"The Farm, and the Farm Owner. Interesting."
Ah, greetings, everyone.
My name is Shiranui Kaya, the true transcendent being destined to rule this Kivotos.
A transcendent being should reign alone, but pawns are necessary for the process. Originally, I intended to use Kaiser, this rotten corporation, as my pawn...
But lately, they've been crossing the line.
Last time, they asked me to approve some strange weapons, and this time, they even resorted to threats.
Well, it doesn't matter.
I had already cast out some bait, just in case something like this happened.
The arms factory, The Farm.
A fledgling enterprise that, in just seven months since its establishment, has achieved a 15% share of the total market. That old man from Kaiser must have found it unsightly, as he tried to ruin the company six months ago by using the Helmet Gang to kidnap its employees.
But they confidently retrieved their employees, and in fact, used that incident as a turning point to expand their stores and achieve explosive growth.
Splendid.
This should be more than sufficient as a stepping stone for my ascent to the position of General Student Council President.
No. What if I could control both Kaiser and The Farm simultaneously?
Wouldn't that be a feat only a transcendent being could accomplish?
From what I hear, the person known as the Farm Owner seems to be a man of integrity, unlike the Kaiser President... But what can he do if I, myself, make a request, even offering the reward of becoming an official partner of Valkyrie?
"Yes. They are waiting for you inside."
Hearing the Deputy Chief's voice from outside, it seems they have arrived.
A moment later, the door opened, and a student wearing a black mask entered. They're shorter than I expected. The mask must be for protecting their identity.
Since I was the one who called them, it's only polite for me to greet them first.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Shiranui Kaya, the Chief of Defense."
"The pleasure is mine. I am the Farm Owner, president of The Farm."
"Yes. I contacted you six months ago, and you've grown to a point where it's embarrassing to even compare. It's quite astonishing."
"You're too kind. It's all thanks to the excellent public security here in Kivotos, isn't it?"
Good. It seems their disposition towards me is favorable.
Then, shall we get to the main point?
"As I mentioned, I would like to designate The Farm as an official partner of Valkyrie."
"What exactly do you mean by 'official partner'?"
"The various supplies used during Valkyrie's training and field operations. I would like to procure those supplies from The Farm."
"That's good news for me, but which partner did you use before?"
"Kaiser Industries."
"..!"
Look at that. The way they flinched at the mere mention of Kaiser. Who would object to the opportunity to replace Kaiser?
"I would like to purchase goods worth 25.4 billion yen per month, based on The Farm's prices. Of course, this amount may fluctuate depending on the number of incidents or the type of training in a given month."
"...Excuse me, but is your budget sufficient?"
"Of course."
As Kivotos is a place where incidents occur day in and day out, the budget allocated to the Defense Office is quite substantial. 25.4 billion yen a month is a simple matter for me, but perhaps not for you.
Isn't that right?
"So. Will you accept the contract?"
"...Very well. I will send you the contract later, so please review it."
"Of course. With this, can I assume that The Farm now has a deep connection with the Defense Office?"
"Is it appropriate for an officer of the General Student Council to make such a remark?"
"It is."
Oh dear, it seems you don't have the same level of foresight as I do. The entire General Student Council will soon be in my hands, so what does a mere remark matter?
In any case, our talk was over. I was about to return to my work, and the Farm Owner was about to leave. But then.
"I have one question."
"Go ahead."
"Is this a secret contract?"
Hah, are you trying to dig up some weakness? I'll let it slide, as it seems you are still unclear about our hierarchy. In any case.
"It will be made public. Is there any reason to hide it?"
"Understood."
I have no weaknesses. I'm a transcendent being, am I not? Then, I look forward to working with you.
Pawn.
"President! Welcome back!"
"Yeah, tell Utaha thanks for me later. This mask is damn comfortable."
It was getting to be midsummer, and wearing sunglasses and a mask all the time was becoming a hassle, so I asked her for something to cover my face. What arrived was an awesome face mask equipped with a cooling system and other features.
"Welcome back, President."
"Did anything happen?"
"Well. Something happened, but it was on a similar level."
"Pardon? What level was the Chief of Defense on?"
The Chief of Defense, Shiranui Kaya. After talking with her for a bit, I've concluded that she's...
"A complete amateur. She thinks she's hiding something, but I can see right through it."
"Could you elaborate, so I can keep a record?"
Well, I get the gist of her plan. She wants to use Kaiser as leverage to bruise my pride and secure the contract, then she plans to play both me and Kaiser.
But the plan is flawed from the moment I already know she and Kaiser are in a cooperative relationship. They're two of a kind, so why would I believe her at face value?
Also, the 25.4 billion yen a month she proposed. That's also an overreach. Valkyrie doesn't receive that much of a budget, as Kanna once told me.
She's pushing it. Just to save face.
She's probably giving most of her budget to Kaiser, all while deluding herself into thinking she's the one in charge.
"We've seen it many times, haven't we? People who try to achieve goals beyond their means by building dams out of paper. I just played along a little, and she revealed everything."
Honestly, 25.4 billion yen, while a lot of money, isn't an astronomical sum for us, who are already in the mid-200 billion yen range in monthly revenue and still growing in real-time. The General Student Council itself isn't even richer than the major academies in the first place.
So why did I sign the contract?
'Valkyrie's Official Partner'. That's not just some small merit.
According to Wakamo and Arin's research, the biggest reason our products aren't selling is trust.
A company that's been around for less than a year is selling products at half the price of the established players in this field, so people think it's cheap junk or illegal. Public opinion is just not good. Of course, I could show them proof of our patents, but that would reveal my deal with the GSC President, so it's not a good option.
But what happens if the Chief of Defense endorses us and news spreads that Valkyrie is using our products? Trust will skyrocket. Sales might... I'm not sure if they'll skyrocket, but it's a positive development nonetheless.
"She probably thought she was digging up some weakness of mine. She said, 'It will be made public' in an angry tone."
Foolish. If it's made public, I'm the only one who benefits, and she's just handing it to me.
"Ah, Arin. What happened with that thing?"
"You mean the Kourin Taisai? I've arranged a meeting with Gehenna's Pandemonium Society."
The Kourin Taisai. The biggest festival in Kivotos. We plan to reveal our partnership with Valkyrie there.
It's an event where most corporations are desperate to get an advertisement slot. Naturally, the impact will be on a whole other level.
And if even that doesn't work?
Then we'll just have to carry out 'The Harvest', planned for November, in October instead. What 'The Harvest' is, will remain a secret.
"When is the meeting?"
"In five hours. Shall I prepare a car for you?"
"That would be great. While I'm at it, I should check on the Gehenna branch factory."
"...If you go, President, wouldn't everyone get nervous?"
"What are you talking about, Wakamo? I'm their meal ticket. What can they do?"
Is it something like a teacher making a surprise visit to a student's house? That sounds hilarious. How can I resist?
"Kekeke! Welcome to my Pandemonium Society!"
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hanuma Makoto-san."
God, she's loud. I was hoping the Prefect Team leader, or that lazy-looking magenta-haired student would be here instead.
Well, this one is easier to persuade.
"Right, right, what was your request?"
"It's nothing much. We at The Farm would like to participate in the Kourin Taisai this year."
"Hmm? Is that possible? All of you are students without a school, aren't you?"
"Well, we do have some students who attend school."
"It doesn't matter to me, but I have a feeling that girl Iroha will be very angry."
I sometimes feel like she's not the real student president here. Iroha and the Prefect Team leader handle all the important matters, and Ibuki is more popular.
Even Sarin bought an Ibuki doll.
So how can I persuade this Makoto? Simple. I just have to mention the Prefect Team.
"I hear the Prefect Team is participating in the Kourin Taisai this year, but there aren't many strong contenders."
"Hmm?!"
That's a lie. Just look at Millennium; Neru is participating.
"At this rate, the Prefect Team will win, and the prestige of the Pandemonium Society will fall to the ground..."
"Hmph..."
That's also a lie. They're from the same academy, why would their prestige fall? But her reaction is good. Just a little more pushing...
"Ah, if only we could check the Prefect Team. No, if only we could crush them! But if we can't participate, well, it can't be helped."
"No. Wait a moment."
Makoto pressed down on her hat and started to smile in a way that made her look important. I've seen it often because of the factory and store construction; it's the smile she makes when she's about to make a strange decision.
Just looking at her, she seems like a competent leader. It's strange.
"Come to think of it, it is unfair to prevent participation in a student festival just because they don't belong to an academy."
"...So?"
"Very well! As the host academy, I will grant The Farm permission to participate in the Kourin Taisai!!"
"Wow. Nice. Your insight is incomparable to that of the Prefect Team leader."
Am I being too soulless?
"Kekeke!! Yes! This is me!"
She can't tell the difference.
And just like that, I succeeded in getting into the Kourin Taisai. It's all thanks to Makoto-sama being so stupid—I mean, so wise.
I should treat the kids to a company dinner today.
This is the not-so-peaceful Gehenna Branch 2 factory of The Farm. I'm an employee who works here.
The work here is easy. They accept troublemakers like me, give us a dorm to live in, and even provide meals.
Yes. In a way, it's the perfect—
"Hey, we're screwed!!"
Ah, you scared me.
Why is she suddenly shouting while working? Ugh, I prefer it quiet...
"Heeh? What's the matter, Mob-chan?"
"I'm not Mob! No, that's not important... They're here! They're here!"
"Who is~?"
"The President! The President came all the way here!!"
The President. I've heard of them.
The person who started this business at the beginning of the year and brought it this far. Rumor has it they terrorized Millennium, or that they have the former Calamity Fox as a subordinate, but that's just ridiculous.
Anyway, they're supposed to be a cool person.
"What's the big deal?"
"No! The President came here in person!"
"So? We just have to work like we always do, right? I think the President would look down more on you shouting like that, Mob-chan."
"...Oh, you think so?"
The girl talking over there is my childhood friend. Unlike me, she's good with words and full of confidence.
Once the shouting Mob-chan went back, my friend came over to me.
"So? Doesn't it sound fun?"
"What does?"
"The President is here! Aru-chan, wasn't being a president your dream? Because it's 'hard-boiled'!"
"What are you talking about, Mutsuki! Hard-boiled, it's cool, but... not enough to give up a job like this..."
"Hmm~ The Aru-chan I know doesn't give up so easily..."
"That's right. If you want to be hard-boiled, you have to help people."
"No. Even so, the money..."
"What about the money?"
...Wait, who else is talking besides me and Mutsuki?
I turned my head and saw a student wearing a strange mask. In addition, Mutsuki, standing next to me, had a smile frozen on her face.
"...Eh."
"...Who... are you?"
No way.
"Me? I'm your company's president."
It's really them.
...
"Whaaaaaat~~~!!!!"
"Ah, geez, my ears."
You're really the President? No, why is the President here? Wait, did you hear everything? My conversation?
What should I do? What if they misunderstand and think I want to quit the company? I don't have any money!
My head is spinning. Ugh, what should I say...
"U-Uhm, President..."
"Ah. You're... Rikuhachima, was it?"
"Yes! That's not it, what I said earlier—"
"You're fired."
"Eh?"
"Losing your dreams, your freedom, because of money? That's ridiculous."
I wanted to live without my sister's restraints, but I came this far because I had no money.
"What do you mean by that...?"
"Go live the life you want. I'll support you to some extent until the end of the year. Enough so you won't have to worry about rent."
The reason I accepted the Sukeban kids wasn't because they were cheap labor, but because I didn't want the contradiction of their past blocking their future to exist. From what I overheard, it seems you want to start your own business? I can help with that much.
"Really! Thank you so much!"
"Wow, Aru-chan! Now you can achieve your hard-boiled dream!"
Hard-boiled? Is that the company name? Sounds cool.
"In return, just do me one favor during the Kourin Taisai."
"Just say the word!"
With this, the final button has been fastened. Now all we have to do is wait for the Kourin Taisai.
And so, I enabled the creation of a group that would, in the distant future, attack my hometown. But at the time, I didn't know.
No, really. How was I supposed to know they'd attack my sister? At the time?
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