Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 552 - 474 Gathering_2

Chapter 552: Chapter 474 Gathering_2

Several private enforcers were tasked with maintaining order, shooing away anyone foolish enough to get in the way. At the end of the line, a man squatted on the ground, desperately waiting for his turn as electric sparks began to emanate from his head to his feet, as if he might not last much longer.

More people waited to commute by light rail, each with their own reasons for not wishing to go to the upper-level waiting room, impatiently anticipating the train’s arrival while keeping a close eye on their personal belongings.

Like a sticky sea of gel, Lu Jing thought hazily, most people.

"Where’s the enemy!" Elite Soldiers bellowed, patrolling back and forth on the platform beside the tracks, shouldering guns. They were accompanied by Nestor Defense Force Soldiers clad in black heavy armor and full-enclosure helmets, gripping "Snake" model main battle rifles.

Their arrival pierced through the gel-like crowd like a sharp knife, deterring potential criminals.

Lu Jing regretted why she had run downstairs; she could smell smoke in the air, which she absolutely despised, muttering only a low incantation to ward off the secondhand smoke. She longed for the upper-level waiting room, where invisible cameras and concealed automatic turrets ensured everyone sat quietly on aluminum benches, with smoking and stamp licking prohibited.

"The two of you really are worlds apart," Rinne said, tilting her head towards Lu Jing, "Look at that Synthetic Human lady, she’s quite at ease."

Lu Jing followed her gaze to see Seeking Shadow. The platform had been pristine white when first built but now was stained a greasy black.

Seeking Shadow stood naturally on the grime-covered side, never minding what was beneath her feet.

"Someone’s got to spend money to renovate this place," Lu Jing said.

"Who’s going to foot the bill?" Rinne asked, watching the old-fashioned train approach with a whoosh. Seeking Shadow honestly scurried into the crowd and boarded the train in the blink of an eye. Unlike Seeking Shadow, Lu Jing was not so swift, nor did she want to get her beautiful green clothes dirty.

"The light rail company," Lu Jing said, "This could pose a safety hazard..."

"The company only cares that it runs, nothing else," Rinne said, hands clasped behind her back, watching the crowd push and shove its way onto the light rail train.

"Nestor Corporation will buy out the public services, and then they will purchase the train station and rebuild it!" Lu Jing said.

"Placing hope in the conscience of Nestor Corporation to change the world? You sure have illusions about big corporations," Rinne said, moving forward, "Better squeeze in quickly, or you’ll miss this train."

"I’ve decided to take a taxi!" Lu Jing hastily announced.

Immediately after, she saw Rinne getting close to the train.

Rinne didn’t enter through the carriage door but jumped onto the side of the light rail, moving laterally along the outside of the carriage, and then easily slipped in through a half-open window.

What a sleek maneuver! Lu Jing watched, transfixed, while everyone else was too busy rushing to even notice how Rinne got in.

Rinne comfortably settled into a cushioned seat, with Seeking Shadow standing next to her. Both turned back to look at Lu Jing, waving to signal they were leaving ahead.

Lu Jing ran outside the light rail station and chose to spend 60 funds on a taxi to her hiding place at Nichome, Ryoji Street, Kano District.

It was a small, old standalone apartment, purchased by the disciples for use as an action base. The first floor was a garage with just a few bicycles parked inside.

She walked into the living room on the second floor and saw Nidelaide focused on browsing fanzines on a wide screen.

Lu Jing slammed the door forcefully and then slowly opened it again to see Nidelaide deeply engrossed in the Intercontinental Cybernetic Implants Academic Annual.

"I’m back," Lu Jing greeted, "You must be Nidelaide. Seeking Shadow showed me your picture."

"Yes, I’m friends with Seeking Shadow," Nidelaide replied, dressed in a full set of black clothing, with not a trace of real skin visible, looking quite nervy.

"Any news?" Lu Jing slipped on house slippers, hung up his green clothes on the coat rack, and tossed his small backpack toward the couch.

"The biggest news today is that Enomoto Bank has been taken over by the Intercontinental Establishment Committee to cover bad debts," Nidelaide, sitting on the floor, switched the screen to the news channel, "People from other big companies are frantically infiltrating Shangjing, with Enomoto Bank as their bridgehead."

"Why doesn’t Nestor Corporation just swallow up Enomoto Bank?" Lu Jing was curious.

"Firstly, the bad debts are too many, and Nestor’s performance in the financial sector is weak," Nidelaide analyzed methodically, "Modern super banks like Enomoto, they can only be revived through the financial operations of other big companies, and along with that, external capital also brings a large amount of manpower and resources to maintain their influence in Shangjing, to avoid being totally consumed by Nestor."

"Enomoto Bank... has become the new stronghold for big companies," Lu Jing quickly searched related investigations, Enomoto Bank being the largest bank in the Northern Archipelago, with tens of thousands of branches, now being recapitalized by a newly formed Intercontinental Corporate Committee, regaining vitality with more than 2.85 trillion in total assets.

"After receiving various kinds of investments, Enomoto Bank is also constantly pushing expansion, acquiring industries," Nidelaide explained.

It’s like they are preparing to compete head-to-head with Nestor Corporation. Lu Jing observed the intelligence.

Both sides were racing against time, vying for territory in the Northern Archipelago.

Hot money from the Taixi Continent and New Taixi State was flowing in, surely there were higher level directives behind it, it was not acceptable to just watch Nestor grow in the Northern Archipelago.

Rinne arrived at the apartment, smiling faintly.

"So you guys live in a little place like this," she said.

"Exactly, it’s dirty and small," Nidelaide added, "The layout is a lot like a future gadget lab from an anime. Eh, you haven’t seen one? Never mind... The money is all coordinated by Seeking Shadow."

"Saving operational funds," Seeking Shadow said, "The saved money can be used to buy big bang-bangs."

"I don’t have any savings either," Lu Jing recalled the money spent on taxi fares, wishing he could cry.

"No, no..." Rinne chuckled, "What I’m more curious about is, seeing as you have a rather deep relationship with Nestor Corporation, I thought you’d be living in ’Xisheng Shrine’."

"If only I were a member of the Witch Division," Nidelaide said, "Unfortunately, I’m just a cybernetic body mechanic."

"Didn’t you open a cybernetic body workshop in Silla?" Lu Jing inquired, "Over in Shunzhou City."

"Yes, and all the money I make goes to the charity foundation," Nidelaide said seriously, "You have to understand how many people in Silla are displaced, fleeing with their families."

——"Actually, for us, entering and exiting Headquarters is very simple, but if everyone secludes themselves within the high-rise Divine Palace, then we wouldn’t know what’s happening in the dark corners of the city."

Wow, I can come up with such cool dialogue myself. Seeking Shadow was secretly thrilled. I am a pretty cool Synthetic Human.

"Take me to see Cyber Specter," Rinne said, interrupting Seeking Shadow’s fantasies.