𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑: 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞
Unison Human-Machine Technology’s President and CEO, Atsuho, muttered as she looked at her computer.
ㅤ
“It’s no good after all.”
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It was within expectations, but there was a feeling of disappointment.
Perhaps hearing the mutter, one of the subordinates turned to face Atsuho.
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“What went wrong?”
“It’s Bomber. I tried to recruit him as an exclusive Actor, but he declined.”
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A polite, standard refusal email.
The subordinate leaned in towards Atsuho with a surprised look.
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“Really? We are a fairly well-known company, aren’t we? There’s no more interference from Hachigi Technology, and the mining is going smoothly. It’s a time for further growth.”
“That’s exactly why. If he joins us, he won’t be able to fight anymore.”
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Atsuho smiled bitterly, and the subordinate seemed unconvinced.
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“Not being able to fight, like that? If Actanoid is damaged, it would be a big loss.”
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Yes, normally, an actor would fear damaging Actanoid. Even those called bandit Actors, who aim their sniping rifles and wait for prey in an ambush style, are mainstream.
But the Bomber that Atsuho imagines is a completely different type from the bandit Actors.
To reinforce her point, Atsuho showed the subordinate the reply email from Bomber.
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“It doesn’t matter to Bomber. Look at the speed of this reply. The rejection was without a second thought, wasn’t it? That Actor is hungry for battle. And he’s seeking fights that are disadvantageous to him.”
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Otherwise, he wouldn’t be piloting the makeshift rental machine that’s not well-maintained, even being ridiculed as an antique All-Rounder.
He has that much skill. If he showed his track record, banks would lend him money, and even if not, he could rent a higher-spec machine and make back the cost.
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“He turns the attackers back one after another, doesn’t he? I don’t know what kind of information network he has, but he’s intentionally appearing on the battlefield, specifically with an All-Rounder.”
“Well, it’s too well-done to be a coincidence. The Wild Blanket incident, aiming at a rare metal mining base, but the preparations made sense if you thought Bomber was being ambushed.”
“That’s how frightening an opponent he was to Hachigi Technology. That’s why I thought to keep him close, but he turned me down.”
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Disappointed as she was, Atsuho thought maybe it was for the best.
The subordinate looked solemnly at the refusal email.
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“You wouldn’t want to make him an enemy.”
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Atsuho nodded deeply in agreement.
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“We must never be hostile. But Bomber will continue to fight various enemies and make enemies. Let’s associate with him properly, so that it doesn’t affect our company.”
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The speed of the email reply unintentionally told the story of Bomber’s danger.
Thanks to that, the way to associate with Bomber was solidified.
Even if it was a misunderstanding.
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Around the time Unison Human-Machine Technology had grandly misunderstood and led to the correct conclusion that they couldn’t incorporate Chihaya into their combat clan, the topic of Chihaya, also known as Bomber, was also raised in another location in the New World Development Zone.
In a private building, the representative of the Kakuhara Group, Kakuhara Tameyuki, was reading a report from his subordinates.
One of the Kakuhara Group’s lower organizations, Hachigi Technology, had withdrawn from the New World development project.
Since it was almost a flight in the night, there was no handover, and various information was mixed and confused.
But what was important to Kakuhara Tameyuki was the information about the individual Actor who had driven Hachigi Technology to withdraw.
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“Defeating Hachigi Technology’s Wild Blanket with an All-Rounder, huh? Wonder what kind of battle that was.”
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It’s certain that the Wild Blanket’s black box was sold to Unison Human-Machine Technology.
The Wild Blanket is a rare Actanoid that possesses the ability to fly. Currently, its flying ability is at such a high level that the Wild Blanket is the only known example.
However, in the present day where sniper rifles and AI are advanced, lightly armored flying Actanoids are nothing but easy targets. While they might be somewhat usable at night, they are quickly discovered by machines like the Psycholon with wide visual range and excellent image and information processing capabilities.
The Wild Blanket is indeed a fragile machine.
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Yet, the Bomber in question managed to single-handedly defeat the Wild Blanket, fully prepared, using a low-spec All-Rounder with no image processing capabilities, on a poorly lit night.
Kakuhara glances at his bodyguard Banba Saita, who stands nearby.
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“Isn’t there a battle record? Hachigi’s computer would have had the recorded data, wouldn’t it?”
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In response to Kakuhara’s question, Banba Saita shakes his head.
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“Hachigi seems to have fled in the night, and the battle data couldn’t be found. He seems to have disposed of the information as harassment, thinking that Bomber was targeting us.”
“What a waste.”
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As Kakuhara mutters dismissively, Banba starts to snicker.
Kakuhara deletes the report from his computer and leans back in his chair.
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“Losing the black box to Unison Human-Machine Technology hurts. That would have revealed everything. Any news on Bomber?”
“There’s been no movement on the account. Apparently, he’s reincarnated. His original account was all hidden, so we know nothing.”
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Kakuhara closes his eyes, musing if the Bomber had planned everything from the beginning so that he wouldn’t be identified.
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“I hear he fights recklessly, using explosions often. He must not fear damage or repair costs for the Actanoid. It reveals he has substantial financial backing. He must have intended to crush us from the beginning, taking out Hachigi first to eliminate an accessible force. . . . . .No, a warning?”
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The situation is precarious, with various painful possibilities.
It might be that foreign forces involved in smuggling, like the Masked Gardeners, found a different trade partner and aimed to liquidate the relationship. Considering that Hachigi Technology, the smuggling point for kukumerka and secandia apples, has been crushed, it must be taken into account.
Banba watches Kakuhara’s expression.
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“Shall we track down Bomber and crush him?”
“You’re as eager as a hound, aren’t you? Wait. Knowing who Bomber is won’t matter. First, we need to find out who’s backing him, then we can trap them all. Let him swim for now.”
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Despite being treated like a dog, Banba grins, and Kakuhara snorts in amusement.
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“Besides, we can’t just focus on Bomber. We’ve received information that the Masked Gardeners and some linked officials are moving against Amagi Agricultural Development General Group.”
“What’s going on?”
“Trees suitable for building materials have been found in the New World. We need to secure potential transport routes quickly. Crush all those who get in the way. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
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At Kakuhara’s mocking tone, Banba’s sadistic smile deepens.
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“Land speculation, is it? Where?”
“It’s a place named 『Red Bell Forest』 north of Koroge Iwa Garage. Take the Shepard with you.”
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