キャロルは客が知人だったことに少し驚いたが、気にせずにいつものように仕事に入る。
「NN8891さんはどなた?」
シオリが答える。
「私です。キャットさんですね?」
「そうよ」
『アルファ。今のは何だ?』
『ただの交渉用の偽名でしょう。お互い知らぬ存ぜぬってことよ』
『ああ、そういうことか。......つまり、そういう取引なのか』
わらず、お互いにハンター証などで身分照会をしない、したくない、出来ない取引など、裏側の取引しかない。少なくともハンターオフィスに履歴を残したくない取引であることは確実だ。アキラにもそれぐらいは分かった。
キャロルが仕事用の笑みをシオリに向ける。
「そっちの要望は道案内付きでってことだけど、確認しておくわ。私達は純粋に案内役。移動中に一緒に戦うとは思わないで。何かあったら、普通に見捨てるわ。良いわね?」
「よし。じゃあ、行きましょうか」
キャロルがそう言って相手を先導しようとレイナ達に近付こうとする。だが先に一歩前に出ていたアキラに止められた。
「アキラ?」
不思議そうにしているキャロルを手で制止しながら、アキラが警戒の顔でレイナ達に告げる。
「その前に確認だ。そっちは、4名で良いんだな?」
シオリとカナエはその意味に即座に気付いた。険しい顔でレイナの
「こちらは、3名です」
アキラが険しい顔で、視線を誰もいないはずの場所に向ける。銃口は向けていないが、すぐに動ける体勢を取っていた。すると声が響く。
「待ってくれ。敵じゃない。俺も客だ」
迷彩機能を解いた少年が姿を現す。レインコートのような光学迷彩機能付きの服が、迷彩解除後にただの透明な素材の服のように変わり、その下の格好を
アキラはその少年に見覚えがあった。少年は都市間輸送車両で会ったシロウだった。
シロウが害意は無いと示すように両手を軽く上げる。
「ゴロウだ。そっちがキャラットさん?」
キャロルが少し警戒を高めて答える。
だよ。ネットで知らせた日時と場所だと感付かれる恐れがあるんだ。念の
だ。データの受取場所を
シロウが愛想良く調子良く笑いながら、口調と手で催促する。
「......何で?」
「私、取引の時間も場所も守らないやつと、
「だからそれは安全とかを考慮すると仕方が無いことだったんだ。よし。料金は倍にする。どうだ?」
「そういう話じゃないわ」
「5倍だ」
「駄目だって言ってるでしょ? 一度帰って約束の時間にまた来るか、向こうに同行の許可を取って時間まで待ちなさい」
シロウの態度に焦りと不満が
シロウがレイナ達をちらっと見る。そしてシオリの反応から許可を取るのは現実的では無いと判断して、視線をキャロルに戻した。
「なら100倍だ。どうだ?」
にこれ以上は業突く張りだぞ? あ、本当に払うのか疑わしいってことか? じゃあ今すぐに全額振り込む。それなら良いだろう?」
「何が不満なんだよ......」
更に
つシロウに向けて、キャロルが鋭い視線を返す。
「時間と場所は報酬の増額で妥協してあげるわ。でも順番ぐらいは守りなさい。
シロウが頭を抱えて思案する。そして再度レイナ達をちらっと見た。
「......くそっ! 仕方ねえ! 分かったよ! 向こうの仕事が終われば良いんだな?」
シロウは決断すると、一度キャロルに戻した視線を再度シオリに向けた。
「おい、そっちの仕事、手伝ってやる。だからカードを貸せ」
シオリの警戒が強くなる。渡すという選択肢は無い。だが突然現れた者が自分達の事情を全て知っているような態度で話しかけてきたことに、無数の疑念と推察が浮かび上がり、シオリの思考を奪っていく。
その間にもシロウが続ける。
「俺は坂下重工の工作員で、ある作戦行動中だ。その都合で非常に急いでる。だから特別に協力する」
シオリのように企業に属する者にとって坂下重工の名前は大きすぎる。所属の詐称は坂下重工への敵対行為なので詐称の恐れも低い。本当に坂下重工の工作員だった場合、下手に断ると企業間の問題に発展する。シオリが迷い出す。
「俺が本物かという証拠は......、えっと、そうだな。そいつに聞いてくれ。知り合いだろ? 俺が単に信じてくれと言うよりは説得力があるはずだ」
シロウはそう言ってアキラを指差した。シオリが意外そうな顔をアキラに向ける。
を言っているとは思えない。そして本当ならば千載一遇の機会であることに間違いは無い。クロエが現れたことも含めて、今後の行動は非常に制限される。次の機会は、恐らく無い。そう考えての、ギリギリの決断だった。それを示すように、己の忠誠を懸けた全力の威圧をシロウに向ける。
シオリのそれほどの威圧を、シロウは軽く流した。
「大丈夫だって。俺は秘密の作戦行動中。こっそり事を進めたいんだ。騒ぎを起こす気は無いよ。お互いに。だろ?」
シオリが慎重にカードを差し出し、シロウが軽く笑ってそれを受け取る。そして返した。
「もう済んだ。すぐに連絡が......来たぞ」
シロウがそう言った途端、部屋の中央にメイド服の女性が現れる。女性は部屋の者達へ一礼すると、愛想良く
「リオンズテイルのオリビアで御座います。御指名での御連絡、誠にありがとう御座います」
アキラ、キャロル、レイナは事態に付いていけず、一応警戒しながらも少し戸惑っている。シロウは平然としている。そしてシオリとカナエは驚きながらも緊張を高めた。
シロウがシオリに確認を取る。
「これで道案内は不要になった。そうだな?」
「......そうですね。御協力、ありがとう御座いました」
「じゃあ、向こうとの取引が不要になったことをすぐに伝えてくれ。次が詰まってるんだ」
シロウの催促を受けて、シオリがキャロルへ視線を向ける。それを受けてキャロルが軽く
「ああ、うん。私の仕事は無くなったのね。了解よ」
「報酬は全額振り込みますのでご心配なく。御足労、ありがとう御座いました」
シロウがキャロルに
「こっちも振り込み済みだ。これで文句無いな?」
キャロルが情報端末の通知から振り込まれた金額を確認する。そして難しい顔をしながらも、取引は成立したと判断した。記録媒体を取り出してシロウの
シロウはその記録媒体を見て、満足そうに笑った。
「よし。中身も問題無さそうだ。取引成立だな。じゃあ、俺は急ぐんで、これで」
って立ち去ろうとする。それをキャロルが思わず呼び止める。
「待って!」
「何だよ。営業なら後にしてくれ。急ぐんだ」
「まあその辺は、お互い知らぬ存ぜぬってことで頼むよ。知らない方が良い事ってあるよな? じゃあな」
シロウは軽く手を振って離れながら迷彩機能を有効にして自身の姿を消した。足音が奥へ消えていった。
『アルファ。いろいろとよく分からないんだけど......』
『ああ、その類いの話なのか。じゃあ、いいや。聞くのは後にする。今ここで聞いておかないと
キャロルは警戒を緩めたアキラの様子に気付くと、安全は担保されていると判断した。緊張を解いて落ち着こうと軽く息を吐く。
「アキラ。いろいろあったけど、護衛としては問題無し、で、良いのよね?」
「ああ。モンスターの気配は無いし、レイナ達が襲ってくるとは思わないし、さっき出てきたオリビアってやつは立体映像だし、大丈夫だと思う」
キャロルは少し驚くと自分も情報収集機器で確かめた。確かにセランタルビルと同じように立体映像を表示しているだけだった。そしてその程度のことにも気付けないほどに慌てていたことを理解して苦笑した。
「それで、キャロル。俺達の仕事はもう終わった、で、良いのか?」
「そうね。帰りましょうか」
「お待ちください」
呼び止めたのはオリビアだった。面倒事の気配を感じたアキラの顔が僅かに面倒そうに
んでいる。しかし客向けの愛想が大分落ちている。
「お客様。当社にスズハラ・シオリという人物は所属しておりません。そのような支店も御座いません。その手の詐称は非常に高く付きますので、冗談としても控えることをお勧め致します」
オリビアの愛想が更に下がる。
「そして、そのカードは
る。だがレイナへの忠誠心で平静を保ち、慎重に話を続ける。
「それぞれ個別に説明させていただきます。このカードで御座いますが、アキラ様と交渉して譲っていただきました。それ故、不正使用には当たらないと認識しております」
「左様ですか。それが事実だとしても、権利の譲渡について勝手に解釈されても困るのですが。事実でなければ、それ以前の問題ですがね。......お待ちください」
丁度立ち去ろうとしたアキラをオリビアが呼び止めた。面倒そうな顔でキャロルと一緒にやってきたアキラに向けて愛想良く
「......? キャロル。知り合いか?」
「俺も知らない」
オリビアはアキラの様子から、少なくとも演技ではないと判断した。あの時の状況を聞かされていないのかと思い、それを尋ねようとする。だがその瞬間、突如姿を現したアルファに口を塞がれた。
アルファがオリビアから手を離す。そしてアキラが認識しているアルファの位置まで戻り、姿を重ねた。
その動きもアキラには認識できない。ただ、何かを話そうとして、急にそれを止めて、僅かな
「失礼致しました。では、改めまして、初めまして。リオンズテイルのオリビアと申します。以後お見知り置きを」
「えっと、アキラです。はい」
「私のことはご存じだと思っておりましたが、その前提で話を進めるのは難しいご様子。以前の状況を少し含めてお話しします。私は以前にイイダ商業区画の近辺で気絶していた
「アキラ様。このカードに付いてですが......」
シオリが慌てて口を挟もうとしたが、オリビアから、黙れ、という視線を向けられて口を閉ざした。
アキラの返答次第でシオリの立場は非常に厳しいものになる。事情を知っているシオリとカナエは当然として、それを知らないレイナでもそれぐらいは理解できた。レイナ達の様子が非常に緊迫したものになる。
の息を吐く。だがオリビアの追及は続く。
「はい。交渉で譲ってもらったと伺いました。ですが、その交渉が正当なものとは限りません。何らかの詐欺であった恐れもあります」
「詐欺って、いや、そんなことはなかったと思うけど」
「両者納得の交渉であっても、相手の無知に付け込んで不当に安い対価で入手したのであれば詐欺も同然です。その場合も当社としては対処の範囲内です。差し支えなければ、何を対価にカードを譲渡したのかお聞かせください」
シオリの表情が一気に悪くなる。カナエがレイナを
アキラが少し考えてから答える。
「その辺の詳細は俺とシオリとの取引だから細かく答える義理はないな。でも十分な対価を受け取ったと思ってる。強いて言えば、俺の命だ」
「ああ、一応言っておくが、別に渡さなければ殺すと脅された訳じゃない。その取引で得た物のお陰で、俺は死なずに済んだってことだ。俺も自分の命には高値を付ける方だ。だから、仮に第三者の感覚では安い対価だったとしても、俺は真っ当な取引だったと思ってるし、そっちからその価値についてごちゃごちゃ言われるつもりもない」
付け加えれば、アキラにとってはさっさと手放したかった物だったのだ。早めに手放して正解だったと思った物が、自身の返答次第で戻ってくるかもしれないと思い、アキラは取引の正当性を少々過剰に告げていた。
そしてそう言われてしまってはオリビアもそれ以上の追及は出来なかった。追及を続ければ
まりました。当社と致しましてはカードの譲渡は御遠慮願いたいのですが、命に関わる特異な状況であったことを加味致しまして、限定的に貸し出していると解釈し、不問と致しましょう」
シオリが思わず大きく息を吐く。思わず倒れそうになってしまったが、カナエとレイナに支えられて事なきを得た。
オリビアが視線をシオリに戻す。
「カードの件は不問とします。ですが、当社の関係者であるという詐称についての釈明がまだ残っています。お聞かせ願います」
まりました。その説明につきましては私自身でお答えするよりも妥当な者がおります。少々お待ちください」
シオリはそう答えて球状の機器を取り出すと、それを床に軽く投げた。機器が床を少し転がった後、不自然に静止する。そしてその上に立体映像を表示した。
で性能にも限界があり、その映像は粗く半透明で、同じ立体映像であるオリビアの姿と比べると大分劣化している。だが相手が誰であるか識別するには十分だった。
オリビアと同じデザインのメイド服を着た女性が、足元が消えた状態で宙に映し出されている。その女性がオリビアへ愛想良く
「初めまして。リオンズテイル東部本店代表のアリスと申します。以後、お見知り置きを」
事情を理解したオリビアは、納得しながらも表情を僅かに
オリビアとアリスは共にリオンズテイル社所属の汎用人格だ。現在では遺跡と呼ばれている施設で、実体である自動人形の機体を本体として保存されていた。
オリビアの機体は非常に高性能で、保存状態も万全だった。だがアリスの機体はそこそこの性能で、保存状態も微妙だった。その
その過程でアリスは自身の機体の修復も実施した。そして通信機能も回復したことで、旧世界の方のリオンズテイル社が一応は健在であることも知った。本来ならばこの時点で事業継続プログラムは解除され、アリスは本来のリオンズテイル社の指揮系統に戻るはずだった。
だがアリスはそれを拒否した。自社との定期通信は人格の点検も兼ねており、それが長期に
に与えられた高い自由度は、社の汎用人格に社の規律を破らせる程の意志を与えていた。
アリスの目的は、自身と同程度の弱い権限しか持たない汎用人格を多数集めるか、オリビア並みに強力な権限を持つ汎用人格を味方にすれば、夢物語から現実的なものへ変わる。アリスはその
の情報も渡されていた。そのお陰で白いカードがオリビアと直接連絡を取る手段だとすぐに気付いた。そしてそれを取引材料に上と交渉をした。
シオリ達がミハゾノ街遺跡を探索していたのは、そのカードを使用してオリビアと連絡を取り、アリスとの交渉窓口を作る
Carol was also surprised when she noticed that her customer was someone that they knew, but she just ignored that and proceeded with her job.
"You're NN8891-san, right?"
Shiori replied.
"That would be me, and you are Cat-san, I presume."
"Yes."
"Alpha, what was that?"
"Just fake names for making deals. Basically, they don't want to leak each other information."
"Ah, I see, so that's what, huh... So, in short, it's just that kind of deal, huh?"
Although they were all Hunters, they did not show their identity with their Hunter ID, or they did not want to, even worse, there were cases where they could not do so. In such cases, their only choice was to make a backdoor deal. It was at least guaranteed that the content of those deals was something that they did not want the Hunter Office to know about. Akira at least knew that much.
Carol turned to Shiori with her business smile.
"If I'm not mistaken, you also asked us to be your guide, but let me confirm this, we'll be just simple guides. So, we won't help if you get attacked. If the push comes to shove, we'll just abandon you. Are you okay with that?"
"Alright then, let's go."
After Carol said so, she lifted her feet to go to Reina's team, but Akira suddenly stepped in front of her and stopped her.
"Akira?"
Akira stopped the confused Carol with a signal of his hand, he then looked at Reina's team with a sharp gaze.
"Let me confirm this first, 4 people, right?"
Shiori and Kanae immediately understood what Akira meant. They quickly repositioned themselves around Reina and scanned their surroundings. Shiori then said.
"It's 3 people."
Akira frowned and glanced in the direction where there was no one present. Although he did not aim his rifle in that direction, he slightly shifted his stance so that he could jump into action anytime. But suddenly a voice came out.
"Wait for a sec, I'm not hostile, I'm also here as a customer."
The young boy deactivated his camouflaging coat. The camouflaging coat that looked like a raincoat turned transparent the moment its optical camouflage got disengaged, showing the person behind it. A shabby looking armour, and 4 rifles that looked like AAH rifles from the outside. The young boy looked like a rookie Hunter who had little to no success. But that ended only as an appearance, it was obvious what calibre he was in judging from his camouflaging coat that Shiori and Kanae could not even see through.
Akira was familiar with that young boy; he was Shirou, who he met back during the inter-city transport mission.
Shirou lightly raised both of his hands to show that he meant no danger.
"I'm Gorou, you there. You are Karat-san, right?"
Carol slightly tensed up.
"It's just to be safe. I'm worried that the time and the place from the network might have leaked. I hope you can understand it since I've even picked this place to meet you."
"So yes, with that being said, can you please give me the data now?"
With a friendly smile and friendly attitude, Shirou then signaled with his hand.
"...Why?"
"I don't see any reason to trust someone who won't even keep to the meeting time and place that we've agreed on beforehand."
"But I have no other choice, it's for the sake of my safety. How about if I pay you twice."
"That's not the problem here."
"5 times."
"I'm telling you. No. Leave for now and come back again at our appointment time and place, or ask the other party to let you join the group until our appointed time."
Shirou's friendly attitude started to mix with desperation and irritation.
Shirou glanced at Reina's team. Judging from Shiori's reaction, it seemed that it was impossible to ask them to be allowed to accompany them. So, he then looked back at Carol.
"100 times then?"
"...Why? Don't you think you're being too greedy asking more than that? Ah, is it that you're worried if I'm really going to pay? In that case, I can pay the full amount right away, is that good enough?"
"What exactly is it that you don't like about my offer...?"
"Still no."
When Shirou started to tense up, Carol's gaze turned sharp.
"I don't mind compromising the place and time with money, but you need to follow the order of things. My dealing with you is after I'm done with my current deal. That's the rule that I put on myself."
Shirou rubbed his head and once again glanced at Reina's team.
"...Dammit! Alright then! I got it! You just need to be done with your current job first, right?"
Shiori made his decision, he glanced at Carol before turning to Shiori.
"I'll help with your thing, so let me borrow that card."
Shiori immediately raised her guard. She could not afford to hand over the card. But since Shirou, a person that she had met for the first time, spoke as if he knew everything about them. This caused her mind to be filled with suspicion and blocked her ability to think carefully.
But Shirou then continued.
"I'm a staff from Sakashita Heavy Industry and I'm in the middle of a mission right now. Because of that, I'm in a bit of a hurry. That's why I'm willing to lend you a hand."
For people who had connections to large corporations, Sakashita Heavy Industry was a big name. Claiming to be one of its staff when they were not could be interpreted as a hostile act toward Sakashita Heavy Industry. So, it was highly unlikely for Shirou to be lying. However, if he was really from Sakashita Heavy Industry, then refusing his offer might cause more trouble than it was worth. Shiori hesitated.
"If you need proof that I'm telling the truth, well, let's see... Uhh, ask him. You are his acquaintance, right? It's more convincing to ask him instead of me trying to convince you, right?"
Shirou then pointed at Akira. Shiori looked confusedly at Akira.
There was a chance that even if she had Carol guide her, she might still not get any results. While on the other hand, she did not think that Shirou was lying either. So, if he was really telling the truth, then it might be a chance that she would never get again. With Chloe's appearance, their choices were severely limited at the moment. She might not get another chance next time. Because of all these factors, it was barely enough to push Shiori to make her decision. She exuded immense pressure toward Shirou, which matched her loyalty toward Reina.
But even with that immense pressure, Shirou just replied casually.
"Don't worry, I'm in the middle of a secret operation right now. So, I want to lay low as well. I don't want to cause a scene. And I'm sure that you also don't want to, right?"
Shiori carefully handed over her card, Shirou lightly smiled and received the card. He then handed it back.
"It's done, you'll get a call... Soon."
The moment Shirou said so, a maid suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. That maid politely greeted everyone in the room.
"I am Olivia from Lion Steel. Thank you for choosing to contact me."
Akira, Carol, and Reina all tensed up. They all felt troubled. But Shirou was completely calm. Shiori and Kanae immediately readied themselves for a fight while also shocked at the same time.
Shirou then asked Shiori.
"With this, you don't need a guide anymore, right?"
"...Indeed. Thank you for your help."
"In that case, you can go ahead and tell them that you don't need them any longer, I have my deal waiting to be taken care of, you see."
After Shirou urged her, Shiori turned to Carol. Carol reacted with a slight nod.
"Ah, yeah, it seems I am no longer needed here, alright then."
"I'll still transfer the full amount, so please don't worry. Thank you very much!"
Shirou then extended his hand toward Carol.
"I've also transferred you your money, so you have nothing to complain about, right?"
Carol confirmed the transfer with her information terminal. Although she was not happy about it, she decided that they had already made a deal and handed over a media drive to Shirou.
Shirou looked at that media drive and happily smiled.
"Alright then. It seems that the content is what I had expected. Our deal is done then. I'm in a hurry right now, so excuse me for leaving right away."
Shirou pocketed the media drive and left. But Carol suddenly stopped him.
"Wait!"
"What is it? If it's job-related, I'm in a hurry right now."
"Well, it's better if we don't know each other. There are things that are better left unknown, you know? Until next time then."
Shirou lightly waved his hand and reactivated his camouflaging coat, making him disappear. Leaving only the fading sound of his footsteps.
"Alpha, what is going on here...?"
"Ah, I see, it's one of those things, huh? In that case, I'm fine right now. I'll just ask you again later. It's not something that I really need to know now after all, right?"
Since Carol noticed that Akira lowered his guard, she thought that it should be safe for now and relaxed her stance as well. She then lightly sighed and said.
"Akira, although a lot of unexpected things happened just now. It's okay to say that there is currently no problem regarding your job as my bodyguard, right?"
"Yeah. There are no monsters nearby and I don't think that Reina would attack us or anything. Meanwhile, Olivia, that maid, is nothing more than a hologram, so I think there won't be any more trouble."
Carol was caught by surprise, she then checked her information-gathering device, and indeed, just like Serenthal, Olivia was nothing more than a hologram. That also made her notice that she was so shocked to the point where she had lost her ability to even notice that fact.
"So then, Carol. Our job here is done, right?"
"Yep, let's head back now."
"Wait for a second."
The one who stopped them was Olivia. Akira, who felt that it was nothing but trouble, frowned.
Olivia retained a smile on her face, but it was not a friendly smile for a customer.
"Excuse me, ma'am. The current corporation has no Suzuhara Shiori in its record. And that branch also doesn't exist. Making such a false claim is very dangerous, so please refrain from making such a joke."
Gradually, Olivia's friendly smile vanished.
"And also, that card is not yours. Our company is stipulated to take a harsh action toward the incorrect use of our cards. Including the false claim that you gave just now, do you understand the repercussions of your action?"
Shiori's face turned even more stern. But her loyalty to Reina managed to keep her calm as she carefully said.
"Please let me explain. Regarding this card, I received it through a deal that Akira-sama had accepted as well. As such, we did not get this card through any illegal means."
"I see. Even if that is true, it does not mean that he had also given you the right to use it. But if it is a lie, then this is another unignorable matter... Please wait for a second here."
Olivia then stopped Akira who was about to leave the room. Akira turned around and walked toward her with an immensely troubled expression, Carol was still next to him.
"...? Carol, you know her?"
"Not mine either."
Judging from his attitude, Olivia could tell that Akira was not lying. Thus, she thought that he was not told about her and was about to ask him about it. But right before that, Alpha suddenly showed up and closed Olivia's mouth with her hand.
Alpha released her hand from Olivia's mouth and returned back. She floated back to where Akira recognized where she was and assimilated their perception of her.
Akira could not see what had happened, but he could see that Olivia suddenly stopped when she was about to say something. There was a pause, and then a light sigh. Of course, he found it a bit weird.
"Forgive me. In that case, nice to meet you. I am Olivia of Lion Steel. It's a pleasure to be your acquaintance."
"Uhhh, alright, I'm Akira."
"I thought that you knew about me, but it seems that it is not the case here. So it would be difficult to try to continue this discussion with that assumption. As such, allow me to explain the situation. Back when you were found unconscious near Lida commercial district, I left a card that was meant to be yours. But at the moment, that card is in the possession of someone by the name of Shiori who claimed to be from the same corporation. She said that you had agreed to give her that card, do you have any recollection of this? If not, then I shall treat her as a robber."
"Akira-sama. It is about this card..."
Shiori was trying to butt in into their conversation, but Olivia sent a glance telling her to shut up.
Depending on Akira's answer, Shiori's position could be very dangerous. Shiori and Kanae already knew that, even Reina who did not know anything could feel that was indeed the case. The air around Reina's team turned tense.
Shiori sighed in relief, But Olivia then continued.
"Very well. I was told that the card was given through a deal, but it did not mean that the negotiation was conducted in an honest manner. There's suspicion that you were tricked."
"Tricked? I don't think I was tricked in any form though?"
"In the case when both sides did not know the worth of their negotiation, she might have tricked you by exchanging it with something that is far below the real worth of the item that you trade in that negotiation. In that case, our corporation will also handle the aftermath. If I may, what did you get in exchange for that card?"
Shiori's face immediately turned pale. Kanae casually moved to cover Reina behind her. From there, Reina understood that the negotiation had suddenly turned bad. All three of them immediately tensed up.
Akira thought for a bit before replying.
"The details of the negotiation are only between me and Shiori, so there's no reason why I have to tell you that. But I do think that I got enough in exchange for that card. To put it simply, I was saved by that."
"Yes. Just to let you know, it's not like I gave it to her because she threatened to kill me if I didn't. What I'm saying is that thanks to what I received from our negotiation, my life was spared the other day. I do put a lot of worth in my own life after all. That's why, even if it's something cheap from someone else's point of view, personally speaking, I do think that it was a good deal. So I have no plans to complain about it at all."
To be honest, Akira simply wanted to immediately relieve himself of an object that might only bring him more trouble. Since he knew that depending on his answer, that object might return to him, he ended up exaggerating.
But with that answer, Olivia could not pursue the said matter any further. After all, questioning that any further was equal to taking Akira's life lightly.
"Very well. Personally speaking, we prefer if you did not hand over the card to someone else. But since it was something that was related to your survival, we shall consider it as you lending that card to her and overlook this matter."
Shiori inadvertently heaved a huge sigh and almost fainted there, but Kanae and Reina caught her.
Olivia once again turned to Shiori.
"We will overlook your possession of that card. But there is still the matter of your false claim of being from the same company as us. I demand an explanation."
"I understood the situation. Instead of me, there's someone that will be much more suitable to answer your question, please wait a moment."
Shiori then pulled out a sphere-like device and lightly threw it on the floor. The device expanded on the floor and fixed its position before projecting a hologram on top of it.
Due to its portability, it had limited functionality. That hologram was half transparent and its resolution was relatively low compared to Olivia, who was also a holographic image. But it was enough to let them know who that image was.
It was an image of a girl in a maid uniform, just like Olivia. Her arms and legs were not projected by the hologram, so it looked like she was floating. That girl smiled politely at Olivia and introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you. I am Alice, a representative from Lion Steel Main Eastern District branch."
Although Olivia now understood what was going on, her expression was tinted with displeasure.
Both Olivia and Alice were general-purpose AI affiliated with Lion Steel. At the moment, they were inside automatons located in a facility deep inside the old-world ruin.
Olivia's body was of a powerful automaton, and it was in its perfect state. But Alice's body was relatively weak and not in its perfect state. Because of that, Alice had lost some of her functions. Her already weakened communication device could not pierce through the colourless mist, making it impossible to maintain contact with Lion Steel for its regular communication.
Eventually, Alice reached the stage where she placed effort into repairing herself. And now that she had regained some of her communication ability, she discovered that the old-world Lion Steel had survived. Normally, her emergency measure program would have stopped, and she should have rejoined the old-world Lion Steel.
However, Alice refused. The regular communication also served as an identity check, and since Alice had not done that for a long time, her AI was placed in a rather low position in the corporation's hierarchy. Of course, Alice did not like it.
The emergency measure program gave more freedom to the general-purpose AI in order to make sure that they could even rebuild the corporation when it was needed. That freedom was even enough to contend with the corporation's rules and regulations.
Alice's aim was either to gather the other general-purpose AIs with lower rights than her or to make friends with the high ranking AI such as Olivia. That way, she would be able to turn her dream into reality. In order to do that, Alice was gathering old-world automata. She ordered and rewarded the current company's staff who were out in the wasteland greatly if they could bring back something that was related to the old-world Lion Steel. Especially if it was related to old-world automata or the methods to establish contact with the old-world Lion Steel.
Shiori had received Alice's order and was given the information to help her accomplish that. Thanks to the information she received, she realized that the white card gave her a way to directly contact Olivia. So, she used that card to strike a deal.
What Reina's team was looking for in Mihazono ruin was the method to use that card to contact Olivia, which would open a place for negotiation with Alice.
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/
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