Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 540 - 467 Economic Means

Chapter 540: Chapter 467 Economic Means

"It’s hard to imagine Nestor Corporation being able to leverage other companies in Shangjing from an economic standpoint," Tenjouin Zina was curious, "You can’t possibly launch a second corporate war; otherwise, you’ll be putting yourself on the opposite side of the citizens. But if you don’t take a hard line, what other methods do you have?"

"The biggest entry point is land," Lila explained.

"Land?"

"We’re going to build houses. If most residents are living day to day in rented houses, suffering from the modern landlords’ skinning and bloodsucking, their hard-earned output all taken by the landlords; or if they strive to buy a house, selling off decades of future labor and becoming debt slaves burdened with huge mortgages, suppressed by both banks and real estate companies. Then this world is not fair, not fair at all."

"That’s true... After New Xisheng’s failure, the massive land controlled by Xisheng is yours," Tenjouin Zina’s eyes lit up, "You have land both inside and outside the city, and you have the means to solve the pollution issue in the suburbs, turning the outskirts into habitable areas."

"This is the breakthrough," Lila pointed out, "We will make full use of these lands, constructing at least 50 ’Nestor Industrial Parks’, increasing Nestor Corporation’s employees by 30 to 60 times, while also relocating and dispersing the Shangjing Bay Industrial Area, reducing Shangjing’s siphon effect on the surrounding ordinary cities."

"To weaken Shangjing rather than conquer it," Tenjouin Zina realized with a start, thinking of the grand plan.

"Undoubtedly, we will create massive infrastructure, offering residents more choices. To achieve a decent life, they won’t just have the option of moving to big cities; there will be job opportunities and emerging homes right around them. More importantly, Nestor Corporation will provide over 10 to 20 million sets of affordable housing, complete with supporting infrastructure, to achieve the goal of homeownership for all. This series of expansions will also provide a large number of jobs, preventing people from killing each other in chaotic areas, allowing them to find stable work, and improving the poverty situation."

"Building tens of millions of houses... No matter where you intend to build them, it’s going to have an immeasurable impact on Shangjing’s economy," Tenjouin Zina immediately thought of the dire consequences, "Infrastructure is actually a small problem. The Northern Archipelago is too narrow. Even if people buy in the outskirts, they can still reach Shangjing within 30 minutes to enjoy its services. And if cheap houses are made readily available, Shangjing will lose its appeal. If no one buys houses, hundreds of real estate companies will collapse, Shangjing’s land prices will plummet, and real estate brokers and speculators will be doomed, with the assets of various companies in Shangjing drastically dwindling. They are already in financial trouble, and now they’ll suffer a fatal blow!"

"Indeed, we might see people flying in the air then," Lila said.

Super construction, grand transformation!

"This is too frightening! Building so many houses... It’s not just the Northern Archipelago, but other companies investing heavily in Shangjing’s housing market from overseas will be done for, too. This will offend so many people!"

"The people we offend are limited, but those who will benefit from this reform are countless," Lila said, "Imagine how much the quality of life will rise when everyone has their own house to live in. Building houses isn’t inherently expensive; it’s just excessively bound to the services provided by the city and financial attributes. We must let property return to its normal residential attributes."

"Hiss..." Tenjouin Zina felt amazed. The era was changing so fast; profiteers were falling one after another. The magnates, the children of Xisheng, were now real estate merchants.

"It’s hard to imagine that this civilization would forever rely on aberrant housing prices to extract funds from the poor, rather than using advanced technology to improve people’s lives," Lila said, "This huge bubble and shadow, we will personally burst, triggering this grand scale corporatist economic crisis ourselves, dealing a significant blow to the old capital."

Tenjouin Zina understood this was a sharp knife, piercing the abscess of corporatism at a stroke.

Everyone believed that Shangjing’s houses would only rise in value, all financial institutions and renowned companies were tied to the interests of Shangjing’s real estate, including overseas investors. After all, the routine of land appreciation seemed foolproof, and whoever tried it could hardly extricate themselves, deliberately ignoring the hindrance it posed to the entire society. This led to the extreme inflation of land prices in Shangjing, dragging the entire society forward harnessed to the real estate monster, with other industries paling in comparison.

The biggest bubble in history was finally at the point of bursting, ready to excise this societal tumor. Thousands of companies dependent on it would die out, and the mountain of housing prices weighing over ordinary people’s heads would collapse in a thunderous fall.

"It’s marvelous," Tenjouin Zina came back to her senses, "Nestor Corporation’s army can’t do anything to Shangjing, but this underhanded method will cause Shangjing to continuously lose blood and enterprises to collapse! It will even affect overseas investors."

"Yes," Lila nodded, "Furthermore, once these enterprises in Shangjing that profit from housing appreciation collapse, Nestor Corporation can also purchase them honorably, officially entering every corner of the city, or in other words, dominating the Shangjing metropolitan area."

"That would be even more powerful than Kyoto Infinity at its peak!" Tenjouin Zina listened intently, "Even Kyoto Infinity didn’t dare to claim it could wage an all-out war against Shangjing’s prestigious families, local snakes, and real estate companies. They only sought mutual benefit with them, unlike you, who can overhaul and transform boldly with the courage to destroy financial traps, not afraid to offend anyone! Everyone here has assets tied to real estate, fighting desperately to maintain high housing prices, never willing to let their own cash cow be harmed... Yet you intend to bleed them dry, to win it all without an open war."

"Rents have fallen, land prices have dipped; releasing the grip on real estate ensures the long-term prosperity of Kyoto Infinity and improves residents’ lives," Lila explained. "Everyone knocks off work at five, and with extra cash in hand, Kyoto Infinity’s business will have sales; citizens must be energetic every day, have ample leisure time, be in high spirits, and have promising incomes and hopeful lives to fully enjoy our cultural products."

It was a new start for everyone. Tenjouin Shino nodded repeatedly.

"Right, fewer and fewer people are coming to the manga convention, or rather, there are fewer young people," Tenjouin Shino remarked with a sigh. "I think this is our last chance. The company’s problem is consumer spending power; Synthetic Humans won’t buy things, and ordinary people can’t afford them, while people’s money is all tied up in debt and housing. Society is stagnant, ignorant of expansion and innovation, and ultimately will encounter real catastrophe. These are themes repeatedly explored by manga artists, and I can scarcely bear to witness them in reality, yet you are now taking on the task of solving these problems."

"With our limited energy, we can’t push forward all plans at once," Lila confessed. "What I have disclosed is only part of a series of ambitious reforms by Nestor Corporation. In fact, we are still growing. We will unite more and more people, amass collective strength, and increase depth in various industries. When our cooperative members reach 10 thousand, 1 million, 10 million, 100 million, we will have the confidence to reform the world, leading the whole of civilization away from corporatism and spiritedly stride into the next era."

"It’s a good thing I’m a Witch; I have enough days ahead of me to see all this happen," Tenjouin Shino said with a smile. "I’ve seen such grand schemes in the comics I’ve read; I never imagined as much."

Grand narratives were interesting, but what Tenjouin Shino really wanted to see was the people from the various real estate companies in Shangjing taking turns jumping off buildings. Moreover, knowing these insider details was her greatest opportunity.

She chatted with Lila for a while, then left to have a drink and meet with her partners.

"This is a partner from Nestor Corporation," Lila introduced Tenjouin Shino to Xu Yang.

"Hello, Miss Tenjouin. My name is Xu." Xu Yang shook hands with Zina, noticing the commemorative T-shirt under her red jacket. He remembered seeing it in a Nidelaide Blu-ray collection, "This is ’Knight DIA,’ isn’t it?"

"Yes! Here’s to you, Mr. Xu," Tenjouin Shino was delighted to meet someone in the know. She took a seat at the bar, savoring her delicious drink.

These people from Nestor Corporation were fascinating. Tenjouin Shino observed them. They could easily retire with wealth and success by selling off the properties they acquired, yet here they were, ambitiously expanding their scale, intervening in the course of history and world trends.

Once they finished building, with 50 Nestor Industrial Parks, the industrial output would explode, releasing 50,000 "Elite Soldiers," along with nuclear weapons, the Wind of Slaughter, warships, dragons, Battle Witches, Witch Researchers, surely dominating the Eastern Hemisphere!

As for herself, she just wanted to animate "Siphon!" as soon as possible. In a moment, she was to see Mr. Fox, pushing him to submit his drafts. Hearing that the two hadn’t been shot, she was thankful for their mercy. Tenjouin Shino leaned on the table, flicking her round-lipped glass with her finger, watching the bubbles rise in the pale silver liquid.

Next to her, Lila was constantly sending and receiving messages, truly busy and looking tired. She would need to recharge soon.

Watching Lila’s battery run low, Tenjouin Shino felt sympathy.

"Nestor Corporation still lacks manpower, doesn’t it?" she said. "You lack those well-rounded individuals with knowledge in all facets, who can handle a bit of everything to assist Miss Nestor, preferably business talents, and most importantly, trustworthy people. Is Mr. Xu such a person?"

"Almost," Xu Yang downed half a drink. "For my part, I can only make a modest contribution, but fortunately, I have a friend who fits your description perfectly. They just returned today."

"Can you introduce me?" Tenjouin Shino showed interest. "Who? I saw you were preparing to welcome someone when I arrived."

Setting down his glass, Xu Yang led Tenjouin Shino to the apron. Shortly, an orange-red Shuttle Machine roared down, landing on the central platform at Xisheng Shrine.

"I’m back!" Kojima Kanako jumped down from the Shuttle Machine.