Chapter 56: Cybernetic Corruption

**Chapter 56: Cybernetic Corruption

However, manga fans did not share David's deep feelings. In fact, many had no sympathy for Jimmy Black's death.

Some even called it "a good death, pop the champagne" due to Jimmy's previous attempts to turn David into a cyber-psychopath.

Yet, some more mature fans, from Jimmy Black's death, understood better the cheapness of human life in Night City. It's not just the poor who die; even the rich might unexpectedly meet their end.

However, most fans felt no sadness over Jimmy Black's death and eagerly anticipated the latest issue of *Edgewalker* a week later.

Yang Shuzhen had also received the new issue of *Manga World Gogo*.

With *Edgewalker* replacing *Pantheon Unleashed* in the weekly serialization slot, its popularity surged once more. It was now firmly in the fourth or fifth place in popularity polls.

The top three positions were still held by long-established manga masters, with their years of accumulated popularity securing their spots.

As for *Psychic Sorcerer*?

Despite being a newcomer, Yang Shuzhen had recently been working hard to optimize the plot and artwork. Yet, *Psychic Sorcerer* only managed to stabilize at ninth place in popularity.

The gap between ninth place and the fourth or fifth positions was significant.

Yang Shuzhen was troubled. Was he really going to lose to Lin Qingshan, a pure rookie? After years of working as an assistant, was he going to lose on his debut?

He was unwilling to accept this, so he wanted to see what made *Edgewalker* better.

Yang Shuzhen took a deep breath and turned to the *Edgewalker* serialization part.

This was Chapter 21, titled "The Long Road."

The opening scene was not a direct continuation from the previous chapter. Instead, it depicted a boundless desert under bright sunlight with no clouds in sight.

The radio broadcast read, "Good morning, Night City! Welcome to a brand new day in the city of dreams!"

Then, the scene shifted to a lean yet muscular figure in the comic.

The radio broadcast continued:

"Late for work again!"

"Some people are still daydreaming about becoming the next Old Snake Weilan, causing traffic jams."

The lean but muscular figure was clearly running, sweating and panting.

The next moment, the running figure's face, though somewhat unfamiliar, was still recognizable.

"Is this Mann?" Yang Shuzhen immediately recognized him.

Currently, Mann's popularity in *Edgewalker* was also high, second only to the male lead David and the female lead Lucy.

Even the feisty Rebecca was overshadowed by him.

Mann's character, a reliable and humorous older brother, was quite appealing. Who wouldn't want such an older brother?

Thus, Mann's popularity was high even though he was depicted as a black character.

"Is this Mann in his younger years? He hasn't undergone significant cybernetic enhancements yet," Yang Shuzhen speculated.

Was this going to be Mann's story?

"God! What's wrong with this city, always attracting…"

"…legends of Night City ending up in the graveyard!"

"Never fear adventure! Aim high, and you'll always find results!"

The broadcast's noisy voice accompanied Mann.

Finally, Mann stopped in the vast wilderness, looking somewhat weary. The shadows on his face and his shadow made him appear even more exhausted.

"Want to know where the legendary figures of Night City are?"

"The answer is…"

The broadcast continued, but then…

"Mann."

The next scene abruptly shifted from young Mann in the desert to the familiar mature Mann with red goggles.

His wife, Dolly, was calling him.

Mann was no longer in the desert but sitting in their base.

"You haven't eaten yet."

A fast-food meal was held out to Mann.

Mann came to his senses and reached out to take the meal from Dolly.

However…

His normally strong iron arms were trembling uncontrollably.

The scene seemed to shift to Mann's perspective.

Mann struggled to control his cybernetic arm to take the meal from Dolly.

In the end, he failed to catch it, and the meal fell to the ground.

Dolly rushed over, worried, "Your arm is shaking…"

"Is the cybernetic implant corrupting your nerves?"

Yang Shuzhen was startled. Although he saw himself as Lin Qingshan's rival, he followed *Edgewalker* closely.

He knew exactly what this implied…

This was likely the early signs of cyberpsychosis!

Cyberpsychosis occurs when a person's mind cannot withstand the corruption of cybernetic enhancements, leading them to become cyber-psychos.

Was Mann about to become a cyber-psycho?

In the plot, Dolly continued, "After this job, you need to get a lighter implant."

But Mann stubbornly replied, "It's just a shiver! I'm fine."

At the same time, he injected himself with an immunosuppressant.

The immunosuppressant, as explained earlier by Lin Qingshan, was like a painkiller that temporarily alleviates the pressure and pain from conflicts between cybernetic and physical components.

However, the immunosuppressant only provided temporary relief.

With the immunosuppressant, Mann's arm was immediately controlled, and he clenched his fist.

"But at this rate…"

Dolly remained concerned.

"Such a small implant won't…"

Mann continued to argue, but when he looked at Dolly, his eyes exhibited the "double vision shaking" characteristic.

Fans familiar with *Edgewalker* knew this was a sign of cyberpsychosis.

Next, the scene shifted from Dolly to David.

At this point, Yang Shuzhen was unsure whether Mann was conversing with Dolly or David.

But then, David's image switched back to Dolly.

This showed Mann was already displaying symptoms of cyberpsychosis.

Yet Mann did not think so. He insisted, "Shut up! No one knows my body better than I do!"

"I've been in this line of work for so long!"

"I will never give up halfway!"

(End of Chapter)