からは黙って座っているように見えるが、旧領域を介して遠方の演算装置を操作したり手元の高性能情報端末を触らずに操作したりといろいろやっていた。
ミハゾノ街遺跡でキャロルから受け取った情報の解析、ヤナギサワやハーマーズ達による捜索から逃れる
「......クソッ! こっちもレートが極端に上がってやがる。こっちは身元照会条件付きでレートが下がってやがる。これだと一見普通のレートのところも絶対手を回してるな。......そこまでするか!?」
旧世界の通貨とも呼ばれるコロンだが、実際の運用にはややこしい部分が多い。一般人が呼ぶコロンや二流以下のハンターが使うコロンは厳密にはコロンではなく、統企連がコロンと同等の価値を保証する地域通貨としてのコロンである場合が多い。
遺跡で多額の残高があるコロンカードを手に入れても、それを発見者が実際に使えるかといえば難しい場合が多い。大抵の場合、旧世界の技術によって所有者と厳密に
そして現代の東部でコロンを実際に使用する機会がある者達は、旧世界の存在相手に実際に問題なく使用できる状態になったコロンを慣例で実コロンと呼んでいた。
実コロンの供給元は5大企業であり、取引のある旧世界の存在を介して様々な手段で生み出している。遺跡などで見付かったコロンに対してある種の資金洗浄を実施し、その所有者を書き換える。所有者死亡の手続きを実施して所有権を移す。企業系管理人格に資源を売り、所有者が統企連となっているコロンを手に入れる。そのような様々な手段で実コロンを手に入れている。
そして実コロンの所有者が旧世界の存在から旧世界製の物品を買うとしても、それを実際に出来る者は限られている。そもそも旧世界の存在との伝が無いからだ。その
そのような者とはオーラムではなくコロンでの取引が必要だ。実コロンならば更に良い。坂下重工を敵に回してオーラム経済圏から追われても活動場所を他の5大企業の経済圏に移せば済むほどの実力者ならば、旧世界との交渉の伝ぐらい持っていても不思議は無いからだ。
だがその貴重な1500万コロンはオリビアへの支払いで使い切ってしまった。これによりシロウは最前線並みのハンターを雇うのが不可能となり、自身の目的を達成する手段を大幅に失ってしまった。裏ルートで実コロンを手に入れようと試行錯誤していたが、どこもシロウの接触を待っているかのような状態だった。それにより、シロウは目的達成の方法を大幅に見直す必要に迫られていた。
「......諦めねえぞ。今が千載一遇の機会だってことに違いはねえんだ。何とかしないと......」
しかったのですか、とは聞けない。カードを渡したことでレイナも自分もカナエも無事に帰還できたのだ。良い悪いの二択であれば良いに決まっている。だがそう簡単に割り切れるものでもなかった。
レイナがシオリの心情を察して笑って告げる。
「オリビア様との交渉の糸口を作っただけでも、私を向こうに戻すには十分な成果なんでしょう? 今はそれで満足しておきましょう。功績が極端に大きすぎても余計ないざこざを生むだけよ。さっきみたいにね」
「それはそうですが......」
「私もシオリもカナエも無事だった。それで良いじゃない」
レイナがそう言うのであればと、シオリは気を切り替えた。
もう普段の様子に戻っているカナエがいつもの調子で軽口を
めようとする。だがその前にレイナが軽い態度で答える。
「あれはあれで良かったのよ。ちょうど良かったわ」
「あそこまで強硬手段でカードを要求してくるとは思ってなかったけど、相応の圧力を掛けてくるとは思ってたのよ」
「つまり、初めからカードを渡すつもりでクロエ様と会ったということですか? しかしではなぜあのような態度を......」
「その辺はオリビア様との絡みよ。簡単に渡してしまったらカードの価値を軽んじていると思われるかもしれないでしょう? 渡すつもりだったけど、ギリギリまで粘るつもりだったの」
にギリギリすぎっす」
「もうほんのちょっと粘ってから降参するつもりだったんだけど、そこでカナエが口を出したお陰で更に粘れたわ。まあ、確かに危なかったわ。でも結果的には本当に瀬戸際まで十分に粘ってカードの価値を示せたから良かったけどね」
シオリが心労を再び表に出す。
に事前に相談して頂きたかったです」
「ごめんなさい。でも同じことはシオリもやってたでしょう? だからシオリもこれからは私にちゃんと前もって説明してね」
に苦笑いを浮かべた。カナエがその様子を見て楽しみながら、まだ残っている疑問点を口にする。
「で、お嬢。何でカードを渡したんすか? 後でクロエ様にごちゃごちゃ言われるとしても、やっぱりあそこで引き返してカードを渡さずにいた方が良いような気がするっすけど」
シオリもその疑問は持っており、
く説明できないんだけど、あのカードは出来る限り早く手放した方が良かった気がしたの。でもほら、オリビア様との絡みで真っ当な理由無しにカードを手放すと、その価値を軽んじることになるでしょう? その辺も踏まえて、ちょうど良かったのよ。で、何でカードを手放したかったかなんだけど......」
そこでレイナが苦笑いにも見える難しい顔を浮かべる。
「こう言っては何だけど、あのカードは、あのアキラですら所持を嫌がった程の物なのよ? 手放した方が良いと思わない?」
息を整えて緊張を和らげ、覚悟を決めてカードを掲げる。オリビアへの通信要求が旧領域接続装置を介して旧リオンズテイル社に届く。するとクロエの拡張された視界の中にオリビアの姿がすぐに現れた。
クロエが深々と頭を下げる。
「リオンズテイル東部三区支店所属のクロエと申します。アリス代表から指示を受けて、オリビア様との交渉を円滑に進めるご案内をさせて頂きたく御連絡致しました。お見知り置きの程をお願い致します」
丁寧な挨拶を済ませて顔を上げたクロエがたじろぐ。オリビアはかなり不快そうな顔を浮かべていた。その絶対に機嫌を損ねてはならない相手の様子に、クロエは自身の言動を素早く再確認した。だが相手を怒らせる要素は見付けられなかった。焦りを抑えながら続ける。
「ご多忙の中にお呼びしてしまったのであれば謝罪致します。機会を改めた方が
予想外の返事にクロエの動揺が増す。
ハンターが遺跡から持ち帰る旧世界の遺物は、旧世界側の視点で見れば基本的に盗品だ。
を合わせた話もあっさり否定する。
「そもそもあのカードの所有者はシオリという者ではありません。本来の持ち主から譲渡された経緯を考慮した上で、基本的には認めていない貸出許可として一時的に黙認しているだけです。又貸しなど論外です。よって
「お、お待ちください! カードの所有者がレイナでありシオリに渡されたのであれば、私が借りても又貸しにはなりません! カードはシオリからではなくレイナから......」
「カードの所有者はそちらに所属のレイナ、シオリ、カナエのいずれでもありません。そちらの所属の者とは無関係の者です」
クロエが緊張で冷静さを欠いた頭で経緯を把握し直そうとする。だがどうしても
「カードの対価は当事者間の同意が取れていると判断しました。そもそも私への接続はカードの本来の持ち主からではありません」
「あのカードは旧領域接続者でなければ使用できないはずです! カードの持ち主が旧領域接続者ではないのなら、誰がカードを使用してオリビア様に
クロエの接続作業を補佐している部下達も同じ映像を見ており騒ぎ始める。場が一気に慌ただしくなる。
「何が起こってる!? 外部からの侵入か!?」
「馬鹿な! 旧領域を介した旧世界のリオンズテイル社への直通回線だぞ!? そんなこと出来る訳が......」
「甘いな。回線が旧領域でも末端装置や拡張現実機器が現代製ならそっちに割り込めるんだよ。セキュリティーはその辺もしっかりしないと駄目だぜ?」
クロエの視界の中でオリビアがシロウに向けて愛想良く挨拶する。
「これはシロウ様。先日は当社をご利用頂き誠にありがとう御座いました。本日は新たなご利用の申し込みで御座いますか?」
シロウが同様にクロエの視界の中で複雑な胸中を
「さ、坂下重工? どういうことなの!?」
クロエは次々に未知の情報を提示されて混乱していた。そのどれもが自身の立場を危うくする内容だった
をしてしまったと悔やんだが、すぐにハーマーズ達に協力して自分を探しているのでないと分かっただけ良しとして気を切り替えると、ごまかしを兼ねて警告する。
「なんだ。末端は知らなかったのか。まあ良い。じゃあそのまま知らずにいろ。だが俺の調査は打ち切れ。それ以上の調査は坂下への敵対行為だ。この件を坂下に問い合わせるのも
の物なの!? レイナ達に協力したってことは、その機密作戦と何か関係があるの!?」
シロウが僅かに迷う。そうだ、と答えて坂下重工の影響力で相手の意気を
とアリスの部下という点を考慮致しまして、今回の不正利用は見逃しましょう。次は厳格に処置致します。では、私もこれで」
誰もいなくなった拡張視界を眺めながらクロエは立ち尽くしていた。そして心労で崩れ落ちようとする。それを
「アキラというハンターを調べなさい! 今すぐによ!」
クロエが指示通りに慌ただしく動き出す部下達の姿を見ながら歯を食い縛る。大失態だった。だがまだ終わっていない。そう心に決めて表情から弱気を振り払った。
しい結果にはならなかった。一応レイナ達から事情を聞こうと連絡を取ったが完全に無視された。それならばと自身の派閥の上層に働きかけて、レイナ達の派閥の上層を通して交渉してもらったが、レイナ達からは答える義理は無いという簡素な返答が戻ってきただけだった。
社の上層部を介しての要求である以上、それは社の命令だ。レイナ達がその要求に逆らっている時点で、上の領域でそれが許されている時点で、クロエにはもうレイナ達から情報を得ることは出来なかった。
真っ当に交渉してカードを得ていればレイナから情報も得られていたので現状は回避できた。欲に釣られて力尽くでカードを得るという極端な選択をしたことでクロエは窮地に立たされた。
だからこそ、この窮地から脱する
Shirou was working in his secret base with a solemn expression. Though if someone was looking at him, he would seem to be doing nothing. Just silently sitting in his seat. However, he was currently controlling a remote terminal through the old-world connection.
He was analyzing the data that he received from Carol in Mihazono ruin, collecting information to elude Yanagisawa and Hammerz, collecting real Chrome. Basically, there were a lot of things that he had to do.
"...Dammit! The rate for this one here is way too high. And this one! It has a low rate but it requires the information buyer to give his details.... I bet they've been doing something in the black market... Are they seriously going this far!?"
The old-world currency, Chrome, was a difficult currency to handle. Chrome used by common people and second-rate Hunters was not actually real old-world Chrome. Most of the time, they were a substitute for real Chrome, a fiat currency that the Corporate Government has guaranteed.
Even if a Hunter found the highly valuable Chrome in a ruin, it was not easy to spend it. Most of the time, they were bound to a certain user through old-world technology. In other words, they were bound to their original, legitimate owner. As such, when someone else tries to use it to strike a deal with an old-world being, it was often rejected as illegitimate Chrome. In the worst-case scenario, they might even get killed when they tried to use that Chrome.
Therefore, real Chrome was one that was freely used in the current era's eastern district to make deals with old-world beings.
The main distributor of the real Chrome was the 5 biggest corporations, of course, they got those Chrome from making deals with old-world beings. They also did something similar to money laundering in order to overwrite the ownership of the Chrome found in old-world ruins. Some could easily be overwritten by submitting a report that its original owner had expired. Some had their ownership transferred automatically to the old-world caretaker AI, which then large corporations could obtain by selling goods to that AI. These large corporations were doing all kinds of things to gather real Chrome.
Even if they had real Chrome, there were only a limited number of individuals who could use them to buy old-world articles. After all, they had no way to connect to the old-world domain. That was why, most of the time, those who found real Chrome would exchange it with the Corporate Government for old-world articles. Behind the scenes, one of the corporate government's agents would be used as a proxy to purchase said old-world articles in place of the one who found the Chrome. Of course, the moment it got transferred into the corporate government's account, it would be turned into fiat and normally never be allowed to exchange back for real Chrome.
In order to make a deal with such Hunters, he could not use Aurum and had no other choice but to use Chrome. It would be better if it was real Chrome. After all, Hunters who had the option to move out to another area in the scenario where they got kicked out from the Aurum financial area by Sakashita Heavy Industry, would normally have connections to the old-world.
However, he ended up using all 15 million Chrome to pay Olivia. With this, he had no more money to employ a front-line Hunter and had lost his greatest opportunity to accomplish his goal. He did try to find a way to get real Chrome using back routes, but unfortunately, it was as if all of them were traps awaiting him. As such, he had no other choice but to rethink his original plan.
"...I can't just give up. I don't think I'll ever get this opportunity ever again! There's no way I would just give it up like this..."
She could not bring herself to ask Reina if it was okay. It was thanks to Reina giving up the card that they were able to leave safely. If asked whether it was a good thing or not, it was without a doubt a good thing. But she could not just wrap everything that happened as something positive and end it there.
Reina guessed what Shiori was thinking and smiled.
"No matter what happens, we were the ones who created the route to contact Olivia-sama and I believe that is enough to allow me to return back to the main family, right? So, let's not get too greedy. Having too big of an achievement out of the blue would only cause me more trouble, no? Exactly like what happened just now."
"That indeed is true, but..."
"All three of us are fine. That's good enough, don't you think so?"
Since Reina had said so, Shiori had no other choice but to get over it.
Kanae, who had already fully returned to her usual attitude, lightly smiled and said.
Shiori turned to Kanae and was about to scold her, but before that, Reina casually replied.
"It's fine. It was a good chance too."
"I didn't expect her to go that far for the card. Though, I did expect her to threaten me."
"So Milady was planning on giving her the card away right from the start. In that case, why did Milady take on such an attitude...?"
"That is to satisfy Olivia-sama. If I gave it away without much resistance, she might think that I don't value that card, right? That's why, although I was planning to give it away, I had to hold onto it as long as I could."
"M-Milady, that was a bit too close to the limit for my taste, though."
"I was originally planning to hold it just a little bit before giving it up, but thanks to you, I was able to hold it until the very limit. Well, I won't deny that it was dangerous. But I'm glad that result-wise I'm certain we were able to show how highly we value that card."
Shiori sighed in exasperation.
"M-Milady, it would have been great if you had discussed it with us beforehand."
"My bad. But you did do the same thing too, no? That's why make sure to discuss it with me next time."
Shiori smiled wryly, seeing that, Kanae smiled amusedly and asked the final question in her mind.
"So then, Milady, why did you decide to just give away the card? Although I'm sure that Chloe-sama won't be happy with it, personally speaking, I believe that it was better to not give that card away back there."
Shiori also had the same question and agreed with Kanae's opinion. She glanced at Reina, asking the same question with her glance.
"Hmmm. It's mostly out of intuition, so I can't really explain it. I had a feeling that it was better if I distanced myself away from that card as soon as possible. But again, considering a connection to Olivia-sama, it was not like I can just give it away without a good reason. After all, she might interpret it as us mocking the value of that card, right? So, with that in mind, it was a good opportunity, you see. And, if it's about why I don't want to keep that card..."
Reina paused, she smiled wryly while looking troubled.
"It might be weird to say this, but even someone like Akira doesn't want to keep that card, remember? So, don't you think it's better not to keep it?"
She controlled her breathing to calm her down and made her resolve. She then held up the card. The call went through to Lion Steel and bounced to Olivia. The next moment, Olivia appeared in Chloe's vision.
Chloe took a deep breath and bowed.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, I am Chloe from Lion Steel's eastern district third branch. Due to the order from Alice-sama to proceed with the preparation for the negotiation, I have decided to contact you. We will be in your care."
After she finished her polite introduction and raised her head, Chloe winced back. Olivia looked rather displeased at her. Since Chloe could not afford to worsen Olivia's mood, she immediately reviewed what she did. But even after she did that, she could not find anything that might offend Olivia. She tried to get her anxiety in control as she continued.
"We apologize deeply for calling you while you are busy. Would it be better if I reschedule this meeting?"
Chloe shuddered at that unexpected response.
The relics that the Hunters carried out from old-world ruins were basically stolen goods. Even if it was a relic that was left inside a dilapidated warehouse, or if it was an already decayed relic abandoned there for who knows how long. Even if it was a relic that was left there for eternity, either way, they were taken without the permission of their original owners. If the security measure in that area was still active, which in the current era, was in the form of monsters, it would attempt to chase away these robbers. In some cases, even kill the robbers.
Unfortunately, Olivia quickly denied Chloe's assumption.
"In the first place, Shiori is not the rightful owner of that card. It is just that its original owner gave his word that he had given that card. As such, although originally it would never be accepted, we had let it slide by treating that card as a borrowed article. It is unacceptable to be lending our card again to a third party. You have no permission to use that card. As such, from now on, we're treating that card as a stolen object."
"P-please wait for a bit! If the original owner of the card has given it to Reina and Shiori, that would not make it a borrowed object! I didn't get it from Shori, but from Reina-"
"The owner of that card is neither Reina, nor Shiori, nor Kanae from your company. In the first place, the owner is not affiliated with your company."
Chloe tried to reanalyze the situation with calm and rational thought, but it was just impossible from her point of view.
"Regarding the worth of the card, I have confirmed that both sides accepted the deal between them. In the first place, the person who contacted me was not the owner of that card."
"Only old-world connectors can use this card! If the owner of this card is not an old-world connector, then who the hell used this card to contact you!?"
The others who were helping Chloe with her AR device, also saw the same thing and started to make a ruckus. The area around Chloe suddenly became noisy.
"What's going on here!? Did someone just infiltrate this place?!"
"No way! It's the direct line to Lion Steel through the old-world domain, you know!? There's no way anyone ca-"
"How naive! Even if you're using the old-world domain connection, as long as it's a terminal or an ARR device made in this era, it's not impossible to hack my way in, you know? It's horrendous if you don't properly maintain the security of your systems."
Inside Chloe's view, Olivia turned to Shirou and smiled at him.
"Well well well, isn't this Shirou-sama? Thank you very much for using our service last time. Are you here for another request today?"
Shirou looked at Olivia just like how Chloe was looking at Olivia, with a deeply troubled look.
"S-Sakashita Heavy Industry? What do you mean!?"
Chloe only got more and more confused with the flood of new information. Unfortunately, all of them only worsen her situation, making her panic even more.
Although he regretted his unnecessary action, at least he understood that this information would not reach Hammerz. So, he changed his tone and warned Chloe so as to change the subject.
"I see. So, you don't even know what's going on, huh? Well, it doesn't matter. It's better for you not to know. But don't try to look for me. If you keep doing that, I'll interpret it as a challenge to Sakashita. I'll do you a favour and not report this to Sakshita this time. I'm in the middle of a secret mission from Sakashita, so they'll have to deal with you if get to know too much."
"Is this card yours!? Since you helped Reina and the others, does that mean they have something to do with that secret mission of yours!?"
Shirou paused. He did think that saying yes would likely satisfy them enough to stop them from snooping around for more information about him. However, he also felt like it would cause more trouble if Olivia took his lie seriously, so he decided to deny it.
"Considering the complexity of the situation and that you're working under Alice, I will let this incident slide. But I will take extreme measures next time. That will be all for me today."
Chloe, who was left standing there alone after everyone left, fell over from mental fatigue. Latis and the other servants who were there, flustered, helped her up.
"Investigate this Hunter, Akira! Immediately!"
Seeing her men start to scramble to get to work, Chloe gritted her teeth. It was a huge failure. But this was not the end, she told that to herself and pushed all pessimism off her mind.
After that, their investigation regarding the original owner of the card did not deliver much result. Chloe did try calling Reina to ask about it, but Reina just kept ignoring her call. Because of that, she sent the same question to the upper echelons of the faction that she was in. It later went to the upper echelons of the faction that Reina was in. This question went one round before finally reaching Reina. However, Reina's answer to that was a simple and short message - 'I am not obligated to answer that question'.
Since it was sent through the upper echelons of the company, it had the same level as an order from the corporation. Reina's response was essentially permitted by the upper echelons of the company. This meant that there was nothing more Chloe could do to get information about Akira from Reina.
Had she received that card from Reina through a deal that both sides had agreed upon, Chloe might be able to gain some information from Reina. However, Chloe lost to her greed and ended up taking the card from Reina with force. Right now, she was faced with the repercussions of that mistake.
As such, to get out of this predicament, clinging on to the chance of that wonderful future, Chloe had to take her chance on a gamble. An even wider crossroad, a huge gamble where losing meant greater losses and winning meant better rewards.
Rebuild World (WN)
リビルドワールド
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/rebuild-world/
Action Adventure Drama Harem Mecha Mystery Sci-fi Seinen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alternate World Anti-social Protagonist Apocalypse Artificial Intelligence Beautiful Female Lead Cautious Protagonist Child Protagonist Dense Protagonist Determined Protagonist Distrustful Protagonist Futuristic Setting Gangs Gunfighters Harsh Training Lack of Common Sense Male Protagonist Manipulative Characters Monsters Near-Death Experience Older Love Interests Poor Protagonist Poor to Rich Ruthless Protagonist Shota Sudden Strength Gain Survival Twisted Personality Unlucky Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9736dt/
非公開