58: Chapter 42 Impact (1) 58: Chapter 42 Impact (1) “Hey!”
“They’ve gone mad!” The gathered citizens’ eyes all turned red as they started to scream at the top of their lungs, the sound so loud that one couldn’t help but cover their ears to avoid being hurt by the noise.
“To be able to send a special bullet screen message during Suzukawa Kiyo’s live broadcast, what an honor that would be,” Nidelaide remarked.
“Every time she broadcasts, tens of millions of people from around the world watch online,” Xu Yang recalled about this world-renowned virtual broadcaster.
“Yes, yes,” Nidelaide agreed enthusiastically, “Miss Suzukawa Kiyo is the best, I also want to send bullet screen messages in her broadcast, but what a pity, I have no money.”
“Is now really the time to be concerned about that?” Zuo Hongchen stood on his tiptoes, looking around, “1 million!
I don’t have that much cash in my card!
I need to go back to the company to get it!”
“Senior, you…” Li Xiaomin quickly asked, “I don’t have any money on me, but if you lend me 1 million, I’ll pay it back with my life.”
“There should also be a way to get through without paying,” Xu Yang pondered.
“Really?” Rosya asked curiously.
“If senior says it can work, then it should be possible,” Li Xiaomin said, showing respect towards Xu Yang.
“He wouldn’t speak so confidently without reason,” Farosa added.
“Wait, look—quick, look!” Kanako exclaimed in shock.
As the crowd became overwrought, they moved forward incessantly.
The man in the red suit, fearing he would be torn to pieces by the angry citizens, turned and ran.
Following that, the floodlights on the barricade lit up, blindingly bright against the crowd.
Defense turrets started to operate, and a series of “beep beep” targeting sounds began to ring out.
“Run for it!” The crowd surged, moving in the opposite direction, turning and fleeing.
“You’re stepping on me!” In such sudden movement, quite a few people were pushed over in the chaos!
Those who fell were quickly engulfed by the crowd, mercilessly trampled by those following, those ahead quickened their pace for fear of being trampled to death, while those behind, fearing the shots, kept pushing forward.
The tide of humanity intertwined and crushed against each other, filling the air with screams.
The sounds of bones breaking and the lament of those being stepped on were continuous, sending chills down one’s spine, and rooting fear in everyone of falling into the same horrific plight.
Kanako could no longer stand it and ran back into the Shuttle Machine without a word.
People climbed up to Number 26 Highland, then looked back to see the previous chaos, screaming at the sight; the ground was in utter disarray.
In the inescapable trampling and shoving, bodies and blood mingled in an uncountable mess.
Many were injured or dead, with even more barely clinging to life, emitting painful moans.
“Waah…” The survivors of the trampling lay in pools of blood, lifting their heads and letting out dismal screams.
Hearing such sounds, people either turned away, unwilling to listen or secretly hoped that they would die soon, to stop making such sounds that only added to the annoyance.
Xu Yang felt a deep sense of powerlessness, no wonder Farosa always despised this state of affairs.
“It seems there has been some chaos here,” the man in the red suit said, his expression unchanged, “Sorry, everyone, we will clean this up shortly.
But, it seems this was also due to everyone’s over-excitement earlier!
For the betterment of all, let’s not do this again.”
The people on Number 26 Highland were trembling, not daring to rush the barrier as rashly as before.
If they couldn’t rush through in one go, they would have to pay.
They looked at one another with varying expressions, constantly exchanging glances, as if trying to guess from their faces who had the means to pay 1 million to escape this dreadful predicament.
“We’re lucky we didn’t get squeezed in there,” Rosya said, still in shock, “My God, it was so chaotic just now, anyone could have been knocked over.”
“As long as senior doesn’t say we should, we won’t go,” Li Xiaomin said, eager to reach a safe place, “But…
senior, when do we go?”
Xu Yang shook his head.
Can’t give funds to those insatiable beasts.”
I have to go buy a ticket,” Zuo Hongchen said stubbornly, “Bro, did you say you have money?
I’ll sign a contract with you, pledge my private assets, and when I get to my company, I’ll even pay you back double.”
“…It’s clear now, they are obviously treating people like pigs,” Xu Yang sighed, “Why pay such a company?”
“So many people wish to be pigs but can’t,” Zuo Hongchen said with a bitter smile, looking towards those who had been trampled in the previous chaos, many of whom were now silent.
“I don’t understand,” Farosa said, completely baffled by the situation, “Where are the doctors?
Why aren’t they coming to rescue the injured?”
“They didn’t buy security services,” Xu Yang pointed out, “If they didn’t purchase them, everyone’s safety can’t be guaranteed; living is at liberty, dying is by chance.”
“That’s odd,” Farosa snorted coldly, “There was a time when people weren’t this miserable.”
“What was it like back then?” Xu Yang asked.
“Serfs, citizens, merchants, and knights depended on the Lord; they paid taxes, and in return, the Lord would provide protection for them.
At least when rats appeared, some soldiers would be assembled to resist the monsters.
And if they were injured, they would hire a doctor to help.”
“During the Witch Era, Lords needed the tax and produce from their subjects to maintain their rule,” Xu Yang said, “and that’s why they took care of the public.
But corporations thrive on capital and technology.”
“Workers are just components, useless components are thrown away,” Cui Junyou spoke bitterly.
“Humans are suffering, and that hasn’t changed,” A40, who had been watching from the side, suddenly said.
“This is the sin of corporations!” Cui Junyou shouted, “Every time a corporation does evil and drives people to a corner, I have to loudly tell you all: ‘I told you so!’ Corporations are the biggest cancer of this era!”
At this point, Xu Yang thought of a critical issue.
Capital, technology, and raw materials are controlled by corporations, making their power extremely strong, and they can exploit humans and witches.
Yet, if humans and witches could turn the tables, taking the crucial means of production for themselves and eradicating all corporations, things might be completely different.
For the first time, we would be laboring for our own welfare, not for the prosperity of corporations.