Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 324 - 294 City Council

Chapter 324: Chapter 294 City Council

"Ah," Lila stood up and showed her terminal to Xu Yang, "Master, the Corporate Alliance has sent a golden key to my mailbox."

She opened the key in front of Xu Yang, revealing a one-time automatic production standard matched with a 3D printer; once used up, it could produce a unique Special Protection Card, a card meant to verify the identity and status of the holder.

Those who held the card, within the Corporate Ideology World, could enjoy various privileges and benefits, entirely different from ordinary people. The card that the Corporate Alliance issued to Lila was Level 30, with the maximum being Level 180.

"Due to Nestor Corporation’s economic expansion," Xu Yang nodded, "you’ve also been recognized by the Corporate Alliance as a reliable entrepreneur."

"Affordable high-quality security services, vacation clubs, loan limits, priority in bulk purchasing." Lila checked the discounts on the Special Protection Card, "Looks quite substantial."

"It’s like a ticket to the privileged class, print it out," Xu Yang said.

Lila connected her terminal to the 3D printer and quickly produced a copperplate card with a simple form but full efficacy, about the size of a palm, similar to various driving licenses. Kanako also had one at Level 100, very useful.

The card bore Lila’s portrait, which she had updated recently – a selfie she had taken with makeup on.

"This photo is really beautiful," Xu Yang complimented. Lila normally didn’t wear makeup at all, but now, fully made up for the camera, she was stunning.

"It’s nothing." Lila said shyly.

"I can’t imagine going through life without you," Xu Yang picked Lila up, and she laughed happily.

"My dearest master..." Lila kissed Xu Yang deeply, "Lila belongs to master, and will complete all of master’s tasks."

There was a supplementary card to the main card, Level 15, half that of the primary. Xu Yang, holding Lila, glanced at the contents of the card, which mentioned parking benefits.

Speaking of parking, he remembered something critical – that time he and Farosa had driven the Anonymous to Thousand Blessings Shrine and then headed to Nangong Island. Upon returning from Nangong Island, they went straight back to Shijin Mansion, leaving the Anonymous at the entrance to the Shrine. He would have to find time to retrieve it; the Anonymous had witnessed their business grow from nothing and could not be simply discarded.

"Our account funds look very optimistic," Xu Yang looked at the financial reports of Nestor Corporation, including the trade volume of Jumen Commerce.

"We chartered a large ship to transport ore," Lila explained, "On its return trip, I had it buy 600 refrigerated containers of vegetables, fruits, and meats, plus two grain bulk cargo holds. They sold out as soon as they reached the port."

"How clever of you." Xu Yang kissed Lila again, "The shipping lanes are very dangerous and inconvenient for transport."

"Most routes are bitten down by Black Fire Innovation’s submarines, only a few sea lanes leading to Xia District and the Great Northern Region are usable," Lila said.

Xu Yang picked up two Special Protection Cards, symbols of Corporate Ideology’s continued dominant position in the world.

Clearly distinguished by their levels, the Special Protection Cards delineated the social hierarchy; Xu Yang mused. Everyone struggled to climb, feeling good about their ascent, but looking up, they would see many more layers, and looking down, they’d find themselves standing on the heads of many others. At the very top, just a few people, and with each layer down the pyramid, the number of people exponentially increased. After all, it’s a tower that requires millions of base supporters for one person to enjoy the view at the top.

That’s why the old privileges need to be shattered, to flatten the social structure.

"We have to kill Honma Noriko," Xu Yang put the cards aside.

"That’s a grand goal," Lila sighed.

"She’s tough to deal with," Xu Yang pondered, "If she were to die, the Archipelago would again experience a new round of more extensive turmoil and redistribution."

"I can hardly imagine," Lila also realized the enormity of the plan, "If Honma Noriko were to die, companies across the Eastern Hemisphere would start a new round of infighting to seize the power vacuum."

"If Xisheng were to split internally, sparking a succession war," Xu Yang nodded, "then it wouldn’t just be about the city of Anjiu City. Including Shangjing, Akasumi City, Nanqi City, and other corporate cities, the real chaos would come, a huge firework exploding over the Northern Archipelago."

Transforming Honma Noriko, who was among the very first to endorse and support Kanako’s expansion within Xisheng, had indeed helped Kanako steady her position within the family and also availed Nestor Corporation a loan of ten billion in funds. However, as the situation evolved, everything was growing more complex again.

"War," Lila reflected, "A single war is already too much for Anjiu City to handle."

"That’s why I had Kanako prepare some troops in advance, right?" Xu Yang nodded, "It will be convenient to mobilize them when the time comes, ensuring quick victory. However, whether we kill Honma Noriko or cooperate with her, that’s for Farosa to decide."

Lila looked down and saw Farosa’s Witch Training Center grandly opening below her. Lila had never seen Farosa reveal such a lively and patient side. She personally designed new uniforms for all the Young Witches: elementary school blouses in black, white, and red, with scarves, plaid skirts, white stockings, and little leather shoes. She tied their hair in ponytails, resolved their dining and accommodation issues.

They also devoted themselves to the business with Farosa, which was a very fulfilling job for the Little Witches, watching the Young Witches who were initially foolish and sickly come alive day by day.

"This is the most meaningful work I can think of, carefully prepared for Farosa," Xu Yang said. "She’s shrewd and aloof, but we have to admit that in many ways, she’s still a big kid, needing the company of children. From them, Farosa can see her faults and correct them."

"So what would the big kid do?" Lila pondered.

"Since it was Farosa’s decision," Xu Yang said, "no one knows what she’s thinking, and this is absolutely confidential to prevent it from being deduced by any other strange power."

"Then let’s put this aside until we really come into contact with Honma Noriko. It seems we won’t meet her for quite some time," Lila understood.

Immediately afterward, Lila, as president of Nestor Corporation, received an urgent invitation from Mayor Oohara Nobuhiko of Anjiu City, urging her to attend the Anjiu City Urban Development Meeting in a timely manner.

The main purpose of this conference was to resolve a series of unresolved difficulties in Anjiu City, with the most urgent issue being the resumption of work and production to solve the problem of people returning to their jobs.

The next issue was damaged housing. Most citizens had taken out hefty loans to purchase their homes, and the Black Fire Innovation campaign of unrestrained bombing had, on one hand, destroyed decades of citizens’ savings, and on the other, damaged many construction projects in progress, even causing many high-rise residential buildings to be declared unfinished. If not managed well, this could lead to massive civil unrest.

At this point, the economic problems were glaringly obvious, Xu Yang thought to himself. Corporate Ideology closely tied individuals to economic activities; people were either engaged in economic activities immediately or accumulating knowledge and skills to participate in them. Even if these processes were disrupted by external forces, people would still be drawn back to these critical matters like they were by a black hole’s gravity.

If people were incapable of engaging in these activities, they would be immediately abandoned by society. Under Corporate Ideology, people were treated as a type of economic resource, like coal used for generating electricity.

"Then let’s go take a look," Xu Yang said. "I guess Mayor Oohara Nobuhiko knows too that the city is broke and needs to figure out financing options, seeking loans from intercontinental financial capitals. This requires the city’s businesses to unite to give the external capitals confidence to invest."

"I’ll share the updates with the master in real-time," Lila said, syncing her visual information with Xu Yang, so he could see and hear everything around her.

Then, Lila put on a white formal outfit.

"Do I look good in this?" she blinked at Xu Yang.

"You look beautiful," Xu Yang kissed Lila goodbye.

Good woman...

After Lila left, he checked on the condition of A40. It had been burnt by an invisible dark flame and now lay there like scrap, later collected along with other parts and important documents in a large box, sent to Farosa’s office at the training center. When Farosa was in a good mood, she would restore these scraps.

As soon as A40 was restored, it sent a message to Xu Yang, who quickly went to check on A40’s condition.

"How do you feel?" Xu Yang asked, "The battle? Huang Feng?"

"I want to keep fighting!" A40 said energetically, "I am loyal to the New World Mechanism, and I will continue to compete for wealth and honor in the Colosseum Arena."

"Now many still divide their territories through combat; you’ll definitely have a role to play," Xu Yang said.

"Yes!" A40 was more fierce. Its bravery, swordsmanship, and determination had developed in sync, no longer the fragile robot it was at the beginning.

Meanwhile, Lila stood at the door of the meeting, seeing that they were preparing to issue a worldwide manhunt for A40. It was said that due to its erroneous operation, about 20 wealthy individuals with Special Protection Cards of level 60 and above had disappeared and had not been found.

The reward for A40, 19 million funds, worldwide manhunt.

This was really a tricky situation; if A40 stayed here, it would attract a lot of unnecessary attention.

Xu Yang also saw the same thing as Lila and placed his hands on A40’s shoulders.

"Overall, it’s best to run for now," he said.