It seems Rose has succeeded in her alliance with Spec Company.
The results of her hours-long negotiation with Director Benio were satisfactory.
After finishing a major task, I and the Major decide to return to our private room in the Brigade and rest for a while.
Akabane, who was waiting in the room, brewed us some tea, which we gratefully accepted.
While enjoying the aroma of the high-quality tea, I recall the content of our general agreement.
* Spec Company will provide the Rose Cross with state-of-the-art equipment. In return, the Rose Cross will report combat data to Spec Company.
* Spec Company will provide financial support to the Rose Cross as needed. The Rose Cross will publicly acknowledge this and express its gratitude.
* Spec Company will dispatch the Ghost Brigade to the Rose Cross as observers.
* As the Imperial Princess, I will work to promote Spec Company, its affiliated companies, and allied organizations.
Yes, yes, it’s a great success. As long as the general framework is decided, Clifford can handle the details.
And I also learned about adult circumstances, which are the secret clauses not to be made public.
* The Rose Cross will not accept cooperation from Tron Company, Spec Company’s biggest rival. We will also handle their products as little as possible.
I would have liked to gain cooperation from Tron Company as well, but if we insisted on all our demands, negotiations would not have been possible.
Compromising where we can, that’s what a WIN-WIN relationship is all about.
I want to praise myself, but this achievement is not solely my doing.
If Major Toma hadn’t given me advice via Telepathic Communication several times, this wouldn’t have happened.
Furthermore, it was Major Toma’s plan to bring up the topic from two years ago and incite a confrontational atmosphere.
“Major Toma, you took a stance of opposition, and I mediated. That’s a clever move.”
“Benio could read that much. But she truly believed that if she didn’t accept the Princess’s mediation, she would break off relations with the Brigade. And she was right. That was my intention.”
“What! That wasn’t an act!?”
“Benio too. Rather than embrace me and perish together, she chose to cooperate with the Princess. That kind of woman.”
“Major, I… I’m getting flustered now. In some scenarios, you could have been in danger!”
“It was done with a sufficient calculation of prospects. If Benio were an idiot, she wouldn’t have done this.”
“Couldn’t we have proposed cooperation from the beginning?”
Major Toma replied, rattling the ice in his whiskey glass.
“If we had done that, she would have tried to take advantage of us. We would have agreed to terms far more unfavorable to the Rose Cross. Princess, negotiations are about assessing your opponent and strategizing. If Benio were a short-tempered fool, it would have ended in a breakdown, but she’s short-tempered yet sharp-witted.”
Is that so… Negotiations are conducted by assessing the other party, huh?
I still have so much to learn from this unknown but reliable person.
“I’ve learned a lot. Please continue to teach me various things.”
When I said that, Major Toma shook his head.
“It’s fine to take reference, but if you adopt my methods, you’ll become a twisted person. Princess, do you know what that kind of negotiation is called?”
“No, what is it called?”
Major Toma smiled, his lips twisting behind his Skull Mask, and said.
“It’s called brinkmanship.”
Brinkmanship, huh. It really was the brink.
“I don’t want to do brinkmanship too often.”
“Anyone who does it repeatedly is an idiot.”
“I see. If you keep using brinkmanship every time, eventually they won’t take you seriously.”
“That’s part of it, but you only resort to brinkmanship when you’re at the brink. If you’re negotiating repeatedly and can’t escape the brink, you’re just an idiot.”
That’s true… Oh! I had something else I was curious about.
“Major Toma, do you think Director Benio can persuade Spec Company’s executives?”
Even if Director Benio, who is not an executive, can be persuaded, it may not become Spec Company’s policy.
If it’s rejected by the board of directors, it’s all over.
“If she can’t, then my assessment is wrong. Benio will do her best because her position is on the line. People with their backs against the wall are strong.”
It was we who lit a fire under Director Benio’s behind…
“…I feel like we might have done something bad.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not a bad thing for her either. If the Rose Cross succeeds, as you said, she’ll be promoted from executive officer to director. Of course, if she fails, she’ll be disgraced. Light has its shadow, and high returns come with high risks; that’s the law of the world. But you don’t need to worry. Benio will handle it well, as it’s a beneficial deal not only for her but also for Spec Company. Instead of worrying about that, let’s worry about what comes next.”
“What comes next?”
“Whenever something is set in motion, there will always be repercussions. We need to consider countermeasures starting now.”
In this context, repercussions means negative effects, right?
“What kind of repercussions will there be? Spec Company has just become our ally, hasn’t it?”
“Princess, everything has two sides. Gaining an ally means creating an enemy as well.”
…An enemy? Oh! Right, it’s natural, but…
“It’s an unfavorable situation for Tron Company, Spec Company’s rival, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Now, what kind of move will Tron Company, which may fall behind Spec Company, make?”
…Hmm. What kind of countermeasure will they take?
“Princess, try to think from their perspective. If you were a big shot at Tron Company, what would you do? Spec Company has gained the authority of being the ‘Imperial Princess’s choice.’ What would be the best way to counter?”
“…To gain authority equal to or greater than theirs? …!! …To approach my brother, Prince Adel, right?”
“There’s a possibility of approaching the Emperor instead of the Prince, but I don’t think that Emperor would agree to such a proposal, so you can exclude that from your thoughts. However, Prince Adel is highly likely to agree. Even if he’s offered slightly disadvantageous terms out of rivalry with you.”
“That’s right. My brother might do that. No, he probably will.”
“And so, we’ve found ourselves involved in a proxy war between two giant defense contractors. We’ll think about countermeasures to their countermeasures later, but don’t get too deeply involved with Benio, alright?”
“Why not? Director Benio is on the Rose Cross’s side!”
“For now. But if your ideals begin to materialize, she might turn into an enemy. While we should build trust, if you get personally invested, you might end up hurt. The defense industry thrives on war. You should keep that in mind.”
I felt dizzy. I was starting to like Director Benio, who was competent and humorous, during the hours of negotiation.
And yet… I have to prepare for the day she might become an enemy.
But I understand that the defense industry doesn’t want peace to break out. That’s because the defense industry is also in the business of death.
And Major, who can calmly consider such unpleasant possibilities, is the mastermind I expected…
I admire Major Toma and rely on him… but he also scares me.
What kind of circumstances shaped him into this kind of person? I’ve become curious about the Major’s upbringing.
While I was taking a break, Major Toma made a phone call, and after he finished, he made me a proposal.
“Princess, do you have the energy for one more job?”
“I’m alright. What kind of job is it?”
To be honest, my mental stamina is almost depleted from negotiating with Director Benio, but I don’t want to show weakness.
I don’t want the Major to think I’m an unreliable partner, so I’ll do my best!
“It’s a simple job. We’re going to the Doctor’s Laboratory now. It seems one of your little friends is eagerly awaiting us.”
Tasche’s Bio-Metalization was finished, wasn’t it! I’m coming, I’ll pick you up right away!
“That’s not work, that’s a reward! Let’s go right now!”
I hurry Major Toma along as we head towards the rooftop heliport.
Wait for me, Tasche. I’m coming to get you right away!
