Following the mapped route, Kai and Oliver passed through an alley with an iron gate and arrived at a basement-turned-cyberware clinic. Kai politely greeted the middle-aged, black-haired man sitting at a computer, watching a boxing match.
"Sorry to interrupt, hello."
"A customer?"
Hearing the voice, the bespectacled man with sharp facial features and a composed expression turned his head to see Kai and Oliver.
"In this city, it's rare to see such polite customers."
Viktor's gaze briefly swept over Oliver before settling on Kai.
'A young man with no cybernetic modifications.'
As a skilled Ripperdoc, Viktor could immediately tell that Kai hadn't undergone any cybernetic enhancements. That alone gave him a rough idea of why they had come.
"You're here for an interface implant, aren't you?"
"More or less, Doc. What models do you have, and what are the prices?"
Oliver spoke up for Kai, planning to turn around and leave if the prices were too high.
"I've got the Militech Paraline OS for 5,000 eurodollars, and the Arasaka Electronics Type-1 for 7,500 eurodollars."
Hearing the price, Oliver's mouth twitched. "Doc, don't tell me all your cyberware is brand new?"
Oliver had assured Kai earlier that the 3,000 eddies they had scavenged would be more than enough for an interface implant. But that was assuming they'd be buying second-hand or outdated models. If the doctor's prices were this high, it could only mean he was selling brand-new cyberware. If he was somehow managing to sell old junk at these prices, his clinic wouldn't still be running in the rundown district of Watson.
"I'm not some gang-affiliated ripperdoc or a damn organ thief. Of course, I only stock legitimate cyberware."
Viktor casually picked up a certificate from his desk and flashed it at them—it was indeed an official Ripperdoc's license.
"Well, damn."
Oliver's eyes flickered as he checked his account balance—only 1,400 eddies.
'This isn't nearly enough…'
He had expected ripperdocs to sell old and second-hand cyberware at a markup, but he hadn't accounted for the possibility of running into a doctor who only sold new, legitimate gear.
A cyberware clinic that only sells genuine new gear? This wasn't Heywood—out there, Ripperdoc like Victor lacked the gang protection and access to gang's netrunner to help snatch up good inventory. A typical ripperdoc was expected to stock some used implants for variety.
Still, Viktor's statement convinced Oliver that even if he had to borrow money, Kai should get his interface implant here. The reasoning was simple—doctors who dealt in second-hand cyberware often had shady connections with Scavs. A ripperdoc who openly stated they only sold new, legit implants was unlikely to have any association with those butchers. At the very least, it meant Kai wouldn't wake up missing a kidney in some Scav tub.
Without hesitation, Oliver quickly sent a message to his sister.
"Sis, emergency, wire me 500."
"Five thousand?"
Kai counted out his eurodollars and found that even with everything, he only had 3,200—still 1,800 short of the cheapest implant.
They had looted a gang's stash, yet it still wasn't enough to buy a simple interface implant.
"Ding."
"Where the hell are you? Your location's not in Santo Domingo."
Oliver checked his balance—his sister hadn't sent 500. She had sent 5,000.
"Thanks, sis! Met a friend, heading back later. Love you."
"You only say nice things when you want money. I won't be back in Night City for two days, so make sure you come home soon."
"Got it."
After finishing the exchange with his sister, Oliver turned to tell Kai the good news—only to see Kai place his 3,200 eddies on Viktor's desk and turn toward the exit.
"Give me a moment, Dr. Viktor. That's 3,200. I'll be right back with the rest."
Kai pulled back the slide of his Lexington pistol, checking the chamber. He was about to go outside and scavenge more cash. With this city's crime rate, it wouldn't take long.
"Wait, Kai!"
"Hold on, kid."
Both Oliver, exasperated at Kai's impulsiveness, and Viktor, amused, stopped him.
The doctor glanced at the bloodstained bills on his desk and then smiled. "That's enough. I can haggle, you know. Why the rush? I'll do it for 3,000. Take your 200 back."
"…Wait, you can negotiate?"
"Of course."
Viktor chuckled at the dumbfounded expressions on both their faces. "Honestly, I was wondering why you guys didn't even try bargaining."
"Well, I didn't know ripperdocs could haggle."
Oliver had been trying to act experienced in front of Kai, but in reality, his sister had always handled his cyberware procedures. This was his first time negotiating at a clinic.
Now that the implant was settled, he quickly wired the money back to his sister and dragged Kai in front of Viktor.
The doctor stood up, giving Kai a careful once-over. "He called you Kai, right? How old are you? Have you ever had any major surgery before?"
Kai decided to answer based on his current appearance. "Eighteen. Never had any surgery."
"So you're a full-blooded natural?"
"Yeah."
"Then this procedure might take a while. You'll also need time to adjust afterward. Since it's your first time, don't worry—I'll give you proper anesthesia. Do you want to stay awake and experience the operation, or would you rather be out cold?"
The anesthesia would block pain, but he'd still feel everything.
Kai thought for a moment. Experiencing his own cybernetic operation firsthand could be interesting.
"I'll stay awake."
"Alright, get ready. Lie down, brace yourself, and in a few hours, you'll be a whole new man."
Ten minutes later, Kai was lying on the operating table. The operation began.