dawn

The brilliance of the morning light passed through the somewhat old car windows, making the shadows of the people inside the car long and thin.

However, this peaceful beauty only lasted for less than a moment, and the noisy noise shattered the morning light.

On the streets on both sides, miners armed with shovels or steel rods were confronting city defense troops or members of the Ice Wolf Gang armed with electric batons.

The homeless people who were sleeping peacefully on the street were woken up and fled from where they were. However, they could not escape far before they were caught by gang members on the side.

Some able-bodied homeless people can also be 'miners', so that they can sell for a good price in private prisons.

Chaos constitutes the main color of this city.

"The world is getting more and more chaotic."

The driver in front sighed and honked his horn, scaring away the homeless man blocking the vehicle on the road ahead.

The road has become crowded, and many vehicles are running one after another towards Nancheng. Nancheng is a commercial district. Although chaos has gradually become apparent, it is still much safer than Beicheng.

The taxi moved forward slowly.

While waiting for the traffic light, the driver raised his head and glanced at the young man in a large trench coat reflected in the rearview mirror, "Young man, are you going to the mining consortium building?"

A projection map was unfolded in front of the young man, and he drew some strange patterns on the map with his fingers.

"Um."

He Ao, who was sitting in the back, glanced at the map in front of him and put it away.

Since there were too many people taking taxis to Nancheng, He Ao couldn't find anyone to take a taxi, so he paid extra for a taxi with a driver.

The driver was an old man who looked very old. He had gray hair on his temples and an old face. When he looked at He Ao through the rearview mirror, He Ao was also looking at him.

When the traffic light ended, the driver withdrew his gaze and looked ahead.

"The days are getting harder day by day," he sighed. "It was not like this when I was young. Although it was difficult, it was not as bad as it is today."

He Ao didn't say much, he just looked at the driver as if he was listening.

The old driver seemed to have not seen a passenger like He Ao who was willing to listen to him about the past for a long time. He glanced at He Ao through the rearview mirror and continued slowly,

"When I was young, I was a mechanical engineer. At that time, the mines in Rock City were not all in the hands of a consortium like they are now. At that time, I worked in a large mine.

"The big mine is now Rock City Mining Group. Younger children probably don't know this name."

The driver seemed to be in good health and his voice was bright and cheerful.

"Rock City was established in a short period of time and cannot compare with those ancient cities. The discovery of large-scale mineral deposits only took place in the past two or three hundred years. Mines in the wilderness are difficult to mine. You have to avoid alien beasts and be careful of monsters. Snow falls in winter.

There is no way to work during the period.

"And when mining, it is easy to dig up some horrible things, so the overall cost of mining is very high. The mortality rate of miners was also very high at that time. Of course, the wages were also very high."

Having said this, the old driver looked back at He Ao, "Have you seen those small high walls in the mines outside?"

He Ao nodded slightly.

"Those high walls were developed by large mining farms,"

The old driver laughed and said, "The time I worked in a large mine was the happiest time in my life. Anyone who has suggestions for improving mining machinery can report it to the management. The management will often go to the mining and mining sites."

On the front line of transportation, listen to the suggestions of miners.

“Our wages increase every year, we can be promoted if we do well, and the miners below who are smart can also get company-sponsored qualifications to go to university.

"The large mine has existed for more than a hundred years, and has developed countless new types of equipment. Every day is better than yesterday. Every time I enter the mine, I can see the banner at the entrance of the mine, 'The best, the most advanced'

, the most respected company'.

“It is said that the earliest founders of large mining farms were two engineers, and most of the management were engineers. Almost every executive has one or two patents.

"At that time, large mining farms would invest most of the company's profits in the research and development of new machines. At that time, we were the innovators leading the entire federation.

"Many of the new equipment developed at the big mines are now also used by most of the federal mining companies."

"and after?"

He Ao asked softly.

"Later,"

The driver leaned on the seat cushion, turned on automatic driving, and put one hand on the steering wheel.

“Later, the big mine acquired a small mining equipment production company in the south.

“Then two managers from investment banks came from the south. They met with the shareholders of the large mining farms one by one, joined forces, and kicked out the descendants of the founders.

“Engineer executives who had previously specialized in technology were fired, and executives from small mining equipment manufacturing companies who spoke financial jargon took up executive positions.

“Then they began to cut R&D spending, restructure the company, carry out financial reforms, and rename the large mine to Rock City Mining Group.

“They listed the newly born Luo Mining Group on the financial market, then borrowed money to purchase mines, further raising the stock price, and then they continued to repeat until they acquired most of the mines and became the only mining consortium in Luo Ke City.

"Large mines have gradually become large mines in the true sense. However, there are no longer exciting slogans at the entrance of the mines. They are replaced by the corporate philosophy of 'stock price first, profit first'.

“After completing the monopoly, the new board of directors and senior management team cut labor costs while entering financial industries such as real estate.

"A large number of mines have brought a lot of profits, and these profits are no longer invested in research and development, but are used to invest in new industries and buy back stocks. Because these actions can increase the stock price, and the return cycle of research and development is too long.

“Each of the executives received a generous ‘equity incentive package’. The rise in stock prices means that their net worth has risen, which means they have become ‘respectable’ rich people.

"In order to increase the stock price, they are also constantly reducing costs, adopting more radical strategies, and using worse materials. The mortality rate of miners, which was originally due to the continuous efforts of large mines to develop new machines, has increased again under their management.

.

"Not only that, they also significantly lowered the wages of miners and basic engineers, and increased employees' working hours to 'reduce costs', make the financial statements more beautiful, and make the stock price rise faster."

Having said this, the old driver laughed and sighed,

"Then I resigned. I couldn't go against my conscience and create machines that would kill people in order to reduce costs. The big mining farms were dead, and all that survived was a mining consortium that only saw profit.

"After leaving my job, I was banned from the industry and could not find another job as a mechanical engineer. I changed careers many times and finally became a driver. The income was not high, but I lived a comfortable life.

"Later, my son wanted to go to the mining consortium, but I didn't let him go. Now it seems that he may have saved his life.

"These people have no bottom line in doing things for the sake of stock prices and profits."

The taxi driver turned the steering wheel in a circle, and the taxi made a right-angle turn and stopped not far from a tall building. "But they have a mercenary group and they are rich. We ordinary people can't deal with them - the mining consortium building."

arrive."

"Thanks."

He Ao handed over the fare.

The driver did not take his money, but said softly,

"Son, I know you are a good boy.

"I've seen you on the news. I don't know what happened to you, but I know you can't deal with them. Don't be impulsive. If it doesn't work, let's leave this city.

"My family and I are ready to leave this city. We will leave tonight. If you are willing, we can take you with us. Don't be impulsive."

"Uncle, don't worry, I won't be impulsive."

He Ao shook his head with a smile, put the money on the seat, reached out and pushed open the door, and got out of the taxi.

The location here is actually some distance away from the main building of the mining consortium, but no matter how close it is, it is surrounded by mercenary groups, and taxis cannot enter.

These mercenaries were brought back from the wilderness to protect the board of directors and senior executives.

The taxi driver watched him get out of the car, gave him a long look, sighed, turned the steering wheel and left.

He Ao stared at the building not far away with deep eyes.

The old foreman gave him a hint, but did not tell him clearly. He had to figure it out on his own.

In other words, there is a high probability that the people behind the scenes are still unaware that they have been exposed.

In this way, in this short period of time, He Ao is in the dark and the person behind the scenes is in the light, and the status of the two is reversed.

So Ho now has some uninterrupted setup time.

But this does not last long, because now the conflicts in Rock City have been intensified to the limit, and the purpose of the people behind the scenes is likely to be achieved.

Ho Ao must complete all the arrangements before the last moment comes.

He stared at the building not far away, pulled out the red dagger from his waist, held the sword in his backhand, then stretched out his wrist, raised it with the red light, and bright red blood seeped out little by little.

——

As the dim light lit up, on the high wall of a mine north of Rock City, a mercenary with blond hair wearing a mercenary regiment uniform yawned.

"When does the shift start?"

The blond mercenary looked drowsily at the white snow outside.

"In another half hour."

The mercenary beside him also yawned.

"Those gentlemen have transferred all the manpower back, and they are not afraid of danger in the mine. As a result, I have to stand guard for three more hours."

The blond mercenary complained.
To be continued...