As everyone knows, Freud once said

All human psychological issues stem from sexual repression.

And in modern society, the people most severely affected by sexual repression must be those who watch virtual idols on the screen all day and lavish them with virtual coins—those V forum guys.

From the recorded V Flower era kicking off the Great Navigation Age, to Hololive soaring and then crashing down, and later the Hundred Schools of Thought contending, anyone could become a V.

Throughout the process, these V forum guys don’t need to know if the person behind the virtual idol is Sister Yu or Qiao Biluo, nor do they need to know what the person has done before or is doing now, not even if it’s a human. As long as the virtual idol looks good and sounds good, they’ll lavish coins.

The V community further combines the crudest elements of fandom culture and boxing circles, reaching a peak so obnoxious that even the Sun Kang forums have to back off, leading the pack in cyberbullying and unboxing the web.

Of course, people of the cyber era won’t know this history.

Just like they don’t understand why people would lavish coins on Youzi Chef’s virtual idol group.

This is as perplexing as someone getting aroused by holograms outside a sex doll club but ignoring the real sex dolls inside where they could do anything they want.

On Japan Street, Youzi Chef and West Fire Grass, having just secured virtual idol advertisement contracts with two legitimate hotels, are discussing their V Family plans.

"Brother Youzi, I think the Voice of the Horizon platform is an opportunity. Right now, users are skyrocketing, and everyone is focused on Cuba’s situation. We can post Cong Yu up there, let her use publicly accessible video materials to interpret military intelligence, it’s bound to be a hit."

Youzi Chef nods approvingly.

"Yeah, I’ve thought about it too, but unfortunately, live broadcasts can only develop within our circles for now, can’t promote it yet, we’ll have to use recorded videos, or else that Fierce Band wouldn’t stand a chance against me."

They don’t know the first thing about virtual idols. If I had the money, I’d dig both people and teams over here in no time.

"Sounds reasonable."

Thinking about boosting traffic and exposure for his V, a satisfied smile appears on West Fire Grass’s face.

Virtual V is better than a real V because they won’t blow up in scandals, but the downside is they might turn on you and their mouths can be very venomous.

As they chat, suddenly there’s a sound of sobbing up ahead, a soft and melancholy sound that stirs empathy before one sees the person.

They keep walking straight ahead, discovering a young girl crying by the river under the bridge.

Dressed plainly, in a simple white shirt paired with denim shorts, her long snowy legs almost blind passersby in the daylight, her unkempt long hair is shiny and smooth, her frame is weak, slender waist, crying sounds mournful and unending.

And the most surprising thing: the girl holds a dagger in her hand, blade pointed at her arm, hesitating, seemingly conflicted about whether to cut.

When they approach, the girl’s peripheral vision catches sight of the target appearing, a fleeting smile flashes at the corner of her eye, she continues immersed in her sorrowful sobbing.

Ha, men

I knew you’d bite.

Before coming, she did her homework; Horizon Mercenaries are said to be soft-hearted towards civilians, going to great lengths, even dragging those sex dolls for career training, helping them remake themselves.

Ridiculous to outsiders.

But for agents, it’s a perfect direction for exploitation.

Get ready to pay for your hypocrisy!

Closer, closer!

The distance between them shrinks, the girl almost overhears their conversation.

"Can we have the tech team develop a maid outfit for Beef? I love maid outfits; if she can change her tone to call me master, it’d be perfect..."

"Since adding the AI source code, Beef’s data has been acting up lately, she’s in a rebellious phase, extremely vile, doing so she might throw the maid outfit over my head."

Observing them walking further away, she couldn’t understand what they were talking about.

?

Did my disguise fail?

That shouldn’t be, right?

Her look was crafted temporarily targeting Asian aesthetics, she even redid her entire face.

The stubborn female agent goes all out, starting to wail loudly, she refuses to believe it won’t get their attention.

Sure enough, her wails finally break the two from their V-training trance.

Youzi Chef: "? Someone’s crying."

West Fire Grass: "What’s it got to do with us?"

"Could be a hidden task, you know?"

"Fine, let’s check it out."

Only then do they turn back, looking at the teary-eyed young girl.

Her looks... acceptable.

Mainly in cyberspace, they’ve trained so many Vs they’re aesthetically fatigued, seen every kind of style, people have grown numb.

West Fire Grass jumps right in with the forum-style triad.

"Why are you wailing here? Dad died or mom died? Couldn’t be double joy, right?"

"....."

For crying out loud, aren’t Horizon Mercenaries supposed to be good people? Even drug dealers wouldn’t talk this way, no wonder they look like that, reflections of the heart!

Youzi Chef nudges West Fire Grass with his elbow, signaling him to shut up.

"Crying so loudly, did something happen to you? A gang bullied you? Come on."

After a cleansing assault, Night City may not be pristine, but it’s considered a California Grade-A city now, can’t even find a high bounty person on the streets, short-term trouble is unlikely.

"Boohoo... My mother’s arm got injured at work, the doctor said... said... a prosthetic replacement is needed soon, or it would necrosis leading to death...