Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 678 - 568: Express Delivery War_2

Chapter 678: Chapter 568: Express Delivery War_2

Anda Port, which had been ruled by the Black Fire Innovation for 50 years, served as the gateway for external connections of Charo Island. Yet now, it had been occupied by armed personnel from a rival company. They were lined up at the port, preparing to set out and take over the bases and warehouses left behind by Black Fire Innovation.

When the key personnel disembarked, Ramali watched eagerly, recognizing Aledy, the military minister of the Nestor Corporation, along with several military officers by her side, and a mysterious man in a suit wearing a mask.

Aledy was also Lila’s deputy, and she brought Xu Yang off the ship. Upon seeing people from the local municipal company at the port to receive them, she waved towards them.

"Charo Island is now under joint corporate trusteeship. The meeting memorandum grants Nestor Corporation the rights to operate in Charo Island, to develop and station troops. The municipal company will also be acquired by Nestor Corporation, and you are now part of the Nestor Charo Subsidiary," Aledy announced to them.

"Ah..." Upon hearing this news, Ramali, although aware that this was a nailed-on fact everyone could predict, couldn’t help feeling a myriad of emotions when he learned that the dust had settled and he was now a subordinate of Nestor Corporation.

"What are you standing around for? Take us to the best hotel in town," Aledy scolded sharply.

This voice sent Ramali back to the moments when he was ordered by Black Fire Innovation officers, prompting him to reflexively adopt a respectful posture and invite them to board the shuttle machine, to head together to the Junyue Hotel in Anda Port for their stay.

"How much power does the Anda Port municipal company still have?" Xu Yang asked Ramali, sitting on the shuttle machine.

Ramali, looking cautiously at this inscrutable man from Nestor Corporation, felt the man’s demeanor was steady and unfathomable, likely a person of no small importance within the corporation.

"The original company had 650 people, but due to the Black Fire Innovation withdrawal, more than half have resigned or left," Ramali explained.

"What’s the scope of the company’s business? How’s the efficiency?"

"We are primarily responsible for the maintenance of Anda Port’s docks, overseeing trade and levying taxes on it. Efficiency... is not very good."

"You are still taxing the goods?"

"It’s all Black Fire Innovation’s demands. They’re actually just military expenses being handed over to them. There are taxes on wages too, residents have to pay property tax, and taxes are also imposed on purchasing property and land."

"With so many types of taxes, can you collect them all?"

"The tax department of Black Fire Innovation is in charge. They... they come to the city to assess our income and also govern the laborers in the external resource production areas."

"They aren’t taxing you; they are robbing you. Taxes are meant to be collected from the people and used for the people. Did Black Fire Innovation use these taxes on you?" Xu Yang doubted.

"They have not..." Thinking of this, Ramali suddenly realized how tragic the past had been. He became aware that over the past 10 years, he had paid 380,000 in "taxes," amounting to 50% of all his income.

But it should have been called tribute, protection money, or blood money, for those who refused to pay were killed by soldiers, and only those who worked diligently and made regular contributions had a way out.

With Black Fire Innovation’s withdrawal, all the once unthinkable matters had infiltrated Ramali’s mind. He had actually supported such a bandit company for so long! Giving them his hard-earned money, living under the surveillance of military spies and corporate secret agents, supporting their iron-fisted rule, and now as the truth unveiled, Ramali was utterly heartbroken.

"They have no right to take our money. They are a corporation, and we are citizens," Ramali could not help but say.

Xu Yang looked at the streets on both sides; most of the blocks were quite dilapidated and primitive. Under Black Fire Innovation’s control, all companies and individuals had to contribute to Black Fire Innovation’s military expansion, resulting in poor street conditions and the dismal health of its residents. Schools had also become large army camps, cultivating bloodthirsty Taiya recruits, with no trace of civilization to be seen.

Upon arrival at the Junyue Hotel, since the Junyue Group was a global hotel chain, the establishment in Anda Port still maintained a somewhat advanced appearance. The building was tall and serviced them according to five-star hotel standards. The hotel owner was also very concerned about how the Nestor Corporation’s entry would change the face of Charo Island and Anda Port. Therefore, he personally took care of their accommodation and dining.

"We will be expanding our business in Charo Island. However, other companies will also send people to the island, and all parties will maintain a joint protection, development, and construction of Charo Island," Xu Yang said.

"You are the first to come to Anda Port, while other companies are exploring minerals or acquiring businesses, indifferent to the local people’s conditions and overlooking those stationed troops," said the hotel general manager, named Kabalin, a local from Charo Island, over 50 years old, and deeply pained by the deterioration of Charo Island under Black Fire Innovation over the past 50 years.

"Stationed troops?" Xu Yang asked curiously.

"Those are the troops left behind by Black Fire Innovation, located in the south, Qinwang Fortress," Ramali explained.

Other companies must want to mend their relationship with Black Fire Innovation, Xu Yang thought to himself. Given that businesses would have to be conducted after the conflict ended, they dared not take action against the remnants for fear of upsetting Black Fire Innovation and facing retribution later.

But Nestor Corporation was not afraid; they would eradicate evil, no matter the distance.

"Let’s go and dismantle that fortress," Xu Yang said.

"Really?" The hotel general manager Kabalin was incredulous, "Qinwang Fortress has been standing on the island for half a century, the most solid military base of Black Fire Innovation. I fear that... with just the elite soldiers you’ve brought along..."

"Yes," Ramali had to admit, "Even when the A40 and the soldiers in the island’s jungles were at their strongest, they didn’t dare approach Qinwang Fortress."

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