When Shen Xi wakes up, she has become a junior investigator in Night City's Public Security Bureau, Division Two.
Everyone knows that if the sky falls, Division One will hold it up, so Division Two investigators only need to handle safe and wholesome everyday cases. That's what the senior investigators told Shen Xi, anyway.
Until...
A mechanical mermaid is being auctioned on the black market?
A sex doll has taken a federal minister carrying classified documents hostage?
There's a prosthetics trafficking network between underground clinics and military hospitals?
An organization is using pheromones to physically modify humans?
Wait, are you sure these are Division Two's cases?
What does Division One investigate, then?
"Oh," her senior said, lighting an e-cigarette. "Division One investigates Division Two."
And then Shen Xi looks at the nonhuman creature lying in her bathtub, the nonhuman creature sitting cross-legged on her charging station, the nonhuman creature perched on a streetlamp, and the human creature she'll have to see at work tomorrow, and lets out a deep sigh. She's in the Investigations Division, not the Collecting Division! Picking up one more creature every time she solves a case is too much for her. And could they please stop picking fights at the drop of a hat?
Nonhuman boyfriends revealed so far:
The little mermaid who is helpless and delicate, and makes Shen Xi want to protect him, but who acts all coy and pathetic around everyone else, only to knock a whole boat flying with one swish of his tail.
The artificial intelligence who is calm, rational, and seemingly devoid of emotion, all logic, but who others see as a calculating, scheming control freak who eliminates rivals and wants Shen Xi all to himself, with a sadistic streak.
More unrevealed intel awaits...
The female lead is ruthless, with top-tier strength and intelligence.
She has little affection for most men, while the male leads and supporting male characters are far more in love with her.
Worldbuilding: cyberpunk + some ABO + my own take on Sentinel and Guide.
Theme: Life is precious, but love is even more valuable. For the sake of freedom, both may be cast aside.
