Cyber Era Witch-Chapter 61 - 44 The Dark Alley

61: Chapter 44 The Dark Alley

61 -44 The Dark Alley

Xu Yang sat at the same spot in Wellspring House where he once dined with Matteo, the events of that day vivid in his mind.

People often say not to let a little benefit cloud your judgment, but what about a hundred million?

Who could refuse that sum?

Xu Yang took out his cash card, lifted it into the air, and stared at the numbers in the top right corner.

It was too much to spend; there were still more than ninety-six million left, an amount that one person could never exhaust.

We exert all our efforts, but isn’t this what it comes down to in the end?

As long as I can find a way to get my warrant in Kyushu High Pavilion dismissed, then I will have true freedom.

How could the warrant be eliminated?

They must confirm my death, otherwise the mega corporation would never let it go.

I’m a Level 2 Neural Network Engineer, and among those more powerful individuals around the world, the so-called Level 1 Engineers, there are very few, perhaps only two or three in Kyushu High Pavilion who are stronger than me in this field.

Even so, as a talent cultivated by the company, I am paid a meager salary, which implies the value of my creations is very low.

After all, my daily tasks are nothing more than checking the network connections of various devices and repelling external hacks — duties that can be fully handled by AI.

The tide of the times has arrived, and without a doubt, Neural Network Engineers will become a historical term within a few years, and the industry will be completely extinct, forever preserved only in textbooks and films like barbers, sales associates, and assembly line workers.

Before the advancement of artificial intelligence, humans could still manage complex tasks with their digital minds, but once AI technology matures, our skills would be rendered inconsequential.

That’s capitalism for you.

It erases human emotions, beliefs, passions, suppresses tender families and reliable friendships, and oppresses the value and individuality of people.

It turns people into mere parts, screws, not only making them doubt their own worth but also exhausting their daily energy and squeezing their time for independent thinking.

Humans are too insignificant for corporations.

But does that mean the insignificant should be trampled on?

As humans, should we just accept our fate?

Either bow down and live like dogs kept by the company, scraping by until we drop dead, or be abandoned and cast aside by them…

With these thoughts, Xu Yang’s ideas grew clearer.

Is a hundred million a lot?

For most people, yes, but for someone who wants to end corporate rule, it is far from enough.

The assets of mega corporations are calculated in the tens of trillions, nearly astronomical.

What to do?

Starting a resistance as a poor and weak individual would be meaningless; I must connect with a stronger Power.

A Power that has combat and influence, a Power capable of advancing productive forces, breaking through technological constraints, a Power that is dissatisfied with corporations…

The Witch!

Leave this underground area, and find a way to contact more Witches.

If even vulnerable and perishable humans have the heart to resist, then those naturally gifted Witches must be even more fervent in their struggle.

With Power comes the pursuit of authority, which is the nature of intelligent beings.

In the last era, Witches manipulated the world from the shadows, proving they were far from benevolent.

All I need is patience and direction.

Find the right direction and then act.

Xu Yang walked through the restaurant.

The geisha robots were still lying on sofas with pale makeup, while the fish tank housed mosaic-projected fish swimming around.

He went to the back kitchen and found the automatic noodle-making robot to make him noodles.

“The first customer of the day!” the noodle-making robot exclaimed.

“Customers are so rare, could it be that our shop’s service isn’t splendid enough?”

“It’s because of the evacuations,” Xu Yang conversed with the robot.

If it were a first-generation AI, it would respond according to preset programs, but it seemed this one was at least a second-generation AI, allowing for the possibility of communication.

“Our store’s inventory has greatly overflowed, here’s a big gift package for you!”

After making the noodles, it gave Xu Yang many snacks, including yokan, chocolate, and dried pork.

Xu Yang didn’t expect such good fortune; he stuffed these items into his pockets until they were brimming.

While eating his noodles, Xu Yang’s reverie was interrupted by a message from Lila.

Xu Yang always kept his network communication module off to avoid being tracked, granting access only to Lila’s built-in mailbox, so she was the only person in the world who could remotely send him messages.

“Please go to this location.” She transmitted a map coordinate.

Xu Yang glanced at it.

It wasn’t far, just past a block, near Number 26 Highland, albeit in a more secluded spot.

“What’s happened?”

“Please look for Kanako; I’m engaged with someone.” Lila cut off the communication.

Who could Lila be fighting with?

Xu Yang felt a pang of anxiety.

Could it be the Ratman closing in?

But since Lila didn’t call for help and instead sent him to find Kanako, it indicated she was confident of victory.

Leaving the noodles aside, Xu Yang hurriedly set off from Wellspring House, crossing the nearby blocks in search of Kanako.

Walking here, the air was murky.

The roads were dim, buildings low, and the screens on the dome emulating the sky were not yet working, casting an oppressive pitch-blackness that made it hard to breathe.

It was like walking through a prison, except every area was filled with an array of advertisements vying for attention—promoting cigarettes, alcohol, diamond rings, technological eyes and limbs, brainpower enhancement chips, and the like.

The corporations were like hungry wolves, but they were not fighting over flesh but rather competing for human attention.

People have a limited amount of attention each day; if a company’s products occupy their time, they have no time to spend on another’s products.

This is the bloody competition known as “zero-sum game” for market share, especially ruthless in an era where productivity is nearing a bottleneck.

Tap tap tap…

footsteps echoed.

Uncertain if friend or foe, Xu Yang ducked into an alley, facing an aggressive looking Ratman Mother.

It had gray fur, was holding a cleaver, wore a dirty pouch across its chest, and was searching around.

“Squeak squeak—” it called out for companions, but got no response, looking around in irritation and continually sniffing, presumably a separated Ratman Mother.

Perhaps the Ratmen had finished their mobilization; after such a lengthy period, they must be ready for all their attacks, ready to breach the defenses at No.

1 Junction and turn Hui City District into a bloodbath.

Therefore, they had begun to amass their troops, even neglecting important stragglers like the Ratman Mother.

The Ratman Mother brandished a meat cleaver, continuing to search for her target.

“Ahhh!” A scream arose, followed by the sound of someone falling heavily to the ground.

It was Kanako!

“I’ll kill you!” The Ratman Mother charged towards the source of the noise immediately.

Xu Yang dashed forward in an instant, pulling out the gun he carried with him, and followed closely behind.

Kanako tumbled off several large cardboard boxes, her hands covered in mud; it looked like she had tried to climb a wall but slipped.

Ignoring her pain, she clutched her large shoulder bag tightly, paying no attention to the Ratman Mother who had approached her; she instinctively unzipped her bag to check if the game data cards inside were damaged from the fall.

Xu Yang fired his gun immediately.

Bang!

The hastily fired bullet missed its target, hitting the wall instead.

The Ratman Mother, as if shot, jerked quickly and no longer paid attention to Xu Yang and Kanako.

In order to dodge the bullet, it turned and ran.

“Xu…

Xu Yang!” Kanako turned and saw Xu Yang, surprised, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to rescue you,” Xu Yang said.

“I…

I don’t need your help!” Kanako stood up, slinging her bag over her shoulder, “I was about to reach the No.

1 Junction.”

“Nonsense, you were clearly cornered by the Ratman.

You wanted to climb that thing, right?” Xu Yang saw the water pipe above the large cardboard boxes that led to the window of another house, but Kanako had slipped and fallen.

“It’s a matter of luck.” Kanako looked down, twirling her hair with her finger, “How did you know I was here?”

“Lila controlled me to come here,” Xu Yang explained, “Why would you walk into such a dangerous alley alone?

Even normally, places like this can have a rat infestation.”

“I was trying to take a shortcut directly to the No.

1 Junction, now stop asking,” Kanako waved her hand dismissively.

“Did someone tell you to do this?” Xu Yang sensed that something was amiss.

“No no no no…

no, oh please…

stop questioning me.” She pursed her lips tightly.

“I have saved you several times; how can you be so indifferent.”

“That’s, that’s because…” Kanako sighed, “It’s because I feel so indebted to you, and that’s why I feel particularly uneasy.”

“No need for that, I won’t say anything.

I do what I want, whether it’s helping you or teasing you, freely.”

“What if I want to leave?” Kanako asked anxiously, “What would you think if I left?”

“Whatever.”

“But I haven’t repaid my debt to you!

How can I leave without repaying it?

Don’t think that just because I act so strangely that I’m someone without manners!”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Kanako said with relief, “Indeed…

it’s better to approach you in person than to beat around the bush.

I thought that level of nonchalance and indolence was some kind of façade…

but you truly are an easygoing person.”

“Spit it out.”

Kanako knelt solemnly on the ground, bowing before Xu Yang.

Why would she show such grand gesture?

It was the first time Xu Yang saw Kanako act with such seriousness.

“I’ve really troubled you with the multiple incidents before!” She touched her forehead to the ground, “I, Kojima Kanako, truly survived many dangers and even discovered more of my potential, as well as met more people, thanks to your help.

Please don’t worry; I will soon bring you a big gift!”

“Big gift…” Xu Yang had yet to think of a response, and Kanako had already stood up, her bag slung on her back, leaving the alley cheerfully.

What kind of big gift could Kanako possibly have for me?

Xu Yang stuffed his hands into his pockets, slowly following her out.

He heard rustling sounds behind him, turned his head, and saw the Ratman Mother sitting on several cardboard boxes, calling out to her hidden offspring.

She cradled three little Ratmen in her arms, with another little Ratman climbing onto her back.

The little Ratmen had no fur yet; they were pink and tender, greedily nursing.

The Ratman Mother was very quiet, not at all like her previously ferocious self; her body seemed almost sucked dry, skin and bones.

After the three little Ratmen finished nursing, the one on the back began to squeal noisily, also demanding milk.

There was no more milk to feed them; the Ratman Mother grabbed the little one from her back, tightening her grip around its neck, squeezing harder and harder, and the little rat struggled painfully.

The Ratman Mother’s actions were proficient, as if this were not the first time she had done this.

“Hey.” Xu Yang walked over.

The Ratman Mother immediately stopped her actions, warily watching Xu Yang and shielding the little Ratmen behind her.

The one that had been choked was let go and fell to the ground, clutching its mother’s foot and not leaving even after being choked.

“Who is threatening you, who is ordering you?”

“Sally.” The Ratman Mother unconsciously spoke a name very important to her.

“Who’s that?”

“The Saint, the Leader.”

“You can’t win against the corporation; it was like that 50 years ago and it’s the same now.” Xu Yang took out the dried pork, yokan, and chocolate from his pocket, “These are for you; take your kids back to the burrow.”

The Ratman Mother showed an expression of extreme contempt.

“…

Why should we only make do with burrows as our home?” said the Ratman Mother.

She killed the crying little rat at her feet, carried the three children on her back, and disappeared into the darkness.