Chapter 177: Eastern Culture
Under Mower's silent guidance, Li Wei's squad navigated the intricate paths on the outskirts of the Settlement.
Beneath their feet lay cracked concrete and overgrown weeds. Rusted metal skeletons and abandoned industrial equipment were scattered all around, maintaining the typical dilapidated scenery of the Badlands' edge.
Only in the occasional passing shadow could one detect newly deployed sensor nodes, hinting that this area was under strict surveillance.
In the distance, the temporary guard posts being established by the Barghest troops were faintly visible. The figures of soldiers drifted in and out of the dust, indicating that this area had just welcomed a new garrison force.
When they followed Mower through a seemingly ordinary metal gate, the environment changed abruptly.
Behind the gate lay a pristine corridor. The walls were covered in matte metal plating, and the ceiling was inlaid with strip lights emitting a soft white glow, forming a stark contrast to the desolate ruin outside.
The air here became clean, carrying the metallic scent unique to precision machinery and the faint smell of coolant.
Although the space wasn't large, every detail reflected craftsmanship surpassing the general standards of this era—flush seams, orderly wiring, and an environmental control system running almost silently.
Li Wei noticed that at the end of the corridor was a heavy blast door. The floor in front of it bore clear tracks left by transport equipment, suggesting it led to deeper areas.
But Mower stopped here, guiding them into a simply furnished reception room on the side.
The interior decor was extremely minimalist: a few simple chairs and a display panel embedded in the wall. Aside from that, there were almost no superfluous decorations.
The only unique feature was the holographic projection gradually taking shape in the center of the room—the image of an Eastern youth with black hair and black eyes. The fidelity far exceeded common projection technology on the market, with details so clear they were breathtaking.
"Welcome to the Manufactorum, Special Envoy Li Wei," the projection spoke. The voice was simulated by a high-quality synthesizer, carrying a trace of inhuman precision and steadiness. "I am the person in charge here. You may call me 'Sage'."
Li Wei quickly scanned this evidently carefully modified space, then looked at the holographic projection before him, which possessed a technical level far beyond the ordinary. He gained a more intuitive understanding of this "Sage's" technical prowess.
He adjusted his collar, slightly disheveled from combat, stepped forward, and nodded slightly in a standard posture, responding neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Thank you for your timely assistance, Mr. Sage. I am Li Wei, Senior Operations Director specially dispatched by Kang Tao CN Headquarters. I have taken the liberty to visit to represent Kang Tao CN Headquarters in hopes of establishing a direct channel of communication with you and to express our sincere willingness to seek friendly exchange and potential cooperation."
His wording was formal and clear, stating his purpose directly without any circuitous probing.
Joric's projection nodded slightly. "I am aware of your purpose. That is one of the reasons I decided to intervene."
He openly admitted his control over intelligence. "I am curious. After the Arasaka Tower incident, major factions are either fearful or calculating. Why did Kang Tao CN choose 'friendly exchange' as the first step?"
Li Wei didn't seem surprised that Joric knew the inside story. He answered frankly, "There are three reasons. First, based on respect for strength. The technological power you and your team displayed surpasses the current general level of understanding. Making an enemy of such an existence is unwise.
"Second, an assessment of operational style.
"From limited information analysis, your actions are purposeful and efficient, rather than purely pursuing chaos or destruction. This provides a foundation for cooperation."
He paused slightly, looking at Joric's projection with a sincere gaze. "Finally, this is the consistent operational philosophy of Kang Tao CN Headquarters. We believe that, where possible, establishing stable, mutually beneficial relationships brings far more long-term benefits than endless confrontation and scheming.
"Especially when facing an unknown and powerful force, extending goodwill is the most effective way to reduce the risk of misjudgment and open dialogue. The actions of the North American branch do not represent the overall will of Kang Tao, and I express my regret for that here."
Joric's projection maintained a natural listening posture. His processing core was synchronously conducting multiple analyses: voice patterns, micro-expression changes, heart rate fluctuations, and other physiological data were all under real-time monitoring.
All data pointed to the same conclusion—Li Wei's statement had high credibility.
This conclusion triggered a series of chain assessments.
The pragmatic attitude and inclination toward cooperation demonstrated by Kang Tao CN indeed formed a distinct contrast to Arasaka's heavy-handed suppression and Militech's utilitarianism.
This reminded him of parts of his memory from before his transmigration. Traditional commercial wisdom like "harmony brings wealth," though blurred in this era, seemed to still have traces in Kang Tao CN's corporate behavior.
Although this world was not his homeland, and Joric, as a Sage who had undergone complete mechanical augmentation, always held logic and efficiency as the highest standards.
However, those memory data from before his augmentation occasionally influenced the weight of his judgments. At this moment, these memories improved his initial impression of Kang Tao CN slightly.
Further data comparison supported this judgment. Kang Tao CN's corporate behavioral data showed they focused more on maintaining long-term cooperative relationships and exhibited a more far-sighted vision in R&D investment than North American companies.
These traits were all plus points in his assessment of potential partners.
Joric's projection leaned forward slightly. This subtle movement conformed to human social habits and was also precisely calculated.
Within his highly rational thought framework, these preferences based on past memories had been converted into quantifiable assessment parameters, becoming legitimate variables in his decision matrix.
"I understand," Joric's projection spoke again. "Your candor is valuable. As you said, meaningless confrontation consumes resources, while efficiency and cooperation are what I advocate."
He paused briefly to conduct a final risk-benefit assessment.
Cooperating with Kang Tao CN could introduce a partner with profound foundations in technology and manufacturing, which would be helpful for future base construction and development.
Their relatively moderate operational style would also be easier to incorporate into a management framework.
Most importantly, that faint preference stemming from cultural roots achieved unity with logical judgment at this moment.
"I have received Kang Tao CN Headquarters' willingness for friendly exchange and cooperation," Joric finally said. On his projection's image, the corners of his mouth seemed to curve up in an extremely faint arc. "I believe a foundation for dialogue exists between us. Regarding the specific possibilities of cooperation, we can discuss further."
A trace of imperceptible relief flashed through Li Wei's eyes. He nodded solemnly again. "Thank you very much for granting this opportunity, Mr. Sage. Kang Tao CN looks forward to opening a dialogue with you."
Thus, within the Badlands manufactorum, on the eve of the storm approaching Night City, a new force—Kang Tao CN, originating from the East—established preliminary contact with the mysterious "Sage" in a manner that exceeded everyone's expectations.
And this might quietly change the future balance of power.
(End of Chapter)