The Giant Corporations that Started in Night City

Chapter 105: The High Knights

This private box was a room in the Crystal Palace designed exclusively for the top-tier elites. It offered the best panoramic view of space in the entire station and the finest services available.

"Mr. Li Ang, you don't seem to enjoy the entertainment facilities here at the Crystal Palace. This place offers the most top-notch services in human civilization. Are you still not satisfied?"

The speaker was a tall, slender Black man, standing over two meters tall, with limbs so thin that he resembled a spider.

His name was Jacob Zuma, the leader of the High Knights organization. Growing up in outer space had made their physique generally more elongated than that of Earthlings.

However, this also meant that their skeletal structure wasn't as robust as those of Earth-dwellers.

"Zuma, rather than indulging in Earth's pleasures—its scenery, fine wine, and beautiful women—I find myself more drawn to the profound mysteries of the universe.

When humanity's battleships cross the Orion constellation and witness C-beams glittering in the dark near Tannhäuser Gate, I imagine that such sights would be far more captivating."

Li Ang's words immediately earned Zuma's favor. Zuma found himself suddenly intrigued by this Chinese man before him.

Just a few hours ago, through Aaron's connections, Li Ang had sought out Zuma, the leader of the High Knights. After only a brief exchange, the two established a relatively amicable relationship.

As the High Knights' leader, Zuma was accustomed to meeting with executives from various corporations. However, today's meeting with Li Ang was particularly enjoyable for him.

Zuma discovered that Li Ang seemed to share his deep interest in space exploration!

"Mr. Li Ang, I appreciate your imagination regarding the universe. From what you've just said, I can feel your profound emotions toward it."

The High Knights had little interest in Earth. Their sole aspiration was to build a vast interstellar fleet to explore the deep cosmos and secure a future for their kind.

In their view, Earth was merely a gilded cage for humanity, a shackle preventing humankind from pursuing true knowledge. Only the starry skies and vast seas of the cosmos were worthy of human longing.

Unfortunately, the Earth-based European Space Agency (ESA) lacked such ambition. The Europeans were content with making money and catering to the whims of the wealthy.

"Yes, Zuma, I've always admired the High Knights' pioneering spirit. That's why I sought you out today—I hope your organization will consider collaborating with the LA Corporation."

Li Ang didn't linger on pleasantries but instead went straight to the point. He hadn't traveled all this way to idle away time with the High Knights.

"As expected, Mr. Li Ang. You're just like the other corporate executives from Earth—you want us to help you build a mass projector, don't you?"

Zuma's voice dripped with disappointment as he let out a cold laugh.

Every time one of these Earthlings approached him, it was to persuade the High Knights' engineers to construct space-based weapons to enhance their company's strategic deterrence capabilities.

A few years ago, Arasaka Corporation spent an astronomical sum poaching several core engineers from the High Knights to construct a mass projector on the Moon.

However, before the project was even halfway complete, it was discovered by the ESA.

Subsequently, Orbital Aerospace, a division of the ESA, forcibly seized the mass projector and confiscated all of Arasaka's lunar assets.

Even though Saburo Arasaka was livid, there was little he could do against the Europeans. After all, nuclear weapons were ineffective in outer space.

In Zuma's eyes, Li Ang had come all this way to the Crystal Palace for the same reason: to persuade the High Knights to build him a mass projector.

"What would it take for you to agree to help? What price must I pay for your assistance?"

Li Ang chuckled and countered with his own question, not rushing to reveal his true intentions just yet.

"Unless you're willing to hand over the entirety of LA Corporation's assets to the High Knights, we won't assist in building a mass projector."

Zuma's response was firm and resolute. On this matter, he would not budge. The reason was simple: mass projectors were the High Knights' lifeblood!

In truth, the High Knights didn't build their mass projector from scratch. Instead, they had seized it from the ESA.

After years of being forced to work 18-hour days under oppressive conditions, the High Knights—engineers and scientists—had launched a rebellion during a moment of ESA negligence.

Their successful uprising allowed the High Knights to take control of the mass projector, as well as partial operational rights to the Tycho and Copernicus colonies.

Now, the High Knights were the only force in low Earth orbit capable of rivaling the ESA.

"Mr. Li Ang, you're a smart man. I'm sure you understand what the mass projector represents to the High Knights.

It's the only weapon we have to stand against the ESA!"

Zuma's tone remained cold and distant. "Besides, even if we agreed to help, the ESA would never allow it."

Space-based strategic weapons like the mass projector were something the ESA deeply regretted losing control of to the High Knights. The organization would never permit a third party to gain access to such a weapon.

The more factions that possessed mass projectors, the weaker the ESA's deterrence over other corporations would become. Without these space-based weapons backing them, the European conglomerates couldn't maintain their lucrative operations.

To the European financiers, a nuclear war might be acceptable, but the unauthorized construction of space-based weapons was absolutely intolerable.

Though Zuma flatly rejected Li Ang, the latter wasn't upset. Instead, he pressed further:

"When your rebellion succeeded, why didn't you seize the Crystal Palace in one fell swoop?"

Li Ang was well-informed about the High Knights and knew the answer to this question. He asked it deliberately to force Zuma to acknowledge the High Knights' current predicament.

The High Knights had been unable to usher in an era of interstellar travel and remained locked in a standoff with the ESA because they hadn't gained full control of the space stations in low Earth orbit.

The Crystal Palace was the linchpin of it all!

During their uprising, the High Knights could have seized the Crystal Palace and used it to coerce the ESA into providing the resources they needed for interstellar travel.

But they failed.

"Mr. Li Ang, that's none of your concern."

Zuma's tone turned icy. The failure to capture the Crystal Palace remained a sore spot for the High Knights. Had they succeeded, they would already be on their way to another star system.

Seeing that he had touched a nerve, Li Ang smiled. Even if Zuma didn't elaborate, Li Ang already knew what the High Knights lacked: sufficient logistical resources.