It really does seem like a recurring theme with these books. We certainly do need to start a club, like Atobe_Brick suggested.
So, if Diero obtained the chip after the cider factory/nuclear facility had stopped existing, we’re left with very few options. Diero either took it from Dreamer Ghid’s pocket after killing him, meaning that it houses the BoL simulation or extracted it from Renner’s dead body, meaning that his consciousness is on it. Both theories still work.
Looks like this book is going to consist of two separate stories: TottallyNotACat’s story and Tomorrow’s story that are going to connect closer to the end. If that’s the case, I have an amazing idea for a book cover!