都市間輸送車両の護衛依頼の件が片付いた後、ヒカルは平穏な日々を送っていた。若く有能な者に付き物な傲慢、優秀さ故の上昇志向が、アキラという人物との関わりで得た死地手前の経験によって十分に落ち着いたこともあり、毎日の業務を無難かつ及第点を超えた成果で熟していた。
それによりヒカルの評価は少しずつ上がっており、周囲の者からもいずれは大成するだろうと思われていた。
ヒカルが失礼の無い態度でイナベの執務室に入る。するとソファーに座っていたイナベは部下との話を切り上げて、ヒカルに手で着席を促した。
「座りたまえ」
勧められた向かいのソファーにヒカルがおずおずと座る。するとイナベは部下達に視線で退室を促した。部下達は黙って従い、一礼して出ていった。
る。自分は手と言葉で促され、他の者は視線と無言で指示された。その扱いの差を単純に捉えれば、自分は上司に他の者より優遇されたことになる。それだけの扱いを受ける立場になったのだと喜ぶことも出来る。だがヒカルの才は、その優遇を嫌な予感として扱っていた。
「......イナベ区画長。その、私に仕事があるというお話でしたが、一体どのようなものでしょうか......。実は今、広域経営部での案件を幾つか抱えておりまして......、抱える案件がこれ以上増えますと既存の作業への影響が......」
イナベからどんな仕事を言われるのか分からないが、やりたくない。ヒカルはその内容を可能な限り穏便に
も変えずに、ヒカルの内心を正確に分かった上で答える。
「問題無い。現在抱えている案件は全て忘れて良い。それらは他の者が責任を持って実施する。
「そ、そうですか......」
「具体的な話に入る前にこの資料を読んでくれ。30分だ」
ヒカルがテーブルの資料を手に取る。資料は普通なら情報端末等で閲覧すれば済むのだが、
「紙の資料であることに対して、説明は必要か?」
「そうか。では逆に尋ねよう。これらの資料、なぜ
イナベはそう言って、真面目な視線をヒカルに向けた。これを適当にごまかしたり受け流したりすると、非常に厳しい対処を取る必要が出てくる。尋問ではないが、それに近い。イナベの視線はそう雄弁に告げていた。
「......単なる印刷物である以上、クガマヤマ都市の閲覧制限機能の外にあります。恐らくこれらの資料には本来私の権限では閲覧できない内容が含まれています」
「成る程。他には?」
「印刷した時点でデータ共有システムから切り離されています。よって、都市のシステムは記述内容の正当性を担保していません。私にとって資料の内容を保障するものは、提供元がイナベ室長であるということだけになります」
「......この資料が流出しても、既に幾らでも
「それだけ分かっているなら十分だ。実に優秀で何よりと称賛しよう。では、読んでくれ。虚偽の記載部分は、資料の内容を正確に把握すればすぐに気付くものばかりだ。見付けたらその都度私に質問してくれ。紙にも出したくない情報もあるのでね」
逃げ場は無いと悟ったヒカルは、覚悟を決めて資料に手を伸ばした。
資料の内容はアキラとクロエの状況、そしてリオンズテイル社とクガマヤマ都市の間で発生した事態の詳細だった。アキラが500億オーラムの賞金首となり、モンスター認定まで受けたこと。クロエが都市襲撃犯として防壁内に軟禁されていること。そして、都市の幹部会でそれらの対処の会議を行った際に、ウダジマがリオンズテイル社との
ヒカルは10分で内容の把握を済ませた。残りの20分はイナベから内容に関する質疑応答を受けて、内容を十分に把握していることを確かめられた。
確認を終えたイナベが満足そうに
しい。では、本題に入ろう。君に特命を出す」
違っていてくれというヒカルの祈りは届かず、資料を読んで浮かんだ内容が告げられる。
「内容は、アキラとの交渉だ。今回の件を穏便に済ませる
「ま、待ってください!」
イナベはヒカルの必死の訴えを内容も聞かずに断り首を横に振った。そしてヒカルの要望を潰すように説明していく。
よって担当者は消去法でヒカルとなり、代わりはいない。イナベからそう説明されたヒカルは、自分のような小者ではなく、イナベやキバヤシのような者を担当にした方が良いという提案を、話す前に潰された。
「これが君を今回の件の担当者に選んだ理由だ。説明内容に不備があるなら聞こう」
の粗探しをした。だが自身の才を総動員しても有効な不備は見付からず、沈黙を返すしかなかった。
そこにイナベが更に続ける。
「そうだ。私達だ。ハンターが都市に大きな被害を出した場合、その原因となった者は必ず責任を追及される。事態の発生を導いた様々な要因に対してだ。そこにはそのハンターにそれだけの力を与えた者の責任も含まれる」
「それは理解していますが......」
「君に閲覧してもらった資料の中にはアキラの戦闘能力も記載されているが、内容に誤りがある。正確には、彼の今後の戦闘能力に対する推察が著しく甘い。君はアキラの戦闘能力を都市間輸送車両の護衛依頼を基準にして考えているのだろう。その認識では、非常に
「......と、言いますと?」
「彼が近い内に最前線並みの装備を入手する確率が非常に高いのだ。ハンターランク100相当の強力な武装をだ」
ヒカルの顔が驚きに満ちる。イナベの顔も険しく
「彼はランク50程度の装備であれだけの成果を出すのだ。そのような者がランク100相当の装備を手に入れた上で都市を襲えばどうなるか。君にも想像は付くだろう」
「そ、その装備の入手の阻止は出来ないのですか?」
「入手元に対しての工作は極めて困難だ。その装備は坂下重工からのアキラへの報酬だからな。下手なことをすると坂下重工への敵対行為となる。そして、彼にその入手手段を提供したのが、私と君なのだよ」
ヒカルが絶句する。そして話の規模が予想外に大きくなっている上に、それに自分が訳も分からずに巻き込まれていることに平静を大きく欠き、イナベに向けて思わず悲鳴のような声を出す。
「ど、どういうことなんですか!?」
「教えるが、坂下重工が絡むことなので紙にも出せない内容だ。よって口頭で伝えるが、君もこの情報の扱いには留意してくれ」
アキラは以前から自身のハンターランクによる使用制限を超えた強力な装備の入手を求めており、キバヤシやイナベを通して受けた依頼の報酬に、その調達への協力を求めていた。そしてヒカルから受けた都市間輸送車両護衛依頼を契機にして、
善良で倫理的なハンターに強力な装備の調達を協力したが、そのハンターが予想外の事態により都市と敵対することになった、ということであれば、イナベも多少は責任を問われるだろうが、その地位を揺るがすような致命的な事態にはならない。
しかし人格面に著しく問題がある者ならば話は別だ。大きく責任を問われることになる。特にヒカルはアキラを都市間輸送車両の護衛依頼にかなり強引に
それらの説明を聞いたヒカルが震え出す。イナベはその震えを相手が事態を正確に認識した証拠だと理解した。
「改めて言おう。私達には後が無い。この事態を穏便に済ませなければならない。細かい指示は出さない。キバヤシから称賛された能力を存分に発揮して事態の解決に動いてくれ。私への秘匿回線への接続コードを渡しておく。何かあれば連絡を入れろ。以上だ。すぐに動いてくれ」
イナベからそう告げられても、ヒカルは動けず、返事も
「......分かったわよ。やってやろうじゃないの!」
退路が無いなら進むしかない。
賞金首となったアキラはクガマヤマ都市から車で数日といった辺りの荒野に潜伏していた。キャロルのキャンピングカーのお陰で寝床は十分、弾薬類も余裕があり、食料も数週間程度は保つ状態だ。事態に何らかの進展が出るまで隠れていようと大人しくしていた。
そこで秘匿回線でキバヤシから連絡があり、前にアキラが機械化兵隊蜂を倒したことを、汎用討伐依頼に
500億オーラムの賞金首だな。そんな小銭じゃ物足りないか?」
「いや、そういう訳じゃないけどさ。ほら、前にタンクランチュラって賞金首がいただろう? あいつの賞金は8億オーラムだった。そのタンクランチュラより桁違いに強かったのに、報酬が5000万オーラムってどうなんだろうって、ちょっと思ってさ」
「そりゃそうだ。賞金首の賞金額は相手の強さで決まるんじゃなくて、どれだけ死んでほしいかっていう基準で決まるんだからな。普段上空を飛んでいて、地上の流通ルートに悪影響を及ぼさない相手に、高額の討伐料は支払えねえよ」
「うーん。そういうことか。でもなぁ......、あんなに強かったのに......」
納得しきれないアキラにキバヤシが根拠の補足を続ける。
「諦めろ。それにそもそもこの地域では、あの手の大物を倒しても初めから割に合う報酬は支払えないんだよ」
報酬額の説明を聞いて納得したアキラに、キバヤシが更に補足を続ける。
「だから、お前に500億オーラムの賞金が懸かっていても、お前がそれだけ強いって意味にはならない。いや、俺はそれだけ強いって思ってるぞ? 他のやつらがどう思うかってことだ。モンスターではなく人間に懸けられる賞金額には、体面とか制裁とか、恨みつらみとか、隠れてるから見付け
「分かってるって」
「よし。また何かあれば連絡する。じゃあな」
キバヤシとの話を終えたアキラに、キャロルが少し心配そうな顔を向ける。
「私が言うのも何だけど、そのキバヤシって人、信用できるの?」
「多分な。利害の一致って意味でだけど。あいつは俺が死んでも構わないけど、死ぬ時は可能な限りド派手に死んでほしいって考えで、金や組織の
ある意味でアキラらしい考え方だと思い、キャロルは楽しげな苦笑を浮かべていた。
「それにしても、アキラは500億オーラムの賞金首になったっていうのに随分落ち着いてるのね。何でそんなに余裕なの?」
普通はそうはならないと思いながらも、キャロルは
「それにキャロルのお陰で野宿は免れてるんだ。荒野でもキャンピングカーだから風呂もベッドもあって、しかも俺の家より良い設備なんだ。そこでしっかり食ってしっかり寝れば、十分落ち着けるよ」
「そう? でも食う寝る殖えるなら、要素が一つ足りてないんじゃない? 残りも提供できるわよ?」
「悪いな。色気より食い気は継続中なんだ」
「危機的な状況ではないし、危機的な状況にするつもりもないから、お決まりのパターンにはならないな」
キャロルは駄目で元々と思って言ってみただけであり、誘いを断られても少し
クガマヤマ都市の防壁内、中位区画と上位区画の境目付近で、一時的に軟禁を解かれたクロエがウダジマと一緒に坂下重工管理下の領域に向かっていた。既にラティス達とも合流しており、二人はクロエの背後に控えている。
クロエに頼まれて
を刺したウダジマと入れ替わり、坂下重工の職員が案内に現れる。
「クロエ様で御座いますね? ご案内致します。どうぞこちらへ」
クロエ達が職員の案内で奥に進んでいく。施設内の警備の人員は全て坂下重工側の者であり、交換可能な警備装置なども坂下重工によって交換されている。それらにより、辺りにはまるで現在でも稼働中の遺跡奥部のようなどこか異質な空気が漂っていた。そしてある部屋の前に到着する。
そう言って丁寧に頭を下げる案内役の職員を通路に残し、クロエ達が中に入っていく。室内にはクロエの交渉相手の男と、その護衛がいた。
クロエは改めて覚悟を決めると、席に座ったまま自身を迎えた男の前に立ち、リオンズテイル社の創業者一族、ローレンスの者として
クロエがスガドメとの会談を望んだ表向きの理由は、ミハゾノ街遺跡で起こした騒ぎの謝罪だ。ハンターオフィスの前とはいえ所詮は遺跡内での出来事であり、どの程度の問題として扱われるかは状況による。クロエはその釈明と謝罪代わりの交換条件の話し合いをスガドメに嘆願し、ウダジマの仲介でそれを通した。
そしてスガドメの前で改めて事情を説明する。まずはオリビアのカードの貴重性、重要性、危険性を伝える。その上で、やむを得なかった事情を説明していく。
一介のハンターが偶然にもそのカードを部分的に所持しており、自分はその状況を危険視して譲渡交渉をしたが、十分な報酬を用意したにも
くほど責任を感じているとご理解ください。そしてハンターオフィスは統企連の傘下組織であり、五大企業の意向に沿う組織であります。よってミハゾノ街遺跡のハンターオフィス前での騒ぎであれば、坂下重工様に頭を下げるのが道理であると判断致しました。そして私も曲がり形にもローレンスの一族の者。頭を下げる相手を選ぶ必要が御座います。そこらの者に頭を下げては我が社の信用にも傷が付きます。それらを考慮し、誠にお手数とは思いましたが、スガドメ様の貴重なお時間を頂きました」
そこでクロエが白いカードを取り出して提示する。
「そしてここから本題となります。これがそのカードで御座います。今回の件の謝罪と致しまして、私にはこのカードをそちらにお譲りする意志が御座います」
クロエの背後に控えていたラティスとパメラの表情が
「ありがとう御座います。では、まずは私の方から条件の提示をさせて頂きたいと思います」
「いや、その必要は無い」
「それは理解する」
ますます困惑するクロエに向けて、スガドメが態度を変えずに告げる。
「譲渡の意思のみで謝罪としては十分だ。そのカードを手放す必要は無い。そのまま持って帰りたまえ」
しいのですか? このカードの価値は先日のミハゾノ街遺跡での騒ぎ、多数の人型兵器と遺跡の防衛兵器まで巻き込んだ戦闘で十分に理解できるはずです。それだけの戦力を産み出す遺物です。ここで坂下重工様の管理物とならず、後日建国主義者などに流れたらどうするのです?」
それを防ぐ名目でも欲しいはずだ。要らない、などとは有り得ない。クロエはそう判断して揺さぶり返してみた。少なくともクロエ本人はそのつもりだった。
「では君を殺そう」
After she had completed the inter-city transport escort request, Hikaru was staying out of trouble and led a rather peaceful life. Although she had the ambition and the arrogance of a gifted youth, after she had numerous near-death experiences working with a Hunter by the name of Akira, she had calmed down considerably. She continued to do her administrative tasks without flaw. Overall, she was doing extremely well in her job.
Even after that incident, she did not stop and kept working hard. Her reputation improved with time. It was to the point where no one questioned her future success. However, at most, she would only become a city officer after a few years. This was slow in terms of the progression goal she had in the past when she was still very ambitious.
Hikaru carefully entered Inabe's office room. Looking at her enter, Inabe, who was on the sofa, immediately stopped his ongoing discussion with his men and signalled her to take a seat with his hand.
"Come in and take a seat."
Hikaru slowly and anxiously sat on the sofa in front of him. Inabe then glanced at his men, indirectly telling them to leave. Therefore, his men gave a silent bow and left the room.
Hikaru looked rather tense. Although Inabe told her with his gestures and words, he gave an order to his men with only a glance. That difference in treatment showed that currently, she had the highest priority and position here. Naturally, it was except for Inabe himself. She could feel that recognition, however, her instinctive talent was warning her not to feel happy just yet.
"...Director Inabe. Uhm, I heard that you have a job for me. So, what might it be...? To be honest, I'm in the middle of handling a few tasks from the general affair, you see... I'm afraid taking more tasks right now would affect my other tasks, so..."
Hikaru was trying to be as polite as possible. She wanted to convey that without knowing what this task was, she had no wish to accept it.
Inabe's expression did not change at all, he understood what Hikaru was hinting at but simply continued.
"It's not a problem. You can forget any other tasks you have at the moment. I will have others do them. Of course, I will take care of that using my men, so there's no need to worry."
"I-I see..."
"Before we get onto the main topic, go ahead and read these documents. You have 30 minutes."
Hikaru took the documents on top of the table. Normally, they would have been sent as digital files, but this time, Inabe made printed copies instead.
"Do you need me to explain why I printed these documents instead of forwarding them to you?"
"Is that so? In that case, let me ask you this, why do you think I went out of my way to print them?"
Inabe asked with a serious expression as he stared at her. His gaze was indicating that the consequence would be severe if Hikaru tried to come up with a non-honest answer. Although it was not an interrogation, it was something similar.
"...Considering that the documents are printed, it would mean that they contained information outside of Kugamayama city's jurisdiction. I believe that this document contains something that I normally should not know of."
"I see, any other guess?"
"Printed documents don't leave digital records in the shared database. So, the accuracy of the content of the documents can't be checked through the city's system. The only record it will leave is the documents here, which I have received from director Inabe."
"...Even if I share this information with the other officers, there are no guarantees that it has not been tampered with. Therefore, it can't be used for supplementary information during meetings. Moreover, there's a good chance that some parts of these documents have already been tampered with. It is a safeguard just in case these documents land into the hands of a hostile faction..."
"It should be fine if you already understand that much. I should at least compliment you. You are as talented as rumour has it. Now then, go ahead and read it. The lies written in these documents are easy to spot if you understand the contents. You can go ahead and ask them if you find anything questionable in it. After all, there are things that even I don't want to be on paper."
Now that Hikaru had nowhere to run, she made her resolve and started reading it.
The documents had information about Akira and Chloe. There were details of what was going on between the Lion Steel company and Kugamayama city. Akira's 50 billion Aurum bounty and recognition as a monster by Kugamayama city. Chloe being detained for endangering the city. And finally, when the city manager wanted to call an official meeting, Udajima was using his connection with the Lion Steel company to delay it. Thus, they were not able to immediately deal with the situation.
Hikaru took 10 minutes to skim through the documents. She then used the remaining 20 minutes to ask Inabe questions. With that, she was able to understand the current situation.
After Inabe finished confirming everything, he nodded with satisfaction and complimented her.
"Very good. Now then, let's get onto the main subject. I have a special order for you."
Hikaru prayed that it was not what she thought it was. However, Inabe gave her the order which she had expected based on what she had just read.
"I want you to negotiate with Akira. Give it your best to resolve this situation peacefully. Tell me if you need anything. Authority, money. Anything. I will give you as much as I can afford to give."
"W-wait for a second!"
Inabe quickly crushed the moment Hikaru was just about to make a plea. He continued as if to completely decimate her prayers.
By the process of elimination, Hikaru was his last choice. After Inabe explained this to Hikaru, her original argument was annihilated. She wanted to bring up there being someone higher, like Inabe or Kibayashi, who was more suitable to handle Akira.
"That is the reason why I picked you. Tell me if you have any objections."
Hikaru tried her best to think of a reason. Any reason to counter Inabe's arguments and shift this duty to someone else. However, even with her talent, she could not come up with any good counterargument as she completely fell silent.
Inabe then continued.
"That's right, we will be in deep trouble. When a Hunter caused damage to the city, repercussions would always go down to the source, which would lead to our unfortunate ending. Unfortunately, this would include those who have helped that Hunter to grow to be that strong. In other words, we will have to take responsibility."
"I understand that, but..."
"I'm sure you've read Akira's track record in the documents. However, there's a mistake in those records. To be more precise, the prediction for his power growth in the future has been severely downplayed. I'm sure that you had a guess already. Think of his strength based on his performance during the inter-city transport escort mission. The discrepancy is just that awful."
"What... exactly do you mean?"
"Soon, he will obtain equipment from the frontline. Equipment that those Hunters of above Rank 100 would normally use."
Hikaru's face was filled with shock and fear. Inabe knitted his eyebrows.
"He's already that strong with equipment for Rank 50 and above. I'm sure you can imagine just how powerful he will get once he lays his hands on that equipment."
"W-wouldn't it be possible to prevent that?"
"It would be extremely difficult. After all, that equipment is a reward for him from Sakashita Heavy Industry. If we try to sabotage the delivery, we would be picking a fight with Sakashita Heavy Industry. Moreover, the ones responsible for this are you and me."
Hikaru was greatly taken aback. Not only had the scale of the trouble just grown exponentially well outside her expectation but for some reason; a reason she could not understand one bit, she somehow found herself directly involved in this mess. Hikaru could not help but screech at Inabe.
"W-what do you mean!?"
"I can tell you, but since it has something to do with Sakashita Heavy Industry, it can't be recorded. So, I can only verbally inform you here. Furthermore, you need to be extremely careful with this information."
Akira had always been trying to get equipment way above the limit of his Hunter Rank. He somehow managed to get Kibayashi and Inabe to agree to help him. This was in exchange for doing a request from them. By completing his inter-city transport escort mission with Hikaru, half of that deal was completed. As such, Akira was currently only waiting for his new equipment to arrive. However, due to the transport route limitation imposed by Sakashita Heavy Industry, it got delayed for quite some time.
Originally, they only procured such powerful equipment for law-abiding Hunters. If such a Hunter had become hostile towards the city, the damage to Inabe's name would be minimal. It would not be enough to shake up his position.
However, that would not be the case if the Hunter had some kind of personality problem. The officers who helped him obtain such equipment would be held responsible. Especially Hikaru, who had forced her way to get Akira into that inter-city transport escort mission. Since she was not even a city officer and just a staff member, she would be easily blown away by the after-effects of this incident. It would not be strange for her to be kicked out of the city.
Hikaru trembled. Inabe, who saw that, thought that it was a good sign. It was now clear that she understood the gravity of the situation.
"Let me say this again. This is our last chance. We have to solve this situation peacefully no matter what. I won't give you any specific orders. I hope you would make the best use of your talent, which even Kibayashi thinks highly of, to find a solution to this matter. I'll give you the code to contact me through a secret line. Feel free to call me if you need anything. That's all. Get on it this instant."
Even after Inabe had ordered her, Hikaru simply sat there, without responding.
"...I get it already! I just need to do it! Right!?"
If there was no route to retreat, then the only way left was forward. It was pathetic to push forward while looking down. It was much better to charge forward with a burning spirit! Hikaru told herself this as she confidently smiled, which also served to inspire herself.
Ever since Akira had become a bounty target, he spent his days hiding around Kugamayama city. Thanks to Carol's camping vehicle, he had a place to sleep and enough ammo to fight a few battles. He also has enough food to last a few weeks. He was trying to keep a low profile until the situation changed.
One day, he suddenly received a call from Kibayashi through the secret line. Kibayashi managed to get the giant insect that Akira had defeated the other day to be counted as a general-purpose monster-hunting request. Of course, in reality, he worked 'together' with Latis to defeat that monster. However, since Chloe was the one who lured the monster this close to the city, she was denied the reward. Thus Akira was recorded to be the only one who defeated that monster.
"Oh, is it too little? As expected of someone with a 50 billion bounty on his head. That much is just way too small of a sum for you, isn't it?"
"No. That's not it. It's just that there was a time when I defeated a tank tarantula bounty monster, right? That one was 8 billion Aurum. It's weird how I only got 50 million Aurum considering that wasp was much stronger than that tarantula."
"Well, that's given. The bounty of a monster is not decided by how strong it is. It is based on how much people want that monster dead. So, it is unlikely for them to pay a lot if that monster usually only roams way up in the sky. Which means it hardly causes any issues for those living on the ground, you know?"
"Hmmm, is that so? But still... it was really strong though..."
Toward Akira, who did not seem to be able to accept this, Kibayashi continued to explain.
"Just give it up. In the first place, no one around here would be able to pay you enough money to make it worth hunting that kind of monster, you know?"
After Kibayashi explained, Akira finally accepted the reason for the low reward. Kibayashi then continued.
"Look. Even if you have a 50 billion bounty on you, that doesn't mean you are that strong. Don't get me wrong. I do think that you're a strong Hunter. But the issue is not my thoughts but others. It will greatly affect how many come after you. After all, there are many factors that affect others' perception of you besides your fighting ability. For example, restrictions or grudges that they have for you. How well you are hiding, which would make it difficult for them to find you. Since they're facing a human and not a monster, I'm sure many believe that they just need to find a small opening to catch you off guard. So, be careful."
"I know."
"Alright. Call me if something comes up. Later then."
Kibayashi then ended the call. Carol looked at Akira, worriedly.
"You might not want to hear this from me, but, are you sure we can trust that guy?"
"Maybe. Though, I can only say that since we have the same goal. That guy doesn't want me to die and would prefer I go down in a blaze of glory. So, he's doing everything he can not because of money or power. It is all merely for his own interest. So, I guess, from that perspective, it's okay to trust that guy."
Carol thought that it was so like him to think that way. Thus, she wryly smiled at him.
"But still, although you have a 50 billion Aurum bounty on you, you're pretty calm. Why is that the case?"
Carol thought that this line of thinking was far from the norm. However, she did not pursue the matter any further. Meanwhile, Akira simply gave a light smile.
"Moreover, thanks to you, I don't need to spend my nights in the middle of the wasteland. With your camping vehicle, I even have a bed to sleep on. I also get to bathe. Also, the bath and the bed are even better than the ones back at home. I have a place to sleep and food to eat. There's no reason for me to be that worried, right?"
"Is that so? Now that you have food to eat and a place to sleep, won't that leave only one thing? I don't mind helping you out with that, you know?"
"Sorry. I still prefer food over women."
"We're not exactly in a dangerous situation, and I don't have any plans to make it more dangerous than necessary. So, I guess this is the same as always, no?"
Carol was only teasing him, knowing that he would say no right from the start. She could only smile wryly and appear exaggeratedly disappointed toward his rejection.
Along the border between the inner district and the middle district of Kugamayama city, Chloe, who was temporarily detained, was heading toward the area under Sakashita Heavy Industry. She was accompanied by Udajima, and had her servants, Latis and Pamela, following behind her.
Udajima, who arranged for the upcoming meeting at Chloe's request, anxiously advised her.
As she reminded herself not to do anything rude in place of Udajima, a guide from Sakashita Heavy Industry appeared.
"Chloe-sama, I presume? Please allow me to be your guide. This way, please."
Chloe and her servants went inside, following the guide. All the guards in the area were from Sakashita Heavy Industry. It gave a feeling of entering an archaeological site, which was in the midst of excavation. They were then led to a certain room.
The guide said so and politely bowed. Chloe and her servants then entered the room, leaving the guide in the hallway. Inside, the person who was going to negotiate with her was already waiting with his bodyguard.
Chloe once again ascertained her resolve. She stepped in front of him, who was waiting for her while still sitting in his seat. She smiled politely, worthy of someone from the founder family of the Lion Steel company.
The reason Chloe asked to have a meeting with Sugadome, was to apologize for the recent incident near Mihazono ruin. Although it was right in front of a Hunter Office, how serious it was seen as a problem was another matter. Chloe used this as an excuse. She wanted to offer an explanation and apology to Sugadome. She used Udajima to convey this.
And now, she was explaining the situation to Sugadome. First, she conveyed the value, necessity, and danger of Olivia's card. To wrap it up, she mentioned how she did not have any other options, which led to that incident.
A certain Hunter came into the ownership of the card by accident. Chloe, who thought that it was dangerous, went to the Hunter and requested him to hand over ownership to her. Even with everything she had prepared, the Hunter refused. In order to make sure that this dangerous relic would not cause any trouble, she had no other choice but to use force. That was how their negotiation had turned into a battle. Although the Hunter understood that he was in front of a Hunter Office, it was obvious that he had no plans of holding back. In order to protect herself, Chloe had no other choice but to fight back.
"I feel responsible for this situation. I feel that it would be wrong of me not to directly convey my apology. Moreover, the Hunter Office is an organization under the Corporate Government. As such, it obeys the will of the 5 largest corporations. So, I thought that it was only to be expected for me to apologize directly to Sakashita Heavy industry. Also, although I look like this, I'm still a part of the Lorentz family. So, I can't just lower my head toward anyone. If I lower my head, it will hurt the pride of our company. With that in mind, although I know it would be a small inconvenience for you, I asked for your time to have a direct face to face meeting."
That was when Chloe pulled out the white card.
"And this will be the real reason. This is the card that I have mentioned. As a form of apology, I wish to give this card to you."
Latis and Pamela, who were standing behind Chloe, seem to have completely been blindsided. They never expected Chloe to give Olivia's card away. However, before they could plead their master to reconsider, they reminded themselves. They were in front of Sugadome. Therefore, they could not afford to embarrass their master.
"Thank you very much. In that case, please let me state what I expect in return for this card."
"No. That won't be necessary."
"I already understand that."
Chloe obviously seemed troubled. Therefore, Sugadome stated with his unchanging expression.
"Your willingness to trade that card is indeed enough as an apology. But there is no need to give it to me. You may leave with that card."
"Is that so? I'm sure you understand how much this card is worth. All that trouble from the battle in Mihazono ruin, which included several powered suits from the city defence squad. It's just that valuable of a relic. Just think of what might happen if this card falls to the hand of the Nationalist instead of an officer from Sakashita Heavy Industry?"
Chloe thought that Sugadome would not want that to happen. Thus, he would not refuse this chance to get the card. That was why she said as much.
"Very well then. I shall have you die."
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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