Chapter 832: Crossing the Storm (Part 3)
Bruges, Belgium.
Because this once world-class trade center did not join the European Barrier System immediately, it was hit by a wave of refugees when sea levels rose. It once became a gathering place for refugees who could not squeeze into the European Barrier and could not find other places to go. land.
Although Bruges was once turned into ruins and a city occupied by refugees due to various problems, everything is moving in a good direction after the European Community finalized the inclusion of this place into the European barrier system:
Regardless, the city still has one of the most important deep-water ports in Europe, maintains a large number of motorways and railways, and was a very important port until the UK agreed to join the European Community.
So this city is not so rigid:
From noble company executives and EC politicians to semi-tramps working in precarious jobs, this city has them all. Unlike Folkestone, there are only simple roles such as government officials, workers and company managers.
The port is operated by Atlantic Overlord. The automated gantry cranes and loading and unloading robots are in order. Workers are crowded in the factory to manufacture parts, maintain robots, or control exoskeletons and robots remotely or directly on the spot.
Just a month ago, because of the approaching typhoon, ADL increased its working hours, which to some extent violated European Community regulations on the reasonable use of neural links to control industrial robots and exoskeletons.
A worker suddenly went crazy while moving a container. He used the engineering mecha he was controlling to push the stacked containers, and also dropped the cargo, causing a lot of damage——
The European Community has very strict control over force. At that time, the most armed security guards in the port area were only high-pressure water cannons.
Unfortunately, even if the engineering mecha was soaked in water, it would be difficult to disconnect immediately. Just like that, the mecha was killing everyone in the port area.
More than 14 workers died on the spot, and some died in the hospital or at home without receiving treatment.
This incident made a big fuss. In fact, the company's security guards were the ones who died the most. But unfortunately, company dogs are not surprised by this kind of thing. It is their duty to work for the company. Either the company will fire them or the company will kill them.
But not the workers!
The workers' contracts are all short-term contracts. Not only are they not well-paid, but everything needed for the job, such as prosthetic implants, maintenance fees, and skills training, etc., are all paid for at their own expense. If there are not enough orders, the company may lay them off at any time, leaving workers with little work. No reaction time
It can be said that most workers live in fear of not having stable jobs——
In fact, those political officials in the European Community who have a little money are still living in fear that they may lose their lives at any time because of their work.
As for resisting and silently enduring, at least they can still live in fear. If they want to have a temper, they can't live. Sooner or later they will starve to death.
What is more likely is that when the European Community discovers that they have been unemployed for a long time, they will control them or even throw up European barriers——
The European Community doesn't support idle people. If you don't want to work, just get out. There are plenty of people outside waiting to come in.
But today is different:
They had been submissive before, but now something unheard of was happening in Folkestone.
A worker named Elliot and his co-workers sanctioned the company and received compensation!
The company’s public relations department even apologized!
What do workers want?
Sometimes we can say what people want: what people want is a shelter from the wind and rain, what they want is to have bread in their hands, and finally, to be treated as a human being.
The company lets them live in fear that they may lose their rental house at any time, uses bread to force them to struggle silently in the mud, and gives up the respect they deserve as human beings.
And Elliot, he makes people stand up!
The weather in Bruges is very bad. It has been covered with dark clouds recently, and occasionally the sun breaks through the dark clouds only for a moment.
Several workers clutched the banner tightly and walked on the familiar streets, their heads almost blank:
They want to be here, like Elliott, to publicize the cyberpsychosis incident covered up by the ADL and seek an explanation for the workers who died tragically and those who are being oppressed.
It's just that they have to wait for Elliot to get here and get permission before they can start.
People have noticed something is wrong with these workers. Some people left after looking at them, while others gathered around with interesting expressions.
Some people are already scared: "Why hasn't Elliot come yet? I didn't see him speaking at the forum. Isn't he just talking about playing tricks on us?"
"Yeah. If he doesn't come, wouldn't we look like idiots standing here?"
"Why don't you go home and come back another day."
The sound of flinching was heard inside, but a different voice came from across the street:
"You want to do something big, right?" A long-haired man wearing designer clothes shouted to them from the guardrail, "Then do it! What are you waiting for?
Don’t you dare? Look at the one next to me. The one next to me is the ADL security guard. The one further away——
I don’t need to say that, right? Patrolman from the Bruges police station!
They are all looking at you! Are you scared? What a bunch of fucking cowards! If you're a man, do it! "
This man's tone was provocative, and he seemed to be just watching the fun without taking it too seriously.
The workers followed his instructions and looked around, and indeed saw some suspicious people and police officers who were obviously monitoring them.
But more importantly, the workers recognized the little beast opposite:
"Fuck that. That's a fucking corporate dog of ADL!"
"I remember that he came to threaten me, saying that if the incident in the factory area was revealed, we would stop doing it, and my wife and children would be sold to the red light district by him."
"He even touched my daughter!"
The leading worker grabbed the banner and suddenly felt something was wrong——
Just now, there were actually voices inside that wanted to retreat, and he began to think about it: after all, without a permit for the parade, they were gathering illegally.
Unlawful assembly is a second or even third-degree felony. Although it is important to fight, who will fight if there is no hope?
As the purple-haired ADL executive started shouting, they were really being held here.
Passers-by started taking photos, and they would be on all the major internet panels tomorrow; both the company and the police knew what they were planning to do, would they let them go when they returned?
More importantly, that stupid purple-haired guy also threatened him!
The crowd gathered around them. They had imagined such a scene, but what they imagined was that they were exposing the company's scandals, and then ADL was slapped hard by the European Community!
Not like now, they seem to be subdued by the European Community!
If a company is slapped by the EC, it may mean it loses money. If they are caught by the EC, they have to get out!
"Let's go! You coward!" "If you don't open that banner today, you'll be my grandson!" "Haha! I thought you guys were in love! But it turns out you're still a bunch of bastards."
"When you are sent away, I will sell all your wives and children to the red light district!"
"If you want to do this, I can introduce it to you!"
Countless pairs of eyes stared at them, and the enemy's arrogant voice stabbed their hearts like needles. Who could bear it?
Who can swallow this breath?
"Fuck you bastard!" A worker couldn't help but picked up the steel pipe behind him and threw it at the purple-haired guy!
Looking at the steel pipe, the purple-haired executive was not angry but happy:
Done!
With a bang, the steel pipe was accurately caught by the security guard beside him. He changed his mocking tone:
"Help the police catch these thugs!"
The leading worker looked pale, and everyone looked at the man who threw the steel pipe.
He was equally at a loss!
"Fuck. Run!"
