This game was connected to everything.
Worried about his daughter Setsuki’s safety, Kitada Ryuuji pulled out the data line on the smart screen and plugged it into the socket behind his right ear. The virtual meeting space recognized his neural signals and invited him to join the online meeting.
Kakuya Media is a massive news enterprise.
Rooted in Anjiu City with a long history, it owns three branch offices, three web TV stations, and two popular video websites, publishing 15 different types of periodicals with tight connections to many of Anjiu City’s cultural industries.
Following the systematic elimination of print media, Kakuya Media swiftly established departments focusing on big data, new media, and web communications, also introducing intelligent decision-making AI to guide its corporate operation strategies, maintaining its leading position in the central region.
As the president of Kakuya Media, Kitada Ryuuji was now going to struggle against this machine.
Multiple virtual images appeared before Kitada Ryuuji, heads of various company departments, plus all shareholders including the chairman of the shareholders’ meeting, had now joined the meeting, listening to his voice.
He took a deep breath.
"The Chainsaw Angel Gang kidnapped my daughter," he said, "but this news was sold by the decision-making AI as news material, crossing our company’s policies and bottom line. Not only because Setsuki is my daughter but also because this is a matter of life and death. It is affecting my daughter’s safety; its decision-making behavior is tantamount to murder! It will drag our company’s reputation through the mud in the industry."
"I am making decisions based on fundamental logic," the artificial intelligence’s soothing electronic voice rose in the meeting, "We can’t defeat the Chainsaw Angel Gang, nor does any unit, group or individual have the capability to rescue Setsuki. We certainly can’t pay the ransom and encourage kidnappers to commit more such crimes. For the common benefit of the group, I decided to disclose this news, which has resulted in a 730% increase in this month’s traffic for Kakuya Media."
In the meeting, other participants couldn’t help but nod in agreement.
"You are wrong, the Chainsaw Angel Gang, can be defeated!" Kitada Ryuuji clenched his fists.
"The only entity with a confrontational stance against them is a security contractor known as the Katsuragi Gang," the artificial intelligence pointed out, "They severely lack firepower, Battle Witch, and heavy weaponry. The odds of success in a frontal assault: 0%. The odds of success with ambush and flanking strategies: 0%. The odds of success in a war of attrition: 0%. The overall probability of success: 0%. Considering you’ve visited the Katsuragi Gang before, I suspect your analysis of the feasibility of your actions has certain errors, possibly influenced by false advertising from the other party, a typical misunderstanding."
The artificial intelligence paused, then added:
"Given this, you should consider Setsuki as a sunk cost and accept two months of psychological counseling to adjust your work condition."
Kitada Ryuuji’s hand anxiously tapped on the table.
"Your emotional state is deteriorating," the artificial intelligence monitored Kitada Ryuuji’s biometric reports, "Do you need to pause the meeting?"
Kakuya Media’s chairman, Yamanaka Masahiro, also cast a meaningful look at Kitada Ryuuji. As the most senior figure in the entire group, Yamanaka had great influence.
At this moment, a frontline reporter stationed in Hui City District sent a message.
"The Apple Orchard Nutrient Paste Filling Factory is under attack!" Along with the report, images were uploaded, revealing clashes and bombardments inside the factory.
"An internal risk escalation due to an accidental discharge," the artificial intelligence evaluated.
"The factory is ablaze, and the conflict is intense!" New images were disclosed, and intelligence personnel stationed there captured the din of countless bursts of light and explosions.
"An impressively chaotic scene," the artificial intelligence analyzed.
"The Apple Orchard Nutrient Paste Filling Factory has been captured, and the Chainsaw Angel Gang has been completely defeated!" The latest report came in.
A large group of Chainsaw Angel Gang members were led out of the factory, the specifics yet unseen, and the Chainsaw Angel himself was reportedly killed.
The meeting fell silent.
The notorious Chainsaw Angel Gang...
Chairman Yamanaka Masahiro immediately suspended the artificial intelligence’s operational status and consoled Kitada Ryuuji with a pleasant demeanor.
"Setsuki must have been rescued too," Yamanaka Masahiro said, "I didn’t expect the rapidly changing Aizu City to actually achieve full unification now!"
"That’s right," Kitada Ryuuji tidied up, letting out a long sigh of relief in his heart.
"But I want to know why you were so certain the Chainsaw Angel Gang would be defeated? What was your reason?" Yamanaka Masahiro inquired.
"There are some things that even I need to confirm before I can reply," Kitada Ryuuji made an apologetic gesture with his virtual image.
"At least this proves the security contractor’s strength," Yamanaka Masahiro acknowledged, "Perhaps they really can secure Aizu City’s ’million project.’"
"That is?" Kitada Ryuuji was curious.
"A strategy agreed upon by the senior families, elders, and departments," Yamanaka Masahiro explained, "to send several million people marked as ’unfit’ in the Century Pure Land System to Aizu City, to have them pioneer, labor, and re-employ there, avoiding congregating on the streets of Anjiu City and causing a commotion."
"Aizu City wasn’t ready to accommodate such a large population," Kitada Ryuuji said subconsciously.
"That’s the purpose of the security contractors," Yamanaka Masahiro laughed, "they are supposed to deal with those ’non-premium populations.’"
"Understood, Chairman," Kitada Ryuuji said, "Then, I need to go fetch Setsuki back."
After the meeting, Kitada Ryuuji was exhilarated.
The Chainsaw Angel Gang, once sweeping through Hui City District, had been defeated!
According to internal corporate intelligence, her power was beyond human comprehension, entirely in line with the angels described in the mystical systems.
In earlier video footage, her initial form showed no particularly extraordinary abilities, but once she put on the "halo"-shaped prop, she would instantly enter a state that was much more difficult to deal with, cleansing the Hui City District overnight, and henceforth becoming the local hegemon.
To avoid being hunted by the Corporate Alliance, the Chainsaw Angel also concealed her existence, but her influence still persisted in the form of a gang. This battle had utterly redefined the value of this "security contractor" for the whole of Anjiu City; in one night, countless cooperation invitations would likely be sent out, expanding the basis for cooperation in the chaotic times ahead.
The artificial intelligence wasn’t spouting nonsense; without the Katsuragi Gang, they could never have defeated the Chainsaw Angel – the defenses at the factory’s outskirts were enough to stop them, let alone the Chainsaw Angel’s combat power.
The only variable in this was the enigmatic Cyber Specter... It had completely changed the power structure of the underground world.
What the other party wanted was a channel to connect with "higher-ups," seeking clues concerning Kirino Reisei. Clearly, their sights were set far beyond the small Aizu City, searching for greater opportunities.
Considering this, Kitada Ryuuji copied a set of the core communication channel keys of Kyoto Infinity into his brain’s archival storage, selected a few of the finest gifts quickly, and then hurriedly left the office, driving toward Aizu City.
Passing the devastated nutrient paste filling factory along the way, the main structure of the entire factory had collapsed, crushed like a flattened toy house, with equipment and rooms tangled in the wreckage.
The area had already been cordoned off by the Katsuragi Gang, marked with the floating identification codes of the New Aizuwakamatsu Security Company, and forbade the approach of unrelated individuals – a completely standardized procedure, forcing him to detour.
Reaching Suzuki Springs, he arrived at the office and met with Asa Katsuragi once again.
"The might of the Katsuragi Gang is impressive!" Kitada Ryuuji bowed to Asa Katsuragi.
"I know you’re concerned about your daughter; we’ve already rescued her," Asa Katsuragi, seated in a high-backed chair, swiped the screen and switched to the current footage of Setsuki, who was wrapped with thick bandages around her head, sitting next to an automated doctor, seeming to be alone and shivering, occasionally glancing up at the camera anxiously.
"Setsuki!" Kitada Ryuuji exclaimed in alarm, "Is she... Is she hurt? Her head?"
"There was a minor accident, but don’t worry," Asa Katsuragi reassured, "She’s fine."
"..." Kitada Ryuuji remained silent for a while, "How can I take her with me?"
"Just as we agreed before, hand over the thing we want," Asa Katsuragi said firmly yet not harshly.
"Yes, I’ve prepared it," Kitada Ryuuji handed over the copy of the files to Asa Katsuragi, "The Sakura Witch needs all the help she can get now."
These were the keys to the highest authority core channel of Kyoto Infinity, allowing communication with the president of Kyoto Infinity and the "Sakura Witch" Kirino Reisei; since the president’s position was temporarily vacant, this highly confidential channel was left with the sole purpose of communicating with Kirino Reisei.
"Good, as for Setsuki, we will transfer her to your side," Asa Katsuragi said, "We need to make sure she sees nothing, hears nothing along the way."
"Understood," Kitada Ryuuji sighed, "Furthermore, there’s movement in Anjiu City regarding those non-premium populations..."
He laid out the mayor’s plan, which was a step further in the whole strategy to be implemented over the next few months. To prevent the accumulation of unemployed populations, a small portion would be recruited as armed personnel, while the majority would be transferred to Aizu City, thereby physically segregating them from surface society to avoid trouble.
"If there are plans to expand Aizu City, it’s best to execute them as soon as possible," Kitada Ryuuji summarized, "Since the mayor has such intentions, most of your actions will also be tacitly approved. After all, you are already the unshakeable de facto ruler of Aizu City."
"Understood," Asa Katsuragi nodded.
Kitada Ryuuji presented some antiques and a stack of premium VIP cards for major service establishments in Anjiu City, then bowed and left.
After Kitada Ryuuji departed, Asa Katsuragi looked at the smart screen – Xu Yang had been listening in the whole time.
"The situation really changes day by day," Xu Yang noted, "Let’s be the ones to fully expand and renovate the city."
"So, how are things with the Sakura Witch?" Asa Katsuragi inquired.
"Xisheng Capital has given up on Kyoto Infinity, and if she’s willing to surrender completely to Black Fire Innovation, then we don’t have to do anything," Xu Yang stated, "Just pack up and evacuate. But we still have lots to do here."
What was the Sakura Witch like? Xu Yang wondered. Always wearing a fox mask, enigmatic, her true face ever a mystery.
It might be best to have Du Qianqian take on her appearance first.