Chapter 435: Prelude to the Final Chapter – The Management Bureau
Chapter 435: Prelude to the Final Chapter – The Management Bureau
It was nothing new for the Management Bureau’s high command to be in a state of chaos.
In fact, when it came to the Central Command Headquarters, one could probably count the number of quiet days since its founding on one hand.
Even then, those "quiet days" usually referred to the times when even Central Command had been overrun and the end of the world was imminent. Essentially, as long as the place was functioning normally, it was bound to be noisy.
With major incidents breaking out somewhere in the world almost every day, it was the Bureau’s role to prevent them from escalating into humanity-ending catastrophes.
Contrary to public perception, world peace was like a tray being balanced precariously on the tip of a needle.
Just last week, a mad entity had appeared in the heart of Paris, attempting to seize the collective unconscious of humanity to turn every human into a pure carnivore. It had come dangerously close to succeeding.
Fortunately, that terrifying plan was thwarted with the help of the Hero leading the narrative and the Bureau’s command, and thus, peace was preserved for another day.
The stress endured by the personnel at Central Command was beyond imagination, burdened not only by the heavy weight of protecting the world but also by an staggering amount of paperwork. However, there was one particular issue that exacerbated that stress even further.
Take the data analyst sitting over there, for example.
“Is this all the data sent from Detroit?”
“Yes, sir. That is correct.”
The Chief Data Analyst and his adjutants looked down at the materials scattered across the table.
Bundles of handwritten papers; holograms displaying the exact same content as the papers; and special information-transfer rods that infused their contents directly into the mind when grasped.
The same information was delivered through three different methods.
The content was difficult enough to parse as it was, yet the delivery methods were needlessly complex.
“Why is this all there is? Where are the composite constructs?”
The officer in charge of receiving the data actually pressed the messenger, asking why there weren't even more redundant copies.
“We ran out of time to prepare them. My apologies.”
The delivery methods represented analog, digital, and "other" means.
While there were established manuals for these, creating "composite data"—which integrated those methods—required the messenger to custom-tailor the delivery for each specific report. Thus, the excuse of running out of time was somewhat reasonable.
“Tsk. It can’t be helped.”
Accepting the explanation, the data analyst looked at the materials spread before him.
Sentences taken from the Bible, words that didn't fit the context, and technical jargon popping out of nowhere.
The table was covered in a massive amount of text that was generally illegible to the average person.
“There is a distortion in the T-1-23 digital data. Verify it.”
The analyst gripped a rod in one hand while scanning the papers and holograms with both eyes.
Upon his word, the adjutants immediately analyzed the three versions of the T-1-23 data and confirmed that a linguistic distortion had indeed occurred in the digitized document.
“Next. C2-9-21. An incomprehensible word has been added to the manuscript. Query the archivist.”
Following the Chief Data Analyst’s orders, the adjutants began moving busily.
All of this was to identify distortions within the data.
This was why the Management Bureau’s methods of sharing information appeared endlessly inefficient to outsiders.
Such distortions could be human error during the transfer process or a problem with the transmission system.
However, there was also the possibility that The Enemy’s abilities were distorting the entirety of the information coming through a specific route.
Take the Machine Emperor Colossus, for example.
Simply by existing in this world, that entity could cause all digital devices to cease functioning, completely silencing the old world’s communication networks that relied heavily on digital technology.
Of course, Colossus was a catastrophe on an exceptional scale, but there was no guarantee that what happened once wouldn't happen again.
Furthermore, aside from cases where an entire route was destroyed, minor distortions were happening all the time.
Distortions caused by information-based lifeforms clinging to the communication networks, by parasites that had burrowed into the human psyche without anyone knowing, or by attacks on the imperceptible realm of concepts.
And finally...
“Cough!”
The Chief Data Analyst spat out blood.
He immediately tapped on his keyboard to record the sentence he had just seen.
Damn it. This is why we should have prepared the composite data, he thought, swallowing his frustration toward the data transfer team.
“Discard sentence H23-2-12-33. Hologram and manuscript are reacting. Visual-type Mental Contamination.”
He announced the disposal of the information to those around him.
The adjutants immediately carried out the order.
After wiping the blood from his mouth, the Chief Data Analyst resumed his work.
The brief incident that just occurred was a case where the problem lay within the information itself, rather than an external issue.
This was the final reason for the Bureau’s complex data delivery system.
Most such data ended with only minor damage because it passed through filters, but there had been an incident where an entire branch was rendered completely irrecoverable due to this phenomenon.
Monty Python’s Cruel Circus.
Since the villain’s name was a parody of famous comedians from the English-speaking world, many often thought of them as a trivial threat upon first hearing the name.
However, once one heard of the catastrophe that entity caused, they would understand the censorship systems prevalent in the current era.
A short text of fourteen words titled "The Funniest Joke in the World."
As soon as it was uploaded to the internet, every civilian who clicked on it dropped dead shortly thereafter.
The Management Bureau, noticing the strange phenomenon, immediately began information erasure procedures, but the disaster ultimately resulted in the total annihilation of the German Management Bureau’s command.
Because the text had been uploaded to a small message board and hadn't received much attention, the deaths were limited to the users of that board and the Bureau personnel who read the text directly. Compared to its notoriety, the actual number of victims was small, but the incident left a deep impact on the Bureau’s systems.
Regardless of such background explanations...
The fact that ordinary civilians with no special powers had to work while being subjected to such bizarre phenomena acted as a source of immense stress.
The stress of knowing you might suddenly collapse and die while sitting at your desk analyzing data.
That was why shouting matches were constant at Central Command, and why so many personnel were carried out on stretchers.
Even so, the Chief Data Analyst who had just spat blood did not leave his post, continuing his work as if nothing had happened.
Now that the reason for the noise in the command center was clear, let’s look elsewhere.
“…What is the status of the war?”
A group of people stood before a holographic map, conversing quietly.
Unlike the other departments where papers flew and noise reigned, these individuals stared silently at the map.
Of course, behind them, numerous people were moving about noisily with documents in their arms, but those looking at the map were isolated from the commotion.
“Damage has been escalating since their leader revealed himself.”
When the operator inputting data spoke, Macbeth, looking every bit the English gentleman, replied.
“Hasten the damage report updates. We need to redraw the plan. For now, send word to all forces to cease their offensive and prioritize unit reorganization.”
The individuals gathered around the table nodded in agreement.
Since no one objected, the order was implemented immediately.
They all stared silently at the map.
Beside them, markers were being placed on the map to update unit statuses in an analog fashion, but their primary focus was the real-time status displayed by the hologram.
Even if there was some information distortion, they knew that real-time data was more critical.
As they stared at the map in a silence that could last for hours, something caught their eyes.
While other units were moving toward the outskirts for reorganization, a single red dot was charging toward the center alone.
The red marker, signifying a Hero, drew everyone’s attention.
“Who is that red dot?”
As someone asked, information immediately popped up on the screen.
An ID photo with a deeply dissatisfied expression appeared over the red dot along with a name.
“…Sigh.”
A collective sigh escaped the commanders' lips.
“That person still has nothing but 'charge' in their head.”
“What should we do? Force a retreat?”
“No, let her run wild. This might actually be better. We can reorganize the lines while Crimson★Hammer is on her rampage.”
“Did she charge in knowing that?”
“Probably. Though she’s the type who would charge blindly regardless of whether she knew or not.”
“Let’s also deploy additional personnel to hold down those giants.”
“I’ve already drawn up a list for that.”
“What about Ultimate?”
“Currently engaged in rescue operations.”
“Send him to the Lord of Infinite Castles in five minutes.”
“I was worried about how to handle that man when he goes berserk, but looking at it now, this has worked out well. Three S-Ranks. This should be enough.”
“No, it’s still not enough. We need to prepare the rest for sortie as well.”
“Isn't that an overreaction? They each have their own assigned duties.”
“How about putting them on standby?”
“That should be fine.”
Numerous conversations took place quietly.
These were the voices of people willing to accept disagreement and continue the dialogue immediately.
This continued for hours, until the noise outside grew so loud that it began to infringe upon the cold composure of those surrounding the map.
“Contact from the Atlantic! GM has begun to activate!”
“Tsk, as expected, there was a connection there.”
“Report! A hole is activating on the Siberian Front!”
“Report! An emergency transmission indicates several seals have been released! We have lost contact with the relevant units!”
“The concentration of Otherworldly Power is rising rapidly!”
“Where?!”
“Everywhere in the world!”
“Stop talking nonsense and tell them to recalibrate!”
“Is there no Public Enemy Designation yet?!”
“None!”
“The data analysis team has suggested that destroying the tower will cause problems! They speculate that the tower was designed to be destroyed from the very beginning….”
“The status analysis team has concluded that the tower is solidifying the connection to the Otherworld. They say it should be destroyed as quickly as possible!”
“The Society has moved? Get the detailed information!”
The commotion outside the map intensified.
The information they shouted was fragmentary and even contradictory.
Therefore, those standing around the map, though they heard the information, did not voice it, instead continuing to examine the map with cold precision.
“…What do we do?”
“The tower must not fall…. It makes sense. Looking at their actions, it feels like they’ve been operating on the premise that the tower would fall from the start.”
“However, the status analysis team insists the tower must be destroyed.”
“Possibility of the information being wrong?”
“None. The Observation Team has also sent data that the tower is opening a hole.”
“Estimated time?”
“50 minutes.”
“If we don't destroy the tower, a hole opens. If we do destroy it, something we don't know about happens. It’s a choice with no right answer.”
“It always has been.”
A brief silence fell.
It was a moment of deep deliberation, uncharacteristic of the group that had been conversing continuously.
The one who broke the silence was the most experienced person in the room.
“The Lord of Infinite Castles is on-site.”
Macbeth spoke calmly, pointing to the center of the table.
He continued, waving his finger.
“Let’s leave it to the judgment of the man on the ground. He will see things in his field of vision that we cannot perceive.”
No one disagreed.
And so, without deciding on a definitive method for handling the tower, they began to monitor the situation while drafting response plans for both its destruction and its survival.
A little more time passed.
“Tower destruction confirmed!”
“GM released! No Pillar of Light observed in the Atlantic!”
“Holes in various regions have begun to reactivate!”
“Lost contact with the Cape of Good Hope branch!”
“Contact from the observatory! Otherworldly Power detected in Detroit! It has surpassed the highest recorded measurement!”
Reports began to pour in at a rate incomparable to before.
The moment the tower went silent, numerous entities began to move.
Screams echoed through Central Command.
Even as everyone else fell into a panic, the area around the map remained quiet.
“…Total war, then.”
“Hadn't we already expected this?”
“What about Detroit?”
“Contact with the US military is already complete. All that’s left is the retreat.”
“A message from The Council. They’re asking who will take responsibility for this situation.”
“Ignore them. Once the war starts, they won't have the luxury for political games.”
“The Soviet Union is requesting support.”
“Tell them we’ve already sent it.”
Today, as always, they quietly began to move the pieces on the map.
Believing that humanity would be able to survive.