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TL: ALT
Chapter 98 – Cajolery
“So what do you want? You didn’t want a management discussion, did you?”
It was foolish of me to try to have a business discussion with a businessman, even a black businessman.
Of course, he would have had any number of counter-arguments.
After all, I’m sure he still has a number of lawsuits against me.
More likely, I was taken in by his attempts to gain a psychological advantage over me.
Thanks to Serika, I was able to regain my composure.
“Of course, I’m talking about the current emergency.”
He licked his lips with his red tongue,
“Normally, this is a secret matter, but I have received special permission from the Prime Minister. I will tell you what measures the government is taking.”
“Measures? Is there such a thing?”
��Well, frankly, there isn’t. The situation is beyond the control of our country. But we have an encouraging ally. They will use nuclear weapons.”
“”Wha…””
Serika and I, who were listening nearby, were surprised.
“But I don’t think even nuclear missiles can stop the dungeon from collapsing.”
“Of course, I’m aware of that. The dungeon collapse is a black hole of souls that expands and devours people.”
My eyes widened slightly at the words coming from Tozaki.
Of course, he noticed the change in my expression.
“Is it surprising that I know about this? The government has its own information channels, of course.”
“Then why the nukes?”
“It is true that it is impossible to destroy a dungeon with nuclear weapons. But it is possible to destroy something that feeds on the dungeon.”
“Feed on the dungeon?”
“Yes. As the Voice of Heaven graciously warned us, if things continue as they are, many local cities will be swallowed up by the dungeon. There is no way to evacuate in time. If that’s the case――”
“…Are you suggesting that we drop nuclear bombs on the cities before they are swallowed by the dungeon?”
The dungeon’s “food” is human souls.
The more souls a dungeon devours, the stronger it becomes.
Conversely, a dungeon will not become stronger unless it swallows human souls.
Therefore, before the city is swallowed by the dungeon, the citizens who do not escape will be burned with nukes.
If we kill them before then, the souls of the citizens will not be swallowed by the dungeon.
“A-are you insane…?”
“Ome City, Sagamihara City, Hanno City, Chichibu City, Koshu City… depending on the situation, the nukes might fall on cities a little farther away just to be safe. Hachioji, Tachikawa, Sayama, Iruma, Yamanashi, and Kofu are on the list.”
With a cold smile on his face, Tozaki listed the target cities as if reciting a poem.
“If the list gets any longer, the western half of Tokyo will be turned into a burnt-out wilderness. Therefore, we must not hesitate. We must stop the collapse of the dungeon before it happens. If the time to drop the atomic bomb is too late, the dungeon will swallow the souls of those who have just died. We must make the first move and destroy them without fail.”
“N-no way…”
Serika’s voice trails off.
“The U.S. military is supposed to participate in the nuclear attack, but depending on how it is coordinated, it may take the form of a UN force. So, the U.S. alone cannot justify a nuclear attack on civilians. The UN force, the first to be deployed since World War II―actually a trilateral force of the U.S., China, and Russia… but only God knows if they will take care to minimize the casualties of the Japanese people.”
“”…..””
Serika and I were both speechless.
“This is a nuclear-scorched earth strategy against a densely populated area. This is completely insane. Ever since the dungeon appeared, things have been happening that don’t seem very real, but this is the most extreme. I can only think that the world has gone crazy.”
“…Why are you giving me this information?”
“The truth is that the government, having run out of options, had no choice but to entrust it to you. I was skeptical myself, but the way you looked at me convinced me. You are determined to win. You have realistic chances. It’s written on your face that you will stop the nukes before they fall.”
“…How do you know that?”
“I am a businessman. I have dealt with a lot of liars in my life. The ones you need to watch out for are the liars who say they can do what they can’t. You know a liar’s face when you see it. The art of dealing with them is also an important management skill.”
“You know they’re liars, but you use them?���
“I take a risk. He says he can do it. Even if he really can’t do it, he must take responsibility for his words as long as he says them. An honest man who is not ashamed to say that he cannot do what he cannot do is of no use in an iron ring. It is the liars, trapped by their own words and running around dying, who provide a dynamic moment of growth for a company. No, don’t worry. The liars who have seen their lies become reality will thank me with tears in their eyes. They will weep and thank me for helping them grow up and come out of their shells as human beings.”
“…Enough of your cold management theories. Is that all you want?”
“No. I have one last favor to ask.”
“A favor?”
I asked back,
“Don’t overdo it.”
Tozaki said it clearly.
“What do you mean?”
“To keep the dungeon from collapsing. That’s good. It’s in the national interest.”
“Then what is it?”
“Don’t you think it’s a waste to block a corridor that leads to another world?”
“Is that what you mean?”
The level of civilization in the “other” world is not very high, from what Haruka-san told me.
But there are some technologies that we don’t have, such as magic.
There may even be underground resources if we look for them.
Even with the spread of mana coin-based magic power generation, this country still needs a large amount of resources.
“I can’t make any promises.”
Even without the animosity towards this guy, it’s too convenient an order.
The Boundary Dragon Splefnir comes from the other world and pushes a hole in the ground―In such a mythical situation; I don’t think it would be wise to just stop the collapse and leave the corridor.
“Of course, if it’s possible, I don’t mind. If the world is destroyed, it will be for nothing.”
…Was this guy’s goal to warn me?
And at the same time, to create a sense of urgency so that I wouldn’t make the mistake of escaping?
Is he assuming that if I’m told that countless citizens will die from a nuclear attack, I won’t be able to escape anymore, just like when I defended a junior student at school from being bullied by this guy’s adopted daughter?
“Kurashiki kun. If you solve this case, you will be a hero of our country―no, of the world. The country will give you whatever you want.
Do you want money? I’ll give you more than you can spend in a lifetime.
Do you want a mansion in a prime location? I will give you the mansion you want in the location you want.
If you want the honor of being on the side of justice, I will make you a national hero.
No, at your age, you might want a woman. Is there an actress or an idol that you admire? It doesn’t matter if it’s an ordinary person. I can’t guarantee you love, but I can make sure you get as much as you want.
If you want, you can even get her pregnant. Whether or not the qualities of a good explorer are inherited by the child is still being studied. It would be a valuable specimen for the country.
Or…”
“I don’t need it.”
I interrupted his rapid tongue movement.
“I’m just me. I don’t want to be a hero. I won’t dance for a dangling carrot.”
“Yuto…”
“Kuku, I see. That’s too bad…”
In the middle of Tozaki’s words, I shut off the app’s call.