Cyber Era Witch-Chapter 30 - 18 The Annihilation of the Group

30: Chapter 18: The Annihilation of the Group

30 -18: The Annihilation of the Group

The Toshiaki Family Group was erased from the Katagi District within an hour.

Xu Yang walked to the window and looked outside at the ring of corpses, indicating that a Rat Tide had definitely attacked the large market before, but were ruthlessly killed by the security system.

Indeed robust, with options to advance or retreat, this place had power and defense systems even in a massive blackout.

Would the Suzuki Group really hand over such a nice place?

From earlier interactions, Suzuki Shinji didn’t seem like a generous person, but Asa Katsuragi did value loyalty.

Xu Yang forcefully dragged a corpse away from the office desk, operated the central console, actively cleared his own hacking traces, and disconnected external communications to further facilitate his full control.

“This…” Asa Katsuragi inspected the corpses in the hallway, “it’s true, this is Ichiro Toshiaki, the boss of the Toshiaki Family Group, finally dead.”

“Human life is trifling.”

“The same as usual.”

“How has Boss Suzuki treated you?”

“Very well, although I joined the Suzuki Group for my brother’s sake, the boss has always valued me.”

“You and your brother are nothing alike.”

“I wish I could be as smart as him.

Sometimes even Boss Suzuki finds his words useful.

But my opinions have never been taken to heart by the boss.”

“This suit doesn’t fit.”

“Yes, I feel more comfortable in the gym.

Wearing uniforms was my brother’s idea; he told the boss it looks more professional.”

Talking with Asa Katsuragi felt comfortable; she had no guard up, very forthright.

But she was frowning, obviously preoccupied.

“What are you worried about?”

Asa Katsuragi picked up the katana thrown by Gochu Kensan and aimed it at Xu Yang.

“The boss told me to kill you, or drive you away.”

“Then that would be exploiting my hard work for free.”

“I’m not good at this kind of thing,” Asa Katsuragi moved the tip of the blade away, “Killing you would trouble my conscience, and you don’t seem the type to take a loss lying down.

But I can’t betray the boss either, so that’s why I’m telling you, I need you to come up with a way that doesn’t involve dying.”

“Tell your boss that the large market is under my control, and it has become my private property; the chances of overtaking it are very slim.”

“First, I have this, and this is more useful,” Asa Katsuragi pointed the blade at Xu Yang, “Second, you still have two women at the Suzuki Springs.”

That was indeed a fact.

The Ancient Witch Farosa and the blissfully ignorant Kanako, I certainly couldn’t disregard their safety.

“There must be something here more valuable than my death,” Xu Yang surveyed the surroundings, “Has Boss Suzuki taken an interest in some precious resource of the Toshiaki Family Group?”

“Yes,” Asa Katsuragi said, “The Toshiaki Family Group has been in contact with ‘The Big Shot,’ a high-ranking official from Kyoto Infinity, connected and influential for us.

The boss wants to replace the Toshiaki Family Group in serving ‘The Big Shot.'”

Xu Yang returned to the console desk and carefully searched the content.

They had deleted any important files.

Xu Yang found nothing of use.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Asa Katsuragi, who was patiently waiting.

If I came up empty-handed, she would undoubtedly have me executed.

Xu Yang paid attention to disk fragments, using his built-in mental software to recover data, and before long, he managed to retrieve a large number of deleted files.

Using technical methods to restore archives, he found a range of phone recordings, reports, and transaction records, pointing to a small company called “Hokkai Commercial Corporation.” However, from the humbly deferential tone of Ichiro Toshiaki in the records, it was clear the so-called small company was a disguise.

The records mentioned some key information, which to Xu Yang were just dates, locations, numbers, and goods, but the Suzuki Group should be able to make good use of it.

“Hokkai Commercial Corporation, are you familiar with this name?”

“It seems to be the mysterious company that always assists the Toshiaki Family Group in times of crisis; the boss suspects it’s the intermediate enterprise through which the Toshiaki Family Group communicates with The Big Shot.”

“Then these records should satisfy Boss Suzuki.” Xu Yang exported all the archives and sent them to Asa Katsuragi’s phone.

“Very good.”

“I owe you one.”

“You were on tenterhooks just now, weren’t you?” Asa Katsuragi spun the blade in her hand.

“You don’t know how to intimidate someone; I wasn’t scared at all.”

“There’s too much I can’t learn; I’ve never been to school.”

“I’ve been to school, but I relied on high-interest loans from the company, and that place was a mess…”

Asa Katsuragi’s phone rang again.

“It’s my brother.” She answered and then walked to the other side of the office.

Speaking of the education she received, Xu Yang couldn’t help but recall his past.

Corporate people received an inclusive 16-year education package, accumulating massive debts each year.

So-called corporate education didn’t teach anything useful; it was only designed to restrict children of the company and train compliance.

Truly beneficial job-related content was learned during the training period at entry by downloading memory archives.

This approach undermined the talents and growth potential of corporate people, leaving them to gain nothing during their prime learning period, and only to comply with company assignments after graduation.

On the other hand, skill archives provided them with knowledge and skills related only to certain positions, restricting them to work in those positions for life.

Meanwhile, the wealthy sent their children to real schools, where they cultivated a variety of talents and interests, broadening their horizons and knowledge.

Many of them joined or nominally engaged in academic circles, avoiding company enrollment.

Thus, the world’s scholarly research had become completely aristocratic and elitist, serving as a sanctuary for the rich to protect their children from corporate exploitation.

Valuable scientific achievements often weren’t from these wealthy people but were handled by science witches laboring day and night in laboratories.

Xu Yang thought about how he still owed Kyushu High Pavilion four million five hundred thousand, and was wanted by the Corporate Alliance with a bounty of over twenty million, which he found quite bizarre.

Even if he wanted to pay it off, he would be captured and executed immediately as a warning to others if he encountered anyone from Kyushu High Pavilion.

Contemplating societal sickness, Farosa might feel that the current state didn’t compare to her era.

I really want to take Farosa to a place beyond the company’s reach.

But that’s impossible.

Not only because such a place doesn’t exist, but also because Farosa possesses an innate restlessness, her instinct is to cause trouble.

Ah, that’s right.

Why not create such a place?

Create a utopia, where everyone fed up with the company and the witches can come and live freely.

Asa Katsuragi sat on the control desk, ended the call, and put her phone away.

Her expression was indecipherable, neither joyful nor anxious, more like numb.

Xu Yang heard dense footsteps coming from outside.

The residents who had previously scattered and fled gathered again, looking restless.

They moved through the staircase and congregated in the corridor outside the office, guarded by the gang members in black suits.

Holding various improvised weapons and firearms, they herded the residents to Asa Katsuragi with a mix of expulsion and surveillance.

Xu Yang glanced briefly and estimated at least a hundred survivors.

Women cradling infants, part-time workers in delivery or convenience store uniforms, students in school uniforms, otakus in glasses wearing anime character T-shirts, young girls in floral dresses, bald men in checkered shirts, and salesmen in cheap suits, sunglasses, and wireless headsets…

they were all just ordinary people one would commonly see.

Now, what were they to do?

Xu Yang took a deep breath, the air was full of the scent of blood; the limbs and bodies he had seen today were more than he had seen in the last 28 years combined.

“Them…

what are you planning to do with them?” Xu Yang asked.

“Do you have any ideas?”

“I’m just a passerby seeking refuge, no different from their status.

Why should I decide their future?”

“Everyone!” Asa Katsuragi stepped out of the office into the corridor and raised her fist, “The cruel and merciless Toshiaki Family Group has been extinguished by our Suzuki Group!

From now on, Katagi District will only have us to ensure everyone’s safety!

Please move to Suzuki Springs now, and we will protect you amidst the chaos of this ‘great blackout’!”

“Ah…”

“Does it cost money?”

“Can we pay by the day?”

“What do I do if I’ve run out of money?”

“Can we access the internet there?”

“Hey…”

“Suzuki Group…”

The people were anxious and despondent, full of uncertainty about the future.

If it weren’t for the great blackout, their fates would not be like this—treated like livestock, utterly powerless to decide their own life or death.

So, who exactly was responsible for this damnable blackout?

The Ratmen?

Did they truly have the capability to cut off the electricity in Aizu City?

Asa Katsuragi ordered the gang members to escort the survivors back to Suzuki Springs to pay the protection fees in exchange for safety.

The survivors were tense and uneasy but had no room for resistance.

They could only quietly be taken away one by one.

Having paid the Toshiaki Family Group, and now having to spend money on the Suzuki Group, it was an utterly unfortunate day for them.

Xu Yang looked at the office decor, which was simple and grand, with a golden Buddha statue holding a stainless steel automatic coffee machine in its hands.

The so-called Buddhas and Bodhisattvas all originated from the rumors of The Awakened; it was said that an ancient sage attained enlightenment under a tree, then traveled far and wide, advocating for the purification of desires and clarity of mind, for the six senses to be pure.

But his followers could not withstand the temptations of the Witch and turned to serve her, abandoning their beliefs, which led to the rapid disappearance of this sect.

However, their scriptures still circulated in a limited fashion until today, resurging anew with many online disciples attempting to lead the spirit of mortals to a Cloud Pure Land free of disasters and diseases.

Xu Yang didn’t believe in these claims.

He took a cup and poured himself some coffee, conveniently; Witch Farosa would definitely like this gadget.

“Without you, we could not have taken this place,” Asa Katsuragi said.

“My most serious advice: You should get some implants for yourself.

I can’t even imagine how you dare to rush into such a heavily guarded place.”

“Putting batteries in your body just makes you neglect physical training.”

“But downloading skill profiles into your brain can save years of martial arts training.”

The reason corporate employees are generally stronger than freelancers is also due to internal skill profiles, which etch memories and intelligence directly into the brain, significantly reducing the time to reach maturity and providing secret knowledge that is hard to acquire.

“How is that different from cheating,” Asa Katsuragi dismissed the notion.

“…I wish you a smooth life ahead.”

“It’s fine, I understand.” She reached out and gave Xu Yang a firm handshake, “From the beginning of my induction, Boss Suzuki told me that the Suzuki Group should become the strongest gang within the jurisdiction of Kyoto Infinity, fighting with the spirit of faith, courtesy, justice, and courage, telling me to fight my way through with my fists.

Maybe I misunderstood the meaning of those words.”

Her hand was rough compared to Witch Farosa’s delicate skin.

“Always been in the gang?

I mean… you haven’t done anything else?”

“I seldom use the word ‘gang’; it makes it sound like we are the bad guys.

Before I served the Suzuki Group, I did a lot of jobs, delivery, waitressing, even begging.

The Suzuki Group changed my fate…

no need to say more.”

“You do good things.”

“Of course, we protect the people in our territory from threats, offer them hot spring services.

We have 2000 members; we’re not scoundrels and thugs.

And our annual turnover is still growing,” Asa Katsuragi said with great enthusiasm, speaking at length.

“I guess you’ve never left Katagi District,” Xu Yang guessed.

“No need to, the gang is here, my family and brothers are here, Boss Suzuki is here too.

What could Katagi District possibly lack compared to the outside world?

Even though this is the deepest part of the Underground City, I feel like nothing is missing.”

“The internet is slow.”

“I don’t like going online; the internet is full of fluffy stuff and heaps of advertisements.”

“The internet gives you access to all sorts of novel information; so many things are happening around the world…”

“What does that have to do with us?

We feel happy when we see interesting things, but the happiness lasts only a moment; we become angry when we see painful news, but the anger can’t change anything.

In the end, you still have to come back and live your life, taking each day as it comes.

I am content with that.”

“Hmm…”

“I have to go back and report now.” Asa Katsuragi bid farewell to Xu Yang.

“You’re sure Boss Suzuki won’t give you trouble, right?”

“I can handle it.”

“Farewell.”

As Asa Katsuragi jogged away, Xu Yang couldn’t shake the illusion that her robust and ample body could deflect bullets with muscle alone.

Xu Yang looked around the office, feeling somewhat reassured.

He sat down in Ichiro Toshiaki’s black executive chair, leaned back, and slowly began to plan his next move.