Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 258 Gradual Reform (Ten Updates)

Under the governance of the "Council of Three Sages," Night City, as if injected with catalysts of varying proportions, began to exhibit a complex and subtle change.

The city's basic framework is still maintained by the "manager" AI with cold efficiency—energy pipelines deliver energy stably, transportation networks operate in an orderly manner, and basic supplies are distributed accurately.

Arasaka Kei's digital soul faithfully executed the core instructions set by Chen Yu, ensuring the basic vital signs of this massive machine.

However, on the grid of order laid out by the "managers," Johnny Silverhand and Yoriyuki Arasaka's ideas began to permeate, collide, and merge, attempting to leave their mark within the limited framework.

Johnny Silverhand, the former rock legend and symbol of rebellion, now has a legitimate platform.

Using his authority within the "Three Wise Men's Meeting," he acted like a tireless fighter, continuously disseminating his ideas.

The community self-governance pilot program he promoted has taken root in several specific areas.

In the North Works area of ​​Watson District, a representative committee elected by local residents has begun to try to manage the allocation of public spaces and mediate small disputes within the community.

In an old neighborhood in Heywood, residents spontaneously organized themselves to repair damaged public facilities and even formed a small community patrol team using the limited resources coordinated by Yoriyuki Arasaka.

Johnny's voice, through every channel he could access—whether it was an announcement that was strictly reviewed by the "administrators" before it was allowed to be released, or an encrypted broadcast that he used his privileges to briefly open in specific areas—repeatedly emphasized the importance of "grassroots mutual assistance" and "community self-determination."

His very existence was like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, creating ripples.

Some people at the bottom of society, who are used to being ruled by companies or gangs, are beginning to cautiously try to make their voices heard, even though their voices are still faint amidst the massive noise of the city.

Yoriyuki Arasaka plays a dual role as both mediator and executor.

He navigated between Johnny's idealism and Arasaka's absolute rationality, attempting to transform seemingly feasible community proposals into concrete, actionable steps while ensuring they did not cross the efficiency red lines set by the "managers."

He is more like a shrewd politician, moving pieces on a limited chessboard and balancing the interests of all parties.

He used the remaining influence of the Arasaka family (although this influence was negligible in the face of Chen Yu's absolute power) and the coordinating power granted by the "Three Sages Conference" to secure some substantial minor improvements for the pilot community.

For example, more timely garbage collection, or temporarily allocating some idle public spaces to the community.

His efforts prevented Johnny's ideas from becoming empty slogans and occasionally brought out subtle fluctuations in the "administrator's" cold data stream, representing "improved community vitality."

Change is slow and localized.

Johnny's radical proposals were often rejected or significantly modified by "managers" based on logical deductions of efficiency and risk assessment.

Outside of the pilot areas for community self-governance, the main body of Night City is still shrouded in the shadow of the "contribution-guarantee" system.

The sense of oppression hadn't disappeared; it had just been diluted and mixed with new, somewhat uncertain expectations.

The chatter on the streets grew louder as people cautiously discussed each public resolution of the "Three Sages' Meeting," guessed Johnny's next move, and assessed Lai Xuan's coordination abilities.

The remaining forces within the company lay low more cautiously, observing the loopholes and potential exploitation opportunities within this new system. However, Chen Yu's attention was rapidly diminishing regarding the subtle pulses occurring deep within Night City's fabric.

In the core laboratory of the workshop in the abandoned town, which he had led the expansion of and which is now quite large, Chen Yu’s huge, dark red mechanical body stood in front of the control panel.

The crimson optical lens swept across the city's operational data summary reports, which were regularly uploaded by the "administrators".

On the screen, curves and data streams representing fluctuations in employment rate, productivity, crime rate, resource consumption, and public physiological and psychological indices flowed smoothly.

The data from the community pilot program promoted by Johnny was highlighted separately, showing some fluctuations, but not yet reaching the threshold requiring his intervention.

"Social structure evolution data is complete; mark all abnormal fluctuations." Chen Yu's synthesized voice rang out in the silent laboratory, a routine instruction to the "manager." "Events that do not endanger base security or core research projects do not need to be reported to me. Maintain the bottom line of basic order."

His processing core had already shifted the main threads to higher-priority transactions.

The large-scale design of the dimensional teleporter has entered the final debugging stage. The encrypted communication from the Nexus Forging World regarding the successful trial production of the "Ancient Logic Core" needs in-depth analysis. More importantly, the strength of the members of his planned tentacles—the exploration team that is about to extend into the unknown dimension—still seems too weak in his eyes.

The virtual avatar of the "manager" bowed slightly in a corner of the control panel: "Instructions confirmed, Sage. All data will be archived into the 'Social Structure Evolution' database."

Chen Yu stopped responding and pulled up another list, his crimson optical lens locking onto each name on it.

This is a "probe" that he carefully selected and prepared for exploring multiple dimensions in this field.

"Summon all members of the Dimensional Exploration Team and return to the main laboratory immediately." The command was sent out instantly via the encrypted channel.
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When the order was received, Mann's team was at a small training ground on the edge of Watson District.

This place was originally a warehouse of a bankrupt factory, but they have now transformed it into a training ground for familiarizing themselves with new equipment and tactical coordination.

The air still carried the smell of ozone from laser rifles burning the air and the smoke from heavy weapons test firing.

Just as Mann lowered his left arm, which had been modified with a precision-engineered plasma cannon, Dorio stepped out of her heavily modified "centaur"-style power armor, while Rebecca excitedly wiped the barrel of her bomb gun.

Chen Yu's summons brought everyone to a standstill.

"The Sage has summoned you?" Pila blinked his modified electronic eyes, capable of multispectral scanning. "This time... is it for real?"

Mann rubbed his chin, the scar standing out prominently under the light: "Gather. Quickly."

His voice carried a barely perceptible tension.

The term "dimensional exploration" itself implies an unknown and perilous existence far exceeding the street fights in Night City.

Although they had undergone Chen Yu's initial enhancements and were equipped far better than before, the thought of voluntarily stepping into a different world with vastly different rules and fraught with danger sent a chill down the spines of even the most battle-hardened mercenaries.

(End of this chapter)