Chapter 159

The outline of the Decline Operation is simple.

Putting aside the detailed specifics that change with each episode, it can be summarized as a proposal to slowly collapse the existing power structure of Enema Corporation.

I don’t know if that guy Kajun got his idea from the famous large-scale offensive operation designed by the Allies during World War II that was never executed.

At that time, I thought it was just a pun thrown in as a joke by Chaos Point, a game development company… but after experiencing firsthand that there are no results without causes multiple times, I naturally came to realize that nothing in this world is a given. Hmm.

In any case, the plan is to reduce the number of Enema executives one by one under the pretense of a plausible justification and the will of the chairman, all while bulking up the team.

Thus, of course, the initial operation, which devours its objectives based only on foundational grounds, is the most exhausting of all… isn’t it a bit precarious? I could only guess logically.

…Why, you ask?

No matter how much the player rushes through the Enema route, the earliest downfall-related quest they can receive is from the third act.

Even that is practically a nasty mission that only benefits Mr. K with poor cost-effectiveness, and is a side quest that proceeds to the fourth act without needing the player’s intervention, so it gets cleared once or twice just to fill achievements.

In conclusion, what I want to say is this.

Honestly, I know nothing about this…! The issue of you projecting completely different people while looking at others is already troublesome enough, so please handle that yourself. Please.

“Hmph…! Do as you wish! However, regarding this matter, buying people with credits is absolutely not allowed! We will only select those among the troops who are secretive. This must also be understood by Edamatsu! If one were to attempt to assault Kasane here and fail to obtain evidence…”

Kakubari paused briefly.

This is serious trouble if things go wrong. Is this really the right approach? He doesn’t seem to have any intention of dropping his cooperative attitude, presenting conditions that are galaxies apart from my hopes.

Although it was annoying to constantly throw off the focus while we were all prepared with one mind and one purpose, I also found it somewhat understandable.

Even I, who have nothing to lose, aim for safety, so who wants to tarnish their reputation when they have a nearly perfect career and lifetime position as the Secretary of Mega Cop?

While unable to take refuge in the territory already acquired.

At this stage, it’s bizarre how those two are trying to smash the opponent headfirst without any backing.

“It doesn’t matter. Would he really proceed with such an agenda without considering those aspects?”

Of course, the scene of a middle-aged man’s genuine frustration is not something you would enjoy watching, so Show… no! Ack!! Edamatsu answered casually while trying to make eye contact with me, who was sitting there like a doll.

…Even with a fortified wall, why are you trying to break down the psychological barrier by casually using pet names?

You should try being gaslit for about ten hours a day for a week. Although I, a Korean, find the Western culture of nicknames or given names awkward, I end up unconsciously leaning towards what feels more comfortable?!

And after three days, if I don’t call him Show, he wouldn’t respond even when he called me, which creates quite a considerable burden… So, lacking any genuine chance to engage in a pointless mental tug-of-war, I made a significant concession. Just to be clear, it was regarding quantity.

“……Of course. Secretary, you only need to regulate the inside. I will serve the Director well to achieve results.”

‘Huh…?’

On the other hand, Kajun seemed displeased. Having sensed that he should slowly start walking his own path, he responded with a somewhat slanted tone.

However, that isn’t the issue at hand.

Thump, thump…! Following the Secretary who left without hiding his angry footsteps, he politely exited. The moment he checked that Show’s gaze had left him, he quickly turned toward me.

A short exchange of glances. A synchronized lip sync.

Trying to show we’re on good terms wasn’t beneficial for either of us, so I made an effort to maintain a carefully measured ambivalence, but I didn’t expect him to send the signal first.

If I were to follow the syllables… ‘Let’s talk later’?

Um, this… doesn’t look good. I have a really bad feeling about this.

Gracefully, I extended my chopsticks to grasp the end of the sushi.

Taking the fine wasabi that was clinging like moss and mixing it into the soy sauce, I preferred not having my nose sting too much, so I used just a little.

Grabbing a piece of pale pink flesh from another plate, I dipped the flabby part into the finished sauce.

After briefly watching the black liquid spread through the fish’s capillaries, I leisurely moved it to my mouth, teasing its elastic texture and rich fat with my teeth and tongue.

It tastes good. It has flavor, but… it’s troubling that it only tastes good.

“I’m sorry for realizing too late that Anastasia enjoys the elegance of sashimi. Next time… I’ll prepare not common seafood, but specially farmed bluefin tuna…”

“Um… I’m a simple eater, so I actually prefer the common salmon over tuna.”

Wait, he knows the traditional way of eating Japanese cuisine, but at least he should know basic dining etiquette…?

Well, he originates from a neighboring country, after all.

After enjoying a familiar menu, I suppressed Show, who was practically grinning with the thought that he’d have to eat sashimi again the next morning.

For now, today’s food torture was safely over.

Ah, if my wording was too harsh, I apologize. However, I wanted to express that if I had to spend all my meals one-on-one with this stalker in the office, no matter how luxurious the diet, it would inevitably weigh on my stomach.

Would saying that I missed just sitting around the table, listening to Marina’s rapid-fire chatter, and snacking on lunchboxes be enough of an explanation?

While I observed every little action of his, on the other hand, he openly wanted to win my favor, which was so obvious that it made me feel like I was looking at a dog wagging its tail. …Is it cute? Are you insane? It’s obvious that if I don’t feed it, it’ll bite me, causing cold sweat to flow.

“Well then… see you tomorrow.”

“……Yes, well. You’ve worked hard.”

After finishing dinner, as the work hours were completely concluded, I awkwardly returned the greeting to him, who seemed to be hoping for this to become a recurring event, and exited first.

Whether I like it or not. Since the opportunity is set, I thought it would be a loss not to enjoy it, so I enthusiastically ate, and during leisurely time, I also checked the Neo Haven city community, mulling over how to proceed in the most productive way possible.

However, this ambiguity in relationships is a knot that will need to be untied eventually.

A fatal misconception. But it’s difficult to determine how to approach this and resolve it safely… it’s a complex problem where both parties can get hurt.

“…Tsk.”

It is indeed a headache-inducing situation entwined on many fronts, causing my tongue to click automatically.

If it were an enemy, I could mercilessly poke their weaknesses and stir things up until they couldn’t recover, but…

Even if they seem a bit foolish showing signs of being absent-minded when they see me, for now, they are the main characters representing Enema.

Flicking my hair, I exited the dual-structured shared office where the dedicated executive office and the regular secretary office were connected and headed back to my accommodations.

Along the way, I glanced at the armed guards and watchers standing silently like sentinels as I turned the corner.

I thought that if I went in quickly to wash up and had a meeting with Zero, I’d fall asleep just on time, when suddenly…

“Ugh, even if you know I’m waiting in a suitable place to avoid crossing paths, can’t you at least pretend to look around? My dear researcher?”

“I don’t treat unilaterally issued notifications and disappearances as promises.”

What a surprise. A guy who never makes small talk wouldn’t just vanish after asking to see my face.

As Kajun rounded the corner, sweeping his arm with a hiss sound as if the chilly horror of the night corridor was bothering him, he appeared. I also clearly saw his gesture to enter an empty room.

I wanted to shoot back that I would rather chat in the open corridor than get stuck in a confined space with him again, but it was apparent that the topic wasn’t something I could disclose to others, so I had no choice but to follow him inside.

Of course, as soon as I leaned back on the desk, it wasn’t long before an awkward request came in that was quite difficult to respond to immediately.

“…Regarding the upcoming offensive operation, I’m sorry, but I need you to take on the role of a Field Engineer.”

“What…?”

Realizing that it was an unreasonable request, the would-be black mastermind and current pitiful villain accepted my glaring look unwaveringly.

Are they trying to extract the liver of a flea?

If I had handed over all the material I had been holding back and kept quiet, it would have been over, but now they’re asking for a talent donation too?

Not to mention the promised retirement procedure is completely stalled due to Show blocking it… Ah, right. That’s partly my fault due to an unavoidable natural disaster, so I’ll let it slide. Just talk once.

As I crossed my arms with a cynical attitude that suggested I wasn’t very interested in engaging, complaints from the middle manager, who was losing personnel to secure human resources, along with displaying the anger distorted by a passive supervisor, surfaced.

“As you know, I joined the company a bit late, so in order to ‘efficiently’ and ‘in the shortest time’ ascend, I have pointed out some improper behaviors of a few colleagues and supervisors… Occasionally having to submit their work results that I voluntarily relinquished. There are losers harboring foolish grudges over that.”

“Damn you… is that so? Yeah….”

‘This jerk… is stacking up karma all alone…?’

…Or maybe he’s just a piece of trash trying to play the victim.

“Thanks to that, right now, Secretary Kakubari has also quietly hinted that it’s under control, and it’s difficult to scout a technician to secure evidence of guilty in President Kasane’s personal computer.”

“Hmm… wait, does that make sense? Even if the secretary is interfering, the executive director wants to get things done?”

I instinctively nodded, but as I pressed on with my suspicions, the response I got back was a dishearteningly sorrowful and despondent one.

“To speak candidly, as you are well aware, we have an overwhelming number of operators and combatants, but we’re significantly lacking in other areas. Even if we were to deploy all the virtual technicians available, it might not be possible to breach security in time…?”

“Hah….”

I buried my face in my hand, lowering my head.

It’s not a lifeboat, it’s a wreck, and it turns out to be a rotten rope. Startups usually struggle together….

Various expressions of suppressed laughter flashed through my mind, but I didn’t voice them.

Right now, the guy who should be on my side is venting his complaints about the unfavorable state, so what good would it do to counter with sarcasm?

Hearing him out made it clear that if I let this go without getting involved, there was no guarantee that everything would turn out fine… so I became apprehensive.

If asked whether I wanted to do it or not, I would naturally lean towards the latter.

However, if I made the wrong move here, not only the third and fourth underdog rebellions, but the entire scenario could collapse. Still, if there’s a part I can help with, isn’t it right to lend a hand as much as possible?

It might be wise to avoid getting caught up in future controversies, but…

“…So, what exactly do you want me to do?”

Let me just hear the plan. After that, I’ll decide whether to move forward or not.

With that resolve, I asked the question, and Kajun casually answered with a light tone, suggesting it’s nothing to worry about.

“In a little while, there will be a social party hosted by her. So, without any particular burdens, please participate as the Director’s enthusiastic partner and extract as many of the undisclosed contracts and materials from the list as possible!”

“……? Then, how do I get to the room where the computer I need to infiltrate is located?”

“Just wait for the party to build up in the venue, then quietly slip out.”

Hmm, where should I start swearing at this?

Was it the part where you distorted me as the ‘enthusiastic partner’? Or the act of offloading all the main missions under the guise of a small errand?

By the way, who does this crazy person think I am, asking me to pull off such tightrope tricks like I’m the protagonist of a spy film? Isn’t he overestimating his trust in me too much, this bastard?

“Don’t worry about escaping, either. Once we secure the materials, our suppression team will enter to secure the site, and we’ll have escorts with us from start to finish!”

“…….”

For a moment, I was dumbfounded by the absurdity of it all, then I questioned what he would be doing during this, to which he smoothly spun excuses, saying he’d follow as a staff member to coordinate errors and prevent unexpected situations.

In the end, it could be summarized as him expecting nothing but my hacking skills, leaving the rest to him!

I almost screamed out loud in the middle of the night, but restrained myself.

Now, let’s outline a few reasons why this is realistically difficult.

If it’s a social party, high-ranking corporate personnel will surely make an appearance, and I don’t want to be recognized, you know?

Confronting either Show or other relatives of the Amagi family who might bring out the truth could be the worst-case scenario.

Moreover, suggesting that I breach a security system I’ve never seen before, against unknown defense forces, is utterly absurd.

And even aside from all of that…

“…Are you seriously going to take me to such a public place? You’re the one who specified my commuting time and route, after all?”

I displayed a cynical demeanor, hinting at the lack of a strategy to obtain permission.

Kajun simply grinned in response, maintaining silence in place of an answer.

A few days later, on the day of the operation, I was reluctantly changing into my outing clothes with a sense of regret and reflection.

Damn it, this is my fate.