hsntnovel Chapter 24: The First Signs of Change
Chapter 24: The First Signs of Change
Many people know what March is.
On March 7, just as everyone was going about their work and life as usual, an announcement spread across the country in an instant, as if by force majeure: a series of laws, regulations and departments related to mecha pilots were officially announced!
If the laws and regulations were simply summarized, they would consist of only five sentences and five ways to die.
The first sentence: Using mechs to commit crimes is a criminal offense punishable by death.
The second sentence states: Illegally selling finished mecha products or parts is a criminal offense, and the maximum penalty is death.
The third sentence: Illegally acquiring mechs is also a criminal case, and the maximum penalty is still death.
Fourth sentence: Unauthorized damage to or modification of mecha programs is still a criminal case, and the maximum penalty is still death.
Fifth sentence: When law enforcement agencies stop mechs from committing illegal acts, they may kill the pilots on the spot to prevent the mechs from doing so.
In terms of departments, there are two main departments: the Civilian Mech and Pilot Management Department and the National Police Mech Patrol Department.
The Civilian Mech and Pilot Management Department has multiple subordinate agencies at the provincial (autonomous region, municipality) and municipal (autonomous prefecture, district) levels.
An organization specifically responsible for pilot training and assessment: Civil Pilot Training and Assessment Institution.
The Pilot Mission Agency is an organization specifically responsible for coordinating the work of pilots and mechs.
An organization specifically responsible for the rental, sale, and maintenance of mechs: the Mech Management Organization.
The Pilot Service Center is an organization that specializes in handling disputes between pilots and companies.
There is also a special agency to oversee these organizations: the Mech and Pilot Inspection Agency.
The National Police Mech Patrol Department has no subordinate agencies, only numerous patrol teams consisting of two 10-person combat squads, one 10-person logistics support squad, and five police mechs.
They also do not have a fixed office location: the police mech patrol team operates in the form of a convoy, following civilian mechs for mobile office work.
To put it simply, wherever civilian mechs are working, there are police mech patrol teams on standby 24 hours a day to ensure that mech crimes can be stopped at the first opportunity.
Such information instantly ignited public opinion, leaving the public more bewildered than surprised.
There was only one surprising thing: we never imagined that our technology had developed to the point where we could manufacture mechs.
But there was more than one confusing thing: what kind of mech?
How come there are mechs all of a sudden?
Which team developed the mech?
How are pilots tested?
Suddenly, all sorts of questions flooded the internet, practically forcing the gossip into the stomachs of the gossip-loving public.
With such high popularity, the uncrowned kings naturally wouldn't let it pass, and they quickly surrounded people to ask questions.
Unfortunately, those who don't know dare not speak carelessly, those who do know won't speak, and those who are unclear about the matter just spout nonsense, offering no real information whatsoever, leaving those uncrowned kings anxious and helpless.
As a result, some conspiracy theories quietly emerged.
However, these conspiracy theories have no influence on public opinion.
On March 10, the relevant laws, regulations and departments passed the resolution unanimously, and the legislation was officially implemented on that day.
However, there is still no official news regarding the question that the public is most concerned about.
Where are the actual mechas?
Since no real mechs have been seen, conspiracy theories have gradually spread.
However, those conspiracy theories have not yet had any impact on public opinion.
Because relevant agencies in various regions have successively determined their office addresses, and some advance staff have begun to take their positions.
This is also because armed police forces in various regions are actively selecting police mech patrol teams.
Furthermore, some factories that are suspected to be related to mecha have also started to expand their recruitment, and the salaries they offer are not low.
Furthermore, some places are rapidly constructing massive industrial zones with unknown purposes.
Because of these actions, some jobs in society have begun to undergo subtle changes without the public's awareness: the working class in the tertiary sector has gradually stopped growing, while the working class in the secondary sector has begun to gradually increase.
Faced with these changes, some foreign media outlets, often referred to as "uncrowned kings," could no longer remain silent and demanded official explanations.
At the same time, various countries also secretly met with their ambassadors to inquire about the situation.
In addition, the fighting in some areas has slowed down considerably as a result.
However, regardless of who or what organization it is, or what changes occur in the outside world, the official response is always the same: no comment.
The ambassador's only reply was: I don't know.
Time flies by, and it's already mid-April. The public has not only not seen the actual mecha, but they don't even know what it looks like.
Therefore, under the influence of conspiracy theories, public opinion gradually began to take a turn for the worse.
Some onlookers felt that the authorities wouldn't risk damaging their credibility by spreading such a colossal lie at that time and in that place, especially with some concrete actions.
Some onlookers also believe that the authorities went to such great lengths to tell such a colossal lie, possibly to cover up another earth-shattering event.
Some fools are clamoring about their country being outwardly strong but inwardly weak, or about military threats, etc.
However, regardless of the different opinions, they all boil down to the same question: Where is the actual mecha?
Because of this problem, at some point and from some unknown person, in order to verify the authenticity of the information, many people turned into paparazzi detectives and began to search online for any clues related to mecha.
After achieving nothing, it was only natural that the situation gradually shifted from online to offline, and some people began to act erratically in the face of Iron Fist.
As some dubious images appeared, and no one had actually tasted the power of the Iron Fist, more and more people began to jump around in front of it, while others started to put their faces right in front of the Iron Fist, focusing on showing off.
"Old Li, aren't you going to close the net yet?"
Inside the shipyard, Guo Yi frowned as he looked at the data compiled by Wen Shu and said to Li Mu, "Now more and more idiots are joining in the fun, and some people are becoming increasingly audacious."
If this continues, more and more people will be involved, and the situation will become increasingly complex.
"Phew~"
Li Mu leisurely blew on the tea in his thermos, then took a sip, chewed the tea leaves, and swallowed them. Finally, he replied to Guo Yi with a smile, "Chief Engineer Guo, baiting takes time, and fishing requires patience."
These small fish and shrimp aren't even worth our time to reel in.
"I'm afraid there will be too many fish and the net will break."
"With Wen Shu helping to monitor the network and communications, I'm just worried that there aren't enough fish or that they're not big enough."
Li Mu shook his head slightly and joked with Guo Yi, "Or is it that Chief Engineer Guo doesn't have confidence in Wen Shu?"
"Hehe~ Alright, I've sent you the data. Is there anything else?"
That's all for now.
"Remember to let me know when you're done fishing; I want to watch the show."
"it is good."