Chapter 174

Chapter 174

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 174: Zelnya’s Melancholy (3).

Strontium Industry.

A leading conglomerate established by the Stranov family, Strontium Industry stands as one of the pillars of the Raniakae Federation’s economy, with a reputation that rivals the prestigious Adelwein Corporation.

The head of the company was an acquaintance of mine – though not directly, but rather through mutual connections.

“Thank you for taking the time.”

I shook hands with the middle-aged man before me while bowing my head respectfully.

The man was Bell Stranov, Professor Kallis Stranov’s father. He greeted me with a warm, friendly smile.

“It’s good to see you again. The first time was at the wedding, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I must thank you – my daughter’s been noticeably happier lately. She wasn’t like that before.”

“You’re too kind.”

Despite being the head of a conglomerate, Bell Stranov was, at heart, still a father. His demeanor was that of a typical doting parent. Soon, his attention shifted to Ceti.

“Since you’ve brought your sibling along, I assume this is about financial matters.”

“I’m simply grateful for any chance to spend time with my sibling.”

“Nonsense! I anticipated this meeting and cleared my entire afternoon schedule. Shall we?”

We proceeded into the main hall of the Southern Strontium branch. Upon entering the reception room, I was struck by its opulent interior – a marked contrast to the Reinhardt family’s minimalist aesthetic.

“You want to start a medical transport company?”

The head of the Stranov family leaned forward with interest as he reviewed the contract Ceti had presented.

“The company name is ‘MAIDoc.’ I assume it represents the integration of AI with healthcare?”

Ceti nodded solemnly, with a serious expression. Chief Stranov continued his assessment.

“Such companies are quite common. Both medicine and AI have proven to be resilient fields, persisting through the years like other essential industries such as steel manufacturing or textile production. They’re fundamental to society.”

“So you’re saying it’s a conventional business model.”

“You grasp the concept well. Now, let me ask you from a businessman’s perspective, Miss Ceti von Reinhardt: what distinguishes your company from its competitors?”

“We have a unique approach.”

“Please elaborate.”

“We harness constellations for medical transport.”

Chief Stranov’s eyebrows arched with interest.

“Constellations, you say? How exactly?”

“We’ll utilize the Star-line system.”

I couldn’t help but be surprised. The innovative nature of her proposal was remarkable.

“My constellation represents the ‘God of Wealth and Investment,’ which connects to economic matters by mapping the stars along the celestial sphere. We can establish an extensive transportation network linking the South and East.”

While Star-line was a known structural concept, nobody had previously considered using it as an economic pathway, let alone as a delivery service infrastructure.

Watching her present her ideas, I felt a surge of pride. She truly was my sister.

“The transportation system using constellations doesn’t rely on electricity or light. Instead, it stores information in the form of ether, making it more efficient and cost-effective. This will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the medical industry.”

“…Did you develop this concept on your own?”

“Yes.”

Bell let out a hollow laugh.

“As expected, my judgment was correct!”

He murmured, setting down the proposal.

“Constellations and Outer Gods tend to gravitate toward those who share their values. You’ve formed an ideal contract with a Constellation.”

In this era, even having connections to Constellations serves as a valuable credential.

Coming from a corporate chairman, such acknowledgment was tantamount to acceptance.

Sensing the momentum, Ceti pressed forward with her decisive point.

“While we’re initially focusing on medical services, we plan to expand into other sectors once we secure sufficient investment capital. Our ultimate goal is to create an integrated cloud service utilizing Constellations.”

My sister’s words captured my attention. I imagined the possibilities: using Constellations to instantly transport and assemble particle accelerator components, reducing years of construction time to mere days.

This could revolutionize Graviton Bomb production.

“Oh ho.”

If even I could see the potential, surely a corporate chairman would recognize the financial opportunities.

Ceti’s Constellation was known for bridging the Southern and Eastern Constellations. But what if Constellation-connected consumers accessed the MAIDoc network she created? The distribution network could potentially span the galaxy—perhaps even the entire universe.

If successful, it would surpass even my research achievements.

“The Reinhardt family’s reputation in medicine is well-established. Your brand value increases the likelihood of success… however, expansion into other fields requires serious consideration.”

“I understand. We’ll need other companies’ ‘consent.’”

“Consent? Did you say consent?”

Chairman Stranov burst into hearty laughter.

“You believe consent is necessary?”

“With your agreement, Chairman, I believe we can maintain a ‘mutually beneficial relationship’ going forward.”

“Good, very good!”

He exclaimed, rising from his seat.

“I should demonstrate my agreement with some investment capital!”

Strontium held considerable influence in the transportation sector. Only with backing from such a major corporation could a startup confidently move forward. The corporate world was far more cutthroat than most realized.

Thanks to Stranov’s hospitality, we enjoyed an extraordinarily luxurious dinner. Now we were resting in the waiting room when suddenly:

“Aidel von Reinhardt, the chairman, requests your presence alone.”

What?

Ceti and I exchanged concerned glances.

“Go ahead.”

Whatever this was about, it was clearly confidential.

I steeled myself mentally before following the android guide to the chairman’s office, where I found Chief Stranov waiting. His demeanor was markedly different from his earlier friendliness. His white-streaked hair gave him the appearance of a battle-hardened veteran.

“I apologize for the sudden private summons. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

The atmosphere was decidedly serious.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

I sat up straight, prepared to listen carefully. Chairman Stranov sat opposite me, leaning forward with clasped hands. Just then, an android with rabbit ears approached, serving biscuits and lemon balm tea.

Wait… rabbit ears?

“Oh, pay it no mind.”

“Chairman…”

“Just ignore it.”

“It’s quite alright. I understand completely.”

“Understand what? What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I truly do understand. My personal android wears a maid headband.”

“……”

We sat in awkward silence for a moment.

“…May I ask why you called me here?”

“Hmm.”

The chairman straightened up and took a biscuit, speaking between bites.

“I heard from Kallis.”

“…What exactly did you hear, sir?”

“That you and my son-in-law will soon be conducting graviton research together. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

My current research follows two distinct paths.

The first is the ‘Crystalline Trap’ research, aimed at blocking the Darwin system.

The second is the ‘Graviton Bomb’ research, designed to prevent universal destruction by any type of Outer God.

However, I haven’t discussed the Graviton Bomb concept with any professors yet since gravitons remain undiscovered.

“There’s a paradigm in science. It takes time for scientific facts to evolve into engineering applications. Some scientific discoveries might not find practical use for a century. In contrast, others can be transformed into technology within a year. What’s your take on this?”

“I agree completely.”

“Then, speaking confidentially…”

He took a sip of his nightcap before continuing.

“…I sense profit potential in that graviton research.”

His statement caught me off guard. Had he figured it out?

“Most businessmen overlook something crucial – they mistakenly believe theoretical science isn’t profitable. But I’m different. My daughter is a physicist, and I’ve witnessed countless ‘useless’ theories evolve into engineering breakthroughs.”

There was no doubt now. He definitely knew.

“All your previous research has focused on countering the Outer Gods. The pattern is clear. What’s your true goal? Perhaps developing technology to expel all Outer Gods from our universe?”

“Chairman…”

“I won’t pry too deeply. Just answer one question.”

Stranov quietly moved to sit beside me, leaning in close. In a whisper only I could hear, he asked:

“Is the discovery of gravitons connected to capturing and killing Outer Gods?”

I felt chills run down my spine.

This non-expert, this group chairman, had conceived an idea that hadn’t occurred to any physicist or engineer in the world.

No, perhaps his unique perspective, different from traditional scholars, allows him to think this way. Similar to how Ceti approached Star-line’s operations from an economic standpoint. It reminds me again of the importance of interdisciplinary research.

“… That’s correct.”

“As expected!”

He started clapping.

“My intuition never fails!”

I was impressed, too. This is exactly the level of insight that you’d expect from someone who runs a company that manipulates the universe like dough.

Stranov’s next words presented an appealing proposition:

“My daughter Kallis is conducting research with support from our group and the government. If you would collaborate with her and my son-in-law, I promise maximum support through her.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Though I must admit, it’s somewhat embarrassing. If this succeeds, it might appear as though I’m simply piggybacking on your research.”

This changes everything. The timeline of 8-10 years could be drastically reduced with support from the Chairman of Stronium. After all, who would refuse funding from an entity comparable to Google or Amazon? More research funding is always beneficial.

“Of course, we have our constraints. We can’t invest all the company’s capital into this. However, as long as it doesn’t impact headquarters’ finances, we can accommodate your needs. But in return…”

“Yes, I will co-author all papers with Professor Kallis.”

I responded decisively.

The chairman appeared surprised.

“Really?”

“It’s the least I could do. I’m sure Professor Kallis would be pleased as well.”

I understood the dynamics at play. Between the one providing funds and the one receiving them, the power balance is clear. When in a subordinate position, if the superior shows consideration, the best courtesy is to respond favorably. It’s also the key to achieving your goals.

Currently, the graviton research involves only Professor Feynman, not Kallis, as it predated their marriage. Including Professor Kallis would allow her to share in the paper’s prestige – for scientists, prestige equals currency.

“Smart young man.”

His expression brightened. Just as expected.

The chairman personally poured my tea despite my attempts to stop him.

“I called you here alone for a simple reason – this matter must remain between us.”

“To prevent information leaks?”

“The world is full of opportunists. Like fine wine, some things are best kept hidden to preserve their value. Remember, many in this universe seek to profit from others’ work.”

I nodded. I’d secured a reliable patron, and perhaps I could begin serious research even before Ceti’s entrepreneurial success.

Seizing the moment, I carefully broached another topic with the major shareholder:

“I’m currently working on another research project…”