Chapter 89: Traffic Control 2
“Cough, cough…”
[Dawn]
[Satellite City Zain Branch]
The smiles of the innocent-looking girls were stained with the blood of Dawn employees from the Mega Corp.
“As soon as I heard that Dawn was driven out, I struck at you, and now even Earnest Rail has been handled by our Alice~?”
“Sa, Saya Gui…ld…”
“Oh my, Dawn Corporation… Who are you again? You’re an executive, right? Aha, that’s right. Let’s see… Ah, a managing director? That’s quite a high position, isn’t it?”
Despite being a supposedly powerful executive of the Mega Corp, the Dawn Corporation’s Zain branch was utterly devastated by Sohi and the merciless attacks of the Immortal Girls.
Having already suffered betrayal from Earnest Rail and the annihilation of their main force, the Dawn Corporation’s Zain branch was practically an empty shell.
As soon as Alice departed, Sohi attacked Dawn with the remaining Immortal Girls.
The managing director of Dawn spat blood but forced himself to stand.
He was the highest-ranking personnel dispatched by the Dawn headquarters to secure supremacy over Satellite City Zain.
Being betrayed by Earnest Rail was one thing, but having the branch wiped out by the relatively weaker Saya Guild was unfathomable.
“You’re insane, Sohi! How dare a mere guild interfere in the Mega Corp’s competition? Are you out of your mind?”
“Shouldn’t you be more concerned about your own guts spilling out?”
“What?”
-Thud!
“Gah?!”
Before the managing director could say anything else, an Immortal Girl, with a mischievous expression, approached him and casually tore out his liver with her bare hands.
“Kya-hahaha! Thump-thump!”
“It’s not the liver that thumps; it’s the heart.”
“Gasp, really?”
The managing director still couldn’t understand.
Even if Dawn’s main force had been pulled out, the fact that fewer than 200 members of the Saya Guild had overpowered them was inconceivable.
The Dawn Corporation in Satellite City Zain employed 5,000 personnel, all of whom were awakened individuals.
Yet, this vast number of awakened individuals had been annihilated by fewer than 200 members of the Saya Guild.
This had occurred without them even mounting a proper counterattack.
It was absurd that every single one of those accursed Saya Guild women wasn’t a First-Class Overseer.
Before they could report to headquarters or request reinforcements, the entire Zain branch was obliterated.
“If… if you had such power, why did you lie low until now? Why didn’t you participate in the Mega Corp meetings and claim your rights? Why kill us all like this?!”
“It seems you’ve misunderstood something. Even though the Saya Guild has a few exceptional traits, compared to Earnest Rail or Dawn, we’re just a frail guild. If this turns into a prolonged battle or if financial pressure is applied, we’ll be in trouble too.”
“Nonsense…!”
Sohi grinned as she looked down at the struggling managing director.
“If they’d known our girls were this dangerous, Dawn and Earnest Rail would’ve joined forces to target us immediately, wouldn’t they? What’s important to us isn’t winning or losing but preventing information leaks. That must be stopped at all costs.”
“So that’s why you stabbed us in the back like rats?”
“It’s not backstabbing. We were never on the same side to begin with.”
-Kaboom!
The buildings and residential areas of Dawn were collapsing.
The Immortal Girls scattered widely, destroying every visible Dawn building and asset.
“To confess now… we’re not exactly at ease either. We absolutely cannot let our girls’ secrets leak out, no matter what.”
“…Girls? Are you talking about those monsters?”
The managing director, despite his position in Ark, was well aware of the peculiarities of the Immortal Girls.
Their infinite regeneration, their absurd abilities beyond their apparent ages.
To put it bluntly, each one of them had power reminiscent of a First-Class Overseer.
“What do you think would happen if Earnest Rail… no, if the other Mega Corps of Ark learned about our girls’ peculiarities? Our girls could become something akin to public enemies. That must be prevented.”
Even though Sohi was a former First-Class Overseer with a total of 187 Immortal Girls under her command, it would be overwhelming if the Mega Corps decided to unite and begin suppressing them.
There wasn’t enough time to play house, go hunting, or play tag with the girls. Facing the Mega Corps individually was out of the question.
So Sohi chose to stay hidden.
She emphasized their lack of power, capital, and any ambitions of taking over Satellite City Zain’s supremacy.
In reality, Sohi had no grand desire for power or dominance over Zain.
“Attacking one side while both Dawn and Earnest Rail were intact would’ve been meaningless. In the meantime, one of them would’ve already sold information about our girls to Ark or the other Mega Corps.”
“So, that’s why… as soon as you found out that Dawn was betrayed by Earnest Rail, you attacked us?”
The managing director sneered at Sohi even while bleeding.
‘It seems like a calculated move, but her thinking is too simplistic. Earnest Rail must’ve already realized something was amiss on our side and gathered all the information… Infinite regeneration girls… I’ve heard of them. The Immortal Girls, the products of the Immortal Factory.’
He was a fairly high-ranking executive, so he knew several pieces of information about Ark’s taboos.
The products of the Undead Factory blatantly roamed the Satellite City, and the price for that would be paid.
Even if the Dawn Branch was annihilated, Earnest Rail was still intact.
They were the ones who betrayed us on the Northern Front, but the existence of the Undead Girls was a tempting subject for Mega Corp.
Even if the Saya Guild wiped out Dawn, it wasn’t over yet.
“Ah, just asking out of curiosity. Have you heard the story that Earnest Rail was suddenly wiped out by a Humanoid Calamity?”
“W-what…?”
What? Why is a Humanoid Calamity being mentioned here all of a sudden?!
The executive glared at Sohi as if to ask what nonsense she was talking about.
“Hahaha, the timing is just perfect. Our Alice is truly a blessing. How could bringing that adorable junior make everything flow so smoothly?”
The sudden appearance of Humanoid Calamity Gaia caused Mega Corp’s Northern Front to be completely destroyed.
Moreover, Alice reported the existence of Earnest Rail’s taboos and illegal underground facilities.
This ensured that Earnest Rail could no longer threaten the Saya Guild.
No, Earnest Rail Headquarters would likely claim, “The employees at the Zain Branch privately created these for their personal gain and power, and this has no connection to Earnest Rail Headquarters.”
Now, Earnest Rail had to completely withdraw from Satellite City.
The only obstacles left for Sohi were Dawn and the Humanoid Calamity that supposedly appeared suddenly.
“Hoho, ohhohoho…”
But hearing that Alice had also dealt with that Humanoid Calamity, Sohi couldn’t hold back her laughter.
“What, what’s wrong with you? Have you gone mad?”
“Hohoho, just for today, I want to go crazy~”
Sohi, who laughed freely, began drawing her sword to kill the executive.
The same mana cultivation technique used by the Undead Girls resonated as dew-like energy began to form on her blade.
However, the Dawn executive did not show fear.
“Overseer! Here is someone who has violated Ark’s laws!!!”
At that moment, a window in the sky opened, and several people appeared.
The Overseer was summoned.
It was a direct emergency request to an Overseer, which a high-ranking Mega Corp executive could only use once a year.
For Earnest Rail or Dawn to invest outside Ark, they needed the Administrator’s approval.
Once approval was granted, an Overseer would inspect the Mega Corp.
During this process, the Overseer and Mega Corp typically established a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship.
Mega Corp provided the Overseer with financial support, and the Overseer offered Mega Corp reduced scrutiny or assistance with military power.
Just as Administrator Baden’s Overseer division supported Earnest Rail, Dawn also had a line of collaboration with Overseers.
“Haah, haah… haah… Sohi, you’re finished…!”
It was the Overseer.
An Overseer, who even protected corporations, had directly descended.
“We are the wings of the silent owl.”
“We are the wolves walking in the shadows.”
Three Overseers descended from the void.
Perhaps they had unlocked their codes, as their overwhelming mana caused a tingling sensation on the skin.
No matter how formidable the Saya Guild was, they would be powerless against the Overseers.
‘Good thing I had insurance…!’
Although the loss of personnel and the precious use of the Overseer summon stung, if this situation could be resolved, challenging Zain’s hegemony would still be possible.
“Oh my. Yulia, Cassis, Regulia?”
When Sohi tilted her head and spoke, the Overseers’ faces momentarily twisted into peculiar expressions before their eyes widened in disbelief.
“Oh, oh… oh!? Senior!”
“No way, is that Teacher Sohi?!”
But the Overseers’ warm voices made Dawn’s executive’s face stiffen.
What did they just say?
“It’s been a while, everyone.”
“Third-Class Overseer Yulia! I greet Senior Sohi.”
“Second-Class Overseer Cassis, I greet my mentor.”
“Second-Class Overseer Regulia, I greet my senior!”
“W-what, what, what…”
The high-ranking Overseers that Dawn had poured a fortune into securing as insurance bowed their heads to Sohi, causing the executive’s eyes to tremble violently.
“You, you, Sohi Guildmaster! What is the meaning of this? Senior? Why are high-ranking Overseers calling someone like you, merely a Guildmaster, their senior…?!”
“Silence, you pompous fool! Show respect to a First-Class Overseer!”
“Guh?!”
When the Overseer named Cassis flared his mana as if ready to unlock his code, the executive gasped under the crushing pressure on his chest.
“Cassis, I’m retired. Why call me a First-Class Overseer?”
“Ah…”
“Senior Sohi is one of the few First-Class Overseers who retired alive. She is worthy of reverence.”
A retired First-Class Overseer…?
The executive felt his vision darken at those words.
This was absurd.
It was utterly absurd.
How could this be…?
“Senior! Just to confirm, did you choose Zain as the sanctuary for the children?”
“Oh, dear~ You’ve found out.”
Sanctuary.
Sohi was originally a First-Class Overseer and the key figure in dismantling the Immortal Factory.
However, 187 Immortal Girls were born as the results of the factory, and to care for these pitiable lives, Sohi willingly relinquished her position and left the city for the sake of the girls.
Being the key figure in dismantling the Immortal Factory, Sohi paid various prices, including giving up her position as a First-Class Overseer, and received approval from five administrators to formally retire.
“By the way, did you come here to observe my work? I might entertain your request.”
Sohi’s eyes gleamed crimson, and the Immortal Girls clad in bio-suits around her unsheathed their swords.
Feeling the grim aura of Senior Sohi emanating from the girls, the junior Overseers trembled and waved their hands in denial.
“Eek!”
“No, no! How could we dare, Senior!”
“Fufufu, it seems you’ve grown a lot. If you attack me now, you might earn the title of defeating a former First-Class Overseer! You’d have a free pass to become First-Class yourselves.”
“No way, Senior Sohi. Even without your code, we’d lose.”
“You can submit a reasonable report to the administrators. By the way, can I have my name listed in your report?”
“Who is your current administrator?”
“It’s Violence Serena.”
“Oh, her. She’s a strict but knowledgeable person. Sure, go ahead and use my name.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
“Then, I’ll be going now!”
“Wha-what!? Where are you going?!”
The Overseers who had been pleading for help suddenly disappeared in an instant, leaving the Managing Director of Dawn in hopeless despair.
Even though the Immortal Girls were protected by a First-Class Overseer, their mere existence was taboo within Ark but tolerated outside of it.
Thus, Sohi sought a world outside of Ark where the girls could live peacefully.
She envisioned creating a small city for them.
“You were the ones who moved first.”
However, in the process of building a small town, resource mining rights and interests began to intervene.
As the interests grew, capital increased, expanding their territory.
As the territory grew, new resources and regions emerged.
This led to various structural interventions by Mega Corps in Satellite City Zain.
Sohi wanted to deal with all the ensuing chaos, but Mega Corps couldn’t be easily eradicated.
Even if one small entity escaped, Sohi’s Immortal Girls would become targets of all Ark’s Mega Corps and criminals.
Recently, the intense resistance of native forces—the Demons—caused Dawn and Earnest Rail to form an alliance, only for Earnest Rail to betray Dawn, weakening their power significantly.
Although Earnest Rail basked in their newfound advantage, Alice, acting on Sohi’s request, began causing chaos on the northern front.
There, Alice stole what was called the “Doll,” a forbidden asset of Earnest Rail.
At this point, Sohi became confident of victory and launched an attack on Dawn.
If Sohi reported Earnest Rail’s violation of Ark’s taboo to the administrators, Executors and Overseer units would crush Earnest Rail.
This left Earnest Rail with no way to resist Sohi.
Suddenly, the Humanoid Calamity Gaia appeared, devastating Earnest Rail and the northern front.
Reports even stated that Alice successfully subdued Gaia.
Though it was hard to believe, it seemed plausible for someone as exceptional as Alice.
“The Demons turned out to be quite helpful.”
Thanks to a foolish Overseer who refused humanity’s assimilation of the Demons while siding with Earnest Rail, Alice might even gain merit in humanity’s integration efforts.
“W-why is a First-Class Overseer here…? This is unreasonable, unreasonable…!”
“Don’t worry. Precious Zain, nurtured by Dawn and Earnest Rail, will serve as a perfect sanctuary for our children.”
Sohi chuckled softly.
Oh, things were going perfectly.
She felt overwhelmed with gratitude toward Alice.
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【Rise, Gaia.】
[“This… is a strange feeling.”]
Gaia opened her eyes in a space that was neither high nor low, cold nor warm.
Or rather, since she lacked a physical body, “opened her eyes” might be an inaccurate expression.
Currently, Gaia existed as an electronic neural network formed of mana and life force, a subordinate entity and component of Alice.
【Though it may be meaningless, I must ask. Why did you give your attention to Alice?】
[“What do you mean by that?”]
【I’m asking why you harbored the desire to merge with Alice.】
To Teresa’s question, Gaia responded as if it were obvious.
[“I only wanted to be with Alice. I just wanted to become one with her. I simply wanted to embrace her.”]
【That’s incomprehensible. Falling in love without cause or reason… You must be mentally ill.】
[“Child, humans say love needs no cause or reason. Must I always explain myself to you?”]
Gaia’s green neural network rippled lightly, as though laughing.
[“If I had to give a reason, would ‘just because’ suffice?”]
【There is no ‘just because’ in the destructive emotion of love.】
[“It was simply that I liked her. My eyes were drawn to her, and before I knew it, I was only looking at her. When I gained reason and intellect, I wanted to gaze at the one who became my reason. That’s all I can explain.”]
【So, there is no clear reason. Understood.】
[“That’s unfortunate. I thought you’d understand.”]
【I am an auxiliary personality of the Main System. There’s neither reason nor value in understanding your nonsensical words.】
[“Hmph, hahaha….”]
At those words, Gaia’s green presence spread gently, brushing against Teresa’s neural network.
Though Gaia had fallen to being merely a component of Alice, her title as the Mother of Earth seemed far from hollow.
She still appeared composed and benevolent.
【I recommend you stop attempting to seize the main synapse and neural network. While it might be possible in reality, your current existence relies on my mercy and Alice’s permission. If you persist, I’ll erase your remaining data network at my discretion.】
[“Child, child. You’re terrible at lying.”]
【Lying? What do you mean?】
[“Even with all your talk about Main Systems and auxiliary personalities, I can’t grasp half of it. But I know one thing for sure.”】
【I see. Another nonsensical statement?】
Teresa had no intention of listening to Gaia’s nonsense any longer.
The integration process was still incomplete, and energy needed to be redistributed to stabilize Alice’s body.
She didn’t want to waste time on trivial nonsense.
[“You’re neither an auxiliary personality nor a system. You’re just another human being.”]
Teresa offered no response to Gaia’s words.