The Giant Corporations that Started in Night City

Chapter 106: Shackles

"Mr. Zuma, that azure planet still holds resources that no lunar colony can ever compare to. If you want the High Knights to go further, you must have a powerful ally to rely on."

Li Ang glanced at Earth in the distance as he spoke to Zuma. "You have mass drivers and lunar colonies, allowing you to achieve basic self-sufficiency."

"But you lack a comprehensive industrial system, and even your food supply is woefully inadequate. That tasteless paste-like organic material—you can't expect people to keep eating that willingly forever."

"Instead of living like ascetic monks, choking down unappetizing food and risking your lives exploring the universe, wouldn't it be better to indulge in luxury and decadence in Crystal Palace?"

Li Ang continued to press on Zuma's sore points, and Zuma's expression indeed grew darker by the moment because he couldn't refute Li Ang's claims.

In truth, most of the High Knights' logistical resources were still firmly under the control of the European Space Agency (ESA). If they wanted to eat something flavorful, they had no choice but to go to Crystal Palace to spend.

Resource transportation and logistical expenses were invisible yet exorbitant costs. Without ESA's support, the High Knights would be forced to live like primitive people in the colonies.

No entertainment, no gourmet food, no places to satisfy their desires.

High Knights are still human. And as humans, they instinctively seek a high quality of life—a trait deeply embedded in their genetic code and unalterable by will alone.

Even if some strong individuals could suppress their inner desires, there was no guarantee that others would do the same.

The ESA was gradually using its abundant resources to erode and divide the High Knights from within. When the High Knights completely let their guard down, ESA would seize back everything it had lost.

As the leader of the High Knights, Zuma was well aware of the sugar-coated bullets Europe was firing at them. But he was powerless to stop it.

Technology can advance, but human nature never changes.

"Mr. Li Ang, everything you said is true."

Zuma no longer pretended and candidly admitted that the High Knights were indeed struggling with inefficient resource transportation and difficult logistical support. They could barely achieve self-sufficiency.

But no matter what, they remained committed to defending humanity's first frontier in space exploration. As long as the High Knights endured, humanity would eventually reach the era of interstellar travel.

Unfortunately, the number of High Knights who upheld such pure ideals was dwindling. Many of the younger generation admired European culture, luxurious entertainment, and tantalizing cuisine.

They had grown weary of the monotonous research life on the lunar colonies. The allure of Crystal Palace was what they truly yearned for.

Now, Zuma could only ensure that as long as he lived, the High Knights would continue to develop the lunar colonies. But he couldn't guarantee what path future High Knights would take.

"Mr. Li Ang, to be honest with you, the High Knights can barely defend themselves with the mass drivers. A raid on Crystal Palace is entirely out of the question."

"And neither can your LA Company."

Zuma guessed that Li Ang intended to ally with him and coordinate an LA Company special forces attack on Crystal Palace to seize control of the massive space station.

This would allow LA Company to establish its strategic position in space.

But having attempted such an action before, Zuma had long been disillusioned with the idea. Crystal Palace wasn't unprotected.

ESA had stationed the most elite "Lone Wolf" unit of humanity within Crystal Palace. Known as the "Twelve Angels," these cybernetic soldiers were armed with full-body implants and possessed combat capabilities akin to an entire army.

During the High Knights' uprising, their failure to capture Crystal Palace was entirely due to the intervention of these Twelve Angels. Zuma still had vivid memories of that battle.

"To take Crystal Palace, you'd need space-based weapons. But as you know, a shattered Crystal Palace would hold no value—and such an act would spell the High Knights' doom!"

"And sending a Lone Wolf-grade elite team to raid it? Hah! Do you even understand what kind of cybernetic monsters the Twelve Angels are? Even Morgan Blackhand would have to back down!"

Zuma made his stance clear, hoping Li Ang would abandon any notions of targeting the mass drivers or Crystal Palace.

It was utterly futile.

"Zuma, thank you for sharing so much with me. But I didn't come here for the mass drivers, nor for an attack on Crystal Palace."

Li Ang smiled as he spoke.

This was his negotiation strategy—first uncover the other party's true needs, then use his resources to barter.

Since his resources were practically limitless, he would always come out ahead in any exchange.

After all, Li Ang's goal had never been to oppose any particular corporation. Instead, he aimed to become an indispensable ally of every corporation.

Once LA Company's interests were intricately intertwined with all the major powers, Li Ang would achieve his ultimate monopoly.

"Then why are you here?" Zuma frowned in confusion.

"Release the ornithopter," Li Ang instructed.

Instead of answering Zuma directly, Li Ang issued a command via a micro-communicator to Pira, who was in charge of the ornithopter.

Moments later, Pira activated the switch, releasing the AI-controlled biological ornithopter.

The dragonfly-like flying machine appeared outside the window of Li Ang's private room and began its flight maneuvers.

Meanwhile, travelers within Crystal Palace, gazing at the cosmic scenery, noticed the ornithopter and exclaimed in awe.

"What... what kind of flying machine is this?"

Zuma stared blankly at the ornithopter outside the window. As a professional engineer, he instinctively analyzed its structure the moment he saw it.

Yet no matter how he examined it, he couldn't comprehend how such a machine achieved such agile flight.

"Is this LA Company's new hovercar? No, I've seen your hovercars. They barely perform on Earth and move like snails in space."

Zuma's words were exaggerated, as hovercars could function in space. But they were slow and consumed a significant amount of fuel.

Whether it was petroleum, Methanol-2, or lunar Helium-3, using them was always a stretch.

"This is our Dragonfly Ornithopter. It can perform transportation tasks in various environments, whether in space or on Earth. It achieves lightweight, high-speed flight in both."

As Li Ang spoke, the ornithopter outside Crystal Palace used its flight path and colored gas trails to inscribe the words "LA Company" in space.