Cyberpunk: Nirvana of Shoko Toyokawa

"Is this analysis software useful? I changed it several times, and this one works the best... I spent nights trying it out! You should have more respect for me—"

"——Rather than leaving the beautiful hacker, vulnerable and helpless, alone in a scary alley while she's hacking."

"After the renovation of Toyosu PIT began, the alley was sealed off. Normally, no one would go there. Today, there was not even a rat."

"Hey~ But I'll be scared if I stay alone~"

Click click click.

Xiangzi was typing on the keyboard and ignored Miao Meng.

Miao Meng pouted, indicating boredom.

"The simulation results are ready. So, how safe is the optimal route you planned?"

"Not bad. The probability of being discovered is only 17.32%."

I will only reply to serious content.

Miao dreamed, looking at the screen from behind over Xiangzi's shoulder.

Sure enough, the simulated infiltration plan was displayed on the screen.

"At 16:21, the personnel guarding the west gate will go to the monitoring room to change shifts."

Xiangzi pressed the mouse to display the proposed routes one by one.

"The shift relief personnel will arrive within 4 to 7 minutes."

"Meow Meng, your [Technical Ability] is 9 points, right?"

"Yes~"

"It's enough to open the electronic lock of the west gate in 4 minutes. We can enter from here and hide behind the construction debris on the side immediately."

The proposed route shows the large amount of construction waste that the two men photographed with the probe today.

"These soundproof cottons just block the camera probes on the left outer wall. We pass under them and enter the building. Go counterclockwise on the east side and enter Corridor No. 2. At this point in time, the corridor patrol officers just patrol the west side. "

Xiangzi pointed to the gate number 3 on the east side marked in red.

"The decorators frequently came in and out of this door. For convenience, they did not use the access card as per regulations, but used a chair to keep the door open."

The hand slides down.

"We waited for the opportunity at this corner, slipped in through Gate 3, and entered the performance hall along the staff passage."

"The performance hall has been renovated and no one is here. I'll ask you to open the lock."

"Well, this model of electronic lock is fine... How do I control the volume after the performance starts?"

"Can't control it."

"what?"

"It's out of control, so we're covering it up. I've called Honeycomb to send a propaganda car to play piano music and songs with the same frequency band as human voices along the streets during this time. Pastel*Palettes hired a legitimate company, and the guards and workers all have cochlear implants, which will automatically filter out the frequency bands that are identified as noise."

"Wow."

“(It’s a very thoughtful arrangement.)”

Meow Dream.

Usually, she shoots the films by herself. She also does the planning.

“(…It feels good to leave it to someone else.)”

Partners worked hard and took a break. Money suddenly became easy to make again.

"That's the plan. I'll make some adjustments to see if I can further reduce the risk. If all goes well, we'll formally invade tomorrow."

"Are you in such a hurry? It took you several days to get to know me."

"The longer the night, the more trouble there is. Pastel*Palettes will regularly check the channels in their territory for signs of intrusion, and no one knows when it will be this area's turn. If they find that the surveillance of Toyosu PIT has been hacked, none of us will be able to go in again. Every extra hour of delay will increase the risk."

"You should relax a bit, too...be careful not to get too excited, okay?"

Miao Meng said this and pulled Xiangzi's waist from the side.

She didn't really try hard.

but.

"ah!"

Xiangzi was so focused on planning the route that she didn't expect Miao Meng to do this! She screamed unconsciously, her waist went limp, and she lost her balance and fell backwards onto the big bed in the motel.

“…Hmm?”

Seeing the fleeting expression of "Oh, no!" on Xiangzi's face, Miao Meng smiled dangerously in the darkness like a cat that had caught its prey.

"I thought Honeycomb had burned all your lovely parts off... but it's still there."

Miao Meng slowly climbed up from the side and pressed on Xiangzi.

"You didn't burn them all and replace them with processed parts. Does that mean... you have a good ability to withstand stress?"

"..."

"You are very strong in negotiations and pressure, huh... Hehe, but it seems that you are not very good at dealing with this kind of pressure..."

The soft and flexible hand gently moved upwards along Xiangzi's thigh.

In the reflection of the computer interface, Xiangzi's expression wavered slightly.

Miao Meng smiled even more.

"Want me to help you with 'training'?"

Her other hand began to stroke Xiangzi's cheek.

“I would be a very good teacher…”

"……Can……"

Xiangzi exhaled slightly. She moved...

…She used the back of her hand to block Miao Meng’s hand that was touching her lips.

"Sure. If you want to attend the 'training' that we both paid 800,000 for."

Xiangzi's face regained its composure. She pushed away the speechless Miao Meng and sat back in front of the computer.

"Make sure you get eight hours of sleep. We'll leave tomorrow."

"What? That's so boring!"

Behind him, Miao Meng said loudly.

Chapter 27 No Need to Be Confused

I called Chuhua last Wednesday night.

Xiangzi closed his eyes, sat in the passenger seat of "Jan Raleigh", and thought.

On Thursday morning, I met Chuhua, and a few hours later, we met "that person" together.

The action began on Friday.

In the morning, I met Hai Ling and traded with her. I got the gray card.

During the day, I went to the prosthetics doctor introduced by Chuhua Hemu.

In the evening, I found Miao Meng’s account.

On Saturday morning, I sent an email to Miao Meng.

On Saturday night, I started to keep in touch with Miao Meng.

In order to ensure the success rate, I have been in contact with Miao Meng. At the same time, I have been practicing my acting skills and adapting to my new [Qilusi artificial eye] and [palm ballistic co-processor].

Until this Wednesday.

An invitation to meet was sent out this Wednesday.

This Thursday, Miao Meng will join us.

Check out on Friday.

Saturday - today -

Xiangzi opened his eyes.

In front of me, the sports car is slowly driving into a familiar road.

On the LCD screen, the words [Distance to destination: Toyosu PIT, time remaining: 8 minutes] slowly floated by.

“(Today, it will be officially implemented.)”

Execute this plan.

In order to obtain the "qualification" to decide one's own fate.

Only ten days had passed since that rainy night when I made up my mind.

“(Is it too hasty?)”

Xiangzi closed his eyes again and thought.

Maybe, doing more preliminary work would be safer. Maybe, there are other, more stable methods...

"(……No.)"

"(Anyway, we've come this far.)"

There are many ways, but you can never tell which one is the best until you actually implement it.

"(What I can do is to make the method I choose the 'best'.)"

When he opened his eyes again, Xiangzi was no longer confused.

"(Something like confusion.)"

The sports car stopped on the side of the road one street away from Toyosu PIT.

“(I don’t need it.)”

Xiangzi opened the car door and stood on the road.

She didn't wear the same dress she wore earlier today.

She was wearing the same black, slightly oversized pullover that she had worn when she was still wandering.

……

16 points.

Xiangzi and Miaomeng arrived outside the west door.

They were both crouching, Xiangzi on the right side of the door and Miaomeng on the left side.

"..."

Xiangzi glanced at Miaomeng.

Miao Meng, who was always very noisy, is at least quiet now.

But it wasn't because of nervousness.

Miao Meng looked as if she was smiling, staring intently ahead.

"(This guy can be serious even when he's not just taking advantage of others.)"

Xiangzi thought.

"(fine.)"

After all, I found this person after careful consideration. If he can't do his job well, it will be a headache.

16 points.

There were footsteps inside the door.

The guard moved and began to walk towards the monitoring room.