That day, Johnny awakened.
Physically and mentally, he became an American Nationalist.
Unlike the Nationalists who constantly thought about escaping, Johnny was the most extreme kind of Nationalist: he wanted to blow this rotten world to smithereens.
The awakened Johnny fled the battlefield without hesitation, just like the other veterans who knew the truth about the war.
The US subsequently lost this war.
To shift the blame, politicians explained to the enraged public that the war failed precisely because of those deserters, leading American society to discriminate against and persecute those veterans.
However, this didn't affect Johnny.
Johnny returned to his hometown, Night City, and began calling himself Silverhand, which was due to the arm he lost in battle and replaced with a silver cybernetic limb.
That's when everything happened.
The formation of the Samurai Band, Johnny's group skyrocketing to fame, Johnny becoming known for his anti-corporate and anti-government ideology; people on the streets of Night City went crazy for his rebellious spirit and music.
One war lost a hot-blooded good young man, Johnny, and ushered in a punk kid, Silverhand, who roared at the world and pursued rebellion to the end.
One can only say that everything is predetermined.
So, when Johnny heard that he could finally obtain a new body and step onto the soil of Night City once more...
His heart was immediately pierced by an uncontrollable surge of anger and impulse.
He couldn't wait to do something, anything, to make this chaotic world even more chaotic.
"Hurry up, girl! I can't wait any longer! Fuck this, Night City, I'm fucking coming!"
The "Videoplayer" flashed blue continuously as Johnny spoke, showing his excitement.
"Heh heh..."
Berry, busy working, didn't refute Johnny's rude words, merely letting out a few cold laughs.
Anyone familiar with Berry knew she wasn't someone who would suffer a loss.
When she kept quiet, it definitely meant a trap was buried, just waiting for someone to jump into it.
But unfortunately, Johnny, already captivated by the yearning for freedom, couldn't think of these things at all.
He had been driven crazy during this time.
No alcohol, no women, no loud rock music, and not even a few bastards for him to shoot at.
All the misery was finally coming to an end.
His heart was filled with excitement.
It was the same feeling he had the second time he did drugs in his youth.
Once you taste freedom, you can never forget it.
"...Relax, kid. You have to sleep for a bit first. But don't worry, when you wake up, you'll have everything. I guarantee that the door to a new world will absolutely open for you."
Watching Johnny, whose virtual image was trembling with excitement, Berry spoke with absolute seriousness and conviction.
Only then did Johnny turn his attention to Berry in front of him.
"You're not a bad sort. If you need me to, I'll say thank you."
Johnny squinted at Berry, his words dry, as if this flimsy gratitude was a great favor bestowed upon her.
"It's nothing, really, it's what I should do."
But Berry scoffed internally, while on her face, her eyes narrowed into a sweet smile, and she waved her hand, saying it was all her duty.
Only after Berry forcefully pulled out the relic chip's connector did she sneer a few times.
"Has no one ever told you that when someone has you by the balls, you should learn to show respect?"
"Old geezer, you're in for it later…" "...Is it almost ready?"
Rogue's expression was extremely calm and composed, as if nothing in this world could stir her emotions.
Of course, if Rogue hadn't asked the same question six times in five minutes, Berry would have believed her.
"Just relax, Rogue, my craftsmanship has a reputation on several streets around here."
Berry, who was currently checking various data to ensure everything was foolproof, rolled her eyes helplessly at the remark and patiently comforted Rogue, this rich old hag.
"Sorry, I just, um, didn't sleep well last night."
Seeing Berry's eyes practically roll to the back of her head, Rogue, with her ninety-plus years of thick skin, felt a slight blush and awkwardly scratched her face.
Mhm, mhm, mhm, Berry believed her.
Shrugging speechlessly, Berry finally typed a few commands on the terminal.
"Alright, everything's OK, Johnny Silverhand, prepare to come back!"
In front of Berry and Rogue was something like a cryogenic sleep pod, inside which lay the Chassis Berry had prepared for Johnny; the relic chip had already been inserted, ready for activation.
Due to the need to maintain a low temperature, frost covered the glass surface, making it impossible to clearly see the Chassis lying inside, but now everything was ready, just waiting for Johnny to awaken in this Chassis.
Bringing a dead person back to life was something only gods in myths could achieve, but now, it was being done in a basement beneath a bar.
And Berry didn't feel the slightest sacred atmosphere of reversing life.
In fact, she even wanted to sing a song.
Come back, Johnny Silverhand~
My proudest belief.
Silverhand, vivid in memory.
Tears inexplicably flowing.
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