Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 991 - 784: Farewell After the Gunshot

Chapter 991: Chapter 784: Farewell After the Gunshot

The time for reckoning has come.

Xu Yang took Park Yongchul to the temporary detention center to see Yin Changmin one last time.

Yin Changmin lay on his medical bed, his gunshot wounds still unhealed. Some suggested fully treating the General before executing him.

Park Yongchul carefully observed Yin Changmin, marveling at the abrupt twists of fate.

Two years ago, with a single command, General Yin Changmin threw Park Yongchul into prison as if he were garbage.

Now, Park Yongchul was preparing to fan the flames, publicly try General Yin Changmin, and ensure his execution.

"General Yin!" Park Yongchul said, "Do you remember me?"

Yin Changmin squinted at Park Yongchul with blurry vision.

He had met too many people in his lifetime, and Park Yongchul was utterly insignificant.

"What do you want?" Yin Changmin said softly.

For three years, Yin Changmin had wielded supreme authority in North Silla, a single decree enough to kill, a casual opinion enough to alter laws. Now, he was merely a dying man, awaiting final judgment.

The tables had turned.

Xu Yang studied Yin Changmin. He felt a forceful will, as if an axe forged from the collective anger of countless people was poised to sever the man before him in two.

"You worthless scum, a subhuman beast." Park Yongchul began cursing Yin Changmin. "How many people have suffered because of you? Your sycophants following your orders, executing your cruel commands... One document would make someone disappear. A single directive destroyed countless futures. North Silla became the way it is all because of you!"

"You—" Yin Changmin said angrily, but he was too severely wounded to rise.

Yin Changmin glared at Park Yongchul as if he wanted to kill him, just as he had done in the past.

But he was powerless; Yin Changmin’s grip was gone.

In North Silla, day-to-day operations were overseen by the Transitional Management Committee and the Qiongting System, while security was dominated by Nestor Corporation’s formidable military forces.

Nestor Corporation’s power had infiltrated every corner of North Silla. Drones, synthetic humans, and security personnel moved unobstructed within the borders of North Silla.

Even here, Xu Yang could summon twelve microdrones within a 500-meter radius; they functioned silently, omnipresent like mosquitoes.

The glory was a thing of the past. No matter how strong Yin Changmin had been, he was now fragile.

Park Yongchul grew increasingly enthused.

"We will sentence you to death, along with your accomplices. All of you must die," Park Yongchul declared.

Yin Changmin closed his eyes and said nothing.

"That’s enough." Seeing Yin Changmin’s feeble state, Xu Yang stood and began walking out, with Park Yongchul following closely behind.

Staff members were removing Yin Changmin’s portrait from the wall and throwing it away, as if discarding a stain from history.

The public trial was scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Xin City Stadium.

Since the courthouse was still under renovation, a makeshift outdoor platform had to be set up for Yin Changmin’s trial.

Many people came eagerly, ready to witness Yin Changmin’s downfall.

"His death is significant; it marks the end of an era," Xu Yang said as he leaned forward in the stands, his hands resting on the metal railing.

Park Yongchul sat next to him.

"In prison, I used to dream and fantasize about someone bringing this arrogant tyrant down. Today, that dream has finally come true," Park Yongchul reflected.

The presiding judge was Jin Jihao, a revered North Silla jurist. When he entered, the crowd erupted into applause. Years ago, Jin Jihao had also been imprisoned for opposing Yin Changmin, and today, he was granted the opportunity to personally oversee Yin Changmin’s and his subordinates’ trials—yet another unforgettable revenge.

Jin Jihao proceeded according to protocol. People awaited eagerly as he read out Yin Changmin’s crimes.

Numerous witnesses were brought forward to publicly confront the infamous Yin Changmin.

Murder, torture, abduction, defamation... and countless other atrocities. During his nearly three-year reign over North Silla, Yin Changmin committed unspeakable acts according to his whims.

Yin Changmin sat on a stool, his hands shackled, positioned squarely in the center of the stadium, under the scrutiny of thousands of eyes.

"He’s situated perfectly for everyone to watch him, for him to hear every curse and insult directed at him," Xu Yang remarked.

"Serves him right!" Park Yongchul said, then stood to join the chorus of condemnation.

"Hurry up and die!"

"Leave us!"

"Butcher!"

"Tyrant!"

The once-imposing General now endured the verbal assaults of thousands. His betrayal of North Silla’s cause and the harm he inflicted on its people were meticulously recounted.

The noise was deafening. Yin Changmin attempted to defend himself, but his voice was completely drowned out by the surrounding clamors.

Judge Jin Jihao was decisive, striking his gavel.

"Guilty: Execution by firing squad!" Jin Jihao announced.

The crowd erupted in loud cheers, transforming the stadium—a makeshift courtroom—into a sea of joy!

Finally! Yin Changmin was going to die!

What excellent news!

The jubilant atmosphere was overwhelming and poignant.

"With this, the era of North Silla under warlord control is permanently over. It can be considered a good deed..." Xu Yang raised his hand.

After the sentencing, Yin Changmin stood and turned to face the crowd. All eyes glared at him angrily, fists pounding the air, as if they wanted to strike him from hundreds of meters away.

This was the epitome of a "public enemy."

"I was only a scapegoat!" he shouted.

But his voice was swallowed by the sea of noise, like a droplet overtaken by history’s waves.

The next day, when Yin Changmin was led onto the execution grounds, he couldn’t help recalling the afternoon his father had taken him to a shuttle machine exhibition.

Merchants brought in imported shuttle machines from southern ports, priced at 19 million each and capable of reaching speeds of 500 kilometers per hour.

At the time, he had vowed to buy one when he grew up. Now, before realizing that dream, he was about to catch a bullet.

The audience watching the execution was double the size of the trial’s attendees.

Yin Changmin was escorted onto the grounds, but the execution squad didn’t kill him first. They started with his co-conspirators.

"Criminal Jin Xuguo, executed!"

"Criminal Cui Xuanting, executed!"

"Criminal He Zaixian, executed!" These individuals were all Yin Changmin’s deputies who had carried out his orders.

Gunshots rang out again and again.

The bodies collapsed to the ground.

The corpse examiners verified the executions and then brought Yin Changmin forward.

The former North Silla General, Yin Changmin, faced a plain wall and knelt before it.

What was he thinking as he stared at that wall? Xu Yang observed the scene.

Pushed to the brink of oblivion, Yin Changmin seemed eerily calm.

Nearby spectators stood on tiptoe.

For them, this was an unforgettable execution in their lifetime.

The countdown to Yin Changmin’s death began.

The execution soldiers wore red-star badges, raised their rifles, and aimed at Yin Changmin’s back.

The trigger was pulled.

BAM!

A wisp of smoke rose.

A chest burst open from the back.

Yin Changmin’s body jerked slightly.

He fell forward and lay still.

Looking at his lifeless body, people maintained extraordinary restraint, not as excited as they were yesterday.

They had already exhausted their elation before coming, in their imaginations.

Now, their faces displayed great satisfaction as they slowly dispersed, animatedly discussing the day’s events or taking pictures and videos to commemorate Yin Changmin’s execution.

The old days had passed, and the world was moving forward.

...

Xu Yang packed up and left, discussing other matters about the Qiongting System with Park Yongchul.

"The system cannot predict people’s vast and peculiar needs; this point must be kept in mind," Xu Yang said.

"Vast and peculiar needs?"

"Many things—for example, the need to read various comics and novels—are beyond the predictive range of the Qiongting System’s design and production capabilities. These can only thrive in a sufficiently large market environment. So I think it’s best to let planning remain within planning and allow the market to operate within its own sphere," Xu Yang explained.

"Hmm..." Park Yongchul pondered, "I hadn’t considered that point, since I personally dislike comics."

"And that’s the wonder of companies. Companies can find ingenious ways to make people believe they need ’new clothes,’ ’new electronic devices,’ ’new flavors of drinks.’ This contributes to today’s colorful world. We don’t have to wear limited styles of clothing, use scarce varieties of electronics, or survive solely on water... Diverse needs allow for individual freedom of choice," Xu Yang said.

"Perhaps we should establish a specialized department to study people’s varied preferences," Park Yongchul thought aloud.

"People desire to act on their will. If the Qiongting System stands against the will of the majority, things could turn disastrous; some might face public trials and execution like Yin Changmin. Conversely, if the Qiongting System continues to benefit the majority, it will earn their unwavering protection," Xu Yang explained.

"Understood," Park Yongchul replied earnestly.

Although Xu Yang was younger, Park Yongchul had come to greatly admire Xu Yang’s wisdom, talents, and calm demeanor after spending time working with him.

Before long, it was time to leave; members of the Transitional Committee awarded Xu Yang a medal.

"Commissioner Xu, thank you for representing Nestor Corporation and providing tremendous assistance to North Silla," said former North Silla Chairman Cui Taining, trembling as he personally presented a medal to Xu Yang.

This was North Silla’s highest honor—the "Grand Red Star Medal"—specifically awarded to those with significant contributions, ensuring they received recognition worthy of their accomplishments.

As its name suggested, the medal was a red star attached to an intricate ribbon.

"Thank you very much... I hope our cooperation can continue in the future," Xu Yang said while shaking hands with Cui Taining.

Was the situation in Silla finally concluded? Xu Yang wondered to himself. The Qiongting System had immense potential, enough to gradually improve North Silla.

What would happen next would depend on the collective efforts of the people here.

"Without your support, we might have quickly fallen into disarray," Cui Taining sighed. "But now we have hope. We plan to implement a five-year initiative to restore North Silla’s production capacity."

"Hopefully, it can endure... The most important thing is that many people will now live within the Qiongting System. If people grow up under this model from birth, what will the future hold? A hundred years from now, after five generations have grown in the Qiongting System, how will they differ from people in a corporate-dominated world? These are questions worth anticipating," Xu Yang said.

Would they be purer, more idealistic?

"I fear I won’t live to see that day," Cui Taining laughed bitterly. "Let the young people discover the future."

Xu Yang boarded a private plane back to the Northern Archipelago, spotting Chen Xinchi at the airport to see him off.

Chen Xinchi had been the first to travel from the Northern Archipelago to seek assistance from Nestor Corporation. Now that Yin Changmin had been executed, Chen Xinchi dared to show his face again.

"Commissioner Xu, bon voyage," Chen Xinchi said respectfully to Xu Yang.

"Thank you, wishing you all the best here," Xu Yang responded and departed.

Chen Xinchi watched as Xu Yang’s flight disappeared into the distance.

He smiled and looked around, amazed by the drastic changes in his surroundings.

Was this still the land he had once known?

In modern North Silla, Nestor Corporation’s drones and flying machines cruised the skies.

Yin Changmin and his military commanders had only just been buried, yet the regional security forces and police had already been replaced with Northern Archipelago-imported "Elite Soldier" synthetic humans, while bunkers and military outposts were equipped with new control nodes.

The defensive structures along the ceasefire line had presumably been taken over. No longer were North Silla’s cheap artillery aimed at Yidu City; instead, Nestor Corporation’s colossal heavy cannons and anti-missile bases now loomed ominously over the peninsula, wielding far greater destructive force.

Everywhere were network hubs belonging to Helis Sea, organizing and transmitting local information to Shangjing.

The selection process for new administrators was about to begin, and Nestor Corporation’s appointed advisors had already taken their places.

Everything was changing silently.

Rumors circulated that Nestor Corporation planned to sell synthetic humans worldwide.

When the time was right, they could activate combat programs stored within all synthetic humans, enabling Nestor Corporation to conquer the West Coast, Taixi Continent, and even the entire globe overnight.

In a daze, Chen Xinchi sensed that North Silla had become a piece of a puzzle, embedded within Nestor Corporation’s massive global blueprint.