After reporting to V, Yogan sat on the ground for a long time to recover. But his troubles were far from over.
"I still need to figure out how to deal with these two corpses. The simplest way is to move them into some remote alleyways. The cleanup crews will handle the rest. But how do I transport the bodies without drawing attention…?"
Suddenly, Yogan's system reacted.
[New Module Detected]
[Decomposition and Recycling Function Unlocked]
[Detecting…]
Yogan's system began flickering like an old television suffering from signal interference.
This was the first time Yogan had seen anything like this.
"Don't mess up now, buddy. I haven't even tested your new function."
The decomposition and recycling function sounded like the perfect solution to his current dilemma. But if the system crashed, Yogan would be forced to risk another psychotic episode while moving the bodies into zones frequented by scavengers.
Thankfully, the system didn't break down completely. After a few flickers, it stabilized.
[New Module Detected]
[@&#% Unlocked]
"What's with all this gibberish?"
Yogan searched around in the system interface and found some documentation for the new function. Unfortunately, only the already unlocked modules had detailed explanations.
He tapped on the newly unlocked feature, but its key details still appeared as garbled text.
[Allows comparison of existing blueprints with %@%#& blueprints for upgrades.]
Yogan was disappointed. "That tells me nothing…"
But for now, the most important thing was to clean up the battle scene and dispose of the corpos' corpses.
He returned to the hallway and activated the decomposition and recycling function on the two bodies.
As expected, the corpo agents' corpses disintegrated into ash and vanished into the air. Even the blood on the floor slowly faded away along with the bodies.
[@&#% Charged]
[Would you like to upgrade blueprint?]
[Yes/No]
Yogan hesitated. He ultimately decided not to use the gibberish-labeled feature just yet. He had already lost control once. If he was going to test new system functions, he needed someone trustworthy to keep an eye on him.
Using the system's tools, he quickly erased all traces of the battle. Then he called Vik.
"What's wrong, kid?"
"Vik, do you have time right now? I think my condition's getting worse again."
"Come over immediately. Do you need me to send someone to get you?"
"Thanks, Vik. But no need—I can still manage on my own."
---
Vik's Clinic
Yogan's bizarre symptoms had Vik completely stumped.
Sitting in his chair, Vik let out a heavy sigh. "Kid, I've run this clinic for many years, and I've never seen a case like yours. From what you're telling me, it sounds like classic cyberpsychosis, but the specifics don't match any known cases."
"According to your description, your episode was severe. Normally, patients at that stage cannot recover consciousness without external intervention. But somehow, you managed to regain control of your body on your own—without drugs or any other help. That already makes your case fundamentally different."
"Then there's the second issue. Cyberpsychotic patients can't communicate logically with the outside world during an episode. But you were different. Although your personality changed significantly, your communication with your environment remained fully coherent."
"And one last thing. Cyberpsychosis always leaves traces in the patient's body—some irregular readings at least. But your numbers are totally normal. Yogan, there's also another big issue."
"What is it, Vik?"
"You told me earlier that during your episode, you brutally tortured those two corpo agents."
"Yeah, that's right."
"And once you regained control, those actions made you feel physically ill."
"Exactly."
"That's the problem, kid. Witnessing something like that should have caused significant psychological trauma. But your psych profile is spotless. In fact, it's even better than the last time you came in."
"Do you have any solutions, Vik?"
Vik rubbed his temples, looking weary. "I'm sorry, kid. I really don't have an answer for your condition. My recommendation is to go to a larger hospital for a more comprehensive examination. They've got better equipment, more experienced doctors, and a larger database of related cases."
"Thanks, Vik. By the way, do you still have any of that medication you gave me last time?"
"You've already finished it? That stuff is highly addictive in large doses!"
"I'm sorry, Vik. This episode really scared me."
Vik frowned and thought for a moment. Then he handed Yogan a new vial of neuro-suppressants. The packaging was noticeably smaller than the previous batch.
Vik gave Yogan a stern warning. "Listen. You've already used too much today. For the next week, you must not take any more. This vial only contains a single emergency dose. If you end up using it, come back immediately—I'll run a full check on you."
Then Vik handed him a data cable.
"Plug this in, Yogan. I'll upload a program that will continuously monitor your vital signs and medication usage. This way, I can keep an eye on your condition in real time."
"Thanks, Vik."
"It's the least I can do. But please remember—if you get a chance, go to a big hospital for further examination."
"I will."
After installing the monitoring software, Yogan left the clinic.
"I wonder how V and the others are doing. I hope I got the warning out in time."
---
Palm View Boulevard
Qiu Shui Xue Yue parked the car on the roadside.
V looked at her, confused. "Why are we stopping here?"
Qiu Shui Xue Yue calmly replied, "Waiting."
"Waiting for who?"
V looked into her eyes and reluctantly added, "...Master V."
A faint blue light flashed across Qiu Shui Xue Yue's eyes. One of her cyber puppets infiltrated the traffic light control system of Night City.
Not far ahead at a T-shaped intersection, all the traffic lights suddenly turned green simultaneously.
Vehicles from multiple directions began moving at the same time. A cargo truck and a small car collided head-on.
The truck driver leaned out his window. "The hell's wrong with you? Learn how to drive!"
The driver of the small car shot back, "You blind idiot! You ran a red light!"
"Open your damn eyes! Is this a red light or green?!"
…
The accident caused a massive traffic jam. The entire intersection was thrown into chaos. Honking horns and shouting drivers filled the air.
Qiu Shui Xue Yue started the car again.
"So we came here just to watch a car crash?"
Qiu Shui Xue Yue didn't answer. She simply said again, "I told you…"
V quickly interrupted her. "Sorry. I mean… sorry, Master V."