"Don’t forget," Xu Yang said, "every time something happens, there’s a surge in the number of people who become awake."
"I know things won’t be forgotten," Cui Junyou said sadly, "but history always seems to circle back. We’re like springs, flattenable as long as you press hard enough, and it’s not soft fingertips pressing down on us, it’s an entire building. Corporatism weighs down like tons of steel, and once some springs are compressed, they snap, never regaining the will to bounce back!"
"Go help Asa Katsuragi first," Xu Yang said while browsing messages, "the whole world is waiting for you to perform surgery on her."
Cui Junyou returned to Aizu City, annoyed.
Xu Yang had a clear grasp on the new shifts in the situation; now, both Orochi and Yokozuna had returned. The management representing Kyoto Infinity had undergone appropriate operations. There had been compromises and concessions to a certain degree, which also fell within his expectations.
In times of peace, it might be fine, Xu Yang thought to himself, but once conflicts escalate, the management, security department, and investors can be regarded as three independent forces. If the management turns out to be incompetent, the security department might act on its own or even usurp power, while investors would flee overseas.
He thought more clearly than Old Cui; Kyoto Infinity was teetering on the brink, far from as glorious as it appeared on the surface. And once Kyoto Infinity fell, Xu Yang’s own side would be even more free to carry out various tasks.
According to rumors on the deep anonymous network, the captain of Orochi, Tenjouin Kiriyari, harbored an unrealistic infatuation with his aunt, Zina, and Zina’s injury had greatly affected the captain’s morale.
A tip from a knowledgeable source revealed that during the air raid by Martinez, Zina Tenjouin fell from the top of the building. The headquarters, being a central office, was equipped with intricate anti-fall nets on all sides. Usually, the nets existed as transparent trip nets and would activate upon detecting a human falling, paralyzing the jumper and then bringing them back into the building.
Zina Tenjouin had also been through such a harsh ordeal when she fell; it was said she was electrocuted quite severely, an incident that shamed the Tenjouin Family and delayed the return of Orochi. Now that Orochi had successfully entered Anjiu City, it indicated that the Tenjouin Family had reconciled with the high-ranking officials of Kyoto Infinity.
"Martinez has also retreated," Lila Nestor messaged Xu Yang, "the fighting on the island is nearly extinguished."
"There’s no way the fighting can continue anyway," Xu Yang said, "the surprise attack is now unsustainable, Yama was crushed, and the airborne units scattered throughout Anjiu City were annihilated. Its own ammunition, fighter jets, and personnel have all been exhausted."
"They were too efficient," Lila pointed out, "the moment the retreat order was issued, they cut ties with many of the air strike units that couldn’t evacuate, abandoning them, preserving only the barest of fighting strength as they withdrew."
"With the speed of the space motherships, it indeed isn’t easy to make a clean getaway," Xu Yang collected bits of evidence, "currently, they are being pursued by Yokozuna and Chika Island."
Chika Island, having been badly beaten by Martinez during the great sea battle in Warmstone Sea, had now repaired seventy percent of its damage and set sail for revenge.
The three ships would engage in battle on another battlefield far from the metropolis, and with battles of such magnitude in the skies, it may take some time before the outcome becomes clear.
This time, Martinez may not be able to withdraw unscathed, Xu Yang thought to himself. It’s very likely to burn itself out, yet Black Fire Innovation had already thoroughly implemented their ideology, altering the entire world’s governance policies overnight.
What to do? Only to kill.
The stock prices of Black Fire Innovation skyrocketed, as hot money worldwide poured into investing in it. As the largest military-industrial complex so far, they began to enjoy the benefits of this victorious assault.
Savvy investors had already realized the traditional order and regulatory mechanisms had failed. Due to the irreconcilable conflicts, this world would ultimately descend into steel and flame.
Once the world had burned down, the victors would rise from the ruins, claiming everything for themselves.
What could be the fate of Anjiu City? Xu Yang pondered.
Without a doubt, the citizens who refused to surrender would be extinguished or destroyed because Kyoto Infinity, fearing loss of control over the city, would break everyone’s backbone.
"Perhaps the wars within the main island will continue, Lila," Xu Yang said, "gather arms and ammunition, and fortify our current territory."
"Yes," Lila understood.
A space surge on Nangong Island swept in, altering the destinies of countless people. Just how had Black Fire Innovation triggered a space surge? Xu Yang was utterly baffled.
Their Reality Manipulator could actually influence events to such a profound degree! Xu Yang believed that only Huang Feng could be capable of something , but to change the fate of the Martinez with just 5 characters? They must have found an exceptionally skilled grammarian, able to condense complex commands into a mere five characters.
Everything they had obtained thus far might well be gone. Xu Yang waited solemnly.
He believed this was all no illusion, and if the people of Kyoto Infinity wanted to regain control of the city, it would be extremely difficult. People were not numb pigs, nor primitive paramecia; facing the molten steel about to be poured over their heads, they would not submit in the end.
By then, a conflict of even greater scale would erupt.
At this time in Shangjing, Kirino Reisei indeed was racking her brain to clean up the mess.
She quickly returned to headquarters, met with the injured Zina Tenjouin, and persuaded her to consider the bigger picture, to call back the lingering Tenjouin Kiriya. Eventually, she successfully recalled two space motherships and combined them with the repaired Chika Island to chase away the Martinez.
Immediately after, Kirino Reisei convened a high-level emergency joint meeting, with attendees including the great-granddaughter of Honma Noriko, Kamibayashi Himei, as well as other domestic and foreign investors. A few were present in person, but most met using online virtual avatars. Once everyone had arrived, Kirino Reisei spoke at length, stabilizing the investors’ confidence.
Only President Akita Takafumi indicated that he was unwell and unable to attend.
He knew of Kirino Reisei’s capabilities, her skillful maneuvering, her ability to swiftly orchestrate various demands and interests. As long as she could secure the currently economically dominant upper echelon, binding the interests of investors and the aristocracy, the opinions of the "ant-like citizens" below would be insignificant.
Ordinary people could never cause ripples no matter what, and Kirino Reisei has been assisting in the governance of the Northern Archipelago Continent for over 100 years, through seven generations of presidents, amassing rich historical experience and governance tactics, possessing a variety of management strategies.
Kirino Reisei wanted to make full use of this Blackfire crisis, which gave her weeks to clear out the pests. The entire event was like a minor earthquake, shaking the bugs out of the room, those bedbugs would ultimately be dug out and crushed. Just eliminate a few of the bravest among them, and the rest would quickly be subdued.
This meeting would determine the fate of the entire Archipelago Continent, and Kirino Reisei believed she could perfectly resolve this crisis.
She had never submitted to any situation, having been in this field for over 100 years; she had seen far worse things, including several uprisings influenced by avant-garde ideologies, as well as terrifyingly large Rat Tides. Ultimately, she handled them all through slaughter, gas, assassination, and banishment. Kirino Reisei believed it was because she had been more lenient in recent years that people dared to cause trouble in this chaos.
The most contemptible were New Aizuwakamatsu Security Company and Nestor Corporation, which had actually refused to serve loyally for Kyoto Infinity during the war, and it was necessary to send security forces to destroy them.
Asa Katsuragi and Lila Nestor, these two targets, dangled high on the assassination list.
From the current situation, one must use the most intense measures to deal with dissenters. Any hesitation could bring catastrophic disaster upon oneself.
Akita Takafumi walked towards his presidential office, knowing that Kirino Reisei’s meeting would not end for another three hours and that if he was going to blow up Kyoto Infinity, he had to seize this time.
He stood outside the room, looking at the conference room with pity, almost guessing what Kirino Reisei was saying, what she wanted to do. Seven generations so far, and counting this body, it would be the eighth.
He went down to the Hundred-eyes Demon’s machine room to negotiate with the intelligent artificial intelligence.
"Hundred-eyes Demon," he said, "can you arrange a massive live meeting for Kirino Reisei to receive all the merited soldiers in Anjiu City, including the captain of the Orochi?"
"Risk: Lady Kirino Reisei is already attending a meeting."
"Yes, that’s what I’m talking about," he said. "Go ahead and arrange it and also track all images of Kirino Reisei."