Watching V, who still frowned even in her sleep, Xiao's lips curved slightly.
With a gentle flick of his finger, strands of Cyber Aura wove themselves into fabric, forming a set of clothes that softly draped over her body.
Only then did his gaze shift.
To Panam Palmer—
still buried in the floor.
"Now…"
Xiao murmured.
"It's your turn, Panam Palmer."
Before the words fully settled, he casually waved his hand.
A surge of force lifted Panam out of the ground.
The moment she regained her freedom—
she exploded.
"What the hell is wrong with you—?!"
Her hand instinctively went for the pistol at her waist.
But—
her body suddenly froze.
The gun in her hand liquefied, collapsing into black, sand-like particles that slipped through her fingers and scattered across the floor.
Xiao leaned back lazily in his chair, resting his chin on his hand, watching her with amusement.
"You're planning to attack the God of All Machines…"
"With that?"
The restraint vanished.
Panam's body regained control—
but her anger didn't.
Her eyes burned as she glared at him.
"What did you do to V?!"
Xiao didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he sighed softly.
"Do you even know why V wanted to capture Hermann?"
Without waiting, he began to explain.
Step by step.
From the Relic.
To Johnny Silverhand.
To everything that had happened.
By the time he finished—
Panam stood there, completely stunned.
Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
It took several seconds before she finally forced something out.
"…What the hell?"
"This is like some kind of fairy tale."
Everything she had just heard—
it was absurd.
Unreal.
Like a story that shouldn't exist.
Xiao gently brushed a strand of hair away from V's face.
"Sometimes…"
"Reality is far more outrageous than fiction."
His voice carried a quiet weight.
"Life is full of things far stranger than anything we can imagine."
Panam glanced at V, then back at him.
"…So?"
"Did you fix her?"
Xiao smiled faintly.
"Of course."
"Who do you think I am?"
"If I can't cure her with enough data…"
"Then I don't deserve the title 'God of All Machines.'"
Then—
he casually tossed the Relic chip onto the ground.
The moment it hit—
it activated.
Silver light surged.
Cyber Aura converged instantly, wrapping around it like liquid metal.
It began to move.
Flow.
Reshape.
Like the T-1000 from Terminator, the metallic mass rose, twisting and forming—
until a familiar figure stood there.
"…I can feel it."
Johnny Silverhand's voice.
"…I can feel my body."
His form stabilized.
Fully reconstructed.
He looked down at his hands.
Flexed his fingers.
Then let out a breath.
"…Feels damn good to be alive."
But Xiao didn't let the moment last.
"Don't celebrate too early."
Johnny looked up.
Xiao's voice was calm.
"Your true form is still the Relic chip."
"And that chip…"
"Was never designed for long-term stability."
He paused.
"You've got about six months."
Silence.
Johnny's expression darkened instantly.
But he didn't flinch.
Instead, he turned away, scanning the room.
"…Got a cigarette?"
Snap.
A pack appeared in his hand.
Johnny didn't hesitate.
He lit one immediately, inhaling deeply like a man reclaiming something lost.
Then exhaled.
"…Alright."
"But let's get one thing straight."
"I don't do 'buts.'"
His gaze sharpened.
"And I don't work with corporate dogs."
His tone turned cold.
"You want something from me?"
"Then here are your options."
"Kill me."
"Or let me walk."
Xiao ignored him completely.
"I need you to help me find three people."
"Alt Cunningham."
"Rache Bartmoss."
"And Spider Murphy."
Johnny snorted.
"They're dead."
"For centuries."
"How exactly do you expect me to find them?"
He wandered over to a cabinet, grabbed a bottle of expensive champagne, popped it open, and took a long swig.
"…Damn."
"That's good."
Xiao spoke again—
this time, cutting straight through him.
"Don't play dumb."
"I've already seen your memories."
Johnny froze.
"I know Alt didn't die."
"She—and the others—converted themselves into Soul AI."
"They exist in cyberspace."
"Second only to the Blackwall."
He stepped closer.
"And you…"
"…can contact her."
A pause.
"You've done it before."
"When you were trapped in Mikoshi."
Johnny's grip tightened slightly.
Xiao continued—
calm, precise, merciless.
"As long as you cooperate…"
"I can give them bodies."
"Real ones."
"Just like yours."
Johnny let out a short laugh.
"Yeah?"
"And then what?"
"You put collars on them?"
"Turn them into obedient little pets like the rest of your cult?"
His eyes were filled with pure disdain.
Xiao didn't react.
Instead, he spoke softly—
but the words hit harder than anything else.
"Don't you want to see her again?"
Johnny's expression changed.
Just slightly.
"You never forgot her."
"You even blew up Arasaka Tower for her."
"That wasn't rebellion."
"That was revenge."
Silence.
A flicker of pain passed through Johnny's eyes—
gone just as quickly.
"…So what?"
"I'm not falling for that again."
"Not with you."
He turned.
"I'm done here."
He walked toward the door.
No hesitation.
No fear.
But just as he reached it—
his body stopped.
Completely.
His legs—
moved on their own.
Backwards.
Toward Xiao.
Johnny's eyes widened slightly.
"…Tch."
"Figures."
Xiao's voice sounded behind him.
"Johnny."
"…You're disappointing me."
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