Chapter 58: Getting An Implant Part Four

Arthur found himself in a completely different room.

The moment he stepped inside, several lights flickered on overhead, illuminating the space in a cold white glow.

At the center of the room was a large operating bed.

Surrounding it were various pieces of medical equipment, surgical tools, and, most notably, several mechanical arms mounted around the operating table.

Each arm was equipped with a different tool.

Some had clamps.

Others had needles.

A few had what looked like precision cutting instruments.

Arthur stared at them for a moment.

"...Comforting."

Old Dunner walked past him.

"Take off your uniform."

Arthur glanced at him.

"So we can get started."

Arthur sighed before removing his uniform.

Once the clothes came off, his muscular figure was revealed.

Dunner gave him a brief glance before turning toward the equipment.

"Not bad."

Arthur ignored the comment.

A small robot suddenly rolled into the room.

It pushed a metal cart containing two sealed boxes.

Dunner stopped beside it and opened the first one.

Inside was a strange-looking device.

It resembled a specialized gun with a glass tube attached to its body, along with several thin tubes extending from the back.

Dunner picked it up and inspected it.

He connected one of the tubes to the device.

Then he looked toward Arthur.

"You want the implant installed while you’re conscious?"

Arthur stared at him.

"...Or?"

"You can go to sleep first."

Arthur sat down on the operating bed.

"The second option."

He looked at Dunner as though the question itself was ridiculous.

"Why would I choose the first?"

Dunner shrugged.

"Some sick cadets are into that sort of thing."

Arthur’s expression became mildly shocked.

"...What?"

Dunner calmly continued preparing the equipment.

"You’d be surprised."

Arthur stared at him for a moment.

"I guess there are all sorts of psychos in the Academy, huh?"

"Definitely."

Dunner walked over to the operating bed.

"Alright, then."

He raised the strange gun.

"Time to get some shut-eye."

He placed the device against the side of Arthur’s neck.

Click.

A soft hiss followed.

Arthur felt a brief sting.

His eyelids immediately became heavy.

"...That was fast."

His vision began to blur.

Within seconds, Arthur’s consciousness faded.

Dunner carefully lowered his body onto the operating bed, positioning him properly.

He checked Arthur’s vital signs before turning toward the nearby table of tools.

He reached down.

Click.

Twist.

Both of his mechanical hands detached from his arms.

Dunner picked up a replacement hand from the table.

It was equipped with a small surgical saw.

He attached it to his arm.

Click.

The mechanical saw began to spin.

Dunner looked down at the unconscious Arthur.

A faint grin appeared on his face.

"Alright."

He flexed the fingers of the mechanical hand.

"Time to get to work."

...

It had been a good twenty minutes now.

All the other lights in the room were off, leaving only one that was focused solely on Arthur.

Dunner had successfully opened Arthur’s back and carefully removed his human spine after making several precise incisions.

He was wearing a black metal mask over his face now.

After placing Arthur’s spine into a specialized preservation liquid and sealing the container shut, Dunner walked over to the other box.

He lowered his eye toward a rectangular scanner.

A soft blue light passed over his eye.

Click.

The box opened.

Inside was the artificial spine.

The metal it was made from looked almost like polished gold, with several black segments running along its length. Those segments would remain visible beneath the skin once the implant was attached.

Dunner carefully lifted it from the container.

He carried it over to Arthur and began the delicate process of attaching it.

His movements were very precise.

Every connection had to be perfect.

Once he was finished, Dunner carefully secured the surrounding tissue before sealing each incision.

He cleaned the wounds thoroughly, removing every trace of blood from Arthur’s back and the operating table.

Finally, he inspected his work.

The artificial spine rested perfectly within Arthur’s body.

Blood now filled the transparent sections of the implant, flowing through it as his circulation resumed.

Dunner nodded in satisfaction.

"Good."

...

When Arthur finally came to, his vision was blurry.

The first thing he noticed was the smell of smoke.

The second was the sound of someone exhaling.

He slowly opened his eyes.

His vision gradually cleared.

Dunner was sitting on a metal chair beside the operating bed, casually smoking a cigar.

Both of his mechanical arms were resting against his sides.

Arthur stared at him for several seconds.

"..."

Dunner noticed his gaze.

"Oh."

He took another puff from his cigar.

"You’re awake now. How do you feel?"

Arthur blinked a few times. His body felt... strange. Not painful.

Just... different.

He slowly raised his hand. His fingers moved normally. At least, they seemed normal.

Arthur looked down at them.

Then he clenched his fist.

"...I feel fine."

Dunner took another puff from his cigar.

"That’s good."

He leaned forward slightly.

"Try moving."

Arthur slowly pushed himself upright.

He swung his legs over the edge of the operating bed before standing.

The moment his feet touched the floor, Arthur paused.

Something felt different.

He looked down at his hands.

Then he flexed his fingers.

Once.

Twice.

His movements felt completely normal.

And yet...

"...Huh."

Arthur raised his arm and slowly rotated his wrist.

There was no stiffness or delay.

No strange sensation from having an artificial component connected to his nervous system.

But more importantly, he could feel his body with a strange degree of clarity.

The sensation of his fingers moving.

The subtle tension in his muscles.

The shift of his weight across his feet.

Even the movement of his joints.

Everything felt sharper.

More precise.

It was almost as though the connection between his mind and his body had become clearer.

Arthur clenched his fist.

Then released it. He suddenly smiled.

"...Fuck, I might get addicted to this."

A notification suddenly appeared before his eyes.

〘System Notification〙

〘Congratulations, Player. Implant successfully installed.〙

〘Generation V: Synaptic Acceleration Spine〙

〘Would you like to enhance the implant?〙

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

...No, skip.

He couldn’t enhance it now... at least not here. He had only just installed it. There was no reason to rush.

A second window immediately appeared.

This one was different.

It was projected through his Neural Link.

〘Implant Detected〙

〘Device Registration Complete〙

〘Device: Generation V Synaptic Acceleration Spine〙

〘Type: Neural Augmentation〙

〘Function: Accelerated Neural Signal Transmission〙

〘Primary Effect: Reduced Neural Transmission Delay〙

〘Secondary Effects: Enhanced Motor Response, Improved Reaction Speed, Increased Neural-Muscular Synchronization〙

〘Status: Operational〙

Arthur read through the information carefully.

So the Neural Link had registered the implant as well.

That was useful.

Dunner glanced at him.

"I’d say you should give it a try, but...."

Arthur looked toward him.

Dunner gestured around the cramped operating room with his cigar with a light chuckle.

"But you wouldn’t get much of a test run inside this cramped space."

He took another puff.

"Head over to the Academy training grounds."

Arthur looked around the room.

Dunner wasn’t wrong.

There was barely enough space to walk around the operating bed, let alone properly test a combat implant.

Arthur nodded.

"Fair enough."

Dunner stood from the metal chair.

"Go stretch your legs."

He casually waved his cigar toward the door.

"And try not to break anything."

Arthur glanced at him.

"...I’ll keep that in mind."

With that, Arthur walked toward the door.

After leaving the operating room, Arthur made his way back toward the bar through some stairs.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The atmosphere of the bar greeted him immediately.

Dim lights.

The faint smell of alcohol and smoke.

Arthur took a few steps inside before stopping.

There, sitting at the far end of the bar, was the same pink-haired girl from earlier.

Rina.

She noticed him almost immediately.

Her blue eyes briefly traveled over him before a small smile appeared on her face.

"Oh?"

She leaned back slightly.

"You’re already up."

Arthur approached the counter.

"Looks like it."

Rina glanced toward his back.

"How’s the implant?"

Arthur nodded.

"Seems to be working perfectly."

He paused for a moment.

"By the way, thanks."

Rina waved her hand dismissively.

"Nahhh, don’t mention it."

"You paid 150 Cadet Points for it."

"And?"

She smiled.

"I told you. Don’t mention it."

Arthur gave a small nod.

"Alright."

Rina studied him for a moment before her smile became slightly more playful.

"Actually..."

She leaned forward, resting her chin against her hand.

"Since we’re acquainted now, why don’t you give me your Cadet Number?"

Arthur’s expression remained calm.

But he hesitated for a brief moment.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he considered it.

Rina noticed the hesitation.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing."

Arthur reached for his Neural Link.

A holographic interface appeared before him.

He quickly pulled up his identification information and transferred his Cadet Number to her.

Rina’s eyes lit up.

"Got it."

She smiled.

"I’ll be in touch, Arthur."

Before Arthur could say anything, she stood from her seat and walked toward the exit.

She glanced back at him once.

"See you around."

Then she disappeared through the door.

Arthur stared after her for a moment.

"..."

He shrugged.

"Oh well."

There wasn’t much reason to dwell on it.

Arthur turned around and left the bar.