My Cyber Psychosis is Task Prompt

Money in Eden City is like water.

The speed of its flow and its importance are self-explanatory.

John shrugged.

"I don't like the look of you."

"Still holding a grudge over that Sianweistan thing? Hey, kid, you're just a street punk with no hair on your chest, pretending in front of gang leaders. I spared you only because of Vito."

Bone Shards was brutally realistic.

When he's not getting rough, he looks like a financial elite. From a gang thug's perspective, he does have some skills. For his die-hard fans, Bone Shards' style is even quite charming.

"Admit it, John, it's just a matter of sequence."

Bone Shards firmly believed:

If John had met him instead of the Black Gold Gang back then, now it would be him helping out John.

"A little heads-up for you, Vito is stepping back, and I'm gradually taking over street business."

"Are you bragging?"

"Haha, trying to impress you doesn't give enough emotional value. I mean, Vito's getting a bit old. Seems there's talk over at Jingke Heavy Industry that it's pointless for him to stay on the sidelines. Might as well hand over his work and power... fully retire."

Bone Shards smiled.

"I'm giving you this info as a gesture of goodwill. When Dan Street erupts into chaos later, remember to call me."

[New Contact Created - Ethan Ratliff [Bone Shards]]

Macao waited for John at the front entrance of Bolago Club.

He breathed a sigh of relief, stating that if John hadn't shown, he was about to seek help from Mr. Vito.

"Is there anything unusual with Mr. Vito?"

John inquired.

"Ah, not really. He's gradually letting go of the street business, starting to manage some trade goods. Anyway, it's all dealings with that powerful bunch in the city, so we see him less often."

Macao hadn't heard any particular rumors.

John saw no need to spread fear.

He didn't even know how many days had gone by without proper rest, surviving on stimulants and suspended animation, or else fainting from a fall.

The bed seemed unfamiliar.

[Eden City - Dan Street No. 013]

Walking through the pleasantly warm hotel-style lobby, a waiter bowed slightly on the intricately patterned carpet.

The female manager detected John's biometric data and immediately reported the recent residential situation.

"You have a visitor."

She said.

John bypassed the elevator to the lounge in the back to find Angelica sitting on the sofa with her legs curled up.

On the crystal table sat a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket.

"Sorry, I ran into Bone Shards and totally forgot to tell you. That girl ran off during the commotion and we lost her..."

"It's alright."

Angelica interrupted him, smiling. "I heard you killed Obestan. The bar's been buzzing. I thought you'd show up and throw a celebration party or something."

"Forget it. Too much Shark Coin in the market, I'm worried about running into some more ignorant fools and worsening my mood."

"I figured as much."

Angelica got up, grabbed the bottle. Her hoodie was loose, unable to cover her wavy hair or hide her curves, with high heels lightly clutched in her hand.

"So I brought the reward."

She wasn't just talking about the wine.

The elevator dinged open.

John and Angelica leaned against the cabin's backrest, feeling the rumble of mechanical ascension.

Warm at the lips, breaths intertwined.

Ding—

The elevator doors slowly opened.

A rectangular glow spread across the carpet at the door, with a slender shadow quickly slipping in, leaving behind two beautiful high heels and a hoodie still faintly warm.

The windows were in default sleep mode.

In the room, only a few weak appliance lights were on, and following the owner's return, the bathroom automatically started running hot water.

Warm light penetrated the frosted glass.

It just perfectly shrouded the spacious living room with a layer of haze, clear in the field of vision without being glaring.

The sofa sank violently.

Angelica reached out, wrapped her arms around John's body, a bit surprised to touch the cold alloy spine.

"You've gone further."

Her tone was gentle yet sad; even her movements became more compliant.

Releasing emotion was another form of communication.

Angelica chose the role of listening.

John took the lead.

He slightly opened his eyes, gazing at the graceful and exquisite curves, searching for beauty with the aid of the dim light.

As if these things could replace the madness in his mind.

The bodies scattered on the intercity tracks, along with the bullets and blood that brushed past him, surged into his mind like raging seawater, accompanying the rhythm of his body.

The emotions suppressed deep within suddenly released.

Angelica let out a soft hum, as if she could feel the torments John had endured during his disappearance.

She withdrew her hand, cupping his head, kissing his forehead and cheeks to warm this sturdy yet weary body, like an angel spreading her wings.

There was no sound of conversation in the room.

John suppressed the violence within him, slowly narrating and releasing with a rhythmic, restrained behavior.

Desire transformed from degradation to salvation.

The intelligent air conditioning in the room was set to the appropriate temperature.

The initial rush of heat and the abrupt chill both vanished.

The night slowly descended.

The champagne was opened.

Wet condensation trickled on the table.

Angelica wrapped herself in a warm and damp blanket, covered with a towel John brought, holding a glass in her hand.

She took a light sip herself, then waited for John to come to his senses and kissed him to share a sip.

Moonlight shone in through the window.

Night mode automatically loaded a water ripple filter, with silver ripples appearing on the walls and furniture in the room, like patterns cast through a flowing water surface.

John and she leaned side by side.

The two of them used the sofa as a backrest, sitting in the sunken carpet, gazing at the neon-lit city outside.

He began to tell many stories.

From Bone Shards to Kunbu, the fallen train, and Agent Hugo releasing the rogue AI.

Angelica enjoyed listening to stories.

That's also why she often donned a uniform, mingling among patrons, serving drinks and listening.

The garage was full of luxury cars, but she was never seen speeding down the street.

"I really got you a gift."

Angelica handed over a Chip.

"Many of those champions in the Bolago brawler tournament were once my patrons, back when Tipsy Bikini had a wall full of signatures and photos."

This Chip was a relic of one of them.

He died in a title defense, his heart crushed by an opponent fifty pounds heavier with a metal arm.

John didn't know what to say, so he silently accepted it.

[Series Task Arena: Brawler (Completed)]

[Reward: Payment, Melee Chip [Brazilian War Dance]]

Angelica suddenly brought up John's attire.

She said the famous guys on the streets liked to wear things with iconic elements.

"You're going to be a legend too, shouldn't you have some iconic outfit to make yourself more memorable?"

"I'm not interested in fame."

John shook his head.

But he did think of something.

Alonna also used Sianweistan and even custom-made a cooling suit to cool down her equipment, which worked well in fights.

"I want something practical."

John inquired with Angelica about custom clothing, only to find there wasn't a suitable channel available.

He suddenly thought of something else.

His Sianweistan seemed different from others'.

Though Black Light could bypass firewalls and other restrictions and even adjust implant states on its own, it couldn't explain the specific data and user guide for him.

John's mind suddenly became active.

There was still a lot to do.

Angelica went upstairs to sleep on the bed.

John, on the other hand, came to the workspace alone, inserted a Special Inhibitor into his neck.

The long-accumulated fatigue and side effects vanished instantly.

John felt his mind become clear, like a hungover person finally shaking off dizziness, an insomniac getting a rare good sleep, and now he was back to his optimal state.

He pulled out a data cable and connected it to the mainframe's control center.

The lights in the entire room flickered imperceptibly.

Angelica turned over upstairs.

John stood in the workspace, his brow furrowed—someone had intruded into the main program while he was away.