Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 870. I want Hansen to not live past tomorrow.

In the context of biotechnology, what kind of experimental subject can be considered a successful experimental subject?
This question was answered when Karl met the dodo bird.

Looking at the creature separated from him by a glass partition, foraging in a classroom-sized space, and swaying its fat body as it moved about, Karl couldn't help but open his mouth wide.

This thing looks just like a fat chicken, doesn't it?

Its wings are small, its body looks chubby, its beak is curved, and it walks slowly.

Carl searched his memory for anything similar to this thing, and besides the fat chicken, the only thing left was a penguin.

He recalled something he knew before: the dodo's small wings couldn't lift its body off the water; they were just tools for balancing, like those of penguins. Considering that some literature mentioned that the dodo would glide across the water while catching fish, the wings might indeed function the same way as those of penguins.

After all, penguins glide on the ice using their tiny wings that can't fly, and they look rather chubby.

Regardless of how it appeared, upon seeing the dodo bird, Carl instantly realized what success truly meant.

That is living things.

The successful experimental subjects are living organisms, which may sound strange, but it is true.

It is not a biomimetic animal, nor is it a mechanical organism that can only simulate an animal through mechanical structure, but a real, living organism.

"Biotechnology is awesome."

Looking at the lifelike dodo bird, Jack couldn't help but exclaim, "To me, it really looks like a real animal moving."

"Without any mechanical or prosthetic structures, it is a purely biological construct. Apart from the brain being replaced by a chip that supposedly mimics the behavior and movement of a dodo bird, it is a truly living animal."

Carl flipped through the research papers on this thing from Hansen's research team and said, "In other words, its body is already perfect. As long as the brain problem is solved, then this thing can be called a true 'resurrected' ancient creature."

However, for biotechnology, this is already a perfect experimental subject and product. Because of their intellectual capacity, they might not even want to add such a 'disadvantageous' factor that could affect the product.

"As long as the brain problem is solved, it can be considered a perfect resurrection. Tsk tsk, it's good that old bastard Saburo Arasaka is dead, and it's good that his backup went down quickly. Otherwise, if his people had really figured out what the biotechnology espionage activities had taken, we might have really been facing a Saburo Arasaka with a special part of your body, Karl."

Oliver sighed, but now he was pondering a question: "If we study this experiment and see the reasons for its success, then Johnny should have no problem getting a new body. After all, compared to Saburo Arasaka's demand for a 100% perfect resurrection, Johnny is now a digital life form and doesn't care about perfection. As long as the body works, that's fine."

“That’s right,” Jack replied, but his tone carried a hint of helplessness. “But I think, given Johnny’s personality, he might not even be able to adjust to his new body before he starts drinking, smoking, and chasing girls. Who knows, after a few of those things, his new body might break down before it’s even ready.”

Jack said, sighing as he thought about Johnny's personality.

"Then he's dead."

Carl said bluntly, "Relic isn't something you can just mess with. It's essentially a one-time personality overlay device—Johnny is currently using Ball's old body, which isn't a real physical body yet, so the overlay and neural connections are relatively simple. But if he were to use a real body, the Relic, specifically designed for human testing, would fully adapt to his nervous system and all his functions." He paused and continued, "At that point, unless Johnny uses another Relic to re-copy his personality imprint, that body will be his last resort for survival. If he really messes things up, it won't be long before we have to call him 'Johnny Iron Kidney' or 'Johnny Golden Lung.'"

"I actually prefer the names Johnny Black Lung and Johnny Less Kidney."

Oliver rubbed his temples: "I have a feeling that he'll probably have to put on a 'reunion in the twilight years' with Roger first—the two old guys awkwardly bickering and falling in love at the same time, which will probably take even more time than the Relic adaptation."

"Who knows? I remember Roger has a son, I think his name is Tass Santiago, he's a media person. What if Roger and Johnny really are having a late-life romance?"

Jack couldn't help but shake his head; the emotional entanglements of the elderly were complicated enough just to think about.

“That famous Santiago? He’s a big shot in our homeless community. If Johnny suddenly had such a godson… tsk, just thinking about it is a bit weird.”

Just as the group was chatting, a familiar voice suddenly came through the communication channel.

"V?"

Carl sounded slightly surprised. "You've already resolved things on your end? So quickly?"

"How much effort does it take to deal with a bunch of cleaners?" V's voice carried a hint of ease. "I followed your tracking signal and found their four hideouts—they're really cunning, each one more well-hidden than the last. Taking them out wasn't difficult, but the back-and-forth running around took a lot of time. But at least we finally got them all cleaned up."

He paused, then added, "These cleaners are really well-equipped; they even have several crates of military-grade gear. I'm currently worried about how to find someone to transport it. You know how it is in Dogtown; reliable people are really hard to find."

"Then let's ship it over here."

Karl said casually, “My men are all here, but due to infiltration restrictions, they don’t have many weapons. You can send these equipment over, and we’ll maintain and modify them to use as replacements.”

"Oh right, I almost forgot—you've already finished on your end."

Listening to Carl's words, V remembered his main purpose for coming to Dogtown.

The voluntary garbage cleanup was just a side job; after all, they were just a bunch of street cleaners. Their real purpose in coming here was for what Carl had mentioned.

"Is Dogtown our Dogtown? Is it the Dogtown of Night City? That's something to look forward to."

As V launched its operation, the new US President Rosalind Myers also made her final decision.

"There is no need to negotiate with Hansen anymore."

She faced Li De, her tone cold and resolute:
"Gather everyone and prepare for action. I want Hansen—he won't live past tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)