The reduction in electricity costs for factories would lower the overall production costs of entire industries. For businesses, schools, and all public service facilities, electricity would become cleaner, more environmentally friendly, and cheaper. What kind of changes would that bring?
Gasoline-powered cars would become relics of history, and humanity would fully enter the electric age or perhaps even an era of new energy.
Maybe electricity would no longer be the primary energy source for human society. Controlled nuclear fusion wouldn't just trigger an energy revolution; it would spark countless other transformations.
Civilization on Earth would advance to a planetary scale, capable of building space cities and megastructures.
Although Aetheris wasn't from a scientific background, he understood basic concepts. And if he couldn't figure something out, he could always look it up on Google or Yahoo.
"I already have the technology, but this project is critically important. I need the company to establish a specialized task force to draft a thoroughly vetted cooperation plan. For now, have the legal department review the government's energy application regulations."
After some thought, Aetheris refrained from making any rash decisions. After all, he was just an outsider. Professional matters should be left to professionals. Otherwise, what was the point of spending so much money to hire experts if not to make them do the work?
If you take the money, you do the work. This was a capitalist country. There was no room for negotiation.
Capital aimed to squeeze every last drop of value from its workers.
Pepper spoke.
"I'll tell Nova about this later. Do you have any plans today? Are you going to the company?"
Aetheris's gaze had long been fixed on Victor's round hips wrapped in denim as she cleared the dishes. Hearing Pepper's words, he replied,
"I've got something to do today. I won't go."
Pepper nodded, stood up, and went to her room to change clothes.
Originally, Aetheris had planned to head to the company to arrange Pepper's trip to Antarctica. But just moments ago, he had received a call from Coulson, who said that Victor might be coming to New York today.
Aetheris had almost forgotten about this old man. But since the wolf had arrived, as a hunter, he naturally had to ready his shotgun to cripple and finish off this stray dog once and for all.
New York, Brooklyn. Inside an indoor golf club, the sun was shining, and Charles, Tiger, and Watson were lounging inside.
These gangsters had a tough life too. During the day, they worked out and entertained themselves. At night, they went out singing, clubbing, and sleeping with women. Their schedules were packed.
Charles and Watson were competing in golf skills. Charles had just hit a 200-yard shot. The younger gang members and busty women behind him applauded and cheered. Charles relaxed for once and said to Watson,
"Put fifty grand on it and play me? Let's go big. I'll crush you."
Watson reluctantly gestured for a subordinate, who pulled out fifty thousand dollars from a bag and slapped it on the table.
Ever since they had opened a drug-trafficking route in Mexico, money had been pouring in nonstop. Having grown up poor, the group now carried themselves like nouveau riche.
Seeing their fun, Tiger also picked up a club. But no matter how he swung, he couldn't hit the ball.
He couldn't help it. Growing up in the slums of a Mexican city, where even getting a meal was a struggle and sometimes he had to fight ten other kids for a piece of hard bread, how would he have had the chance to play golf?
Now that he had money, he wanted to try something more refined. But golf really wasn't something just anyone could handle.
Watson, with a beauty in his arms and a cigarette dangling from his lips, saw Tiger making a fool of himself. He couldn't hold back a laugh and stood up, saying,
"Tiger, golf isn't played like that. You've got to treat it like kung fu: take a horse stance, keep your waist and legs in sync."
As he spoke, he pulled the girl closer, pressed her body against his, stretched her arms forward, and wrapped his hands around hers, gripping the club as he demonstrated.
"It's actually very simple. You just grip the club like this. The most important part is keeping your thighs and shoulders level. Then you look into the distance, focus on the ball, and swing hard."
"Whoosh!"
The girl lost her grip, and the club flew out of her hands.
"Hahaha!"
Tiger laughed so hard that tears nearly came out. He just had that simple mind.
Watson forced a sheepish laugh as well.
"That was a mistake in demonstration."
He walked toward the platform to see where the club had landed. Suddenly, he noticed a group of people approaching the course.
Watson's face changed, and he muttered under his breath. Something was wrong. But he didn't raise an alarm. Instead, he went over to Charles and whispered,
"Charlie, I think something's off."
As he spoke, Victor strode in with a group of brawny Mexicans. Each looked fierce and murderous, their bodies radiating the stench of bloodshed men clearly hardened by years of brutal violence.
Charles had seen Victor before, back at Uncle Sam's gathering, where they had even shared a couple of drinks.
But Victor had always looked down on Charles, seeing him as just another street thug who lived by his fists. He was dismissive. With his high rank in Sam's group almost second-in-command—he was a man who had joined with strong backing and reputation.
Still, Victor had no intention of staying in anyone's shadow. That was why he had volunteered to handle matters in New York. He wanted to make an impression and win the loyalty of his Mexican men. Only then could he eventually overthrow Sam and claim power for himself.
For men at the bottom, money was one thing, but in this world, strength spoke louder than anything. Whoever had the harder fists was the boss.
That was the jungle law of the underworld. Strip away the thin veil of civilized society, and beneath it lay the bloody reality of survival of the fittest.
Seeing it was Victor, Charles did not panic. He stayed calm and said,
"The girls here are just for fun. They don't know anything. There's no need to harm innocents. Maria, you all can leave."
If Hans had been here, he would have recognized Maria immediately the busty beauty he once claimed for himself. But ever since Hans had been imprisoned and his company collapsed, her status as his favored companion had plummeted. The new management quickly cast her out.
Not everyone was willing to drink someone else's leftovers.
Without work, Maria had been forced into nightlife jobs. But with her striking looks, voluptuous figure, and the polish she had gained under Hans's tutelage, she soon became the madam of Tony's upscale nightclub, the one these crime bosses relied on for entertainment arrangements.
At the moment, Maria's hair was neatly tied back, and she wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. With her professional outfit, she looked more like a white-collar worker than a woman of the night. Her aura was equal parts innocent and seductive.
(End of Chapter)
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