Psychics don't die from gunfire

Chapter 812 Independence Day (Part 1)
This is a day destined to be recorded in history.

As dawn breaks, some people are surprised to find that the first thing they see when they open their eyes is no longer those strange and indifferent advertisements, but a countdown on a black background.

——【04:47:30】.

There are five hours left until the countdown ends.

People were puzzled for a moment, then went outside and discovered something.

The cloying neon lights and the incessant talk shows on screens everywhere have mysteriously disappeared. In their place, a countdown timer with white text on a black background has taken its place.

what is this?
Is this another marketing tactic for a new product?

The people in the corporate alliance are no strangers to this kind of thing; in fact, they're used to it. The last time something like this happened wasn't that long ago, when the giant corporation [Jade Pharmaceuticals] promoted "clones." They used all sorts of publicity resources, making everyone look like a clone during that time.

I wonder what they're going to sell this time.
The disappearance lasted only a short while. Gradually, advertisements, neon lights, and incessant chatter reappeared, like spray paint on street graffiti, giving society a dreamlike quality once again. The space for the "countdown" was squeezed back little by little, but like a stubborn reef, it was never completely crushed, preserving its last stronghold.

And then, well, that's it.

The time clock is beckoning; who has time to worry about this? If I don't hurry and squeeze onto the subway, my boss might use being late as an excuse to dock my entire month's salary. Although it wasn't much to begin with.

—Until they witnessed such a scene.

thump, thump, thump
The sound came from the street, carrying the texture of steel rolling over the road.

Security Bureau patrol officers, those scoundrels who never do their jobs and always collude with company dogs, appeared on the streets in droves. They were fully armed, their cybernetic bodies gleaming, their gun barrels gleaming, looking like they were about to explode with arrogance, and there were even armored vehicles following behind them.

Even in the sky, new things have appeared out of nowhere: armed helicopters, shuttles, and swarms of drones dominate the skies. The roar of their flight drowns out the synthesized music playing from the billboards, and people flying in aerial vehicles throughout the city receive notices that certain areas are off-limits.

this is.

The National Security Bureau has finally decided to get involved in politics?!
"notice--"

"On behalf of the Security Bureau, I hereby announce that the city of Madier is under a state of emergency—"

"notice--"

"Effective immediately, all citizens are requested to stay at home and not go out. If you need to go out due to special circumstances, please inform the security bureau patrol officer in your area immediately."

"notice--"

"All uncertified and unauthorized armed personnel, lay down your weapons immediately and surrender on the spot! This is only a warning; live ammunition will follow."

"notice--"

"All company assets within the jurisdiction are frozen immediately! All company employees are to cease all work and await further instructions from us!"

On the apartment building rooftop, the holographic billboard flashing "Marin—Your Personal Robot Butler" flickered a few times, then with a hiss, went completely out. In its place appeared a simple, silver-gray logo—the emblem of the Security Bureau. "Damn it!"

This well-known tycoon from Madier, a man who has been selected as one of Madier's top ten outstanding entrepreneurs for seven consecutive years, looked at the communication interface where messages were either read but not replied to or simply not answered. In a fit of anger, he smashed a wine glass on the coffee table!
"These sons of bitches! I've fed them plenty of money all the time, and when it really matters, they dare to disappear!"

On the communication interface, the local government officials and security bureau management, who would normally rush over at the slightest provocation, were all silent! The only messages they received were one piece of bad news after another: his factory had been seized and his assets in various accounts had been frozen!
"This is interference with the free market!" he trembled with rage. "Just you wait, just you wait, none of you will escape this time—!"

"Suspected interference in the free market" is a charge that leaves no room for compromise and carries a minimum penalty of death; it is the most terrifying charge against a business alliance. Once someone is accused of this crime, even if it is only the slightest offense, even the most renowned lawyers will avoid it and dare not offer any defense.

"Oh~ Boss~"

At this moment, the security team sent a message: "I see that the whole city is under martial law, and the situation is not optimistic. How about you go and stay in a safe house for a while? Of course, if you are willing, we can also risk sending you out of the city for a strategic relocation."

"Fuck you!" the man cursed, adding bitterly, "I'm in the manufacturing business. It's easy for me to leave Madier, but do you think those factories will follow me? If they leave now, I'll be sleeping on the streets tomorrow! Don't forget who's paying your wages!"

"Alright, alright, then we'll escort you to the safe house first."

The rapid response team, who had been positioned near the man, jumped out and dragged him into a disguised car, heading towards the safe house. Theoretically, taking the shuttle would be much faster, but it was too conspicuous right now, and they might get shot down by the security bureau.

What I saw along the way was truly shocking. The company's security forces, street gangs, mercenaries, citizens taking advantage of the chaos to buy things for free, vultures digging up corpses and picking up things, and employees rushing to work to clock in—Madir City was in complete chaos! Everywhere was filled with gunfire, smoke, and frantic exchanges of fire.

It's one thing for others, but what is the National Security Bureau? We were afraid of you before because of a favor, not because we were afraid of you is our duty! If you back down this time, do you even want to stay in this business anymore?!

Suddenly, a tremendous force struck, and the man's head was slammed down. Caught off guard, he heard a security guard shout, "Enemy attack!"

boom!
From a third-party perspective, the car driving on the elevated road suddenly sank – just like a mouse that had been pinned down by a foot, its shell suddenly shrunk, and the whole car body sank into the ground, unable to move!

The man's face was covered in blood, and it was impossible to tell if it was his own or someone else's. He barely managed to lift his head and saw that the windshield of the car was completely black. Suddenly, the blackness disappeared, and upon closer inspection, it was clearly a mechanical arm that was so big that it could grab a car like it was a chick!

"—Malcolm Pollitt, you have been formally arrested on twenty-one charges, including attempted murder, rape, illegal bribery, imprisonment, extortion, hostile takeover, and endangering public safety."

A man in his thirties, wearing a security bureau uniform, stood in front of the car. A huge mechanical arm extended from his tailbone, like a tail that had been spliced ​​on, which was out of place with the human body.

"To avoid any misunderstanding, let me clarify in advance that you are not the first one."

He tapped his temple with his index finger and calmly read the aloud.

"Come with me."

　【Repentance Edict】

　　Due to some practical reasons and my own laziness, the resumption of double updates will have to be postponed. I apologize for any resulting poor reading experience.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)