And so, Orange officially left her post as an NCHC paramedic and became the secretary of Panlong Construction's president.
With enough time to both investigate Huang Dahe's whereabouts and earn money to pay back her debts, Orange had no complaints. If not for her body's current immune reaction to the implant making it impossible for her to even get out of bed, whether she was being the secretary or the secretary was being her, she probably wouldn't refuse if Li Pan gave her the look.
After all, if Li Pan claimed he wasn't after her body, Orange might start to doubt his intentions in taking such care of her—what else could he want? Harvesting her kidneys?
Li Pan didn't think hiring a secretary for 20,000 was a loss. What he needed was someone trustworthy—or rather, someone indebted to him, unable to betray him—to help manage Panlong Construction Ltd.
Even if the company was just a nominal shell, it would be the main channel for his future income, worth tens of millions. He really couldn't entrust it to anyone unreliable.
Now that Orange was in place, all the tedious framework-building of the company naturally fell to her. As long as she moved around Night City under the title of Panlong Construction's secretary, dealing with various brokers, middlemen, and cyberpunks, it would prove the company wasn't just an empty shell and keep the Tax Bureau and Security Bureau from paying too much attention.
Meanwhile, Monster Corp's operations were also running smoothly.
The follow-up sample deliveries of "Fountain of Youth," customs paperwork, and coordination with the logistics company—all that was handed off to Aqi, with Rama tagging along to learn.
New recruit Yamazaki Ayato was still doing geological surveys, wandering mountains and forests, sending back reports and photos through Eighteen from time to time. To be fair, the kid was diligent, even outstanding—his PPT slides were beautiful. Truly worthy of a University of Tokyo grad.
Of course, it might also be because Li Pan had taken pity and quietly slipped him 100,000 in dirty cash as a "runner's fee." Yamazaki had taken it dead seriously, convinced he'd been assigned some major undercover case. He was determined to complete the mission, infiltrate Monster Corp, and win glory at the Security Bureau—overflowing with zeal.
Yeah, the kid still had no idea that the Fountain of Youth mission had already been completed and submitted. Even Eighteen couldn't be bothered to tell him.
Oh well. At least he was an athlete—climbing mountains wouldn't kill him.
So the next morning, after coffee, Li Pan took Shiranui Kiri—who had spent the night practicing arts without sleep—to a small motel.
Cough, cough—don't misunderstand. They were working. A job had come in that required the expertise of a sealing jōnin.
Indeed, Uncle Chen had called bright and early.
"Assisting in a criminal investigation? Isn't your company supposed to deal in valuable goods? Since when do you moonlight as private detectives?"
On the hovercar, Kiri sat across from Li Pan, slipping off her heels, unfastening her miniskirt, and slowly peeling off her stockings to change clothes right in front of him.
And let it be clear! This wasn't Li Pan abusing his manager's privileges to ogle some cheap pantyhose striptease. She had simply dirtied her outfit during interviews the day before, and since she wasn't wearing anything underneath, it was inconvenient. The new temp-worker uniform had just arrived, so she changed on the spot.
"Not your job. Our job."
Li Pan didn't hold back, his eyes openly tracing her figure. To be honest, when they weren't covered in filth, these sealing kunoichi had flawless physiques—no extra fat, perfectly toned. Even in formal slacks and boots, Kiri exuded elegance and strength.
"You've read the temp-worker manual, right? Whatever your reasons for joining—undercover theft, infiltration, whatever—we're one team now. My team. Let me explain the rules.
I, Li Pan, am generous and fair to my people. I won't pry into your past or force you to reveal your secrets. Under me, you can make mistakes, even fail—but you absolutely cannot disobey orders.
After this mission, if you want to quit, you're free to go. I won't stop you. But if you defy orders mid-operation, act on your own, and mess things up, I'll delete your file. No matter how many times we've slept together, it won't matter. Understood?"
Kiri, knowing better than to joke at a time like this, adjusted her clothes. The shirt wouldn't button all the way, so she left two undone, and nodded seriously.
"Understood, boss."
Huh, calling him "boss" already? Quick to play the role. But professionalism was good—it was a Security Bureau case, and Night City was in turmoil.
Yes—this was about the Goldshine Academy girls' suicide cases.
Another death. Not on the subway this time, but in a motel. By hanging. With her own intestines.
According to Uncle Chen's case files, the girl had disemboweled herself, pulled out her entrails, and used them to hang from the ceiling light.
Why suicide? Because there was both physical evidence and witness testimony.
The crime scene was a cheap "lovers' motel" out on the fringe—seedy places where people went after street hookups.
The owner was no saint either. He had gang ties and had installed hidden cameras in the rooms to livestream to the dark web, even selling edited clips. NCPA didn't bother cracking down on this small fry anymore. The server logs contained that day's footage.
Even if video could be faked, there were witnesses.
Eight of them.
Yes—this Goldshine Academy girl had actually brought in eight thugs, paid them with stimulants and jewelry, then went through an all-night orgy with them—until, at the end, she committed suicide before their eyes.
The Third Investigation Division had already taken the men in. They weren't even citizens—just bankrupt vagrants without chips. Their testimonies, blood spatter, and DNA matched: it was indeed suicide.
If anything, the vagrants were the victims. Already miserable, living on the streets, they thought some rich young miss just wanted to "play rough." They hadn't expected a cyberpsycho meltdown with massive blood loss that left them impotent from the horror.
Why was the Third Investigation Division handling it, not NCPA?
Because the deceased was on the Security Bureau's protected-persons list. Codename: "A-ko." Her true identity was classified. A genuine princess of the upper clans.
"Seriously, Uncle Chen? Won't even give me her name or show me her face—how am I supposed to investigate? Tokugawa family, maybe?"
The body had already been removed, video blurred, leaving only a crime scene drenched in blood.
"Doesn't matter whose family. What matters is if this leaks, the stock market will shake."
Chen spoke over encrypted comms.
"Identity is very relevant. To analyze motive, to find suspects—hell, if it's going to shake the markets, at least tip me a stock, yeah?"
"A girl died horribly and you're thinking about stocks? Listen, kid. I didn't call you to solve a crime. At Goldshine's level, unless it's corporate war, only suicide—or choosing death—can kill them. From where we stand, it's self-inflicted.
Just tell me if you find any trace of monsters or anomalous power involved. Ask what you need, I'll tell you what I can."
"Fine, fine."
Li Pan entered the blood-soaked room. No trace of ghosts, qi, or otherworldly energy at first glance.
Kiri, accustomed to such scenes—most of which she had caused herself—was unfazed. She knelt, hips raised, carefully checking under the bed, desk, and bathroom.
…That curve. That position. Damn tempting to swat her—
"Ahem!"
"Boss?"
"Find anything?"
"No, no. Just coughing from the stench… Hm? This perfume—doesn't smell like yours. From the victim?"
Amid the reek of cheap shampoo and fluids, Li Pan detected a strange fragrance.
Kiri crawled over, sniffed the victim's underwear, and nodded.
"Calonyction, 'Evening Glory,' from Le Jardin Group. An offworld luxury perfume—over fifty thousand per ounce."
Chen sounded surprised.
"Didn't know you had a talent for that…"
Actually, it wasn't talent—just basic qi-sense. Cultivators had to distinguish essences by scent from the start.
Li Pan bluffed:
"Oh, I know that taste well. But you're amazing—can even name the brand. Like a bloodhound."
Kiri blushed, glaring at him.
"This perfume isn't the priciest, but it's rare—offworld, limited supply, pre-ordered and raffled. Even Goldshine heiresses only use it for major events or secret gatherings.
Perfume there has meaning. The Academy has major societies—the Student Council, the Greenfield Club. Each smaller circle uses distinct scents to signal belonging. Wrong perfume at the wrong time? You're an outsider."
"Damn, fifty grand an ounce and it's not expensive? What counts as expensive then?"
"Compared to rarity, it's nothing. To Goldshine elites, true gifts are stars—asteroid belts, colonies, even whole star systems."
Li Pan whistled. Literally giving the stars, huh.
Kiri continued:
"If it was suicide, she chose this scent for a perfect image in death. But if it was murder, then before being manipulated, A-ko must have attended an event where 'Evening Glory' was required—or met someone else wearing it. That could be our prime suspect."
Chen agreed.
"Makes sense. A-ko was in the Student Council. Any idea when they use it?"
"No. Only family maids who serve these heiresses for generations know such codes. They ensure their mistresses never lose face. Even perfumes distinguish 'solid gold' from 'plated gold.'"
"Good. Anything else?"
Li Pan shrugged.
"Nope. If there's a monster, it's with the suspect. Otherwise, just rich girls eating each other alive. By the way, where's my consulting fee?"
Chen promptly wired him 5,000.
Easy money. Split between two, that was a month's wage.
Kiri, still crouched, suddenly asked:
"Boss… an innocent girl died. Don't you want justice for her?"
Li Pan nearly laughed.
"Innocent? On this street, underage girls are forced into prostitution every day, dying worse than her. Why waste sympathy on princesses who play with stars and toys? Better they kill each other off."
Kiri frowned but pressed on.
"But if there is a monster-user, evolving from random slaughter to calculated assassination, hiding behind wealth at Goldshine Academy—then more will die. Isn't it our duty to stop that?"
Li Pan studied her.
"Wow, you really memorized the company handbook. So what, you want to infiltrate Goldshine? Be my guest. But if you actually find that heiress-turned-monster…
Can you cut her head off?"
Kiri fell silent. She couldn't. Neither could Uncle Chen. Agents weren't heroes. They were dogs. And dogs don't bite their masters.
In the end, the case would be buried. The monster sealed away, the truth suppressed, the matter handed up to the Committee for the clans to handle internally.
Li Pan smirked, transferring 2,500 to her.
"If you pity these 'innocent' girls so much, take this and investigate. Find the killer. When the time comes—if you dare give the order—I'll cut off her head myself."
Kiri held his gaze, then stood.
"Fine. I'll do it. But boss—you already sent another ninja in, didn't you?"
"Oh, right. You know him—Kotaro went in first. Lost contact, though. Help me find him."
Kiri froze.
"Which Kotaro?"
"What do you mean which? The one from prison."
"W-What!? You released Sealing Kotaro!?"
Her face turned pale.
"That's the demon who slaughtered the entire sealing clan! You dared to use him!?"
Li Pan rubbed his chin.
"Well… my impression of him might be a bit different from yours…"
Kiri's eyes widened in horror.
"Boss—he used the archive cabinet too, didn't he!?"
"Of course. How else would he be hired?"
Her face drained of color.
"Then his Sealing Marks… they've all been undone."
Li Pan was genuinely curious now.
"So what? Is Kotaro really that powerful?"
Kiri bit her lip and nodded.
"He's the greatest prodigy in ninja history. The night the Onmyō Clan was dissolved, he alone refused sealing—and massacred them all.
Which means he holds at least 175 Sealing Marks, passed down for generations. A true demon of the ninja path!"
"…That Kotaro?"
Li Pan tried to recall—but all he could picture was a pervert with electric hips. A shiver ran down his spine.
The Sealing Clan… terrifying indeed.
.
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⚠️ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD — I'm Not a Cyberpsycho ⚠️
The system says: Kill.Mercs obey. Corporates obey. Monsters obey.One man didn't.
🧠💀 "I'm not a cyberpsycho. I just think... differently."
💥 High-voltage cyberpunk. Urban warfare. AI paranoia.Read 30 chapters ahead, only on Patreon.
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