Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 232 - 206 The Flying Birds Group

Chapter 232: Chapter 206 The Flying Birds Group

Danger and opportunity came hand in hand, and what Xu Yang needed to do was to coordinate from the top down to ensure the maximization of benefits.

The influence and interest network that had been gradually expanding before was now ready to be fully utilized.

"No worries. Just let Chainsaw Angel dance around for now. We just need to avoid getting in our own way," Xu Yang said, "How much funds are available at the moment?"

"A lot. I’ve never seen so much money in my life," Asa Katsuragi found a gang financial report and handed it over to Xu Yang.

After defeating other gangs and plundering their funds, collecting protection fees paid by enterprises, dividends from various industries under their name, benefits from renting out land, coupled with various tributes and donations, Katsuragi Gang now had approximately 27 million in funds available for use. The bonus obtained as a security contractor had received its first investment of 4.5 million, bringing the total fund to 31.5 million.

"Do you understand the operating conditions of our territory? Do you know what the main livelihoods are for everyone?" Xu Yang inquired, wanting to know if Asa Katsuragi had the capability to handle these funds herself.

"Most of them run small businesses, like arcades and street vending. With many factories opening up, various small stores doing business have also sprung up around the factories, making the wasteland lively all of a sudden," Asa Katsuragi cared deeply for Aizu City, "But recently, a new vice has emerged, mainly providing ’euphoria services’."

She sent related information to Xu Yang. Euphoria service providers offered a kind of chair. As soon as customers swiped their cash cards, they could sit on it and, after putting on a helmet, electrodes inside the helmet would send special pulses to the central nervous system.

Without any prelude or personal labor, customers simply had to press a button on the armrest to stimulate an excessive secretion of dopamine and instantly reach a peak in multiple senses, simpler than any form of entertainment.

The cost per second of pressing was 10 units of currency. Most people would sit in these chairs until they spent all the money on their cards. This was a form of entertainment more simple and direct than games and videos, and the addictive nature was terrifying. It quickly sparked a craze in Aizu City.

Especially in such a precarious environment, many were willing to seated regularly, washing away the sorrows of the first half of their lives with the most explosive joy, while the euphoria services earned a fortune.

"Worse than drugs," Xu Yang felt the danger.

"Yes, and it’s self-service, so no manpower is needed," Asa Katsuragi also felt it wasn’t a good thing, "Those with poor self-control won’t leave once they sit down. They refuse to let go of the button on the armrest until they spend the last penny on their cash card, howling miserably in the chair. The more joy they had before, the more miserable they become after running out of money. That’s why we’ve banned it, but some people still hide these chairs."

Technology hadn’t improved people’s lives but made them more degenerate and hopeless. Xu Yang thought to himself.

"Aside from these harmful businesses, the main economic activities in Aizu City indeed involve simple small businesses," Xu Yang said, "If they collapse one by one, the population will quickly drain away. So what you need to do now is to use the funds at hand to ensure the survival of these industries, providing low-interest or even interest-free loans to guarantee they can continue to operate and get through this most painful time."

"Give everyone money," Asa Katsuragi understood, "Everyone would be very happy."

"How’s the public order?" Xu Yang was curious, "With so many unemployed people coming in these days, the crime rate must be skyrocketing."

"Good and bad," Asa Katsuragi said, "After we defeated some gangs, we quickly took over many of their properties, including several apartment buildings. Recently, with the influx of people, many have asked me to rent the apartments to them. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but later, feeling uneasy, I sent my guys to check and found that these bastards secretly became sublandlords, renting out the apartments I leased to them to others, earning a margin. That’s really heartless, causing trouble for those who genuinely want to rent."

"Controlling rental prices is of the utmost importance," Xu Yang agreed, "Many people come to Aizu City for the cheap rent, after all, there are so many professions nowadays that allow people to work from the comfort of their homes, needing only an apartment room to do everything. If people spend too much on basic needs like food and shelter, they won’t have the spare cash to spend, and economic activities will become stagnant. What else?"

"Then there’s... the unlucky ones," Asa Katsuragi sighed, "I was also worried that the newcomers would cause trouble and went to check their dwellings. There’s a group of people, about three to five hundred, who seem to have come on the same vehicle and now live near the abandoned tunnels, wilds, and tin houses of Katagi District. Strangely, there are few criminals. Even without law enforcement, everyone is calm, patient, and they help each other, sharing food and exchanging job opportunities."

"On one hand, they come from Anjiu City, and to some extent were ’educated’ by Century Pure Land, accustomed to an orderly life," Xu Yang said, "On the other hand, people instinctively seek a stable and united life. What you need to do is publicize the laws, implement the ’Protecting Territory, Ensuring Peace’ principle, crack down on criminals, and not let those good-hearted, law-abiding people lose heart."

"Right," Asa Katsuragi agreed, "... Aizu City can’t withstand any major turmoil anymore, I’ll make sure everyone keeps an eye on each district."

"The safety, defense, and management of Katagi District and Number 26 Highland are now in your hands," Xu Yang said, "Call Kong Tai over. I want to transfer him from the Katsuragi Gang and let him stand on his own."

"Moving Kong Tai?" Asa Katsuragi seemed a bit disheartened. "I’ve gotten used to asking for his opinion."

"To be a leader, you have to learn to make decisions on your own," Xu Yang encouraged her. "Trust your own judgment."

"Indeed," Katsuragi Asa reflected. "I’ve always been pushing myself to learn things and handle all kinds of issues. I guess a person has to be independent to grow. Then I’ll go call him right now."

She left the office.

When Kong Tai came to see Xu Yang, he deliberately took off his helmet, revealing a weathered face of a middle-aged man with a bronze complexion.

"Boss Xu," Kong Tai greeted him.

"Your shares in the New Aizuwakamatsu Security Company will double, and you’ll be fully in charge of the real military work," Xu Yang said. "Train a new army to the standard of a big corporation, treat it as a return to your old trade."

Kong Tai took a seat on the chair with proper etiquette.

"I now enjoy stable and leisurely work. I’ve lost my fighting spirit," he waved his hands. "And the New Aizuwakamatsu Security Company needs a deputy like me."

"You’ve brought quite a few mercenaries from the Boundless Organization," Xu Yang said casually. "There should be someone among them who is capable of taking on this position. Recommend someone to me."

"I’d rather do it myself," Kong Tai hurriedly said.

If his former subordinates transformed into new leaders equal to him, the feeling would be too uncomfortable. Better to do it himself.

"Why was your original troop called the Boundless Organization?" Xu Yang asked.

"My previous buddies longed for a free life," Kong Tai replied. "So we all went out to sea, but they didn’t end up with good fates. Freedom... freedom is without boundaries, hence the name."

"Freedom is also like a little bird. Let’s call it The Flying Birds Group," Xu Yang decided. "Asa Katsuragi’s duty is to stabilize order and ensure city security. Your task is to promote the most combat-capable individuals from the gang and train them into reliable armed personnel. Your future stage will not just be the small Aizu City but to participate in corporate warfare. I think it isn’t your first time on the battlefield, so no issues, right?"

"Of course, it’s just that the days of living dangerously are back," Kong Tai joked, followed by silence as he became stern and serious.

"These soldiers are not only to be selected from the gang members," Xu Yang said. "What’s more important is to train the most combative of the unemployed migrants. Surely some of them have thought about confronting the corporations, but they can’t unify allies and resist the order the corporations impose on them, thus they fall on hard times and can only accept arrangements. But they still have a resolute fighting spirit. Your mission is to discover and train them, accumulating power for the ultimate challenge to corporate dominance."

"That’s true," Kong Tai nodded. "These days, there are quite a few defiant individuals on the streets. Many are dismissed from other quasi-military organizations. Either we take them in, or we just watch them cause trouble and then get killed."

"Cultivating their professionalism and discipline is key," Xu Yang said. "How many months will it take to get them into shape?"

"Half a year," calculated Kong Tai. "Using the old mercenaries’ method, give me a place. Starting from low-intensity combat assignments, in six months, I will bring you 2,000 professional security personnel, calculated using the standards of big corporations."

"Okay, I’ll allocate as much funds as you need," Xu Yang said. "Once your trained forces are ready, combined with our existing shuttle machines, we too can take part in real war, not confined to a single city."

"I’m used to all kinds of battles, but what you said before still surprises me," Kong Tai pondered. "Do you really want to challenge corporate dominance? It’s very difficult."

"We must, even if it’s difficult. After all, we’ll have a more spacious world if we change the landscape," Xu Yang said. "When that time comes, we’ll have a truly boundless future."