Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 113 - 113 96 Vanguard

113: Chapter 96: Vanguard 113: Chapter 96: Vanguard “Old Cui mentioned you were an interesting person.” Selita said with considerable curiosity, extinguishing her cigarette, clasping her hands together, and looking intently at Xu Yang.

“He described you in much the same way.” Xu Yang sat up straight in his seat.

“I’m just a free man, currently preparing for my own endeavor.”

“Not many people dare to claim they’re free these days.” Selita raised an eyebrow.

“Who isn’t living within a hierarchy and power structure?”

“That’s why you should understand what makes me special.” Xu Yang said.

“Now it’s your turn, as for the changes in Lundinium, the company’s records are vague at best.

Were you really there?”

“I can tell you, the war in Lundinium lasted a month,” Selita looked toward the rising white smoke in the ashtray, “from August 2nd to September 1st, 40 years ago; we lost 140,000 compatriots.

Most of them didn’t die in the street fights, but from secret executions and exile.

They believed the company’s lies, surrendered their weapons, turned to peaceful means, and then the company distributed shares to its cadres who then watched as their comrades were arrested and betrayed their own battle companions.”

“The company still made concessions, amending the working hours.” Xu Yang recalled the history he knew.

“That’s because most cities in Taixi Continent started revolts,” Selita shook her head, “They made concessions proactively to buy themselves time to breathe.

Now they’re even smarter, installing more motion sensors and chips, and the cameras and listening devices are denser than ever.

Me, I’m just a ghost stained with blood, knowing that I can’t let things end here, with a deep-seated grudge to settle.”

“The company is headed for a civil war.” Xu Yang said.

“Sooner or later,” Selita replied with a cold expression, “the end of corporate hegemony is near, accompanied by irreconcilable contradictions.

Cowards often claim that corporatism has been refined to perfection, that drones and power armor can easily extinguish the armed resistance of the peasants.

They are mistaken; the vast majority on this planet harbor repressed anger, waiting for someone to stand up and break the chains.”

“You seem to be very confident.” Xu Yang pondered.

“But the fact is the company not only has a vast army at its disposal but also various secret technologies and the Battle Witch, including Reality Manipulators.”

“The issue is the closure of pathways.” Selita made an upward pointing gesture, “When there was still a chance to climb higher, to become richer, most people turned a blind eye because there was hope.

But now, striving only leads to more exploitation, and no matter how hard you try, you can’t keep up with the increase in wealth of the rent-seekers; the growth of wealth can’t keep pace with the rising cost of living.

This is when resentment begins to accumulate, waiting for a chance to be released.

If everyone knew who their real enemy was, then that enemy’s end would be near.”

“Times have changed.” Xu Yang said.

“Yes, old factories are being dismantled one by one, and the once most powerful labor forces are vanishing into history.” Selita nodded, “But our theory is evolving with the times.”

“Where are you now?” Xu Yang’s gaze passed over Selita’s shoulder and fell on a simple craft hanging on the wall, a chain of copper rings adorned with beads and gold pieces.

Such regional cultural ornaments are rarely seen these days, replaced by the standardized consumer products of the company.

“In White Elephant Continent.” Selita turned her screen, holding her terminal up to show Xu Yang her surroundings—a somewhat cluttered office, with a human skeleton model in the corner.

“Are you a doctor?” Xu Yang asked curiously.

“A military medic with arms, my magic power is crisis warning, which is why I have survived assassination attempt after assassination attempt.” Selita turned the camera toward the window to show Xu Yang the lush jungle outside, endless greenery, with towering tropical trees flourishing, concealing sparse wheat fields, “In developed areas, people can still survive to some extent by selling their mental labor, parasitizing the prosperous service industry, earning wages higher than labor workers…

But the world is too big, take a look at the situation in White Elephant Continent.”

White Elephant Continent is recognized as a relatively underdeveloped area, under the jurisdiction of the giant Peacock-Tristan Group, with a population exceeding 2 billion, spread across a vast wilderness, in a hot climate.

The mega corporation formed from the merger of Peacock Corporation and Tristan Corporation.

Only through such a merger could they secure for themselves the status of a mega corporation.

“In underdeveloped areas, people’s fighting spirit is stronger,” Xu Yang believed this approach had merit.

“In the past, more than half the region’s output was dependent on the cultivation of postal stamp raw materials,” Selita stood with one hand on her hip, “and 70% of the world’s postal stamps were supplied by White Elephant Continent.

To change the situation here, I’ve fought a guerrilla war for 30 years, and now we can proudly say, we no longer rely on selling that harmful stuff for a living.”

Outside the window, an officer in dark green camouflage uniform led a group of recruits through the jungle, drenched in sweat but appearing particularly healthy, with sunlight shining on their uniforms and sidearms, all light weaponry, much of it produced with 3D printing technology, simple in structure.

“Change the situation?” Xu Yang wanted to know the practical results,’ “Not everyone outside the company is necessarily living better than those within it.”

“Here, we can ensure that the average life expectancy exceeds 40 years,” Selita pointed outside to the cottages barely discernible beyond the trees, “On my territory, there are elementary and middle schools, hospitals and nursing homes, farmlands and factories, our own network and movie theaters, and of course, military barracks and prisons.”

“This is the establishment of a small ‘state’ within the corporatism of White Elephant Continent.” Xu Yang reacted immediately.

“Yes, you could say that, according to your understanding,” Selita nodded.

“During the Lundinium Uprising, we established a power structure which I replicated here.

We have a committee, with members elected from the common people, who set plans for production and consumption, and decide on future actions, while allowing people to exchange products for their labor value.

I am just their spiritual leader, their doctor.

We have broken into villages and factories, spreading our ideals.”

“I thought agriculture was a thing of the past,” said Xu Yang.

“The company has changed a lot, but some things remain the same,” Selita rotated the screen back into the office, “As you said, times change, but our pursuit is the same—from the Lundinium revolution to now—striving for the complete freedom and comprehensive development of humans and witches.

This is the ideology I’ve carried with me for the past 130 years, we call it ‘Vanguardism’.”

“If there are weak links between the giant corporations, then the White Elephant Continent certainly counts as one,” admitted Xu Yang.

Especially the ruling Peacock-Tristan Group, a barely stitched together monstrosity; the Peacock Corporation is famous for agricultural production, whereas the Tristan Corporation focuses on finance.

Their development philosophies differ greatly, and there is constant friction among the upper echelons.

In the White Elephant Continent, only tens of millions work within the giant corporations, esteemed as superior beings, while the conditions of the remaining population of over 1.9 billion are akin to livestock.

“We need donations,” Selita looked earnestly at the screen, “A small sum of funds could save hundreds of children from disease and hunger, and it also allows me to import more rare medicines to save lives.”

“How much do you need?” Xu Yang supported their efforts.

“To not be seen as fraudsters, 50,000 funds will suffice,” said Selita, “That could dig a canal.

The money can go through our ‘friends’ in the deep anonymous network, who are also sympathizers.

I’ll send you the information.”

“I’ll give it a try,” Xu Yang turned off the screen and received a message from Selita in the background.

Following Selita’s guidance, Xu Yang found a hidden account belonging to a company named “Fraternity Company” on the anonymous network.

The company claimed to engage in mundane industries, dedicated to geek culture, artistic innovation, and the exploration of network security technology.

“She probably needs more funds,” Xu Yang turned to Cui Junyou.

“Of course, for such a cause, even several tens of millions wouldn’t be enough,” said Cui Junyou, “But she’s very proud, and if you give too much, she might even feel insulted by your money.”

“All right then,” Xu Yang read the cash card key on his phone and transferred the funds, “And what’s this ‘Fraternity Company’ I transferred to?”

“Fraternity, they are all brothers from the same path,” blinked Cui Junyou, “Corporatism makes more enemies in secret than they themselves anticipate.”

“She sounded quite theoretical when she spoke,” Xu Yang recalled his previous conversation with Selita.

“In the past, people received a complete education; some witches even went to school, and she was one of the beneficiaries,” said Cui Junyou, “She’s first a philosopher, then a warrior, and now a doctor.”

“Vanguardism is a point of view with significant reference value,” said Xu Yang, “But it hasn’t fully proven its superiority yet.”

“Who knows?” smiled Cui Junyou, “Once she really makes a success of her cause in the White Elephant Continent, it could inspire more people around the world to join in.

Then the situation could really change.”

Could Vanguardism replace Corporatism?

pondered Xu Yang.

Anyway, time and practice would prove Selita’s ideas.

After transferring the funds, Selita messaged Xu Yang on the network and sent a compressed file.

“You’re quite decisive.

The attachment contains my theoretical summary of Vanguardism over the years, and some practical manuals that might be of some use.

I’ll include a quote I read in college: ‘A human being is an end in itself, not a means to an end.'”

Xu Yang browsed the manual, which mainly discussed the birth, history, and philosophy of Vanguardism.

Following were a “Basic Kit” quintet, including a medical experience summary by Selita from her years as a practitioner, a theoretical training set for militia, a stack of durable firearm blueprints for use with 3D printers, a compact and practical survival handbook, and an elementary treatise on agriculture.

Almost too practical.

Xu Yang mused.

This was truly a route to start uprooting Corporatism from the very bottom.

“A remarkable woman,” Cui Junyou remarked, “You think so too, right?”

“If there’s an opportunity to meet her in person later, we can have a good talk then,” Xu Yang put away his thoughts.