Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 427 - 384: The Publicized Murder

Chapter 427: Chapter 384: The Publicized Murder

Summoned by Lila, Pan Ruiyi went to ensure Lila’s safety to prevent her from getting hurt.

She really couldn’t figure out what danger Lila could still face in Anjiu City, but Lila had said so, insisting that Pan Ruiyi must personally escort her because someone had explicitly stated they wanted to kill Lila.

"What are you going to do?" Pan Ruiyi saw Lila, who was waiting for the Shuttle Machine at the landing pad of the Shijin Mansion.

"Open the daily news from Kakuya Media, you’ll see many new developments," Lila said.

Pan Ruiyi took out her phone, found the interface, and quickly saw a four-screened robot enthusiastically promoting.

"Citizens of Anjiu City, citizens of Anjiu City!" it cheerfully said, "Treat this day as a commemorative day for the city! The mayor has spoken and wants to form our very own council! Cast your ballot, decide on strategies, you are also part of this city, so why not cast a vote for the popular leader of your heart!"

"Establishing a council!" Pan Ruiyi exclaimed in surprise.

As she traveled, she saw numerous floating inflatable airships, their sides covered with campaign artwork of candidates, whom she had thought were film and TV stars because they were dressed so flamboyantly. She hadn’t realized it was for running in elections.

"Corporate control has left everyone in misery," Lila spoke to Pan Ruiyi as simply as possible, "and now the citizens want to establish something new—a new government to serve the people."

"What’s the use of a council?" Pan Ruiyi was puzzled.

"An elected council is certainly better than Oohara Nobuhiko issuing commands single-handedly at the city center. The council will also establish and promulgate more laws."

"Laws!" Pan Ruiyi found the idea amusing, "What use are laws."

"Hmm," Lila nodded, "If that’s what you think, so be it."

"No, wait," Pan Ruiyi quickly interjected, "help me understand, I really don’t know what laws are for."

"The moment you have eaten your fill, have surplus at home," Lila said, "you’ll want a kind of commonly accepted public assurance that you can eat tomorrow what you ate today, drink what you drank today, and that your surplus will not be looted. So the law is a need for order that comes after basic needs are met."

"You don’t have to tell me that," Pan Ruiyi nodded.

"Actually, in the civilized era, the pains of Humans, the pains of Witches, can also be attributed to the lack of legal protection."

"Oh?" Pan Ruiyi’s interest was piqued.

"Without laws, people would live forever in fear of having their rights violated. The same goes for Witches; many Witches are killed at birth because the law does not stipulate their legitimate rights."

"Really," Pan Ruiyi wasn’t cultured, many concepts were new to her.

"In short, the law forces every intelligent being to adopt a rational way of thinking," Lila calmly explained, "Every society needs written laws; without laws, there’s no civilization to speak of. The same applies to the six million citizens of Anjiu City, whose needs are continuously increasing. Having enough to eat and wear, enjoying entertainment and family, then they hope for a set of laws to defend their legitimate rights."

"Now I understand," Pan Ruiyi spread her hands, "so it’s something good. But will the mayor really give up power?"

"With strong public opinion, people pressuring the mayor, he has no choice but to do so, otherwise he’ll be killed sooner or later," Lila nodded, "but we all know Oohara Nobuhiko is adept at playing both sides. He will fill the council with elites and entrepreneurs, cramming it full of useless parasites."

"You’re an entrepreneur too," Pan Ruiyi cheerfully said, "you’re certain to be elected."

"Not necessarily."

"If others join the council and we don’t, won’t we become fish on a cutting board?" Pan Ruiyi thought of those fishes.

"I am a Witch after all," Lila said dispassionately, "We did a poll, only 7% of citizens support the idea of a Witch becoming a member of Anjiu City’s council."

"They fear Witches that much?" Pan Ruiyi laughed heartily, "Do they let Witches vote?"

"Most Witches are assets of corporations and don’t have the opportunity to vote," Lila nodded, "...the attitude of Humans towards Witches is not fear, but pure hostility. They’ve systematically slaughtered Witches before, and if they had the chance, they would certainly do it again."

"Luckily we’re in this safe city," Pan Ruiyi said.

"There are dangers here too," Lila looked towards the camouflaged riot Shuttle Machine approaching, "A group of assassins waits in the plaza in front of the city center, wanting to take my life. They have openly declared in the online anti-Witch groups that if I dare show up at the city center plaza, they will kill me in plain sight."

Pan Ruiyi’s heart skipped a beat.

"Kill... kill you?" Pan Ruiyi was confused.

"A group of assassins, supporters of Pure Humanism," Lila adjusted her white suit jacket, "they hate all Witches and have been promoting it on the net for a long time."

"Nestor Corporation has done so many good deeds," Pan Ruiyi was astonished, "Without the wastelands we opened up, half of the city would have starved to death. And all sorts of attacks, and everyday security, isn’t all that due to your merit? Are they too foolish to think of striking at you?"

"We don’t understand them, just as they don’t understand us," Lila said, "Just focus on doing our own things."

"Then let’s root them out and kill them, better to nip trouble in the bud," Pan Ruiyi said.

Lila shook her head, which made Pan Ruiyi feel odd inside.

Fearing the attackers, Pan Ruiyi thought silently. Then why not just kill off the hidden attackers? Lila could already discern which people were villains; wouldn’t everything be fine once they were all rooted out and killed? But Pan Ruiyi’s intelligence couldn’t reach the deeper details and could only first accompany Lila to the city center.

When the Shuttle Machine arrived, Lila’s deputy Aledy came down to salute them.

"Commander!" she said with a strong voice, "Major Aledy of the Nestor Legion reports to you!"

"Let’s go," Lila responded briefly, and Aledy headed back onto the Shuttle Machine, resuming control. Pan Ruiyi and Lila boarded one after the other.

Looking at Aledy, Pan Ruiyi nodded secretly, liking this fiery young girl. She wasn’t very tall but was exceptionally strong, fierce, and tenacious—a typical female soldier.

"The troops going to Silla will be departing soon." Lila glanced at Pan Ruiyi. "Are you going?"

"I have some matters to attend to," Pan Ruiyi reiterated her position. "I need to protect Shijin Mansion."

"Hm," Lila did not say much more.

The Shuttle Machine arrived at the municipal center of Anjiu City.

This building was like an art gallery, white in color and avant-garde in design. The city square was already surrounded by people, very noisy. At least twenty thousand people had gathered here, buzzing with activity, the noise incessant, as far as the eye could see.

All sorts of robots and drones were buzzing around. It was still daytime, so the neon and colorful paint weren’t as obvious, but they were eye-catching enough.

"Don’t we have our own people here?" Pan Ruiyi glanced at the ground security. "I was worried that with such a large venue, security would be troublesome. Turns out, not a single staff member is wearing a uniform from Nestor Corporation."

"The mayor has hired people from the Continental Alliance Duty," said Lila, "He’s now trying to push Nestor Corporation out of the power circle."

Pushing Nestor Corporation away.

"We are only just climbing up, not yet stable at the top, and he is in such a hurry," Pan Ruiyi scoffed.

"Because he’s afraid," said Lila, "Oohara Nobuhiko feels his life is in my hands, and it makes him uneasy."

"After all, Nestor Corporation is developing faster than anyone imagined," Pan Ruiyi nodded.

"Rapid growth in power means risks and jealousy," said Lila.

"I’ll protect you. Any assassin will be killed by me, and I kill quickly," Pan Ruiyi hurried to say.

"Hmm," Lila’s tone was flat.

Seeing agents from Continental Alliance Duty below, Pan Ruiyi put on her helmet and armor, adjusted her voice changer, activated her anti-scanning device, and put on her badge to avoid being singled out.

The Shuttle Machine landed on the apron, and the Continental Alliance Duty’s drones came up for a routine check, only granting them entry after ensuring they didn’t carry any weapons of mass destruction.

"Disgusting," Pan Ruiyi turned back, "Look at those drones buzzing around."

"Most assassins can carry things like silencers into the venue," Lila walked on her own accord, "It’s something that can’t be prevented completely, many people hide weapons inside their bodies."

"Then I’ll have to keep an eye out," Pan Ruiyi nodded.

They entered the venue.

"You still came." Oohara Nobuhiko approached from the other side of the parking lot. "Those anti-Witch assassins are quite arrogant. Aren’t you afraid at all?"

"Of course, I’m not afraid," said Lila.

"Please be careful, the killer might be hiding in the crowd," Oohara Nobuhiko advised kindly, then turned and left.

"The assassin he arranged!" Pan Ruiyi sharply commented. "Look at him!"

"Who knows." Lila remained composed. "Maybe he knows nothing."

Each candidate had to give a speech. Lila prepared her speech to introduce herself in public; if she could gain the support of the people, she would become one of the actual controllers of the entire city, officially entering the core power circle of Anjiu City.

"Hey, Lila!" Asa Katsuragi came over cheerfully, dressed in a dark red suit, greeting Lila with her exaggerated mechanical arm.

"Good to see you, Miss Katsuragi." Lila walked forward, meanwhile whispering to Pan Ruiyi behind her, "Asa Katsuragi is definitely getting a seat; she has much more advantage in this area than we do."

She was the boss of Aizu City. Of course, she would get elected by the people of Aizu City. Pan Ruiyi understood this well in her heart. Aizu City was an inseparable part of Anjiu City.

Asa Katsuragi kindly guided Lila to a spot she had reserved, many of her key members and followers had joined Nestor Corporation, which was a welcome development for her. After all, those rough types being lazy and idle on her turf every day were better going to Nestor Corporation to learn some military discipline.

Kong Tai and his members of The Flying Birds Group were placing benches nearby the square for the citizens to watch the speeches.

"Continental Alliance Duty’s soldiers are frivolous," Kong Tai brought over a chair for them. "It’s really disgraceful, I even saw a soldier who kept giving me an annoying, silly smile as if we were well-acquainted."

"After all, it’s a major continental corporation," Lila said, "They spend more on marketing and publicity than on the actual quality."

Lila then sat on the bench in silence, waiting for the candidates to give their speeches one after the other, seeking the support of the public.

This was the first truly public event in Anjiu City, and the citizens were very excited. Each held cameras to broadcast live.

The Scavengers Society had also sent some people to watch on-site. They weren’t citizens of Anjiu City, but they hoped the candidates would mention promises about cleaning up trash and promoting environmental protection. They yearned to establish the city’s first environmental protection law to slow the accumulation of Garbage Hill.

As for who should be elected, this issue had already been discussed tens of thousands of times in local forums. Choosing representatives was an interesting thing; for the first time, residents of Anjiu City found they could express some opinions on public affairs. It felt like discovering a New World, and those candidates were all marketing themselves desperately, like professional performers.

Now was the last day of the New Year’s holiday, and after voting, they would have to go back to work. Thinking about this dreadful fact, any candidates who promised to extend the holidays received a lot of advance votes.

"Everyone seems pretty excited," Asa Katsuragi commented, "but I’ve heard in the end it will be whoever Oohara Nobuhiko wants to choose. Is that true?"

"This is a matter filled with speculation and games," Lila closed her eyes, "Many people want to rule over six million citizens, naturally, there are a lot of backroom dealings, leaving space for rent-seeking."

"So what do we do?" Asa Katsuragi, concerned, had seen the opinions on local forums. "A lot of people are questioning Nestor Corporation, saying nitpicking things. And they’ve changed the security service provider for this venue. Doesn’t that mean we’re going down?"

"Let’s first hear what the mayor has to say about it," Lila looked up towards the center of the square.