Chapter 839 - 118: Think More About What the European Union Can Do for You

The European Tunnel Company executive who fired Elliot was named Avin—

In fact, Avin can only be considered an executive of Foxstone, and not even a particularly high-ranking one. His position is Senior Project Manager.

As a Senior Project Manager, overall, it’s a role that requires management and technical expertise. In terms of production and factory operations, he’s basically in charge of everything—

And all three factories fall under his control, more powerful than the general managers and project managers below him, temporarily brought in to address the increased demand caused by the typhoon.

So what about him? Elliot’s first thought was: he was already a good guy, he even paid me wages.

After all, with such a big incident at the factory, he couldn’t help it. The company is just that ruthless.

"I think... I think he’s considered a good person, even though he fired me."

Johnny laughed but said nothing.

And Lille wants to tell a story from a different angle:

[Lille: The factory couldn’t keep up with production demands in the first place, you saw that cyberpsychosis confession earlier.]

Elliot was confused: "Uh... so? This production demand has been rising too fast. There have been situations like this before: typhoons, tsunamis, small outbreaks of plagues..."

[Lille: You also know, the company never listens to the employees’ reasons. Failing to meet targets means failing to meet targets, someone has to be responsible.]

Elliot was taken aback, and the news board on the street happened to be broadcasting today’s news:

Mind you, the European Union is not Night City. Never mind cyberpsychosis, even ordinary murders become major cases in this region—

And it’s very different from Night City, where nearly 80% of cyberpsychosis cases reveal that the lunatics have military-grade prosthetics installed. But here, obtaining military-grade prosthetics is as difficult as reaching the sky, and any lost prosthetics or weapons of destructive power in the police’s hands become major cases in the system.

The kind of daily street shootouts seen in Night City is completely unimaginable here. The so-called "cyberpsychosis"?

It’s a legend, a legend across the sea in the free Night City, that’s the price of freedom.

This was a shocking case in Foxstone, possibly even widely circulated within the European Union.

TV broadcast: "Regarding the major incident of 11.23, Foxstone authorities have obtained further information: it’s reported that the accident stemmed from an internal factory speed-up experiment. The person in charge, Sylvan Zaka, mistakenly programmed the machines, leading to flying steel on the production line, triggering a subsequent series of accidents.

Some evidence indicates that Sylvan Zaka’s actions had a certain degree of societal revenge component.

In the chaos, a worker ’Elliot Grove’ operated the machine against regulations out of fear, exacerbating the production line collapse. The factory is now in complete shutdown."

"Senior Project Manager Avin Ross admitted in a press conference that this accident might affect the normal operation of the English-French channel, yet the European Tunnel Company has made no further response."

Elliot now listened with a completely different mindset:

Previously he thought he indeed affected production.

Cyberpsychosis is being too responsible, driving oneself insane, unable to garner support from above, dissatisfied with subordinates’ work quality below, and internally eager to complete tasks—

Whether out of a sense of responsibility or his own repayment needs.

But he, Elliot, purely interfered with the larger picture to save his own life.

Now it’s different: according to Lille, there was never a chance of safeguarding the larger picture, whether or not the accident occurred, something was bound to go wrong...

It’s just that now, a scapegoat like him takes the fall.

[Lille: Do you know why he didn’t freeze your card immediately like others, instead waited until you were home, then immediately arranged a ride for you to leave?]

[Lille: If you were to contact other workers, the ending would be different: you’d find yourself still a hero who saved others; they’d appreciate you. External affirmation easily elevates your self-perceived status, fostering resentment towards the company.]

Elliot opened his mouth, looking at the workers coming and going—

Right! Who else is as brainless as him, worried about the company’s survival for nothing? He really typed too much on the keyboard.

But he was still unwilling to admit being mentally manipulated, secretly said in his heart: "But he did pay me, according to regulations, he could not pay, even making me compensate..."

[Lille: There are many reasons, but overall, taking a step back is more likely to yield better results in the future. After all, you can’t afford those compensations. You’re not some big shot, tying you down benefits them how?]

[Lille: Simply put, when the outside world knows you’ve been paid your wages, will they voice injustice for you? Even you think he’s kind of a good guy, elevating this a bit, the European Tunnel Company isn’t so bad.]

[Lille: Subtle psychological influence reduces the likelihood of lawsuits and disputes... Even if they occur, they can achieve a favorable public opinion environment.]

[Lille: A mere two thousand euros bought you off and helped him bear a chunk of blame.]

[Lille: As for you, you think with your name in the news, how will you find your next job?]

Elliot opened his mouth: he realized, his next job already hangs in the balance!

Yet before Lille said these things, he only thought it was imperative self-rescue, everyone played their "due response" roles, and everybody was innocent, just his luck was unfortunate...

Indeed, everyone played their roles. Without Lille’s explanation, perhaps until he starved or froze outside the city, he would only bitterly think:

His luck was truly bad; blame that damned... labor thief.

Lille was quite satisfied with Elliot’s reaction: people’s personalities differ. If it were V, he would advise V not to act impulsively...

But Elliot?

[Lille: Remember this feeling: if you find every link in the system isn’t wrong, you’re truly a complete misfortunate fool...]

[Lille: Then seek out the system’s issues.]

[Lille: Don’t always think about what you can do for the European Union, think more about what the European Union can do for you.]

Elliot heard, his expression became peculiar—

Not to mention his twisted expression, Johnny couldn’t help but appear before Elliot and said to Lille:

[Johnny: Damn it, you twist your words in such a crooked way, why don’t I get this treatment? Instead, every day you call me a fool. If you ask me, it’s not me being foolish, it’s the world being messed up.]

Lille also appeared on the street, looking at Johnny indignantly, saying:

[Lille: You’re already a terrorist, you just have a dim brain. If you think like this... you can blame heaven for not giving you a big dick to fuck over the world.]

[Lille: Besides, your situation is different from his...]

[Lille: The European Barrier System implemented by the European Union indeed has social psychology manipulation mechanisms.]

[Lille: Elliot is a typical ordinary person, he is... tamed.]

Speaking, Elliot already raised his middle finger at Avin on the TV screen—

"Damn you, damn dog-faced bastard, betraying your father!"