Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Black Letter (2)
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I asked in bewilderment.
"...The city government rejected the hospital construction permit?"
Yoanna nodded, showing me an electronic document stamped with the word Rejected in red ink.
"Yes. The reasons for rejection include failing to meet standards in thirty-eight comprehensive categories, such as traffic impact assessment, environmental impact assessment, noncompliance with medical facility standards under the Medical Act, fire safety and risk management violations, facility security vulnerabilities, and more. There are other reasons listed too, but they're probably just tacked on. The real cause is something else."
"......"
I nodded silently. She was right.
As everyone knew, the Omega Detroit city government was little more than a servant to the corporations.
There was no way some petty bureaucrats could dare put the brakes on this project.
'This business plan was submitted under Tessellation Investment's name...'
It had to be sabotage by someone else. Pinpointing the culprit wouldn't be hard.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Prosper Wellness seems to have stuck their nose in." Celestina's voice came calmly through the speaker, as if she'd half-expected it.
A top-100 corporation, ranked 52nd in capital.
Omega Detroit's largest health insurance provider, Prosper Wellness.
Sure, there were bigger insurers higher up the ladder by sheer capital, but Prosper Wellness had perfect timing.
They'd been the quickest to invest right from Omega Detroit's founding.
They'd bought off executives at new major hospitals early on, securing exclusive contracts, lobbied the city government relentlessly, and planted their people in key health department positions.
That fortress of monopoly wasn't easily toppled, built on a foundation of aggressive suppression of new rivals.
This was no different.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Still, it's a bit surprisingly gentlemanly, don't you think? They're not coming at us too aggressively." "This is?"
It was truly unexpected.
How could slamming the table from the start be called gentlemanly?
In response to my question, Celestina explained.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "In the worst cases, they let it slide until after completion, then pull dirty tricks to seize the entire hospital management. Compared to that, stopping it before sunk costs pile up is almost polite. They're probably being cautious because they know Tessellation is behind this project." I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha..."
What irony.
Capitalist demons who devoured the powerless with every unscrupulous tactic... pretending to be politely civil with peers.
'I don't even know how to process this.'
Anyway, with things like this, I fell into thought.
Pushing ahead with the medical venture would likely mean clashing head-on with Prosper Wellness.
Should I cut losses and stop here?
But intel from reviewing the plan held me back.
The insurer's tyranny: rejecting claims with brutal contract clauses, bankrupting people, making them tremble at the thought of a doctor's visit, forcing them to endure with narcotic painkillers until death.
If we could fix that...
No better shortcut to winning the city's public favor quickly and surely.
So I asked again through the speaker.
"Isn't there some way around this?"
Celestina explained calmly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "The standard response is a lawsuit. Right now, they've leaned on their grip over the health department, but our influence over the city government overall is just as strong—no, stronger. Eve, you can get help from Lumina Group too. With enough time and prep, we'll win." She continued.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "But they won't sit idle. Even in a fight they're bound to lose, they'll drag it out to preserve their monopoly as long as possible. So even a quick resolution might take two or three years." "...That long?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "From a major business perspective, three years isn't that long. No investment sunk yet, and we can use the time for our own lobbying to poach key medical figures. It's not a total loss." "......."
I pondered for a moment.
From a long-term business view, as she said, three years might not be so bad.
'But...'
The faces of my family back home were already fading in my memory.
The longer I stayed here, the more attached I'd get, and the harder it'd be to return.
So I asked her again.
"Besides a lawsuit, is there no other way? Something... faster?"
Silence fell briefly. Then her low voice returned.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Prosper Wellness's monopoly is rock-solid. The market structure is completely locked down; ordinary means won't budge it. To topple them fastest and surest, there's only one way. Namely..." I'd half-expected it, but—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "War." My heart still dropped.
"........."
I fell silent for a moment.
If it came to actual war with the insurer, I didn't think we'd lose with our forces.
That's why Celestina suggested it as an option.
But... it was all-out war with a megacorp.
No matter the odds, there'd be sacrifices.
That gnawed at me.
Our church had once taken down Tessellation's former president—Celestina's father—without losses.
But that was a special case. A hunter's most vulnerable moment is when all focus is on the prey. Regency Group's ambush prep on Lumina left their biggest gap, making it easy.
This was different.
Prosper Wellness would be on full alert, treating Tessellation-level foes as standard.
Starting war now meant full-scale conflict.
So I ended the call, saying I'd think it over more.
"......"
The video call ended, leaving the office quiet.
My chest felt tight for some reason.
I stepped out aimlessly.
Immediately, I ran into the two bishops standing guard.
"Ah, Saintess."
They bowed. I bowed back in greeting.
"You've been working hard. Lucas, Matteo."
Their names came easily. I'd nursed them through their Class 8 cyberware implants myself. How could I forget? They were always first to fight at my request.
That weight hit heavy.
"....."
"Saintess?"
The longer I stayed, the more miracles I'd perform inevitably.
Raising the risk of my secret slipping.
So no matter what, returning home ASAP was right.
But if we went to war... how many from our church would die? Ten? A hundred?
If toppling one megacorp cost that, any ruler would call it a win.
They could spin it as justice for citizens crushed by corporate greed.
'But... could I do that?'
I can't lie to myself, even if I fool others.
Did I really want to walk a path stained with blood just to get home?
I asked myself.
"....."
Maybe I'd lost sight of priorities.
I'd built this church for a shield to protect me.
To gather zealots willing to die in my stead.
But as bonds formed and I felt how precious I was to them, that choice grew impossible.
"S-Saintess...?"
"........."
In the end, I decided.
'No war.'
Using those who relied on me like pawns was never viable. No real dilemma.
Three years. Just three years' wait. Cheaper than lives, surely.
That was when—
'Wait a sec...!'
A clue sparked.
Just then, a hesitant voice whispered in my ear.
"Um... Saintess...!"
I snapped to. One guard bishop, Matteo, stared back.
Deep in thought, I'd been gazing right at his face.
Face beet-red, he froze, unable to retreat or push away.
"....?"
Realizing my blunder, I jumped back.
"Ah, sorry! I was lost in thought and didn't realize...!"
"N-No, it's fine...!"
Feeling guilty, I grabbed his hand, apologizing profusely. Then hurried back inside.
"Why only you...!"
Bickering voices drifted from outside, but I had no time for it.
A memory fragment had just flashed.
I approached the office computer and searched immediately.
'Prosper Wellness CEO.'
The name on screen: Klaus Adler.
I'd thought that face looked familiar.
The recalled detail was a tiny one, glimpsed fleetingly in the original game.
"........."
This might resolve easier than expected.
I picked up the comm terminal without hesitation and dialed a familiar number.
After a few rings, a bright, cheerful voice answered.
"Y-Yeah! Eve, what's up? Calling first like this! Don't tell me...!"
Voice brimming with excitement.
But I cut straight to it, ignoring her glee.
"Rico. Are you... still in touch with the Paradise folks?"