ch63

“Paradise Tower boasts a perfect sunlight design, just like Harvest Planet. It’s a landmark completed after thorough review, and its duplex structure was implemented according to the Chairman’s emphasis on inspiring pride.”

“…Does it actually help?”

“Most people believe they’ve been given a clear goal: ‘Raise the floor where your position is located!’”

This bizarre building didn’t have a way to go directly from the lobby to the upper floors.

You had to go from the 1st to the 10th floor, then from the 10th to the 20th. You could only go up by crossing one zone at a time and then boarding another elevator.

It was in line with the city’s landscape, which separated residential areas and activity zones according to income.

Also, this is one of the reasons why I flinched when I heard the word “47th floor.”

I could feel the interesting attention of the office workers, now that we had left the first elevator zone where outsiders were still occasionally seen. I wondered what it would be like on the higher floors.

…If I ever had to go against the flow and escape from here alone without permission, would it be realistically possible?

As the automatic doors slid shut, the gazes that had been watching me, who had entered without even wearing a visitor pass, were blocked off. Now, only the two of us were left in this narrow box heading upwards.

But somehow, the level of the comments being thrown at me was getting higher and higher, as if she wasn’t just acting according to a set manual.

“We have data prepared on the livelihood benefits and pension system that you would be eligible for if you were hired as a headquarters employee… Would you like me to send it to you via Cyberware?”

“No, I’m really okay…”

“The benefits guaranteed by Paradise also include health insurance that your family can use. If you don’t have any family members who can use the insurance… then bonus points will be given in your performance evaluation… so please keep that in mind…”

“……”

I stared intently at the guide, who was sweating profusely but still maintaining a forced smile and a welcoming attitude.

As soon as I got on the elevator going to the 40s, I wondered what kind of crazy recommendation this was.

Even as she was saying it herself, she seemed to realize that it was definitely not something to say to someone who had come to apply for alimony, and her voice gradually shrank.

…It seems that the premise that there are two people in this place is wrong.

I wanted to advise whoever was on the other side of the earphones to learn how to speak indirectly or make subtle suggestions.

The guide who was riding with me clearly wanted to quit her job because of my displeased eyes, even though they weren’t even increasing the number of employees right now.

“…What departments are on the 47th floor?”

Once I thought that far, I realized something was wrong.

If yesterday’s Dreyfus had expressed his condolences for my false obituary, but still wanted to sort out and rebuild our strange relationship… then the current method was too blatant.

Just randomly. Emphasizing only the good aspects of the company and urging me to join?

It didn’t make sense when I thought about the conversations we had and the conflicts we faced.

More than anything, sometimes head-on. If that didn’t work, then filling in the moats around the edges first.

From suggestion to threat. And finally, back to subtle persuasion.

If necessary, he wouldn’t hesitate to use strong-arm tactics, but it was hard to find his color, which had shown a way of subtly subduing me completely from the inside out by catching me off guard first.

It was a somewhat harsh structure to call trust. …But I had at least a minimum of faith in his skills, or rather, his ability to plot things.

“From the 45th floor onwards, the core departments of Paradise and the offices of the top executives are located. More details can only be disclosed after you have formally signed a contract…”

And what does this guide think of me, who does she think I am, to be taking me like this?

“…I asked the wrong question. Which of those executives is waiting for us?”

“……?”

A bewildered look returned.

She looked so embarrassed that I, the one who had brought it up, felt awkward.

It was to the point where I felt sorry for her, as if she was complaining with her whole body that I was making things difficult for her when she was already stuck in the middle.

“It was found that you have an appointment to meet with Mr. Dreyfus of the Strategic Planning Department… Did I perhaps make a mistake…?”

“…It’s nothing.”

The fact that my suspicion was just a misunderstanding made me feel even more guilty…. No, my own situation is dire, so it’s a relief if it’s a misunderstanding.

I waved my hand to reassure her, who was fidgeting as if she had committed a violation. It was just a simple confirmation.

It’s not like I particularly enjoy being in difficult situations all the time, so I should stop wasting my energy on unnecessary worries and prepare to compete with my silver tongue and meager wit….

“Of course, before you go to Mr. Dreyfus on the 48th floor, you have to meet Mr. Weisman, the head of the General Affairs Department on the 47th floor.”

“Cough!!”

…Cancel! Emergency!!

I was so dumbfounded that I suddenly choked, even though I hadn’t even swallowed my saliva.

If you belong to a company, I would tell her that you should have at least studied the internal factions.

Maybe it’s safer for her to work at the company without knowing anything about politics, but because of that, I’m about to suffer unfairly.

Head of the General Affairs Department, Mr. Weisman, full name is probably Vincent Weisman. I had definitely learned that he was one of the leading figures competing with Aaron Dreyfus for success.

Ah, shit…!! My business hasn’t even started yet, but I was already caught up in unnecessary disputes and tiring work.

“Let’s go straight to the 48th floor?”

“I’m sorry, but I have instructions, so I can’t do that…”

The concessions I could make were over.

Feeling a sense of crisis that my way out would disappear if I just waited foolishly, I tried to operate the elevator buttons as I pleased.

Whoosh! At the same time as the sound of air being cut, a hand suddenly popped out and grabbed my wrist.

“?!”

“Mr. Weisman is adamant that the interview order must be followed… It would be difficult if you acted arbitrarily.”

I didn’t even see the process accurately. I was just guessing based on my right arm, which was in a position where I couldn’t move.

The part that was grabbed didn’t hurt, but I was also chilled by the fact that I had unilaterally allowed contact before I could even react.

In reality, if that hand had gone to my neck, it would have been a suppression rather than contact, so it was my mistake to regard a Mega Corp employee as a hotel employee just because of her clumsy appearance.

So….

“…I understand, so could you please let go of my hand…?”

“Oh my! I was very rude!”

Please let me go, I’m way too late to run away.

Thanks to this, I realized very clearly that Implant is such a despicable technology! …From now on, let’s try our best to avoid close combat.

Tap… tap….

The 47th floor, the General Affairs Department of Paradise, had already arrived. I forced my feet, which wouldn’t fall easily, to follow the leading guide.

I came here because I thought that constantly avoiding it wasn’t the answer, but once I realized that the way to resist physical oppression was ambiguous.

If things go wrong, I felt the need to partially change my plan to take the headquarters system or database hostage and threaten them.

If harm seems likely to be inflicted, I’ll release a special ransomware everywhere that’s connected immediately.

…I’ll argue that this isn’t malicious, but a perfectly natural self-defense.

“Head of the General Affairs Department Weisman, I have brought citizen Anastasia Valentine. Should I wait outside until the first interview is over?”

“No, there’s no need for that. I’ll take care of it, so you can leave now.”

After a polite knock, the office door opened as soon as their conversation ended.

The guide gave a light nod and quickly left.

The information I had received was mainly about Dreyfus, so the information about Weisman was not detailed.

He was just described as a typical member of the upper class and a stubborn person who was constantly at odds with him….

“…Like a lower-class person, you don’t know how to value time. Come in quickly.”

“Hoo….”

…First, I took an additional deep breath to calm the rising rebellious spirit.

The reliability of the information has skyrocketed, so it’s actually a benefit.

The way he spoke as if it was a foregone conclusion that I would obediently follow his orders was quite annoying, but I felt a little better when I thought that he was underestimating me.

I’m just an ordinary citizen and mercenary who suddenly started being watched… There’s really nothing special about me…!

“So, you’re the one. The human that Mr. Dreyfus has been painstakingly flirting with these days.”

“…Anastasia Valentine, at your service, Mr. Weisman.”

As bad as his first words were, his impression wasn’t good either.

A protruding forehead and nose, and skin that was awkwardly pulled as if he had gotten Botox instead of anti-aging treatments.

Seeing that he had snatched me on the way, it must be true that the General Affairs Department has a similar level of authority to the Strategic Planning Department. He looked experienced, but I didn’t feel that much dignity.

“…Only basic Implants for signal transmission and reception? How bizarre.”

“……”

I wondered why only his eyes were so clear, but it seems he has an artificial eye with a scanning function.

As if he was appraising an object, he got up from his seat and circled around me, examining me here and there.

Honestly, it was disgustingly uncomfortable, but… I endured it for smooth progress because I couldn’t figure out what this man’s purpose was. This is what he suddenly blurted out.

“Aaron, I thought he wouldn’t even let a syringe needle get close to him… Did he belatedly open his eyes to playing with women? His skill in hiding his mistress is so terrible that I’m very disappointed. She wasn’t even a troublemaker I needed to interfere with.”

‘…This son of a bitch?!’

I vaguely understand the logic.

A person with a different level of power is lingering around a citizen who has barely undergone any physical modification, so they must be in that kind of relationship.

Of course, that wasn’t a good reason to hear those kinds of words at our first meeting.

“I’m sorry, but… I’m having trouble following the topic you’re talking about…”

“Forget about the job offers you heard on the way. There’s no place for worthless people here.”

“……”

Is this what they call being despised?

A feast of insults that were more than just direct, almost bordering on verbal abuse.

In the end, I couldn’t hold back my anger any longer… I couldn’t…….

Wait a minute, this might not be something to get angry about.

He’s taking his interest away on his own.

If a person who was just asked to come was kicked out by a related party, then isn’t it no longer a problem for me to get involved?