Chapter 842 - 121: A World Apart by a Zero (Another - is in progress, might be updated tomorrow)

"That’s definitely cyberpsychosis. I heard Sylvan muttering incoherently about concepts like Machine Soul that made no sense.

He abused his position to alter the factory’s operational mode, manually causing the flying steel accident, which led to the production line running at high speed uncontrollably with products flying around.

This entire set of actions requires... rationality? No, it should be ’intelligence’ to achieve. In other words, he has intelligence but lacks social restraint, which is classic psychosis."

Elliot explained slowly while Sevens listened intently:

"But saying it alone isn’t enough. Do you have any concrete evidence? After all..."

"I really do! I found a work log in the factory. It recorded Sylvan’s gibberish and his communications with superiors. Digital signatures and stamps are on it, solid evidence."

Elliot’s prosthetic eye shimmered with a faint blue light as he reached out and pulled a chip from the brain-computer interface slot.

Seeing this, Sevens’ eyes lit up—an exaggerated gesture, not literally lighting up.

Feeling lucky.

Meanwhile, he couldn’t help but admire Elliot inwardly: even in such circumstances, he remembered to mess with the factory’s internal systems. This man is truly talented, greatly talented.

Such talent—insidious yet strong, sly yet tough—can think of future actions while under pressure, grabbing a potential get-out-of-jail-free card from the workplace...

More importantly, the company actually let him go, only offering him two thousand euros to get rid of him: either that company executive is incompetent or this guy’s cunning and insidiousness surpass the norm, and not even standard office software could recognize it.

People online often say their European Union officials are useless, whose daily work is reading chips and drinking purified water. Seems like this company has quite a few useless folks too.

Sevens took the chip and directly inserted it into the slot in the neck.

At this moment, Johnny’s hologram appeared in the air, and it was clear he couldn’t hold it anymore.

He enthusiastically moved to the back of Sevens’ sofa:

[Johnny: Such guts? Aren’t you afraid there’s a virus inside?]

[Lille: This isn’t Night City; systemic logic for malicious murder cases is stronger, with cyberpsychosis murder cases being quite rare.]

[Johnny: What’s the logic in malicious murder being stronger? Isn’t it just wanting to kill him, take his money, and then doing it?]

[Lille: You’ll have a sensory experience in the future. In general, living a teacher’s life is adhering to surface law, while intentional murder and malicious attacks follow the underground law. The surface law unloads on paper, and the underground law relies on personal trial.]

[Johnny: I see it’s plain that officials’ capitalism protects these guys too well, making them lawless.]

Lille suddenly found the feeling of working with V again: damn, you’re talking about blatant, want-to-kill-and-do-it situations, yet you say others treating killing as a rarity is lawless?

Elliot began sweating: indeed, the old native of Night City across the ocean, as the web says, they’re all genuinely alive without a doubt.

It seems ever since he met them, this old man with a silver arm has constantly been encouraging him to do people in?

In no time, Sevens finished reading all the information, and the glow in the prosthetic eye started to dim but didn’t fade completely:

Checking digital encryption signatures, scanning for malware, and verifying if the prosthetic system is still operational can be done with the software built into the system.

"Tsk tsk... if that’s the case, then the European Tunnel Company is indeed lawless, not only putting employees’ life safety and social responsibility aside but also trying to dismiss you, a hero, with just two thousand euros...

You’re a hero, Elliot; your coworkers are counting on you. You saved them and need to save them a second time."

Those words felt so rewarding that warmth flowed through Elliot’s heart: the praise he hoped to receive from the company was instead given by the European Union.

"How to save?"

Sevens smiled slightly: "The European Tunnel Company’s performance is too poor, lacking empathy, and not adhering to labor regulatory law, failing to correctly prevent the emergence of cyberpsychosis.

I believe our department needs to reassess. There’s too much risk in entrusting them with the maintenance work of the English-French Channel.

With sufficient information and evidence, we can apply to higher authorities to relaunch the project, reallocating funds to more capable enterprises.

For the normal operation of the European Union and citizens’ safety... are you willing to be a witness?"

Elliot didn’t hesitate: "Willing! This is exactly what I’m here to do! That guy went too far; when do we begin?"

"No rush; the European Tunnel Company is a behemoth within the European Union. We need more evidence; a single witness isn’t enough. Can you ensure bringing more witnesses?"

"Of course!" Elliot patted his chest, "My guess is everyone in the factory heard Sylvan’s crazy talk that day. That voice was terrifying.

I have good relationships with the factory folks, and I saved them; they trust me.

But you know, Boss, we’re just working people, seeking a meal and a peaceful life..."

Sevens’ smile became more apparent: "Heh, you’re no ordinary person, Elliot... your future is bright because of your benevolence, looking out for the workers.

These workers laid each brick for the company and built a solid foundation for the European Union.

They’re willing to point out the company’s illegal practices for the European Union, and, naturally, the European Union will protect them as always.

I will apply to finance for a small fund to settle these workers, leaving full authority to you."

Elliot was first stunned, then visibly tense and excited: "Boss, can I... uh, I mean, how much funding do we have for this operation? You know, we’re all poor..."

"A total of 200,000 euros; not a small amount. Find a place to settle them; safety is paramount... Do you understand what I mean?"

[Transfer: +200,000 Euros]

[Account Balance: 204,220 Euros]

The 200,000 was transferred instantaneously, as if Elliot’s mind had been struck by a heavy hammer—

In the European Union, a person’s lifetime earnings are about 400,000 euros; and at the European Tunnel Company, Elliot calculated how much someone of his level could earn in a lifetime, probably around 40 to 50 thousand.

Half a lifetime’s money suddenly transferred into his account; there’s a zero separating the fortune from his original savings, much like the insurmountable barrier between his original status and the world he’s about to enter.

That 200,000 was from Sevens, that 4,000 was his—the former mouths ’not a small amount’ needing upper-level allocation while casually transferring. God knows what account he transferred from;

The latter was painstakingly saved: not daring to live in a house with windows, not buying new clothes, purchasing nearly expired food and drink...

The former, verbally mindful yet actually supplementary; the latter, painstakingly all-inclusive, even including a sum earned by risking one’s life.

This string of numbers seemed to remind him of reality: reality where Sevens claims to serve European citizens, while speaking lowly yet practically noble, where even the supplementary dwarfs Elliot by a zero.

[Lille: Oh, poor devil, so damn stingy, time for you to speak—]

Elliot’s mind whirling, he instinctively responded using the nerve system prompt board: "Uh... it should be enough. Do you have any recommended security companies?"

(Another Chapter is being worked on with effort, maybe it’ll come out tomorrow. For now, those looking forward need to sleep. Goodnight, folks.)