CHAPTER 320: CHAPTER 102: NEW AMERICA, ON BOARD!_3

This phrase has moved from the Sixth Street Gang’s exoskeleton to the desk of President Rosalind Miles as a slogan.

Not to mention the capabilities demonstrated, and the intentional or unintentional goodwill shown towards military technology, making it completely worthwhile for Military Science to spend money to win over.

Just like the first chairman of Military Science, Donald Rendi, chose to cooperate with a small company, Amatek Lucesi.

Of course, if during this cooperation you show resistance or hostility, the only thing waiting for you in the end is death.

"A new type of power armor won’t change the status quo, Minister Freddy."

Lin Miao twirled his fingers on the table.

"With such a vast scope of military technology, could it possibly miss this little bit of new equipment? Whether I give you something or not, you’ve already started related research, haven’t you?"

"In a maximum of six months, you’ll have some staged results."

"What you are in need of now is not this."

Freddy’s interest was piqued by Lin Miao. Although he knew doing so would give up the initiative, he still expressed willingness to give the other party a chance to perform.

After all, this person had already attracted the attention of higher-ups, and many were listening in on their conversation at the moment.

"But what I can see from you now is only this, or do you have something more valuable in your hands?"

"Minister Freddy, what do you think is the most valuable thing?"

"Guns? Tanks? Power armor? Rogue AI? Chun Er? Oil?"

Freddy said nothing and just silently looked at Lin Miao, waiting for him to answer his own question.

"One of the two poles of the past world, the biggest winner of World War II — the United States lost the Cold War, financial collapse, natural disasters, national chaos and division, massive industrial zones with independent Free States and Texas, once the most developed economic zone California even being touched by a small Neon..."

"If I were Franklin D. Roosevelt, seeing this scene, I’d probably jump out of the wheelchair and start dancing disco in anger."

The sigh in Lin Miao’s tone made Freddy somewhat speechless. If he were Roosevelt, he’d first use a walking stick to knock this guy’s head.

"Do you know what I see in Military Science and New America?"

"I see your former biggest enemy — the Soviet Union."

"Worship military industry, develop heavy industry, advocate military armament, love exporting arms and war, but forget the most important thing — people need to eat and drink."

Lin Miao took out a report of his own investigation.

"Over half of Night City’s food industry is occupied by Mexico’s Full Foods Corporation, with thirty-five percent in the hands of Texas Republic’s Continental Foods Corporation, and the rest by some small enterprises."

"And even in those small companies, I can hardly see any names belonging to New America."

"I also checked the food industries registered under New America and found that they were pathetically few, with only a handful valued at over a hundred million euros. Let alone stepping outside New America, they can’t even hold their domestic market."

Freddy slightly frowned. He was the Minister of Military Technology, not a government employee, so why should he care about these light industries and livelihood matters?

Military Technology is a military enterprise, and what they need to do is find a way to have more of the market’s money flowing into their own hands.

As for what people below eat, drink, and wear, it’s not something they’d consider.

With corporations hijacking the government, just from military industrial orders alone, New America has sixty percent going entirely to Military Science, building new arms factories every year, leaving almost zero funds for light industry, let alone development. It’s a miracle they haven’t disappeared due to their tenacity.

This world’s New America has no ability to withstand the dumping of light industries.

"If I’m not mistaken, military technology must have some troubles in recent years, the unification war was hindered, the military pushed back to Night City by Huang Ban’s aircraft carriers, Colonel Kurt Hansen defecting, Europe meddling, and the Texas Republic among many Free States adding difficulties for New America. No one wants to see the United States from a hundred years ago controlling half the globe return."

"Not to mention a series of rising stars like the ever-growing Zeta Technology and the long-traveling Kangtao. In recent years, only New America and military technology have remained stagnant, the road long and arduous..."

Lin Miao took a bottle of mineral water out of his pocket and placed it on the table. The clear, transparent water was eye-catching.

"So if the arms development is hindered, why not try another path?"

Freddy squinted at the bottle of water, wanting to say something but clearly paused, then spoke somewhat disdainfully.

"You want military technology to compete with those food companies, act as your vanguard? Do you think the strategy department of Military Science hasn’t considered related industries?"

As he spoke, he gestured for someone to take the mineral water on the table away for testing.

"The land deteriorates year after year, making the usable farming area smaller, and the cost of cultivation higher and higher, even Peizhuo Petrochemical has to seek Soviet Union to purchase Kazakhstan’s land."

"Every water source that meets purification standards is under the control of other enterprises, no water means no grain, we simply have no entry point."

And the most important point.

The European Community and Huang Ban, these giant corporations, limit Military Science, and won’t loosen restraint just because they don’t develop military industry, not even if they engage in light industries.

On the contrary, if Military Science really steps into this field, they would immediately ally with Full Foods Corporation and Continental Foods Corporation to bleed Military Science through competition until they can’t take it and declare war again.

"No, no, no."

Lin Miao shook his head repeatedly, grabbing Freddy’s hand and speaking with deep conviction.

"How can I let you get involved in this, of course, it’s up to me. Though I was born in Night City, my heart belongs to the New United States, long displeased with those corporations like Huang Ban and the European Community."

"There is only one sun in my heart!"

"And that is the New America!"

New America!

Banzai!