Although they were both against capitalism, Matrix knew that the people in front of her were not on the same side as her.
They just wanted to bully the weak, didn't they? Faced with the company troops, they wouldn't dare to even fart.
No doubt, Matrix's words stirred up a hornet's nest. The people in the bar immediately looked at Matrix, who had turned off the safety on her combat prosthesis, staring at her with hostility in their eyes.
However, when they saw the logo on Matrix's chest, not a single one of them made the first move.
Everyone knew that Utopia Security was the most prominent player in Metropolis now. After all, they had recently taken over Gaofeng Technology, a company several times their size.
Their headquarters were just nearby on Shendong Street, and if anyone started a direct confrontation, they'd likely end up on the losing side.
But losing face was not an option. Someone immediately retorted. "How the fuck not? You think your company is so great? The Rat Alliance Battle Line from five years ago! They reached the Holy Grail! It was just bad luck! You'd have been fucking finished by now!"
"And what does that have to do with you!" Matrix shot back at the old man in the leather jacket without hesitation.
"How can it not be related! They weren't corporate dogs! They were speaking out for us, the underclass!"
"Heh, do you even know the name of their leader?"
"Fuck! Why would I remember that? I fucking forgot it a long time ago!"
Matrix revealed an expression that said she'd known all along and decided not to say anything more, turning to leave.
She knew Li Jack had failed, but she didn't expect the failure to be so complete that not even a name remained.
She realized that it was unrealistic to directly mobilize them to confront the Holy Grail; they needed to understand who their enemy was first. Only after recognizing the primary conflict could they be of any strategic value.
With this in mind, Matrix's next round of Electronic Drugs began to be distributed for free.
"Wake up! The corporations are exploiting you! You're just erroneous bytes in a buggy program!"
"Capitalism commodifies everything! But we don't need their materialism! Our existence is our value!"
As the distribution was almost complete, a black hand with a cross tattoo picked up a used Electronic Drug chip from the ground and handed it to Matrix, "Comrade, this is too obvious, the BCPD will easily take notice."
"Who are you?" Matrix asked hesitantly, looking at the black man before her.
"I'm from Liberation Theology," he responded. "Considering your inclinations, calling you a comrade isn't overstepping, is it?" Upon hearing this, a spark of excitement lit up in Matrix's eyes.
"Have you finally sent someone to this city again? After the last group died, I thought you had completely given up on Metropolis."
How could Matrix not know about Liberation Theology? In fact, she'd come to realize that the books she'd read before were all from Liberation Theology.
"God won't abandon anyone, but everything takes time."
"Come on! The church is still there! I'll take you there!" Matrix was thrilled. After so many days, she finally found someone who shared her cause.
They talked a lot along the way, and their shared values made the conversation enjoyable.
As they chatted, they arrived at the entrance to Shendong Street, which was surprisingly lined with a long queue.
Matrix found out through the company channel that Li Jack had laid off some people not too long ago and now the entire company needed more hands.
The benefits offered by Utopia Security were famously good, and in just a short time, a long line had formed.
The Matrix walked with the person through the recruiting crowd, heading toward the hall. "Are you an employee of this company?"
"Yes, I've heard that our boss seems to have some history with you guys from Liberation Theology."
"What's your boss's name?"
"Sun Jack."
Because there were too many people, and the inside couldn't accommodate them all, the interview was conducted outside.
When they saw the child, his body replaced with bulky prostheses, sitting there and simply flipping through his profile, they shook their head, "I'm sorry, you don't meet our requirements."
The job applicant became desperate, "Give me a chance! Please give me a chance!! I really need this job!!"
However, the child shook his head, "Next."
The black man watching this scene clenched his teeth with a ferocious expression, and just then, he saw a man in a yellow virtual screen cap and a black trench coat walk out. He roared, "Sun Jack! What on earth have you done!!"
Sun Jack, just pulling out two cigarettes and preparing to light them, was stunned. When he saw the familiar face, he jolted, "Priest?!!"
The Priest, whom he had once witnessed die before him, now stood right in front of him, his body and prosthetic limbs exactly the same as before.
"Priest?! Is that really you?" Sun Jack couldn't help but ask again.
As Sun Jack's voice rang out, the orphans around him took notice, and they all crowded around, calling out incessantly.
However, the Priest at the center did not show a hint of joy on his face. Trembling, he pointed to the disfigured children and the drastically transformed Shendong Street, "What exactly is going on here!!"
"To fulfill our original purpose!" Sun Jack couldn't help but speak. "We are much stronger now!! Look at the company's assets and stocks! We even have our own spacecraft carrier!!"
Facing the display shown by Sun Jack, the Priest had no trace of a smile on his face. His eyes bore into Sun Jack as he demanded, "And then what? Use the capital's Matthew effect to endlessly increase funds until you become another Holy Grail hanging over everyone's head?!"
"No, I'm keeping an eye on things."
"You can't watch it! You have no idea how powerful the corruption of capital is! Peter! Jacks! Come on!!"
As the Priest continued to call out the orphans' names, all the orphans gradually emerged from the crowd and gathered behind the Priest.
Sun Jack watched him, his fists slowly clenching.
"I know you have lofty ideals! And I know my way isn't great! But what can I do! Whatever you do, you have to survive first!"
"Then, what do you want me to do? Follow the Rat Alliance's path again? I wish I could!! But we lost that battle! That path has no future!!"
The Priest stared at him intently, each word heavily stressed, "You don't see a future in me! But I don't see the past in you, either!!"
Having said that, the Priest, without looking back, walked away with all the orphans.
Sun Jack stood there, dumbfounded, watching them leave without a second glance.
After a long silence, under the drizzle, Sun Jack lit the two cigarettes again, took a slow breath, the firelight reflecting in his artificial eye, and said to the Digital Personality, "This Priest isn't real; he's a clone. If I'm not mistaken, he must be sent by Guan Sanke to force me back to the Revolution's mainline."