Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Serendipity (2)
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In this era, it was rare for a force on the level of a megacorporation to expose such vulnerability.
The word "rare" meant that to some, it looked like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Nexus Initiative, caught off guard by the android faction's sudden ambush, failed even to conceal the extent of their losses.
That drew in hordes of hunters who had caught the scent of blood—even the arrogant small fry who wouldn't normally dare meet a megacorp's gaze came swarming to tear off even a scrap of flesh from the fatally wounded whale.
That greed shattered the delicate balance of the war. The Nexus Initiative, focused solely on the enemy right in front of them—the androids—never saw the human desire coming from behind. They crumbled helplessly.
Now, all that remained were the sweet byproducts of power and capital, suddenly ownerless.
But not everyone who inserted themselves into the fray could claim those spoils.
It was like the law of the wild. Only after the apex predators had their fill did the scavengers get their turn.
And this was still the time of those top predators.
The massive factions that had played a key role in Nexus's downfall and had the power to seize the rewards.
There were three main players among them.
One, of course, was our [Lumina Group].
The boss's company—no need for further explanation.
We had begun our assault on Nexus even before the android terror incident erupted, so we now held the most collateral rights of any group.
The second was [Eaton Mobility].
Ranked 66th among the city's top 100 corporations, they were Nexus Initiative's traditional rivals.
With their core businesses in AI robotics and autonomous vehicles, they'd long coveted Nexus's patents in robotics and AI.
So they jumped at this chance to get in on the action.
Finally, there was [Tessellation Investment].
This global asset management giant had a reputation for aggressively inserting itself into any issue that promised profit. Due to their nature as a financial firm, they were often seen as lacking real power relative to their asset size—but in a city where money was everything, no one could afford to dismiss them lightly.
After all, their capital alone had propelled them to 37th in the corporate rankings.
In any case, the factions set to divvy up Nexus's legacy boiled down to these three corporations.
Some might find it odd that "Zion"—the ones who actually brought Nexus down in open warfare—was absent from the list of victors.
But they weren't invited. Or rather, they never had the qualifications to be.
Because they were androids. They had no legal right to demand Nexus's assets or war reparations.
In the end, those who fought the war and those who reaped the spoils were different. A bit of a bitter laugh, really.
Still, if there was any silver lining for Zion, they weren't leaving completely empty-handed.
In exchange for halting their sabotage of Nexus's assets, they'd reached an unofficial agreement with the three megacorps.
The corps would leverage their influence on the city government to push for the repeal of the "Android Ownership Law."
This would enable most social activities previously restricted for androids, like identity creation and property ownership.
Of course, it didn't mean granting them human-equivalent rights, but at least the days of most androids wandering the streets like vagrants—unable to even rent a room—would come to an end.
However, the ban on producing new high-intelligence androids remained in place.
It was a warning to Zion. They'd treat androids as pseudo-personalities to a degree, so they should preserve the "uniqueness of self" like humans and stop multiplying their numbers.
If rogue androids banded together to produce even more advanced models, and their numbers grew infinitely... well, then a new species challenging human order might emerge.
Zion accepted the terms without protest.
Perhaps because reproduction is a biological instinct, irrelevant to machines.
They seemed reasonably satisfied with defeating their mortal enemy—who had targeted their core code—and dramatically advancing android rights.
Thanks to that, the factions involved found their points of compromise, and the war ended.
All that was left was the summit between the three megacorps.
Quite the grandiose buildup, but that's the gist.
The point being that I'd accepted the boss's invitation and was heading there myself.
'It might be laying the groundwork for heir training...'
Truth be told, the boss hadn't said anything explicit. It could just be my overthinking.
Even if it was, he wasn't handing over the group right this second. It wouldn't look good to preemptively refuse.
Besides, this was the boss who always supported me in every way. Deep down, I didn't really want to turn him down.
This time, he'd even gone to war with other corporations on my side... Whatever his true intentions, they were surely for my benefit.
'Yeah, don't overcomplicate it... Just treat it as an experience.'
That decision led to my current predicament.
"......."
The reflection in the mirror felt terribly awkward.
Silver hair neatly half-pulled back to give a tidy impression.
Beneath it... the standard office look—a prim women's business suit.
The shirt clung uncomfortably to my body, an unfamiliar sensation. The feeling of my legs in stockings under the H-line skirt was equally strange. Even just standing in the slightly heeled pumps forced my posture into graceful demureness.
A sigh slipped out unconsciously.
"Haa...."
Of course, given the occasion, I couldn't dress casually like usual...
Still, if anything was a consolation, it was that this felt more mature—and less embarrassing—than my academy uniform.
As I hesitated awkwardly, a knock came from outside.
"All ready?"
"Ah, yes!"
I gave a short reply and stepped out of the room.
Approaching the waiting boss sheepishly, he burst into a hearty laugh.
"Oh, it suits you perfectly. You could start as an intern right now."
"Ahaha..."
I just smiled awkwardly at the joking praise.
I wasn't the only one waiting for this moment with the boss. A dozen or so Lumina Holdings staffers bowed politely toward us.
Under their gazes, I fidgeted self-consciously with the ID badge hanging like a necklace.
"Alright, let's head out."
As I followed the boss down the corridor, I recalled what this place was.
This was the Elysium Suite, one of Omega Detroit's top luxury hotels.
It had stood since the city's founding and long served as a neutral venue for corporate summits.
Their ironclad rule: Anyone causing a scene—even a megacorp executive—would never be welcomed back as a guest. They'd teetered on bankruptcy multiple times upholding that principle but endured. Now, built on that trust, it was the city's most renowned neutral business hub.
That's why today's summit was here.
Watching me walk awkwardly, the boss chuckled warmly.
"No need to be so tense. Most of the negotiations are already wrapped up. Today is just to finalize the agreement. Everyone benefits, so the atmosphere shouldn't be bad. I brought you along to experience it—relax and observe."
I simply nodded.
But following him only heightened my tension instead of easing it.
Unfamiliar place, unfamiliar situation. And thinking of the city heavyweights I'd soon face... stress was stirring something in my gut—a faint signal.
Finally, I subtly straightened my still-unfamiliar skirt suit and ventured cautiously,
"Um, Godfather. Before we go to the summit room... could I handle a quick personal errand?"
He glanced at his watch and smiled indulgently.
"Sure, we've got time. We arrived a bit early. I'll head to the top floor first—take your time."
"Thank you."
Thus, I parted ways temporarily from the Lumina Group staff.
With only Esty accompanying me, we two headed down the luxury hotel's long corridor toward the restroom.
The thick carpet swallowed our footsteps, while holographic frames on the walls slowly shifted landscapes.
'Even in this moment... it's seriously upscale.'
As we strolled through the serene, poetic space, something happened.
From around the corner ahead—thud—a sound like something collapsing.
Esty and I halted, staring toward the noise.
".....?"
Approaching cautiously, we saw a young woman slumped against the wall beyond the corner.
But her condition was dire.
Her pale face streamed with cold sweat like rain, her once-neat platinum blonde hair soaked and plastered messily to her forehead.
Above all, her breathing rose and fell abnormally fast, as if it might snap any second.
"H-Hey? Are you okay?! Are you hurt?!"
In my panic, I grabbed her shoulder to support her—her shirt was drenched in sweat.
Her trembling was far from normal.
As I floundered, Esty beside me spoke, her golden eyes faintly glowing.
"Scan complete. No external injuries or underlying conditions detected. Likely hyperventilation from a panic attack."
"Panic attack...?"
That was a relief. Not immediately life-threatening, at least.
Regaining some composure, I looked at her again.
A stylish woman in a high-end business jacket—clearly right at home in a place like this. Yet, despite the expensive clothes, she was shivering all over, slumped and gasping... It stirred a twinge of pity.
But...
'Should I use my powers so rashly here?'
This wasn't some back alley where no one cared if bodies dropped. This was the corridor of the city's finest hotel.
Casually working a miracle on a stranger here could ripple in unpredictable ways.
As I hesitated, her eyelids began to quiver faintly. Her unfocused eyes wandered the air as she murmured something incoherent in a faint, pained voice.
"Haa, ha, hngh, sorry, I'm sorry, I... I'm..."
"......."
Her pallor was now corpse-like. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Watching her pitiful state, I made up my mind and asked Esty,
"Could you block the nearby CCTV for a bit?"
Esty nodded silently, though concern flickered in her golden eyes.
"Are you sure this is wise?"
"Yes. It'll be fine—no issues."
This wasn't baseless optimism. I had a certain confidence.
Ever since realizing the true nature of my power—its "origin"—I'd gained some control over its effects.
Even my excessively potent healing... I could now dial it back to just what I wanted.
Just enough to quickly soothe sudden anxiety.
Subtle enough to help without leaving a trace or drawing notice. A perfect plan.
'Good thing.'
Leaving someone suffering like that would have left a bad taste.
I knelt and gently embraced the shuddering woman.
"It's okay. Everything will be okay."
So she couldn't see the light bursting from my fingertips.
I held her close, her face buried in my embrace, and whispered,
"Come on, deep breaths. Slowly... Yes, that's it. Good job."
"Hngh, hick, hngh...!"
Then, I lightly tapped the nape of her neck with a finger.
Flick—a brief flash of light that no one saw.
"......."
Moments later, her trembling eased. The ragged breaths echoing in my arms steadied.
I soothed her a bit more, then slowly released her.
She lifted her head at last, staring blankly at me.
Tear-streaked face aside, she was a refined beauty.
'What am I even thinking right now.'
I shook my head to clear the stray thought and smiled reassuringly.
"Feeling a bit calmer now?"
"........."
She nodded dazedly, still out of it.
Only then did I exhale in relief.
"Good."
Then it hit me—we'd lingered too long.
The gut signal I'd forgotten resurfaced. I smiled awkwardly.
"You seem okay now, so I'll be going. Got something urgent...!"
I pulled out a handkerchief, dabbed her tears lightly, placed it in her palm, and turned to hurry off.
"Ah....!"
She seemed to say something from behind, but her voice was too hoarse to catch.