The Second Glance

Where Luxury Meets Enhancement

On the south side of Gold Level, in an area predominantly controlled by the Russian mafia, The Second Glance presents itself as an elegant boutique offering the finest in personal enhancement technology. Behind its tasteful exterior and frosted glass doors lies one of Horizon City's premier destinations for high-end cyberware installation, where the wealthy and connected can access cutting-edge technology and procedures that push the boundaries of what's legally or medically advisable.

Physical Environment

The Second Glance combines luxury aesthetics with medical functionality:

• Storefront: A tasteful exterior with minimal signage and frosted double glass doors that obscure the interior from casual observation
• Reception Area: An elegant space with comfortable seating, subtle lighting, and discreet security measures
• Front Lounge: A comfortable waiting area with premium furnishings where clients can relax before procedures
• Consultation Rooms: Private spaces for discussing enhancement options and reviewing procedures
• Operating Theaters: State-of-the-art medical facilities equipped for complex cyberware installation
• Clean Rooms: Specialized environments for working with sensitive neural interfaces and experimental technology
• Recovery Suites: Comfortable rooms where clients can begin the adaptation process to new enhancements
• Storage Facilities: Secure areas housing valuable inventory, including rare and experimental technology

The clinic's design emphasizes both luxury and discretion, creating an environment where elite clients feel comfortable undergoing procedures that might raise eyebrows even in Horizon City's permissive culture.

Services and Specialties

The Second Glance offers a range of enhancement services:

• Standard Cyberware: High-quality installation of commercially available enhancements
• Custom Modifications: Bespoke adjustments to existing technology for specific client needs
• Experimental Technology: Access to prototype enhancements not yet available on the open market
• Cyberpsychosis Overrides: Controversial procedures allowing clients to exceed normal human-machine integration limits
• Specialized Implants: Rare or restricted enhancements sourced through Russian mafia connections
• Maintenance and Upgrades: Ongoing support for previously installed enhancements
• Removal Services: Extraction of unwanted or malfunctioning cyberware

These services are provided with an emphasis on quality and discretion, with prices to match the exclusive nature of the offerings.

Operational Model

The Second Glance operates on a carefully balanced business model:

• Legitimate Front: Providing high-quality standard enhancements to wealthy clients
• Gray Market Operations: Offering experimental technology and custom modifications in a legal gray area
• Black Market Connections: Accessing restricted technology through Russian mafia supply chains
• Client Screening: Careful vetting of potential customers to minimize security risks
• Payment Structure: Substantial upfront fees for most services, with financing available through mafia-connected creditors
• Collections Process: Enforcement handled by "The Bitch Doctor" for clients who fail to meet payment obligations

This approach allows the clinic to maintain a respectable public image while serving the needs of clients seeking enhancements beyond what's available through legitimate channels.

The Cyberpsychosis Question

One of The Second Glance's most controversial services is the cyberpsychosis override:

• Standard Limitations: Most clinics adhere to strict guidelines limiting the amount of cyberware a person can receive based on their cyberpsychosis index
• Override Procedure: Through specialized techniques and experimental technology, The Second Glance can exceed these limitations
• Risk Factors: Clients receiving overrides face significantly increased risk of cyberpsychosis, a condition where the human mind rejects extensive machine integration
• Informed Consent: Officially, all clients are fully briefed on these risks, though in practice, the clinic sometimes skips this consultation at the request of powerful patrons
• Monitoring and Support: Limited follow-up care for clients with extensive modifications to manage integration issues

This service represents the most dangerous aspect of the clinic's operations, both medically for clients and legally for the business, but also commands the highest prices and attracts the most elite clientele.

Russian Mafia Connection

The Second Glance maintains a complex relationship with the Russian mafia:

• Ownership Structure: While Richard "Quick Rich" Ivanbenowitz-Ohanian is the public face and operator, the business ultimately answers to mafia leadership
• Protection: The clinic receives security and insulation from law enforcement scrutiny
• Supply Chain: Access to rare components and technology through mafia smuggling networks
• Client Referrals: High-value clients sent directly from mafia leadership for special procedures
• Financial Arrangements: Profit sharing and money laundering services integrated into the business model

This connection provides crucial advantages in Horizon City's competitive enhancement market while creating significant risks should the relationship ever sour.

Cultural Significance

To Gold Level's elite, The Second Glance represents the cutting edge of human enhancement - a place where those with sufficient resources can transcend normal limitations and access technology that puts them ahead of the curve. The clinic's reputation for quality and discretion makes it a status symbol among those "in the know."

For those aware of its deeper connections, The Second Glance serves as an example of how the line between legitimate business and criminal enterprise blurs in Horizon City, particularly in areas like cyberware where regulation struggles to keep pace with technological advancement.

In the aftermath of Japan's destruction and the subsequent chaos, the clinic has taken on additional significance as one of the few high-end enhancement facilities continuing to operate, providing critical services to those with the connections and resources to access them during a time of scarcity and uncertainty.