Chapter 73
Two men are at a golf course conveniently located near London. However, they did not come here to play golf. The room has thick curtains drawn, ignoring the clear skies outside. The furnishings are neither too flashy nor too plain, and their elegance shows the taste of the host and the invited guest.
「I still can’t quite grasp the whole story. Thanks to the Orange Book, I finally understand that ‘HAO’ is real, but I’m having trouble keeping up with the details,」
Asks the slightly overweight man in his 50s, a member of the ruling party in the House of Lords. His life has been nothing but smooth sailing so far. He has skillfully managed the assets inherited from his parents and has been steadily active as a member of parliament. Moreover, thanks to the emergence of anti-aging technology, his life was supposed to be freed from fear and become something wonderful.
If only humanity doesn’t perish in the next 10 years.
At first, he didn’t believe it. He thought it was just a series of incomprehensible incidents. However, the developments surrounding Orange in the past two months, followed by the attack on the Japanese National Diet Building. The turmoil of companies involved in the military and space. And the fact that these coincided with the rumors he had heard about a project to observe the future. And the fact that the movement for the nation to work together on these projects was quelled by those who do not believe in the catastrophe. That’s why, in order to do something about the world, we still have no choice but to rely on those who are willing to face the future.
「Of course. I’m ashamed to admit that we don’t have a full grasp of everything either. But if it means gaining your cooperation, I’ll be happy to disclose the information I have,」
says the tall man. At 42 years old, the man who effortlessly wears an expensive suit while stroking his well-groomed beard is none other than the president of Space Ignition Industries, President Space. Of course, it’s not his real name, but he went through the complicated process of changing his name.
The congressman clicks his tongue inwardly. From what he’s heard, the Reformists have succeeded in gaining hegemony in 2060 to a certain extent. In other words, he’s just trying to ride on the bandwagon of the winning horse, and he admonishes himself that excessive demands will ruin him.
「But there’s no point in me rambling on about it. In terms of resolving your doubts, I’ll answer your questions one by one. It’s like a Q&A session.」
Upon hearing those words, the congressman immediately realizes that this is a test. A test of how well he understands and how deeply he can penetrate the essence. If he can overcome this, there is still a possibility of securing a good position within the Reformists. He must sell himself as capable.
He must not ask questions based on assumptions without establishing premises. On the other hand, he must not get caught up in the premises and lose sight of the essence. The congressman carefully opens his mouth.
「First of all, ‘HAO’ is a simulation of the future.」
「NO. ‘HAO’ is connected to an actual future that exists.」
「Next, Space Ignition Industries is the largest company supporting the Reformists.」
「YES. We participated in the future interference project, the predecessor of ‘HAO’. Seeing that, our company believed that we needed to save the future and joined hands with like-minded people.」
「One more thing. You are receiving information from the future and utilizing it.」
「YES. Through this action called ‘inheritance’, we gather a lot of information and use it as an asset for saving the world.」
「Another one. Orange’s actions are not under your control.」
「YES. It’s completely unknown. To begin with, ‘HAO’ was initially a void with only ruins and corrupted data remaining. That’s why we looked down on it, thinking that ‘inheritance’ was impossible at this stage, but we were caught off guard.」
「This makes it the fifth question. There were no people leaking confidential information other than Orange.」
「NO. However, the key point is the system of this game, which is that ‘there is no way to take information out other than streaming or screenshots’. Due to this format, there are few people who try to take out the already scarce remaining data using these time-consuming methods, and even if there are, they can be kept quiet within a manageable range. Of course, this is only talking about civilians, and the behind-the-scenes information warfare between companies is quite intense.」
President Space chuckles, saying that it was troublesome to have the general public go through this complicated method by using the fake Orange operation. Up to this point, President Space’s expression has remained cheerful. Space Ignition Industries. Originally a NASA-affiliated company, it has taken advantage of that to start private space development and succeeded in its practical application, becoming a large corporation.
Although it may not be clear how profitable it is at first glance, it is actually commissioned by the government to launch satellites and is a fairly financially sound company, offering expensive space travel tours and other services. On the other hand, there are persistent dark rumors that it may be launching military satellites. Conversely, it is an incredibly powerful company that manages to make the space business, which only costs money, viable.
「Question 6. The beastkin manufactured in Russia are very different from the information we know.」
「YES. We confirmed three days ago that the director at the time had signed a contract to falsify the data of the second-generation beastkin in order to avoid escalating the problem. As a result, we have been underestimating them until now.」
「Question 7. Did you confirm through ‘inheritance’ that the strength of the second-generation beastkin was unusual?」
「NO. To be precise, the digits were clearly off, so we processed it along with other error data. Also, there is another reason: Shiroinu Reina often fights alone, and there are few instances where her combat record has been confirmed other than Kōmitsu Solutions’ self-reporting.」
「Question 8. Quote informationization means that the ‘fixed’ future is erased.」
「YES. ‘HAO’ makes it possible to observe and interfere with the future by ‘fixing’ a future that has not yet been determined. In other words, if we release the ‘fixation’ in the form of a version update in order to see a new future, the future and people that existed there will revert back to being mere possibilities that are not yet determined. However, since it has an impact on the current timeline, it doesn’t completely disappear, and remnants remain as information, which is why we call it quote informationization. In other words, in a world where there is no update and only quote informationization, no matter how hard you try, everything that didn’t exist in 2060 will cease to exist. Lives, efforts. Well, considering that such a fate awaits at the end of surviving a painful world, it makes sense to see that miserable state.」
「Question 9. ‘HAO’ updates automatically occur when major changes happen.」
「NO. As long as you ‘fix’ it, there is no need to update. However, if there are changes, it is thought to be desirable to confirm them at an early stage, because it will become unclear which one caused the changes. The recent policy of Hereafter Inc. is completely unknown, though.」
「Question 10. The current power structure is classified into Reformists, Kōmitsu Solutions, and the former SOD.」
「YES. As you may have guessed, most of the people who are actively working on changing the future in each country have already been absorbed into the Reformists or have been confirmed to be absorbed by 2050. The incorporation of military companies such as RE Corp has also been completed. In contrast, Kōmitsu Solutions is basically a motley crew, but the supporting companies are rapidly expanding, and they are promoting technology diffusion with Orange at the center. Finally, there are the former SOD and other anti-future change factions, the main culprits behind the Scorch Wars. Hereafter Inc. can be ignored as they only maintain the system, although we would love to have their technological capabilities.」
「…In other words, anyone working on changing the future other than Kōmitsu Solutions can be considered Reformists for the time being, right? Like the Japanese Public Security Division you mentioned.」
「That’s right. Whether it’s the United States or Germany, almost all government officials who advocate for changing the future have been our comrades since HAO Ver1.00. It’s precisely because the voices of sensible people saying ‘such a future can’t possibly exist’ and ‘don’t spend the budget on something we don’t understand’ have made it impossible for any country to act on a national level that the release of ‘HAO’ and the establishment of the voluntary ‘Reformists’ were carried out. Other than that, they are just people who either don’t believe in ‘HAO’ or are fumbling around even if they do believe in it, without being able to do anything about it. From our perspective, they are hated, while Kōmitsu Solutions, on the other hand, doesn’t have that much hostility towards us, and the former SOD hates both us and Kōmitsu Solutions.」
To explain more precisely, Kana, the Order, and Nakamoto Tsuyoshi belong to the Kōmitsu Solutions faction, while Public Security Division 6, President Space, and Greg are Reformists, and ☆Star_Night☆ and Hiniru are hired by them. This series of recent incidents may seem complicated, but it all boils down to a dispute between the Reformists and Kōmitsu Solutions over the prizes of Hereafter Inc. and the heads of politicians + Orange. Kōmitsu Solutions managed to snatch everything away, though.
And Kōmitsu Solutions and the Reformists are not necessarily true enemies. At least in terms of changing the future, they have the same goal, and in fact, the 2055 operation is being carried out jointly. Having said that, the Reformists are extremely strict with Kōmitsu Solutions because of a certain citrus fruit spreading information about negative mass matter and confidential documents about Apollyon, causing great damage. In fact, they have murderous intent towards Orange alone. Mainly from the president of RE Corp.
「Question 11. The Scorch Wars were a conflict that originated from the tensions between Kōmitsu Solutions, who had a Prophet, and anti-esper fundamentalists or simply those who saw the ideology as dangerous and wanted to eliminate it.」
「YES. However, we are grateful to Kōmitsu Solutions for taking on the anger that should have been directed at us in the first place. Because of this war, we were forced to build such a shoddy Ark.」
「Question 12. As a way to defeat the ‘UYK’, the Earth itself, which is the cause of the destruction, the Reformists are considering a plan where only a portion of humanity survives beyond 2050, and only those individuals carry out the 2055 operation.」
「YES. As you can see if you look, the political tug-of-war is ugly. We have already tried it four times by Ver1.06, but each time it has failed due to those who do not believe in the future and those who clamor for vested interests. That’s why we wanted an environment where there is a unified will to defeat the ‘UYK’, even if it means sacrificing many humans, because it’s better than total annihilation.」
「Question 13. The 2055 operation is to conquer the so-called Infinite Horizon.」
「YES. We believe that the endlessly stretching mountain range and the land that has crushed the sea is the head of the ‘UYK’. In other words, the brain should be around there, and if we can just crush it, we should be able to kill it.」
The congressman pauses for a moment. The next question is important. If he misses this, he will probably be treated as someone insignificant. That’s why he racks his brain and integrates the information he has so far. That’s right, why did Space Ignition Industries need to support such a large-scale organization like the Reformists in the first place? Why do many politicians and companies have ties to the Reformists? And HAO Ver-1.00, which he researched, the artificial sun project.
「Question 14. The goal of the Reformists is not to gain world hegemony. Beyond that, they are trying to seize space.」
At the congressman’s words, President Space’s smile disappears for the first time. He stops touching his beard and places his hands on the desk. The congressman, prompted by President Space’s gaze to continue, is convinced of his own correctness.
「If the goal was simply to gain world hegemony, there would be no need to send personnel to multiple countries in the first place. It would be enough to endlessly accumulate power in the region where one’s influence extends. Moreover, carrying out operations in the far east is the epitome of waste. In other words, your goal is not after 2050, but before that.」
「And?」
「――You want to do something in space. I don’t know if you want to establish a nation or float a space battleship. But it is certain that you are showing the fact that you can save those who boarded the Ark with the power of the Reformists in ‘HAO’ and are demanding something in exchange for saving them, just as you are talking to me now. And looking at your main business, it’s easy to imagine that it’s space-related.」
The question in this scene should not have been 「Space Ignition Industries is trying to seize space.」 That alone is just stating the obvious. The important thing here is that the purpose of the Reformists is not to gain world hegemony, but rather that they needed to gain world hegemony in order to dominate space development.
It goes without saying that space development goes hand in hand with military use. The fear that our country might be targeted from space has already hindered Space Ignition Industries’ space development many times. It’s a bitter memory from the early days of ‘HAO’. That’s why President Space is laying the groundwork in the form of the Reformists.
Seeing the man in front of him who arrived at that answer, President Space exhales a sigh of admiration. He had thought the man was a fool who clung to vested interests and sought immortality, but he had to raise his evaluation by two levels in his mind, realizing that the man indeed had eyes and a head befitting his position.
「Bravo. That’s correct. Our goal is to create stars in space and live there. Humanity is currently at an impasse. For example, look outside.」
President Space raises the thick curtains. Below, there is beautiful grass and people enjoying themselves. Beyond that, trains and cars continue to run sparsely. There was a sight that had not changed much from 2020. That’s what President Space didn’t like.
「This scenery hasn’t changed for decades. Because it’s easier to reuse existing things than to introduce new technologies. Because you can use it without thinking. Because it’s cheap. As a result, even though technology has advanced, this scenery has been maintained. Despite having the technology to reach space and create ‘HAO’, laziness dominates society. We will revolutionize this situation.」
「Specifically?」
「We will create a new world. In a world starting from zero, like an artificial planet, there will be room to utilize new technologies. And since we have to migrate there, the private funds of those in power will be invested to make it comfortable, which is why everything will be revolutionized. But to do that, we need to start manufacturing artificial planets before 2050.」
「There will be countless problems after going to space.」
「That’s why we’re bringing in those in power and guaranteeing their position in space to adjust those problems. Precisely because it’s impossible to put all of humanity on artificial planets, we take advantage of that. Opposition to space development is also suppressed because we have comrades in each country. One artificial planet is given per country, creating a new world outside of Earth. This is the future the Reformists desire, where humanity avoids destruction and survives, and the smart people who side with the Reformists gain power. But first, we need to establish countermeasures against the Moon ‘UYK’.」
「In other words, some people who cause trouble won’t be allowed on board.」
「It depends on the case, but as I mentioned earlier, we can’t let those who don’t believe in ‘UYK’ on board.」
At this point, the congressman stands up after hearing the story. President Space tilts his head in puzzlement. Based on the flow of the conversation, he should have been on board. He should have understood his own usefulness and the importance of innovation. As if answering that question, the congressman said,
「There is one more way to avoid destruction and achieve immortality.」
「…It’s Kōmitsu Solutions, isn’t it? But their immortality technology has already been made public, so there should be no merit in that regard.」
「That’s not it. You’re so talented that you’ll achieve the so-called innovation even if left alone. That’s why, as a member of the House of Lords, as a member of the aristocracy, what we should do is to help rescue people, including those who won’t board the artificial planets.」
「Do you think you can do it?」
「Who knows? But if there’s one thing I can say, it’s that the ones who are truly bringing about innovation are not you guys, but Orange and the others. How should I put it? You have passion, but there’s a sense that you lack madness and speed.」
「You’re basing it on a feeling?」
「Don’t underestimate me. How many years do you think I’ve been a politician? Besides, I saw Ver2.00. What the hell was that? That’s not how humans should live.」
「…We are well aware of that. However, it was necessary to secure time to make countermeasures against the Moon ‘UYK’ fully prepared, and at the same time, to conduct a pseudo-test of the resource management system in a space environment by simulating it in the sea. Next time for sure…」
「You said earlier that ‘HAO’ is not a simulation. In other words, you forced death and cannibalism on actual people within that system. Furthermore, according to Kōmitsu Solutions, it seems that you used ‘HAO’ to commit murder cases involving civilians in reality. Even understanding that, the future you arrive at is a world that destroys everyone except a few. Do you think there’s any justification for that?」
「Do you think Kōmitsu Solutions’ pipe dream is more credible? The Old Osaka City, the Ark, the artificial planets. They are all our achievements, and they are just riding on them. Apart from Orange and Shiroinu Reina, they are not a threat.」
「Orange’s insane actions and overwhelming speed, combined with Kōmitsu Solutions, deserve a certain level of evaluation. Furthermore, if Orange is a multi-future precognition esper, they should be able to reach a better future.」
「But those actions were one of the triggers that gave rise to the Scorch Wars.」
「Oh, she mentioned that. She said she would ‘end it in three days’.」
「…What? That war that lasted five years?」
「The main reason you view Kōmitsu Solutions as dangerous is because Orange is too much of an unknown factor. However, if they can really stop the Scorch Wars, there might be room for negotiation with them on that one point, don’t you think? Or the same could be said about conquering the Infinite Horizon.」
「I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave for today. In the end, it’s just one company and a motley crew, no matter how monstrous the leader may be. Nevertheless, it’s an insult to put them on the same level as the Reformists, for whom I have spent years of effort to acquire.」
「What if they can do it?」
「Haha, well then. I’ll dance while eating french fries through my nose. Well, it’s not even worth betting on.」
Thus, the secret talks between the two spectacularly break down. The next day, the congressman contacts politicians and companies within his sphere of influence and decides to offer cooperation to Kōmitsu Solutions.
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