[{"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-865":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},1152924,1495,"Chapter 859 - 138: The Storm Approaches","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-865",865,"\u003Cp>Elliot, adapting to his new gear, was pacing around the warehouse with Alina, his bodyguard, never leaving his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Doesn’t feel much different with or without the gear; your modifications are really conservative.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Too much enhancement places a heavy burden on the body. Being clear-headed is far more important than fighting skills... Can anyone fight against a united force?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, a potential reason is that Elliot’s physical fitness is rather poor, especially with a very high fat content.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advanced prosthetics, particularly the high-grade fourth generation ones, are extremely sensitive to neural currents but also affect other parts of the body. Fat in the body can compress the prosthetics and interfere with the enhanced bioelectric currents...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, people with excess weight need to be more conservative in choosing prosthetics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Elliot is merely an average person, and according to data from the latest version of the Prosthetic Doctor Operation Manual, his physical, reaction, and intelligence attributes are only 3, 3, and 3. Enhancing with prosthetics hardly increases them past 10.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These prosthetics seldom intrude on the nervous system, apart from computing modules; they connect to an external power source, essentially they’re just gear inside the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such clear thinking is quite rare for a mercenary like Alina:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, big boss is really clear-minded! What’s our next task? Are we settling here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot was slightly surprised, \"I thought you mercenaries all loved the blood-and-thunder lifestyle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it weren’t for the lack of jobs, who would do this?\" Alina sighed, \"Selling my body is the least technical thing; but I’d rather die than work as a whore, leaving me as I am now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mercenaries are straightforward, and those from the north are even more so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot looked at Alina in surprise: there was a scar extending from her jawbone to her neck, but it didn’t ruin her looks—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman relying on physical trade has a scar as a sign of defects, but a woman who lives off her trade tools has a scar as her trademark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alina was taller than Elliot; from this angle, she was truly a stunning woman...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot had never talked face-to-face with a woman for this long in his life; after a while, he awkwardly shifted his gaze away:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Seems like it’s tough doing anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alina chuckled, \"It’s tough indeed, so don’t throw me away once you make it big.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot scratched his head, overwhelmed with new things recently, most times lost in thoughts, so initially he spoke rather normally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over time, he started thinking: Alina is very pretty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That won’t happen. I’m planning to leave Foxstone, cross the channel to France... actually heading to Germany. Would you... I mean, would your team be willing to take on the security task afterwards?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course!\" Alina was evidently delighted, hugging the high-pressure water bullet rifle against her chest and patting it, \"I like working with you... Uh, though it might be presumptuous, may I ask what you’ll do after moving?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Elliot’s expression turned a bit serious—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite dire conditions, Elliot possessed one ethical trait better than the world average: a slightly higher moral level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This minor advantage made him realize that what he was doing now was indeed important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Explaining it to Alina also served as internal reflection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You already know we’ve set up an online forum, primarily to commemorate workers who sacrificed themselves during the cyberpsychosis incident, and secondly to give workers in poor working conditions a channel to vent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alina nodded; this was why she felt this job suited her much better—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far more meaningful than \"killing,\" knowing the Su Federation’s slogan remains \"for a better life for workers\" while undergoing comprehensive privatization, the whole of Europe is no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But, every activity in this world requires money—if this forum can’t make money, eventually corporate money will crush it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the European Union’s attitude towards Foxstone indicates if cyberpsychosis arises in production, or any issues beyond their control, then the company won’t survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This world is never short of companies; there’ll be companies that pay us intermediary fees for projects.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now there’s purpose and funding, not a mere reckless plan, yet the risks are obvious—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot can create opportunities for workers, but companies can also create opportunities to eliminate Elliot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Got it.\" Alina nodded, \"When are we leaving?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tomorrow. On our forum, workers in Bruges reported machine failures in the automated port, occurring earlier, but they chose to endure silently then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now some involved say they want to do like us, march on the street in three days...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But you know, unreported gatherings will be driven away by the European Union, so we need to get there immediately to ensure this event goes smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plus... ensure the Northern Construction Group secures more shares, while leveraging our influence to have workers immediately start working.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alina raised an eyebrow, \"Isn’t this just jumping from one company to another?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s a little different.\" Elliot shook his head, \"These workers will be outsourced labor, and actually, their direct company is us... our European Workers Assembly Ltd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Northern Construction Group only needs to pay 50% of the normal wages, and we’ll cover the rest—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much will you give them?\" Alina stared intensely at Elliot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to big enterprise executives or the witty European Union officials, these workers, lacking education, also lack guile. It means, once they form a trend and choose to follow Elliot, they’re easily fooled—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short term, fooled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this plan, Elliot will become the largest worker intermediary...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he takes away some money, he’ll become very wealthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But won’t live long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot’s mind flashed to Lille’s words: he wants a group of grasshoppers on the same boat, not fuel squeezed dry and then discarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharing storms together means also sharing sunshine together—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the end, they can receive treatment over 120% of the original, possibly more: I don’t need much money but I need many people... lots and lots of people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People like us, no money, no power, not even cutting-edge skills. If we don’t stick together, we’re nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alina was taken aback by Elliot’s demeanor—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how Elliot’s appearance didn’t resemble a formidable figure, when he spoke these words, he was indeed exceptionally earnest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just because of this—boss, I’m sticking with you!\" Alina was deeply inspired, \"Although what you say is sweeter than sung, an outsider would think you were going to be the Su Federation’s Minister of Market...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I believe you! Don’t let me, the poor Su Federation citizen, get duped a second time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot was just about to say something when a red message box flashed before his eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Sender: Sevens]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Sevens: Bad news, the route has been suspended!]\u003C\u002Fp>",1110,"2026-06-03T12:33:37.306Z","2026-06-03T12:33:42.185Z",1,"novelbin.me","9c28b299aee9b9c35742f90b3c8392f37095ea71b000f75593c905dc24d08ca5","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-866","cyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-chapter-864",1068,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcyberpunk-cross-dimensional-science-and-engineer-cover.jpg"]