"W-Warhammer 40K!?"
Leo stammered, his face losing color.
"Look, Cyberpunk is bad enough, but Warhammer? You can't just casually cross over to that universe!"
In Warhammer, it wasn't about surviving a week. You were lucky if you lasted five minutes.
"I completely understand, Father! But these are the only two coordinates I've managed to stabilize for now. It's a little inconvenient, I know…" Shironeko shrugged apologetically, her cat ears twitching.
"A little inconvenient?"
"Okay, maybe a lot inconvenient! But on the bright side—I've already hacked into Night City's citizen database. We can generate a fake identity for you!" Shironeko clapped her hands, a glowing virtual panel appearing in mid-air.
Streams of data scrolled across the screen, too fast for Leo's eyes to follow. It was like watching an elite hacker work, except the hacker was a catgirl AI.
"Done!" She yawned dramatically, flashing a small fang. "Time to fill out the form!"
Leo leaned closer, skimming the digital resume. It was suspiciously similar to a basic online profile.
"Name: Leonardo DiCaprio. Age: 18. Background? Mysterious foreign student from the East."
"Seriously?" Leo snorted. "That's my fake name?"
"Relax! It's just a cover. And besides, people are too busy getting cybernetic implants to care."
"Fair enough."
With alarming efficiency, Shironeko populated every field. A fabricated past, an academic record, and even a questionable hobby involving vintage vinyl records.
"And as a special bonus…" She twirled in mid-air. "I may have liberated a modest sum from the Night City black market."
"Define modest."
"Just a smidge!" She smiled innocently.
Leo checked the account balance displayed on the screen: 217,025 Eurodollars.
"That's… not bad." He whistled. "Enough to hire a mercenary for a couple of jobs. Maybe even make some friends."
00:01:01
"Time's running out!" Shironeko's ears perked up. "Oh! And before you go, you might want to remove the devices Batman planted on you."
"Wait, what?!"
Leo quickly checked the back of his collar and waistband, his fingers brushing against two small chips no bigger than a fingernail.
"Tracker and bug," Shironeko confirmed. "Here in the Transit Hub, they're harmless. But back in Gotham, it would've been a different story."
"That sneaky bat bastard!" Leo growled, ready to crush the devices underfoot.
But he hesitated.
Batman's tracker. A genuine piece of Bat-tech.
"Actually… these might make nice souvenirs."
He placed the gadgets on the nearby desk, officially christening them as his first "trophies."
"Alright, Shironeko. Any other surprises?"
"Well, since you asked…" She fidgeted. "You'll be able to travel between Night City and Gotham. Unless you're feeling brave and want to try Warhammer, those are your only options for now."
Leo's stomach churned. "I'm good. No Warhammer for me, thanks."
"Understood!" Shironeko gave a final bow. "Be careful, Father. I'll monitor the Singularity and bring you back when the time is right."
The countdown hit its final seconds.
3… 2… 1…
The last thing Leo saw was Shironeko waving with a tearful smile.
When Leo opened his eyes, the air was thick with smoke, metal, and something that smelled disturbingly artificial. The sound of sirens and the distant hum of neon lights assaulted his senses. People crowded the streets, dressed in leather, chrome, and questionable taste.
Night City.
He instinctively reached for his pockets. No phone. Just a thin data card tucked safely into his sleeve. He wasn't sure what was on it, but it had the unmistakable weight of something valuable.
"So this is Cyberpunk…" He muttered.
But before he could admire the towering holograms and graffiti-covered walls, something else caught his eye.
A large digital billboard displayed a date in glaring blue numbers:
February 17th, 2076.
"Wait… what?"
He blinked. Then blinked again.
2076.
"This is Cyberpunk 2077, not 2076! What the hell?"
Had Shironeko miscalculated? Or was he somehow thrown into a year before the game's events?
"Great. I'm in the prequel nobody asked for."
Before he could further process the bizarre situation, a group of locals eyed him suspiciously. No cyberware. No tattoos. Just a plain, slightly shabby outfit.
"Yeah, definitely standing out," Leo muttered, quickly ducking into the nearest alleyway.
A neon sign flickered above him. "Misty's Esoterica & Spiritual Supplies".
Just beyond it, a familiar sight loomed—Viktor Vektor's Clinic.
"At least I know where I'm going. Time to get myself a brain chip."
With a deep breath, Leo stepped into the alley. The distant hum of Night City's madness followed him.
2076, huh? Guess I've got a head start.
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