Chapter 4 - Long-Awaited
A clear-voiced advertisement pours out from a gigantic screen that has taken over the outer wall of a super-tall skyscraper.
[ Are you tired of living and finding it hard? Do you need intense stimulation when you roll around for a round with a sex toy? Then how about buying this product? The 『DG Morphine No. 9』 package set, infused with the philosophy and know-how unique to the Sichuan Tang Family Corporation, has been newly released! Cheap happiness you can taste for only 200 credits! Instead of hesitating like a fool, order right now! ]
Van Bio Company headquarters, the chairman's office.
A middle-aged man, Ingrid van, who had been looking at the instant drug advertisement beyond the transparent window, opened his heavy mouth.
"It seems the documents that should have gone to that drug cartel have arrived here by mistake."
"They arrived correctly."
"······."
An old tradition of the Federal Supreme Court.
The written verdict of the final trial is delivered in person to both plaintiff and defendant by a federal Executor.
It's under the pretext of preparing for any unforeseen situation, such as refusal to accept the judgment or flight. Chairman van was not unaware of this, but the documents placed on the table bore a result printed far outside his expectations.
『 The plaintiff Van Bio Company shall immediately pay the defendant Sichuan Tang Family Corporation compensation of 500 million credits 』
"As you can see, your side lost the lawsuit."
At the Executor's thunderbolt-like notice, Chairman van swept back his falling hair and said.
"······I cannot understand this at all."
The core of the lawsuit that had continued for months.
The nano antidote "Van-Type 4", developed by his company, was made to effectively treat drug addiction.
He had thought demand would overflow, given its very successful clinical results, but a problem arose before it could even be released to the market.
Sichuan Tang Family Corporation, a Murim sector mega-corp that dominates the world's pharmaceutical market and drug market, did not welcome the release of the nano antidote.
It would have been fine if it had stopped at simply not welcoming it, but they pressured them from all sides, claiming that the nano antidote developed by Van Bio infringed on their patents.
The giant of the Murim sector, the great Sichuan Tang Family Corporation.
Ranked 7th in total market capitalization across the entire federal stock market.
A group positioned in the upper tier even among mega-corps.
Even so, Chairman van chose litigation.
His mage's pride had been triggered by abuse so absurd he couldn't bear to watch it happen.
No matter how imposing that mega-corp's power was, he believed they wouldn't be able to bury the evidence his headquarters presented. Because it was certainly a product his headquarters had developed on its own.
He thought that even if the corrupt city court couldn't be trusted, if he dragged it all the way to the Federal Supreme Court, he would surely win.
In addition, there was also the calculation buried underneath that he could receive help from major corporations that had shared interests with his headquarters.
Because his eldest daughter, Rubenka, and the man she was engaged to were the heir of an influential group within the magic world.
But it seems it was a thorough miscalculation.
This morning, the group connected by engagement unilaterally notified them of the broken engagement, and the Federal Supreme Court declared a final defeat.
And on top of that.
"Compensation···500 million credits, immediate payment?"
The market capitalization of Van Bio Company listed on the stock market (F&S Federal Stock Exchange) is about 900 million credits. Even if you add together Chairman van's owner stake and the treasury stock stake, the total he holds is 40%.
Even if he sold the entire company to the market, he cannot raise 500 million credits immediately. Due to investment in the nano antidote manufacturing facility, the headquarters' liquid assets are also at rock bottom.
A Federal Supreme Court ruling that is practically no different from a forced declaration of bankruptcy.
The evidence his headquarters confidently presented, or even the federal justices themselves···in front of the underlying power of a top-tier Mega-Corporation, they couldn't become any kind of obstacle at all.
Could there be coercion as outrageous as this.
Screeech- crackle-
The notice documents the Executor brought floated up into the air under Chairman van's magic power, then were shredded into tiny pieces and scattered like powder.
"Even those so-called justices were dogs licking the mega-corp's backdoor. Not even worth more than insects······to think the reason they refused to entrust judicial authority to artificial intelligence until the very end was something that pathetic."
Chairman van's vulgar curses continued.
But despite his razor-sharp momentum, the Executor only asked calmly.
"Did you have a decent backer?"
"······Yes. it was cut off this morning."
"Hmm, you must have had something you believed in, so you acted so stiff."
"Two days before deciding on the lawsuit, a green young low-level Tang Family employee came to me—do you know what he babbled at me?"
"He probably did something like threaten you."
"He said if i handed over the antidote's code and patent rights, he'd let me keep my face. To dare say that to me."
"There's nothing easier to crush than the pride of a fairly successful mage."
Bam!
The enraged Chairman van kicked himself up from his seat.
Magic power flaring up like a wildfire in an instant.
Every piece of furniture in the office warped and rose into the air, vibrating as if it might pierce the ceiling at any moment.
It was a truly threatening sight, but.
"It's no use complaining to me."
The Executor's attitude remained indifferent from start to finish.
"······."
And then.
Thud!
Chairman van suddenly dropped to his knees.
That prideful figure of the magic world, casting aside even the title of chairman of a mid-sized company everyone envied.
"My children are capable enough, so please do your best to let them escape responsibility for the compensation. Odin···Valhalla···anywhere—please let them live like people."
The company's shares are also held by the two daughters.
Rena and Rubenka each hold 1%. Since they are an owner family holding shares, the Sichuan Tang Family Corporation's demonic beast will surely reach even his two daughters.
The federal Executor shook his head.
"Truly irresponsible paternal love."
"I will pay you."
"······Ridiculous."
"Executor Rubergen. don't you need credits? Even to my not-so-great ears, rumors about you reach me."
"Then would you pretend you didn't hear them."
"50 million credits."
"Stop."
"100 million credits. please work for just two people."
"You have a lot of money."
"100 million, and i'll even give you Bloody Essence as w—······."
"Didn't i clearly tell you to stop."
In that instant, under the Executor's overwhelming pressure that suddenly changed and seized his throat, Chairman van's breath caught—
Feeling that further persuasion was impossible, Chairman van bit down hard on his lips and said.
"Then I will refuse the judgment."
"This Executor did not come to negotiate, but to deliver the Supreme Court's will. So there is no option called refusal."
"So you're telling me to shut up and die quietly."
"Up until now, most have done exactly that."
"······."
Chairman van's mouth closed tight like a clam.
After sitting still for a moment, suppressing his anger, the Executor finally turned his body only after confirming the sight of him clutching his head.
"I'll take it as confirmed and be on my way."
A little later.
As the reaper-like federal Executor's figure vanished, the furniture that had been floating in the air clattered down.
Most of it was miserably crushed and mangled. Just like what would happen to the van family from here on.
"······."
Left alone like that.
How much time had passed.
Chairman van, blankly staring at the ruined office, suddenly began laughing like someone addicted to drugs.
"Heh, hahah······."
And then.
His bloodshot eyes, reddened from burst vessels, turned toward a certain space in the corner of the office.
***
Van Bio Company, Rena's office.
"Young lady."
"Stand quietly facing the wall."
"Ah. yes."
Today, it seems it will be hard to ask for refreshing cola and goofing off. A dedicated Servant's life is this absurd.
While Rena, still displeased from last night, does her work, I secretly connect to the public Citynet to pass the time.
News lined up one after another, like some law had passed in the Baldur Council, or a military supplier company had gone bankrupt.
Suddenly, after connecting to the Federal Stock Exchange, I searched for one company.
'Sichuan Tang Family Corporation.'
[ Company name ]
Sichuan Tang Family Corporation
[ CEO ] : Dang Byeok-un.
[ Headquarters location ] : Surt, Nanjing.
[ Main industry ] : Pharmaceuticals.
[ Market capitalization ] : 188.4 billion credits.
[ Total rank ] : 7th ▲ —
[ Annual revenue ] : 19.3 billion credits.
[ Total employees ] : 359,000 (estimated)
This is the rough information on Sichuan Tang Family Corporation disclosed by the F&S Federal Stock Exchange.
World market cap rank 7.
They're so shady that in reality they might be even more formidable than the numbers shown. Showing all of one's power is something only back-alley black factions do, after all.
'Whether it's the old-school orthodox factions or···even in another world, a Tang Family is definitely a Tang Family.'
In contrast.
[ Company name ]
Van Bio Company
[ CEO ] : Ingrid van
[ Headquarters location ] : Baldur City
[ Main industry ] : Nano medical devices
[ Market capitalization ] : 900 million credits
[ Total rank ] : 711th ▲ 54
[ Annual revenue ] : 57 million credits
[ Total employees ] : 1,300 (estimated)
Van Bio is a fairly well-known company in Baldur City, but compared to the Tang Family, it looks quite shabby. Even though the company has been growing rapidly recently, it's still like this.
The issue currently heating up the stock world.
The patent lawsuit war between Van Bio and Sichuan Tang Family Corporation over the nano antidote.
'If this goes wrong, it'll end right there.'
The Tang Family I know are not reasonable people. The Sichuan Tang Family Corporation of the Central Plains in my 3rd playthrough world was like that, and after living here for 20 years, the Tang clan here are also blockheads.
Back in Murim, even the absolute masters of the unorthodox faction and the eccentric experts avoided clashing with the Tang sect.
Once you get on their bad side, no matter who the opponent is, they are vicious bastards who dry your blood out until you die.
But.
Rena's father, whom I serve as my master, swung a blade at that Tang Family not long ago. Something about a patent lawsuit.
There's already such a huge gap—i don't understand what confidence made him oppose them.
Is that mage's pride really that important? No matter how good he is, how great of a mage could he possibly be.
From experience, whatever happens, something big will definitely happen.
"Levan!"
A voice calling me as I was lost in thought.
Is she finally going to allow cola.
I pushed my thoughts aside and answered briskly.
"Yes! Young lady."
"Th-that, i think you should look over there······?"
"?"
Following the tip of Rena's finger pointing toward the office entrance, a man walking straight toward us came into view.
A rather tall figure with a middle-aged appearance.
A rough suit in a pitch-black dark color.
A confident, dignified gait.
On his exposed wrists and fingers were metal weapons that looked like a military pulse gun and a monomolecular wire launcher, and seven star marks left unhidden as if to say, look all you want. On his chest, an official ID floated in an elegant hologram.
『 Federal Executor - Yuke Rubergen 』
My mouth wouldn't open.
·····A federal Executor?
Why is a federal Executor here?
Step-
Stopping right in front of me, the Executor slowly stared at me.
Just his gaze brushing past was enough to make my body tingle with intimidation. Rena, who had been working, is also only rolling her eyes at the bewildering situation of a federal Executor's appearance.
"Are you that young lady's Servant? Since when?"
A sudden barrage of questions from the Executor directed at me.
Hiding the many doubts rising in my head, I answered mechanically.
"This is my tenth year."
"I see."
"Is there something you need?"
"No. It's just···."
As he spoke, the Executor bent down and whispered quietly to me.
I was wondering if a magic-world corporate Servant also has a hobby of piling up inner power in their dantian.
"······."
His calm tone contains killing intent.
How am I supposed to take this situation.
Why is a federal Executor targeting me? No, where did such a monster suddenly pop out from and—······.
As my head grew chaotic with all sorts of thoughts, the Executor's next words shattered my distracting thoughts.
"The Tang Family are truly vicious, too."
"······?"
"When you arrive, tell them to do it in moderation."
Leaving only that puzzling line behind, the Executor quickly turned and left. Only after he disappeared did Rena exhale the breath she had been holding.
He appeared out of nowhere—what was all that.
A figure like that wouldn't approach a mere Servant to crack a pointless joke.
'Tell them to do it in moderation······what?'
And that question of mine—
Didn't last long before it was perfectly answered.
About an hour after the federal Executor named Yuke Rubergen left.
Riiing-
Riiing- riiing-
Receivers connected to the company's communications network rang one after another, as if on cue.
"W-what? That startled me. What's going on all of a sudden—······."
[ This is the 1st-floor Lobby. Sichuan Tang Family Corporation has come, saying they have an appointment with the chairman······. ]
[ This is the underground security post. An Executive from Sichuan Tang Family Corporation has come to see the chairman—shall we send them up? ]
[ The managing director of the Baldur City branch of Sichuan Tang Family Corporation has come to see Chairman van······. ]
Isn't there such a thing as instinct and intuition.
Only now do I think I understand what that federal Executor bastard meant earlier.
Ssssss-
"······."
At that moment.
A strange sense of déjà vu felt on my skin.
I focus on the information my five senses are sending.
For some time now, a vague scent, like alcohol diluted in water, has been stimulating my nose—something I've definitely smelled before somewhere.
A scent left faintly in my memory.
Given the current situation······
'Mihonsan.'
Colorless, formless, but with a scent.
A drug that makes the inhaler's mind grow hazy. The moment I recognized that Mihonsan had been dispersed from somewhere, I stopped breathing.
Inhale—
Right, today was the day dogs get slaughtered.
Drawing up the inner power in my tiny dantian little by little, I drove out the drug energy of the Mihonsan I had already inhaled.
"···I'm sleepy. Is it because I couldn't sleep."
Rena breathed in the drug deeply.
Her pupils are already half unfocused.
If she inhaled that much, there's nothing I can do either. Before long, she'll collapse.
Then.
KWA-KWANG-!! KWA-KWA-KWANG-!!!
Not just once, but several times.
From the very top floors of the building, massive shockwaves and explosions that make my eardrums ring burst out repeatedly. The floor shakes as if it could collapse at any moment.
At this point, with a situation erupting that anyone could see is not normal, I, a mere ordinary Servant—
"Today really is the day dogs get slaughtered."
I couldn't help but laugh.
Mihonsan or whatever—
The longed-for chance to escape has finally arrived.
▶ Emergency situation
▶ Protection target - Carry out Ingrid van Rena's safety with top priority.
Grab—
A warning sound pounding in my head.
Following the coercive force of the Full-brain Control chip, I hoisted the unconscious Rena like baggage and sprinted madly out of the office.