Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 686, Section 100: Training Ends
The testing process for the new weapon went exceptionally smoothly and took much less time than expected.

According to industry practice, Carl was required to submit the necessary real-world data to the Tsunami Design Bureau in exchange for cost-price services. However, apart from that, the notoriously demanding design bureau did not impose any usage restrictions—it even voluntarily gave up the industry-standard backdoor program.

Engineers at the Tsunami Design Bureau privately admitted that this was by no means motivated by any noble sentiments.

This weapon, which uses a new type of energy core, is as precise as a surgical instrument; any unnecessary modifications could disrupt its delicate balance.

Faced with the choice between 'installing monitoring programs in exchange for control but having to bear a 30% failure rate' and 'maintaining the purity of the weapon and letting it create a legend in KK's hands,' the design team almost unanimously voted for the latter.

They have long since reached the pinnacle of their industry. Their generous treatment and high status make it difficult for ordinary things to stir up any excitement. Fame—a dream that is out of reach for most people—has now become a temptation that still gets their blood pumping.

Neptuneus, the chief designer of the 'KK' weapon and also the chief designer of the San Francisco branch of the Tsunami Design Bureau, poured his life's work into this weapon system, which can be described as a work of art.

In his obsessive perfectionist creed, any attempt to defile a work is an unforgivable blasphemy. Those who dared to try to steal his designs through underhanded means have all experienced the chilling revenge of this technical tyrant.

Even in the Tsunami Design Bureau, known for its openness and inclusiveness, an outlier than traditional military enterprises with a more humanistic atmosphere, the person who can sit firmly in the chief position is by no means a kind person. To be able to sit in that position, one's ability to fight in the office is never weak.

After agreeing on a timed submission of combat data with the Tsunami Design Bureau personnel and confirming the purchase process and ordering channels for the relevant components, Carl took his weapon and returned home.

Incidentally, there was also a virtual data chip provided by the Tsunami Design Bureau for testing a complete set of weapon components.

According to the Tsunami Design Bureau, their method is similar to the training chips currently popular in the market, which also put people into a virtual environment for combat, medical, and operational training. However, their main focus is on weapons training, allowing Karl to master all the uses of the weapon in the shortest possible time.

Overall, it's different from the training chips Karl had previously obtained, but it's still considered to be the same type of item.

‘click’

After the necessary chip inspection procedures, Carl quickly began testing the weapon at home, and after the actual fitting, Carl found that it really did resemble a prosthetic body installed on a human body.

Insert the long barrel assembly, then switch to technical weapon mode, load the technical weapon magazine, and then, under control, the weapon transforms into a sniper rifle.

The long barrel assembly was disassembled, a pistol module was inserted, the weapon was switched to kinetic weapon mode, and a kinetic weapon magazine was loaded. What was revealed in Karl's hand was a kinetic pistol.

With the addition of components as an extra and the 'tidal energy core' as the center, if we don't compare it to the human body and only look at it as a weapon, isn't this thing more similar to a weapon platform mounted on an exoskeleton?

Karl understood the core design principles of this weapon.

Rather than saying that the Tsunami Design Bureau designed a weapon that could transform at will, it would be more accurate to say that they designed a framework, and Carl only needed to add components to this framework when he needed to use the relevant items, thus completing the transformation of the weapon.

No wonder the tsunami design bureau said that in their calculations, even for their own use, it would take a year of specialized training.

This is not just simple weapon handling; it clearly requires users to become "masters of all weaponry"—not only to be proficient in the characteristics of each component, but also to accurately calculate the connection nodes of monomolecular lines in the ever-changing battle and complete form switching in milliseconds.

For the average person, just memorizing hundreds of combinations would be overwhelming, let alone using them fluently in real-world situations.

But Carl was different.

His fingertips gently traced the interfaces of the weapon's frame, countless possible combinations already flashing through his mind. Changing its form? That was merely a matter of a thought; mastering all the weapons and components was just a matter of a few days of familiarization. This was indeed a weapon that belonged only to him, and only he could use it.

The designers at the Tsunami Design Bureau were truly geniuses.

Even after expressing this sentiment so many times, Karl still has to say it.

“A great reputation is well-deserved.” Karl stroked the coldly gleaming interface on the weapon frame, a long-lost, almost childlike smile appearing on his lips.

Four whole days.

Since receiving this weapon, he felt as if he had returned to the fervent state he was in when he first came to Night City for training.

The weapon component projections that kept flashing in the training chip were more captivating to him than any virtual entertainment. By the time the last set of transformation data was etched into his muscle memory, the room had switched to night mode for the fourth time.

"How's the training going?"

V's voice pulled him back to reality. His companion was holding a steaming Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, the rich aroma of cheese filling the air. Carl then realized that he had finished all his training.

"Seven hours ahead of schedule." Carl took the pizza, the piping hot cheese stretching into long, thin strands. "What version of the security plan has been updated for the meeting between the new US president and Chief Executive Arasaka?"

"I don't know which version it will be, but it'll be the day after tomorrow. I thought you'd be so engrossed in it that you'd skip over this important matter."

Oliver's feet were casually propped up on the edge of the sofa. He lay back on the sofa and looked at Carl sideways: "These past few days, apart from sleeping and eating, you've been practicing all day long. I'm sick of watching the training sessions synced to the TV screen. Is it really possible to master all of these things? You're being ridiculous."

"I think if Oliver is really interested in giving it a try, he probably can."

Carl's words made Oliver wave his hands repeatedly: "Come on, it's not like I haven't been watching. Only you can use this thing. I'd better just honestly practice what I already know."

"Get some rest now, training's over."

Jack, biting into his pizza, said, "Eat more of this pizza while it's hot."

"It does taste good."

Jack's words were agreed upon by T-BUG, and upon hearing T-BUG's opinion, Carl took a bite. To his surprise, it tasted quite good.

It's a shame that Johnny Silverhand could only watch longingly from the sidelines.

Just as Carl was thinking of using the pizza as a topic to chat with Johnny, who was also sprawled on the sofa, his phone flashed.

It seems Karl's training ended just in time; someone has sent a message.

(End of this chapter)