Players Invade Cyberpunk

"This involves another matter—why they have become unstable proletarians."

"A long time ago, companies were pressured by governments, societies, and unions to provide workers with sufficient labor security, maintain the social employment rate at a safe level, and comply with labor laws, at least on the surface."

David nodded thoughtfully, and Lin Miao continued:

"But all of this collapsed during the financial storm of the last century. Those multinational corporations waged a war against governments, and no government in any country could restrain their expansion. Everything that obstructs corporate capital expansion was eradicated during this process. They boast of so-called ’free competition, liberalism,’ with the core argument being—society should do everything possible to maximize free competition, and any obstacles unfavorable to market mechanisms must be removed."

Maximized free competition means that no one needs to be responsible for anything.

"Labor institutions, social security policies, unemployment benefits, professional communities...everything standing in their way was crushed, and due to intelligent industrialization and the maturity of prosthetics, everyone except for those at the top with technical skills became replaceable components at any time."

David murmured, "Doesn’t that mean...we...those Huang Ban’s employees..."

"Yes, you can be replaced at any time. Do you know how many ordinary employees those big companies lost last year? Just in Night City, it was over three figures. Killed by mercenaries, died from overwork, and secretly executed by corporate security agencies are countless. But none of these cause even a slight loss to the company. So how can these mercenaries feel at ease working as employees for those big companies? So why do you think Huang Ban hires so many new employees every year?"

There is actually something more brutal that Lin Miao didn’t say. These mercenaries’ so-called resistance against companies and opposition to enterprises are, in his eyes, nothing but illusions.

Even those seemingly glamorous, influential corporate middle managers don’t have stable lives. If you have the right channels, spending a few thousands could end their lives.

Because the only thing that can counter a collective is another collective. However, just like Qiwei, that female hacker believes in the phrase "Don’t trust anyone but yourself."

This is also one of the foundational structures of Night City and this world, because trust only exists in long-term communities with stable structures. In an ever-unsafe environment like Night City, any cooperation awareness or moral consensus cannot be sustained long-term.