Corporate War.
Literally, it means a war between corporations.
However, it doesn’t refer to competing for the same consumer pool, but rather to a physical war.
Bullets fly, missiles fall, and tanks spew fire—that kind of war.
In a world where corporate power surpasses that of nations, this was more common than one might think.
However, history has proven that even if you win a corporate war, it often doesn’t feel like a victory, so it’s generally avoided.
That’s why corporations refrain from war unless it’s the absolute last resort.
Instead, a new concept emerged: the Cold War.
A quiet war where assassins replace soldiers, slander replaces bombs, and black AI replaces tanks.
That was the Corporate Cold War.
Compared to an outright war, the Cold War offered more gains, making it the preferred method for most corporations.
And according to Cash over the phone, the pharmaceutical company Amon and Sonia were monitoring was currently in a Cold War with another pharmaceutical company.
[Recently, both companies developed a local regulator, and coincidentally, they seemed to have done it around the same time.]
Decades of effort poured into creating a drug had overlapped.
Both sides accused the other of stealing corporate secrets, but the truth was unknown to anyone.
One thing was certain: the drugs created by both companies were identical in efficacy and performance.
As if not monopolizing the market would be a death sentence, both companies began scheming to make the other abandon their patent rights.
At first, they bribed agencies like the FDA and filed lawsuits against each other.
The conflict escalated to extremes and eventually led to a Cold War.
[Right now, the most critical point in the Cold War is France. The company that gains the upper hand in France will take the lead in this Cold War.]
So Miller Pharmaceuticals came up with a crazy plan to release a virus.
It would weaken the competitor, expand their business, and even make money from vaccines—a triple win.
They immediately put the plan into action.
To secretly develop a vaccine, they needed to conduct clinical trials quietly, so they resorted to human trafficking.
They continuously supplied test subjects through gangs involved in organ trafficking or human trafficking.
But then the gang got caught by Amon, and in the process, the Security Chief went out on a pretext and ended up getting killed by Amon.
Cash contacted them about this, leading to the current situation.
That was Cash’s explanation.
Amon nodded.
Then, pointing at the now-deceased attackers, he asked,
“So, these guys were sent by Miller? Did I mess things up?”
[No. Miller Pharmaceuticals doesn’t hold any particular grudge against you. Probably.]
“Probably?”
[I can see the future, not read minds.]
“Right.”
[But one thing’s for sure. These people weren’t sent by Miller Pharmaceuticals.]
As Cash said, Miller Pharmaceuticals held no ill feelings toward Amon.
Even if the path was twisted, with Cash’s help, they could still gain an advantage in Paris.
To the company, the Security Chief was just a replaceable part, and his death was merely a hiccup.
In fact, if his sacrifice could help them gain the upper hand in France, they didn’t mind.
“Corporations are cold-hearted, as expected.”
[For the record, no matter what happens, I won’t abandon you!]
Cash jokingly said, as if feeling guilty.
Of course, Amon didn’t take it seriously.
“It’s fine~ If I get betrayed, I’ll just start another coup.”
[Hey?!]
“If it succeeds, it’s a revolution; if it fails, it’s treason!”
[Hey! This is a purge agenda!]
“Oops~ Sorry, miss~”
After teasing Cash, they returned to the topic.
These attackers weren’t sent by Miller Pharmaceuticals.
[They were sent by Neville Pharmaceuticals.]
“The ones competing with Miller, right?”
[Yes.]
They could roughly grasp the situation.
“Did they think we sided with Miller?”
[Probably.]
Suddenly, with Cash’s company helping Miller gain the upper hand in France, it was easy to see why Neville might think that.
Sonia, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.
“But is their intelligence incomplete? Sending this many people at us suggests so.”
[Actually, it seems they sent these people precisely because their intelligence was perfect.]
There was no identifiable martial arts style, and their combat skills were just enough to not leave any traces.
[If the goal was ‘assault’ rather than ‘assassination,’ these were the optimal personnel.]
If the company’s goal was to hinder the two, this was a very rational choice.
Amon agreed.
“True, without Cash, it would’ve been impossible to identify them.”
The circumstantial evidence was strong.
They were too well-trained to be mere mercenaries or gang members, tight-lipped, and above all, extremely loyal.
That alone was enough to suspect a corporation was behind it.
But that’s as far as it would’ve gone.
There are hundreds of companies in Paris alone, and pinpointing one would’ve been impossible.
It would’ve ended with just a lingering unease.
Fortunately, Amon and Sonia had Cash, so they didn’t need to feel that unease.
Though it did spark curiosity.
“Alright. So Neville sent them. But I have a question.”
[···]
“Did you know Neville would send people? Ah, I’m not interrogating, so don’t feel pressured.”
It was pure curiosity.
What future had Cash seen?
Cash fell silent for a moment.
Choosing her words carefully, she spoke again.
[Just so you know, my ability is to read the threads of fate, not to memorize every future. You don’t memorize every verse in the Bible, do you? Just the highlights.]
“I do memorize the entire Gospel of the Saintess. Want me to recite it?”
[···Generally, people just read the highlights. And unless it directly affects me, I can only know indirectly.]
“So you didn’t know?”
[I swear, absolutely not.]
“It’s surprisingly tricky.”
[As I always say, I’m not omnipotent.]
“Still, it’s impressive. I rely on you too.”
*Ahem*
Cash’s breath could be heard through the earpiece.
Reading the threads is her blood, but weaving the fabric is her ability.
“So you only just found out about the Cold War too?”
[···]
“···Right?”
Cash remained silent.
Amon realized this silence meant something different.
“Well, you must have your plans.”
Amon accepted it and moved on.
But Cash continued to remain silent, as if waiting for someone to speak.
Soon, Sonia, who had been quietly listening, sharpened her gaze and parted her lips. Cash closed her eyes softly.
As if what was coming had arrived.
Interpreting the silence in her own way, Sonia asked Cash in a slightly sharp tone,
“Was it necessary to keep this a secret?”
Being someone who values honesty in relationships, this was a significant matter.
The focus of the conversation suddenly shifted from Amon to Sonia.
“Cash. Are you listening?”
[Sonia, I’m sorry.]
“···”
[I know that no matter what I say, it won’t be a satisfying answer for you. But being in this position, sometimes I have to hide the truth.]
“I know. I understand.”
Though she said that, a sense of disappointment dripped from Sonia’s words.
For a moment, memories from her childhood flashed through her mind.
She had lied to Amon countless times in the past.
She had hidden her mistakes, like targeting a Divine Power holder with the Hixen Group and using them for her own gain.
She had even faked a field training application with the Hixen Group to make the Vatican anxious, believing they would offer a higher ransom.
As a result, things spiraled out of control.
Of course, she later confessed everything to Amon and was forgiven.
But there was still one thing she hadn’t forgiven herself for.
The Orphanage Director’s…
Sonia pulled herself out of her sinking thoughts.
In any case, she valued honesty.
Without it, relationships could deteriorate to the point of no return.
That’s why she felt disappointed with Cash.
Because she cherished Cash, she had to emphasize honesty.
She didn’t want to lose her.
Cash, understanding Sonia’s sincerity, took her words seriously.
[But I can swear two things. One, I may hide things from you, but I won’t lie. And as I said before, I’ll never abandon you.]
Amon, who had been quietly listening, also nodded.
Only then did Sonia realize she had been too sharp.
“Sorry. I guess I’m a bit on edge after the fight.”
[I understand.]
Both Amon and Cash sighed in relief.
The atmosphere softened.
Amon clapped his hands to lighten the mood.
“Alright, then. Back to the topic. What should we do, Chairman?”
[Director.]
“Unofficial Vice Chairman.”
[If you keep this up, I’ll spill your future black history?]
“Sorry, Director.”
[That’s more like it.]
“So, what’s our plan?”
[What else? We keep building our company’s branch.]
“Not planning to take revenge on Neville Pharmaceuticals or anything?”
[That’s exactly why we’re setting up the Paris branch. We need a base on the ground to sabotage or wage a Cold War. Besides, it’s not just Neville we’re dealing with.]
“···You’re planning to take on Miller too?”
[Did you think I wouldn’t?]
“I thought you’d compromise?”
Through the earpiece, Cash snorted.
[Hmph. I told you, didn’t I? I’ll never abandon you. That also means I won’t let anyone mess with you.]
Miller had already earned Cash’s grudge.
First, for targeting Amon and Sonia as test subjects in the Clinic Center incident.
Second, for planning to retaliate against Amon through the gang.
And finally…
[Miller knew about today’s attack. They let it happen to drag us into the Cold War.]
Cash recited the future that would unfold.
[By tomorrow morning, Miller will send someone to tell us the attackers were from Neville. Naturally, we’ll be drawn into the Cold War.]
“Is that Future Vision?”
[That’s analysis.]
The conclusion was that Miller had already stacked enough reasons for Cash’s grudge.
Cash had no intention of letting either Miller or Neville Pharmaceuticals off the hook.
Outwardly, it seemed like she was compromising with them, but in reality, she was sharpening her knives behind the scenes.
That was the method Cash had learned from Amon.
[You have to lull them into a false sense of security before striking from behind.]
“Director, you’re scary.”
[You taught me that.]
Soon, they summarized their plan.
Priority 1:
Find the representative of Rekhetio’s Essence company.
2:
Use the established company to mess with both pharmaceutical companies.
It was a simple task.
In the end, what Amon and Sonia had to do remained the same.
Find the representative.
[Well, things are going to get a bit tiring from today.]
“That’s fine.”
Amon smiled.
“We’ve been through worse.”
Sonia and Cash smiled too.
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