The Giant Corporations that Started in Night City

Chapter 59: Resurrection of the Dead!

With Adam Smasher's iron arm holding him in place, Anders Hellman forcibly inserted the chip into Johnny's neural interface slot and activated the AI program.

This Relic chip was a groundbreaking biological implant jointly developed by Biotechnica and Arasaka engineers.

By using the AI program Soulkiller, it could convert a person's soul into a digital consciousness and enable communication with that data entity. This extended the potential applications of Soulkiller far beyond its use as a mere AI weapon.

To put it simply, the Relic chip could seal Johnny's soul within the chip. Whoever inserted the chip would then be able to converse with Johnny directly in their mind.

That was the functionality of the Relic's first-generation prototype. Next, Hellman intended to develop a feature allowing the consciousness stored in the chip to be downloaded into another body, enabling complete data overwrite.

In simpler terms, the full-fledged Relic chip would allow "soul transference," where one's soul could take over another's body.

"ARGHHH! DAMN IT! SABURO ARASAKA, TO HELL WITH YOU!"

The moment the Soulkiller program activated, Johnny's brain went into overdrive, his neural system pushed to its limits as his consciousness was digitized. The entire process was excruciatingly painful.

Saburo Arasaka, watching Johnny Silverhand's agonized screams, frowned deeply and glanced sideways at the engineer, Hellman. Clearly, he was dissatisfied with the results of the experiment.

The Relic chip still needed substantial improvements.

Anders Hellman, now drenched in sweat, realized the Relic was far from ready for commercial use. After all, no wealthy client would endure such agony.

Johnny screamed for half an hour before finally being freed from the torment. His soul was now stored within the Relic chip, but his physical body had died. The intense neural activity had caused his entire nervous system to fail, and the soul extraction process was completely irreversible.

The experiment revealed a harsh truth to Saburo Arasaka: achieving digital immortality via the Relic chip would come at the cost of excruciating pain and the inevitable death of the physical body.

This was a price he was unwilling to pay.

At his advanced age, Saburo knew he couldn't endure such torment. If he attempted the procedure, he might not even survive halfway through.

"Mr. Hellman, I'm giving you two and a half years. If the Relic chip isn't perfected by then, you can join Johnny in the afterlife."

Saburo patted Hellman's trembling shoulder and left the building with Takemura and the others.

Holding the Relic chip in his hand, Hellman felt an overwhelming urge to flee for his life.

Militech, Trauma Team, Petrochem, Biotechnica, or perhaps LA Corp... whoever could guarantee his safety, he'd sell the Relic technology to them!

---

WNS World News Service:

Militech and Arasaka have reached a ceasefire agreement. Last night's explosion at Arasaka Tower in Night City was purely the work of the terrorist Johnny Silverhand and his accomplices! This incident is entirely unrelated to Militech. Let the innocent remain innocent—trust reliable news sources!

N54 News:

LA Corp has officially joined forces with Militech. Together, they aim to create the most powerful military-industrial complex in the world! Militech's stock prices are soaring!

Guns & Steel Magazine:

LA Corp's new Amat M41A Pulse Rifle makes its debut—a dream come true for gun enthusiasts!

---

Under a gloomy sky, light rain fell steadily. In Little China, neon signs and traditional lanterns cast a reddish hue on the raindrops.

Crowded pedestrians either carried umbrellas or stood in the square, watching the latest Night City news on large electronic billboards, while others let the rain soak them.

On the rooftop of LA Corp headquarters, a Militech AV (aerial vehicle) roared to life, possibly embarking on its final mission. After today, Militech's fleet of AVs would be entirely replaced by LA Corp products.

"It seems Arasaka's antics have stirred up quite a commotion. Even the NUSA's top intelligence agency had to step in personally to escort you back," said Li Ang, standing in front of Mann, who held an umbrella.

Li Ang addressed Myers : "Alt Cunningham's body has arrived. Are you taking her back?"

Under normal circumstances, within 12 hours of death, it was still possible to retrieve valuable information from a deceased person's brain.

This was why Militech's executives were so determined to recover Alt's body—they urgently needed the data on Soulkiller stored in her mind.

"No," Rosalind Myers replied, shaking her head. Looking at Li Ang, a bitter emotion surged within her. "President Kress is dying. I'll soon be the new President of the New United States of America."

Myers' khaki nylon trench coat bore the marks of raindrops, and her narrow shoulders slumped slightly under the weight of responsibility. Her voice carried an almost mournful tone.

"From now on, the Little Big Dipper Project will be Militech's entire focus. I will avenge Kress."

After speaking, Myers handed Li Ang a specially crafted coin.

"This is the Intelligence Agency's insignia. From now on, our two companies will operate independently. To avoid collateral damage, we'll use this as a shared identifier."

Li Ang took the coin, rolling it between his fingers as he gauged its weight.

"Li Ang, I hope Alt's body serves your purpose. Until we meet again."

With that, Myers turned and boarded the AV. Surrounded by Intelligence Agency operatives, she departed the rooftop of LA Corp.

For Militech, continuing to pursue Arasaka's path of AI development was now pointless. Myers resolved to chart her own course.

If Arasaka's Soulkiller could consume human consciousness, then Militech would create an AI weapon to counter Soulkiller.

Li Ang watched the AV disappear into the distance, feeling a mix of emotions. In a single night, the world had changed entirely.

But he had no time to mourn Johnny's unknown fate. The fragmented consciousness of Alt Cunningham, which had been disassembled by AI Red Queen, still needed to be reconstructed.

"Let's go. We have to bring the dead back to life."

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LA Corp Laboratory

Hackers Lucy, Kiwi, and Pilar, equipped with deep dive rigs, successfully retrieved Alt's data packets from cyberspace.

Once Alt's digital data was fully uploaded into LA Corp's network, AI White Queen pieced it back together. Alt's soul data was then transferred back into her body via cables.

Before long, Alt Cunningham opened her eyes, as if waking from a bizarre and surreal dream.