Gearbound: Cyberpunk 2077-Chapter 221

"Leave it to me." Leo first gave Judy a reassuring glance, then looked over at Lucy. After working together for so long, they had long developed an unspoken understanding—one look was enough to convey everything.

Lucy only needed to glance at the door with her Kiroshi Optics Mk.III implant, and she could immediately tell that Finger's door wasn't even on the same level as the elevator at Clouds. There wasn't even a need to plug in a physical connector—just one focused look and the lock was already hacked.

"What the hell are you doing?" a male doll stood up from the couch, clearly annoyed.

"Sorry, folks. Emergency measures," Leo said, pulling out a can of soda from under his jacket and chugging it in one go. Then, in front of everyone, he slowly crushed the aluminum can into a ball of scrap with his bare hand.

Amid the stunned gazes of those in the room, it was clear—Leo's arm showed no signs of any cybernetic enhancement, nor was he wearing any powered gauntlets. He had done it purely with raw physical strength.

Of course, what they didn't know was that this confidence came from Fitness LV9.

Leo scanned the room, clearly satisfied with their stunned expressions. He chuckled and casually tossed the crushed can onto the table. The man who'd been complaining earlier picked it up, bit it to confirm it was real metal, then ran out to a vending machine and bought a can of soda for himself. But no matter how hard he tried, all he could manage was to fold the can in half—not even close to what Leo had done.

One of the dolls murmured, voicing what everyone else was thinking: "Is he even human?"

…

Inside the operating room, Finger—currently working on a doll lying on the surgical chair—looked toward the commotion at the door. When he saw several strangers walk in, and especially when those strangers didn't look like they were here for medical services, his expression turned from surprise to panic.

"What's going on? What do you people want?"

Leo didn't answer. He was busy looking around this so-called "operating room." Normally, such a space should be clean, bright, and sterile. But this one didn't meet even a single one of those criteria.

A doll missing her jaw lay on a shabby chair—probably something salvaged from a dump, with cracked and peeling leather.

"We've got some questions for you. But finish your surgery first," Leo said.

Finger's lips twitched. It looked like he wanted to yell at them to leave, but he hadn't forgotten how Lucy had hacked the door with just a glance. In the end, he said nothing, choosing to continue the procedure. The tool in his hand looked more like a welding torch than surgical equipment. The sounds of the procedure were more fitting for a workshop than a clinic.

V quietly told Leo that the doll's upper eyelid retractors were damaged, which was why her eyes couldn't close.

Lucy shut the door. V stood beside Leo, while Jackie wandered off to look around, showing no interest in the surgery.

Sparks jumped from Finger's torch as he welded at the doll's face. He picked up a jaw component and carefully fit it onto the doll's lower face. A loud click rang out as the jaw locked perfectly into place.

Of course, it wasn't finished yet. If she just walked out like this, a jump or two and that jaw would fall right off again.

"If you're a big girl, hold still—it's gonna hurt!"

Judy, who had been silently watching until now, couldn't take it anymore. "You don't even have any endorphins or anesthetics in here?"

Finger didn't even glance at her. "It's not that I don't have them. My customers usually can't afford that kind of stuff."

One hand held the doll's head firmly in place, the other continued sparking away. The doll moaned in pain and struggled instinctively.

"Don't scream, just bear with it a bit longer."

Judy turned away, unable to watch. But Leo observed Finger closely, thoughtful.

Eventually, Finger finished and looked at the doll. "All done. How's it feel?"

"It's… okay, I guess," the doll said, voice trembling, nearly in tears.

Finger examined her carefully. "Looks good to me. Don't forget to smile, sweetheart."

The doll touched her jaw, and after confirming it wouldn't fall off, she left the operating room.

Finger put down his tools and walked over to the sink. He washed the grime off his hands, pumped some soap from a wall dispenser, and lathered up. Then he glanced at Judy, eyeing the various tattoos on her arms.

"You with the Tyger Claws? Far as I remember, I paid my protection fee."

Judy snorted. "No. I'm with the Mox."

"Ah, a Mox girl. Nice to meet you… So, what can I help you with?"

Leo stepped forward. "I heard a woman named Evelyn Parker was brought to you. I'll keep it short—where is she now?"

"This isn't something we should discuss out here. Please, follow me to my office."

Finger's so-called office was actually just a room inside the operating space. A double bed sat in the center, and the room was filled with adult toys meant for "enhancing pleasure."

It wasn't so much a place for business discussions as it was where Finger slept—and where he "collected payment" from dolls who couldn't afford his services.

He plopped down carelessly in a chair. The lighting in here was a bit better than the outside room, enough for everyone to clearly see his outfit and gear.freewebnσvel.cøm