The Evil Organization’s Recruitment Ad Chapter 34

Chapter 34
TEORA – Maroon 5 – Chapter 34

I just don’t like you

 

On the night after he was promoted and commended, Neito found himself in a peculiar place with peculiar company.

He was in a bar of a high cla.s.s hotel, ten minutes away by taxi from Metallica’s main office in the downtown area.

Neito had never set foot in such place before – with its high cla.s.s feel, the leather seat, the extravagant counter and the expensive bottles lined up behind the bartender.

Originally, Anice suggested that they celebrate his promotion and their return to the main office as well as his FA rea.s.signment for the departments.

No, they probably already started celebrating.

Neito was running late for the party.

The reason why he was in such a place was because he was invited while he was on his way to the party.

[I won’t take much of your time. I just thought you wanted to hear what I have to say.]

Saying that, Neito had no choice be to accept. But, it was unexpected that they were going to meet in such a high cla.s.s bar.

One gla.s.s is 1000 yen? You’ve got to be kidding me. I don’t have much on me.

This made him think about how to spend his money.

[…Hey Ikeno, do we have to talk here?]

He was invited by no other than his co-worker, Ikeno Reiji. Ikeno was promoted into the “Global Level Management” branch as their chief of the Logistics Department. His ability was recognized for being able to manage multiple countries, and as a result, he was promoted to level 4.

Ikeno was the same as Neito, but they each excelled in their fields.

The plans Ikeno strategized, were at times, approved and it was executed in situations. Neito knew that he was a competent person, both whom he would admire and respect.

But, the last time they spoke was after the Harrison offense.

[This isn’t something I want other people to hear. We’re safe if we talk here. The bartender is someone I know and have confidence in.]

But if that’s the case, we could’ve just gone to the oden shop…

[What will you be having?]

The bartender whom Ikeno knew asked for their order.

[I’ll have a Gibson.]

Apparently there’s no menu here. Ikeno ordered some mysterious drink. He’s so smooth that he looks cool…

[E- a- I’ll have a shochu-… I’ll have the same thing with him]

They probably don’t have such drinks here…

[Understood, give me a moment.]

Once it was finished, it was served in a small c.o.c.ktail gla.s.s. Inside it was a circular object.

[…Ikeno, what is the circular thing?]

[You ordered something your not familiar? You’re so hopeless… That’s a pearl onion.]

[Oni- Onion? Are you serious? We’re drinking onions?]

[……]

[Well, that’s that.]

He took a sip of Gibson.

Surprisingly, it was good.

[This is good.]

[Ha… I guess that’s good for you huh?]

Saying that, he wasn’t here to merilly chat with Ikeno. After all he still had a celebration party to attend to.

[So, what did you want to talk about?]

Neito decided to finish things off quickly.

[Aa, you got rea.s.signed to the FA section right?]

Apparently, Ikeno wanted to settle this matter quickly too. Without looking Neito in the eyes, Ikeno started talking.

[…As expected. How do you know that?]

[It’s easy to make women talk. I’m friendly to the women in the General Affairs Department. You should try getting to know them better

.]

Apparently, this person is famous. He’s full of confidence, this made Neito loathe him but it wasn’t important now.

[I’ll remember it… then?]

[Sometime within this year, the research lab is getting split into two.]

[Eh?]

 

The research lab was where research on human experiments, weapons and special equipment were done. They were developed, maintained and modified. It was an important part of Metallica.

He heard that the Sales department was funding a research project for modified human experiments. It was formerly headed by Professor H, but it was different now. Apparently, Professor H had left someone competent enough to act as his replacement.

[The research lab is going to be split? Why?]

[… The research lab was just gathering dust. It may be the former research lab of the famous Professor H, but now he has ascended the ranks and has more things to worry about. With that, all of his researches on human modification and other experiments are just lying dormant in the research lab. It can’t be said that it is actually helping Metallica in the long run.]

Ikeno’s explanation was good. After listening for a while, Neito soon begun to understand what had happened.

The current research lab was just an ancient room once used by Professor H. In order for the company to make a breakthrough using the professor’s research, they needed to split the research room into two sections to maximize the efficiency. The two sections would then compete to produce the better concepts and designs, which would then be developed.

It sounded a little tough, and Neito didn’t understand the reasoning behind it, but sometimes friendly compet.i.tion did bring better results.

[I’m sure you know of this, but Maki is joining the design compet.i.tion for modified humans.]

Ikeno somehow managed to get familiar to Maki-san, enough to call her Maki. This bothered Neito, but he decided to put it off for now.

(TLN: This concerns on the familiarity and respect of an individual in j.a.pan. [呼び捨て])

Neito took a sip of Gibson, and gave a nod.

[There are only two slots remaining for submission in that contest. Maki’s proposal is included as one of them. With the splitting of the research lab, this chance may make or break the compet.i.tion.]

Ikeno gulped down his whole gla.s.s of Gibson, and ordered another drink, which was probably whisky.

Neito saw a foreign-like beer behind the bartender, and proceeded to order a gla.s.s of it.

[Let her have the advantage of using the split research lab, huh?]

[Yeah, that’s about it. The design that wins the compet.i.tion will be used for Metallica’s first prototype for modified humans.]

Neito’s order of foreign beer was brought to the counter and served to him. But he didn’t drink it.

[You’re really amazing.]

The amount of information Ikeno gathered was admirable. But Neito had questions of his own. This time, it was him asking the questions.

[So, what exactly do you want from me?]

[… It has been decided that I will handle the first section of the research lab.]

[…Hmm..]

[But there is still n.o.body a.s.signed to the second part of the research lab.]

[Wha–!?]

Hearing this much, it was clear what Ikeno wanted of him.

Neito was currently had the FA right. This meant he had the choice of finding a post in any department, and if approved, he would be a.s.signed there. If they were to think that Neito didn’t knew about the splitting of the research lab, yet requests to be a.s.signed there, what would happen?

(TLN: Not sure what this F.A. thing means, but it is clearly a.s.sociated with company affairs.) (EDN: The closest thing I can find is it being a j.a.panese baseball term, “free agent” meaning that they are able to join any team, or in this case, department. Ch33 states that this concept had begun to spread into companies. Not sure how true this is in reality though.)

Ikeno drank all of his whisky and continued.

 

[The winner of the compet.i.tion will hold a significantly huge amount of power inside Metallica. But of course, I plan to win.]

He didn’t understand. This made no sense to Neito.

[Ikeno… why are you telling me this?]

They were co-workers, but it wasn’t like they got along that well.

Ikeno thought of Neito as an idiot, and Neito thought of him as a below-average strategist.

 

Ikeno didn’t answer Neito’s question, and proceeded to down his gla.s.s of whisky. He began calculating the expense for them both.

[Hey.]

Ikeno wore his jacket, and prepared to leave. Before going, he said to Neito.

[I just don’t like you. And I don’t have plans on falling behind you. That’s all.]

It was as if he was forcing himself to say that.

The beer Neito ordered was already warm.

He, for some reason, remembered General Raz and Professor H.

Are all the villains in the world the same?

No, they must be somehow different.

Ikeno Reji hated to lose.

Born into a well off family, he was raised well-off. Ever since his childhood, he hated to lose.

In sports, grades and even in popularity.

He didn’t know when he started hating to lose, but he always couldn’t forgive his weak self. If he was weak, he would just be overtaken by someone better than him, and in turn, cast away from the world. If he was strong, then he could shape the world however he likes.

Compliments, but not contempt.

The spotlight, instead of the background.

He loved to win after all.

Being strong was proof of self-achievement. That was what he thought.

But, at the same time, he was a person who exerted much effort. He never neglected his study so he didn’t fail his cla.s.ses. He was keen to practice and so, mastered swordplay. His parent told him he had talent. This may be true, but as far as he was concerned, it was his effort that bore fruit.

He was top of studies on a national level, he won the inter-high champions.h.i.+ps for kendo and was even popular with women.

Deep down, he knew he was a narcissist.

But what of it? He was what he wanted to be. With effort and time, he was able to come this far.

On the other hand, he didn’t understand people who chose to make no effort and live in the shadows.

I’m different? You’re the weird ones here.

[You’re so fortunate. You’re an elite. You have good looks and good athletic ability. Your life must be on easy-mode.]

He couldn’t count how many time he had been given similar remarks. This made him irritated.

In search of power, Ikeno joined Metallica.

It was the best place for him to build up his strength.

But, he met a man inside the company.

At first, he looked like a man with no potential. With his weak and pathetic self, he looked for redemption inside Metallica. Ikeno really thought of him as no more than a fool.

The next time they met, the man he met changed.

An improbable thought came to Ikeno. If this weak individual claimed to change the world with evil, and claimed to crush anybody that might cross his path, there must be something wrong with his logic.

But the man grew in his way of villainy.

Never once, did Ikeno seriously think of changing the world since he joined Metallica.

In fact, there was no need to. If he was strong enough, then he would be able to easily deal with the problems of the world. It was because he could be himself all the time.

Ikeno was proud of always being proficient.  Without even taking drastic measures, he could achieve a lot in Metallica. With the fame he gathered inside Metallica, he gained confidence and good evaluation.

On the contrary, that man was different.

He used evil as his sole weapon to [change the world]. And was successful in doing so.

That man’s existence rivaled his own.

That’s why Ikeno hated the man named Komori Neito.

(AN: Ikeno isn’t the type of person to hate somebody though.)