Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 964, Page 175: I Will Change the New America

"You mean, assassinate Miles?!"

Even Li Dena, who always maintained a calm personality due to his agent's habits, was so shocked by Karl's words that he stood up straight.

This...this is really...
No matter how you look at it, this is a bit too extreme.

Although Li De had recognized Rosalind Miles's true nature and genuinely felt that someone like Miles would bring no benefit to the new America, that didn't mean he wanted to assassinate Miles.

He would never want to become John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, nor Charles Giteau, who assassinated Garfield.

Although he did not find a way to oppose Rosalind Miles, that did not mean he would become the assassin of Miles—Solomon Reed.

"You're thinking too extremely."

Carl looked at Li De, who suddenly stood up straight, and Song Zhaomei, who was stunned, and couldn't help but make a comment. His gaze lingered on Song Zhaomei for a moment. It was normal for Li De to react like this, but Song Zhaomei had done similar things before. How could she be stunned?
While you may not have intended to kill Rosalind Miles in terms of the outcome, it's not much different from killing her, is it? You're doing roughly the same thing, so how can you be stunned just because someone else thinks the same way you do?
He withdrew his gaze, his tone shifting to a calm explanation:
“I’m not trying to kill Miles, and I know you would never agree to that. Although Miles is a complete politician who puts personal power above the nation, I must admit that her methods have indeed made the new America stronger.”

But now, her increasingly authoritarian rule has become a threat to the new America itself. I simply want to 'hurt' her, to force a decentralization of power; ultimately, a country shouldn't have a single, absolute dictator.

Karl does not deny that a philosopher-king may be an ideal political system, but in reality, past wisdom and subsequent folly are not contradictory, and the consequences of later folly may even overturn the wisdom of the past.

In Carl's memory, there were the An Lushan Rebellion of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and the power struggle between the two emperors of Wu Taizu Sun Quan. Both of them were brilliant and powerful in the early years of their lives, but became too senile in the later years. Now, Carl felt that Rosalind Miles was just like that.

Perhaps Rosalind Miles was never truly wise from the start; she was simply clever enough to give others a satisfactory answer. Now that power has completely corrupted her heart, her hidden dictatorial nature has been fully exposed.

Sometimes, it's a blessing in disguise for someone to pass away at the peak of their life.

The same applies to Miles, but now is not the time for her to die. After all, for the new America, her life can maintain the status quo and counter the military technology.

But her path to dictatorship must be ended.

What Carl wanted was for her rights to be separated.

Carl didn't hide anything. He told Li De and Song Zhaomei everything about the deal he had made with Blanca, and also explained his plan.

He didn't hide his thoughts from the two of them; he did intend to profit from this, to push his friend further, and to get involved in the new America.

In other words...
KK also harbors ambitions for a new America.

And he made no attempt to hide it.

Karl's words reached the ears of Li De, a patriot, and it would be impossible for them not to be jarring.

In any case, calculating things about one's beloved country is by no means a happy thing, but Karl also made things very clear.

Li De was just a lonely patriot, and Karl presented him with a choice.

Compared to Rosalind Miles continuing her dictatorial rule, there might be a worse or better option for him; it just depends on whether he's willing to make the change.

Whether to maintain the status quo and wait for change, or to intervene and change the country, perhaps these are not important. More important matters were already laid out before Li De for consideration during Karl's narration.

That is.
Should Li De trust Karl?

Rosalind Miles will no longer have Li De's trust. The two have no conflict over Rosalind Miles's matter; the only question is whether Li De will do it or not.

Li De knew that even if he didn't do it, Karl would definitely get others to do it, and things would definitely change. All that was left for him was the choice to participate or not.

The key is whether he is willing to trust someone again, just as he once did with Rosalind Miles—to entrust his beliefs to them and give his all for them.

Both Li De and Song Zhaomei understood the subtext of Karl's special visit.

That is, whether Li De is willing to work for Karl.

Li De, are you willing to trust people again?

While Li De was lost in thought, Song Zhaomei remained silent.

She glanced at Li De, then at Karl, who was making no attempt to hide his thoughts, and a strange feeling welled up inside her.

She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that Karl seemed to have a lot of respect for Li De.

Even if Song Zhaomei hadn't approached Li De, she knew how many candidates KK could have chosen for him, based on his evaluation of KK's methods. Those people would probably all be willing to work for KK without hesitation, and everyone would feel honored to do things for KK. But KK didn't choose any of them first; instead, he approached Li De first.

They found a patriot whose actions might conflict with his plans and whose patriotism might change, who would not hesitate to betray the new America if it harmed its interests.

Just as Carl was so confident that his approach would be recognized by Reed and would make the new America better, and he also respected this patriot, that he invited him to join.

If Song Zhaomei could understand this, how could Li De not understand it?

For a top-notch agent like Li De, he might not need to remain silent for long.

Do you believe me? Should I believe you?

Passing the question on to someone else is not a smart choice, but Li De still asked it anyway.

It was as if he was certain that Carl wouldn't lie.

Carl was indeed not lying.

"I told you, I'd offer you a deal you can't refuse. You don't need to believe me, but I will believe in you, Li De. You can see for yourself how things change, and that's my condition."

He paused for a moment, then said the sentence without hesitation.

"I will change the new America."

(End of this chapter)