Cyberpunk: Cross-dimensional Science and Engineering

Zhu Ranran was an ordinary employee of the Kantao Company's control management department.

To say she liked her job at Kantao would be a fart of a statement—no one likes something that chases them for 360 days a year, 16 hours a day, especially work.

But she knew it wasn't just the job that was on her heels, it was her life too, if she lost this job, life would swallow her whole.

After 22 years of grueling study, she had finally entered Kantao Company, her aging parents had also reached the twilight of their years, now was the time for her family to live well—

She didn't have grand aspirations, she just wanted her family to live a good life.

As for working overtime—well, as long as she had the golden membership of the trauma team, she wouldn't work herself to death.

She took out her mobile phone and sent this message to her mother: "Mom, I'm off work."

"Good, let's see what we'll have for dinner today."

"[Picture]"

After a day of overtime, she should've come home to a bowl of her mother's steaming noodles... that's how it was supposed to be.

"Keep quiet, I ask, you answer."

A tremendous force locked around her neck, a distorted electronic voice from behind her sounded like the voice of a demon.

Fear swept through her brain—she didn't understand how such things could happen in Atlanta!

"What did you go in there for?"

A knife brushed against her skin, the cold sensation instantly sobering her!

Was it the job or her life?

"I—I was told by Deputy Director Cai to set up two infrared alarms! One by the window, one by the door!"

"Did you hear that?"

"I heard it—" said Lille from the car, answering while pondering, "Ask her how to get in without triggering the alarm."

"I can take you in!" Zhu Ranran hurriedly said before V could ask, "I set up a backdoor. The detector can recognize my biometric info, I was thinking the director might forget something and ask me to go back in!"

"Then let her take you in. Tell her not to try any tricks."

"Okay."

Inside the car, Lille seemed unflustered, though somewhat relieved that he hadn't made the wrong choice.

Zhu Shen hadn't left the channel yet, surprised, he said: "Such meticulous thinking—I'm growing more and more fond of you. You really should join Kantao."

"Thanks for the offer, but this job isn't done yet."

On the other side, Zhu Ranran didn't play any tricks. Under the threat of V's gun, she disabled the newly installed alarm system, finding the safe backdoor interface Zhu Shen had mentioned.

"Got the location—but what about this chick?" V inserted the chip and waited for the program to run, asking Lille.

"Don't kill me!" Zhu Ranran said in a panic, yet didn't forget to whisper as V instructed, "I did everything you asked, please let me go, my family is waiting for me!"

Zhu Shen suggested: "My advice is to kill her, there's a place behind the liquor cabinet to hide the body. You won't need to worry about the trauma team."

"That's peculiar," V remarked, "Is this place meant to invite employees in or what?"

Zhu Shen didn't want to reply.

Lille considered for a moment and said, "No, if Cai Pin specifically assigned her tasks, then there's a sizable chance they're monitoring her biological data, but… isn't Kantao known for having the most overtime accidents? I could write a program to hack into her basic prosthetics and simulate a lack of sleep, making her fall asleep directly. That way, her biological monitoring won't suddenly stop, and neither the trauma team nor Kantao will notice anything off."

And honestly, Lille wasn't too keen on killing the girl, if he had a choice.

"That could work, as long as you can do it," Zhu Shen paused, "Then I must say, Kantao's employee benefits are the best. You get trauma team gold membership as soon as you join, plus 3 days of annual leave every year."

V sneered, "So good that a senior manager's office comes with a place to stash bodies, and you can casually kill an unarmed employee without a second thought."

"If you want to discuss this, kid from Night City, at least we protect our employees from stray bullets on the streets, but you're different."

"It takes an armed society to scare the likes of you! Freedom! Do you understand, freedom?"

Lille felt it was a headache.

Night City, the city with the highest crime rate in the entire United States, where shootings and street fires happen daily, with countless injuries and deaths.

Kantao, home to the world's most diligent employees, leading by far in cases of death by overwork, the kind not even the trauma team could save.

And now, people from both sides were trying to use each other's flaws to prove that their own weren't actually flaws.

Lille interrupted the street kid and the corporate stooge's argument: "V, access her personal link, I want to remotely control her basic prosthetics."

So, could Lille do it?

The answer was no.

Basic level prosthetic technology doesn't include modifying prosthetic drivers or directly interfering with biological states.

Unless he suddenly leveled up his skills in a short period of time.

[Practical Technology: Prosthetics Technology (Proficient Level)]

[Current Mastery Progress: 10%]

[Technology Points Required for Rapid Mastery: 90]

[Exchange completed.]

[Current Technology Points: 26]

He spent nearly all his Technology Points to give this girl a fighting chance, and Lille did not hesitate.

If he could have done better, he would have gone to lengths to improve.

On the other end, V said,

"You're lucky, generally, at times like these, they'd finish you off—I've got a message from my boss for you, sorry you won't get to your supper tonight, but you shouldn't miss tomorrow's."

The girl's expression shifted from terror to astonishment as the invasive program took effect, her hormone levels plummeted rapidly, and exhaustion from overwork hit her in an instant.

Darkness engulfed her vision, but fortunately, she heard there was a tomorrow.

"You're that good with technology?" V asked, somewhat surprised, as he laid the girl on the ground and walked over to the computer.

Lille answered casually, "Just picked it up."

"Then you're quite impressive—found it, the Reality Distortion project, project level... top secret?

Alright, enter the password, access granted, searching for readable files... found them, transferring now."

"Zhu Shen, got the data."

Zhu Shen on the other end frantically opened the file, "Hmm... route, I didn't expect she had made changes, I've never used this line before.

They leave from the western checkpoint... damn it, she's planning to go through Mexico City!

We have to intercept this cargo in the Atlanta wasteland... right here... damn, we're in trouble."

Zhu Shen's tone became increasingly agitated, but he calmed down upon seeing the most critical piece of information.

Lille also held his forehead.

"What's wrong?" V was spinning around, looking here and there, inwardly marveling at how rich these corporate dogs were.

"Looks like there's no time for rest now, V, look outside the window."

Looking out, two cars were arriving at the compound's entrance.

"You're not saying..."

"Yes, that's our target, get down here quickly, we're starting the interception plan now."

"Damn!" V cursed loudly, "Really deadly!"

Without a moment's celebration for the mission's success, V immediately had to rush to a new battlefield!

...

"Notte, found the route, we'll ambush outside the checkpoint, sending you the place, can you arrange an ambush now?"

"Hmm... that spot isn't close, you need it now?

My guys can't get there, but I can block APD and the net monitors for you at that location, you can make your move however you'd like."

"It's a deal." Hanging up, Lille said to V who had just gotten into the car, "No backup, you'll have to take out an entire escort squad alone, and Cai Pin."

V who had just gotten into the car was stunned—so quickly, you're assigning me a big task?!

"You're joking, right?"

"Listen, this escort squad is low-tier, apart from the driver, security only consists of one shooter, one medic, one gunner, and two AI robots.

According to Zhu Shen, their level of Prosthetics won't be very high, the salaries of Kantao employees are transparent, soldiers on such important missions have clear and checkable backgrounds, they couldn't have side jobs, and so they couldn't have top-tier Combat Prosthetics.

The equipment they carry is just standard bulletproof vests and smart weapons..."

"Stop, stop, stop, you believe him? He even said Kantao transport vehicles are made of paper!" V was getting angry. "You need to be alive to spend money if you earn it!"

"I know—I know, but V, don't you want to mix with the big brother, make big money, or even become a legend in the next life?"

Lille arranged his words, looking earnestly at V—this role that he once played, the legend he once lived.

"But do you know what a legend is? Is it a legend to be crushed under Adam Hammer's boot like a dead dog and be stamped out?

A real legend needs just basic Prosthetics, a handy weapon, and a fiery belief to blast through Arasaka Tower, slice that trash Heavy Hammer into pieces, and set Arasaka Tower ablaze—

Imagine, corporate dogs scattering like rabbits, the glances that dodge at the touch, the top of Arasaka Tower, the flames roaring fiercely—

Like the sun! That is what a legend is!"

V was stunned.

The top of Arasaka Tower? Like the sun?

"Are you fucking kidding me, if there was such a badass... I couldn't possibly be unaware, the world couldn't possibly be unaware!"

"That's right! What kind of legend is someone who dies at the hands of a cyber-monster, look further, look beyond!

Dammit, if you're too scared to handle this little job, you might as well work in a factory like those Atlantans!"

Lille got more and more into it, even adopting a tone of frustrated tough love that was so intense.

V felt like the person Lille talked about was her!

With such conviction, as if... he had witnessed it with his own eyes!

"You're fucking like a drill sergeant... damn, damn, drive!"

"That's the spirit! Zhu Shen, get ready to get in the car!"

Lille floored the accelerator, and the car tore off down the road taken by Kantao's convoy.