Chapter 11: The Gun is Mightier than the Pen - 2

Previously!

I went to get a patent to deal with the Millennium kids!
But it was taking too long, so I just forced a meeting with the General Student Council President, and we had a good talk!

As a result, I got three big things from the General Student Council President.

The right of reduced punishment, information protection, and a patent free-pass.

I got the right of reduced punishment to reduce the noise that will arise from various promotional activities in the future, and information protection simply means that they will censor information about 'The Farm' from various databases.
The fact that Neru and Yuuka found 'The Farm's' location in less than an hour says it all. They said they'd hide various things like our location, employee names, etc. Since it's the General Student Council, they should be trustworthy.

Lastly, 30 patent free-passes.
This is actually the most important thing. Small companies like ours are at high risk of having their technology stolen.
Of course, there are other uses for it... but it's too early for that, so let's move on.

Anyway. In return for this, I have to do things like toppling Kaiser, which I was planning to do anyway, helping with some weird treaty, and also helping someone who will come later.

All things considered, for an unexpected meeting, this is a pretty big gain.
Of course, the fact that the General Student Council President's expression was incredibly sad when she asked me to help the adult who will come later is a bit concerning, but that's at least two years away.

For now. I have to solve the immediate problem.

"Kaiser."

One year. To be precise, by the end of this year. Our 'Farm' must grow into a company that is, by anyone's standards, superior to Kaiser.
Having the company and all my employees snatched away by those unlucky bastards and being worked like a slave? That's more than a little annoying.
So I have to stop it. For now, there's nothing more for me to think about.

With my mind made up, I headed back to 'The Farm'.

* * *

A week has already passed since we terrorized Millennium and successfully covered it up to secure a contract.

Naturally, we didn't just play around during that time; we got a lot of things done.
The most important thing is probably that we've not only produced what we need to deliver to Millennium but also manufactured weapons to sell.

Thanks to running the factory for a whole week, we spent 1.05 million yen on operating costs out of our 1.43 million yen, plus another 10,000 yen for the kids' room and board, leaving us with only 370,000 yen. But we have the contract payment from Millennium coming in, so it was a sufficient amount.

Of course. We gained something in return for spending that much money.

"FAR - 01, seventy units. Thirty-five thousand rounds of dedicated ammunition. Inventory is ready."

FAR is the new name for the assault rifle produced at 'The Farm'. It's because opinions kept coming up among the staff that 'Farm' was lame.
Anyway, Millennium requested fifty guns and twenty thousand rounds, so this is more than enough.

Next, the patent application. I used the free-pass ticket from the General Student Council President and sorted it out on the same day.
With this, we have one less thing to worry about, namely Millennium stealing our technology.

Now we have 29 pass tickets left. Considering the types of guns and ammunition we'll have in the future...
Good. This should be enough.

Next, I improved the company's welfare and living standards a bit.
We're currently living a strange life of sleeping under blankets and eating all three meals from a convenience store. We could be called out for labor rights issues at any moment, and it wouldn't be weird at all.
Of course, since all the current employees are ex-Sukeban, they'd be happy just to have a roof over their heads to block the rain and sun... but we might hire more employees later.

Since it's a factory that Kaiser used, the internet and electrical infrastructure are sufficient, and we have the contract with Millennium. So, I simply bought some mattresses, a small refrigerator, a microwave, a dining table, and chairs.

'It cost a bit of money since it's for eleven people...'

This leaves us with 140,000 yen.
This is enough.

Finally, I bought a truck.
Huh? How did I buy it with only 140,000 yen left?

"...Are you guys really not attached to it?"

"That's right. We've decided to leave this life behind."

"Well, what are we going to do with a Sukeban-exclusive vehicle anyway?"

"Right, right. You can just sell it off now."

"We let go of our attachment a long time ago, you know?"

"My Vroom-vroom..."

The Sukeban kids sold the vehicle they used to ride.
Although the exterior was old and rusty, the internal parts were in surprisingly good condition, so it seems they got a good price for it.

They must have taken good care of it. It's probably a lie that they have no lingering attachment to a car they cherished so much...
Well, they say they're fine with it. It's not my place to be stingy.

"Sob..."

One of them didn't seem to be, though.

"Anyway, thanks, everyone."

"Then please raise our salaries."

"When business is good. And besides, we haven't even negotiated your annual salaries yet, so how can I raise them?"

For now, the employees are working without a salary negotiation in exchange for room and board.
Well, since they're the core personnel who are laying the foundation of 'The Farm', I plan to pay them well.

"Alright! Load it all up! We have to get to Millennium!"

Anyway. There's only one reason I bought a truck.

"Hnngh-!"

It's because the weight of these munitions is on a ridiculous level.
The main material alone is heavy metal, and there are several boxes of it, so it's heavy even by student standards of strength.

Of course, it's not like we can't lift it, but we don't know how much it will increase or how far we'll have to go in the future, so I bought it in advance.

So how much do we have left?

"20,000 yen."

...I need to get to Millennium quickly.

"Let's go, guys!"

""Yes!!"" 

Among the employees, me, Arin, Sarin, and three others decided to go.
The remaining six are scheduled to guard the factory and stock up on some groceries with the remaining 20,000 yen.

"My Ppang-ppang-i..."

"Are you still on about that?"

Is Sarin just full of affection, or is she just childish?
In the end, she kept on like that, so Arin had to drag her and force her into the truck.

How are those two sisters? Ah, are they siblings?
Well. It probably doesn't make much of a difference. 

* * *

Actually, I didn't have to buy the truck right now.
Of course, an academy like Millennium would have trucks, so I could have just told them to come and get it.

So why did I buy a truck in such a hurry?

"What's that?"

"The Farm? Is it a grocery delivery day?"

"But it's loaded with guns? What's going on?"

For advertising, of course!
It feels like every time I visit Millennium, it turns into an advertisement.

A truck, by its very nature, is a large and loud means of transport.
Naturally, such a truck would draw attention, and then, naturally, people would also pay attention to our company name written on the truck.

"Alright! Everyone out!"

At my words, as the employees got out of the truck one by one, many students started to stare.
Part of it is because we drew aggro with the truck.

"...Sukeban?"

"Nah. No way Sukeban would come here so openly."

It's probably also because we're all wearing masks and sunglasses.
In Kivotos, the only ones who cover their faces are the Helmet Gang or Sukeban.

Still, there's too much suspicion, but...

"You never know. They said something happened during the Millennium Prize preparations a few days ago..."

So it was because of me, dammit.

But I can't just let them keep whispering...
Ah. She's here.

"Over here, Miss Yuuka."

Formal speech first. There will be no swearing at first sight like last time.
Unlike me, who is almost fully prepared, Yuuka doesn't seem to be.

"Don't people usually come quietly?"

"Is that so? I'm not very familiar with these things."

Why would I miss a free advertising opportunity? You have to use what you can.

"A? Please speak."

"Yes. Miss Hayase Yuuka. Here are the fifty units of FAR - 01 and twenty thousand rounds of dedicated ammunition requested by the Millennium student council president. You can send the contract payment to the account we provided you with last time." 

A is a sort of codename I gave to Arin.
 Not just Arin; I've named myself 'Farmer', and Sarin is 'S'.

As I said before, it's best to hide all the information you can.
I didn't request information protection from the General Student Council President for nothing.

"One moment... please place it here."

Just like Millennium. Unlike our 'Farm', which uses trucks and handcarts, some kind of platform that moves on its own arrived.
Can't I buy one of these later? It would be convenient for the employees.

"This..."

"Ah! Thank you. I wonder when I dropped it?"

Arin picked up the accounting sheet that Yuuka had dropped, and at my signal, the kids began to move the munitions in earnest.

While the employees were loading them one by one, I had a brief conversation with Yuuka.

Well, most of it was about the guns or the contract payment...

But it wasn't completely devoid of information.
First, it seems Yuuka succeeded in getting into Seminar.
Seriously, after doing such hard labor and even getting caught in a terrorist attack, she still wants to join? I don't get it.

And the information that was interesting was...

"The Engineer Club, you mean?"

"Yes. The Engineer Club. To be precise, one of its members won. At the Millennium Prize." 

Millennium is an engineering-focused academy that is practically treated as a school full of geeks. But an Engineer Club in such a Millennium?
This can't fail. It's bound to be helpful at some point.

"By any chance, could I meet that student?"

"It's difficult right now, but I'll speak to the President later and get you an access card."

"Thank you. What did you say the student's name was?"

"Shiraiishi Utaha. A first-year in the Engineer Club. The invention she made is a rubber band with adjustable elasticity. It was quite popular because it can be used for various things, from hair ties to packing straps. Would you like one?"

"Why would I use that?"

"Oh! Give it to me!"

"S... ...Hah, just one, please."

The rubber band I received was of a quality befitting a winner. It fixes at a certain strength when a certain amount of force is applied, and to return it to its original state, you just have to cool it in cold water...
Utaha. I'll remember that name.

If I have her and Sarin talk about weapons later, they'll probably come up with a lot of masterpieces.

"The money has been deposited. Now then, the way out is..."

"Ah. Before you go, could you just tell the student council president one thing for me?"

"What should I tell her?"

"Well..."

Just then.

BANG—!

"—!"

"Boss!"

"It's fine. I caught it."

Out of nowhere, a bullet came flying towards my head.
I blocked it, but this is no ordinary person.

A speed that I could only see by momentarily putting power into my 'eyes'. A force that felt like it scraped my whole palm even when I caught it.

"What the hell is wrong with Millennium's security?"

"Just a moment, I'm a bit flustered myself right now."

Even if it was us once, getting raided twice in a month?
You're really something else.

Just then, the person who fired the shot revealed themselves.
The culprit was a completely unexpected person.

"...You are."

"It's been a while, hasn't it, hah?!"

No wonder the bullet's power felt extraordinary—!

"There can't be two people who would catch that bullet instead of dodging or blocking it, right?!"

...I don't have a single good memory of seeing her.

"Are you crazy? Neru? Is this how you treat a guest..."

"'Farmer'. A request came in to bring you in."

"...Hah."

There's only one person who would make such a request.
I didn't expect to meet her in person.

The student council president of Millennium.