297: The beginning of a new chapter

Within the Solar System, the Skyreach City space station, orbiting Blue Star, hung like a man-made pearl, silently suspended above the azure planet.

This space station, built by the Interstellar Peace Corporation, served as the headquarters for the 'Warden' overseeing Blue Star, and was also the last refuge for the old Western elite class.

The interior of Skyreach City was astonishingly luxurious, a stark contrast to the cyberpunk society on the surface, which was known as the 'Barren Zone'.

In the observation hall on the highest floor, a group of middle-aged men and women in expensive suits raised champagne glasses, looking down at the azure planet beneath their feet.

"To our great Warden's career!" A bald middle-aged man raised his glass high. He was Governor Smith, the current governor of Skyreach City. "For thirty years, we have perfectly completed the task given to us by the Corporation, firmly trapping those barbarians on the surface!"

"We have proven our worth, and the Corporation will surely not treat us unfairly!"

Everyone raised their glasses in agreement, their faces beaming with good at smiles.

As the 'Wardens' appointed by the Corporation, these old Western elites had indeed performed their guardianship duties excellently for nearly thirty years, firmly 'imprisoning' their former compatriots in the 'quarantine zone' known as the 'Barren Zone'.

In the Barren Zone lived Westerners who had accumulated massive debts due to the terrorist attack launched by the Consortium Corporation on the Interstellar Peace Corporation's Star Gate thirty years ago.

Their descendants would work for the Corporation without pay for nearly three hundred years to repay their debts. Their daily lives were almost devoid of anything new.

At five in the morning, the harsh alarm clock rang on time. Jackie climbed out of his simple plank bed, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

This twenty-year-old young man was already a third-generation 'debtor'. He quickly put on his gray work uniform and joined the line for breakfast.

"Hurry up! Don't dawdle!" An administrator in an Skyreach City uniform urged impatiently, "Today we need to complete the parts production quota for Factory No. 3!"

Breakfast consisted of nutrient paste and synthetic protein blocks. Although it filled their stomachs, the taste was monotonously nauseating.

Jackie ate silently, recalling the 'old era' his grandmother used to talk about. Back then, people could choose their food freely, and even go to restaurants for lavish meals.

"I heard people in Skyreach City eat fresh fruit every day," a fellow worker whispered, "and real meat..."

"Shut up!" The administrator barked, "Eat your nutrient paste! Think about the debts your ancestors incurred!"

After breakfast, the workers were divided into groups and went to different factories.

Jackie's group was responsible for producing precision electronic components. The working environment was relatively clean, much better than the garbage recycling station, but the working hours were 12 hours long, with only short breaks in between.

"Pay attention to accuracy!" The foreman patrolled the production line, "This batch of goods is going to Mars; no one can afford any problems!"

Although the Interstellar Peace Corporation provided basic living guarantees for these 'debtors', including shelter from the elements, standard food rations sufficient to sustain physical labor, and basic medical care, their living standards were maintained at the bare minimum.

At least during the period when the Corporation directly managed Oceania, their lives were even the best since the New Millennium.

The Corporation did not deliberately persecute them; after all, these laborers were valuable 'assets'. But the comprador class in Skyreach City was different.

During the lunch break, Jackie saw several Skyreach City officials inspecting. They wore shiny uniforms, a stark contrast to the dust-covered appearance of the workers.

"This month's production efficiency has decreased by 0.2%," an official said to the foreman with a frown, "If it affects our allocation quota, you know the consequences."

The foreman nodded obsequiously: "Don't worry, sir, we will make up for it with overtime."

Jackie silently ate his lunch, understanding that the so-called 'allocation quota' was the source of income for the Skyreach City elites.

Apart from tourism within Skyreach City and earning a bit of hard-earned money in the Eastern Federation financial market, the primary income for this comprador class came from the supervisory materials regularly allocated by the Corporation.

For them, if the 'barbarians' they despised ate one more bite, the less these nobles would receive.

Therefore, when it came to exploiting the 'debtors' on Oceania, this comprador class was truly ruthless, extracting every last drop. As long as the workers were still breathing and the Corporation didn't notice a decline in profits, they would stop at nothing.

The afternoon's work was even more arduous. Due to the 'substandard' production efficiency in the morning, the foreman announced two hours of overtime. The exhausted workers silently accepted; no one dared to resist. Resistance meant more severe punishment, possibly even being sent to harsher mining areas.

After work, Jackie dragged his tired body back to the dormitory area. The so-called dormitories were actually rows of simple prefabricated houses, with eight people living in each room. Although crowded, they were at least clean and tidy.

However, a few years ago, they lived in standard housing with the Corporation's logo, fully equipped with facilities, and even smart home systems.

If the people in the Construction Materials Logistics Department knew that these "debtors" were so grateful for this, they would probably give a standard wry smile.

It wasn't that they were so kind-hearted, but rather that the Corporation's production line could only produce that kind of standard housing at its lowest level.

There was a short period of free time after dinner. Some chose to rest, while others entertained themselves with the limited recreational facilities. Jackie liked to go to the library, which was one of the few welfare facilities set up by the Corporation that Skyreach City hadn't yet dismantled.

"I heard people in Skyreach City have holographic entertainment every night," a young man said enviously, "and can even go to the space observation deck to drink..."

The old foreman shook his head: "Don't think about those useless things. Work hard, and let's hope an earlier generation repays the debt so our children can have a different life."

This was the daily life in the Barren Zone. Hard but orderly, poor but secure.

The Corporation provided everything required by the Corporation's 'minimum standards', but the compradors of Skyreach City tried every possible way to embezzle and exploit, just to get a larger share for themselves.

"Look at those barbarians down there," Governor Smith said with contempt, pointing to a 'large island' on the surface, "They're like livestock in a pen, working all day and then sleeping. It's truly pathetic."

A woman in a lavish gown chuckled: "My dear, if we hadn't 'mercifully' provided them with basic living guarantees, they would have starved to death long ago. These barbarians should be grateful to us!"

When it came to oppressing their compatriots, this comprador class was indeed exceptionally gifted. Or rather, as the ancestors of compradors, they truly understood better than anyone how to be a good comprador.

Over thirty years, they had established a complete system of surveillance and suppression. Anyone in the Barren Zone who displayed special talent or aptitude would be immediately identified by their 'talent scouting system'.

"Report, Governor," a subordinate in uniform entered, "Nail has discovered a genius Engineer who has self-taught electromagnetic weapon technology."

Governor Smith's eyes lit up: "The old rule, the 'Three-Axe' treatment. First, offer him generous treatment. If he refuses, use some methods to let him know the consequences of defying us."

"If he's sensible, we'll take him in to work for us. If not, we'll handle him according to procedure."

"Understood."