Estimated reading time: 8–10 minutes
Chapter 30
「Why’d you convert that gun into something meant for close to mid range? It makes no sense to force a weapon meant for long range shooting into a downgrade like that.」
The night before the battle with the Strain, Reina and Momiji were on a video call in the real world. Having been completely left out this time due to the login restrictions barring her from HAO, Reina, cheeks stuffed with snack food, questioned Momiji on the other side of the screen. Momiji gazed gloomily at her terminal and began to speak.
「Kanji needs to become a symbol this time.」
「A symbol?」
「….That time, Kanji wasn’t able to participate in the 2055 operation. He died before that. As someone who knew about the future but left the bad guys alone, he was strung up by the public as a villain.」
Silence fell over the two. Reina’s hand stopped, and Momiji made no effort to hide her irritation as she roughly threw her terminal onto the desk.
People always seek a scapegoat to blame, to push their anger onto. Like in politics, race, and religion. And in this case, it was directed at someone who may have known the future – a man named Mishima Kanji.
「It was written in the leftover data from their Ver 1.08, and the Reina over there also affirmed.」
「…He didn’t try to escape?」
「He couldn’t escape. If he was going to run, it would have to be outside the Old Osaka City, but crossing the sea and fleeing overseas is basically impossible in that world. So by playing the martyr and taking on everyone’s anger, it seems he died hoping that it would help people stay positive. Didn’t work out that way, though.」
「What was I doing over there?」
「Same as here, treated as an accomplice under heavy surveillance. If I’d gone to help, I’d have been labeled an enemy of mankind and would have had to spend my whole life desperately on the run. Kanji didn’t want that for me, but the other me regretted deeply that we respected his wishes.」
「…What did he even do?」
Reina murmured weakly. There’s no way Mishima Kanji actually committed any crimes. Well, rumor had it several companies had accidents that totaled close to 100 billion yen in damages, but let’s deliberately ignore that. Either way, total strangers had no reason to condemn him like that.
And considering the circumstances, while Kanji being executed might make sense up until 2050, taking into account anything after that date, it would be impossible for just Reina and Momiji to protect him on their own. They had underestimated the fear and ignorance of the masses.
So, raising her voice a notch, Momiji said:
「We’ll make Kanji a symbol. Fabricate an image of him and blow it out of proportion to the point that execution is out of the question.」
「…Wait, wouldn’t that just lead to the same outcome?」
「It depends on the nature of the symbol.」
「?」
「Right now Kanji’s seen as just some mysterious guy who can see the future. But what if he was actually someone trying to find a way to avert disaster, and the 2050 outcome was the result of those in power obstructing his efforts?」
「…So we cast him as a wise sage persecuted by incompetent authorities. I see, we fabricate that kind of story around him ourselves, right?」
Exactly, Momiji confirmed with a snap of her fingers, sharing several documents on screen. Looking them over, Reina nodded and immediately saved them to her own PC. The contents were simple – how to construct something called the Orange Palanquin.
What HAO shows of the future does not account for anything that has since occurred within HAO itself. For example, in this case the only information Kanji had disclosed was about the APs and negative mass. Anything after that point is treated by HAO as though nothing whatsoever happened. In other words, it depicts some fools in 2050 specifically dragging out those two incidents from 2040 as grounds for Kanji’s execution.
Trying to hide Orange now, it could have the opposite effect. Since the past can’t be changed even if the present can, those two incidents will definitely be dug up.
In that case, beat them to the punch with even greater achievements and authority.
「That’s why I specifically asked that his gun be converted for close range. Having him take point with that will give the impression that he’s on the frontlines fighting the Strain, which is objective #1.」
「And by playing our trump card in the real world, we imprint the principles and existence of Orange in people’s minds. If we pull all that off, anyone in the know will see him not as an incomprehensible angry mob, but as a faction trying to save the world. It really is a crazy plan when you think about it.」
「It’ll get super tough, but if we can manage this much, he should at least survive until 2055. And if he can slip away from the front to hide out in the now deserted Old Osaka City where defenses have collapsed, an even wider future opens up.」
「Hmm, somehow this doesn’t fit my image. The objectives seem too negative and small in scope. Why not go big with a huge fireworks show?」
Question marks floated over Momiji’s head. Then Reina spoke up loudly.
「Prophet Orange will save the world by changing the future!」
「You’re crazy.」
「I’m not crazy!」
Reina took off her hat and relaxed her posture.
「The way things are now, all we’d do is avoid his 2050 execution, and he’d still die in 2055. Even more so if we give him an image as fighting the Strain. And the success rate stays stuck at 0%.」
「….But there’s nothing we can do about that.」
「That’s why we stir things up. Take his mythical image even further, get the whole world invested in the tale of the Prophet Orange. At least through 2050, I’ll protect him. He’s not dying.」
「Pretty confident there.」
「I can pull off anything aside from nukes and second-gens. My siblings brought the world to ruin. If running’s the alternative, then game on.」
There was no bluff in Reina’s expression. When it came to violence at least, she was an utter monster. She had good reason to be so absolutely confident.
Momiji sighed and got to work amending their plans. Over the course of that one remaining day, the fate of the world took shape in that private conference between the two girls.
【Orange】HAO Strategy Thread part170【Defeat the Strain】
776 Anonymous Player
It’s finally tomorrow, huh?
777 Anonymous Player
So for the battle plans, all we gotta do is charge with Orange, right?
778 Anonymous Player
＞＞777 Probably. And considering the number volunteering has hit five digits, complex instructions just aren’t feasible. No way a mob of net gamers could coordinate like an army.
779 Anonymous Player
Well gear’s all over the place anyway, no chance of proper strategy. Least we can do is avoid friendly fire.
780 Anonymous Player
Past data with numbers like this could only drive them back, what’s really gonna happen?
781 Anonymous Player
That anti-Strain stuff Orange uploaded, I checked and it does seem usable. Firepower’s no joke.
782 Anonymous Player
Can’t update equipment since weapon shops are closed…
783 Anonymous Player
＞＞782 Well obviously, it’s night right now. Use some common sense.
Lots of people have convenience store mentality lol, though game-wise would be nice if stuff was always open.
784 Anonymous Player
＞＞783 She had hanged herself (;∀;) She was such a nice lady…
785 Anonymous Player
＞＞784 Sorry to hear that…
786 Anonymous Player
Suicides going up, best finish gearing early. Or steal stuff.
787 Anonymous Player
Stealing’s kinda…
788 Anonymous Player
Is it okay for beginners to join this event?
789 Anonymous Player
＞＞788 Sure, you’ll just die though.
790 Anonymous Player
My friend’s grave is here now… it really is the future…
791 Anonymous Player
Can’t we get player support from other servers?
Boost numbers if we’re short right? No clue how many would come though.
792 Anonymous Player
Possible if they can cross the contaminated ocean. Beware Machine Beasts.
793 Anonymous Player
＞＞792 More Machine Fish than Beast there.
794 Anonymous Player
Should be fine if we make assembly time right? Dunno tbh.
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