Players Invade Cyberpunk-Chapter 908 - 294: When Industrialization Invades the Sex Doll Club (2)

Jokes aside.

The sex trade is an industry where people are blatantly treated as commodities for transaction. It severely undermines social morals, and subtly alters people's perception of the opposite sex, making them think that there's nothing wrong with sex trade.

Lin Miao currently does not have the power to eradicate this malpractice, but at least aims to control it through other means, waiting for the right time to completely abolish it.

If street sex dolls charge 100, I'll charge 80; if they charge 80, I'll go for 60. I'll use industrialization and automation to wage a price war against them. My dolls don't need salaries, so I'll use capital operations to forcefully push these people back into the normal labor market. If you need a job, I'll provide one. If you lack skills, I'll offer free training courses.

In short, any sex doll not registered with Horizon Corporation will not be allowed to operate.

And at this point, to instill a sense of recognition and trust towards Horizon Corporation among former sex workers, theoretically, a grievance meeting or critique assembly would be the most effective. Unfortunately, most of the initiators have been killed, and a few have undergone sex doll modifications, so even if brought over, it would be useless; the disclosure will have to happen gradually afterwards.

Un... unemployed?

Impossible!

Aveline shook her head. How could sex dolls be unemployed?

Yet, seeing the confident demeanor of the Boatman, she and many others felt their worldview was about to collapse.

What kind of world is this?

There's always been a narrative of capital and gangs forcing people into prostitution, but when have capital and gangs forced people onto a righteous path?

"You guys..."

Initially the most distrustful of Horizon Corporation, Judy's attitude changed as she asked seriously, albeit tentatively,

"Can all sex dolls attend your training? Even those from the streets, and what about work and pay?"

"Of course, they are treated the same as others in similar positions."

The Boatman nodded. A few thousand sex dolls? No big deal.

Future engineering projects on Taiping Continent and the third industry after completion will become a massive population sink, absorbing a majority of the idle population in Night City and boosting the economic development of other districts in Night City. Eventually, it will create tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of jobs.

"You better be telling the truth."

Receiving this answer, Judy showed a significant change in attitude. Although she was supposed to be the most vigilant to protect Aveline, she was the first to soften her stance.

————

The sound of industry is the crisp clash of metal during casting and rolling.

The color of industry is the radiant ion reaction when welding and smelting.

Developed industrial productivity is an inescapable necessity for any country aspiring to strength.

However, the materials required for industrial growth are immense, often necessitating transportation routes spanning from south to north for industry allocation.

Yet, because of dysfunctional government agencies leading to a massive loss of grassroots control, the railway networks serving as industrial arteries have become difficult to maintain. The chaotic lower society has birthed numerous wandering tribes, nomadically spreading across North America.

Tribes like Adcardo, which have their own businesses and agriculture, fare better, but the likes of Chaotic Blade Association and other pillaging tribes routinely raid the lengthy, inadequately protected transport lines, further damaging the already poorly maintained industrial network.

Even hovercraft transport isn't free from risks. The vast plains of North America often face robberies from Somali air pirates driving homemade hovercars (as per original setting).

Though it is often posited that the state is a product of irreconcilable class contradictions, the distorted capital development in the cyber world has caused government powers to wane, unable anymore to effectively serve as a mediator, resulting in a sustained economic crisis lasting over sixty years, with no signs of improvement.

All companies are engaging in unsustainable practices, and industry is being repressed within city confines, barely surviving, even achieving a legendary 10% employment rate, akin to the situation in Gambia and Haiti.

Now, with Lin Miao's business expanding, he too has to confront this issue.

On July 5, 2076, a very bad piece of news was transmitted to him by W.

[System; Just received news from the Union Pacific Railroad Company that a shipment of our robots destined for Missouri was robbed midway, with all goods on the train looted.]

"Damn! They dare to rob me?"

Lin Miao was enraged, his lips nearly twisted, but there wasn't much he could do. Just a welcome to the cyber world, that's how things are; what can you do?

"What did the insurance company say?"

[System: This is not covered under their policy; it's considered natural loss.]

Lin Miao was at a loss for words.

This could be seen as one of the self-inflicted outcomes for companies. Due to frequent robberies, insurance companies have removed coverage for this in their terms, whereas logistics companies do not wish to conflict with marauders like the Chaotic Blade Association, or business would be impossible to conduct, so they pay hefty protection fees annually.

But dealing with minor demons is tougher than handling kings; the road is not only plagued by the Chaotic Blade Association. To avoid unnecessary losses, companies build armed security teams to escort and protect their assets.

Big firms will buy out carriages and assign troops for escort, while smaller ones hire joint security forces. Lin Miao opted for the latter, sharing Military Science forces with others, but clearly, they failed this time.