Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 465 - 416: The Advancing Suzukawa Army

Chapter 465: Chapter 416: The Advancing Suzukawa Army

Suzukawa Kiyo’s purest Crystal People! Even as a mysterious attacker, they were the most bizarre in history.

The old market was located at Yanwang River, Shichome. Following the Corporate Alliance’s announcement, local safety contractors immediately sealed off the area.

All electronic devices near the area received a message from the Shangjing United Security Company, instructing all personnel to promptly leave, cease business activities, clear out facilities, and move valuable items.

If they refused to comply, the security company would deny any compensation for damages.

In response, those surveillance devices scattered across the streets and alleys also entered emergency mode, projecting virtual barricades in the form of high walls of neon light screens hovering eerily. The barrier carried the security company’s logo, Kyoto Infinity’s certification code, and an official warning from Century Pure Land that if anything forcefully passed through, it would generate a record to block ground traffic and control the flow of people and vehicles.

"Roar!"

"Cackle cackle—"

"Awoo!" The Crystal People kept emerging from fissures in the ground, their strange cries unceasing.

They appeared almost human-like, with very sturdy torsos and a slightly smaller stature, while the central Crystal Golem was exceptionally tall, comparable to a war machine.

This old market, the trading hub of Yanwang River, Shichome, was densely crowded with people, including members of Shangjing’s gangs. Now confronted by enemies, these fearless individuals naturally picked up various Bomb Cannons, Laser Three Eyed Guns, and shotguns to violently fire at the Crystal People.

"Fire!"

"Hold the line!"

"Destroy these monsters!"

"Don’t let them break through!"

Bang! Bang!

The sound of gunfire was incessant as they desperately retaliated against the Crystal People, trying to stop the momentum of these menacing crystalline life-forms. However, the advancing Crystal People were like a tide of nightmares, and neither high-density energy cutting nor bullet firing were effective, as their shots were deflected or bounced off by the crystal armor.

They brushed past the soft counterattacks, howling as they pounced on the civilians, using their heavy, sturdy crystal fists to smash ribs and shatter skulls. It wasn’t long before the old market was awash with blood!

"It’s like some toy market gone berserk!" Pan Ruiyi flew back to the outskirts of the restaurant.

Xu Yang quickly settled the bill, picked up Little Fool, and came out to the street, staring at the chaotic old market from afar.

The Shangjing United Security Company was now controlling the situation around Yanwang River, Shichome, with several armed helicopters and "Ming King" type heavy armored Shuttle Machines arriving to take charge of the scene. Cybersecurity personnel covered the warzone, taking over equipment rights, switching encryption keys, and several drones took off, intercepting aerial reconnaissance devices from third parties, determined to extinguish this Crystal People disaster as swiftly as possible.

Elite security personnel rappelled down from vehicles, fully armored and armed, with Main Battle Rifles and anti-explosion suits as standard equipment. They carried electromagnetic grenades to target ancient machinery, and biochemical virus javelins to combat esoteric monsters.

However, their emergency plans had not included Crystal People, an extraordinary life form, and so for the time being, they could only resort to conventional firepower to reduce and contain their charge.

The security personnel pulled their triggers, laying down a barrage of gunfire, while aerial vessels supported them with naval guns and anti-ground missiles. The Crystal People seemed to be pushed back, but they still used their small frames to maneuver through the complex terrain, obviously searching for something important rather than engaging in careful combat. Moreover, none of these attacks managed to bring down even the smallest Crystal Person, at most knocking them over, but they would quickly rise again.

As for the largest Crystal Golem, it remained unscathed no matter how fiercely it was attacked! Its presence was like a totem, along with a flagbearer, motivating the Crystal People to relentlessly assault.

"These things came from underground?" Wei Shiyue saw the Crystal People scurrying about. "Where were they hiding before?"

"Hmm..." Xu Yang instantly thought of the answer. "Rat nests. Initially, all of Shangjing’s Ratmen were killed by Mack, leaving behind a complex network of rat burrows and paths, which have now become gathering places for Suzukawa Kiyo enthusiasts."

"Partying underground every day? That’s as many as the rats!" Pan Ruiyi was startled. "These Crystal People aren’t easy to deal with."

"Hard to say, you guys go back first," Xu Yang instructed as he turned around. "Wei Shiyue, take Du Qianqian, Pan Ruiyi, take Xu Cheng."

"Yes!" Pan Ruiyi picked up Little Fool and left.

"What about you?" Wei Shiyue, carrying the drunken Du Qianqian, couldn’t help worrying about the boss’s safety.

"I’ll take another look," Xu Yang wanted to ascertain the intentions of the Crystal People.

As the crowds fled, Xu Yang entered an old apartment building and looked down from a high window in the hallway, observing the scene inside the old market.

The Crystal People plundered several black markets, slaughtering the gang members and illegal merchants, then carried away precious ornaments, medicinal herbs, and materials.

These were the items that Farosa sought. Xu Yang thought to himself. The Crystal People serving Suzukawa Kiyo seemed to take them back to their mistress. Had Suzukawa Kiyo ultimately become the king of the Crystal People? Those loyal to her, one by one, willingly became pure Crystals, offering everything to her, forming a crystallized Suzukawa Army!

The personnel of Shangjing United Security Company were basically unable to break the defenses of the Crystal People, only able to watch as these invulnerable mystic crystal life forms returned underground through the fissures, their mission accomplished, leaving behind corpses and remnants of buildings. After these ten or so minutes of chaos, Yanwang River, Shichome was completely disfigured.

The incident was tightly covered up, with news circulating only within deep, anonymous networks. Soon after, construction machines and riot control troops quickly arrived on the scene, ready to completely eliminate news of the Crystal People’s disturbance, thereby maximally protecting corporate reputation.

Xu Yang hid near the bottom-floor bar, observing the official report.

"We are very sorry, due to insufficient early warning, a mystic study attack occurred." A spokesperson for Shangjing United Security Company explained to the media, "Our rapid response unit arrived at the scene within sixty seconds and performed exceptionally well. After ten minutes of desperate struggle, we successfully quelled the situation. To this day, Shangjing United Security Company remains the best choice for protecting the safety of the citizens."

Seeing him explain it that way, the people in the bar were indignant.

"Nonsense!"

"Really!"

"They can’t beat the Crystal People at all!" These apartment residents had just been outside, watching the battle at the second-hand market, and knew a little about the situation.

Indeed, the company’s people were boasting shamelessly. Xu Yang thought to himself. If anyone believed the company’s routine, they might still get hurt by the Crystal People. It was time to let everyone see the truth.

He anonymously uploaded the clear video he had recorded with Digital Mind to various media platforms. Today he had also witnessed Kyoto Infinity’s operational methods, so he surreptitiously altered the key information functions of the video, making it be recognized by the automatic streaming media algorithms as a featured recommendation, quickly appearing in the feeds of a vast number of users.

Upon seeing the clearly recorded battle footage, and witnessing how the Crystal People slaughtered civilians in the second-hand market and withstood gunfire, viewers couldn’t help but click their tongues in wonder.

"So many Crystal People!"

"How strange, let’s take another look."

"Bullets can’t even penetrate them!"

The fact of the Crystal People’s appearance gradually spread among the citizens. Such news proliferated and spread rapidly.

After receiving backstage news, a reporter looked at the confident spokesperson and asked, "If your company’s weapons are so effective, have you eliminated any Crystal People?"

"That is a question full of hostility." The spokesperson, also informed of the information leak, hastily ended the communication.

Xu Yang left the bar, secretly observing the scene from the alleys. The entire second-hand market was under heavy blockade, denying all access, not even allowing observation of the underground cracks.

The magical items that Farosa wanted to buy were probably seized by the Crystal People. Xu Yang left the scene, pondering. If he didn’t buy the items and take them back, Baby Farosa would definitely throw a tantrum. It seemed he would still have to look around in other areas of Shangjing until he had purchased all the items on the list.

He collected information from the deep web anonymously, browsing other major black market trading spots in the city that might also become targets for Crystal People attacks.

Besides the Yanwang River, Shichome trading spot, there were three other locations at risk of being attacked by the Crystal People emerging from the earth: Horse-stud Greenway Park, Dream Island Botanical Museum, and Dongxin Industrial Distribution Center.

"The Crystal People in the sewers have become a problem in Shangjing, and the local security companies can’t beat them." Xu Yang sent a message to Lila, "This might be a good opportunity for us to get involved in the local security affairs."

Lila, far away in Anjiu City, after hearing the news, drafted a business cooperation proposal and sent it to Shangjing United Security Company, offering to help at a reasonable price. She proposed sending support troops from Nestor Corporation in Shangjing; for a period of 3 months, they would assist every time the Crystal People attacked, for a total package price of 36 million.

The proposal was rejected in less than thirty seconds.

"They are very confident in their military strength, Master." Lila replied.

"Suzukawa Kiyo’s Crystal Army is only going to get stronger." Xu Yang thought of the magical items that the Crystal People had stolen and taken underground; clearly, Suzukawa Kiyo had a significant use for them, "We will continue as usual, preparing for battle. When the world changes, we will send troops to Shangjing."

Lila calculated the total military strength of Nestor Corporation. Securing the Northern Archipelago would definitely involve large-scale warfare, dealing with neutral and hostile space motherships. Currently, the land military unit had reached twenty thousand people, considered a large company’s allocation. However, their heavy weapons equipment was lacking, and missiles and an air force were even scarcer, needing timely procurement and deployment. They had to be ready to strike alongside other Battle Witches, especially Farosa, and might even need to hire Sally.

The battle tactics were also clear, let Farosa drain life, Sally destroy machinery, use Yan Duo’s physical body to resist nuclear weapons, and then have other troops follow up, taking over fortresses and towns.

She also needed to prepare contingency plans, organize the strategy, and get ready to take control of the major cities in the Northern Archipelago after the war, officially becoming a world superpower.

Meanwhile, Pan Ruiyi left Little Fool with Du Qianqian and Wei Shiyue to take care of, herself going off to play with Xu Yang again. Making love is only human.

Du Qianqian’s drunkenness was gradually fading. She had little memory of the Crystal People incident, just lying on the bed in the hotel room, playing with Little Fool’s hair.

Wei Shiyue also liked Little Fool very much. To her, he was the most delightful child, never crying or fussing.

They lay down side by side with the soft Little Fool nestled between them.

"Time to rest," Wei Shiyue turned off the light.

"Come kiss, kiss..." Du Qianqian, emboldened by alcohol, stared at Wei Shiyue’s face in the dark.

So sweet, so cute...

"Just kiss Xu Cheng, go to sleep early." Wei Shiyue wasn’t going to let Qianqian get her way easily. She kissed Little Fool’s left cheek, while Du Qianqian kissed his right cheek.

Little Fool: "?"