Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Time to Change Strategy (4)
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To win someone's heart, you have to target what they need most.
The Radiance Church had gained the people's favor that way before. By providing the poor in the outskirts with immediate meals to fill their empty stomachs, job opportunities, and protection from the tyranny of criminal organizations.
But the inner city residents' situation was a little different.
For those whose living conditions were somewhat stable, the problems they faced were health and survival itself.
The giant insurance companies' monopoly and exploitation, carried out under the pretext of essential medical services.
As a result, most citizens living in Omega Detroit suffered under crushing medical bills.
Bills they couldn't afford were killing far more people than any illness.
So Celestina's proposal this time was to strike at that injustice and win their hearts.
"What do you think?"
She tossed out the idea and fixed her gaze on me.
The first thought that came to mind at her words was, of course... my healing powers.
'No way, she wants to use that.'
But I quickly shook my head.
Celestina was a manager with keen insight.
She couldn't possibly be unaware of the very concerns I was wrestling with right now.
Yeah, this was the inner city.
If I abused my abilities recklessly, megacorp informants would be knocking on the church doors before the night was out.
'That... would be dangerous.'
The megacorps in Omega Detroit's top ten capital rankings.
Each one was a force equivalent to a nation.
The church's strength had grown tremendously so far, but they were still opponents we couldn't face.
My best option was simply to avoid drawing their attention... quietly gather faith and return to my original world.
To do that, using miracles in the city should be reserved strictly for necessities.
'I'm not the type who doesn't value my own life.'
I wasn't some selfless saint who'd throw myself into helping others without weighing the risks.
Everything I'd done so far was just because it was feasible.
If it wasn't possible, it wasn't.
I knew where to draw the line.
'But...'
If not using my abilities, then the only realistic option was something practical.
'What if we set up medical insurance just for believers? Use the cathedral's spare funds to create a foundation...'
But that led to the same dead end.
Most hospitals in Omega Detroit were already in the pocket of the big insurance companies.
The biggest reason consumers couldn't switch from those absurdly low-payout companies: hospitals lobbied by them wouldn't accept claims from competitors.
So to afford those killer medical costs, people had no choice but to stick with the giants that controlled most hospitals.
If you had insurance when treatment was needed, you had a fifty-fifty shot at reimbursement...
Without it, you were done the moment you got sick.
People had no choice but to bet everything on that slim chance, tears in their eyes.
Given that reality, the ironclad monopoly barrier the insurance companies had built seemed impossible to breach, no matter how I thought about it.
So I looked back at the woman across from me.
"........."
Celestina was still wearing that enigmatic smile.
What could she possibly mean? As I pondered, she gave me the answer.
"No need to overthink it. If they've already taken over the existing hospitals... we just build a new one. A medical facility exclusively for the church, one that doesn't take their bribes."
I blurted out my objection in surprise.
"No, even so, that's... not something we can just do easily."
I'd considered it myself.
'Maybe we could run a few private clinics.'
But to gather the number of believers we were aiming for, we'd need proper facilities capable of handling the inner city residents' demand for healthcare rights.
Yet hospitals were far more complex to operate than typical businesses.
They were the epitome of human and material infrastructure: countless beds, specialists for every field, expensive cutting-edge equipment. Hiring doctors and nurses, securing land and construction costs, buying medical gear...
It wasn't something you could snap your fingers and make happen.
At that moment, Celestina let out a soft chuckle.
"So, in the end, it's all about the money?"
"......"
If I had to boil it down, yes.
This was Omega Detroit, where every problem circled back to cash.
Building the hospital, acquiring infrastructure, hiring medical staff—all money problems.
Even if we somehow covered the initial investment, operations afterward would be a huge hurdle.
A welfare-oriented hospital would run chronic deficits. Sure, we'd charge some fees and cover with donations—not fully free—but maintenance costs would still be enormous.
"We've just finished building new cathedrals. The church doesn't have that kind of spare cash."
As I protested, Celestina smiled as if my words were adorable.
"Do you even know who you're worrying about money in front of right now?"
"...Huh?"
I was utterly dumbfounded.
She said it casually, like it was no big deal.
"I'll cover all the costs for the new hospitals. Don't worry about it."
"...!"
I was so shocked I couldn't speak for a moment. It made no sense.
Why would Celestina foot the bill for that?
If it was repayment for kindness, her donations to the church were already massive.
She'd contributed more than enough.
Building hospitals on top? What did she gain from it?
When I voiced that doubt, she countered with an unexpected question.
"Eve, you said you don't hear God's voice directly, right?"
"Yes...?"
It was a baffling question, but her serious expression made me nod instinctively.
Then Celestina asked again.
"So everything you've done so far has been your own choice. Then why, back then... did you risk everything to help me when I was stripped of my vice presidency and cast out by my father?"
"That was..."
"You said you couldn't offer any reward. Yet you took my hand without hesitation."
Her wistful eyes drifted into cherished memories for a moment.
"You said repayment didn't matter, that you just helped because I seemed to need it."
Then she gave a faint smile.
"I'm the same."
I hurriedly opened my mouth in panic.
"Celestina, that's different, though. Back then, it was just... something I could actually do..."
But now, this was proposing to burn hundreds or billions of credits on a money-losing venture. All for me alone. It was too heavy a burden to accept as mere repayment.
The more I protested, the more her expression hardened.
"Hmm... that's a bit hurtful."
A soft sigh escaped her lips.
"Yeah. I've thought this before, but... Eve, you still don't really know who I am."
She shook her head slightly and continued.
"Did you really think building a few hospitals would burden me? For real? If anyone else said that, I'd be furious—rightfully so. Got it?"
There wasn't a hint of exaggeration or falsehood in those red eyes.
Just calm, matter-of-fact certainty.
"......"
Only then did it truly sink in.
This beauty who contacted me almost daily, whenever she had a moment—who she really was.
Number 37 in Omega Detroit's capital rankings: President of Tessellation Investment.
Limited to finance, she was the head of one of the world's top ten investment firms.
How vast was her wealth?
There was a telling example. Tessellation's former president, Celestina's father, had once planned a share war against Regency Group.
Against the absolute tyrant of capital, rumored to hold the most cash in human history—owning ten percent of the world's circulating currencies.
It seemed insane to anyone, but not entirely impossible.
Tessellation's capital was enough to give even that megacorp a fighting chance.
"......"
Realizing that such a global tycoon was sitting across the table, whispering that she'd give me anything I wanted without strings attached...
"So? Not a bad idea, right?"
I felt a little dizzy.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The principle behind countless successful investments.
The one key point Celestina always watched for in investment targets: Were they selling what consumers needed, in the right place?
If so, the company usually succeeded.
Winning hearts worked the same way.
You had to identify what someone needed most and go for it.
That's why Celestina didn't begrudge spending tens or hundreds of millions of credit dollars right now.
She had more wealth than she could spend in a lifetime. No matter how expensive or luxurious the food, mansions, or designer goods...
In the end, none of that filled the hole in her heart.
She'd learned that bone-deep in her past, buried in regret and panic, dying inside.
Even in this Omega Detroit, money wasn't everything.
And the one who taught her that was the girl right in front of her.
Celestina smiled at the silver-haired girl.
"Looks like we're business partners again."
It was their signal.
As the girl hesitated shyly, Celestina spread her arms a little and urged her on.
"Come on."
The girl finally approached and hugged her tightly.
A warm, familiar scent that soothed the soul wafted up from her embrace.
Celestina inhaled it deeply, making sure the girl wouldn't notice.
'As expected...'
Moments like this reminded her of her own greed.
She wanted her so badly.
She wouldn't crave a company promising billions in profits this much.
So there was no reason to hesitate.
Passing up a chance to buy something priceless at the lowest price would be utter folly.
With her face buried in the girl's shoulder, Celestina's red eyes slowly opened.
"........."
It was the gaze of a predator—a great white shark—that never let go of a scent once caught.