Chapter 256: Change or Loyalty

Words : 1526 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

[TN:Yo im back yeah it was a fever I feel a lot better still sick but well enough to post these chapter ] The governor employed highly advanced technology. Once brainwave signals could be converted into readable machine signals, mechanized prosthetics were no longer an issue. The medical team involved this time was exceptionally advanced. They quickly finalized a plan to implant cybernetic prosthetics with minimal cognitive decline. Although Leo was confident his team could create the most sophisticated mechanical prosthetics, the cold, mechanical limbs lacked a feedback system. Human skin is covered in countless nerve endings and has a unique softness and hardness, forming an intricate tactile system. Standard prosthetics, primarily made of metal and synthetic materials, rarely included cutting-edge materials for neural feedback. These nearly fully mechanical prosthetics felt vastly different from a person's original arm, which over time could cause permanent cognitive changes—a factor that, by 2076, was considered one of the causes of cyber psychosis. Many high-tech corporations spent significant sums on custom prosthetics for elites, ensuring they had dense feedback circuits to minimize discomfort. These were entirely different from combat prosthetics used by solos—one was sleek and impressive but caused significant cognitive damage, while the other seemed relatively unremarkable but helped maintain mental clarity. However, while Leo's team could produce the most precise mechanical structures, their research on tactile feedback systems had not yet begun. As a result, the governor's prosthetics focused on enhancing the native functions of his body, primarily targeting areas with less sensory impact. For instance, the bones. They drilled small holes into the bones to integrate circuits for processing electrical signals. Using these circuits, a complex mechanical structure simulated muscle contractions under point stimulation. In the cyberpunk world, such components could utilize advanced bionic fibers. However, the super-precise structure of Dr. Octopus's mechanical limbs wasn't off the table either. In fact, due to its intricate design, its potential might surpass even bionic fibers. These mechanical bionic constructs, derived from the design of octopus arms, were dubbed "mechanical muscles" by Otto. They were installed on both the exterior of the bones and just beneath the skin, ensuring the forces aligned with the surface of the skin, avoiding significant cognitive shifts. Simultaneously, dense alloys were packed into the extensively carved-out bones to provide structural support, allowing the human body to endure immense pressure. These muscle structures would now give the governor more than double the strength of an ordinary person, while the alloy-reinforced bones increased his pressure tolerance to nearly three times the normal level. Of course, these were only theoretical values. "Yes, I was in a car accident a few days ago that nearly shattered my skull." Governor Newsom stood at the podium, addressing voters in New York with grand rhetoric. Aside from subtle stiffness in his gait, it was almost impossible to tell that he had been at death's door just days ago. Indeed, upon regaining consciousness, he had chosen New York as the site of his first speech post-recovery. Since he was already here, fully healed, why not take the opportunity to show off? Voters crowded around the stage, holding various signs and flags, waving them enthusiastically below. Leo observed it all from the control room. The speech would be broadcast as widely as possible via the internet, where a powerful opponent still lurked. On stage, the governor paced back and forth, smiling warmly at the voters. With arms slightly outstretched, he declared, "But now, I'm perfectly fine!" As he finished, he clapped his hands. A few strong men carried an enormous barbell onto the stage. Gasps echoed from the audience. The governor smiled faintly, rolling up his pant leg to reveal a layer of black armor beneath his trousers. He opened one of the armor panels, exposing strands of mechanical muscles inside. "Shit, it's the freaking Terminator!" an excited voter shouted, stripping off his shirt to reveal a large tattoo on his back—none other than the classic image from the movies. The governor chuckled knowingly, pointing at the enthusiastic man before grabbing the barbell with both hands. Clutching the barbell, his excitement suddenly surged. He let out an expletive: "Watch this! I am the freaking Terminator!" "That's right. I was in a car accident, and my spine was shattered. The experts at California's hospitals said that even if I woke up, I'd be a vegetable! But now—" The governor suddenly exerted force, and the mechanical muscles locked into place, straining under immense pressure! Amid the crowd's astonished gazes, the barbell was lifted high above his head! The governor gritted his teeth, forcing out a smile: "400 pounds! Just a damn appetizer!" Boom! The barbell slammed to the ground with a dull thud! "400 pounds—phew! I just got out of the hospital and can lift this much? Feels like I'm back in my youth—awesome!" "Awesome!!" "Amazing!" "F*** yeah!" The atmosphere peaked as the governor, equally excited, tore off his shirt, revealing the mechanical muscles attached beneath his skin! He strode across the stage, energized. "Do you see this? This is technology!" He thumped his chest and shouted passionately, "You, too, can have this! Across America, over 10 million people suffer from disabilities caused by work-related accidents or congenital conditions. A finger, a patch of skin—everything can be restored! Instead of creating more disabilities across the world, why not focus on our own people? Disabilities, neurological disorders, blood deficiencies—these medical crises urgently await solutions, not war! God, those people overseas are already suffering enough, and we're trying to take what little they have? The only things we need to end are the poverty, inequality, and backwardness within our own borders—not the misfortunes of people thousands of miles away! Hardship means this nation needs change, and war is absolutely not the answer!" As the speech transitioned into political proposals, Leo, in the control room, connected several cables near his neural interface. Hydra's IT consultant, Dr. Zola, a genuine humanoid AI, wasn't someone who could be handled with just keyboard strokes or standard chip interfaces. The neural electrodes helped amplify Leo's neural computing power, enabling him to better leverage the server's processing capabilities. In this Marvel world, there were no mature, fixed-access interface pods, but Leo's spinal implant itself was an experimental device capable of turning its host into a wetware computer. It completely replaced the need for a fixed-access pod—and here, he had no reason to hide it. [Cross-Dimensional Material Transfer: Raven Micro-Control Type 4 Interface Chip] He inserted the chip and reclined into the cooling liquid. The heat exchange device emitted a faint hum as the Steinweistan system activated, connecting his spine to his brain. Leo's perception expanded alongside the networked devices— Immediately, he discovered a hidden enemy launching cyberattacks within the network! From the operation panel alone, detecting the intrusion was nearly impossible! "Mr. Reich, this is a top-secret mission." "Your target is a former Marine captain named Frank Castle, who conducted numerous classified operations during the Afghanistan War and possesses critical intelligence. But despite the nation's interest in him, he refused to re-enlist, instead aligning himself with criminal organizations and unsavory individuals." "We've received intel that a gang will stage a shootout on the street in front of Oscorp Tower to take him out." "This is the perfect opportunity to test the Death Warrior's combat capabilities. Eliminate the gangsters and bring peace to New York. Then, you are to kill Captain Castle, the traitorous deserter and betrayer of our country. Finally, remember this: Governor Arnold Newsom will be delivering a speech nearby. Under no circumstances should you involve him." "Though he's our primary rival in procurement deals, this is America—we defeat our opponents through legitimate means in the political arena." "However, this remains a high-level mission. Eliminating the target is the top priority." "Yes, the spectacle will be grand. Your concerns will be addressed. Just kill the target, and everything will fall into place." "Yes, kill the target—I won't repeat myself a third time." "For America." The Death Warrior locked his electronic eyes on the governor giving his speech. Nearby, a family of four—a father, mother, son, and daughter—watched the governor's impressive feat in awe. The boy flexed his muscles at his father, seemingly asking if he could ever be that strong. The father hesitated before awkwardly brushing it off. It was a warm, happy family—one that was also a target of the Death Warrior. If anyone could see his gaze, they would notice admiration and appreciation for the governor—or rather, for the governor's equipment. But when his gaze shifted to the family, it was filled with guilt, avoidance, and fear— However, as his body entered combat mode and his brain's processing was redirected to weapons and equipment, the fleeting sentiment was fragmented and lost. In the final moment, a notification appeared in the top-left corner of his vision: **"Michael, this is your chance to make a name for yourself. It's time to serve your country."** [TN: Robocop vs the Terminator who would win?]

Chapter 256: Change or Loyalty

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