Chapter 258: Gradual Reform
Under the governance of the "Council of Three Sages," Night City was like a solution injected with different ratios of catalysts, beginning to present complex and subtle changes.
The city's foundational skeleton was still maintained with cold efficiency by the "Administrator" AI—energy conduits delivered power stably, traffic networks operated in an orderly fashion, and basic material rationing was precise and error-free.
Kei Arasaka's digital soul faithfully executed the core directives set by Joric, ensuring the basic vital signs of this massive machine.
However, on top of the grid of order laid by the "Administrator," the philosophies of Johnny Silverhand and Yorinobu Arasaka began to permeate, collide, and merge, attempting to leave their own marks within the limited framework.
Johnny Silverhand, the former rock legend and symbol of resistance, now possessed a legitimate platform.
Using the authority of the "Council of Three Sages," he outputted his philosophy continuously like a tireless fighter.
The community autonomy pilots he promoted took root in several specific areas.
In the North Industrial District (NID) of Watson, a representative committee elected by local residents began attempting to manage the allocation of public space within the community and mediate small disputes.
In an old neighborhood of Heywood, residents organized spontaneously. Utilizing the small amount of resources coordinated by Yorinobu Arasaka, they repaired damaged public facilities and even organized small community patrols.
Through every channel accessible to him—whether announcements strictly reviewed and permitted by the "Administrator," or encrypted broadcasts briefly opened in specific areas using his authority—Johnny repeatedly emphasized the importance of "mutual aid at the bottom" and "community self-determination."
His very existence was like a stone thrown into stagnant water, stirring up ripples layer by layer.
Some of the underclass, accustomed to being ruled by corporations or gangs, began to tentatively try to voice their own opinions, even if these voices remained faint amidst the massive city noise.
Yorinobu Arasaka played the dual role of harmonizer and executor.
He shuttled between Johnny's idealism and Kei Arasaka's absolute rationality, attempting to transform those seemingly feasible community proposals into concrete, actionable steps, ensuring they did not touch the efficiency red line set by the "Administrator."
He was more like a shrewd politician, moving pieces on a limited board to balance the interests of all parties.
He utilized the remaining influence of the Arasaka family (though insignificant before Joric's absolute power) and the coordination authority granted by the "Council of Three Sages" to secure some substantive, albeit minor, improvements for the pilot communities.
For example, more timely garbage removal, or temporarily designating some idle public spaces for community use.
His efforts prevented Johnny's philosophy from becoming completely hollow slogans, and occasionally caused weak fluctuations representing "increased community vitality" to appear in the "Administrator's" cold data streams.
Change was slow and localized.
Johnny's radical proposals were often rejected or significantly modified under the logical deduction of the "Administrator" based on efficiency and risk assessment.
Outside the community autonomy pilot zones, the main body of Night City remained shrouded in the shadow of the "Contribution-Guarantee" system.
The sense of oppression did not disappear but was diluted, mixed with new expectations carrying a hint of uncertainty.
Discussions in the streets and alleys increased. People carefully discussed every public resolution of the "Council of Three Sages," guessing Johnny's next move, and evaluating Yorinobu's coordination ability.
The remnants of corporate power lay dormant even more cautiously, observing the loopholes of this new system and potential spaces for exploitation.
However, regarding all these subtle pulsations occurring deep within Night City's fabric, Joric's attention was rapidly decreasing.
In the core laboratory of the Badlands workshop—which had been expanded under his will and was now quite sizable—Joric's massive dark red mechanical body stood before the main console.
His crimson optical lenses scanned the summary report of city operation data uploaded regularly by the "Administrator."
On the screen, curves and data streams representing employment rates, productivity, crime rates, resource consumption, and fluctuations in the physiological and psychological indices of the populace flowed steadily.
Data from the community pilots promoted by Johnny were marked separately, showing some fluctuations but not yet touching the threshold requiring his intervention.
"Social structure evolution data recording complete. Mark all abnormal fluctuations." Joric's synthesized voice rang in the silent laboratory, a routine instruction to the "Administrator." "Unless events endanger base security or core research projects, no reporting to me is required. Maintain the baseline of fundamental order."
His processing core had long shifted its main threads to higher-priority matters.
The up-scaling design of the Dimension Teleporter had entered the final debugging stage. Encrypted communications from the Forge World Nexum regarding the successful trial production of the "Ancient Logic Core" required in-depth analysis. More importantly, the strength of the members of the exploration squad—his planned tentacle about to extend into unknown dimensions—still appeared too weak in his eyes.
The "Administrator's" virtual image bowed slightly in a corner of the main console. "Instruction confirmed, Lord Sage. All data will be archived to the 'Social Structure Evolution' database."
Joric did not respond further. He pulled up another list, his crimson optical lenses locking onto every name on it.
These were the "probes" he had carefully selected in this world, prepared to explore the multiverse.
"Summon all members of the Dimensional Exploration Squad. Return to the main laboratory immediately." The command was sent instantly via encrypted channel.
When they received the order, Maine's squad was at a small training ground on the edge of Watson.
This was originally a warehouse of a bankrupt factory, now transformed by them into a venue for familiarizing themselves with new equipment and tactical coordination.
The air retained the smell of ozone from lasguns scorching the air and the gunpowder smoke from heavy weapons test firing.
Maine had just lowered his left arm, modified into an artificer-grade plasma cannon. Dorio was stepping out of her deeply modified "Centaur" model improvised power armor. Rebecca was excitedly wiping the barrel of her boltgun.
Joric's summon order caused everyone to pause.
"Lord Sage is summoning us?" Pilar blinked his cyber-eyes, modified for multi-spectral scanning. "Is it... getting real this time?"
Maine rubbed his chin, the scar appearing particularly conspicuous under the lights. "Assemble. Move fast."
His voice carried a trace of imperceptible tension.
Dimensional Exploration. The term itself represented unknowns and dangers far exceeding street fights in Night City.
Although they had undergone Joric's preliminary enhancements and their equipment far surpassed before, the thought of actively stepping into an alien world with vastly different rules and lurking crises caused a chill to brush across the hearts of even these battle-hardened mercenaries.
(End of Chapter)