[{"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-236":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},1151727,1495,"Chapter 236 - 218: Whose Head is So Hard","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-236",236,"\u003Cp>Taiping State.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voodoo Gang, the local kingpins, a bunch of guys who love messing with the net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hacker in the access pod started shaking violently, and the link was severed as the lights flickered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the freezer on the table, a Black woman suddenly emerged from the ice water, creating a spray of mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next to her was a Black man with a gloomy look in his eyes. Seeing their boss exit the deep dive, he handed over her clothes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, did you find anything useful?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The data barrier is very solid, but he can’t move either. Besides that, I found some interesting things. It looks like Cyber Intelligence is looking for reinforcements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides that brainless Animal Gang, they’ve also called for backup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still brainless?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\" Brigitte rose from the freezer, ice water dripping from her hacker suit. She took the offered clothes and walked to another room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This time it’s a hacker, likely a newbie. Send someone to find him, Watson North District, Super Skyscraper H11.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re short on manpower and need to beware of the Animal Gang. We’ll have to find a middleman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brigitte paused and thought for a moment before saying, \"Don’t go to Hans. That old fat guy is coming back. Give him a chance, pave the way for later, we might need him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you burned down your place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>V and Lille were neighbors, so she too ended up with a power outage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five-thousand-euro compensation to the property management was no big deal; the key issue was that the access pod was burned, along with a bunch of equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille nodded honestly, \"There’s no other way. Cyberspace is full of dangers and surprises...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re just talking nonsense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two squatted in the pitch-black room, with only the neon lights from the skyscrapers outside providing a bit of illumination that seeped through the window, casting light on the wall where they sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere was a bit quiet. V looked out the window, then glanced sideways at Lille.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guess I can’t watch TV now, might as well sleep...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, she got up and walked towards Lille’s bed, plopping down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille’s bed was quite tidy, without even a sign it had been slept in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Your bed is pretty clean.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I usually sleep on the sofa, read some books and documents, and lie down on the sofa when I’m tired.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nice.\" V leaned back on the bed, stretching out like a starfish, \"I’m sleeping here tonight. Feels like my bed isn’t as good as this one, let me try.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised her head slightly to peek at Lille—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then sleep.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille dragged the access pod from the dark living room, fiddling with it constantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What are you doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seeing if there are any usable parts. After all, it’s Cyber Intelligence gear, worth studying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>V jumped off the bed and smacked Lille on the head, \"Study my ass, study!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille rubbed his head, \"That’s what happens when you’re poor. And this job needs to start in Cyberspace. What’s wrong with studying quickly? You sleep, I won’t disturb you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re really a...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Caller: Blais]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Blais: Still alive?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Blais: Good, listen. The Voodoo Gang just attacked my data barrier again. I have to stay here.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Blais: I found a colleague for you at NCPD, a cop dealing with the Tiger Claw Gang, sent him over.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Blais: You don’t need me to spell things out. Investigate Cloud Peak’s cyber illegal activities, report any clues to me immediately.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Blais: Remember, stay legal.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Character File: Reaver Ward]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Affiliation: NCPD]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Position: Level 2 Detective]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille snapped back to reality, gazing out the window, \"Work starts tomorrow. We’re auxiliary police outsourced this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>V squinted at Lille for a while, then lay back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re such an idiot. I’m going to sleep.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then sleep.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>V rolled her eyes, lying on the bed like a starfish. She couldn’t remember when she fell asleep, only recalling the clanking of parts, like white noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille disassembled the network access pod beside her, analyzing and recording the parts by the window’s light—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the darkness, Lille heard V start to snore softly, and the clanking sounds grew quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Reaver Ward sat upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to find a hacker to help him investigate the Tiger Claw Gang’s illegal flesh trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the police hackers were swamped with work, and no one cared about some flesh trade on Japan Street—if people want to buy and sell, why intervene?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the street hackers... who would work for an NCPD cop?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially to investigate the Tiger Claw Gang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, his situation was lack of funds, no support, and a bad reputation, with a strong target to investigate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Reaver was a straight-shooter. Despite the abundance of problems over solutions in Night City policing, he brought a positive attitude to work every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally... he actually found a hacker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Han brought out a plate of fried chicken from the store: \"I’ll bet you five bucks that the hacker is just messing with you. Which street mercenary would take a direct NCPD job from the net?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you really want to get things done, find a middleman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reaver shook his head, \"I don’t trust middlemen. Why should the police go through middlemen for our own bounty network? What kind of nonsense is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Han was used to Reaver’s idealism and started munching on fried chicken, \"But that’s the rule in Night City. You get it, you’re just as stubborn as a mule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just hope this time isn’t like last time, I almost died. Look at my wounds...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, alright, don’t show me.\" Reaver said helplessly, \"I won’t investigate Lizard Man again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph, at least you’ve got some sense.\" Old Han continued munching, one hand on Reaver’s shoulder, \"But I think it’s not about sense. It’s just you know you won’t get reassigned to Mexico...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reaver suddenly said, \"They’re here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Han was stunned, a chicken piece stuck at his mouth, \"Uh... someone actually took a job from the NCPD website? Are they suicidal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such official job sites were merely for show. It wasn’t just the mistrust from street mercenaries; middlemen also interfered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Middlemen took a \"broker fee,\" which most understood, but some didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, desperate guys would take direct jobs from the official website—and those jobs would be sabotaged by middlemen with connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cut them out, and they’d make sure you couldn’t get the job done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, it became unwritten law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which fool broke this rule?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he thought this, Old Han saw a big guy bump into the doorframe—the restaurant’s frame actually broke!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dammit... why is this doorway so low?\" The big guy—Jack, rubbed his head, \"Boss, what’s with this door?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh... come in, sorry, it was hit by some Mackinaw-driving bastards the other day.\" The owner grew more furious as he spoke, \"Dammit, those idiots. Can’t drive, don’t buy such big cars!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack kept silent, trailing behind Lille and V and whispering, \"Wasn’t us, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille shook his head, \"What are you asking? We didn’t crash into a roadside diner.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>V scanned the diner and locked onto the client in one glance: \"I see the client—I can smell cop from two miles away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the three of them sat opposite Reaver and Old Han—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two rigid cops sitting there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille said, \"Nice to meet you, we are the professional team you’re looking for.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two remained silent. Lille frowned: what’s going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This should be his first encounter with Reaver—and their public image should be very vague at best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, at the border wall, Mercedes did release some clear footage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were they recognized?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the two cops again—Lille confirmed, they’re definitely watching Jack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack also felt puzzled, grabbing some chicken from the tray, \"Mind if I eat some of this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jack started munching, Old Han’s grip on Reaver’s shoulder tightened, his gaze became increasingly terrified...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, they both blurted out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wasteland Chef!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1329,"2026-06-03T12:33:12.909Z","2026-06-03T12:33:19.802Z",1,"novelbin.me","9823f0a5842184fc3bf63ea2e5c785a85fed5875215e32b318aa42e186120e4c","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-237","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-235",1068,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-cover.jpg"]