Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 333 - 303: A New Look

Chapter 333: Chapter 303: A New Look

Xu Yang checked the current situation.

In an era of turmoil, a brand-new animation production pattern emerged. After Kyoto Infinity lost its edge, its animation production subsidiaries scattered across various regions became independent and sought reform, streamlining their operational scale.

As a result, a large number of manga artists ended their contracts and struck out on their own. Some artists, driven to desperation, found inspiration and began creating works with real-life and dark themes, offering a refreshing perspective to audiences.

In fact, after this ordeal, the Northern Archipelago was overpowered by the violence of Black Fire Innovation, leading the public to favor a complete abandonment of the war budget and the widespread adoption of the concept of demilitarization. The independent cities sought to avoid conflict, intent on developing the entertainment industry with all their might.

In Xu Yang’s view, this was not a wise move because war is not something one can avoid simply by retreating. Having tasted success for the first time, Black Fire Innovation would continue to launch military invasions in the future. Therefore, he still had to raise funds, develop production, and enhance combat capabilities.

Xu Yang waited for Little Fool to finish her milk.

"Gua." Little Fool made an indistinct sound and threw the empty bottle onto the ground.

Xu Yang picked up the empty bottle and put it in his bag. With one hand, he picked up Little Fool, ready to check out the Self Help Society’s territory with that group of people.

"You’re under arrest," a loud voice rang out from behind him.

Recognizing that it was Pan Ruiyi’s voice, Xu Yang didn’t move much.

"How can you not react at all! Come over here!" Pan Ruiyi said playfully as she grabbed Xu Yang from behind. Little Fool turned to take a glance, and Pan Ruiyi immediately felt a faint barrier of force being generated, seemingly preventing her from getting close to Xu Yang.

Had it blocked hostility? Pan Ruiyi reached out to test it.

"What’s wrong?" Xu Yang sensed something amiss as the Little Fool in his arms struggled as if trying to lean out and hit Pan Ruiyi.

After all, Pan Ruiyi was too powerful. She punched through the barrier of air and completely drained Little Fool’s magic power. Little Fool’s movements instantly weakened, and she leaned against Xu Yang’s embrace.

"She has a kind of defensive magic power," Pan Ruiyi said, patting Little Fool’s forehead, "She’ll protect others when she grows up."

"Let’s hope so," Xu Yang observed Pan Ruiyi.

Since Pan Ruiyi feared being captured by spies from Kyushu High Pavilion, she had thoroughly disguised herself.

She wore a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and a camouflaged mask, along with a khaki short jacket over a white tank top. Xu Yang stopped looking there because that pair of impressive cups captured his attention, preventing him from making out what else Pan Ruiyi was wearing.

If we’re talking about cup size, Pan Ruiyi far surpassed everything, heavy and substantial, impossible to grasp with just two hands. Xu Yang had to respect Little Fool, so he averted his eyes.

"Where are you looking, company man?" Pan Ruiyi liked to tease Xu Yang.

"Both of us are serious offenders, so let’s be careful," he replied.

"Hey, I’m really clever."

"Didn’t Farosa send you to take care of the kid?" Xu Yang handed Little Fool to Pan Ruiyi.

"I’m off today, not working." Pan Ruiyi pushed Little Fool back, "Ever heard of work-life balance?"

"I’m also on a day off," Xu Yang walked towards the airship port, "We’re taking Purple Wind."

Upon seeing Purple Wind, Pan Ruiyi’s eyes lit up.

"Your airship is so cool," she said, fascinated by the sleek appearance of Purple Wind. It was the latest model of a business shuttle, luxurious and trendy in both exterior and interior design. Apart from its combat functionality, every other aspect was top-notch.

"It’s good enough that it runs," Xu Yang placed Little Fool in the child seat. After using up her magic power, she began to sleep.

Pan Ruiyi followed inside the airship, throwing herself on the sofa in the cabin with such force that Xu Yang wondered if she might break the seat.

Looking back, he saw Pan Ruiyi toss off a pair of white knee-high boots and stretch out her bare feet. After days of campaigning and wearing heavy combat boots and shiny black pantyhose, one could imagine the odor. Xu Yang felt somewhat dazed by the smell.

"Put your shoes on," he ordered, then closed the cabin door.

"Stingy," Pan Ruiyi complained, sliding her feet wrapped in black stockings back into her boots. Then she removed her mask and opened the liquor cabinet at the back of the cabin to grab a beer, "Where are you going?"

"To the Self Help Society."

"That place sounds boring. Take me to an automatized beauty shop; I want hair removal," Pan Ruiyi said.

"You are particularly meticulous in this respect," Xu Yang drove Purple Wind back to Aizu City. Underground cities had more of these small industries.

He parked Purple Wind in a secluded corner and found an automatized beauty shop. He took Pan Ruiyi inside, where a service robot awaited them, equipped with a full set of tools. Xu Yang circled around, leaning against the shuttle machine, looking at his phone.

About 30 minutes later, Pan Ruiyi came out looking refreshed and boastfully showed Xu Yang her smooth legs and then her armpits.

"I’ve wanted to shave for so long; it looked so unsightly," she said, "But I’ve been swamped with all sorts of petty jobs every day."

"Come up." Xu Yang took Pan Ruiyi back onto the Shuttle Machine.

Little Fool had already woken up by then, sitting in her seat unnaturally drooling. Xu Yang wiped the saliva from her lips.

"Okay, corporate girl." Pan Ruiyi tilted her leg, her high boots swaying, "Now let’s go to that Self Help Society you talked about. Do they have restaurants there?"

"Your presence really changes the atmosphere."

"Because everyone else treats you like a boss," Pan Ruiyi cast a coquettish glance at Xu Yang, "while I still see you as that corporate guy, stumbling and trying to escape."

"Everything has changed." Xu Yang said as he made the Purple Wind take off, heading toward the Self Help Society.

"What’s changed? You’re still you." Pan Ruiyi walked toward Xu Yang, took off his mask, unbuttoned his coat, and removed his nanotech vest. Her fingers caressed his cheeks, and Xu Yang felt like it had been a long time since he showed his true face, the sensation now was especially peculiar, like a dream.

"If at that moment in the parking lot, you had arrested me, none of this would have happened." Xu Yang said.

"Who knows," Pan Ruiyi wrapped her arms around Xu Yang’s back, "if we keep thinking like that, what would it be like if we had never been born in the first place?"

"I..."

Pan Ruiyi hugged Xu Yang tightly, and he felt as though he were about to be drowned in a soft, large comfort.

"The unparalleled Pan Ruiyi is taking orders from you, what else is there to worry about?" she said.

Before long, she released Xu Yang and lay back to play with her smartphone.

This is why I can’t be a good father, nor can I establish a family. Xu Yang thought to himself. He sat next to Little Fool, whose eyes were staring straight at the opposite wall of the cabin.

When the Purple Wind arrived at the territory of the Self Help Society, overlooking the whole settlement, people had built one unregulated dwelling after another around several simple tin houses, with a few RVs and pickups also driven here.

Even from high up in the Shuttle Machine, one could hear the people below shouting and yelling, completely caught in a simple joy and frenzy.

Decorporatization...

Xu Yang landed the Purple Wind about 100 meters away from these settlements, carrying Little Fool inside to explore. Pan Ruiyi, finding no signal inside, thought it was boring and preferred to stay in the cabin to look at her phone.

Here was a community established under the leadership of the Poison Master, rebellious and advocating the eradication of all ills brought by urban and corporate life. She detested corporations and refused to live under their shadow.

Seeking Shadow was currently hiding in the Self Help Society. With the city’s security being reorganized from scratch by Lila, Seeking Shadow no longer administered individual punishment to criminals in Anjiu City. Under the commission of the Poison Master, she roamed the Self Help Society, attacking and punishing those who did not follow the rules.

Xu Yang saw that every member who joined the Self Help Society took an oath to fully understand its philosophy, to willingly donate all their valuables, to spend all the cash from their Funds cards, turning it into practical materials, all submitted to the Poison Master. The Poison Master then used a very cheap artificial intelligence to distribute, ensuring that everyone got their daily rations and roughly an equal share of materials.

Trade had devolved to a barter system, and because everyone hardly had any personal belongings, sometimes one might miss a meal to save some food, to exchange with others for little trinkets they wanted. At this stage, women’s bodies and men’s labor became significant resources for exchange.

The whole Self Help Society presented a very primitive face, lacking electricity and the internet, so people could only indulge in pleasure; partnerships were based on mutual attraction, and partners often changed, making marriage nonexistent.

The society was still very united at the moment, with one key aspect being that they buried the deceased, giving them a decent place to die, which strongly attracted many elderly, disabled, or disinterested in life, who joined to live a quiet life here for a while, then embraced death.

Xu Yang, holding Little Fool, made a round and quickly found two problems.

One was the issue of division. As the Self Help Society leveled the differences in wealth gained after birth, the innate physical differences became prominent. Several tall, robust, young men established their dominance in the society, reverting to a primate-like selection of the fittest. Muscular college students, more so than frail corporate drones, gained popularity in the society. With higher chances of procreation, they would soon establish their families.

The other problem was productivity. They lived in a gap between city and landfill, capable only of primitive agriculture and not yet ready for industrial production, doomed to long-term hardship as a marginalized group, even struggling for food.

An upside was the successful implementation of self-exile. They accomplished a degree of nonviolent non-cooperation against corporate life, a place for those with no desires, content to "lie flat."

Little Fool yawned in Xu Yang’s arms. He carried her back to the Purple Wind, and Pan Ruiyi put down her phone, looking at him, "Where to next?"

"Wait a moment." Xu Yang’s Digital Mind received a message from Kirino Reisei.

Kirino Reisei still had control over Kyoto Infinity. Xu Yang thought to himself. Kyoto Infinity had downsized its business scope but had not vanished, so her message still demanded attention.

"Are you acquainted with any sharp and competent Mercenaries?" Kirino Reisei inquired in her message.

"I should have some good people." Xu Yang thought of A40 roaming outside.

"This one is hunting a monster," Kirino Reisei continued, "a Fox Spirit named Nanase Kizuna, traveling westward toward the Eternal Cherry Blossom Shrine. The last group this one sent out was completely slaughtered, achieving nothing."

A Fox Spirit? Xu Yang pondered. As for the Eternal Cherry Blossom Shrine, A40 was also heading in that direction, so it would be good to ask A40 to keep an eye out.

"Yes." Xu Yang replied, "As soon as there’s any discovery, I will inform you immediately."

"This one is deeply grateful."