[{"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-56":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},1151397,1495,"Chapter 56 - 54: The Plague-Entwined Hematite","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-56",56,"\u003Cp>The Red Ochre Tribe is a nomadic tribe belonging to the Adkaduo state, currently wandering in Evil Land outside Night City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it was discovered that Red Ochre was buying things from the Six Street Gang, of course, they had to stop that. In fact, Wanderers are a very important part of Night City’s crime trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lille said, \"From consumers to suppliers, all trade routes must be broken.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the goods had been seized, and he’d sent word to the dealer, it was time to turn to the consumers—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could buy, but you had to buy from them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the five vehicles, three were cobbled together with intact tires from Columbus Freight, thanks to the precise targeting of intelligent weapons, sparing extra wheels, which could still be used.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After resting for a night, Lille and the other two each drove a vehicle towards Evil Land, off the highway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was a sunny day, the sun glaring painfully at the eyes, which reminded Lille of the time he drove back from Atlanta.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille lamented, \"Damn it, the sun in Evil Land...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>V immediately chimed in, \"I’m telling you, anyone who drives in Evil Land for a few days would go crazy—when are you paying back my driving fee?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille ignored V, looking at a small canyon in the distance with a few small tents set up and tied to the trailer to prevent them from being blown away by sandstorms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the \"home\" of the Red Ochre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the unfamiliar vehicles approached, three boys walked out of the tent area, each holding a long gun, their expressions wary yet eager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>V said with interest, \"Looks like they’re in a hurry, hot-tempered and impatient. I bet they’re not too happy with the Six Street Gang either, but that’s the only place they can get medicine from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is that it... Are there no adults? They let kids stand guard?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Jack noticed that before the three men got up to greet them, they were teasing the children in the tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wanderer families really looked shabby, but this scene made Jack feel warm inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack suddenly said, \"Lille, maybe we should earn less this time... they’re not having it easy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vehicles stopped at the entrance of the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Jack noticed, Lille could notice too, and he knew even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qilusi Eye caught some interesting things—a tent filled with waste, Lille saw special storage containers inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although there was no label, they looked similar to the packaging of the medications they had seized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game, it seemed that the Red Ochre Tribe had accepted an invitation from biotechnology to collaborate in some experiment—it looked like those were the experimental drugs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get out of the car and we’ll talk—things may be more complicated than we thought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three men got out of the car, and several delicate-looking women took the children back, as a crowd gathered from the tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wanted to make themselves look intimidating, but the scan result from the Qilusi Eye was: suspected disease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, they were all looking for shaded places to cluster together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop! I guess you’re not Shalabi, and you’re not from the Six Street Gang either, what do you want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leading young man was holding a Rostovich Needle Missile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to look fierce, but the trembling of his hands did not escape the three observers—he was scared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just him, but also the boys who followed behind, though the leader had a bit more backbone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quite different from city folks where a sixty-year-old could get facial implants to stay forever young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanderers had no money or technology; if they looked 18 years old, they probably were just that young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this one was even younger—probably only fifteen or sixteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>V sneered dismissively and walked up confidently, reciting the lines Lille had fed her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch—Rostovich DB-4 Needle Missile, Serbian-made industrial trash, a scary name but actually designed for shooting ducks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fire a shot, and if you’re lucky, nothing happens, unlucky, and the barrel might just pop out, rarely both barrels might even blow off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just one kind of Serbian-made gun works right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>V made a fist and gestured with her thumb behind her—Jack happened to turn slightly, revealing the Sadara on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said this, she stood right in front of the boy, the muzzle pointed at her abdomen, probably less than 20cm away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just looked at the boy, pressure mounting on him like a mountain, sweat soaking his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then V gently pushed away the old-fashioned gun, \"This gun’s lethality on a human body isn’t even as great as its noise. Kid, get someone who can talk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy was incredibly nervous, sweat streaming down his forehead uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced anxiously at the people behind him, and just as he was about to say something, Lille stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t scare the customer—friend, we’re not here to cause trouble, but it seems we have some misunderstandings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guess this is what you need?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook the medication in his hand, the light blue liquid inside the container shimmering under the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... you guys, the Six Street Gang said you were robbers, that you stole our medicine...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But now it’s here, go back and find your leader, we can talk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cough cough...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a pale-faced man stepped out, heavily clothed, wearing a large sun hat, and he kept coughing, seeming as if he might stop breathing at any second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another me in this world—Lille thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this man was much older.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Navi, step back, I will talk to them,\" the man walked up to Lille, standing as straight as possible, \"I am Hector Crois, the Clan Leader of the Red Ochre. What do you want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"More precisely, what do you want?\" Lille put away the medicine, \"Sitting down for a talk seems more cordial, don’t you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hector nodded reluctantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, he should refuse the request—there’s no reason to let strangers see the Tribe’s situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But... just like Lille said, they had nothing left, might as well have a softer conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the tent, Hector looked even weaker—somewhat strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiding from the light outside the tent, he seemed weaker after coming in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was dressed very warmly, but Lille saw some light green traces around the eyes not covered by clothing, not knowing if they were tattoos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re sick, in fact, I heard from the Six Street Gang that Saint Domingo is also sick, something called γ-rabies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rabies?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in this world, there are not many dogs left, only a few rich people kept them, and to put it bluntly, Wanderers don’t even deserve to be bitten by dogs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s probably some new variant virus engineered from the rabies virus, a number of them were produced during corporate wars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world’s public database had little useful information, and viruses related to corporations could only be searched in corporate databases—need to check during the next class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille stroked his chin, \"I guess they also told you that the price of the medicine would increase, how much did they sell it to you for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hector hesitated, but ultimately decided to tell the truth, \"Eighty thousand euros for a container of the slow-release agent, the same size as the one you’re holding, it used to be just forty thousand euros.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the disease hit, those bastards doubled the price!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One container—that is, 300ml, calling it a bottle would be more accurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a dosage of 5ml per person, that’s enough for 60 people, this slow-release agent, probably could last about a week or so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, with this illness, a person would have to spend 670 euros a week on medicine, and for the people of Red Ochre, it would be 1340 euros.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting sick is truly costly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about the vaccine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The vaccine...\" A trace of pain suddenly flashed across Hector’s face, \"We can’t afford it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vaccine might be more expensive than the slow-relief agent, but if they could afford the latter, claiming they couldn’t afford even a few doses of the vaccine was simply nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of a sudden, Lille said, \"You’ve signed a human trial agreement with Biotechnology, so you can’t use the vaccine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hector’s complexion changed drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Obviously, these two issues came together, of course, they might be related—but don’t worry, I have no interest in prying for information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I do have some medicine here, how much money do you have on you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sudden shift broke Hector’s train of thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The confidentiality agreement was part of the contract, luckily Lille didn’t pursue further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when it came to money, well, that was more complicated—the family’s people were sick, they had to spend money on medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having bought the medicine yet not getting better, instead more and more people had problems, leading to more and more unable to work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red Ochre wasn’t too big nor too small, having a hundred or so people, but because of this situation, people became sick off and on for over a month, and their savings were almost depleted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"200,000, that’s all there is...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s a substantial amount, Mr. Clan Leader—seeing as it’s for the children, I’ll give you half-price on the slow-release agent, let’s call it making a new friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>200,000 euros, the original price is for 2 containers, now I’ll give you 5 containers, plus a ’buy five, get one free,’ totaling 6 containers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hector was stunned by Lille’s price!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>γ-rabies is a self-limiting disease; one can only rely on using more of the slow-release agent to alleviate symptoms, waiting for the body to recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The longer one can hold on, the greater the chance of survival, and once making it past three weeks, the probability of recovery spikes enormously!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was what the people from Biotechnology had personally explained to him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The medicine that would have lasted them only a week for 200,000 euros could now give them a chance to survive!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Lille placed his hands on the table, and said casually, \"You see, as friends, I have just one request: from now on, you end all cooperation with the Six Street Gang—any form of cooperation, including trade.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing, he stretched out his open hand on the table, \"So, friends?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hector, excited, grasped Lille’s hand, \"Friends!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1721,"2026-06-03T12:33:12.909Z","2026-06-03T12:33:19.802Z",1,"novelbin.me","1bbd11f293bcbe78657e82797321a917eeca985eb7c05612a4ccc0c62ff51d4a","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-57","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-55",1068,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-cover.jpg"]