Chapter 843 - 122: Opening the Door to the Free World (Damn, I Forgot to Send It)

"You... have guts, Elliot. I have high expectations for you."

Faced with this question, Sevens took a deep look at Elliot and stood up to pat him on the shoulder.

Elliot only felt inexplicable, why did he suddenly become so enigmatic?

"Indeed, I know some small-scale security freelancers, you can contact them through this number—

Let me emphasize again, I have high expectations for you, but don’t screw up."

[Data transmission in progress...]

...

"200,000 could buy my life!"

Elliot looked at the numbers in the account, shaking with excitement!

He was already distracted for the rest of the conversation; he only remembered this 200,000.

[Johnny: Your life is only worth 2,000 bucks, remember?]

"Not anymore..."

200,000 could buy a lot of things: the authentic price of the Prosthetic System from the International Electric Company Elliot currently uses is 2,500 euros, along with the necessary industrial labor memory expansion, external CPU, external storage, and miscellaneous respiratory protection prosthetics... The total price is just over 40,000.

Even so, he still has to pay in installments, which with interest goes up to 87,000 euros, and every year he must spend at least 7,000 euros on maintenance. If a major problem arises, it might need to be sent back to the factory for repair or replacement, costing even more.

The more serious problem is, these years, the upgrade of prosthetic systems and production technology is getting faster and faster. Although copyright law states that they can use the prosthetics for 30 years after purchase, if the factory and company’s production standards change during these 30 years, he’ll have to spend money to match the production line; otherwise, he could be out of work.

In conclusion, this is just the work-related aspect; living expenses are similarly significant: monthly rent, food, drink, clothing, electricity bill, internet fee...

But 200,000 is enough to cover these expenses while doing nothing in his room, watching Super Dream every day, and he could potentially live for about 20 years.

Just like that, 200,000 was in his hands.

"This money comes so easily, no wonder the company always gets involved with the European Union... How do we split it?"

"Ouch!"

Elliot was shocked hard, uncontrollably letting out a painful scream.

[Lille: It comes easy because it’s a small amount, don’t imagine too much when the work hasn’t started yet.]

Elliot stroked his neck, the feeling of electric shock wasn’t good, especially with this AI-controlled electric therapy.

"Isn’t 200,000 a lot? You could buy two hundred used cars with it..."

[Lille: It’s not much for doing things. First find a place near the city edge, set it up, then we’ll start recruiting people.]

"Alright, boss, I’ll listen to you in everything, but what did you mean by asking about that security company? Are we hiring bodyguards?"

As Elliot asked, he got on the bus, having already left the government building.

Elliot was completely puzzled about the intent of what Lille had asked him to inquire, just like he couldn’t understand why Lille said 200,000 was too little...

Isn’t this like ’Let them eat cake!’ It’s the same as that small businessman on the TV last month who said one million euros is a small sum.

Lille felt a headache: to be honest, Elliot’s tendency to ask questions isn’t a bad thing, indicating that although he’s no longer young, he still has some desire to learn.

But the problem is, his perception is really too... conservative.

[Lille: Do you think 200,000 could buy your life, right?]

"Of course, I’m just a worker, probably earning that much in a lifetime, 200,000... but it feels like I’m not really worth that much money?"

[Johnny: In Night City, you can buy your neighbor’s life for 500 euros if you find the right person, you’re really not worth that much.]

Elliot opened his mouth slightly, thinking that news reports were conservative. Previously, he often thought the European Union kept reporting bad news to smear Night City, highlighting the necessity of the European Barrier.

[Lille: Here, if the conditions are met, 100 euros would buy a life... but we’ll calculate at 500, while the monthly maintenance cost of the British-French channel is between 24-36 million euros, if an emergency occurs, it might increase further.]

[Lille: And this channel simultaneously carries material, data, and energy trade, with an annual trade volume of 50-60 billion euros.]

[Lille: Hence, this channel’s monthly direct profits could purchase the lives of at least forty-eight thousand people, and indirectly influence the lives of at least ten million people a month...]

[Lille: Do you still think 200,000 is a lot now?]

Amazing figures impacted Elliot’s mind, with straightforward logic easily making him realize how important this matter was...

And how much trouble this matter could bring: even just extracting 10% of the benefits is enough to drive businesses crazy.

Under the protection of the European Barrier, ordinary people, even if struggling to breathe from intense work and tough life, find it difficult to take extreme actions: objectively, they can’t get tools or have the ability, subjectively, at least they can still earn a living, most of the time, it’s just a bit hard...

Even if it’s somewhat poor, life is still manageable, with no need to ruin one’s entire life.

But businesses are different; such enormous benefits can already transform into motivation subjectively, and objectively...

Whose life can’t they buy?

The orbital bus wasn’t full, elderly were watching handheld terminals, young people immersed in visual system displays, and struggling office workers...

Foxstone is a busy small town, and it’s impossible to survive here without a job, everyone is very busy.

Suddenly, the familiar routine began to feel unfamiliar, Elliot swallowed hard—

Perhaps among these people, someone is communicating with an employer, preparing to take him out at a suitable place?

[Lille: Good, now you realize the seriousness of the problem, you said you aren’t worth 200,000, that is a fact.]

[Lille: So, from now on, you must do your utmost to make yourself worth these 200,000, otherwise...]

[Lille: You will die.]

Elliot swallowed: "Then why don’t we just hire security from Arasaka, Military Technology, or Lazarus Group if they provide protection..."

When Lille asked Sevens if he knew any security companies, Sevens’ surprise was already unmistakable, something Elliot couldn’t comprehend.

Why not surprised when he hurried to report the European Tunnel Company, yet he was surprised by this?

And after understanding the stake involved, Elliot’s question became: why not directly hire those powerful military contractors?

Like Arasaka, Arasaka is a leader in this field! Their ads say, as soon as you make a call and transfer money, the world’s top bodyguards will arrive at Foxstone...

[Lille: There are many reasons, but just remember: 200,000 to buy their services, just enough, but your value becomes 200,000 minus the hiring cost...]

[Lille: I told you, you need to make yourself worth these 200,000.]

"Ding-dong—"

"Southern City Station, arrived."

Clatter.

Behind him, the bus doors closed, Elliot stood still, unsure of what to do.

[Lille: Now go find the local property management company, I’ve already locked a few places on the network, go there now.]

[Lille: You might be followed, but I can’t be sure who is tracking you at the moment.]

[Lille: Johnny, keep an eye on him, I’m checking the list Sent by Sevens.]

Johnny appeared in Elliot’s vision, gesturing towards Lille to indicate he understood.

As the Digital Soul in Elliot’s brain, Johnny shared the vision, equivalent to having an additional somewhat seasoned Visual Central Processor.

"...It’s terrifying, do they have guns with them? It’s a serious crime in the European Union, shouldn’t be..."

[Johnny: That’s funny, most here haven’t even seen a gun.]

[Johnny: Sure they have guns—I think they definitely do.]

[Johnny: Welcome to the free world.]