Chapter 357.1: Dying of Embarrassment

"Welcome to Gracie Clinic!" A voice from the shadows startled Ample Time, almost causing him to draw his gun.

Upon closer inspection, the speaker was a mannequin in the display window.

It had an ordinary face, with 2 red stones for eyes and a mouth covered with pieces of wood, resembling an aged puppet hidden in a dark, damp corner.

Dori, standing nearby, chuckled, "You're not the first person to be scared."

Ample Time pulled his hand out of his pocket, looking embarrassed. "... Didn't the owner of this clinic consider that having such a sign would scare away customers?"

"Generally speaking, his clients don't mind a bit of a scare..."

Patting his shoulder, Dori walked ahead. "Follow me."

This inconspicuous alley, located on the western edge of Boulder Town, was far from the bustling streets and somewhat close to the industrial area.

The factory emissions made the air here unpleasant, and most residents were either workers from nearby factories or poor people doing simple tasks for those factories.

Following her, Ample Time entered the clinic hidden in the dark alley.

Perhaps due to the daytime, the place was not busy and looked deserted.

Dori led him straight through the narrow reception hall to a room deep in the corridor.

The door of the room was covered with an oily curtain, and the smell of machine oil was distinctly out of place for a clinic.

Ample Time's expression became strange. "... I thought these items not commonly found on the market would be more well hidden."

"Isn't this secretive enough?" Dori casually replied and opened the curtain without waiting for an answer.

As Ample Time suspected, the so-called black market was right here.

However, what he didn't expect was that these uncommon items, things ordinary shops wouldn't sell, were boldly displayed on shelves. In fact, they were neatly lined up.

The variety of prosthetics was diverse, ranging from poorly carved wooden ones to bionic parts almost indistinguishable from real ones.

Ample Time even saw a life-sized doll in a cabinet in the corner, nearly identical to a real person.

Its hollow eyes seemed capable of sucking away one's soul, if such a thing existed in this world.

That should be an android...

Approaching to take a closer look, Ample Time was about to examine it carefully when he glanced at the price tag, instantly dismissing the idea of buying it for research.

50,000 chips...

It was equivalent to a set of Heavy Cavalry exoskeleton!

Only a madman would spend such a large sum on something seemingly useless.

"If you're looking for a sex companion, I heard clones offer better value for money," Dori snorted with crossed arms.

"... I've never thought about doing that. Moreover, can't you express yourself more subtly?" Ample Time withdrew his gaze from the transparent cabinet and looked at the shelves across from him.

The prices there were obviously much more reasonable; the most expensive ones were just over 6,000, while the cheaper ones were mostly in the three digit range.

He also found that the more intricate the small parts were, the more expensive they became. For example, most electronic eyes cost over 5,000, while mechanical arms and legs were relatively much cheaper.

At that moment, he noticed a peculiar shelf.

Different from the items on other shelves, the prosthetic limbs he was seeing didn't seem right no matter how he looked at them.

Take, for instance, one of the arms; instead of ending with fingers, it featured a barrel capable of accommodating an entire clenched fist. When combined with the adjacent mechanical components, it bore the resemblance of an automated, hand-mounted cannon.

Ample Time seriously doubted whether firing it would hit anything, but he was sure his scapula would be in trouble.

Perhaps there were other matching parts?

In addition, there were arms equipped with foldable mantis blades and legs connected to jet thrusters.

Both in shape and function, those things didn't seem like they were intended for ordinary people.

Naturally, they were made to serve the battlefield.

Ample Time revealed a hint of curiosity and he couldn't help but ask, "Where do these equipments come from?"

Before Dori could answer, a strange voice suddenly came from the side. "Various sources. Some are scavenged from the wasteland, some are accidentally discarded stock. Most of the goods have been processed, and as long as you're not too ostentatious, there won't be any problems... As for the specific origins, I advise you not to inquire too deeply."

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Ample Time looked in the direction of the voice and saw a middle-aged man with thinning hair standing next to the curtain.

He was wearing a long coat with scissors hanging from his pocket, stained with not completely dried blood, making it look like he had just come out of the operating room.

"... Are you Gracie?" Ample Time asked, looking at him.

The middle-aged man nodded, examining him with interest. "Yes, and you? How should I address you?"

"Ample Time."

"Ample Time... Strange name," Gracie stared at him for a while, suddenly a hint of realization appeared in his eyes, and he spoke, "Are you a shelter resident?"

Ample Time didn't hide it. "Are there any problems?"

Dori, standing with crossed arms, coughed and interjected on behalf of Ample Time, "Don't you think asking about a guest's origin is impolite?"

"Sorry, my mistake..." Gracie chuckled, glanced at Dori and Ample Time, and casually changed the subject. "Let's get back on track. What kind of bionic organ are you looking for? You don't seem like someone missing an arm or a leg... Want to make yourself bigger? Or stronger?"

"I'm more interested in power," Ample Time glanced at the shelves next to him. “Something like these."

A hint of surprise appeared in Gracie's eyes, and his tone involuntarily carried a bit of excitement. "Oh? These? Looks like you know your stuff; these are all good stuff."

"Can you tell me more about those goods?" Ample Time asked.

Gracie smiled and said, "Tell you more? Their functions are practically written all over them. Is there really a need for me to tell you more? The mercenary groups sponsored by Boulder Arms industry all use them. With just a minor surgical operation, a rookie with no combat ability can have the combat strength comparable to a seasoned veteran."

"Don't worry about their power; the fact that they can be displayed here is the best proof of their value."

The mercenary groups sponsored by Boulder Arms industry?

Ample Time's eyes showed a trace of surprise. He couldn't help but ask. "Is this kind of equipment common in the mercenary groups sponsored by the Boulder Arms Industry?"

"Quite common. The rich and generous Mr. Eberts is never stingy when it comes to investments in this regard. Compared to Dragon’s Blood, bionic prosthetics undoubtedly offer much more direct enhancement to combat power. With a jet propulsion system, along with a mantis blade and a 30mm hand cannon, even a Deathclaw would want to avoid fighting you... Of course, that's in theory. I don't mind if you insist on picking a fight with those hot-tempered guys."

So it is only in theory.

Ample Time pondered. Apart from Garbage and the guy who got a plasma blade from the lottery draw, there were probably few players enthusiastic about close-quarters combat.

So far, the game hadn't introduced an absolutely reliable shield that could effectively resist projectile damage.

No matter how skillful one was in hand-to-hand combat, it couldn't compare to a direct hit of a 20mm high-explosive shell.

Ample Time raised an eyebrow. "... Are these eliminated from the battlefield?"

"Most of them, yes, although there are instances where some equipment is phased out due to the introduction of newer versions, but such cases are not common. After all, these pieces of equipment come with a significant price tag."

While speaking, Gracie suddenly raised his eyebrows and looked at Ample Time with a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "Hey, are you here to buy things or to probe out some information from me?"

Ample Time didn't answer the question but just glanced at the shelves in front of him and pointed. "I'll take everything on these shelves."

The room fell silent in an instant.

Dori stared in amazement at Ample Time. "Are you crazy?! Buying so much at once... Do you know how many chips this will cost?"

It could buy an AI core! It would even be enough for 2 androids.

Maybe there would still be some chips left.

Gracie was similarly shocked, and the expression on his face was even more exaggerated than Dori's. "27 pieces of equipment, a total of 56,671 chips... I don't offer credit here."

"I didn't plan on using credit," Ample Time took out a card and waved it lightly. "Can I use this card?"

"Or... Should I go to the bank first to withdraw the chips?"

...