There Are Those Worth Negotiating With, and Those Who Aren't (1)
Anyway, when dealing with bastards who act like complete assholes, we respond by giving them every reason to keep acting like assholes.
Every action that infringed on our interests was handled in the most appropriate way possible.
An absurdly complex collection of mathematical charts, graphs, distribution maps, assorted photos, and PowerPoint slides, accompanied by over ten thousand characters of analysis.
“This is the current status of our Milano branch.”
“Uuuu eeeek… waaah, I’m just a baby doctor, this is too complicated for me, uuuu.”
“To put it simply, it looks roughly like this.”
500% growth compared to one month ago — BREAKTHROUGH ACHIEVED
“Good.”
Our development was proceeding at an insane pace, as if someone had spammed every cheat code in a single-player game.
On top of that, after seizing the enemy bases, we had swallowed entire buildings and satellites that other corporations had built.
“Ah, right. What happened to those bases we received from that interstellar corporation instead of the contract fee?”
“Unlike Milano-VI, the satellites of Milano-IV have been designated as Black Scourge cultivation facilities and the main anchorage for our branch fleet. Large-scale development is currently underway.”
“Oh?”
“In other words, we’ve essentially created a branch of our branch.”
“So it’s a multi-level thing now.”
“Thanks to that, we’ve hired far more personnel than when we were only doing satellite mining. Public opinion on Milano-IV has also become quite favorable toward us.”
“Ooh… I don’t really get it, but sounds like things are going well!”
While we were casually creating “branches of branches,” we had also established multiple operational footholds within the star system.
Even more surprising was the fact that our self-serving actions were somehow benefiting the surrounding area and raising our approval rating.
It left me with a strange feeling, like I was reading some kind of wish-fulfillment story.
Of course, as with everything in this world, where there is light there must also be shadow.
Just as I was starting to think that the entire Milano system would soon belong to us…
“Recently, mercenary groups and private security companies operating inside the system have been making quite a lot of noise.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”
“In a way, it’s only natural. The Red Scourge’s activities used to be their biggest source of income.”
“……Aha?”
“But now that we’re the ones handling those jobs instead of the mercenaries, they’ve lost all their work.”
“Ooh… I never thought about that.”
Besides the interstellar corporations that had originally commissioned us, various security firms and mercenary groups were now openly complaining.
More accurately, they were furious because we had stolen every single one of their contracts.
And that wasn’t even the end of it. My already-overloaded brain was about to crash when—
—Beep beep! Beep beep!
“Consul, I have an urgent report.”
“Yeah, figured as much since you used the emergency line. What is it?”
“The civilians at our Maggiore satellite base have been brainwashed by the Red Scourge and are now staging a large-scale strike.”
“This is the Lugano satellite colony. A resistance group with anti-Megacorp leanings has sabotaged the factory we built.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
The former resource-mining base on Milano-IV’s satellite Maggiore—now being converted into the main port for the Demonia Milano branch fleet—had its workers completely ignore the brainwashing resistance training.
Instead, they launched a massive strike and were actively sabotaging our base renovation work.
On top of that, a self-proclaimed “resistance army” had appeared, claiming we were Megacorp puppets and attacking us independently of the Red Scourge.
And as if that weren’t enough…
Refugees fleeing the Red Scourge chaos had started pouring into Milano-V.
“If you came here as a refugee, why did you leave your family behind and come alone?”
“……”
“And for someone claiming to be a refugee, you seem awfully well-supplied.”
“Ahem.”
“Ah, I see what’s going on. Cancel their refugee status and deport them immediately.”
“W-wait! What are you saying?! This is racial discrimination!”
—Crash! Bang! Thud!
“Guards! Guards!”
“What the hell is this now?”
“These are alien species who applied for refugee status. When their applications were rejected, they tried to escape the spaceport checkpoint and were apprehended.”
“So this neighborhood has its own brand of refugee troublemakers too.”
“Furthermore, the sudden influx of refugees has caused several pioneer cities to report that their populations aren’t just growing—they’re at risk of being completely taken over by the refugees.”
“You’re telling me that’s even possible?”
“Refugee placement is entirely under the jurisdiction of Milano-V’s planetary government.”
Refugees who had supposedly fled the Red Scourge threw tantrums the moment their applications were denied, behaving exactly like certain real-world groups known for such antics.
As if that weren’t enough, the planetary government controlling Milano-V’s capital had decided to drop a “refugee bomb” on the Pioneer City Alliance—our faction.
Their goal was to flood our cities with refugees, seize control of the city councils through sheer numbers, and legally strip us of power.
Both I and the other users who heard the story could only stare in disbelief at how the problems kept piling up the further we went.
While we were all nursing headaches over the grim situation, a sigh mixed with genuine frustration slipped out of my mouth before I even realized it.
“Haa… This is such a headache. If only we could make the mercenaries and the refugees fight each other…”
“……Hmm. That’s actually not a bad idea, Doctor.”
“It has merit. In fact, it might be the most appropriate solution to our current problems.”
“Huh? What is?”
Both Ilena and Heisenberg’s mayor—who had been listening through the comms—suddenly lit up as if they had just received divine inspiration.
They told me to wait a moment, then huddled together and started whispering furiously among themselves.
A short while later—
“We’ve come up with an appropriate plan to resolve the current situation.”
“Oh, really?”
“All thanks to the brilliant insight you provided, Doctor.”
“If we follow this plan, we can deal with the strikes, the sabotage, the refugee problem, and the hostility from competing companies all at once!”
“We’ll begin the operation immediately. We should see results within a week at the latest, so please wait just a little longer.”
“Uh, yeah… sure.”
Since they were all acting like I had just dropped some incredible wisdom, I quietly gave up trying to understand what was going on.
Instead, I turned my attention to the marimo-shaped creature on the table and decided to quietly share some popcorn and cola with it.