It took me about a week to get the loans necessary to pay the private investigators. Luckily, I have a job and decent credit rating, for all that matters in this dying world.
On a side note, I've developed a new routine of checking my apartment to make sure everything is working as it should be.
I managed to scrape together enough to purchase the services of 2 investigation firms. I also pointed them in the direction of some buried skeletons. It shouldn't be too long before I get some reports coming in. They have orders to extend the investigation to anyone connected to the dirt that was dug up. With an emphasis on following the money and women.
When you're dealing with people in high positions of authority, it is always women and money that ultimately become their downfall.
•••••••
It's been 2 weeks and I got the first report on my desk now. It turns out it was easier than I thought it would be and didn't take nearly as long.
In short, the right decision was to follow the money and the women. They were both embezzling money from the company and their own family members oddly enough. On top of that, they were sleeping with their co-workers secretaries and wives.
However that's not all. Several of those secretaries and wives were sleeping with other individuals in the higher-ups of the company, as well as embezzling money from the company using their husbands. Or affair partners log in information.
This is one of the reasons, large companies and governments, always cost 5 or 6 times what it should to do anything. Every person working for them seems to want to embezzle their little piece of the pie.
About 4 or 5 hours before I go to that banking conglomerate, to present myself for my trust. I'm going to have oh so anonymously. The documents and evidence dropped to the relevant spouses and HR departments. That way, they'll be distracted and won't notice someone sending them a notification that someone they've been paying to not be noticed. Has miraculously shown up to claim their inheritance. Nothing is quite as distracting as a wife, screaming divorce on the grounds of infidelity. Or a company's legal department screaming, you will be unemployed.
The next day.
It actually took more work to find someone willing to invite me into the dome, than it did to dig up dirt on my corporate enemies. However, there's always someone willing to do almost anything for a little money.
So here I am outside the banking office waiting for word to come from my investigators that the board of directors meeting has turned into a shouting match. That will be my queue to begin making my moves. Patience is supposed to be a virtue. Right now it's a virtue, I'm not feeling.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!
That's the signal. It's go time, let's see how good my acting is. If I screw this up, I'll probably die, again.
As I walk up the steps, I take notice of the entrance way, looking like a Shinto Gate with a bit of a cyberpunk flare to it. Once I enter, I immediately make my way towards the desk of someone who doesn't look all that important. If you're going to do something like this, it's best to slip it through middle management. So no one else seems to take notice of it. After all, once it's in the computer system, the A.I. will take care of it for them, and once out of sight, out of mind, at least for most people.
I make my way towards a rather harried looking middle-aged man. Reading his name plate on his desk as I approach. Shamita Itaki. When he notices me and looks up quizzically. I bow and present to him my business card. He gives a polite bow as he takes my card. He offers me the seat across from his desk. As he sits back down. After we are seated, he asks me.
"Mr. Satoru, what can I do to help you today?"
I say. "Shamita san, if you don't mind being informal. I was informed that my family has a trust here that is supposed to be a part of my inheritance. I have come to claim it." As he speaks, he immediately begins going through his data files. "Ah, yes, we deal with quite a few trust funds. Give me a moment and I will verify the information and we will do a short D.N.A. test. It will only take a few seconds."
He opens a drawer on his desk and pulls out a device that looks like a cell phone with a small card reader at the bottom of it. He pulls from a different drawer. A small device that looks like a data stick with a flat card section at the bottom. He sticks that device into the cell phone looking device, and pulls a small strip from the bottom of it. He hands that strip to me and tells me to stick it in my mouth for about 3 seconds.
After 3 seconds, I hand the strip back to him. He sticks it back in the bottom of the device. The cell phone looking D.N.A. reader flashes green. He politely smiles, then pulls out a data pad, has me sign in 3 locations, then initial 2 others.
With a friendly smile, he looks up at me and says. "Congratulations, Mr. Satoru Suzuki your inheritance is now under your control."
I thank him and immediately began looking through the data packet he's sent to my inplant, to see all the different holdings and financial resources, I now have access to.
Scene, break.
Meanwhile, at the same time, in a skyscraper overlooking the dome's largest park.
Not 2, but 3 individuals in the exact same office during a meeting began receiving message calls from their implants, which they immediately rejected. After all, they have more important things to deal with than scam calls and junk mail.
Eventually, the calls became so frequent and annoying that they blocked them and erased whatever messages they left. After years of inactivity, all 3 of them forgot everything about why they set that alert up in the first place. Especially with what was happening at the moment, they could not spare a single thought for it.
Scene, break.
As I leave the bank, I start making some phone calls. I have to cement my position and make sure I'm in full control of my resources. I know I'm going to have maybe if I'm lucky 5 days to act freely. And I'm going to need those resources before it's over.
I immediately call up a transport to take me to my family's estate. I also call the 2 investigative services. I've already hired and extend the contract. I give those firms 2 new orders. The first one to investigate the personnel in the company, the second one to pay special attention to the security and the HR department within the company. I also call up a security firm/military.
Yes, apparently. They have private security/military firms in this world. What else would I expect from a world that has companies pretty much usurping government control. Of course, private militaries and mercenary companies are going to be a thing.
After some searching, I find the security company I want. A large enough security firm with the personnel I require, the manpower to do the job, and no ties to anybody sitting on the board of directors.
That last part is especially important.
As I walk up the steps to my new estate. I make arrangements for their representative to show up in 5 hours to finalize the contract negotiations.
As the connection ends, I reach the top of the steps and look at the estate. And pause for a moment. I am stunned. The place is gorgeous. It appears to be a cross between a traditional Japanese mansion and a Western style mansion. There appears to be no advanced technology in view Anywhere. I wonder if it's hidden. I know there was a time when I was younger. When a lot of the rich people preferred to purchase technology that blended seamlessly into their homes.
As I approach the gate, my implant receives an electronic ping. I look through the packet of information and immediately confirm the transfer of ownership as well as the security code. A hidden recess in the gate pops open to reveal a hidden old-fashioned touch screen. I immediately enter the second security code, and the gate begin to open.
I walk through the grounds making my way to the main mansion. As I approach the mansions, heavy wooden double doors, they seem to open automatically. My implant receives another ping and I get confirmation that my suspicions are true. There is, in fact, an A.I. localized in this mansion.
Walking through the threshold, I take notice of how clean and well kept everything is. Looking across the massive open space of the entry hall, I see 2 large wrap around stairs. That go up not 2, but 3 levels inside this massive mansion.
With a sideways glance, I noticed as I enter through the threshold several pairs of shoes. After a quick inquiry to the A.I. I learn that there are in fact several people employed in this mansion to take care of it. Apparently it comes with its own staff of maids and butlers.
I send a message to the A.I. calling for everyone to gether in the main hall.
As I wait for the staff to gather, I go over in my mind the things I'm gonna need to do in the next few days.
1. There are 5 people on the board of directors of my family's company. 2 of them, possibly 3 are gonna have to be removed immediately. Not only do I need to remove them. I need to burn every bridge. They have to any resource they could use to attack me later. And I don't mean just blacklisting them in the industry. I intend to give their wives some covert assistance to put them in the poorhouse and kick them out of the domes. As well as make public, every instance in which they've double-crossed their own supporters and allies. If I don't do this, they will remove me through assassination. Something the original Overlord work already mentioned happened to one of the 42 original founders of Nine's Own Goal.
2. I will need to go over both security and H.R. with a fine-tooth-comb. Overly corrupt individuals who make their way to a board of directors always have supporters within H.R. departments and security, it's one of the ways they ensure, if anything goes wrong, they can quietly have the problem covered up.
3. After the quick action has been accomplished. Then I will have enough time to go over the rest of the company. Normally, countries and companies this size operate on a combination of nepotism, ivy league credentialism, with a rather unhealthy dose of ass kissing to achieve employment success.
4. I will also have to accept long-term monitoring of the remaining individuals in the board of directors. With plans to take action, the instant I get notified that they're doing something shady.
Scene break.
While going over a list of supplies for the pantry. Kenji Watanabe receives a ping from the manners A.I. The A.I. informs him that the air has been found and made an appearance. He sends an inquiry to the A.I. to gather information on the new young master. The A.I. informs him that the young master's name is Satoru Suzuki and it verified his credentials. The A.I. also informed him that the young master sent a request to have the manners staff gather in the main hall.
Kenji immediately sends the relevant information to his wife and son, who are also employed at the manor. As well as his 4 nieces.
He thinks back on the old master and his wife. He never much cared for his master's wife. He knew the only reason he married her is because she was the daughter of the CEO of his company. It was an arranged marriage. The woman quite frankly made the staff of the matter miserable. The very same staff that comprised his family since his family has worked for the master's family for generations.
CEO Haruto made no qualms about his desire to terminate the employment of his family and sell off the estate, unfortunately for him. And fortunately for them, the CEO was incapable of eliminating the estate or touching the staff. Unfortunately, his brother and brother-in-law's were not so lucky. They worked for company security, and their employment was terminated. Luckily, his brother and brother-in-laws were able to find employment with a security firm that was not connected to the company or the CEO. Unfortunately it was in an entirely different dome.
He thinks apprehensively about the new young master. He knows he needs to make a good impression for himself and his family's sake if they lose their employment, there's a chance if they can't find more employment that they would be kicked out of the dome. And once outside it's very difficult to get back in.
Stealing his resolve and endeavoring to make a good impression. He makes his way to the main entrance and the front hall.
Sing break.
The manner's staff make their appearance.
4 younger women, one older woman, in maid outfits, a gentleman in a butler outfit and a young man. In what appears to be some form of damage resistant cover all's? While in my past life I was familiar with such clothing. In this modern life, you can't farm outside the domes. And they're almost completely alien to my new memories.
I take note that they appear to be a bit nervous. This is understandable. It's time for me to make a good impression and try to alleviate some of their apprehension.
Hello I am Satoru Suzuki I know that my appearance, maybe sudden. However, I assure you, I have no intentions of terminating your employment. It is apparent for anyone to see that you have done a wonderful job with the upkeep of both the manor and its grounds. On behalf of my late father, I would like to sincerely. Thank you, and hope that you would take good care of me in the meantime while I adjust to my new surroundings and positions.
As I finish my part of the social niceties, I pay attention as the man in the Butler uniform begins making introductions of himself and the rest of the staff. Who, as it turns out, are all family.
"Hello, young master. My name is Kenji Watanabe I am the Butler and head of the manor staff. This is my wife Hikari Watanabe. She is the head of the maids and chef of the manner. This is my son, Itsuki Watanabe he is the grounds keeper, these 4 are my nieces Ema Nakamura, Akari Nakamura, Himari Yamamoto, Mei Ito They maintain the primary manner and do any other odd jobs which require completing within the grounds and manner as well as conduct most of the shopping. For kitchen supplies and other necessities for the maintenance and care of the manor."
I respond. "It is very nice to meet all of you. I apologize for imposing upon you. However, I will not be taking up any more of your valuable time. Mr. Watanabe, if you would be so kind as to give me a tour of the manor and grounds, in roughly 4 to 5 hours. I have a guest that will be arriving to discuss business with me. I would like to know the best place in which I can conduct such negotiations."
"Of course young master. If you would just follow me this way, I will begin the tour." He said as he began to walk.