Chapter 235: Awe and Reverence
The near-suicidal annihilation of the Arasaka White Whale carrier battle group within an extremely short time was like a silent spiritual tsunami sweeping across the world's elite. It left an indelible brand in the hearts of all informed corporate tycoons and political leaders.
Previously, the "Secutarii" summoned by Joric had crushed Arasaka's ground forces with absolute superiority. While shocking, the shield technology, energy weapons, and unimaginable individual combat power they displayed were still within the explainable scope of a "generational technological gap."
The R&D departments of major corporations, amidst their horror, could at least attempt to analyze, understand, and even dream of one day reverse-engineering it.
But this time, the end of the Arasaka fleet completely overturned their cognition.
There was no overwhelming duel of aircraft swarms, no dazzling exchange of energy beams, not even a detection of massive energy outbursts.
There was only an incomprehensible madness that erupted suddenly within the Arasaka fleet, and the final tactical nuclear bomb dropped by themselves that buried their own main force.
This completely exceeded the framework of cyberwarfare, electronic warfare, and even any known military theory.
"Virus attack?" Inside the command center of Militech HQ, a senior technical advisor shook his head with a pale face when questioned by high-level executives. "No, General, that doesn't make sense. What kind of virus can make all systems—from the command network to individual cyberware, and even the launch control system of a nuclear bomb—fall into the same self-destructive mania in an instant?
"Rache Bartmoss triggered the 'DataKrash' fifty years ago and destroyed the Old Net, but even he could never have made an entire fleet physically annihilate itself so effortlessly."
This unknown brought primal fear.
Originally, when President Myers decided to "transfer" the actual management rights of Night City to Joric, there was quite a bit of grumbling within Militech and the opposition party in the NUSA Congress, believing this was showing weakness to an unidentified entity and damaging national dignity.
However, after the news of the Arasaka fleet's annihilation was confirmed by multiple parties, all voices of doubt vanished overnight.
The painful memories of the Unification War were still fresh. It was precisely this White Whale battle group of Arasaka that intervened at a critical moment, forcing the then-momentum-filled NUSA army to stop outside Night City, eventually compelling them to sign a truce and recognize Night City's independent status.
This fleet had been a thorn in the side of the NUSA and Militech, a symbol of corporate power overriding the state.
Now, this thorn had been effortlessly wiped away by Joric in a manner they could not comprehend.
In the face of absolute, incomprehensible power, so-called "dignity" and "doubt" appeared so laughable.
Some Militech shareholders even expressed privately that if this "Sage" truly intended to rule the world, they wouldn't mind "changing bosses." After all, today's NUSA was no longer the superpower of the past, but merely a second-rate nation barely maintaining influence by relying on the nationalization of Militech. Assessing the situation was the way of survival.
However, thoughts of reverence and submission were always accompanied by deep apprehension.
Unavoidable questions lingered in everyone's minds: Who exactly is Joric? Where does his terrifying technology come from? Is he really from Earth? Or is he a representative of some extraterrestrial civilization?
More importantly, possessing such power, what is his ultimate goal? Could it really just be for a single Night City?
The same shock and apprehension echoed in the heartlands of other global corporate giants.
Kang Tao CN Headquarters. Silence filled the executive conference room.
They had a cooperative relationship with Joric and had obtained tangible technological improvements, considering themselves closely related.
But at this moment, this "closeness" made them feel a chill.
A director responsible for technical analysis, dressed in a neat white coat, pointed at the final footage of the fleet on the screen, his voice dry. "The technical support we received before is likely... just the tip of the iceberg.
"What he showed us is what he was willing to let us see. To be able to dominate electronics and machinery so thoroughly... our 'ally' may be far beyond our imagination in nature."
Radical internal proposals about "deepening technological penetration" or "striving for more dominance" were quickly suppressed, replaced by a keynote of "maintaining the status quo, absolutely avoiding provocation."
But secretly, the investigation into Joric's technology source and analysis of his weaknesses were raised to a higher classification level.
Upon learning the news, the directors of Petrochem immediately strengthened physical isolation and network security levels for all global refining facilities and pipeline control systems.
They controlled the world's energy lifeline, and their systems were equally heavily reliant on automation and network control.
Joric's methods showed them a possibility—their industrial empire, upon which they depended for survival, might be even more fragile than Arasaka's fleet in the face of some unknown attack.
On the surface, they sent carefully worded letters to Night City through channels expressing "respect for the status quo," but privately, emergency plans for "de-automation" and "manual redundancy" backups for key infrastructure were activated.
The unease felt by the elites of Biotechnica at this moment was far sharper and more biting than other corporations.
Unlike other giants, they had an unpleasant history with this mysterious Sage due to certain shortsighted actions.
Although the conflict had not escalated to an unmanageable point, that old grudge was like a buried thorn that began to ache dully after Joric displayed the terrifying means to make the Arasaka fleet self-destruct.
This realization brought not only apprehension but also a fear stemming from past actions.
They secretly rejoiced that the initial conflict had not intensified to a point of no return, while also realizing with utmost clarity that they might have walked along the edge of destruction.
They immediately chose the most low-profile stance of observation. All tentative moves that might cause misunderstandings were completely halted.
Simultaneously, security measures for their core gene banks and cutting-edge biological research bases were raised to unprecedented levels.
This was not just to guard against unknown risks, but more like a subconscious defensive posture trying to make up for past mistakes, fearing that the Sage might recall old matters one day and casually "purify" the foundation of their survival as well.
The oligarchs of Euro-Business Bank (EBM) appeared more prudent and uneasy than other corporations when assessing the situation.
They controlled the lifeblood of global capital and knew the fragility of order well.
Joric's existence, and the unknown means he displayed sufficient to make a fleet self-destruct, were seen by them as the most fundamental threat to the existing financial system.
Could an existence capable of ignoring physical rules and directly twisting mechanical logic also paralyze or throw the global banking system and trading networks into chaos in an instant using similar methods?
This possibility, even if only a sliver, was enough to keep them awake at night.
This deep fear even suppressed their urge to take extreme measures.
There were radicals internally who proposed preemptive strikes—for example, using affiliated forces to influence the European Space Agency (ESA) and utilize mass drivers deployed on the moon to conduct orbital strikes on Night City.
However, this proposal was quickly vetoed by more cautious voices.
The core concern lay in the fact that they had absolutely no certainty of eliminating Joric with a single blow.
If the operation failed, or even just startled him, how terrifying would the retaliatory strike be?
If the power capable of making a fleet self-destruct were turned against the global financial network, the consequences would be unimaginable.
They dared not gamble on the bottom line of Joric's revenge.
Therefore, on the surface, EBM maintained silence and observation like other corporations.
But secretly, their actions were more thorough.
Not only did they drastically reduce asset risk exposure in Night City and surrounding areas, but they also accelerated a highly isolated emergency financial plan that even partially returned to the era of physical vouchers, hoping to preserve core capital and operational capabilities in the worst-case digital catastrophe that might come.
To them, Joric was now an ultimate risk source that must be constantly guarded against but never lightly provoked.
In summary, at the cost of the Arasaka fleet's annihilation, Joric declared an unquestionable fact to the world—he possessed power transcending the scope of current civilized understanding.
This forced all factions, whether harboring sinister designs or attempting cooperation, to temporarily rein in direct hostility and excessive schemes, outwardly showing great awe and obedience.
But beneath that seemingly calm surface, undercurrents never ceased to flow.
Apprehension birthed vigilance; reverence bred plotting.
Every side was reassessing the situation and adjusting strategies.
They were all waiting—waiting for a possible opportunity, or waiting for this "Sage" to reveal his next intention.
Until then, silent observation and cautious avoidance became the tacit consensus among the giants.
(End of Chapter)