Players Invade Cyberpunk

Chapter 1120 - 364: When the Lion Is Covered in Sparrows (Part 3)

"Do you think I’m joking with you?"Brother Ni’s expression turned serious, but with that stainless steel helmet and his long-unmanaged look, it was hard not to find him funny.

"Ah... no... not at all..."

V almost burst out laughing, quickly covering her mouth and shaking her head, but she was struggling to keep it in.

Seeing her like this, Brother Ni knew she didn’t believe him, as few people on the forum did. Cyberspace, Cuba, and exploring the full map of America consumed all the players’ energy, leaving few interested in the statues that had always been in Night City.

Besides, Brother Ni hadn’t told many people, fearing it would alert the enemy.

"Don’t laugh, I’m telling you this statue definitely has something to do with the big monks in Night City. I’ve caught an old monk several times, and every time he disappears in the blink of an eye.

The statue is fitted with an electromagnetic device, which activates every three hours. I’m not sure exactly what it does, but it definitely involves brainwashing."

Brother Ni had more to say.

One night, he witnessed the eyes of the statue light up.

They glowed blue.

Seeing his conviction, V paused. On her way over, she had indeed felt a strange, indescribable sensation.

"Then why don’t you sneak in and take a look?"

"I’ve been inside; it’s hollow, but the dust I deliberately scattered on the base disappeared. There’s something hidden beneath, I just can’t find the way in."

Brother Ni pointed at some lamas worshipping the statue from a distance.

"Aren’t you curious? Why does Night City in California have so many Tibetan lamas? I tell you, they have a leader, a cult leader who’s an AI monk hiding in Night City’s network. Once you tune into that channel, you can see him, but once you connect, he brainwashes you."

V started to believe him a little.

This guy isn’t just spewing nonsense; he’s genuinely investigated.

She couldn’t help but touch the stainless steel helmet on her head.

Though V wasn’t sure if it was effective.

"Are you the only one investigating this?"

"There’s another person, but he’s low-level and doesn’t have as much time to keep watch."

So, you have an accomplice?

Figures, the Horizon Corporation’s experts rarely act alone.

But AI... brainwashing...

Gazing at the statue, V wasn’t sure how much of Brother Ni’s story was true, but if any company was capable of such a massive cover-up in Night City, it would be Ye’s Company.

If what this guy says is true...

V felt a shiver run through her, chilling her to the core.

What are those lunatics at Ye Corporation planning?

Brainwash all of Night City?

If other companies found out, wouldn’t they tear them apart?

Or do they have some backing that gives Ye’s Company the confidence to pull this off... and cover everything up like this, are their employees’ lips sewn with zippers?

Wait... a rogue AI...

V recalled that she and Jack had once saved a woman from Ye’s Company, and it started around then...

Maybe she could get some information from her.

"When... did you discover that... electromagnetic pulse?"

"About a week ago, that’s when I saw the statue’s eyes light up at night. I heard about setting up something like a Faraday cage to block electromagnetic signals."

Saying that, Brother Ni tapped the stainless steel bowl on his head.

He wasn’t too worried about being brainwashed; after all, it’s not like they could delete his account, maybe just add some DEBUFF or something.

"The first few times without this thing, every once in a while, I’d see an old monk sitting there, and then he’d disappear. If not for my optical implant passing its diagnostics, I’d think I was seeing things."

Brother Ni looked at V.

"Forget it, let’s talk about your stuff; I estimate my problem won’t be solved any time soon."

The time to start the mission hasn’t arrived, no use in causing a ruckus. It’s not like they can storm Ye Corporation, right?

"I... uh, right."

V wanted to say that his issue seemed larger, but the chip problem could threaten her life, making it more urgent.

"Huang Ban Lai Xuan doesn’t own property in Night City, and the penthouse suite in Ganbi Mansion is reserved for the Huang Ban family, so when he arrives in Night City, the chances of him staying there are high.

I need your hacker to breach the front desk database, make a reservation under a fake identity, then control the elevator to the top floor, install surveillance, and find out where Huang Ban Lai Xuan will hide the chip."

Brother Ni tapped his own forehead.

"Hack in? Why go to all that trouble? I can just pay to reserve a room."

"But if you’re exposed, you’re done for! That’s why you need a fake identity."

V was immensely frustrated; the stealth expert Lin Miao introduced to her seemed so unreliable now.

Brother Ni wasn’t too concerned; when have players ever feared being exposed?

It’s routine.

Stealth always ends in detection, and the last resort is cutting a path out, and let Pandora erase all surveillance afterwards.

"Okay, whatever you say."

Brother Ni indicated that she’s the boss, paying her calls the shots.

"But I need to inform New Dynasty Elegance to watch over this while I’m gone."

At this moment, New Dynasty Elegance was seated in the Haywood church, coincidentally on a Sunday, the priest was conducting mass.

However, not many people follow Christianity now, so the church was nearly empty, mainly because this faith doesn’t bring money in, unlike the past when churches could hand out eggs, rice, cookies, etc.

Neither the left wing nor the right wing was as appealing as egg tarts.

But New Dynasty Elegance’s attention was not on the priest because, sitting in the front row, was a shiny bald head.

Seemingly sensing his gaze, in a blink, the bald head vanished from New Dynasty Elegance’s sight.