"I'm impressed—it actually looks pretty legit," Lin Mo marveled, taking in the slick interface of the Braindance for the first time.
He didn't dwell on why this particular Braindance was designed as an UltraDream model. It didn't matter. His remaining time in this life was short anyway.
Owing money to a corporation meant the debt collectors would come knocking any day now. And when they did, they wouldn't stop until they'd drained every last eddie from him. Lin Mo knew how they operated; he'd seen enough people crushed under the weight of their debts.
Hell, he might even end up as one of their lab rats. Being sold off to a corporate R&D team was the final stop for many who couldn't pay.
"Come to think of it, the world of Cyberpunk 2077 might actually be better than this one," Lin Mo mused, trying to recall the details of his past life.
Sure, Night City was a corporate hellscape, but at least there were still some traces of government agencies trying to keep things from completely spiraling out of control. In Night City, the corps ruled, but there were still remnants of law enforcement. Cyberpunk 2077 only showed one city on the American continent, but from what Lin Mo remembered, some cities in Asia were doing marginally better.
In this world he had transmigrated into, though? Nations were long gone. There were no official bodies left, only the corporations, and they ruled absolutely.
When Lin Mo really thought about it, this reality made the world of Cyberpunk 2077 seem almost hopeful by comparison.
He let out a deep sigh and turned his attention back to the screen in front of him. A confirmation prompt was waiting for him to make a decision.
Strangely, Cyberpunk hadn't even existed in this world until now. The game, the genre, all of it was a relic from his previous life. So why was he being handed this Braindance now?
"Start simulation," Lin Mo muttered, more out of curiosity than hope, selecting YES.
[Starting Simulation]
**[Choose Your Birth Method:
Transmigrate as the Savior of This World
Reincarnate, opting for a low-profile development phase]**
Lin Mo didn't hesitate. In this world, staying under the radar was key to survival. He chose 2.
**[Select Your Birth Location:
Night City
Hong Kong, China
New American Federation, San Diego
...]**
No contest. Night City was the only real option.
Lin Mo selected 1.
[Do You Want to Retain Memories from Your Previous Life?]
Lin Mo smirked. Of course, he did. YES.
[All options selected. Beginning first-life simulation.]
[2060: You are born into a working-class family in Night City. Your father works for a small corporation, while your mother is a hotel cleaner.
Thanks to your retained memories, you understand the brutal reality of this world. You keep your head down, choosing to play the long game.]
The years flashed by quickly in the simulation.
Ages 1-12: With memories of your past life, you live quietly, avoiding trouble. Your parents manage to survive without any major accidents, providing you with stability. At age 4, you get your first implant—a neck-mounted chip slot with a basic central processor and biological adapter. Standard stuff, really.
At age 6, you attend school, but like most kids, your parents don't have time to take care of you, so you spend most days under the watch of a parenting drone.
At age 8, your father teaches you how to handle firearms. In Night City, knowing how to defend yourself isn't optional—it's survival. He gives you a Unified pistol as a birthday gift.
At age 13, you're accepted into the prestigious Arasaka Academy, but your family can't afford the tuition.
One summer afternoon, you go on a school field trip. The bus collides with an Arasaka CEO's limo. No one survives.
You die.
What the hell?!
[Evaluating Simulation Results and Rewards]
The screen was filled with text, summarizing Lin Mo's tragically short life:
[Assessment: Your life ended in a tragedy, but you weren't at fault. The world was rigged against you.]
[Rewards: Basic Neural Implant Trio—Chip Slot, Basic Central Processor, and Data Panel Connector.
Constitution Military Pistol: Unified, plus 100 rounds and basic firearms training.]
That's it? Lin Mo thought, frustration building. I didn't even make it to adulthood!
"Cancel selection," he muttered, irritated by the abrupt ending. The simulation was clearly rigged.
But as he considered the rewards, a thought crossed his mind.
"These rewards... could they really transfer to the real world?"
The instructions for the UltraDream Simulator had said they could. But how could something virtual cross over into reality?
Yet, the possibility nagged at him.
If there was even a chance...
The simulator's prompt blinked again, presenting him with a choice:
[Once rewards are claimed, the current simulation will be permanently terminated.
Would you like to restart the simulation and try again for better rewards?]
Lin Mo paused. Restart the simulation?
The previous results were ridiculous. The Neural Implant Trio was essentially a glorified smartphone, and aside from the gun, there wasn't much worth keeping.
"If these rewards can really be claimed in the real world, then I'll need to run the perfect simulation," Lin Mo decided, determination flaring.
"I choose to restart the simulation!"
P.S.: Due to uncontrollable factors, some countries in the game have been renamed.