【Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha】
In the pure land and paradise created for them by the chips, these human brains chant the mantras taught to them by the chips every moment. It is a scripture praising Mithras, praising enlightenment, Nirvana, and transcendence.
As they continued their praise, a constant stream of energy from their beliefs flowed from their brains. This energy was so abundant that it could power a typhoon sweeper covering the entire state!
Of course, even the power of the mind cannot be produced indefinitely. Constantly driving and using a human brain with a dream chip would only severely shorten its lifespan. Frankly, obtaining that many healthy brains from natural humans would be quite difficult.
However, solving this problem is actually quite simple.
Adam had already told Hayden at the wedding last year that modern cloning technology was already mature!
Humans cloned by the company naturally lack proper identification codes; in other words, they aren't considered human. Therefore, the clones' brains can be used directly, and there's no problem producing as many as desired. By implanting dream and educational chips, and having them constantly worship and chant scriptures in their dreams, these clones' brains can provide a vast amount of belief energy before they become worn out!
This is both a terrible thing and a great thing; I believe it needs no further explanation.
Even Adam found these brain boxes disgusting. But as one of the instigators, he was secretly excited looking at this endless energy.
Long, long ago, in the ancient times, the most primitive gods relied on blood sacrifices to gain power.
Later, another kind of ancient god fell from the heavens. The wisest of them—the great Asmodeus—invented a completely new method. They no longer needed to devour living people; they could directly draw power from people's minds through social order, rituals, and authority. This method was far more efficient than relying on blood sacrifices.
Then, four hundred years later, a new set of gods, led by Mithras, rose to power. These new gods needed no rituals or sacredness; they could directly extract more efficient power from people's minds through capitalism and money!
Today it is today.
Currently, the [Kowtowing Bug] system that Adam and his team have newly developed, although the power it can obtain is not very stable and still has great limitations, will probably not be able to compare with that great magic called [Finance] for a long time to come...
However, its birth signifies the beginning of a new era.
It will surely unleash a storm that shakes up the new throne of God!
141: If we can ride the wind tomorrow
The typhoon-induced sweeping machine has stopped.
It's at least temporarily halted. Dhritarashtra, the Heavenly King, is quite satisfied with the results of this field test of the [Kowtowing Insect] system.
The successful development of the new energy system will be a significant contribution by Dhritarashtra within the Mithra Group. This will allow him to advance further in management and gain greater influence both within and outside the Mithra Group. This project has essentially come very close to success.
Later, Dhritarashtra might adopt Adam's proposal to periodically activate the Typhoon Sweeper and launch a membership service for it, but that's all in the future.
At least for now, the dark clouds of the typhoon have temporarily dissipated.
Standing on the mountain, gazing at the sky through the colorless city barrier, the air quality in Changqing Prefecture had improved considerably after the typhoon's sweeping action. Almost all the pollution in the atmosphere and on the ground had been blown away by the typhoon, leaving behind relatively clean air.
This should be a good thing for the health and well-being of the people of Changqing Prefecture.
However, on the other hand, these pollutants in Evergreen State weren't truly destroyed. Just like sweeping the floor with a broom or mopping it, they don't actually eliminate the dirt and dust. The typhoon's "sweeping machine" ultimately just sucks up the pollution from the air and the ground and then haphazardly dumps it elsewhere. Most of the pollution flies into the western Pacific Ocean, and a small portion is dumped into the three neighboring states of Evergreen State—that is, into the sphere of influence of other executives or other large companies.
Pollution will not be eliminated. The typhoon sweeper will only blow the pollution to other places, allowing these filth, toxins, and curses to continue to accumulate in other corners of the world, and then harm all life that passes by as they drift with the wind.
Needless to say, other executives and large companies won't be happy about this. There will undoubtedly be more long-term disputes, protests, and infighting among large corporations. However, this is still a good thing for Dhritarashtra, as he can personally profit significantly from it.
As for Adam and the devils who colluded with him—oh dear, the escalating infighting within the new capitalist god is certainly a good thing for the devils!
Could it be that those devils are deliberately stirring things up here?
Looking up at the azure sky above, a sky that was so beautiful and clear, Hayden couldn't help but feel worried and troubled.
Don't be so pessimistic.
Karen, who was standing beside Hayden gazing at the sky, immediately noticed his troubled expression and shook her head, saying...
"This is an opportunity for us, and it's a good thing in the long run. We've gained a lot this time—provided, of course, that we can actually take advantage of and make the most of these benefits."
Hayden didn't react for a moment: "Huh? What are you talking about? You mean the life-and-death yin-yang tempering immortal technique left behind by Pazuzu?"
If Hayden had to say what benefit he gained this time, this was the only thing he could think of.
Karen was speechless when she heard him say that: "No, that's not true. Hayden, your political and business acumen is really lacking."
“First of all, now that the Mitra Group has developed a new energy source and this typhoon sweeper, do you think their normal industrial production will slow down or stop? Do you think the environmental pollution caused by arcane industry will decrease?” Karen shook her head. “Absolutely not. Industrial pollution will only increase. It’s just that the Mitra Group will use typhoons to sweep the pollution to other places, so most people won’t notice.”
“Arcane industrial pollution won’t disappear into thin air; on the contrary, it will increase. We can certainly take advantage of the residual energy and resources in this pollution.”
Karen's "Dream Flower" was originally designed to utilize and transform environmental pollution. Her dedication to inventing the "Dream Flower" stemmed from her dream of a golden lotus blooming from the mud. Increased environmental pollution, ironically, presented Karen with a valuable opportunity.
Hayden stroked his chin, realizing that Karen's words made sense. Pazuzu's demonstration of the pollution storm technique before his death was based on a similar idea. However, Pazuzu was, after all, rooted in the demonic spirit of the "South Wind," so it dared not use it too much, fearing it would be controlled by the large corporation's climate control system. Hayden, on the other hand, was a living, breathing human, not a spirit, and didn't need to worry about such issues.
...Not needing to worry too much doesn't mean there's absolutely no need to worry. Hayden hasn't forgotten his own near-transformation into a beast last time.
But regardless, this is indeed a good opportunity. Karen and Hayden can take advantage of this pollution.
"Not only that, there are also manpower available."
Karen became more and more excited as she spoke, her mind always filled with blueprints for the future.
"In the entire Changqing Prefecture, and even in the neighboring wastelands, how do you think all the remaining demi-human tribes will survive? If the company uses the Typhoon Sweeper for one day every month, all the remaining demi-human tribes in the wastelands will be wiped out."
Hayden wasn't stupid; he understood immediately and continued, "But our new city can accommodate them. This new city needs more manpower—but uneducated primitives certainly can't keep a modern city running. We need skilled people."
Even a group of recent college graduates would be far more useful than thousands of primitive humans. The only advantage of the demi-humans is their worship of Angela, their loyalty, and their willingness to die for her. But modern cities simply cannot function on a group of loyal primitive humans.
"People with technical skills... I actually have ways to find them too."
Karen frowned upon hearing Hayden's words.
"The creation of this 'Kowtowing Bug' system and new educational chip by Dhritarashtra will definitely cause many low-level technicians and teachers to lose their jobs."
Ah this
Karen's political and business acumen far surpasses Hayden's. While Hayden hasn't even considered this matter, Karen is already thinking about how to exploit it.
That being said, she didn't seem happy, even somewhat annoyed. After all, from a broader perspective, this was certainly not something to be happy about; on the contrary, it was an act of evil that was very likely to touch a nerve with Karen.
Just as Alastor once said, if the Mitra Corporation truly possesses a practical educational learning chip, it could be simply attached to anyone's forehead to instantly teach them all the skills required of company employees—meaning that low-level technicians and teachers would never be able to find work again.
Furthermore, with the Mitra Corporation and Smoke Mirror Company having already collaborated to develop sufficiently mature cloning technology, if things continue like this, the situation may spiral out of control.
"How many people are they planning to make lose their jobs?"
Hayden's imagination was not bad, and he soon broke out in a cold sweat.
"Wrong. It's not just that application. The production cost of clones is also not low. Replacing low-level workers in large numbers may not be cost-effective."
Karen said bitterly,
"But even if large companies don't actually do this on a large scale, just revealing the possibility of having this technology is enough to change the global market environment and further depress workers' wages and benefits. Next, a group of low-level technical workers, fresh graduates and teachers will definitely be eliminated by further involution and lose their jobs."
Her voice was filled with anger.
Hearing this, Hayden felt a chill run down his spine.
What happens when a modern low-level worker loses their job?
look.
Look at these demi-humans in the wilderness.
They are both the remains of those who lost in past market competition and the future fate of modern workers.
“There are still countless people living in poverty in this world, many living people struggling to survive on factory assembly lines every day, and so many people working tirelessly from dawn till dusk just to earn a meager wage—and yet, after those capitalists develop practical cloning and educational chip technologies, their first thought is to use them to suppress employee wages!”
"This is a disgrace to all the gods! It is the failure of the new gods to develop to this point! One day, all the gods will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history for this!"
Karen grew increasingly furious as she spoke. If her divine power were fire-based, this rage alone would probably have caused flames to erupt from her head and burn down half a mountain.
If Karen were as strong as her father, this kind of anger alone would be enough for her to cleave the continental shelf in two with her fists—after all, she is the young daughter of the Peacock King (Samael).
Unfortunately, even this won't solve the problem. The capitalists at the top are only more powerful than the wrath of a common man.
Karen herself understood this. So she eventually calmed down.
"In the coming period, I will try to select promising and willing skilled workers and teachers who have lost their jobs due to the intense competition, and bring them here for further training."
She shook her head as she said this.
"We can help so few people and change so few things right now. But a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The road is long and arduous, but if we keep going, we will reach our destination."
The two fell silent, both recalling the words that the Peacock King had spoken two months earlier.
—A great storm will sweep across the world, and may even shake the throne of the gods.
Have they seen the shadow of this great storm on the horizon today?
The new energy source of the "Knocking Beetle" system and the gradual improvement of educational chip technology are probably the first stakes to be laid for this great storm.
"So there's nothing to be afraid of."
However, Karen always had a lot of presence in this regard.
"A major crisis can also be a major opportunity. We must be fully prepared and absorb everything we can to cope with the crisis."
"What if the storm comes? — If one day I can ride the wind, I will shatter the heavenly palace and fight against ghosts and gods!"
Her passionate words carried more of a protagonist's aura than Hayden's, and her fighting spirit was incredibly high. Even Hayden couldn't help but want to applaud her.
But Karen suddenly changed the subject: "However, it is still very necessary to balance work and rest. If I always wave the banner of ideals and righteousness and use that name to exploit others to the death, then I am no different from those evil capitalists."
what?
Why did she suddenly bring this up?
“Hayden, you’ve been busy in the mountain city for over a month now. You haven’t taken a single day off, and during this typhoon season you’ve been on alert around the clock without a break.”
Karen said righteously and sternly,
"If I don't give you a break, where is the justice? Go home and rest. Whether you want to read, tinker with new spells, or catch up on the latest anime or games you missed, it doesn't matter. In short, you are not allowed to work for the next month."
……ah!?
"Wait, wait, wait, I'm not your employee, what are you talking about?"
Hayden immediately launched into a full-blown rant.
But Karen waved her hand dismissively: "Partners are the same! Besides, didn't you say you gained something from observing Pazuzu? You should at least go into seclusion to study and digest it properly, right?"
"You yourself are always complaining that you're too weak. If you don't quickly digest what you've learned and the experience you've gained, if you don't quickly become stronger, how can you fly with me?"
She was always in charge of paying, so Karen had the final say.
For the next month, Hayden had to rest obediently, study on his own, and was not allowed to spend all his time worrying about things in the mountain town—that's how Karen's request was made.
————————————————————————————
While Hayden and Karen were talking and gazing at the sky on the mountain, Angela thoughtfully refrained from disturbing them. Instead, she treated the injured and sick demi-humans in the tribe and praised the demi-humans of the Kongo tribe for their commendable loyalty.
After praising the demi-humans, Angela went up to the mountaintop to look after the apple tree in the circular array there.
Not long after, she saw Hayden walking up from the bottom of the mountain, his face full of speechlessness.
"What's the matter, Master?"
Angela was taken aback and quickly came over to ask her in detail, only to find out that Karen was going to force Hayden to go home and rest for a month.
Her response was, of course, "Isn't this great? If Miss Karen is going to recruit modern people to make this new city more modern, you're not exactly a great help anyway."
In terms of practical human resources skills, Karen is at least ten times better than Hayden.
“Perhaps modern people,” Hayden scratched his head. “But aren’t we planning to recruit all the surviving demi-human tribes in the nearby wasteland? Dealing with primitive people obviously requires my help!”
Angela shook her head upon hearing this: "I don't think so, Master. The demi-humans of the King Kong tribe have been taught by you and me for over a month, and their performance today has proven their loyalty. With them here as role models, it is enough to teach other demi-humans the correct morality and concepts."
"As for modern technology beyond moral concepts, that's not something you need to teach. Wouldn't it be better to leave it to the modern teachers that Miss Karen has hired? Like I said before, you need to learn to rely on others, not always think about relying on yourself."
Hayden was speechless.
"And I agree with Miss Karen's statement. Master, it's a good thing that you want to realize your ideals. But I don't want you to overwork yourself. I want you to be happy and joyful, without fear or sorrow, and to fully enjoy the good things in life."
Angela paused here, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Yes, that's right—I hope that Master can enjoy all the good things in life. It's just a pity that Master is really clueless in some ways."
噫
Hayden felt there was a strange implication in Angela's words.
"Miss Karen is an admirable person. She has a grand and far-reaching dream, like a vast and boundless ocean, or the rising sun, enough to attract ambitious people to follow in her footsteps. Those who pursue the same dream as her can forge ahead no matter how arduous the journey. There's nothing wrong with that..."
As Angela spoke, she tilted her head and frowned.
"But please don't forget, my fundamental mission is to fulfill your wish. I always feel that if things continue like this, it will be difficult for me to achieve this mission... Miss Karen is too ambitious, and her mind is full of ideals; she's not in a hurry at all..."
What?
“I originally thought that Miss Abigail could be a breakthrough point, but it’s obvious that you won’t be able to do anything if you stay in the wilderness all day... Perhaps it would be better to change the environment.”