[{"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-842":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},1152733,1495,"Chapter 836 - 115: Coincidence","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-842",842,"\u003Cp>\"You are fired.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reality is that Elliot was fired by the European Tunnel Company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No honorable commendation ceremony, no raise, no promotion, no... nothing at all, just a cold and indifferent...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You are fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe he had lots of money and time for body sculpting; anyway, he looked handsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His skin was fair and smooth, his ten fingers slender and attractive, making one wonder if he played any musical instruments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As one of the project managers of the European Tunnel Company, Avin matched this office perfectly, whether in demeanor, appearance, or build...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even olfactorily, the faint synthetic aroma in the room distinguished itself from the metallic dust and burnt smell around Elliot...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if people from two worlds had appeared in this room simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But... wasn’t he stepping forward to save the people at the factory?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t he a hero? He saved everyone in the factory!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Avin stood up, walked to Elliot’s side, stood firmly in front of him, and patted his shoulder:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Transfer: +2,133 euros]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Account Balance: 4,231 euros]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot’s head was in a mess. He couldn’t speak because, to some degree, he agreed with what Avin said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, the European Tunnel Company concerns the environment on both sides of the Strait!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This job was something he had worked hard to get.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without it, how was he going to get by?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boarding the public cable car back to the residential area, Elliot swiped his work card for the last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking up, the television was airing today’s news:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[A serious production accident occurred today at the European Tunnel Company Factory No. 2.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[According to personnel from the local production management department, they are discussing accident details with relevant company people.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[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.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Communication consulting fees and basic logistics expenses may rise in the future, affecting companies and stock sectors include...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot watched the news on TV, his mind blank, unsure what he was thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[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.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the elevator to his apartment, navigating the long corridor, constantly passing workers going to and from work, just like before...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the messy room, everything seemed unchanged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that everything just now was indeed a dream?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Buzz——]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Lille: Looks like you did get fired... It’s not hard to predict Europe’s style.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot suddenly froze: None of that was a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man with the silver arm appeared by the projection window:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[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.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Johnny: I suggest you smoke a cigarette now. That stuff is very relaxing.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the sky, an entirely invisible Floating Car watched as Elliot returned to his apartment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vehicle bore the markings of \"Network Supervision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...No anomalies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Strange... how could all coincidences happen to this chubby guy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were the Network Surveillance Agents who had visited his house to inquire about the power outage situation a while back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agent A: \"First, an unexpected electrical fault, then a cyber-psychopath, and finally... it was this kid who shut down the factory’s equipment...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agent B: \"The cyber-psychopath’s autopsy is out. Preliminary tests indeed show no other anomalies and not even contact with experimental objects.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agent A: \"Just work pressure too high?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agent A: \"So it’s really just coincidence?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agent B: \"At present, it seems to be all coincidence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The car fell silent briefly, then Agent A suddenly exclaimed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Here’s an even bigger coincidence. An EU official wants to contact him; he’s seeking our input.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agent B shrugged: \"I guess... we’ll just fill in ’No foreign influence interference risk — including AI influence.’\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tsk, tsk, a coincidence. Clock out and head home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1331,"2026-06-03T12:33:36.383Z","2026-06-03T12:33:42.158Z",1,"novelbin.me","469ea702c0d8182e8af817446974660eeead08020572a3256ee47338affa20a8","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-843","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-841",1068,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-cover.jpg"]