As I passed through the transfer gate from Noa Island, I felt the unique gloopy feeling of the gate across my entire body. Shuuichi and Kouki had told me they were used to it now, but I’d never get used to it. The same inexpressibly unpleasant feeling hit me every time I used the gate.
“I’m so tired. This always makes me feel terrible.”
I stood there in front of the gate complaining to myself as I waited for Elise. After a few minutes, she came running over to me.
Her right eyebrow is raised a little... Judging from that face, we’ve got some minor problem to deal with.
I got my personal terminal ready so I could deal with whatever it was immediately, and I braced myself for her report.
“Welcome back, ma’am,” she said. “I know this is sudden, but I have three things to report regarding your son.”
“Okay. I’m guessing from the look on your face that it isn’t something we can just cover up. Tell me about it on the way to my office.”
I started walking and Elise brought the information up on the terminal as she walked beside me. “Firstly, after stating an intention to ‘create new culture,’ Kouki went to the scrap heap with Anton and recovered front armor plates from sixth-generation suits. The two of them then painted pictures of girls on the plates and then sold them in online auctions.”
It was already enough to make me feel lightheaded. If anyone other than Kouki had taken away armor from a sixth-generation suit, it would have been a major incident. But why did he paint on it and then sell it? It’s too overt to be a diversionary tactic. Did he want to show our enemies the technological might of Noa? Or was this a warning to other nations? It’s impossible to be sure.
“Secondly, the two pieces of armor were quickly sold to buyers for the upper bidding limit of ¥150,000. The buyers took care to cover their tracks, but we’ve determined that one was purchased by a front company for the United States intelligence services and the other by the British government.”
I could have predicted that much. The powered suits used by the major powers of the United Nations are merely fifth-generation suits... I’m sure that they’re desperate to get their hands on the sixth-generation suits that we’re using.
Still, although we did use some new technology in the armor plating, the main points of improvement in the sixth-generation model are the actuation of the joints and the internal piloting unit. We don’t have to worry about them making major progress after obtaining a single plate of armor. Perhaps Kouki sold them so those nations would have something to quell their appetites.
“Thirdly, after seeing how quickly the items sold at auction, Kouki declared that ‘the project starts now,’ and made several requests directed at you, ma’am. He asked for the establishment and purchase of Noa’s own satellite broadcast channel and the acquisition of a standard broadcast license. The acquisition of advertising rights in newspapers, digital media, and paper-based magazines. The purchase of old-style internet and radio broadcasting channels. Purchase of movie broadcasting rights and rental of Noa’s PR department. Also—”
“S-Stop! What about the budget and the personnel for something like this?”
“He appears to be funding the whole thing using the reward money that he received for developing an effective treatment for the European tragedy virus some time ago. This is just my personal opinion, but I think Kouki is serious about this. I think we should offer him our support while making sure we monitor his activities.”
But why would he want media broadcasting and publishing rights of almost every kind? I wondered, baffled. It would be easy to refuse and use my authority to stop him from getting what he wants, but there are no legal barriers stopping him, so I couldn’t stop him forever. If he knew that we were refusing to cooperate, he’d move things ahead without considering our advice. It might be wise for us to help him.
What I really can’t understand is how the sale of an armor plate relates to the acquisition of media rights. We already have a PR department that releases propaganda and engages in information warfare. Could there be some deeper meaning in those paintings?
“Elise, did you see the painting that Kouki made? What sort of painting was it?”
“It’s difficult to describe... It was made in an art style that I’ve never seen before. Would you like to see it?”
I opened the picture that Elise sent to me on my terminal. It was unlike the art style I’d seen in educational broadcasts; the painting was of a girl wearing provocative clothing.
I don’t know what this has to do with armor, but Kouki is a genius... he doesn’t do anything without a reason. I’ll just have to trust in his genius, even though I have no idea what he’s trying to do. I can put a stop to it later if he attempts something dangerous, I decided.
“Very well,” I said. “Grant all of Kouki’s requests.”
“Understood. Please take a look at this document. This is a project plan that Kouki has provided to ensure that the project can run smoothly once you’ve given your approval.”
I looked at my terminal once again and opened the document. Some of the instructions were fairly detailed, and there was also a wide variety of projects described that appeared to be still in the planning stages.
One of the things that caught my eye was an advertisement for the cosmetics department. It was an instruction to make changes to commercials we were showing via internet broadcasting and on movie websites.
The project document said that we should request cooperation from women in the Merkava Kingdom of G-88 and have each woman use magic to transform herself into a “princess” the moment they applied a makeup product, and then say something like ‘I can’t believe how beautiful it made me!’
I can see how that would have a big visual impact, but is that really going to resonate with customers? I suppose there are more important things to worry about...
“Elise, make an amendment to my previous instruction,” I said. “If we’re going to go through with everything in this project, have a new department of Noa established. Call it the ‘Special Media Entertainment Department’ and put Kouki Arakawa in charge. Contact every existing department and ask them to provide support however they can.”
“Understood.”
“The project plan states that we should be capable of replacing the commercial within five days if it’s created on Noa Island. Have it done within two days. This is a great opportunity. Let’s see how fast we can complete a project with every department cooperating.”
“Understood. If I may be excused, I’ll begin coordinating with each department immediately.”
I watched Elise as she hurried off to relay my instructions. I opened the door to the office while still thinking about what I should do next.
First I’ll enjoy a cup of strong tea before making an appearance in the engineering department. Then I’ll need to visit the weapons department.
That was as far as I got before I couldn’t hold in my laughter any longer.
“Ha ha ha! They must be so pleased about getting hold of a sixth-generation armor plate. Well, too bad. Too bad indeed. We’re already developing a next-generation suit that’s going to change everything.”
My terminal held a design specification, protected by heavy encryption, describing a tenth-generation model, known as the “Type 0.” It would be at least a few more years before the suit was completed. But it would change the very concept of the powered suit, and would place Noa almost eighty years ahead of the world standard in terms of our level of technology.
Go ahead and delude yourselves into thinking you can follow in our footsteps... You’re about to get hopelessly left behind. I’ll use whatever means necessary to make sure my child can be happy.
I firmed my resolve once more as I heard bubbling sounds from the kettle as the water began to boil.