Morning, at the Jade Mansion in the capital of Edsilla.
I met Zia there. To be precise, she had summoned me herself.
“…l’m suspicious.”
Zia muttered with a troubled expression on her face.
“What are you suspicious about?”
I asked calmly. She narrowed her eyes at me.
“Would my sister… Johanna really give up her inheritance over something like this…?”
I could understand Zia’s worries. Johanna was inherently unpredictable.
Even as the strategist, I couldn’t be more than 70% certain about the success of the operation.
“She’s an enigma…”
Indeed, before my regression, Johanna, betrayed by Zia, had committed an act beyond anyone’s imagination, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of lives.
It was a catastrophe caused by an emotionless monster.
“Don’t worry. The probability is high.”
However, if she were to develop emotions, if one day, as Jade’s old lover once said, she is able to value others as she does herself, she wouldn’t ascend to the inheritance.
Moreover, it would be in Johanna’s own best interest not to do so.
“The problem now is lord Derek.”
I changed the subject.
“The artificial intelligence… you’re talking about that, right?”
“Yes.”
Zia caught on immediately.
Derek was somewhat predictable, unlike Johanna. And it was precisely because of this that he would fall.
Johanna had always played wild cards. Casinos, department stores, multiplexes, magic spaces, etc. — all ventures that were disadvantageous to latecomers.
Yet, Johanna succeeded, and Derek was up to his neck.
“I also… don’t know how my brother’s business will turn out…”
“Lord Derek is under a lot of psychological pressure.”
Johanna’s momentum showed no signs of waning, and even the company Vern kept threatening Derek with. With only a few years left for the succession decision, he must be under extreme stress.
It is this building pressure that will lead to Derek’s downfall.
“Lord Derek’s artificial intelligence is dealing with human souls.”
That’s why he’s committing these abnormal acts, one after another.
“Souls…?”
Zia’s eyes widened.
“Yes. He’s overwriting souls to process them into artificial intelligence.”
“…”
Zia was momentarily at a loss for words, as if she hadn’t known.
“That’s illegal…”
“lt’s beyond illegal. It’s a serious ethical issue.”
Even for a great house like Libra, there are limits to what they can cover up. Overwriting souls is a grave criminal act that crosses that line.
If it had been before my regression, perhaps Sonya would have dealt with him personally.
But the current Sonya is only focused on expanding the business. In other words, she’s not a strategist but a bureaucrat.
As for Zia's strategist, it’s probably me at the moment.
Shion Ascal.
Therefore, it’s also my role to deal with Derek.
“What should we do?”
Zia looked at me. Her expression was tinged with various emotions.
“…”
Without a word, I quietly pondered.
Perhaps I was only pretending to think.
She wants to become the successor. To do so, she must bring down her siblings.
Before my regression, Zia had done so ruthlessly.
Without leaving any room for doubt, she trampled over her siblings.
She brought Derek to ruin, threw Johanna in prison, and killed Jade.
“…Shion. What are your thoughts?”
She asked me, her voice drifting.
I gave her the answer she was hoping for.
“lf you wish to become the successor, this is an excellent opportunity. Leave it to me”
“Do you…?”
“Yes. Within a year, Lord Derek will be shaken, and in three years, Miss Zia will stand in his place.”
“…”
Then Zia looked at me. I looked back at her.
Eyes like the sea, a blue that was more Libra than anyone else’s, drew a gentle curve.
“…Alright. I’ll leave it to you.”
As Killian, I went to the lab. There was no one there.
So much for flexible hours. Looks like it’s true.
‘Hey. You see this?’
I spoke to Grawl.
‘Yep. I see it.’
‘Good. Keep watching. You might have to impersonate me later.’
‘Understood.’
Having a dual identity is difficult. Especially for a job like a researcher, where time is of the essence.
Therefore, I plan to get a little help from Grawl and Akane this time too. Only in unavoidable circumstances.
“…”
I looked around the lab. Then I approached the glass wall that Vito had shown me before.
Tszszsz—!
I pulled the lever.
The other side of the glass lit up for a moment… and there was nothing.
“?”
I blinked. There should have been countless tanks overwritten souls in here.
“What are you doing there?”
Suddenly, a voice slithered in.
It was Vito.
“That… it’s gone.”
I pointed beyond the glass and added nonchalantly.
“I wanted to see that beautiful sight once more.”
“Ah~ that thing? Of course, it was a hologram. Could we really keep such an important factory inside a lab like this?”
“Wow… as expected. You are Dr. Vito.”
I exclaimed naturally.
It’s one way to filter out spies. Show fake information openly to induce leaks.
Vito said.
“Shall we start with the work?”
“Work… Yes. Yes, anytime.”
“ls there a particular area you, Dr. Killian, would like to develop?”
I shook my head.
Because I've never developed anything before. Not once in my life.
“No. I will only follow Dr. Vito’s instructions.”
“Hmm… I wonder if I hired you too hastily.”
Vito raised his eyebrows as he handed me a piece of paper.
“Take it.”
“…What is this?”
“What do you mean? It’s the research formula I developed. It’s for operating the process of overwriting souls a bit more efficiently.”
I looked at it. Vito’s research formula appeared quite, no, extremely complex.
“Would you like to try interpreting it?”
Vito asked.
“Um…”
Of course, I can’t develop a formula. It requires too much excessive thinking.
“ITI give it a try.”
However, I should be able to calculate which parts of an ‘already created formula’ work and which do not, using my [NotepadJ .
“…”
I stared intently at Vito’s formula. On the paper, visible only to me, magical paths glowed blue.
The automatic computation of the formula.
Fzzzt—!
Suddenly, sparks flew across my retina. There was a blockage in the formula.
Meaning, it wasn’t operating normally.
“What’s the matter?”
Vito inquired.
“Dr… Dr. Vito.”
I showed him the paper.
“This part.”
I pointed to the branch that had caused the magical sparks.
“There’s something about this part that’s troubling.”
“What’s troubling about it?”
“Well, I’m not sure what the problem is with my level of expertise…”
“…Give it here.”
Vito took the paper back and peered intently at the spot I had pointed out. For about 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes.
“This is… Oh, wait a moment.”
Suddenly, he grabbed a pen and began scribbling on another piece of paper, then turned to me with a shocked expression.
Vito scanned me up and
down.
“No calculator, no Artifact, no computer…”
“lf my observation
is incorrect”
“N0, you’re right. Dr. Killian, your observation is correct, and this part is wrong. I twisted the circuit incorrectly.”
A clear smile appeared on Vito’s lips. He stroked his grass-like hair and said,
“You have intuition, Dr. Killian. I think I understand how you created
Deepmind.”
“…Thank you.”
I didn’t understand what he meant, but it seemed like I had scored some points.
…
Outside the artificial intelligence department’s lab. Vito, who was getting coffee from a vending machine, was approached by someone.
“Dr. Vito?”
It was Riley, with her violet hair.
“How’s the new recruit?”
She inquired of Vito about the latest talent.
“I like him. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this way. Did Director Gedley bring him in?”
“Well, that’s what they say.”
Riley also pressed the coffee button on the machine. As she watched the liquid pour into the paper cup, she asked,
“How’s the artificial intelligence coming along?”
“l'm in charge, so of course it’s going well.”
At Vito’s confident response, Riley let out a hollow laugh.
“Doctor, you do know, right? Derek has staked his life on this project. In the midst of ongoing tension with Everett”
“MS. Riley.”
Vito turned to look at her.
“I report directly to Lord Derek. Without going through you or any other bothersome intermediaries. So, he is well aware. He knows what I’m doing and just how perfect my artificial intelligence is.”
“……That’s a relief, then.”
“Don't get too cocky just because you snagged one good recruit. I’m Libra. I’m not like you pets.”
Vito’s expression cracked. Riley forced a smile as she retrieved her coffee from the vending machine.
“I know, Dr. Vito. I do respect you, you know?”
Vito didn’t even wait to hear her out and swiftly left.
Riley glared at his retreating back and carefully flipped him off.
“What a pain in the ass.”
To Vito, the honey trap clearly didn’t work. He didn’t seem to like women, nor did he seem to like men; maybe he was just a maniac for science.
“Tsk.”
Riley clicked her tongue. This time, Derek had promised a heavenly investment in the artificial intelligence project.
So, if she could somehow extract that information, it would deal a significant blow…
“Huh?”
Riley suddenly spotted someone.
It was Killian.
“Dr. Killian?”
“…Ah. Hello.”
He nodded curtly. Dressed in a white lab coat and white shirt, he was also the typical scientist.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“Ah… Yes, please.”
Riley pressed for another cup of coffee from the machine.
“How’s the research going?”
She asked casually, feigning interest.
“l'm just assisting. Dr. Vito is quite remarkable.”
“Oh~ What did you do?”
“I just tweaked the research formula a bit.”
“I see.”
Riley took the coffee from the vending machine and handed it to Killian.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
She pretended to hand it over but deliberately brushed her fingers slightly against his. Making sure to touch the back of his hand.
At that moment, Killian’s body had a strange reaction. His fingertips trembled slightly.
“……”
Riley quietly looked up at him.
As their eyes met, he slightly averted his gaze and took a sip of coffee, holding the paper cup with both hands.
It worked.
The honey trap that didn’t work at all with Vito clearly had an effect on this man.
“Well, I have some work to do, so I’ll be going. Keep up the good work with your research, Doctor!”
“Ah, yes. Yes. Please go ahead.”
The problem was whether this man had any value to use.
“See you later~”
“Yes……”
Killian watched Riley with a somewhat dazed look, and Riley, feeling a surge in her self-esteem, turned around with a twirl.
……
I gulped down the coffee in one go. I watched Riley leave with her model-like stride.
“……Goodbye.”
Just in case, or rather definitely because she would hear, I murmured in a soft voice.
“……”
Only after she had completely disappeared did I lean against the vending machine.
I plan to use Riley. In a somewhat good way.
Researcher Killian has to become a conscientious whistleblower, but it has to be Riley who exposes that conscience to the outside world.
“Let’s become a hero.”
The hero of Vancheon.
The organization of Vancheon isn’t exactly perfect either, but Riley, you’re trustworthy.
If possible, you should also climb to the top.
I crumpled the paper cup tightly and threw it in the trash can.
Director Yu Hains’s Spring Water Hospital
I stopped by there for my monthly treatment for Cancer of the Magic’s Core.
“……Here. This is my investment for this month.”
Thud!
I handed over a heavy bag of money to Director Yu Hains, who accepted it with practiced ease.
“S0, how’s the machine? Is it developing well?”
“Technological development always requires the right amount of money.”
“l've invested quite a lot already.”
Salary, bonuses, and other part-time job earnings, I have been endlessly offering money to Yu Hains.
Yu Hains looked at me and furrowed his brow.
“Do you know how much it costs to make just one proper drug?”
“Yes. I know.”
“And to invent a treatment device that’s much more popular than such a drug? Naturally, it would require hundreds, thousands of times more. Your investment is nothing more than a speck.”
“……”
He sure knows how to squeeze out a request for money.
If I hadn’t known about Yu Hains’s future, I might have thought he was a con artist.
“Anyway, I’ll continue to invest.”
“Today's procedure will have some changes.”
“Oh? Are you finally doing something worth my money?”
“We’ve upgraded the ‘integrated circuit’ a bit.”
I didn’t understand what he meant, but I nodded anyway.
“I suppose that means it’s improved.”
While saying this, I looked out the window of the director’s office. In the garden of the Spring Water Hospital, I could faintly see the dark figure of a human being.
It was surveillance.
Naturally, Johanna’s surveillance.
“Then let’s get going.”
“…Before that.”
I stopped Yu Hains as he was about to get up from his seat.
“Director, you also visit the Libra Medical Center, don’t you?”
“I do, but”
“Do you by any chance treat Johanna as well?”
I deliberately floated the topic of Johanna.
“Occasionally, yes. However, Johanna’s primary physician is another doctor. Why do you ask?”
“Ah… just wondering.”
Johanna was probably watching from a distance by now. She would continue to tail me, suffocatingly so, and eventually come to Professor Yu Hains to press for something.
Specifically, about ‘the reason Shion Ascal keeps coming to you.’
“I really like that person.”
She is someone who becomes meticulously calculating and cold-hearted when she wants something.
Even if Yu Hains doesn’t tell me, she’ll find a way to extract my information somehow.
“…Like? Are you suddenly confessing your feelings?”
He was baffled. I just shrugged my shoulders.
“Just. I hope she’s not in pain. Since I’m a patient myself.”
“I can’t discuss the details about a patient, but there’s probably no one healthier than her.”
“That’s a relief then.”
I stood up.
“Let’s go.”
Enough acting for now, it’s time to extend my life a little longer.
