episode_0097

The Class 1 emergency that erupted at the headquarters of Rossmore Classic Vultures ended a mere 87 seconds after it began.

However, the damage inflicted by that brief commotion caused astronomical losses.

The operations of 7,652 employees stationed at the headquarters were temporarily halted, with 16 security personnel critically injured, 35% of the main building’s upper floors destroyed, and 2.1% data loss due to power anomalies caused by the shockwave, and so on.

Even for a low-tier megacorp, considering the impact on stock prices, nearly a trillion credits would have evaporated.

And if the culprits who caused such a disaster were merely two individuals, let alone dozens of corporate soldiers, everyone who heard it would doubt their ears.

The owner of Rossmore Classic Vultures, who had to bear all this damage, sighed deeply and walked towards the two instigators standing in the middle of the mess.

“Is this where I should express gratitude for you stopping now and not completely demolishing the company?”

“Haha! I’m truly sorry about this!”

At Kathleen’s reprimand, Dustin laughed heartily, as if he’d heard a joke.

“*A sharp intake of breath…* I apologize. This crazy fatty suddenly attacked…”

“No. I know it was John’s self-defense. Besides, no matter how powerful Ayakashi is, it’s impossible to cause such a disturbance at another megacorp and get away without taking any responsibility… We’ll have to charge you.”

Though she said it was fine, it was inevitable for her to make a bitter face in the corridor, which was completely ruined and now connected to the outside, fresh air swirling through.

Not only John, but also the security team who came to guard Kathleen, and even the employees who had been held hostage, exchanged glances and looked away at Kathleen’s expression.

“Our superior said to propose this if we caused trouble.”

Kathleen was astounded by the naturally presented compensation package, as if they had already anticipated causing trouble.

It meant they had come with the intention of causing trouble in the first place.

What Ayakashi proposed was 1% of Ayakashi’s total shares, support for the headquarters’ reconstruction, and several friendly agreements.

The financial support was about double the estimated damage, but the content of the agreements was not much different from Ayakashi Corporation forming an alliance with Rossmore Classic Vultures.

If they announced a statement of going hand-in-hand with Ayakashi, one of the top-tier megacorps, a reigning champion, the fallen stock prices would not only recover but would soar and continue an upward trend.

For the company, unconditionally accepting without negotiation would be the best choice, but Kathleen was uneasy.

Why was Ayakashi being so generous?

As someone who had worked under them before, it was incomprehensible that Ayakashi would suffer such a loss for mere damage compensation like this.

Then the reason must lie with him.

“Is something on my face?”

“…No. It’s because you’re handsome.”

John Doe. This man full of secrets, whom Ayakashi Corporation was trying to keep an eye on—what secret about Ayakashi could he possibly hold?

***

Naturally, the series of commotions could be felt not only by employees and executives but also by VIPs residing in the guest rooms of the headquarters building.

And no wonder; how could they not know when the entire building reverberated as if a bomb had exploded?

“What is it this time…!”

Luna, who had been spending thorough time getting to know the twin fox sisters, frowned deeply and left the room, followed by Yuki and Kana, who were dawdling behind, trembling with fear and exhausted.

“Ugh… Did we leave them out too much?”

“Next time, let’s either do it somewhere they can’t find us or invite them…”

Yuki and Kana whispered to each other in voices so low Luna couldn’t hear, discussing a consideration that wouldn’t be appreciated at all.

Luna’s ears tingled a little, but she decided to ignore it since the commotion was coming from where her damned friend had just gone up.

“…I thought I’d be able to relax for a while, but of course not.”

“Kid! Go on ahead! I’m a deactivated android here, you see!”

“Sigh…”

A hood that concealed his physique.

Thick clothing and a mask that showed no skin.

The Reaper of Eclipse Point, who had taken countless promising talents’ and magnates’ lives, gradually losing its color and blending into the surroundings, also joined silently behind them.

Passing by the completely inoperable elevator, how many floors did they climb using the emergency stairs?

What the group of three (+1) saw upon arriving at the scene was the sight of a completely destroyed building, as if it had been bombed.

A whopping three floors’ worth of flooring was completely punctured, so that the ceiling of the 4th floor above was visible if one looked up, and on some floors in between, as if ignoring any room divisions based on usage, walls and pillars had all been shredded, forming vast open spaces.

The collapsed debris had completely decimated the offices, and office workers, at a loss as to what to do, were seen pacing anxiously. There was a large hole in the outer wall, and the sharp wind characteristic of super-tall buildings was circulating the internal and external air more effectively than any ventilation system.

Did humans really cause this catastrophe with their bare hands?

“Would you like a donut?”

“I prefer chocolate chip cookies.”

“What a coincidence! Me too! The chocolate chip cookies from Dailymont Sweets—the quality of their genetically processed cacao is excellent, so the taste is truly luxurious!”

At the center of it all, two people, appearing to be the instigators of the incident, were nonchalantly sharing donuts with each other, with Kathleen behind them, clutching her forehead as if she had a headache.

***

“To an opponent who attacked, claiming they’d take you wherever they pleased, you’re just going to surrender and say ‘I’ll go quietly~’?! Are you crazy?!”

“No, Luna, calm down a bit…”

“If this were a situation to calm down, I wouldn’t be like this!”

Luna, who arrived late at the scene, flew into a rage at the blustering words of the executive named Dustin, who claimed they had a light sparring match to test each other’s skills while Ayakashi came to find and retrieve me.

“Still, if I had brought a weapon, I would’ve won!”

“That’s not what I’m talking about…!”

When I gave a thumbs up, Luna covered her face with her hand as if she had a headache.

Of course, Luna must be talking about surrendering so readily just because a few strangers were taken hostage in a situation where we don’t even properly know their true objective…

Stopping the fight was based on Martina’s advice.

‘Ayakashi Vice Executive Dustin Miller Emilton. The fact that he came personally suggests that Ayakashi’s top brass is aware that Jwabudong is an AYAKASHI recipient.’

‘Then what should we do?’

‘I recommend complying with their guidance.’

At first, I thought Martina was finally plotting to sell me out to that sinister megacorp and obey them, but a quite plausible reason came back.

‘…Since Jwabudong is a symbolically important entity even within Ayakashi, it is unlikely they would dispose of Master, who is receiving assistance from this AI, by at least eliminating or assassinating him. Furthermore, if they had intended to use coercive methods from the outset, it would be more efficient for multiple executives to project full firepower, disregarding employee casualties, rather than negotiating while holding hostages, with ninjas and special forces waiting outside.’

With Martina’s explanation, which perfectly understood the ruthless 22nd-century megacorp way of doing things, the situation became perfectly clear, so I decided not to waste energy unnecessarily.

Even if I resisted, unlike petty companies like Roden Global Enterprise, who cautiously send special forces little by little in lower cities to test the waters, there was no way an individual could stop Ayakashi Corporation, one of the giants openly vying for world domination.

Even among the monstrous group praised as Ayakashi’s might, isn’t that fat old man, the Vice Executive, at least equal to, or superior to, me, who has entered the realm of superhumans with the assistance of Martina and Cerberus?

Even if the Vice Executive and the others were slightly less skilled, each one would probably be a formidable individual, not inferior to Raleigh, Luna, or those Vanishment guys.

To form a unit with such monsters—it was a part where one could indirectly feel the true power of that monstrous corporation.

“Even now…!”

“It’s fine.”

I stopped Luna, who was about to blurt something out.

If I were to follow whatever Luna would say next, as usual, these guys, who are still watching me closely, would immediately resort to force.

When I turned my head, the fatty Dustin lowered his sunglasses and stared directly at Luna and me with his blue eyes.

“I’ll go quietly. I just need to go, right?”

“You make an excellent choice, not swayed by emotion. That’s right! Our superior has only summoned you, John Doe!”

“Hey, Jun.”

As if displeased with the situation, Luna, frowning deeply, called my name directly, something she seemed unlikely to ever fix, but I placed my arm on her shoulder.

“I told you it’s fine. And if I don’t, how many people here would suffer?”

Luna, Yuki, Kana, and even Kathleen, who helped us.

Luna, who glanced back once, bit her lip nervously as if she still had something to say.

“Besides that, if they are the people I like, I have to protect them.”

“Sigh…”

Ultimately, Luna admitted that it couldn’t be helped and sighed, closing her eyes.

“Go on.”

“I’ll be back.”

After exchanging brief goodbyes, we passed each other and exited the scene.

Luna and her party headed towards Kathleen and Dustin, who were discussing the aftermath, while I headed towards the guide in traditional Japanese-style wide clothing, who was standing incongruously among Ayakashi soldiers wearing all sorts of high-end equipment.

“We have come to escort you in the name of Ayakashi, John Doe-nim.”

“My real name is Dojun… Well, call me whatever you like.”

“Yes, Jun-nim. The vehicle is ready, this way please.”

Following the guide who had once again arbitrarily renamed me, as I approached the wide-open wall, an AV painted with Ayakashi’s emblem rose smoothly and waited, revealing its interior.

‘If I sell this, it’ll be expensive, right?’

‘The minimum price for this model is 3.25 million credits.’

That’s ridiculously expensive.