Chapter 905 - 184: Punching Cotton

[Johnny: What do we do now?]

[Johnny: Honestly, I see the great situation online, giving me a sense that the battle is already won.]

Mr. Barefoot resigned, but he wasn’t fired, he was poached.

Graham even immediately sent over Mr. Barefoot’s European Union resume, a document recording his social trajectory.

The data shows he was poached by a manufacturing company, though smaller than IEC, as a production specialist. Although the company was downgraded, his personal position improved and so did his benefits...

He and his family have also left Berlin, presumably to live in company-provided housing.

And what Johnny said wasn’t an exaggeration; it was also the trend of the times.

During the time before they arrived in Bremen, the whole of Europe had mobilized. The European Union didn’t just send more instructors to the Special Committee; they quickly established workshops subordinate to the Special Committee throughout all EU jurisdictions.

Previously, they turned a blind eye to workers’ conditions, but now they encourage and trace back in major cities, anxious to find any spider silk clues so that those "bad companies" are left without a corpse...

Concern for workers has turned from being ignored to being highly sought after. Civil servants can create political achievements while establishing friendly cooperation with companies; companies can take the opportunity to secure EU orders.

In such a situation, any company with some sense would start to tentatively compromise:

If workers protest, they would directly coordinate with them, basically solving issues with more pay and paying a "special tax."

The once poor Special Committee’s coffers are growing every second, with the political donation pool still accumulating.

The actual available funds have long exceeded tens of millions of euros.

Elliot looked at these numbers, his mouth agape.

"...I told you before, you lack ideological guidance." In the holographic projection, the instructor Graham smiled, "Our movement has already gained response and active cooperation across the entire EU.

The current focus of work has shifted from closely watching illegal companies to learning fund allocation and strengthening workers’ ideological education.

Come back quickly, I remember you have a daily schedule involving negotiations with the sports star Matt."

Woo—

The group rushed to the industrial area, walking back in a daze.

Behind them, the core power area of the factory emitted a huge noise, the release sound incredibly loud, sounding as if the heart was trembling.

However, Elliot habitually felt relaxed: this sound meant some power room was entering a 30-minute depressurization time.

This 30 minutes also marked the shift change time for workers, some clocking out, some clocking in. Back in the car, Elliot felt like he was off work, his doubts dissipating greatly.

"A punch into cotton..." Sevens furrowed his brows.

Elliot was quite relaxed: "Isn’t this good? No cyber psychosis, and companies begin to respect workers, everything’s moving in a better direction."

"Good, but something feels off, do you remember what I told you?"

The term Golden Son sends shivers down Elliot’s spine.

"Perhaps... but for now, shouldn’t we finish what we can do? Berlin is so advanced that maybe it doesn’t need violent confrontation; after all, this is Berlin, who dares to mess around here?"

Sevens wanted to say more, shaking his head, silently opened the car door, and prepared to get in.

Although reluctant, Elliot was right: there might be something wrong, but they didn’t know where to start.

He just... felt suffocated with this sense of helplessness.

"Relax, didn’t you say we’re doing this because the entire EU’s pressure is too great, and issues would explode if not exposed?

Now that the issues are exposed and moving in a good direction, we should continue with steady progress...

It’s time to leverage media power and cheer our fellow workers, let’s go see the sports star from Night City!"

The group got into the pickup.

The train to the residential area arrived at the station just in time, with the shift-changing workers like two tides clashing, except unlike tides, they were much more orderly. After colliding, they headed to their posts with minimal interaction.

However, unlike usual, many workers noticed the pickup truck—

"Hey! Isn’t that the committee comrades? What brings you here!"

The car had just started when they heard the shout, everyone looked out: along the way, the workers recognized the big pickup and waved enthusiastically at them!

Seeing this, Elliot stuck his head out the window and waved back in greeting.

The scene became lively, the pickup truck was surrounded as if it were a top star—

Sevens had a quick thought, stuck his head out: "Do you know Moke Rogers! The guy with the online name Barefoot!"

Most ignored his shout, not recognizing Barefoot.

But soon someone responded: "Yes! Lucky bastard, got poached last month to work in the forest area! Damn it!"

Elliot turned to Sevens and said, "See! I told you everything is getting better! Stop worrying!"

In the lively scene, unseen by anyone, a worker in the crowd stood still, as if frozen, starting to tremble.

Swallowing, his eyes uneasily darted to the side, then he quickly curbed his wandering gaze, raising his arm "vigorously" and naturally.

As if making some sort of resolution, his waving became more natural, the trembling lessened.

He immediately lowered his arm, turned towards the factory, his steps becoming increasingly determined...

"Three days... I need three days..."

...

"How does Berlin compare to Night City?"

The most shining sports star from Night City in recent years looked around like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden.

Night City is globally renowned as a free city and tops economic growth, but when it comes to wealth, it doesn’t quite make the list.

Sitting in the Floating Car, the massive artificial lake and waterfall looked even more exaggerated...

In front of him, on the car was a remotely connected "guide," a famous journalist from Seward Media Company.

However, he had some questions: "I want to know if everyone in this city can be so leisurely? Why can’t I see people in the industrial area?"

"Matt, you’re really observant. Yes, it’s a group of hard-working laborers supporting this city, they’re in the industrial area, most people there are respectable working families for generations.

Collectivism forged this great city, and we’ve focused on worker health in recent years.

We even established a committee for the cyber psychosis incidents, actively encouraging workers to fight against unfair treatment.

I’m planning a party for you, and the committee will attend. If you’re interested in the workers, you can interact with them, I’ll guide you."

The woman blinked multiple times, staring intently at Matt’s body:

Matt didn’t display the frailty of a minor at all.

Thanks to the globally leading sports neurology doctor Fiona’s special customization and the world’s unique Human Lizard Cyborg, Matt now looked like a bull—

Even Lille would be stunned seeing him:

That kid brother who once looked like a starving monkey for survival now appeared brawny like a bull, and due to the unique nature of the Human Lizard artificial muscles, Matt didn’t have that very mechanical rigid "prosthetic modification feel"...

He looked like a super hunk with youthful features.

This was also why the woman liked Matt, one look from an adult, and you’d tell she’s almost drooling over him.

Opposite in the Floating Car, Matt’s father was very pleased by this.