Chapter 125 - 123 Miss Dislikes the Moral Vacuum_1

Silver Hexagram. This is an organization with a long history, its members top capitalists from various developed nations who exploit those beneath them under the guise of a global free market. Each ofT their gatherings signified their intent to launch an invisible war. In these unseen wars, defeated nations would be utterly devoured. Ironically, people trapped in such predicaments often didn't even know who caused their disasters. They would simply blame their governments, believing that an overthrow would bring hope. This, too, was a conclusion deliberately guided by the Silver Hexagram. They held the power to control public opinion, allowing them to drain others dry while making their victims feel grateful, even directing their hatred toward a secondary target. However, this time, the Silver Hexagram Branch in Japan had gathered only to discuss how to redistribute the domestic pie. To solidify their lofty positions, they would periodically unite to exploit the populace, ensuring no one else's influence could surpass their own. From so-called billionaires down to the middle class, with one swing of their scythe, they ensured they gorged themselves. The ruin of other people's families and lives was of no consequence to them. The founding intention of the Silver Hexagram was to enable a small cabal to exploit the vast majority. Kochou outlined to Phoenix Academy Maggie the founding purpose of the Silver Hexagram, the benefits of membership, and its internal structure. While each member's status was theoretically equal, they employed a rotating Hexagram Master system to resolve certain matters. Positions such as Treasurer and Secretary, among others, also rotated. These positions rotated every four years. This year, Kochou's position was Treasurer, responsible for managing accounts, various membership fees, and funds to be remitted to the headquarters. "This is your first time attending such a banquet. Don't be impolite, and interact well with everyone there." "Mother, don't worry. I know what to do," Phoenix Academy Maggie replied with a nod. She usually disliked pretense, but when insincerity was required to deal with others, she could feign it with ease. This was one of the compulsory skills for a young lady of her standing. Of course, Phoenix Academy Maggie disliked possessing such a skill. She turned to look out the window, seeking a distraction. Below lay towering buildings, crisscrossing streets, and the ceaseless flow of vehicles on the roads. From this height, the streams of people on the ground looked like ants crawling about. The entirety of Tokyo, veiled in the fabric of night, showcased its vibrant neon lights that shimmered like jewels in a river, a strikingly beautiful spectacle. Watching this scene, Phoenix Academy Maggie suddenly wondered if she could spot Aozawa's house from here. The thought prompted her to gaze intently out the window, but she couldn't find it. ... The helicopter departed the bustling Tokyo and arrived in Saitama Prefecture. Top capitalists typically disliked living in bustling cities. Their wealth allowed them to enjoy all the amenities of a bustling city from anywhere they chose. Thus, they preferred to establish their industries within bustling cities, while choosing to build their residences in less populated, tranquil areas, much like the one below. Phoenix Academy Maggie glanced down. The estate's courtyard was vast enough to resemble a golf course. On its neatly maintained helipad, several private helicopters were parked. Flashing colored lights guided the pilot for landing. Butler Miwa opened the door. A cool spring breeze greeted them as Kochou disembarked first, with Phoenix Academy Maggie following. A black-haired elderly man stood waiting to greet them. It was evident he took pains not to appear old. His hair was dyed a black deeper than any youth's, and his well-maintained face showed few wrinkles. He appeared to be around fifty, belying his true age of seventy. "Welcome, Miss Kochou." The old man stepped forward, a smile on his face. Kochou also smiled. "Thank you for coming out to greet us, Star Master Iwasaki." Iwasaki's gaze swept towards Phoenix Academy Maggie as he praised, "Truly beautiful. One wonders which man will be fortunate enough to win her hand in the future." "Maggie won't be easily won by anyone," Kochou answered with a smile. Having married into the Phoenix Academy family and borne only this one daughter, Kochou would certainly not marry her off. Instead, she planned to recruit a son-in-law to marry into the family, ensuring Phoenix Academy Maggie would eventually control all the Phoenix Academy's assets. Iwasaki laughed. "My apologies. Taro, please take Miss Maggie to join the other young people. Miss Kochou, let us proceed to discuss important matters." "Very well." Kochou nodded and got into a car with Iwasaki. As the two drove off, the previously silent Iwasaki Taro stretched lazily and shrugged. "Finally free." Phoenix Academy Maggie smiled. "I'll be in your care, Mr. Taro." "No need to be so formal; we're all young people here." Iwasaki Taro, standing at one meter eighty-five, was handsome and cut a charming figure when he smiled. He wore unbranded clothes that were clearly custom-made. "Come, get in the car. I'll show you something interesting." He beckoned Phoenix Academy Maggie into the vehicle. The vehicle resembled a tourist shuttle, with no driver. Instead, a long rectangular screen displayed pulsating, ECG-like waves. "Set off for the camp." "Roger that." A mechanical electronic voice responded. The ripples on the screen quivered, and the vehicle automatically moved off in one direction. Phoenix Academy Maggie's eyes flashed with surprise. "Is this autonomous driving?" "Yes. It's not available on the open market at all, only for internal purchase by members of the Silver Hexagram. This is a true, fully autonomous vehicle. Would you like to buy one?" Iwasaki Taro explained with a smile. The Silver Hexagram had gathered scientists from around the world to form its research teams. In terms of technology, they were always at the world's forefront. "The older generation isn't very confident about such technology," Iwasaki Taro continued. "They stubbornly believe it's only safe if someone is in the driver's seat; their thinking is rather fixed." "Can't this car be hacked?" "Haha! A hacker could breach the Pentagon's firewall before they could tamper with our self-developed Hexagram System," Iwasaki Taro replied with a laugh. ... The autonomous smart car drove to a lawn one kilometer away from the mansion. This was the "camp" Iwasaki Taro had mentioned, where five other young people were gathered. Intelligent robots were serving them: some were humanoid, others were semi-cylindrical in form. A 3D virtual idol was dancing. To Phoenix Academy Maggie's surprise, even the chefs preparing their food were robots. "Can robots really do this kind of thing?" Iwasaki Taro laughed. "Don't underestimate robot chefs. As long as the seasonings are measured precisely—so many grams per dish, specific cooking times—and the recipes are programmed in, a single robot can become a master of any global cuisine. Of course, their manufacturing cost is extremely high, making them unsuitable for commercialization. If you're interested, you can order one." "No, thank you. I still prefer food made by humans; it has more of a human touch." "Haha, once you get used to them, you'll find these machines far more useful than people." Iwasaki Taro wore a gentle smile, though he inwardly scoffed at Phoenix Academy Maggie's outdated thinking. In his view, what 'human touch' could a dish possibly have? It was all just a matter of ingredients. "Master, we have arrived at the camp." As the smart car reached its destination, it promptly announced its arrival and stopped near the camp. Three young men and two young women approached. Phoenix Academy Maggie had met them a few times before but had never truly interacted with them. Back then, she had been too young, and these favored scions of elite families had no interest in conversing with a peer who was still just a child. This was her first real interaction with these individuals. It also signified that Kochou was officially presenting her on the public stage as the future heir to the Phoenix Academy family. Phoenix Academy Maggie quickly blended in with the six of them, appearing as close as sisters with the other two young women. The seven of them enjoyed the delicacies prepared by the robot chef while casually discussing current political events in various countries, major international incidents, and inside information from the financial world. In this small group, there was also competition. Those who spoke eagerly were vying for dominance in the conversation, seeking to elevate their own status within the group. Phoenix Academy Maggie had no aspiration to be the group leader. She was the youngest. In Japan, where seniority was paramount, she couldn't compete for leadership. Her role was to agree with others, offer timely praise, and essentially be a fence-sitter. As they chatted, the conversation shifted to domestic matters. Iwasaki Taro laughed. "Something interesting happened domestically recently. A person named Dio killed Yasuda Masao of the Republic Party, and to this day, the Metropolitan Police Department's special task force still hasn't found him." "I've heard about that. It's supposedly connected to the KGB." "No, according to my information, there's no such operative in the KGB at all." "Huh? So the CIA and the task force are just chasing shadows? They seemed pretty serious about it." "Haha, let them waste their time searching." For the members of the Silver Hexagram, as long as their status and wealth were secure, they could be legal citizens of any country. Consequently, they cared little for their own nationalities. Even if their own country was at war, these capitalists wouldn't hesitate to do business with the enemy, savoring the profits reaped from conflict. Phoenix Academy Maggie took a bite of her steak, her face revealing a bright smile, but she had no interest in joining the conversation. She even found this conversation less engaging than discussing comics with Yoshikawa Sayuri and Nomura True Wave. "If you ask me, those people are just incompetent." The speaker, a man over twenty with a handsome face, wore a disdainful expression. "Catching Dio is simple. The guy fancies himself a Messenger of Justice, so he's bound to confront evil. The Metropolitan Police Department could fabricate a heinous criminal. Then, they let the criminal ostensibly escape legal justice and set up an ambush nearby. Dio, priding himself on being a Messenger of Justice, would naturally come to kill the criminal, falling right into the trap. If he doesn't, it just proves he's a hypocrite." Iwasaki Taro laughed. "Should we make a bet on whether or not he'll show up?" Phoenix Academy Maggie's heart gave a lurch. "There's no real value in betting on something like that, is there?" "On the contrary, it's very interesting," Mitsui Takeo, who had casually made the initial suggestion about Dio, suddenly grew animated. "It's a perfect opportunity to test our military combat robots. Let's arrange a massacre, publicize it, and see if Dio shows up!"