People are in cyberpunk, but they are top-level cyberpsychopaths

All we can do now is pray silently for Mann.

"...I hope I can hold on until this is over."

But this is nothing short of wishful thinking.

"Ding--"

The familiar telephone ringtone rang.

It's Falco.

"Okay, I see."

On the other end of the phone, Falco just said that Qiwei was sent for emergency treatment and asked them to come over. He didn't give any details, and his tone sounded angry.

Needless to say, Mann went mad intermittently.

"Ah... Is it still like this? The gears of fate are unstoppable."

He slowly came down from the balcony. He was no longer surprised by such things.

Since we know something is going to happen, there is no need to stop it from happening. Just wait until the critical moment and then reverse it.

This was the experience he gained from the two incidents with Pyrrha and Jimmy.

Otherwise, the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment.

These things seem to be predetermined, there is no way to stop them, we can only find ways to change them.

Maybe, it's because my strength is not strong enough...

"...have a job?"

Lucy sat up from the bed and asked while rubbing her sleepy eyes.

Her voice was still a little hoarse from just waking up.

The thin blanket slid quietly down her shoulders, and her naked body was suddenly exposed to the air.

Under the influence of the moonlight outside the window, the fair skin has a hazy glow.

"Well, I guess so. There's a little problem with Tanaka. If you're too sleepy, this matter will..."

He slowly walked to the bed and considerately pulled up the blanket to cover her.

But just as the blanket was about to cover her body, Lucy reached out and held it down, whispering, "...I'll go too."

"..."

He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but found that Lucy's hands were shaking slightly, but her eyes were full of determination.

Suddenly I remembered something.

So he gave up this plan and gently held the trembling little hands: "Okay, then we will go together."

What a stubborn Lucy...

-------------------------------------

Downstairs of an apartment building on Japan Street.

"How is it? Is Qiwei... okay?"

Looking at Qi Wei lying motionless in the car, he felt somewhat complicated.

To be honest, when he saw this woman for the first time, he was really disgusted because it was this woman who betrayed the protagonists.

But after such a long period of contact, I have a new understanding of Qiwei.

Just like a predecessor, he constantly guided Lucy and taught her to become a qualified cyber hacker.

And he figured it out.

At that time, Qiwei just wanted to protect herself and avoid Arasaka's pursuit, and she paid the price with her life in the end.

After all, it was all the fault of that bespectacled Faraday.

"Nothing, her deep dive was suddenly interrupted and she fell into a coma. I will take her to the clinic."

"Well, I'll leave everything to you. Please be safe on the road."

He left the car and Falco closed the window.

The two men looked at each other in silence, and the car drove away.

David turned and walked over to Lucy who was squatting downstairs in the apartment building.

"How is it? Are you okay?" He patted Lucy's shoulder gently. Lucy raised her head with a tired look in her eyes.

But he still shook his head: "I'm fine."

"Well, let's go see what's going on with this guy Mann."

Lucy didn't respond, but slowly stood up and followed him into the parking lot of the apartment building.

Looking at David's calm back, there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

In fact, she was not completely asleep at home, and vaguely heard David mumbling to himself while sitting on the balcony.

She was a little curious, as she always felt that David seemed to be full of confidence at all times.

Whether it was the matter with Pyrrha, Jimmy Kurosaki, or right now, it seemed as if everything was under his control.

It felt like...it was as if David knew what was going to happen in advance, and seemed to be fully aware of Mann's physical condition.

At least she had seen David's hesitant look on his face several times.

Maybe others didn't notice it, but she, who had been observing David, knew it best...

Ding--

The elevator arrived and the door opened, revealing a dilapidated corridor outside.

The cool breeze blowing in his face was mixed with a faint stench, which made him frown slightly.

It was the smell that permeated the air after the scavengers failed to clean up the corpses properly.

He really doesn't like this shabby place.

But there is no way, this is also the safest place.

Most people don't dare to break into the scavenger's lair, not even the NCPD guys. It's even more impossible for them to think that these guys would occupy the scavenger's nest.

Play a trick to hide the truth right under their noses.

The two of them walked slowly in the silent corridor, the faint crackling sound of the flickering incandescent light bulbs intertwining with the sound of their footsteps.

Later, based on the information provided by Falco, they found the room.

As soon as the door opened, he saw Mann, looking downcast, sitting in the corner of the sofa, as if he was reflecting on himself.

Dolio sat in the main seat.

The two of them sat down opposite Dolio.

"Lucy, I hope you can take over Qiwei's mission."

Seeing them sit down, Dolio immediately got straight to the point.

But Lucy refused flatly.

"I can't do it." He supported his head slightly with his hands and stared at the shabby coffee table in front of him.

"Hey, hey, instead of this, why don't you tell me what's going on now and what's going on with Qiwei?"

Everyone present knew what David was asking despite knowing the answer.

But his purpose in doing so was to make Mann admit it himself.

“It would be better to let this idiot next to me say it himself.” Dolio also understood and glanced at Mann.

"Stop talking nonsense and shut up."

Clearly, he underestimated Mann.

Seeing this, Dolio couldn't help but sigh and said helplessly: "At that time, Qiwei was trapped by the opponent's ICE, but Mann suddenly got angry and beat her."

This statement is already implicit enough, and Mann was already confused at that time.

It is the symptom before the outbreak of cyberpsychosis - intermittent mental confusion, unable to distinguish between friend and foe.

Dolio's euphemism also caught Lucy's attention.

"Mann, do you want to go check it out?"

"what?!"

Hearing Lucy say this, Mann immediately showed his dissatisfaction, but was held down by Dolio: "Mann, Lucy is right, you need to check it out. If you lose control again next time..."

"Tsk, damn..."

He paid no attention to Dolio's words, and before she could finish, he stood up, kicked aside the broken box that was blocking his way, and left the room.

David stared at Mann's back and said slowly, "I'll go take a look, you guys chat."

After saying that, he stood up and ran out of the room.

He had no way of participating in the matter of whether to continue to explore Tanaka's brain in depth.

Because the decision was up to Lucy, he didn't want to be there to influence Lucy's judgment.

What's more, Mann's condition is more worthy of concern now. If possible, it would be best to get this guy out of this mission.

So as to avoid unnecessary tragedy.

But it was obvious that he was overthinking...

puff-

Mann injected the liquid in the pneumatic syringe into his arm and threw the empty bottle to the ground.

I don't know how many bottles this is. Judging from the empty bottles on the ground, the inhibitor no longer has much effect on Mann.

Maybe one minute, maybe one second.

It is possible to go crazy again in the next moment.

"Hey, Mann." He glanced at the empty bottle of inhibitor on the ground and said.

"What?" Mann stopped and turned his head slightly when he heard the voice.

"Dolio and Lucy are right. You should go see the cyborg doctor. Leave this mission and let us take over..."

"What do you mean?"

Before he could finish, Mann interrupted him.

"What do you mean by [disengagement], David?"

"You mean I'll become a cyber lunatic and die in your hands? Just like what happened with Pyrrha, where you took the implant for yourself?"

Mann turned around and walked quickly to him while speaking calmly.

This calm was like a sign before the storm.

"Do you think I'll end up like that, kid?"

The heavy soles of his shoes crushed the empty bottles on the ground, and Mann looked down at him condescendingly.

Ah, no, this guy can't control his emotions at all now...

This is what David thought in his heart.

But Mann still looked unyielding.

"Don't be so arrogant, kid. Stay away from me. Your various behaviors have disgusted me."

As if he felt that talking was not enough, he raised his hand and slapped David.

The sturdy arm and the palm as big as a palm leaf looked strong and powerful. If it were the David from before, he would definitely not have time to dodge and would have been stunned by the slap.

But unfortunately, he is no longer the David he used to be.

"Snapped!"

He raised his left hand and blocked the slap lightly, saying coldly: "Mann, do you also want to beat me like Qiwei?"

He slowly raised his head, his eyes became emotionless and even frighteningly cold.