[{"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-85":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},1151426,1495,"Chapter 85 - 81: The Reversed Pope (On the Shelf Tomorrow)","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-85",85,"\u003Cp>Tomorrow marks the first graduation exam of Arasaka Adult Education—of course, if you don’t pass, you can still continue the classes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the longer you attend classes without passing, the less money Arasaka reimburses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are a total of four opportunities to take the graduation exam, which is an assessment for a technical license. Pass early and you get reimbursed sooner, pass late or fail and you lose all the money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To get to old Wei’s shop, you have to pass by Misty’s psychic parlor—now there’s an extra person outside Misty’s place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be precise, a homeless figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This homeless person is dressed in black cotton garments with a black leather robe handmade and layered over top—kind of looks like a priest?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, strictly speaking, a priest wouldn’t wear a leather robe, but Lille thought the style was somewhat similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This homeless figure seemed somewhat familiar?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wanderer had apparently brought over a moldy mattress, seemingly intending to stake a claim on the corner of the street as his den.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the most common type of home for homeless figures in Night City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing Lille staring at him, he suddenly became wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just looking, wondering which new Wanderer has come to camp next to my friend’s shop, and don’t get any funny ideas.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille activated the scanner but found there was a problem with this person’s scan results—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The data on the Implant Prosthetics list was flickering, and it looked forged, real-time forging at that, with an extremely high difficulty to crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am not one of those Wanderers, I’ve come to spread the truth—this is your friend’s shop?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pointing towards Misty’s psychic items, Lille nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued, \"This is a good place, it brings peace of mind—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, he paused, then said mysteriously, \"You know, our world has been taken over by Lizard Men!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille was stunned—wasn’t this what that neurotic prophet Gary in the game would say?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy was said to have been implanted with an unknown origin prosthetic, and since then had become a master of conspiracy theories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time V passed by Misty’s psychic parlor in the game, he could see this nut preaching nonsense that nobody could understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like just now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille said with a half-smile: \"Are you also going to say, these Lizard Men have cold blue eyes? And they’re all minions of Necromancers from Centaur Alpha Constellation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gary was taken aback, even more surprised, \"You know too! You’ve also found the truth!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cut it out, if I were you, I’d just go find a straight job—and don’t go around spreading rumors that Wanderers are werewolves howling under the moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a Wanderer beats you to death, someone will still have to pick up your corpse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really do know! But you don’t understand the severity of these matters!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille shook his head: \"Your Implants are having issues; they can pick up sporadic hidden communication frequencies, which are causing illusions. Get them fixed by a prosthetic doctor when you have time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\" Gary suddenly yelled, \"I will not give up on the pursuit of truth!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whatever you say, but don’t die on the doorstep of my friend’s shop.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille shrugged his shoulders—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About Gary’s truth, both in and out of the game, people had speculated. But the likeliest scenario was what Lille had suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some weird Prosthetics were put into him by a prosthetic doctor, allowing him to receive hidden communication frequencies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Gary, by piecing together the sporadic information he received, scared himself into believing in conspiracy theories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No longer entangled with Gary, Lille entered Misty’s psychic parlor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misty asked curiously, \"Lille, aren’t you going partying with them? Jack said V rented out the Grey Wolf Bar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not feeling well, I can’t drink, and besides, they can afford to be out of it, I need to stay sharp.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said that, Lille asked again, now curious, \"Where did you learn your Tarot card reading? Does it require an Implant?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not.\" Misty picked up the cards off the table and shuffled them idly, \"The history of this thing is very long; the people who invented it didn’t have Implants.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s true—tomorrow we’re off to the Afterlife club, how about another reading?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure, but don’t be too superstitious, it won’t work if you keep at it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, the last reading turned out very accurate, otherwise I’d consider drawing a couple of cards before heading out each time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Tarot cards were always accurate, everyone would simply sit on the couch, think about making money, and then spend all day drawing cards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Misty spoke, she divided the deck into three piles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s do a simple one this time—when I chime this crystal ball, you’ll draw a card.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clear your mind, relax, feel the connection between you and the universe...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misty’s voice gradually became ethereal, guiding Lille to relax, and then she gently tapped the crystal ball with the stick on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The melodious and crisp sound seemed to strike the soul; in a relaxed state, Lille’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Implant-induced thought drift removed.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same notification, it essentially confirmed there was a certain degree of connection between tarot divination and implants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some very covert, even potentially coincidental connection?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Is there something special about that chime?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille drew a card from the middle pile, and Misty pressed it with a finger, sliding it towards herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s a ritual, meant to clear the mind so that you draw a card without thinking of anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mysticism is all about first impressions—the emptier the mind, the better. Let’s see what your card is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Card: Pope, Position: Reversed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This card... it signifies misinformation, malicious advice, the outside world will feed you biased information, and the evil Pope tries to deceive and exploit you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sounds... not very promising.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed.\" Misty hesitated for a moment before adding, \"But it’s just a divination, it doesn’t mean the future is definitely going to be like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille shrugged, \"Of course, I get it, just like you said, if divinations were 100% accurate, everyone would draw a card before doing anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Glad you understand, be careful, Lille, Night City is full of lies and deceit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will be— if I get conned, then those two guys probably won’t even have their underwear left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s leave it at that for now, I need to buy some stuff from Old Vic; take care.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reversed Pope... the meaning is vague— but also quite accurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which mercenary hasn’t been duped in their past life?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille made his way to Old Vic’s clinic— just as Old Vic was planning to close up for a rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lille? Coming so late, is there an emergency?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sort of, I have my first licensing exam tomorrow, for an A-grade license as a prosthetics medic and technical specialist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I want to equip a pair of tool hands, one for fitting and removing prosthetics and the other for modifying equipment and circuits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like the ones you’re using.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tomorrow? That is urgent, sit down, let me find some usable stock that’s left—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How have you been recently?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lille lay down on the operating table: \"Pretty good, made several hundred thousand— just between us, V’s carrying around eight hundred thousand plus now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Vic looked surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This V and Jack, following Lille, seemed to be striking it rich every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I’ve always thought V and Jack are the kind to take on big jobs, but this is still a bit beyond my expectations...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, but I’m out of money again, Old Vic...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Vic paused for a moment, then shook his head and chuckled, \"So, that’s what you wanted to say, wanting a lecture from V again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey—Old Vic, think about it, I’m the smartest one in the team, V is making so much, I’m sure I could make more, or at least...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’d ask her for money—alright, confident about the exam?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Absolutely, pass on the first try.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Vic nodded slightly, his lips curling upwards: \"For that bold claim, I can’t let you miss tomorrow’s exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just don’t start stealing my business in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, I’m just getting it to have it, how could I steal your business?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1367,"2026-06-03T12:33:12.909Z","2026-06-03T12:33:19.802Z",1,"novelbin.me","cc5f220d5eb9d9c906b632387755139963cdb3328721aa835ed59c70b55450e6","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-86","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-84",1068,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-cover.jpg"]