Vol. 1 Ch. 3 Ep. 18: Confusion and More Confusion

Hahaha! I feel refreshed!

H-How can this be...? All of our troops...

Kaiser PMC was really this powerful...

This can't be! Nephthys teamed up with Kaiser?!

What kind of nonsense is this? Aren't you two supposed to be enemies?!

You're not wrong. Once upon a time.

But did you honestly think that Kaiser would just give up the Trans-Desert Railway bonds and not expect any returns?

All of this? It only happened because we've been secretly negotiating from the start.

Even if that were the case, they're holding the Nephthys heir hostage and blackmailing Abydos!

No, no. To clarify, we don't have any particular dissatisfaction with the lady.

Nephthys will continue to serve Miss Nonomi.

However, just as the company serves her, she also has obligations to the company.

As long as Takanashi Hoshino arrives safely and declares the contract's dissolution, all will be well.

Then, Nonomi will be able to enjoy her life at Abydos until she graduates, and we will gain ownership of the Train Cannon.

Nephthys...? Not Kaiser?

Hm? Oh. Kaiser has no interest in the Train Cannon. That's why we were able to come to an agreement.

Come to think of it, how did you know I planned to betray you?

Th-That's...

I told him.

Suou...?!

What is this...? Y-You betrayed us?

No, no. Not at all.

...Th-The Kaiser president?

My friend here originally belonged to Kaiser PMC.

Former PMC. I'm retired.

Suou! We saved a wandering delinquent like you, who didn't even have an academy to call home...and this is how you repay us?!

Saved? Who exactly did you save?

Settle down. Save the bonding for later, we've got a busy schedule. Right now, it's time to get to work.

Take care of them.

U-Um...

U-Ugh!

Well done, everyone. Thanks to you, we made a significant profit from the bond sales.

I was excited about this newfound windfall, but I guess there's no such thing as free lunch.

Here's the data you requested, President.

Let's see...

Heehee. The Train Cannon. Amusing.

You should've informed me sooner that something so marvelous was hidden in Abydos.

Ugh...

The Train Cannon... Much more realistic than that outlandish space battleship.

According to the Strategy Department's analysis, this could definitely be used as an asymmetric power weapon.

I see. We stopped receiving communications from Black Suit, so I didn't think there would be any new avenues to gain power. But this...

Yes. With this...we'll be able to achieve what we couldn't before...

...Can it be? There are still pieces of the Tyrant Emperor's legacy that haven't been destroyed...?

Excellent. Kaiser will claim the Train Cannon.

What?!

Send a survey team to locate where the Train Cannon is hidden. It must be somewhere along the Trans-Desert Railway.

Understood.

Even if you somehow locate the Train Cannon, you have no ownership rights!

Oh?

Kaiser sold the bonds to the private equity fund!

Therefore, it's up to how the Abydos students decide to handle the contract left by the previous student council president. Kaiser has no say!

My, oh my. What do you take me for?

Are you truly trying to give a lesson on contractual law to the head of the Kaiser Corporation?

A-As such...

Did you really believe I didn't see right through your little plan? Why you formed a private equity fund and called for a general creditors' meeting in the first place?

U-Um...

I'll go ahead and explain your elementary little plan to you.

This meeting had three possible outcomes.

First, the Abydos Student Council representative, the contract's principal, would arrive at the meeting before noon and certify the contract.

If that were the case, the sales contract would be considered valid, and the Abydos Student Council would maintain legal ownership of the Train Cannon.

Naturally, this was the least desirable outcome for you.

...

...

Second, the Abydos Student Council representative, the contract's principal, would confess that the previous student council was a fraudulent organization that did not possess the authority to enter into any such contract. The contract would be considered invalid.

The rights to the Train Cannon would then default to Nephthys, its original owner.

This was your ideal outcome, yes?

...

And to achieve this, you kidnapped Nonomi and even threatened Hoshino... This, I must admit, I was quite impressed with.

That sounds like the actions of a true industrialist. Even I couldn't have come up with that. Kidnapping your own company's heir? Hahaha, that was truly amazing.

Th-That's...

You Abydos folks really are of a different breed. Nephthys knows how to get things done. I have to thank you for the entertainment.

...Ugh.

And finally. The Abydos Student Council representative, the contract's principal, fails to show up to the meeting by noon when the contract expires...

...Or does attend, but declares they don't intend to uphold the contract.

In this case, the sales contract would be legally terminated, based on the principal's intent.

Immediately upon termination of the sales contract, the Train Cannon would regain its status as an Abydos facility and be reassigned as DLB bond collateral.

The rights to the Train Cannon would then default to the private equity fund, which owns the DLB bonds.

Naturally, this was the private equity fund's desired outcome.

...Which is why you hired mercenaries to guard this place until noon.

But that begs the question. Why was the general meeting even needed in the first place?

The sales contract would've been null and void regardless, once the two-year grace period ended.

The logical thing to do would've been to quietly wait for the contract to expire at noon, not go through all the trouble of holding a general creditors' meeting.

So why then did the private equity fund hold a general creditors' meeting, even going so far as to inform Abydos about it?

Why would all you little investors be so obsessed with this certification nonsense?

...Because your worst fear was us, Kaiser, discovering the Train Cannon's existence later down the line.

Th-That's...

So you held this meeting, hoping to protect yourselves with all these certifications.

Isn't that right? Private equity fund members, you did all this because you were afraid of me, right?

Hahaha, did I hit the nail on the head?

Hahahahahahahaha!

Well done, little investors. Please direct your attention here.

Th-This...? This document is...?

A merger agreement?! With my ZYAKO Industries...?

The Pawnbroker Union is being merged as a subsidiary of Kaiser...?

That's right. I'll be taking over all your companies, from this moment forward.

Of course, I'll pay you a generous price. How does 1,000 yen sound?

Wh-What?!

What is this ridiculous nonsense you're spouting?!

U-Um...

Now, don't you worry. M&A is my specialty. Kaiser's done this successfully countless times.

Do you know why Kaiser's emblem is an octopus?

It's because we have as many subsidiaries as an octopus has tentacles. Hahaha!

We'll get it done quick and easy. With the blink of an eye, you'll be members of the Kaiser Group.

Now then, do I have your approvals? The pen is right here.

This is outrageous...

...I can't believe this. I never should've gotten involved in this...

Excellent, excellent. That settles it. You private equity fund members are now under the Kaiser Group! Congratulations, each of you!

Now that the private equity fund is mine, I suppose I'm the general creditors' representative. Speak now if you disapprove!

U-Ugh... We get it...

There, there. Job well done, little investors.

Go to your time-out corner now. You'll stay there until the meeting is over.

...To summarize, if we hold our position here until noon, the Train Cannon is mine.

Of course, there are other routes I can take to seize the Train Cannon, but, for now, the setup laid out by the private equity fund will be the most straightforward.

Your time to shine, General. Hold off any advances from Abydos until noon.

Understood.

Don't let your guard down. Black Suit himself coveted Takanashi Hoshino. She's no ordinary kid.

Don't worry, President. I'm not a fool that falls victim to carelessness.

A given! After all, you're my trusted general.

Yes, sir.

...Prepare for battle, troops.

All remaining staff are to search for the Train Cannon. It'll be time-consuming, but it should be possible with our information network.

Yes! Understood!

Now then, just how far will your capabilities take you, Abydos?

Wh-Why isn't the boss contacting us?

Something strange's happening.

O-Over there...?!

Good. Take care of the small-fry, and we'll set up our base here.

Stop Schale and Abydos' advance at all costs!

I'm detecting new troops in the area... It's Kaiser PMC!

Kaiser PMC...?

A huge number of PMC forces are gathering around Central Station! They're engaged in battle with the private equity fund troops!

Wh-What in the world is going on...?

Conflict within the private equity fund?

No... Kaiser was never a part... I don't quite understand it, but the situation seems to be changing.

And on top of that...

Huh?!

Whoa... Big problem..

Wh-What the heck is happening? Do we gotta run away? And abandon our railway construction?

Hikari thinks...running away...is probably impossible...?

Private equity fund forces confirmed!

E-Eeek!

Please spare us! We don't know anything!

Highlander Academy is...surrounded by Kaiser at the nearby restricted station?

What? Those little menaces?

What about Hoshino?

Kaiser?

Hahaha. I finally found you, Takanashi Hoshino.

...Out of my way!

Those are Kaiser PMC's Special Forces! Hoshino...!

What should we do, Sensei?

We have one hour and ten minutes until noon...

It's okay. We'll make it.

Augh! We've got no choice. Hoshino'll be okay, but those guys are gonna be in serious danger without our help.

...Understood, Sensei!

Move out and rescue the Highlander Academy students!

*tchhhk* Zone E clear.

*tchhhk* Confirmed. Zone S also clear.

*tchhhk* Zone N clear. Zone W report.

Come in.

Come in, General. General?

U-Ugh...

Hm... What's all this about? These jerks...

We're alive.

Seriously! That was a close one! Pahyahyahya!

Hm...

These weirdos aren't taking this seriously at all...

A-Abydos students... Thanks for saving us.

Are you okay?

It appears that the PMC is attacking the private equity fund right now... What could be the motive...?

That's my question! Exactly my question! What's going on? What's up with this?

You all don't know anything either?

Hm... That darned Overseer Suou's been ghosting us since yesterday... I think I heard that a fight might break out, but that's all!

Hikari was asleep...maybe half asleep? So Hikari forgot.

Well, the overseer not being here is a plus in my book! Construction will be a snap! Pahyahyahya! That's all I care about!

Total plus!

In any case, things are actually getting a bit dangerous, so you should stop construction and find somewhere safe to hide for now.

Y-You heard that, officers? We have to escape this cursed Abydos land!

I wouldn't go so far...as to call it cursed...

Anyway, you got our warning, right?

"Let's hurry to the Central Station District Office. I'm worried about Nonomi."

Yes, Kaiser PMC seems to be operating under different motives than Nephthys or the private equity fund.

Let's get to the general creditors' meeting!

Yeah, let's hurry. Hoshino should be almost there too.