September 17, 2077, 5:00 PM.

Nest City No. 3, G District, entrance to Tiger Head Heavy Industries' mining site.

The night in Nest City always arrives very early, very early.

It was just past 5, and the sky had already darkened dully.

The night shroud was like a black veil, covering the entire city.

But the night wouldn't bring silence; instead, it becomes the bell for the arrival of nightlife.

Illusory neon lights turn on punctually, and floating advertisement cars with their giant speakers blare ads and catchy pop music above the city.

In the streets, illegally modified motorcycles roar thunderously, accompanied by sounds of gunfire and cursing from the cops.

The people are used to it, even applauding, cheering for their favorite cop or bandit.

A thrilling gang clash and police chase has long been a part of the daily life for the residents of Nest City.

These incidents don't bring fear but rather serve as a spice to their mundane lives, akin to a "street show" performance.

If the police chases had ratings, no doubt, even the hottest live broadcast couldn't compare.

The happenings in Nest City are always so absurd, yet they infuse the whole city with unprecedented vitality and a lively atmosphere.

The entrance to Tiger Head Heavy Industries' mining site is also bustling, crowded with workers.

Although it was long past the official closing time, only a few actually left the site.

Most workers merely took the chance during the shift change to grab a quick bite from the fried rice stalls outside the site before heading back to work.

Ordinary workers at Tiger Head Heavy Industries strictly adhere to the "996" schedule.

But don't misunderstand, their 996 isn't like the Nest City white collar's "work 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week" lifestyle.

That would be too leisurely; it's an unimaginable bliss for the mining workers.

Their "996" means: 9 hours of day shift, 9 hours of night shift, leaving just 6 hours to wash, eat, go to the toilet, and take care of children, working at least 18 hours a day.

And this is considered a relatively lighter schedule, only available to full-time workers.

As for undocumented workers? Sorry, if they get four hours of rest a day, it means the foreman has had a conscience.

In the security booth at the entrance, the Security Section Chief, Old Wang, sits leisurely in a recliner, scrutinizing the coming and going workers with a disdainful gaze.

To him, these miners are like sheep, laughably meek; as soon as he blows his whistle, they immediately crouch down with their hands over their heads, letting him have his way, letting him humiliate them.

Although he's just a small chief, he wields considerable power.

Old Wang can decide who can work and who cannot.

This might not seem like a big deal, but in Nest City, if an ordinary worker loses their job, the whole family will be destitute... unable to afford food, clothes, with children dropping out, and the elderly thrown out of hospital rooms.

This simple power gives Old Wang absolute control over the fate of these workers.

Sheep are easy to handle; just whip them hard, then throw them a bit of carrot, and you can have a whole flock at your mercy.

Old Wang is obsessed with this sense of power, as most in Nest City deeply revel in it, unable to extricate themselves.

But he also knows not everyone is a sheep.

For instance, that group always gathered outside the mining site, holding signs and banners protesting loudly.

"Heartless corporation! Profiting at the cost of lives!"

"My colleague was only 30, how could his organs suddenly fail? He definitely died due to a workplace injury! Give us back his body!"

"Tiger Head Heavy Industries regards human lives as grass! My father never signed any 'waiver form'! That's not his handwriting!"

"Return my son's life... give me back my son's life!"

This was a group of rather special people.

Among them were young, strong workers, elderly folks, even haggard women and young children.

Ordinarily, such a complex group wouldn't stand together.

But now, a shared emotion binds them tightly together.

That emotion is "hatred."

This group consists of family and friends of the fallen workers.

Their family members were lured by Yang Lie and Xie Kang to Yangshan Town, becoming prey for the beast.

Tiger Head Heavy Industries certainly wouldn't be accountable for these deaths.

No compensation, no explanation, certainly no apology.

What they had was merely a flimsy waiver agreement.

This, of course, wouldn't satisfy the people.

The common man is a complex being; they can be sheep, but once the bottom line is crossed, they won't remain sheep; they'll find ways to resist, to stir things up, to demand an explanation.

But Yang Lie doesn't care at all, never even acknowledging them from the start, not even wanting to suppress or address them.

In his words...

"Let them make a fuss; it's just a bunch of ants squeaking, why bother with them? Crushing them would only increase my publicity costs."

"Leave them be, as long as they don't severely impact production, let them be."

Previously, events unfolded just as Yang Lie had expected...

A fuss made by a few hundred or thousand people couldn't stir any real waves.

But Security Section Chief Old Wang noticed that recently, things seemed to be slightly different.

The number of agitating workers was growing, even some senior workers in blue uniforms joined the commotion, even started trying to break through the gates.

Today, the number of protesters probably exceeded ten thousand.

This was affecting production in the mining zone, even leading many workers from the factories to join them, causing a shortage of manpower.

The HR manager even called specifically to complain that they couldn't find workers and hoped Old Wang could lower the screening standards, hiring more child labor and undocumented workers.

To this, Old Wang certainly had no objections, especially since the red envelope from the manager was big enough...

"Ignore those rioting workers; open the gate and keep recruiting."

"The screening standards can be lowered a bit; just get through these two days for now."

He instructed the subordinate security guard beside him.

"Yes, Chief."

The guard nodded and opened the gate.

Wow—!

Instantly, the undocumented workers crowded the entrance, raising their hands to register continuously.

"Me... Me!"

"Pick me!"

"I only need five yuan an hour! Pick me quickly!"

"I only need three!"

"Two!"

"I don't want money! Just food and accommodation will do!"

"Me too... me too!"

Watching the crowded throng, Old Wang shook his head with a smile.

There may be people who don't want to be sheep, but those who do, are far greater in number...

The thing Nest City lacks the least is cheap lives.

Old Wang thought he could wield that life-and-death power once more.

But what he failed to notice was...

Two little figures wearing black, tattered hoods also mixed in with the crowd and slipped through.

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