Rose proceeds to negotiate with Spec Company.
In the Ghost Brigade’s private room, Major Toma and I wait for the return of Director Kujou Benio, an executive at Spec Company who oversees the Ghost Brigade. The Ghost Brigade is Spec Company’s New Weapon Experimental Unit, and borrowing it requires their consent.
“Hmm, h-how should I talk to get their approval? We should probably hear Spec Company’s conditions first, right?”
“There’s always the possibility they’ll reject us outright.”
“Ah! Right. Even if Major Toma approves, Spec Company might not.”
“Don’t worry, if we speak with sincerity, I’m sure they’ll understand.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Nah, not at all. I don’t deny the value of sincerity, but it’s true that it’s not a universally shared value. Well, I’ll create the opening for persuading Spec.”
“You will?”
“Just the opening. Whether you can seize the opportunity is up to you, Princess.”
I don’t quite understand what he means, but if the Major is going to create an opportunity for me, I’ll make sure to seize it. If I can’t convince one person, I don’t deserve to be the head of the Rose Croix.
A knock echoes through the room. I wonder who it is? Akabane enters.
“Well, well. Princess, I hope you are in fine spirits.”
He bows elaborately, so I play along.
“Indeed. There is no need for such formalities. What is it?”
“A delivery.”
He hands me a Memo Chip.
“Um, what’s recorded on here?”
“It’s my order. Princess, please take good care of this can. This completes the preparations.”
What preparations are they talking about? The can he mentioned earlier must be this, right? Even if my home meant this Brigade’s waiting room, they said it was alright to take our time… No. “Taking our time” meant the opposite. They meant hurry.
“Major, Director Kujou has returned. She seems more short-tempered than usual, is it about that matter?”
“Most likely. Akabane, our positions are about to change slightly.”
“Our tasks remain the same, right?”
“Yes, we have no other tricks up our sleeves. Princess, shall we go? It’s time for a war of words.”
A word war between an executive of a military contractor and an unknown Masked Soldier. It looks like it’s going to be a fierce battle.
“I’ve read the report. You made quite a blunder, Major. Thanks to you, I have more work to do. And you brought a VIP as your lawyer?”
Director Kujou Benio is a beautiful woman who looks good in a business suit, mid-thirties, I’d guess. She’s beautiful, but her eyes are sharp. I suppose it’s because of the leak of Major Toma’s abilities.
“I don’t know how important you are, but you’re in the presence of a princess of a nation. Before you spew insults, at least offer a greeting.”
“My apologies. I am Kujou Benio, an executive officer and head of development at Spec Company.”
“I am Princess Stinrose Ringvolt of the Empire. Please call me Rose. It’s a great pleasure to meet you, Director Kujou.”
“The pleasure is all mine. Please call me Benio, Princess Rose.”
“So, Benio, has the Mechanist Army detected the leak of my information?”
Major Toma asks Benio, lighting a cigarette with a table lighter.
“This room is non-smoking. And I don’t recall telling the Major he could call me by my first name.”
Huh? It’s non-smoking, so why is there a table lighter?
“Princess, it means it’s non-smoking for everyone except Benio. You can see how unpleasant she is, can’t you?”
“Major Toma, can you read minds?”
“No, it was written on the Princess’s face, so I just read it aloud.”
“He’s quite the clever one, isn’t he, Princess? Associating with this man will surely double your stress.”
Is that so? I’m having fun.
“So, Director, whose stress and gray hairs have increased due to worry, has the Mechanist Army detected my matter?”
“…Do you want to die? The Mechanist Army has not yet detected the information leak. Let’s discuss how to handle it while we still can. You understand what will happen if the brass of the Mechanist Army learn of the Major’s combat capabilities?”
“I will not be strong-armed into a mission because of the Mechanist Army. The information leak was my fault.”
“What!? The information leak was your blunder, Major.”
I don’t understand what either of them is talking about.
“My data and biological samples were provided to the Mechanist Army’s First Development Department on a highly confidential basis, correct?”
“Yes, as the Major knows, they were used to secure the cooperation of Marshal Neville.”
“Without my permission.”
“…I reported it to you.”
Major Toma slams his hand on the desk, and countless small cracks spread across the table.
“Benio, reporting after the fact is not reporting!”
Scary! The Major’s intensity when he’s angry is incredible. But Benio doesn’t flinch and retorts.
“Don’t dredge up a two-year-old grudge now! You had benefits from this too!”
“Only about half of what you did! Is the position of Director of Development, obtained by selling my information, comfortable? What about the title of Executive Officer?”
As Major Toma’s angry voice intensifies, Benio softens her attitude slightly and tries to deflect.
“…My apologies. However, I did try to arrange conveniences for the Major using the position I gained.”
“I’d say ‘of course,’ but I can be grateful for that. Getting back to the matter at hand, Marshal Neville and his cronies in the First Development Department have my data, and that’s where the information leaked.”
Major Toma! What on earth are you saying!
“Major, I hope this isn’t what I think it is…”
Ah! I place the Memo Chip that Akabane gave me earlier on the table. Benio picks up the Memo Chip and checks the data with her Handycom, then clutches her head with both hands.
“…So you stole it after all. The First Development Department must be in a complete uproar right now.”
“Mido Iska will likely report to the Unified Operations Headquarters about me, but she won’t report how she obtained the information. After all, the Ace candidate Kenrou is precious, and it would mean exposing the unit’s shame.”
…Major Toma intends to shift the blame for the information leak onto the Mechanist Army. He’s a mean person.
“Major, this is also a report after the fact.”
“Yes, with this, we’re finally even. You must feel a great burden lifted.”
“Don’t push it. Still, even if we shift the blame for the information leak to the Mechanist Army, they’re a capricious bunch. The brass will likely try to drag the Ghost Brigade out for campaigns against important strongholds. Why don’t we sell them at a premium? I, for one, would demand an exorbitant price…”
“I refuse. You’ve likely been running around to make those arrangements, but that plan is putting the cart before the horse. We’ve decided to change bosses.”
“Change bosses! Who on earth… I see.”
My carefully styled hair is ruined from scratching my head so much.
“That’s right. The Ghost Brigade has decided to cooperate with the Rose Croix.”
“Princess Rose, your whim is excessive. War is not a game.”
“I am perfectly serious? To you, Director Benio, I may seem like an insignificant little girl, but even a little girl is an Imperial Princess.”
“But you are not the Emperor. I would advise you not to underestimate my connections; consider it a warning.”
“Go ahead and try. It seems like it will be a good learning experience. Major, what kind of pressure will I be subjected to?”
Major Toma shrugs his shoulders exaggeratedly.
“I can guarantee it will be a good opportunity to learn how vindictive humans can be. But, Benio, I’m quite vindictive myself, and I’m not so good-natured as to passively wait for you to make your move. For starters, I’ll have the Doctor withdrawn.”
Benio’s body twitches at Major Toma’s words. It seems he’s hit a sore spot. If so, I’ll provide some covering fire. This is a war, a war of words.
“You mean Dr. Hyakume Doumeki, don’t you? Oh dear, what a pity. If the authority on bioengineering, Dr. Doumeki, were to escape, wouldn’t your position as Director of Development be in jeopardy? My father wouldn’t pay any mind to the ramblings of a disgraced man, would he?”
Benio doesn’t just take a beating. She strikes back at Major Toma’s vulnerable spot.
“The Ghost Brigade is under Spec Company’s protection. Everyone, starting with the Major, must be kept out of the public eye, correct?”
“If this becomes public, Spec Company will also get blood on its hands. If you have the resolve for that, go ahead and try, ‘Executive’ Officer?”
Um… Sabina taught me this. What was the difference between an executive officer and an officer again? Right! Even though executive officers have “officer” in their title, they aren’t actual officers. They are not supposed to attend board meetings where the company’s policies are decided. In that case!
“Director Benio, I have no intention of making needless enemies. Shall we discuss building a WIN-WIN relationship? Depending on the success of our cooperation, the word ‘executive’ might be removed from your title.”
A woman married to ambition. If Major Toma’s assessment of her is correct, she desperately wants to become a true officer. Benio takes out an expensive-looking cigar from her desk and bites off the tip with her perfectly aligned teeth in a wild manner.
“Would you care for a puff, Princess Rose?”
“Please, be my guest. I have the passive smoking prevention app installed.”
Benio takes a puff of smoke, contemplates for a moment, then extinguishes the cigar and turns to me.
“Then, let us begin negotiations to build a WIN-WIN relationship. The Rose Croix wishes to gain Spec Company’s cooperation, is that correct?”
I nod, and we begin negotiations. Major Toma has set the stage this far. We have to make this a fruitful outcome for the Rose Croix!
