The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 70



Only Noblemtl

Episode 70. The Ultimate Binary Choice

“I heard from the broker that Delight Conf is trying to develop a complete Android.”

Claire was wearing a suit, unlike the flashy outfit she wore last time we met.

The overall neat impression was enhanced by a single jewel earring as a focal point, adding elegance.

“It’s unlikely that a small company would have that level of technical prowess, but we can’t just ignore it and say it’s just a rumor.”

Those who reign above have always had to live under the threat of challengers.

No matter what anyone says, there is only one way to control this effectively.

Trampling before the cotyledons emerge.

It was a simple yet effective method that everyone used.

“I’ll give you discretion as to the means and methods. If there’s any data or aircraft related to Android, please remove them all.”

The gaze shooting from his cold eyes was sharp like a blade.

Despite her dignified and elegant appearance, Claire had no hesitation in making ruthless decisions.

“Let me ask you one thing before that.”

“What is it?”

“Are you sure it’s removal, not deodorization?”

“yes.”

Claire underlined the part of the request for removal with her fingernail.

“Even if we steal the data, our company does not have the capacity to set up and operate a separate research and development team. Our main business is far from the related industry, so we lack the technical skills.”

“Wouldn’t it be a good business if you collected the blueprints and sold copies?”

“It would be a waste to give it to someone else. I know where to bid. And… … I don’t really want to leave any information behind.”

“?”

She turned her head as if looking out the window.

It seemed like he was trying to hide his expression.

Even so, the small tongue-clicking sound was showing his annoyance.

‘I don’t have the money, so it would be a waste to give it to someone else.’

It was a waste of technology to burn it for such a simple reason.

She knows its value better than I do.

And yet, this decision was made.

“It looks like there’s a rat inside.”

“… … I won’t deny it.”

Rather than wasting my time creating something good for someone else, I’d rather just get rid of it.

“If you’re worried about confidential information leaking, then you must be in a high position.”

The rough outline has been drawn.

“It must be the guy I saw last time. His name was Director Berman, right?”

“I felt this before, but your head really works well.”

Claire gave a brief exclamation of admiration.

There was no unpleasant reaction even though the company’s intimate details were revealed.

“Do you really want to come under me? If you pair up with Millina, I think you’ll have no shortcomings, not just empty words.”

That was because she still couldn’t shake off her obsession with me.

My answer hasn’t changed.

“You don’t want someone who is so spineless that they change their mind in a few days.”

“In this case, that’s okay.”

“I’m not interested.”

The sigh of regret came from Millina, not Claire.

Why was the secretary more reckless?

I don’t think he was that kind of character.

“And I didn’t just guess by using my head.”

I have some knowledge of it, so I made an association.

Claire asked sharply at the hint that had been dropped.

“I see you know something about Director Berman.”

“If a rolling stone is to push out the owner family, individual skill alone is not enough.”

“Do you have a back?”

“It’s not something you can talk about with your bare mouth.”

Where are you going to eat raw fish?

Even though I was favorable towards her, it was meant as a countermeasure to keep Sentrim in check.

If you just give it away unconditionally, you’ll end up being caught.

At least that’s the case in our current relationship.

‘You yourself will be suspicious.’

Why help yourself?

Where did all this suspicious information I have come from?

For now, the clean business relationship is sound, rather than raising suspicions.

“… … Well, if you don’t want to talk about it, then that’s fine. If you know that much, then I can ask you one more thing.”

Claire didn’t dig too deep.

Instead, he licked his lips and made a suggestion.

“I would like you to give me the Delight Confessions ledger. This is an additional request.”

“cog?”

“I have a suspicion that Director Berman invested in Delight Conf. I want concrete evidence.”

Berman invested in Delight Conquer?

‘So that guy was the link between the Future Delight Conqueror and Centrim.’

The guy is a lackey of Centrim, so if he invested in Delight Conf, it would have been enough to connect the two.

“There’s nothing I can’t do as long as I’m paid a satisfactory salary.”

“Don’t worry, I told you I would treat you sensibly and reasonably.”

Claire revised the request on the spot.

I drew a line through the added bonus part.

“Not to that extent, but to this extent.”

“… … .”

Claire shut her mouth blankly.

Where are you trying to sneakily lower the price?

“He’s a good-natured client who pays well, so there must be a bonus.”

I drew another line and corrected the numbers.

An unexpected accident added one more family member to the household.

As an unemployed person who couldn’t work, I was destined to have to pay for my living expenses out of my own pocket.

It was an inevitable decision to compensate for this.

Claire was struck by a spark… … .

‘You have a lot of money, don’t you?’

Now that I have some spare money, it won’t be a burden.

Claire’s eyebrows twitched.

I drove a stake in there.

“If you were the kind of person who would say two things with one mouth, then I’d be disappointed.”

“Snow, mayo.”

Claire quickly accepted it with a smile.

As soon as the broker certified the revised contract, it was a no-brainer.

‘The next CEO of a large corporation whose words should carry weight.’

It was satisfying to see that there was often a pocket to be robbed.

“You told me to decide the means and methods, so I’ll choose the colleagues I’ll work with.”

“Yes, do as you wish. I didn’t think it was something you could do alone. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. I’ll review them and pay for them.”

The opponent is a member of Madhouse.

I don’t know which one of them it was, but whoever it was, it was a monster.

A colleague to work with was essential.

Claire was a truly reasonable employer, leaving the choice of expenses up to me.

“First of all, the Draxia Mercenaries.”

And now the colleague I was going to call had been decided.

“This is the mercenary group that was in charge of escort during the inter-city negotiations. I also think it was a reasonable appointment.”

“One more there.”

“After the mercenary group, will you be a contractor this time?”

“no.”

Now that we have the contractor, the next thing we need is a guide.

***

“……what?”

Belle looked dirty, with soot all over her face.

I just hired someone to clean my house, but they brought soot from somewhere.

I wondered if he had gone out while I was gone, but I doubt he would be brave enough to do something so reckless knowing he had a pursuer.

He must have done something fun like welding by himself.

“Playing house is good, but if you burn down the house, you won’t be left alone.”

“Children’s play! I tried various things to efficiently carry out the tasks you asked me to do… …! No, that’s not it.”

Belle, who had been crying, calmed down and asked.

“What did you just say?”

“I’m on my way back after accepting your request. There are already rumors about the android you left behind. Many places, including major corporations, are drooling over it.”

“Damn, I finally found it. I hope the idiots left over there don’t break it by messing with it.”

Belle stamped her feet and chewed her fingernails.

It was an action that showed impatience.

Then he spat, as if he had eaten dust stuck on his fingernails.

“I’ll have to hope that the item is to my liking. It’s not an easy task, since it involves a madhouse.”

“Those monsters got involved too?”

Even a single technician looked terrified, as if he had heard that famous name before.

“Then maybe it would be better to just give up.”

“Don’t you have any regrets about your life’s work?”

“Of course it’s a shame! How could I have made that!”

Bell’s eyes sparkled as he answered.

But false madness shrank before the difficulties of reality.

“But what can I do if Madhouse steps in? If I keep thinking about it, I’ll just end up getting upset. So hurry up and cancel. I’m not that shameless.”

“No, I already accepted the request.”

“In that industry, once you receive a request, you can’t even cancel it?”

“It’s mine since you promised to give it to me. If the owner goes to get it, it’ll be useless if you keep twitching your tail in fear of thieves.”

“… … .”

Bell’s eyes seemed to be looking at a hopeless idiot who lived in every neighborhood.

“Yes, it’s your life. What can I say? Instead, when you die, I will inherit this house and take good care of it, so just know that.”

“Do you think you’ve become attached after living together for a few days?”

“I took care of my body like this, so it would be a shame if it became a waste.”

It’s overdone.

My body is not in good shape just from cleaning, doing laundry, and tending to the garden.

This was what I did before Belle came to stay.

“But you won’t inherit this house when I die.”

“Why, do you have children? Judging by your face, I think you do. You’re so unlucky. With that kind of personality, there must have been a lot of empty-headed women who clung to you because you were a mask. That’s good, kid.”

That’s harsh.

I was upset by the sudden sale, but I calmed down when I saw the guy’s forehead.

I have to endure it since I have both the face and the hair.

“I have no children to leave my fortune to, but you will go with me, so when I die, you will die with me. Or you will be captured by Delight Conquer and work as a slave for the rest of your life.”

“… … ?”

The grumbling bell looked up at me.

The two eyes that had been raised nervously blinked blankly.

And then he slowly moved his dry lips.

“No, wait. I’m going with you? Why?”

“I need a guide.”

“Is that all there is to it?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Well, um, yeah. It’s important.”

Bell’s eyes were spinning around.

The sound of someone’s head spinning urgently seemed to echo throughout the living room.

“If you’re curious about the structure, I can draw it for you. Even where the items are hidden. And usually, good clients will steal the drawings and tell you about them.”

That’s true.

A guide was an unnecessary position unless the mission was to an unexplored area.

“Actually, needing a guide is just an excuse.”

“then?”

“The request is to dispose of the Android. But since we can’t really dispose of it, shouldn’t we find a substitute and trick it?”

“……ah.”

He seemed to understand what I was saying.

“Is there anything I can use as a substitute?”

“Yeah, there is.”

“I’ll need your help to set the scene for that.”

“Why don’t we just steal the stuff and burn it all? That’s much easier.”

“You make a mockery of Megacorp’s handling of affairs.”

The intelligence power of large corporations was such that they could quickly see through such tricks.

If you suspect something, we will analyze every single particle of ashes to make sure you haven’t been doing something in vain.

To prevent this, experts were needed.

And then there was an expert who could fool even analysts from large corporations right in front of him.

“Ugh… … !”

Belle swallowed, unable to find words to refute my logical and reasonable demands.

Then, soon, he started to lose his temper.

“I, I can’t go! Just make me work here for the rest of my life! I’ll somehow recreate the android, even if it takes the rest of my life!”

Belle went out to the garden to show off what a diligent worker she was.

I looked at the guy with a discontented look.

Although it had developed to some extent, it was still immature.

A few days of labor was not enough to root out the boy’s gloom and dishonesty.

“Didn’t you say last time that you couldn’t make it even if I asked you to make it again?”

“If you can’t make something you’ve already made, then you’re an idiot. So can you just let me go this once? From now on, I’ll work without complaining. I’m serious.”

Belle prayed so earnestly that her hands and feet became like sand.

Soon, he got to the point where he was ready to kneel down.

“The mutual contract has been completed and a manager has been appointed to the World Tree Garden.”

“The garden manager’s dexterity and technical skills affect the growth of the plants and the prosperity of the garden.”

“Currently Appointed Administrator: Bell Hackerson”

“Dexterity and technical skills: Top grade”

“As garden managers are hired, new features for the garden are unlocked.”

“In the future, the characteristics of special crops grown in the garden can be permanently applied to that species.”

“The World Tree learns new tricks.”

“You can declare a territory in the surrounding area and summon a territory under the control of the World Tree.”

Belle Hackerson, garden manager.

Unlocking the functions of the garden and acquiring the talents of the World Tree, or in other words, skills.

It was nice to get an unexpected benefit, but it was absurd.

‘I guess you really didn’t want to go.’

It meant that Belle really wanted to stay home and tend to the garden.

I thought it was okay to leave it at home.

“Instead of throwing a tantrum, fix that tin can you’re wearing. You’ll need to use it as armor.”

“… … .”

It was impossible.

‘I can’t just throw away my stuff without even trying it.’

Above all else.

‘I need someone to look after the ledgers that Berman is involved in.’

Since the request details were added, Bell, the person involved, could not be left out.

Bell is an expert who even fools corporate auditors.

Suspicious ledgers will be readily apparent.

“… … I’d rather be caught.”

“If you want, I can hand it over to you.”

Will the company be handed over to my hands?

Will you infiltrate the company with me?

“I’m going, I’m going! Oh, why did I have to get caught by this guy!”

In a dilemma of extremes, Belle made a decision.