Chapter 836 - 115: Coincidence

"You are fired."

The reality is that Elliot was fired by the European Tunnel Company.

No honorable commendation ceremony, no raise, no promotion, no... nothing at all, just a cold and indifferent...

You are fired.

The one who fired him had a sharp-featured, stern face, well-defined features, and a tall physique. Even in a suit, he seemed quite robust, robust yet agile, like someone who works out regularly.

Or maybe he had lots of money and time for body sculpting; anyway, he looked handsome.

His skin was fair and smooth, his ten fingers slender and attractive, making one wonder if he played any musical instruments.

As one of the project managers of the European Tunnel Company, Avin matched this office perfectly, whether in demeanor, appearance, or build...

But Elliot was different. Hearing this news, he stood frozen, his tattered clothes in stark contrast with the "Safety Production Medals" and "Advanced Production Workshop" decorations in the room.

Even olfactorily, the faint synthetic aroma in the room distinguished itself from the metallic dust and burnt smell around Elliot...

Sitting in the chair was an elite man in a black suit, and in front of the desk was a chubby man with a soiled face.

It was as if people from two worlds had appeared in this room simultaneously.

Looking at the dumbfounded Elliot, Avin said meticulously: "Your fight with that cyber-psychopath in the factory caused massive equipment damage, completely preventing this month’s production standards from being met."

"You must know that the European Tunnel Company bears a heavy social task, and this disrupts the operation of the cross-sea cables and logistics channels.

As the most important infrastructure company within the European Union, the normal operation of the company directly affects the quality of life on both sides of the Strait, so...

Your reckless actions caused significant inconvenience to both the company and society’s normal operations, and the company is racking its brains on how to handle this matter."

But... wasn’t he stepping forward to save the people at the factory?

Wasn’t he a hero? He saved everyone in the factory!

While handling other company matters, Avin continued to add: "You must know that the European Tunnel Company bears a heavy social task, and this disrupts the operation of the cross-sea cables and logistics channels.

As the most important infrastructure company within the European Union, the normal operation of the company directly affects the quality of life on both sides of the Strait, so...

Your reckless actions caused significant inconvenience to both the company and society’s normal operations, and the company is racking its brains on how to handle this matter.

However..."

Avin stood up, walked to Elliot’s side, stood firmly in front of him, and patted his shoulder:

"But I know, you had no choice either. I’ve already contended with the company not to hold you accountable, and you don’t have to deal with any follow-up matters.

You worked 26 days this month, totaling 286 hours, and given your job content, you should receive 2,133 euros. I hope it helps your living."

[Transfer: +2,133 euros]

[Account Balance: 4,231 euros]

Bang.

Elliot was swept out. He couldn’t tell if it was the gap between reality and fantasy or a physical blow that hit him hard. There was no strange AI in his head calling him a useless waste, just a serene silence. He sat in the company’s logistics vehicle, left the factory, and stood before the factory gate.

This factory, from the outside, looked like a fortress. Its heavy walls and gates isolated the factory from the wasteland and mire outside it, bustling within while dead still outside.

Elliot’s head was in a mess. He couldn’t speak because, to some degree, he agreed with what Avin said:

Right, the European Tunnel Company concerns the environment on both sides of the Strait!

A brave and fearless act suddenly turned into a reckless one that disrupted societal norms, and the place he had worked for years just swept him out the door...

This job was something he had worked hard to get.

Without it, how was he going to get by?

Boarding the public cable car back to the residential area, Elliot swiped his work card for the last time.

Looking up, the television was airing today’s news:

[A serious production accident occurred today at the European Tunnel Company Factory No. 2.]

[According to personnel from the local production management department, they are discussing accident details with relevant company people.]

[Confirmed reports include the accident was primarily caused by employees using expired prosthetics and incorrectly operating machinery, resulting in economic losses exceeding 3 million euros and potentially affecting the Anglo-French Channel’s operations.]

[Communication consulting fees and basic logistics expenses may rise in the future, affecting companies and stock sectors include...]

Elliot watched the news on TV, his mind blank, unsure what he was thinking.

[You have arrived at your destination. The European Tunnel Company and the European Union thank you for your contribution to the company and society. Have a beautiful day.]

Bang.

The car doors closed, and as per the usual routine, the car continued running on its line. Elliot disembarked, as usual, going through the motions of his two-point-one-line life.

Taking the elevator to his apartment, navigating the long corridor, constantly passing workers going to and from work, just like before...

No one paid attention to him. No one knew what "earth-shattering" feat he had just accomplished or that he had been fired. It was so calm that Elliot felt he must be dreaming...

Returning to the messy room, everything seemed unchanged:

Could it be that everything just now was indeed a dream?

The frantic cyber-psychopath, the burning factory, fighting alongside his coworkers, and... the voices of three AIs from beyond the wall coming from Night City seemed never to have happened.

Snap.

Elliot flopped onto the synthetic leather sofa, unsure how long he sat there. When the silence started to feel uncomfortable, he instinctively connected to the TV and computer.

[Buzz——]

[Lille: Looks like you did get fired... It’s not hard to predict Europe’s style.]

Elliot suddenly froze: None of that was a dream.

The man with the silver arm appeared by the projection window:

[Johnny: Welcome to the real world, where the courage to burn one’s life becomes the bargaining chips in others’ hands. Believing you’ve done a saving act will often be silently erased, and if unlucky, likely twisted into something else.]

[Johnny: I suggest you smoke a cigarette now. That stuff is very relaxing.]

...

In the sky, an entirely invisible Floating Car watched as Elliot returned to his apartment.

The vehicle bore the markings of "Network Supervision."

"...No anomalies."

"Strange... how could all coincidences happen to this chubby guy?"

If Elliot could see inside the vehicle, he would be surprised to find that there were two people inside, both of whom he had seen before.

They were the Network Surveillance Agents who had visited his house to inquire about the power outage situation a while back.

Agent A: "First, an unexpected electrical fault, then a cyber-psychopath, and finally... it was this kid who shut down the factory’s equipment..."

Agent B: "The cyber-psychopath’s autopsy is out. Preliminary tests indeed show no other anomalies and not even contact with experimental objects."

Agent A: "Just work pressure too high?"

Agent B: "Too much work pressure, combined with inferior prosthetics, and he didn’t have the money for prosthetic maintenance... That madman owed a lot of debt. If the European Tunnel Company’s production targets fell short this month, he might have his wages docked."

Agent A: "So it’s really just coincidence?"

Agent B: "At present, it seems to be all coincidence."

The car fell silent briefly, then Agent A suddenly exclaimed:

"...Here’s an even bigger coincidence. An EU official wants to contact him; he’s seeking our input."

Agent B shrugged: "I guess... we’ll just fill in ’No foreign influence interference risk — including AI influence.’"

"Tsk, tsk, a coincidence. Clock out and head home."