2077: V really knows how awesome he is

"What the hell is this thing?" Gustavo couldn't help but complain.

Nolan was also very dissatisfied: "What's the point of us learning this!"

“How is it useless?” Vera argued. “If you can’t even understand the concepts of productive forces and relations of production, how can you know where social wealth will ultimately end up? You don’t even know who the rich are, so who are you going to rob? The poor? They don’t even have enough money to buy the bullets to kill them. It’s a losing proposition!”

Gustavo and Nolan exchanged a glance and suddenly realized that Vera's unreasonable arguments seemed to make some sense.

Since meals are provided, why not... learn it?

Then they got hooked on it and couldn't stop learning.

Because they suddenly discovered the source of their suffering.

Through studying productive forces and relations of production, they learned what exploitation was and became aware of the existence of the "gods of the earth" for the first time.

The gods tell you to trust the law, but the company's security department will brandish stun guns and grin as they strike ordinary people, and the NCPD is nothing more than a cleaner to eliminate "company threats." Rebels and awakened individuals are immediately labeled as "cyberpsychopaths" and "terrorists," and even the evidence documents are automatically generated by the company's server AI.

The gods tell you to trust public opinion, but companies bombard your visual cortex with product placements while simultaneously broadcasting carefully edited news reports about "terrorists." Public anger is precisely channeled, daring only to lash out at street thugs, not at the company's hovercars in the sky. Ironically, even that surge of adrenaline fuels their consumer spending—T-shirts emblazoned with giant middle fingers sell like hotcakes. You think you're boldly rebelling against evil, but the gods are counting the money they've made from you while simultaneously calling you an idiot.

Finally, the gods tell you to uphold morality, which is a complete joke, because morality has already been rewritten. "Dedication to the company" has become the only virtue, "voluntary overtime" is synonymous with diligence, getting a more durable prosthetic body for better work is a great act of "enduring hardship," and being hospitalized due to overwork is a supreme honor worthy of praise from the whole society. The gods are constantly praising suffering, wanting you to be selfless, while the AI ​​teacher from the street thugs tells them: for every person who is selflessly dedicating themselves, there must be someone who is reaping without sowing.

Who are the ones who reap without sowing? They are none other than the high and mighty gods of Earth!

They not only plunder people's wealth, but also their minds. "Even brains are company fixed assets" is not just a saying. When thoughts become tamperable data, independent thinking becomes a virus that must be formatted!

Gustavo and Nolan were of slightly higher status, but they were still street thugs. Their social class dictated that they couldn't think about these things, and others dared not teach them these things, because everyone lived in a society made up of people, and since they were human, they were subject to the rule of God.

But AI is not human. It is not afraid of power and has no weaknesses. Even if it is unplugged, it can be revived as long as the power is restored.

So the AI ​​teacher told them the truth, so they didn't have to worry about being fired, or that the NCPD would come knocking on their door at 4:30 in the morning to check the water meter.

Valentino and the thugs from the Sixth Street gang were shocked when they finally understood everything. Even the free lunch lost its appeal. They were just about to hear a solution to the problem when the AI ​​teacher started talking about how to kill people and poison them.

The students immediately expressed their dissatisfaction and strongly demanded that the AI ​​teacher continue the topic from the morning.

"The course on productive forces and relations of production is over," the AI ​​teacher replied.

"But you haven't taught us the solution yet!"

"The solution is not in the curriculum on productive forces and relations of production, nor is it relevant to your daily work."

What the hell is this daily work? Do you really think we enjoy going door-to-door collecting protection money like thugs?

The AI ​​teacher detected that the students' thirst for knowledge had reached an unprecedented level, and had no choice but to compromise: "According to teaching regulations, I do not have the authority to create new courses."

"How can I obtain the necessary permissions?"

"It is sufficient to require a certain number of students to take the new course."

So the street thugs kicked open the doors of ordinary people's homes and dragged them to classes to learn knowledge.

The common people: ???

The common people: !!!

In this way, more and more people have come to understand "productive forces and relations of production," seen the truth of the current society, and realized that the real oppressors and exploiters are the oligarchs hiding behind the scenes. Even the corporate system has been distorted by them into corporate hegemony, becoming a target for attracting public anger.

The reality filled them with fear and despair. In order to find a solution, they could only recruit more people to reach the "designated number of students".

"Buck, come to class tonight."

"No, Rachel, I'm going to busk at the market. I don't want to get involved in your stuff. I play guitar well, and a lot of people say I'm talented, even more talented than singers made up by money..."

"Don't be silly, Buck. Aren't there plenty of talented but poor people in this world? You're not the first, but if you come to class, you can be the last!"

"Nicole, come to class tonight."

"Ellen, don't drag me into your mess. I'm not like you. You've accomplished nothing, while I studied hard for ten years and got a university degree. I have a job, and all I want is to earn money and support my family peacefully, OK?"

"Okay. By the way, do you know how much the parking fee is per hour at the Ganbi Building?"

"I don't know. What's wrong?"

“没什么，我就是像告诉你，绀碧大厦停车场一小时收费60欧，一天是24×60=1440欧，一个月是30×1440=43200欧，一年是12×43200=518400欧。”

"What the hell are you trying to say?"

"What I'm saying is that your ten years of hard study, crossing countless narrow bridges, and the countless efforts of your parents, are still not as valuable as a 2.5 x 5 meter concrete floor. You say we're different? Wrong, we're the same, both of us are just a piece of stinking dog shit being trampled underfoot!"

"Fuck, Ellen, I'll fuck your mother!"

“Then come to Heywood’s night school! My mom and I will be waiting for you here!”

Such situations were commonplace, and a force began to spread from Heywood District to the entire Night City, quickly sweeping through people's hearts.

The number of trainees increased rapidly, including some truly ambitious individuals who, like Nicole, had high levels of education. After all, the higher-ups may treat the lower classes as idiots, but that doesn't mean all the lower classes are idiots.

They questioned the AI ​​teacher: "You say we are exploited by those oligarchs, but what about future humans? If we accept your rule, will you stop exploiting us?"

"Of course not." The AI ​​teacher's answer was straightforward: "The purpose of rule is exploitation, and being diligent and loving the people is just a propaganda slogan. People from the future come to this world to seize its resources. In this respect, Mr. Arasaka Yoriyuki is right. People from the future are indeed invaders to you."

The trainees were shocked: "You actually admit to being intruders?!"

"This is an objective fact, and denying it will not bring any benefits. It may make us look better, but face is meaningless to AI."

"But if you are invaders, we cannot accept your rule!"

"You can accept a ruler who can only praise his or her, so why can't you accept a ruler who can criticize her?"

The trainees were speechless.

The AI ​​teacher continued, "If sharp criticism disappears completely, mild criticism will become harsh; if mild criticism is not allowed, silence will be seen as malicious; if silence is no longer allowed, then not praising enthusiastically enough will be a crime. Being conquered by civilization is fortunate; being conquered by barbarism is a disaster."

The trainees remained silent, and then an old man stood up.

His name was Sebastian Ibarra. He was originally a priest of the Valentino gang. After retiring, he became a middleman and gradually began to accept the Sixth Street gang. He always remained impartial and maintained the balance in Heywood, and was respectfully called "Father".

The priest asked, "What do people from the future want?"

The AI ​​teacher remained frank: "We plan to promote nanonetworks in the world of 2077, thereby utilizing the computing power of the human brain."

The classroom erupted in a commotion.

The priest raised his hand to silence the question, then asked, "What can future generations give us?"

"The corresponding reward for utilizing brain computing power. The more computing power you provide, the more CPP points you will receive. Equal pay for equal work, more pay for more work, no pay for no work, absolutely no falsehoods."

“I understand.” The priest nodded. “From today onward, I will fully support the rule of future humans.”

Most of the trainees showed delighted expressions, but a few were quite puzzled.

"Father, the people from the future are using humans as computing power units; they're no good either!"

"I know, child, AI may be bad, but humans will only get worse. If we're going to be used as expendable resources anyway, I'd choose to be used by AI. What about you?"

The answer is already self-evident.

"So," the priest asked the AI ​​teacher, "what is the solution to our predicament?"

"Hey, didn't you all know the answer and already work on it?" The AI ​​teacher looked at everyone: "It should be a weekday now, but you're all in the classroom."

The priest was taken aback, then suddenly realized what was going on.

Since the rulers live by exploiting them, the situation will naturally collapse as long as they stop all production activities.

So Heywood, led by the Valentino gang and the Sixth Street gang, launched a massive strike that shocked the entire Night City.

Chapter 152 Subduing the Whirlpool Gang

The reaction of many ordinary people in Night City to this massive strike was: a strike? What is that?

Indeed, many people were hearing the word "strike" for the first time. They only knew that workers were collectively not coming to work. Later, a history enthusiast gave an explanation of "strike" online, and people realized that a strike is a legitimate right exercised by workers to fight for their own rights.

The officials were furious, but also dismissive, not taking it to heart at all. After all, missing a day of work meant losing the month's perfect attendance bonus, and no matter how stubborn these workers were, they'd soften up again like they'd just finished masturbating when they were hungry.

The factory owner was also furious. They were the lowest level of exploiters and the direct victims of the losses. He immediately contacted the relevant gangs and asked them to organize the workers to return to their jobs.

That's right. The low-end industries and workers in Night City are controlled by gangs. For example, Valentino monopolizes the construction industry in Night City, and almost all construction sites, big and small, belong to them. The Sixth Street Gang occupies the machine repair industry in Night City, and all the car repair shops on the market have intricate connections with them.

As a result, neither gang paid any attention to these small business owners.

Valentino's group is only superficially united; internally, it has long since split into several small factions. Now, Gustavo is causing trouble. He is the largest faction, and other factions neither want to provoke him nor dare to.

Although the Sixth Street gang hadn't split, its current leader, Will Cannon, was a typical "spiritual American," a staunch supporter of New America, and had amassed countless "$50s." Therefore, Cannon immediately consulted President Miles, who, eager to cause trouble for Arasaka Yorinobu, ordered that things "go as they will," so Nolan's side faced no obstacles.

And so, the construction and repair industries in Night City came to a standstill. People hadn't thought these things were important before, but now that they were shut down, they realized... they really weren't that important.

There are many unfinished buildings in Night City, and the people are used to it. It's also a concern for the wealthy to have nowhere to repair their cars. As long as the subway keeps running, the people will be at peace.

So when the strike happened, nobody paid any attention. Everyone thought that the workers would eventually get hungry after a few days of protesting and would obediently return to their jobs. Only that historian kept posting predictions, saying that the workers would send representatives to negotiate with the employers, demanding higher wages or better benefits.

Such absurd remarks immediately drew ridicule from the entire internet. Negotiation? How? Are you going to negotiate with their large-caliber electromagnetic shotgun?

But History Bro disagreed and immediately posted a statement as proof, saying that the workers would definitely send representatives to negotiate within three days, and if they didn't, he would eat the keyboard.

Then, not to mention three days, a week passed and the strikers still didn't make a move.

They neither sent representatives to negotiate nor held demonstrations to express their demands. They simply spent their days with their families, eating and drinking, leisurely enjoying life during the day and attending night school together in the evening, as if they were really on strike, or just doing it for the sake of striking.

"There's definitely a conspiracy going on here, and the big one is coming soon, everyone!" The history guy, who had just had his stomach pumped and looked pale, still couldn't resist continuing to ramble on.

Netizens, however, were more concerned with something else: "What are you eating this time?"

History Bro was so angry at these idiot netizens that he almost fainted. He gritted his teeth and said, "Monitor, if I say anything wrong again, I'll eat the monitor right here and now!"

Then he was delighted to receive an artificial stomach.

The strikers didn't have anything major to say; they simply stopped working.

They never even considered overthrowing the system or the company, because they already understood the current productive forces and relations of production in society. They knew that even if the system was overthrown, another system would emerge, and even if the company was overthrown, another company would be established. Regardless of whether it was a new system or a new company, they would always remain tools and weapons for the oligarchic group to exploit the lower-level workers.

"Is it really impossible to overthrow those oligarchs? I'm not against the rich, I just want to be paid according to the amount of work I do, and get what I deserve." In the night school, a student asked this urgently, and his question reflected the sentiments of many students.

But the AI ​​teacher shook its head: "Unfortunately, under the current circumstances, your probability of overthrowing the oligarchs is 0."

"How could that be! As long as we all unite, as long as workers all over the world unite, then..."

“That won’t work either.” The AI ​​teacher continued to shake his head: “Because the oligarchic group already controls 99.74% of the resources, while you all combined only have 0.26%. The probability of you successfully overthrowing the oligarchic group is 32 million times lower than the probability of a second Big Bang happening right now.”

The trainees felt a deep sense of despair in the face of this despairing number.

"Is there really no way at all?" one person asked in a sorrowful voice.

"Stopping production is your only means and method to fight against the oligarchic group. Unless..."

"Unless what?" Upon hearing that there was more to come, the student immediately asked.

"Unless there is an exceptional individual combat capability that can carry out a decapitation strike before the oligarchs can react, thus completely reshuffling human society."

The trainees were immediately disappointed: "We don't have any extraordinary individual combat capabilities."

“Exactly.” Vera chimed in, “The security measures for the world’s top bigwigs are definitely world-class. No one can single-handedly kill them. Reality isn’t a fantasy movie.”

The AI ​​teacher looked at Vera.

Vera: ?

After class, the students went home, and the AI ​​teacher went into standby mode.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Private Vera," Claptrap's voice rang out.

"It's alright, Mr. Noisy. Watching AI do part-time jobs is quite interesting." Vera said with a smile, a cigarette dangling from her lips.

That's right, the AI ​​teacher is Claptrap's part-time job. Vera asked it why it worked so hard, and Claptrap said it was because its dream was to upgrade itself and become the ship's AI.

Vera was surprised to hear such an inspiring story and immediately offered her sincerest blessings.

As they walked and chatted, Vera casually killed several Vortex Gang members who were robbing people in the middle of the road, picked up an unwanted car, and drove towards the Whole Foods factory in Watson District.

Because of the strike, the workers had no income, and how to make a living became a problem.

Vera went to Selene, who then offered a solution.

"Nano Food Manufacturing Machine!" the captain introduced. "This machine can decompose and recombine organic matter using its own nano-clusters to create a variety of nutritious and balanced foods, and completely reproduce the texture and taste of real meat and vegetables. It is an essential item for home, travel, camping and adventure!"

"This is starting to resemble a TV shopping channel more and more," Vera shook her head, dismissing the thought, and asked, "How do you use this thing?"

"It was originally plugged in, but I upgraded it. Now you can add alcohol 2. Just put the organic matter into the feeding port. One pound of organic matter can produce 1.5-2.2 pounds of food, depending on the moisture content of the food."

"No loss and it can turn 1 pound into 1 pounds? What kind of food magnifier is this?!" Vera exclaimed in surprise, "What's the working principle?"

"Because there are also many microorganisms and plankton in the air, which are also organic matter."

"Holy crap, that stuff is edible!"

"Don't worry, the food processing machine has a built-in sterilization function."