[{"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-281":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},1151772,1495,"Chapter 281 - 262 Political Accident","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-281",281,"\u003Cp>A few days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, you just need to admit you’re from the CIA, and then clarify your mission objectives,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about Frank...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone has to make concessions, he’ll keep these matters to himself, and you, you’re just an agent who bungled the job. The CIA does indeed make such mistakes sometimes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the entrance of the building, Rollins, with his one eye, frowned after hearing all this: \"What about my political career...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, Rollins.\" The portly congressman patted him on the back, \"It’s over—it’s all over, you get it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at least you won’t be going to prison, and who knows, maybe you can make a comeback. Cheer up, after such a big incident, you’re still able to walk around outside, isn’t that good enough?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rollins, looking dazed, walked in escorted by guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frank, meanwhile, sat in his wheelchair not far away, staring intently at that guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Are you sure you want me to do this? My family and I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille adjusted his clothes behind him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t worry, why kill someone to keep a secret? The purpose of silencing someone is to take the secrets to the grave, but once a secret is revealed... what’s the point of silencing them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It only makes the truth all the more credible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frank looked at Lille: \"Just like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course it’s not that simple, but we’re already at this point. Do you still want to go back to being their dog?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille greeted the nearby governor with a nod, then said to Frank, \"Don’t you think your skills would be better used protecting your own family?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or do you plan to cower and retire? I wouldn’t mind that either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frank laughed upon hearing this: \"So you come out ahead on both sides.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille just shrugged, but he didn’t feel like he would come out ahead on both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Frank decided to cower, he would definitely lose out, at least a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All parties involved began to enter the venue in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone thought they had reached a temporary compromise and got what they wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone thought things would develop as they had planned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The issues were dealt with one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A special hearing was held in Washington.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the giant, circular conference hall, the big screen showed a speech given in front of the Osborne building in New York.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no doubts here until the labeled mafia van appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rampant mob made some older folks recall several economic crashes from the last century when gangs could control an entire city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But things were different now, the gangs were just hired muscle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No gang could afford such terrifying transhuman technology. If they could, wouldn’t they have entered the financial market to play the capital game?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up to this point, the video was still clear, and one could observe from the ctOS where these vehicles came from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the NYPD Chief, Chief George Stacy was, of course, present at the hearing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a hearing nominally for members of Congress, but in reality, it was meant for society as a whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting with this attack, the series of incredible events that followed meant this hearing would essentially be addressing the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>George began to testify about the gangs that appeared and the corresponding clean-up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...NYPD has cleared out the hideouts of these criminals, but these organized criminals are obviously well-trained, and we are unable to find more witnesses or leads.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the panel, a congressman furrowed his brows and raised his hand to signal a question: \"You’re saying an orderly trained gang left no clues for the police.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" George nodded affirmatively without any change of expression, \"They’re very professional, considering the personnel involved in this event, I think it’s not unimaginable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why say that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Xin’an Security caught a CIA agent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Xin’an Security is the renamed title for the Heart Demon Gang gone legitimate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martin stood up and nodded slightly, then looked towards the defendants: there sat the CEO of Cyber Technology, Harren Reich, along with the former CIA agent William Rollins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two sleazy suited men; Harren hung his head, terrified to the extreme, while Rollins still maintained his composure—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if one were observant, they could read the anxiety in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a hearing that should not have taken place, there were too many people who should not be interrogated in such circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opposition was crazy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on second thought, wasn’t their over-the-top behavior just as mad in the eyes of the other side?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, he knew he was leaving, even if his political career took a hit...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least he wouldn’t be purged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another congressman spoke up: \"There are reports claiming you thought he was a CIA agent, but there’s no such person in the CIA database.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>George spread his hands: \"You see, this is why we say they’re professionals, but luckily, we have intelligence from other sources to corroborate...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahem.\" Another congressman interrupted, \"Chief Stacy, before you continue, I would like to remind you that this hearing is very important, and you must ensure that every word you speak is true and appropriate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>George looked at the congressman, not fully understanding the intricacies—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Communication between the NYPD and city administration was politics, and so was communication with Congress, but they were worlds apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he followed Lille’s advice: tell the whole truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, just as he was about to continue explaining, Rollins spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yes, I am a CIA agent, and I hired Cyber Technology to clean up the traitors over there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We joined several intelligence agencies to discover Custer’s illegal operations abroad, and his involvement in New York City’s active gang activities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the day of Governor Newsom’s speech, he attempted to hire a gang to assassinate the governor, commissioned by foreign powers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The audience was in an uproar, the story sounded absolutely preposterous, but it completely matched their imagination about intelligence agencies:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, isn’t that exactly how subversive movements are? Unbelievably incredible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it’s not possible for everyone to believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A congressman asked with a frown, \"Are you saying that Captain Custer was commissioned by foreign forces to carry out an assassination... With all due respect, this is just too...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But this is the intelligence we have.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rollins insisted adamantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the script given to him by superiors, this would ultimately be regarded as a mistake on his part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frank would argue strenuously, and then he would \"surprisingly\" discover his error, ending the matter in confusion during the process of evidence and testimony comparison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the assassination attempt on the governor would also be considered the work of foreign forces—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, what reason would the governor and the opposition party have to believe it was aimed at him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With political matters, there is no need to make everything clear, it’s only necessary to consider interests, and the exchange of interests had already been completed; they were just putting on a play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A play for the general public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked toward Frank, now it was his turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The congressmen also looked toward Frank, and another inquiring congressman spoke up: \"This matter seems to involve intelligence secrets... but considering the magnitude of the incident, I guess the people of Mei Country need to know the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Captain Custer, what do you have to say about Colonel Rollins’s accusations?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frank sat in a wheelchair, in poor condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, he had recklessly taken down a large number of gunmen, with bullets hitting his chest, spine, and back. Overall, although not life-threatening, the aftereffects were quite severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His rage was evident, dressed in a military uniform adorned with various medals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frank said nothing, unpinning these medals from himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This action started murmurs among those present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another corpulent congressman suddenly said, \"Captain Custer, you are a soldier of Mei Country, and the nation is grateful for your contributions, but remember your identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now tell us, what is the truth? We won’t wrong a good person, but we won’t let a bad person go, either. You only need to tell the truth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frank lifted his head, his eyes cold as he stared at the congressman, staring him down:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed four Purple Heart medals with purple ribbons: \"These are Purple Hearts; for these four medals, I’ve been shot 7 times, nearly smothered in a vehicle flipped by a landmine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he showed three medals with intertwined blue, white, and red ribbons in the shape of a gold pentagon: \"These are Silver Star Medals, and to earn these honors, I’ve killed over 100 fully armed soldiers on the battlefield.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...This is the Navy Cross Medal; for it, I moved back and forth between water and land, engaging in combat for over 30 days and nearly dying in the water afterward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the Medal of Honor; without fire support, I alone rescued 46 captured comrades and 4 pilots.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All of these awards can be verified, and if you follow the news, you might even have seen me shaking hands with the President — not the current one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone waited for him to finish, only the sound of pages turning remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the corpulent congressman had stated, Frank was a soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And not just any soldier, but one with distinguished service, an identity that deserved respect, especially in such an occasion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My life has been in the service of the Mei Country military, I’ve questioned my actions, but in the end, I chose to obey because I am a soldier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frank laid down all the medals, pointing at Rollins: \"And my last mission was to carry out kidnappings against civilians in Afghanistan, on his orders, I even killed a local policeman, just 26, a civilian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room fell silent; even the turning of pages stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frank spoke so fast, so directly...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the content was nothing less than a nuclear bomb!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rollins’s face turned ashen: This guy’s gone mad!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had killed some local police and civilians, but Frank was involved in those incidents as well!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was not what they had agreed upon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, the room exploded into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person in charge of broadcasting turned pale, but quickly, he received a message: keep broadcasting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was just playing the footage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no idea that those who should be giving him orders were all in their offices, red-faced and bellowing: Turn it off!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside Bloom Company, Skye was struggling, her face red, against media companies from all over the world—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This big news was almost bursting the internet!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was essentially hacking into the entire world, managing the information flow orderly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, she wasn’t the only one in control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille sat in his seat, expressionless, sweeping through an internet devoid of Zola, ensuring the images were fully disseminated to the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed a network entity that could barely contend with him, but unfortunately, that entity was also watching the show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille slightly turned his head and saw another often newsworthy guy looking back at him from the opposite stand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tony Stark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille turned back to face the congressmen, officials, and military officers in the seats, and they also looked back at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, what are you going to do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille shifted his posture, crossing his legs.\u003C\u002Fp>",1886,"2026-06-03T12:33:12.909Z","2026-06-03T12:33:19.802Z",1,"novelbin.me","16ab970085b49e253046bcf55b7a05dde3ab26e2a6c0572887432810f4e3a0f2","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-282","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-280",1068,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-cover.jpg"]