The Cybernetic Nest
The sudden announcement from Kashi sparked the meeting at the megacorp. Department heads and executives headed to the conference room. The meeting had originally been scheduled for after lunch. But Kashi had pushed it forward. All so she could chat idly with Amon after their meal. The cool-headed businesswoman never mixed up her priorities—meeting versus conversation with Amon.
Of course, there was no way there wouldn't be complaints. Postponing the meeting out of nowhere, then starting it abruptly. Anyone could see it was outrageous. But no one could call her out on it. For one, her power in the company was now absolute. And for another, the profits a single Kashi Iliya brought in dwarfed what all the meeting attendees combined could generate. She'd proven herself in just these past few months. No one in the room could even compare to her in performance. Perhaps she even surpassed her father, the chairman, in talent. That's why no one dared voice discontent over her outburst.
Soon, under her lead, the meeting proceeded. Past performance, future plans. And the projects currently underway.
"We're currently outsourcing the White Dawn Dungeon exploration to a mercenary."
The executives nodded at that. The meeting seemed poised to wrap up without objection. That's when one director raised his hand.
"Is there a particular reason we're entrusting it to that mercenary?"
Kashi tilted her head quizzically.
"Any issues?"
"I can't trust that mercenary."
The director's words left every mouth in the room agape. What the fuck is this guy saying? But the director held his ground amid the stares.
"He's a mercenary. You never know when he'll betray us, and sharing such critical projects with him feels dangerous. Plus, he's turned down every employment offer. It's hard to trust someone with no oversight whatsoever."
"...What would you have us do, Director?"
"We need to put a leash on him. Or at the very least... cut ties."
The executives gasped in shock. It happened sometimes. People who were great at corporate life but hopelessly misguided on priorities. This bold director was prioritizing the company and his family over Amon the individual. In other words, he saw Amon as a mere tool. That was standard thinking in a typical megacorp—individuals were just company assets. Especially for this director, recently recruited externally amid internal purges; it was natural inertia to view Amon that way.
The problem was, this company was reverting to a one-woman show under the Recetio family. Company priorities couldn't override personal feelings. The other directors, fully aware of this, glanced nervously at Kashi. Her expression was unchanged, unreadable. If anything, that only heightened their fear. The oblivious director, convinced of his own loyalty, pressed on toward Kashi.
"I believe sharing any more company secrets with this young man named Amon is too risky."
The director finished speaking. Kashi eyed him with a meaningful gaze, then nodded.
"We'll consider it positively."
> This is the floor housing Director Kashi Recetio's office. Please state your reason for visiting.
That evening, the director who had offered his "advice" to Kashi at the meeting didn't leave until late. In his office, he tapped away at his keyboard, then checked the clock. 10 PM. Most executives had gone home. He stood, exited his office, and boarded the elevator, pressing not down, but up.
> Director has clocked out. Per protocol, we recommend reporting tomorrow. Access granted if leaving documents at the door.
What a flexible AI. But the director shook his head.
"I see. In that case, I won't go. I'll report to the director tomorrow. Is access to the archives possible now, by any chance?"
> Access granted.
The director stepped off on the archives floor. Inside the storage room, he muttered to himself.
"She's gone home..."
Then he enthusiastically hammered the keyboard. He plugged in a USB, glanced back a few times, then yanked it out. He scurried out of the archives and back to his office. Once there, he double-locked the door and made a call somewhere.
"Yes, yes. Chairman. You'll guarantee my identity if I bring this? Yes. I'll head out right away."
He grabbed his coat after hanging up. That's when it happened.
Crack!
A spear burst through the door. The director's magic engraving activated, erecting a shield before the spear—but it shredded the barrier and flew straight for his chest. He twisted aside. But the spear curved toward his chest like it refused to miss.
"!!!"
His sternum shattered, a burst of heart-wrenching pain exploding through him. The spear pierced his chest, then shifted from horizontal to vertical, skewering him like a kebab. Dangling in midair, the director's consciousness faded. His pricey life-support gear kicked into overdrive, but a blown heart rendered it pointless. In his dimming awareness, Kashi strode through the shattered office door.
"Betrayal probability: 30 percent. I had my suspicions, but it was true after all."
With cold, sunken eyes, Kashi looked up at the director. She rifled through his pockets, pulling out his phone. Torso the water buffalo beastman tank and the mute sniper Bens from security followed her in. Kashi tossed them the phone.
"Track it."
They nodded. The two security chiefs sent a telepathic message outward.
Suit-clad soldiers rushed in belatedly. Some gathered documents; others approached the director. At Kashi's gesture, the spear dropped him like trash. His limp body was stuffed into a bag. Kashi watched coldly, then turned and exited. Torso and Bens trailed her. One whispered to Kashi.
"Family too?"
Kashi shook her head.
"Amon wouldn't like it."
Security wouldn't have leaked to the family anyway. Other megacorps might wipe out even distant relatives just in case, but Kashi didn't. All for her bluebird. Her colleagues smirked at the sight.
"You're hopeless."
Kashi shot back without missing a beat.
"You two are just as bad, making my skin crawl."
Torso and Bens, hands naturally linked, waggled them and wiggled their eyebrows. Late into the night, they chuckled softly and prepared to clock out.
Meanwhile, as Kashi normalized operations at the company, Amon and Sonia returned to their long-missed hometown. They'd come without trusting the airlines, borrowing the Squinty Priest's car. But leaving? Amon was secretly backed by the 3Dollar Group. Couldn't flaunt corporate ties, and their luggage brimmed with pricey gear that greedy airlines might "lose." Lawsuits could recover it, but who wanted the hassle?
Returning home was different. Now they could openly flash company backing. Showing a Recetio executive card had the airline staff bowing and scraping. From economy to business to premium—they eagerly pushed premium. Amon and Sonia accepted gladly.
On the flight, a stewardess cautiously asked Amon.
"We have special in-flight meals and services for newlyweds. Would you like them?"
Amon flustered, but Sonia hooked her arm in his and nodded.
"Please do."
They enjoyed couple's menus and foot baths on the way home.
Upon landing, they headed straight for the orphanage.
"Dungeon runs can start tomorrow," Amon said.
He linked arms with Sonia naturally as they approached. In the taxi, Sonia chattered excitedly. But as the orphanage neared, her words trailed off. Her gaze fixed on a massive building. The taxi soon dropped them off. The towering ten-story structure bore a flashy LED sign proclaiming Perfumrose Orphanage.
Sonia recoiled at the sight.
"Wait, didn't they say just repairs?"
Amon gawked too.
"They said repairs plus a bit of interior work..."
"You don't think they misheard 'redevelopment' as 'interior'?"
"It's real. They said interior. The accountant from 3Dollar Group's chairman gave the estimate!"
"On megacorp chairman standards?"
"Ah."
Within the glittering LED sign, the 3Dollar Group mascot occasionally popped up, winking and throwing a thumbs-up.