MEI Corp, in the huge conference room.
Lucius sat at the deepest part of the long table, wearing a pair of plain glasses.
Leaning forward, his arms resting on the table, his ten fingers interlaced and propped under his chin.
In front of him, every seat was filled. MEI Corp's management sat upright, occasionally glancing at Lucius's position with their peripheral vision.
Then this MEI Corp president slowly raised his head. A cold light flashed across his lenses. His voice echoed in the conference room.
"Everyone, I have something I need to inform you of." Lucius's gaze swept over everyone present and said: "Just now, I misappropriated several billion in funds."
As soon as these words came out, the already quiet conference room became so silent you could hear a pin drop. The management personnel even lightened their breathing.
"Everyone, what do you think?"
Hearing this, those present exchanged glances with people beside them, but no one spoke.
Until one early bird broke the silence.
It was a middle-aged man whose clothes were impeccably arranged and whose hair was mostly bald.
"President, I think doing this is against the rules..."
Hearing this, Lucius glanced at him and said:
"You're truly an honest person. Go to the finance department to settle your salary. You've been let go."
The middle-aged man's face instantly paled upon hearing this, and he hurriedly said: "President, I was just joking."
But the conference room door had already been opened.
A pink-haired woman wearing a Defense Department uniform with an ID badge on her chest led several Defense Department officers in, directly dragging him out of his seat.
Soon, after one less person in the conference room, the door was closed again.
"Let's continue discussing the previous issue." Lucius said. "I misappropriated several billion in funds. What do you think?"
This time, everyone present sat up straight. Someone said:
"President, this isn't even a problem! It's just moving from the left hand to the right hand. Other companies all do it. As long as the money is returned within the specified time, there's no problem."
"Even if there's a problem, just bow and apologize, then find a temporary worker to take the blame."
Lucius took in everyone's reactions.
These people were all executives from companies merged by MEI Corp. Because MEI Corp was just a framework that had been erected and temporarily had no one available, they could only use these old management personnel first.
But the downside was that these people inherited their original interpersonal relationships. Various small groups connected together, relying on their so-called seniority, even daring to talk back to him, the president.
They seriously hindered his construction plan for St. Freya Academy City Cluster!
Please, I'm almost the sole shareholder. Where do you get the courage to talk back to me?
And Lucius naturally wouldn't tolerate those who dared talk back to him. During this period, who knows how many people he had dismissed.
He originally thought he had absolute authority in MEI Corp, but didn't expect someone would still dare to jump out.
Next, he needed to build St. Freya Academy City Cluster within one year, requiring absolute control of MEI Corp. At this critical juncture, whoever dared sing a different tune with him, he didn't mind throwing them to the East African Rift Valley to plant bananas.
"In that case, let's find someone to take the blame!"
"The president is wise!"
...
In the darkness, Ryoma's consciousness was reviving.
Soon, Ryoma woke from his unconscious state.
Before he could notice where he was, the stabbing pain at his neck made him gasp.
"Hiss... what's going on... hmm?"
Ryoma covered his neck. Before he could check the source of the pain at his neck, his attention was attracted by the environment before him.
At the front was a huge floor-to-ceiling window. Through the glass, he could see Nagazora City's downtown area in the distance. He even saw Chiba Academy where his daughter enrolled.
His gaze returned, looking to both sides. The spacious room was decorated with low-key but meaningful decorations.
Then, Ryoma looked in front of himself.
This was a desk with stacks of documents placed on it. His peripheral vision caught things like 'St. Freya Academy City Cluster,' 'Yae Grand Shrine,' 'Creation Engine - Godfather Mech Project,' 'Controllable Earthquake Generator,' and other incomprehensible things.
Finally, he looked at himself.
At this time, he was sitting in a soft leather boss chair, and he wasn't wearing the plantation work clothes but a very neatly ironed suit.
With his knowledge, he recognized this should be some kind of custom high-end clothing.
Combining what he saw, Ryoma understood he was currently in some office. Looking at the surrounding decorations, it was most likely a big shot's office.
"What happened before?"
Ryoma fell into recollection.
Soon, he remembered what happened before he passed out.
Coming out of the pachinko parlor in defeat, falling into despair, then meeting that strange pink-haired woman.
Thinking the other party was similar to that strange Faded Elf, so he wanted to exchange his remaining life for some money.
Then... then he didn't remember what happened.
"How did I pass out?"
Covering his aching neck, Ryoma thought hard but ultimately had no answer.
Unable to figure out this question, Ryoma decided to leave first. This was clearly some big shot's office. He couldn't explain how he'd be here.
But just as he was about to get up from the boss chair, the office door opened.
The person who pushed the door in was a pink-haired woman holding documents, wearing plain glasses, and dressed in secretary attire.
After seeing this woman's appearance, Ryoma's eyes suddenly widened.
Although the other party wasn't wearing a mask, Ryoma still recognized her at a glance—she was the last person he saw before passing out, that suspicious pink-haired woman.
"You..."
Ryoma had just made a sound when he heard Sakura, dressed as a secretary, say: "President, you have a 5 billion fund waiting to be processed."
Hearing Sakura's words, Ryoma's eyes widened as he pointed at himself: "You... what did you call me?"
Sakura adjusted her glasses.
"President, now is not the time for guessing games. You need to process this fund as soon as possible."
"Stop joking. How could I be any kind of president?" Ryoma got up and ran outside in panic. "I didn't mean to come in. I'll leave now."
Sakura didn't stop him, watching Ryoma run out.
After running out of the office, Ryoma walked toward the MEI Corp office building exit. He thought this was just a prank show, and such things weren't uncommon in the Far East.
But soon Ryoma discovered the situation seemed different from what he thought.
During the process of running out of the building, he didn't encounter any obstruction. Even every person he met along the way greeted him respectfully when they saw him.
After running out of the building, Ryoma looked at the building behind him and discovered this was actually Nagazora City's tallest landmark building, but now it had the letters "MEI" hanging on it.
Ryoma suddenly began to doubt whether this was really a prank. After all, renting an entire landmark building as a place to prank him would be an astronomical figure.
He even saw a huge projection on another building across the street showing his own interview footage!
"This... isn't the cost of this prank a bit high?"
And when he saw "himself" shaking hands and talking with political leaders from the Far East and even the world in the footage.
He knew this might, probably, perhaps wasn't a prank.
At this time, a reminder came from his pocket. Instinctively putting his hand in his pocket, he found a communicator that was currently showing a communication reminder.
Ryoma hesitated but ultimately answered it nervously.
"President, please don't joke around. The entire MEI Corp needs your decisions."
Ryoma's throat moved as he replied with a hoarse voice: "I'll be back soon."
Soon, Ryoma returned to that spacious office, sat at the desk, and met that secretary-dressed pink-haired woman.
At this time, he finally confirmed that some kind of miracle seemed to have happened to him.
He might have come to some parallel world!
Here, he wasn't a failure, wasn't a father who disappointed his daughter, wasn't a gambler, but a true successful person!
He would completely bid farewell to his past failed life and start anew.
Thinking of this, Ryoma vowed in his heart.
Since he had a chance to start over, he would definitely completely break with his past failed life and become a successful father that made Mei proud!
"President, there's a 5 billion fund waiting for your decision."
Sakura's words drew Ryoma's attention. He noticed a particular word.
"How much?!!!"
"President, 5 billion."
Hearing this, countless bills floated through Ryoma's mind. Soon these bills turned into clanging marbles.
"With so much money, how many rounds could I play..."
As soon as this thought arose, Ryoma shuddered.
"Slap!"
In front of Sakura, Ryoma fiercely slapped himself.
"Ryoma, you're already a successful person. You need to break with the past. You need to become a father Mei can be proud of!"
With this pep talk, the gambling urge that arose in Ryoma's heart was suppressed. His whole being became clear, as if without joy or sorrow.
"President, please don't abuse your body."
"Also, please decide the use of this 5 billion fund."
"Oh, right... right." Ryoma pretended to be calm and asked Sakura: "Do you have any recommendations?"
"Although as a secretary, I shouldn't interfere with your decisions, but according to the company's original plans, I suggest you invest the funds in plasma weapon research and development."
Ryoma knew he didn't understand these business matters at all, so he prepared to follow Sakura's advice.
"Just do as you say. Invest in plasma weapon research!"
Hearing this, Sakura nodded and prepared to leave.
Ryoma breathed a sigh of relief, his body leaning back in the boss chair. His gaze naturally looked toward the floor-to-ceiling window.
His gaze passed through the glass and he saw familiar streets. That place wasn't far from his original home.
Along that street forward was where Mei often bought ingredients. Going further forward was a pachinko parlor...
Just as Sakura reached the door and was about to push it open to leave.
"Wait!"
Sakura looked back puzzled.
"President, do you have other instructions?"
Ryoma gritted his teeth, his face extremely conflicted. Finally, he still asked: "This money, I can freely allocate it, right?"
"Of course, after all, you're the president."
"Then, withdraw a portion for me. Not too much, just a million."
Sakura nodded.
"I understand. Your request will be completed soon."
Seeing Sakura leave, Ryoma's heart was mixed with regret and excitement.
In the end, the rising gambling urge suppressed the regret. Only excitement remained on his face.
"Now I have so much money. Even if I use money to smash it, I can win once, right?"
"As long as I win once and achieve my life goal, I can completely quit pachinko. Right... this is guiding rather than blocking."
Ryoma comforted himself like this, until...
"Boom!!!"
With a loud noise, the office door was pushed open.
Ryoma found that pink-haired secretary had entered again, but this time her attire was completely different.
She wasn't wearing secretary clothes but a capable Defense Department uniform.
Behind her, several Defense Department employees followed.
"Sakura, what are you doing?"
Just as doubt arose in Ryoma's heart, he saw several employees rush up and pull him from the boss chair.
"What are you doing?" Ryoma struggled. "I'm MEI Corp's president. Are you rebelling?!"
To this, Sakura said expressionlessly: "Mr. President, your misappropriation of funds has been exposed. Awaiting you will be a prison sentence."
After saying this, regardless of Ryoma's reaction, she called the employees to drag him out of the office.
Misappropriation of funds?
Go to prison?
This opening doesn't seem right!
"Wait, I'm the president. You can't do this to me! You can't do this to me!"
Just like that, Ryoma was carried by several employees and left the MEI Corp building.
Suddenly, Ryoma's peripheral vision swept across the ground through the building's glass.
He actually saw Mei in the distance. At this moment, she was chatting and laughing with someone who looked identical to him.
His eyes suddenly widened as he struggled continuously, shouting toward Mei's direction:
"Gwah!"
"Mei, save me! Save your dad!"
Below the MEI Corp building, Mei, who was chatting and laughing with Lucius, suddenly had a thought and looked up at the MEI Corp building.
However, the building's glass could only be seen from inside to outside. When Mei looked from outside, she only saw bright glass.
"What's wrong, Mei?"
Mei's gaze looked at the building exterior for a while but found nothing abnormal.
So she shook her head and said with a smile: "I just thought it was you calling me from inside, Father."
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