I said In a suppressed voice.
"Fine, fine forget I asked"
The doc said as he stopped counting.
"An S-grade adult gene resequencing serum even this one has a 10 percent chance of undesirable mutations because she hasn't received embryo, baby, child, and teenager ones"
"Next we got anti-Z vaccine, anti-radiation immunity boosters, and anti-toxin immunity boosters both the boosters are good enough for a year"
"As long as you don't go to a nuclear explosion ground zero or get yourself caught In a toxin storm It's gonna cost you 90 mid-level crystals"
"So do you have the cash or not? Money upfront no discussion, store policy"
The doctor said as he crossed his arms.
"Will this one do?"
I said as I took out my battle brother's pitch-black crystal.
"T... that's a death knights crystal there's no mistaking It only those monstrosities produce crystals black as the abyss itself, how In the seven hells did you got your hands on one, don't tell me you actually killed o...ne?"