Ch.151Hydra Corporation General Meeting (1)

Despite boldly announcing the start of the “Plan to Divide the World,” I couldn’t immediately set it in motion.

First, the plan could only begin after the Ten Towers’ expedition force had departed. If I needlessly provoked the Ten Towers while they were already on edge, an early all-out war would bury my future plans right away.

Temporarily shifting my focus from the world division plan to examine what needed immediate attention, I found nothing that specifically required my personal involvement. This feeling of déjà vu was somewhat familiar.

I decided to inspect the internal workings of Hydra Company after quite some time. Following Karisia’s suggestion, I would approach the directors with “prepare to fight the White Light because we’re going to possess it” rather than “prepare to fight the White Light because we’re going to destroy it.” Even so, there were several facts I needed to explain to them.

Specifically, the bad blood between Karisia and Arguilion. Thinking about it, everything started when I got caught up in their conflict, and now it had come to this.

‘For now, the directors don’t know that Arguilion is hostile toward us.’

In truth, Arguilion didn’t know that Hydra Company was hostile toward them either. At least not until Nastion returned to them with my name.

Fortunately, Arguilion currently lacked the resources for external activities, as they needed to prepare for the Ten Towers’ wrath.

‘I should meet with each director individually while informing them about the general assembly meeting.’

***

“Old man Bertrand is sleeping.”

Gerüones emerged yawning and answered nonchalantly.

“Oh? Does Director Bertrand have a task he’s personally handling?”

“…You don’t know about it either? All I know is that the old man is pouring his heart and soul into what he calls ‘a task directly assigned by the president.’ Even Arabelle has been terribly busy with it.”

I had a feeling I knew what task Karisia had personally assigned. Probably some design related to mana bombs. Not wanting to wake someone who was sleeping, I simply left the meeting schedule and departed.

It was similar when I went to meet Kriton. During a break at the demolition site, he was napping with a towel rolled up as a makeshift pillow—the kind of scene that could only come from someone well-adapted to fieldwork.

‘But does Kriton even sweat…?’

His body had been modified to such extremes that he shouldn’t need a towel unless it was for something significant. Then again, dust was inevitable at demolition sites, even if not sweat.

After distributing coffee and bread to the physically-enhanced mages under Kriton’s command, I simply asked them to tell him about the next meeting when he woke up.

“By the way, who should I say came by?”

“Just tell him that a grinning fellow from headquarters stopped by. He’ll know who you mean. I’m the one who handles these errands, passing messages between directors.”

Noiro, Divius, and Mekonion hadn’t returned yet from their divine investigation duties. It was quite surprising that Mekonion was engaged in activities outside Etna City.

I had expected him to stay confined to his drug den, but perhaps he’d experienced some change of heart?

I had already informed Kaikel about the meeting when he came to headquarters to submit a report, so the only person left to visit was Taros, the half-human, half-dragon mutant.

Taros, with his gleaming bronze scales, looked at me with a curious gaze.

“You came… in person…”

“Haha. I’ve been out and about lately, so I haven’t had much chance to meet with the directors. I wanted to inform everyone about the general assembly while meeting each of you personally.”

“The task… that Director Bertrand requested. It’s progressing well.”

Bertrand. That dwarf elder’s name came up again. Whatever “task” Karisia had requested seemed quite substantial.

…Surely they weren’t already preparing to turn the artificial Ten Realms into a bomb. Taros was the representative of mutants exposed to mana waste.

In other words, he was one of the people who knew the most about the underground of Etna City where mana conduits flowed. Was he working on something related to the mana conduits connected to the artificial Ten Realms installed on Mount Etna?

Making a mental note to ask Karisia about this later, I changed the subject. I hadn’t been able to ask the other directors due to timing issues, but since I was already meeting with Taros, I might as well ask what he thought about the conflict with the Ten Towers.

“That’s good to hear. Director Taros, how would you assess Hydra Company’s standing?”

“You’re not… expecting me to say… I don’t know.”

Taros seemed deep in thought. I had originally assumed he was similar to Kriton—cunning in battle but lacking in profound wisdom.

It was my misjudgment, based solely on his appearance since he didn’t have a major role in the original work.

“It’s difficult… to answer precisely. I only know that Hydra Company has conceived a bold plan to deceive the Ten Towers, and has the ability to execute it.”

Despite claiming uncertainty, his answer struck at the core. Hydra Company was already deceiving the Ten Towers.

“Then, if things escalate beyond deception to actual conflict with the Ten Towers… does our company have the resources to carry out such a plan?”

Taros’s eyes trembled at my words.

“This upcoming… meeting…?”

“It’s about a similar topic. I wanted to gather the honest opinions of the other directors before the meeting to relay them to the president.”

I added various reassurances. After all, what employee in the world would speak freely if told their words would be directly reported to the boss?

“Of course, everything will be anonymous. You can speak freely.”

People only found the courage to give honest opinions when assured of anonymity.

“When facing a major undertaking, ignoring internal anxieties can lead to greater troubles later, so the president wants to hear everyone’s opinions first. We already have examples of major corporations that suffered greatly by overlooking various concerns.”

“You mean… the Ten Towers…”

“Yes, they let Arguilion fester unchecked until the situation reached this point.”

After deep contemplation, Taros shook his head. He couldn’t organize his thoughts right now but promised to prepare an answer before the meeting—a diligent follow-up.

This response alone was answer enough, so I didn’t press Taros further.

‘The directors don’t dismiss the possibility of Hydra Company fighting the Ten Towers.’

Perhaps it was because from the beginning, we had openly stated our intention to create “artificial Ten Realms”—essentially challenging the Ten Towers system head-on. Taros’s reaction to the talk of war with the Ten Towers was closer to resignation—”it was inevitable”—rather than disbelief.

And simultaneously:

‘While he seems to think our chances are slim, he doesn’t believe victory is completely impossible.’

His expression that it was “difficult to organize his thoughts” was evidence of this. If he had seen no possibility of winning, he would have declared it madness outright.

The directors seemed to have some confidence in Hydra Company’s military strength. Was it because of the artificial Ten Realms?

Or perhaps due to the Ten Towers’ recently diminished standing. Maybe it had become known in certain circles that the great explosion in Algoth City was actually a mana bomb prepared by Karisia.

Whatever the reason, morale was much higher than I had anticipated. When I reveal parts of my plan using the succession battle and the world division strategy, they’ll likely participate more actively in the fight. This alone made today’s running around worthwhile.

***

Taros’s hands trembled. For the first time, he truly experienced the fear of Ortes.

The man who had suddenly appeared before him had precisely pointed out the phrase “internal anxieties.”

Then he casually brought up Arguilion, mentioning how the Ten Towers were now in dire straits because of Arguilion, which had once been part of them.

Taros recalled the message he had received recently.

Among all mana mutations, the most complex was mutation caused by extra-dimensional infiltration. And Arguilion had developed the ability to freely induce and release such extra-dimensional infiltration.

The message had been full of implications that Arguilion might be able to cure his and his family’s mutations.

It was an invitation to betrayal.

He had definitely deleted the message without telling anyone about it.

How on earth…

A question that would never be answered continued to haunt Taros.

***

While organizing Hydra Company documents, Arabelle approached me with an expression worn by fatigue.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

“You informed the other directors about the meeting schedule and asked them to keep their time open. Why not me?”

“Ah.”

After a moment’s consideration, I decided to tell her the truth.

“Director Arabelle, where were you until just now?”

“In the Strategic Planning Room in the basement of this building.”

“From what I could see, you’ve been eating and sleeping there for days… I assumed you’d be staying at headquarters until the day of the meeting, so I didn’t mention it separately.”

Arabelle let out a silent scream.