[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer":3,"chapter-cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-175":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Cyberpunk: Cross-dimensional Science and Engineering",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1151666,1495,"Chapter 175 - 159 \"Ordinary Smuggling","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-175",175,"\u003Cp>Taiping State, the most chaotic area in Night City, was completely abandoned by the NCPD after the bankruptcy of investors and the war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of hackers from Haiti founded the Voodoo Gang, which, with the support of local residents, became the true local overlords, turning this place into a lawless region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most dangerous mercenaries in Night City gather in this place to avoid NCPD and corporate pursuit while waiting for the next valuable assignment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also David’s first stop on his commission: arrive at a war-torn area around Taiping State called Dog Town and pick up the goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since entering the Taiping State area, there were basically no signs of NCPD. This place had its unique order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucy was always monitoring their prosthetics, vigilant about anyone passing by them—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And David...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Holy... why are there so many unfinished buildings here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked around like a curious baby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So David was a typical Saint Domingo person, if it weren’t for his mother sending him to Arasaka Academy, he might never have left Saint Domingo in his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even going to school was just a straight line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for himself, other than watching Black Superdream, he basically didn’t care about the news at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucy sighed, \"Keep an eye on your gun, stop looking around, focus a bit, we’re working right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being reminded, David quickly got into the zone, placing his right hand where he could quickly reach his gun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking a few more steps, David suddenly smelled a pungent odor—right around the corner ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking along, he curiously looked in that direction, and as he turned the corner... he found it was a garbage dump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on the garbage heap lay a corpse, with its eyes gouged out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David’s muscles tightened as he grabbed the handgun in his pocket—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, check this out, an outlander. I told you—pay up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far away, two guys squatted on the ground smoking. The guy who spoke stretched out his hand to the other one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other person reluctantly gave him a euro note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, kid, here’s some advice: this place isn’t for rookies like you. Turn around and go back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David dropped his smile and shouted, \"Which way to Dog Town?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tsk, this kid even wants to go to Dog Town, hahaha—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them laughed so hard they cried, looking both mentally and physically unwell as if they had taken drugs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two junkies laughed hysterically beside the corpse-strewn garbage heap, making David feel... uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucy patted him, \"Focus, last warning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sunshine was bright in Taiping State, but everywhere in sight was desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impoverished hid in the shadows, indulging in the pleasure of drugs, with overstimulated nerves making them afraid to look at the one beautiful thing in Taiping State—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, David arrived at the designated location—a parking lot on the outskirts of Dog Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through there, he could see the so-called Dog Town, which was a city within a fortress—David had only seen lower-tier Military Technology units before, but those stationed in Dog Town were different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armored vehicles, heavy weapons, military prosthetics... all were standard equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That place isn’t for jokes...\" Lucy swallowed nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David nodded, \"Any signs of being followed on the way here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Lucy’s face was grave, \"The hackers in Taiping State are far more numerous than I imagined. I don’t know if that’s normal or not, I’ve never been here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you lose them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please, don’t ask pointless questions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David rubbed his nose, \"I really don’t know how you hackers work, I should learn something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not something, you need to learn a lot... Our ride is here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two Columbus Freight trucks arrived late, bearing the Honorable Logistics symbol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the trucks were the Mann Team, with whom Lille had previously collaborated—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David was the contact. His personality meant he wouldn’t betray Lille, while the Mann Team, experienced mercenaries, ensured things went smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucy saw the trucks and the Mann Team’s hacker. She sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Familiar faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...David, listen up. Once we’re inside the vehicles, don’t just blurt out everything—Burger King is a cautious man. If you’re not cautious, he might fire you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm... a familiar hacker. I even considered bringing her into the team back then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the car, Qi Wei said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone you know? That makes it easier. Let them in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mann, in the driver’s seat, leaned out and waved at David and Lucy, \"Get in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His arm, mixed with gorilla components and a bullet launcher, was blown up at the subway station. It was replaced with a regular arm without enhancements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David and Lucy each got into a vehicle—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mann looked at David, who seemed quite green, and said, \"Newbie? Where are you from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Saint Domingo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Saint Domingo?\" Mann was curious, \"Never seen you before. What did you do before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh... stole skill chips.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Such a big leap? From stealing skill chips to smuggling military arms from NCPD and Military Technology... what’s your relationship with Burger King?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David opened his mouth but remembered Lucy’s advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he immediately shut up and shook his head, \"Just business. Once the goods are out, I’ll check against the list I gave you. If anything’s missing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t worry, we know what to do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vehicle slowly drove to the designated drop-off point, behind Dog Town, where the Netherworld Dogs were unloading goods not far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An armored transport vehicle slowly arrived at the drop-off point—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mann Team stood still, with the massive Mann and his girlfriend Dolly at the front, Rebecca and Pila further back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hacker stayed in the car—and David, whether he was a novice or not, was the first mercenary Lille had found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he had to stand ahead of Mann—or at least on the same line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rare—newbie paupers getting so much gear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver, who looked like a mercenary, had two military-grade prosthetic arms, top-tier but not overly large for effective use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David activated his scanner:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Military Tech Gun Control Prosthetic (Model Unknown)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Description: Standard arms equipped to Military Tech assault units used during the unified war. For paired firearms, it significantly reduces recoil impact and enhances arm strength in combat.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop staring, kid, start the check.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One crate after another of arms was placed on the ground, awaiting inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mann signaled to his people, and Rebecca and Pila went forward to inspect the firearms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inspection was an eye-opener.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For mercenaries of their level, the best tech weapons they could access were Sadar Technology shotguns: simple structure, reliable, powerful, but very expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For most mercenaries, modifying a kinetic weapon was better, like an affordable kill shotgun: durable, with plenty of room for customization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pistols of all kinds were even more popular in Night City—not because people didn’t want better guns, but because they couldn’t afford them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, the arms they received...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>MK31 heavy machine guns;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>military-grade Ajax rifles;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sadar Technology shotguns;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>M5 recoilless rocket launchers with 4 rounds;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Javelin MANPADS;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SPH explosive launchers, explosive grenades, electromagnetic pulse grenades, concussion grenades, multi-functional radar...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more they checked, the more serious their expressions became—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to this gear, their current equipment was like toys. These were real battlefield weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Burger King had told them it was just a routine smuggling run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it seemed they had a different understanding of \"routine smuggling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David, however, seemed unfazed—he just thought the stuff was cool, like nothing he’d seen on the streets or in the news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he immediately said, \"Some things are missing. There should be two more heavy machine guns, 4 rocket rounds, grenades...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kid, you sure?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked mercenary looked like a bandit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mann felt a chill—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David shook his head, \"I’m sure, some things are missing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quite bold—he just wanted to do his job well and not disappoint his boss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension rose, and Mann’s people subtly moved closer to their weapons...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the other side laughed, \"Then something must be missing, check the trunk—damn, this car is big.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kid, you’re cut out to be a soldier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They brought out two more crates of arms—this time, everything matched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirmation, the armored transport vehicle drove off, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mann’s big hand slapped David’s shoulder, \"David, right... what were you thinking?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David was puzzled: what do you mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he felt he couldn’t seem too green, so he said, \"...We still have goods to transport, the job’s not done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone wiped their sweat and began loading the vehicles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Short Rebecca gently bumped David and gave him a thumbs-up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You’re saying the receiver was a newbie? A rookie?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The big guy seemed experienced, but he’s at a normal mercenary level, just large and not very bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night City is full of those people, thinking they’re invincible with some fancy prosthetics, until they develop cyberpsychosis one day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader was definitely a newbie, but he’s fearless like a construction robot, good soldier material—he’s the type who wouldn’t question a suicide mission.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, there’s not much difference between a soldier and a terrorist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans listened to his subordinate’s report, fondling his teacup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Interesting—but I don’t like people making extra profits outside our agreement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person on the other end of the line paused, his right prosthetic eye suddenly filled with snowflakes, and then it dropped out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clutched his eye, which then exploded with a pop, making him break out in a sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No next time. Remember this lesson.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1571,"2026-06-03T12:33:12.909Z","2026-06-03T12:33:19.802Z",1,"novelbin.me","a3c81c1c7517a2a33708bf88956a104a093a3071dfcdff9b4492805c7b62412f","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-176","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-174",1068,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-cover.jpg"]