A wide TV ad screen panned across the gleaming streets of Neopolis, a vibrant city alive with commerce and innovation. The narrator's voice, calm yet authoritative, resonated.
"Welcome to Neopolis, the pinnacle of safety, prosperity, and opportunity. Here, every individual's contribution builds a stronger, freer society. Our insurance-backed border system ensures only those committed to our principles thrive within these walls."
The screen shifted to a dynamic bar chart displaying declining crime rates and soaring economic metrics. The narrator continued, "While global economies falter under central planning, Neopolis thrives. Deposits decrease as Bitcoin's value grows, making entry accessible to responsible individuals from all walks of life."
A final shot featured a bustling marketplace. A caption read, "Neopolis: A haven for the responsible."
Rina revved up her blackened, matte assault bike, its massive engine vibrating beneath her as she prepared for the ride out of the city. The area around her was clean, pristine even, thanks to the high-tech influence of the insurance corp, but once she passed the city limits, things would get much grittier. She cinched her bag of heavy, high-powered weapons, ensuring everything was secured for the mission ahead. The bounty hunter's kit was vast—tools to disable, hack, neutralize, and annihilate anyone who stood in her way.
In a sleek public office, an elite-looking man with sharp features and a confident smile handed over his index finger to the clerk as his face was getting scanned. "Thanks Mr. Sowell."
The clerk checked his profile (shows chart metrics, like race, IQ, gender, age and loyalty as risk factors). "Your citizen renewal premium has been adjusted downward, Mr. Sowell. Both your veteran status and Bitcoin's value rise have over collateralized our requirements. You can claim back a quarter of your stake deposit".
Sowell smirked. "It felt unfair at first but now it seems like I'm getting paid just to live here, ha ha." He signed the form and turned to leave, nodding at the queue behind him (asian, european). Each individual bore a distinct air of professionalism, waiting their turn in a system that rewarded personal responsibility.
The city's walls loomed in the distance, an imposing barrier that separated the glimmering luxury of civilization within from the old fashioned democratic chaos outside. She took the special express route.
The high-security zone loomed ahead, lined with armored guards and automated turrets. The special express route designed for non-commercial, authorized travelers—just a handful of people like her. Corporate mercs, or the occasional high-profile satoshi multimillionaire or business exec that didn't feel like dealing with the city's clogged traffic.
As she neared the high-security checkpoint, the auto-barriers lifted and all sorts of scanners activated. Surrounded by automated turrets and armed guards.
A gruff worker leaned over the counter, scanning her bike's identification and her iris. His eyes widened a bit as he saw the weapons scanned in her toolkit. The hispanic gave a quick whistle.
Guard: Bounty hunter loadout, huh? Authorized… but damn. (gulping) You're practically a walking arsenal.
Rina (deadpan): Your guards neither fall behind..
Guard (stepping back): Ja ja, no, ma'am. A dios.
She sped off, leaving the gleaming walls of the Citadel behind for the smoggy, chaotic scrapyard of District 9, no longer part of the same State jurisdiction, the old fashioned rules reigned, there wasn't any megacorps, well, just one, the gov.
As Rina rided deeper into the wastelands, she encountered remnants of a crumbled society. Broken-down infrastructure hinted at once-thriving towns abandoned after economic collapse.
A rusted billboard read, "Universal Basic Income—A New Dawn." Below it, graffiti scrawled in red mocked the slogan: "Basic Poverty Guaranteed."
Passing through a former industrial district, she noticed scavengers picking through the ruins. A child darted between the shadows, clutching a salvaged item. Rina sighed. "The cost of incompetence," she muttered, accelerating toward her destination.