Cyberpunk: XYZ

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[22 Chapters in Advance on Patre.on]

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Chapter 35: XYZ's Clinic III

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"I am X, a pleasure to hear from you," X answered his phone as he exited his apartment and walked downstairs.

"Pleasure, you've contacted us for a sponsorship," Said the man behind the call, some corpo.

"Indeed, Lady Wakako recommended you to me, telling me you're the best at what you do. Naturally, Japantown's exclusive Clinic requires the best sponsors," X clarified.

"Lady Wakako... Again, it's a pleasure. However, we rarely do sponsorships. Although, we may be interested in advertising in your clinic. Are you interested?" The corpo.

"That would be lovely as well, and I'm certain that once you look up my Clinic, you'll have to consider a sponsorship," X stressed.

"Of course we will, may we know the name of your clinic?" The corpo.

"XYZ's Clinic. Lady Wakako is one of my sponsors. I'm sure she'll speak some good words if you can contact her," X assured.

"We'll do our due diligence and contact you soon." The corpo ended the conversation.

That's pretty much what X has been doing for the past week while the Clinic was undergoing renovations, just making calls every day.

Wakako never gave him any recommendation, he just used her name because she didn't mind.

Before any outreach, X reviewed the clinic's client demographics, identifying patterns in visitor profiles.

The files provided by Chiyo illustrated that pattern to him, like the types of cyberware they seek and common professions or affiliations, mercs, corpos, and gang members.

That helped him compile a target list of potential advertisers; cyberware companies, local bars, nightclubs, weapon shops, high-end cosmetic mod providers, and even tech repair services.

X then crafted the perfect Pitch Deck. He created a sleek digital presentation, with visuals and data highlighting his clinic's traffic, the audience's unique traits, and the lounge screens' visibility.

He included statistics on client demographics, average wait times, and potential screen time for ads.

For larger clients, he customized the deck, showcasing how their specific ads could integrate with the clinic's vibe.

It was truly the perfect pitch... Because the Clinic at the time was in the middle of renovations, so what he showed them was the ideal Clinic in his mind.

He sent the presentation to every corporation and business that could be interested, then made many many calls to key contacts.

Wakako did introduce him to some high-end clients, but X still told every client he called that Wakako introduced them to him.

X even appealed to business owners in Japantown who cater to similar clientele, like upscale bars or shops that sell performance enhancements.

The last week was filled with endless lies and deceit, and it worked out for him as he acquired a couple of sponsorships and several adequate advertisers.

X was somehow a better corpo than the majority of corpos around, and a damn good businessman as well.

He made his way to the Clinic, carrying a large bag in his hand. Today is the day XYZ's Clinic will officially open.

The only reason the renovation even took a whole week was because X's plans were too exaggerated.

However, it paid off, as proven by the long line of people waiting in front of the Clinic.

X needed to attract customers for his opening day, and what better way to do it than free services?

If you want to implant a cyberware, you'll of course have to pay for the implant yourself, but the installation of the cyberware, the service part is totally free of charge.

Hell, even general maintenance is completely free of charge, only for the opening day thought.

X told friends, stall owners, Wakako, and everyone he could to spread the word, till the entirety of Japantown got word of the event, thus the long line of people outside.

The clinic loomed on Japantown's bustling main strip, a slice of sleek modernity against the neon-lit grime of the street.

The Dumpsters were moved, elsewhere, leaving only one trash can by the corner, the area squeaky clean.

Dark, matte panels lined the exterior, their sharp edges catching hints of the city lights, while LED strips embedded in the facade pulsed in a slow, hypnotic rhythm.

Above the door, a holographic sign spun lazily, the clinic's name in shimmering kanji interspersed with English: "XYZ."

The floating letters shifted between shades of icy blue and violet, casting soft glows on the street below and hinting at the high-end tech within.

Inside, the reception area unfolded with a restrained elegance, combining warm wood tones with sleek, high-tech metals.

Behind the desk floated a holo-receptionist, a softly glowing figure who greeted each client by name and handled bookings with a polite efficiency that bordered on uncanny.

In the end, X settled for Joi as an assistant, unable to afford a human assistant simply because he is yet again broke.

Subtle melodies filled the air, a blend of traditional Japanese strings underscored by low electronic pulses that hummed in the ears.

The atmosphere was one of serene efficiency, designed to soothe and assure, even as it hinted at the cutting-edge procedures that took place behind closed doors.

The waiting lounge was a mirror opposite of what it was before. Modular seating, upholstered in midnight blue and charcoal gray, invited clients to settle in while retaining a sense of privacy.

Each seat was flanked by translucent privacy screens that flickered to life, showing rotating holographic displays that ranged from calming animations to curated ads.

Above, sleek, high-definition screens played ads for high-end cyberware, custom body mods, and exclusive events; each advertisement was tailored by Joi to the waiting clientele.

A small, polished refreshment station stood to one side, stocked with drinks that ranged from green tea to electrolyte-rich concoctions designed to aid post-procedure recovery.

The treatment room was a masterpiece of minimalist design, clinical yet undeniably luxurious.

Soft, adjustable lighting cast a clean, white glow over the space. Advanced AR display panels on the walls allowed patients to visualize their procedures in real time.

The equipment was not top-of-the-line, but it was not far off, selected meticulously by X and sourced through his contacts with Vik and Wakako.

Blue UV strips lined the walls, casting a faint glow that ensured sterility, while adding a cool, futuristic undertone to the sterile environment.

And hidden from prying eyes, behind a locked biometric door, was X's personal research lab, a futuristic sanctum dedicated to his ongoing cyberware experiments.

Unfortunately, the lab is pretty much empty... X couldn't afford to do anything with it.

That speaks to the entire Clinic. It's clean, but it's less than he wanted. X suffers from ample vision but a lack of funds.

Still, X had woven himself an aesthetic that was uniquely his own, merging the cultural richness of Japantown with the cutting-edge technology that defined his craft.

Here, in this haven of steel, wood, and flickering neon, X's vision of Night City's future took its initial shape, one meticulous procedure at a time.

And trust me, there were a lot of procedures to go through. People saw the opportunity and took it.

"Why do you inject empty needles into your flesh?" X questioned as he scanned the client.

The client seemed like an addict, with needle marks all over his left arm, and his hygiene certainly wasn't there, "I-I can't help it. It feels painful and itchy. It fuckin' driving me insane!"

The client was emotional, his eyes bloodshot, and his mind wasn't totally there.

"Who's the Ripperdoc that installed the chromes in your left arm?" X questioned with a frown.

"Fingers! Please! Please help me! J-J-Just make it stop... If you can't, end it!!" The client was getting more and more emotional.

"Relax," X ordered with his cold emotionless eyes, "If you cause a ruckus, I will throw you out. Settle down, and you should leave here pain free."

The client sealed his mouth right away. X gave him hope, something he gave up on long ago, til he heard of the Clinic offering free services.

"Chiyo, what do you know about Fingers?" X questioned as he cuffed the client's arm to the medical chair.

Chiyo grimaced as she described Fingers. "He's a real bottom-feeder, you know? Operates out of this dingy hole in Jig-Jig Street, barely even a clinic; just a cluttered back room stinking of sweat and stale chemicals."

"He's cheap for a reason; he'll slap together parts from whatever he can scrounge, half of it recycled, and he won't hesitate to skip steps or use third-rate materials."

"If something goes wrong; And it usually does; I heard he just shrugs, claims 'side effects are part of the gig,' and sends them limping off. Guess this one is one of his victims. Real piece of work, that one."

X performed a very in-depth scan as he listened to her narration, his brows furrowed, "Wow... I couldn't do a worse job if I wanted to."