After a short break, the Student Council President wasted no time diving into the main topic. Thankfully, her attitude was more proactive than expected.
[First of all, we have more than enough justification to pressure Kaiser Corporation. It’s clear they’re going to try to cut ties, but this situation is too serious to gloss over. Initially, they instigated the hijacking of the Odyssey Academy ship from the back, and subsequently ordered shelling on the two autonomous districts of Gehenna and Trinity. Ultimately, they even resorted to terror attacks targeting students from the SRT Special Academy, using the hijacked academy ship as a malicious trap.]
Listing it all out, it makes you wonder what on earth Kaiser was thinking, their crimes are that serious. The first two actions might be swept under the rug with a slap on the wrist if they merely cut ties, but the last one is a tough call—even I can see that it’s pushing the boundaries of what’s tolerable.
[During this process, there were significant threats to the lives of students from the Nereus and the T-party host from Trinity. Furthermore, adding in the testimony and confession from our collaborator, Kosaka Wakamo, if the three academies present a united front… yes, it would be quite strange if the Student Council didn’t cooperate.]
“…Um, Student Council President. Why does it feel like the more you talk, the more negative the tone gets?”
[Well… it’s because I actually have a negative stance on this matter, T-party host.]
What is this nonsense? Aren’t we supposed to cooperate and deal Kaiser a blow, even if it’s just to their waist?
…Let’s not dwell too much on the fact that whether it’s the neck or the waist, getting hit will still result in death.
[You need to provide a clear and understandable explanation for this, Student Council President. The moment the Student Council lends its strength to the three academies, it’s basically safe to say that nothing is impossible in Kivotos, except for annihilating a particular autonomous district. Yet, the fact that you’re maintaining a negative stance is somewhat puzzling.]
The admiral of Odyssey and I have fundamentally similar positions. I know that Kaiser’s movements won’t benefit Kivotos, while the admiral is filled with the determination to punish Kaiser.
If the Student Council President doesn’t provide a solid explanation after this, it will put us in a situation where we can’t trust her.
‘Don’t trust the Student Council President.’
…Damn it. Why is the Student Council President making it so hard for me to trust her?
[Please don’t misunderstand. I’m fully aware that Kaiser’s existence is nothing but detrimental. However, there are a few things that you are overlooking. First, let’s clarify that Kaiser is a private corporation. They are not an academy that owns autonomous districts.]
As the Student Council President began explaining, I felt a flicker of something stirring in me.
Right, if the President, who even Nagisa respects, is saying this, then she must be considering something I haven’t. I should listen a bit more closely.
[Kaiser’s sprawling expansion is famous, and I’m sure you have a general idea without needing an explanation. They currently own over 100 subsidiaries. The chaos that will inevitably arise from taking them down won’t be small.]
“But even if they’re a necessary evil, we can’t just let them run wild like they are now. I mean, it’s not like I’d refuse the vaccine just because it might sting a little…”
[As you said, there is a need to appropriately cut off Kaiser Corporation’s arms and legs. To do that, we need to target the core companies that would sustain the most damage. But that’s where the problems begin. As soon as Kaiser cuts ties and goes on the defensive, the justification weakens.]
“Just because the justification weakens doesn’t mean it disappears.”
[If the justification is solid, Kaiser won’t have a leg to stand on, but if it weakens, they’ll be more vocal. The three academies and the Student Council conspiring to unjustly attack a harmless private enterprise? Can you guarantee that this won’t happen to other companies as well? It’s a scenario, isn’t it? The President of Kaiser Corporation is someone as capable as he is ambitious. We can’t afford to just charge in recklessly. If we want to take something from him, we need to be prepared to lose a lot.]
I’m starting to see the core of my suspicion. If Kaiser rallies other companies and speaks out, the Student Council will be in a difficult position. They can’t just sweep away all of them; if the Kaiser President is as competent as the Student Council President suggests, he could execute what she feared fully.
“So when you say you need to be prepared to lose a lot, that’s coming from the Student Council’s perspective?”
[It’s similar. The Student Council exists on the trust of all citizens and students in Kivotos. Everything I’ve done so far has been without breaking that trust, but deliberately taking down a private corporation risks shattering that trust in one fell swoop… Above all, I—]
The Student Council President abruptly clamped her mouth shut. As silence stretched on, the admiral of Odyssey drummed her fingers on the table, signaling her to speak.
In contrast, I sensed that what she was about to say was intricately tied to a secret involving the Student Council President. Considering my internal hypothesis that she’s something akin to a “Regressor,” perhaps she fears a future she doesn’t quite understand.
If not, maybe there’s something she knows that would make it necessary for Kaiser to fulfill a role, causing her to hesitate in taking them down.
[Attempting to bring Kaiser down completely has more disadvantages than benefits. That is my judgment. I can assist in inflicting damage beyond their provided justification, but if you desire even more than that, you might find it hard to expect the Student Council’s support.]
“Hmm. I see. So that’s the Student Council President’s stance.”
For a fleeting moment, I almost snapped back at her for being a coward. But I couldn’t do that.
I don’t know the struggles she’s faced or the burdens she’s carried that led her to trust everything to a teacher.
So, I won’t blame her.
“Yukino-chan said that justice is the right course that aligns with the truth. Do you have any idea what that means?”
[You want to say I’m turning away from justice. That’s what you want to convey, right?]
“So you do know? Cutting to the chase, let me take command of the FOX Squad for this. I don’t need any other support from the Student Council.”
[…Wait, T-party host. Are you fully aware of what you’re actually saying right now?]
“Ahaha, of course I know. I’m fully aware. Right now, I’m declaring that I’m going to attack Kaiser from the shadows.”
I have enough maneuvering pieces.
Even if the Student Council President doesn’t give me the FOX Squad, I already have the Arius Squad to operate; what I need is merely the resolve.
[…In Odyssey, we will provide all necessary resources and troops for that purpose.]
“No, that won’t do. I don’t need troop support, Mitsurugi Admiral. I won’t refuse the supply of resources, but make no mistake—a full-on war is definitely a bad move against Kaiser. Troops should be an elite few…”
[T-party host… please, think rationally. How can I ever condone a leader of a single academy declaring to commit terrorism against a private corporation…?]
“Actually, I could not be more rational than I am right now. A student almost died, Student Council President. Even if it was just a few, it could’ve been a serious situation with hundreds of students quaking in fear, drowning in that ice-cold sea. Don’t preach to me about rationality after I’ve lived through that. Just as I respect your choices, isn’t it right for you to respect mine?”
[…]
“I can’t stand to see Kaiser running rampant like this. The thought of them causing something similar again, putting my friends in danger—it literally chokes me up. So, I’ll ask once more, formally. Please transfer command of the FOX Squad to me until I judge that I’ve inflicted sufficient damage on Kaiser.”
If this were a video call, it would have been clearer to convey my feelings. Now, I genuinely regret not pushing through the inconvenience to meet face-to-face.
[…]
[As you wish, I’ll transfer command of the FOX Squad to you, and I’ll also tacitly approve of what happens next.]
It was the moment the Student Council President conceded her defeat.
[However, leaving the criteria for ‘sufficient damage’ up to you is far too dangerous. So I will determine those criteria and inform you. Of course, we’ll finalize this through mutual agreement. This much concession should be acceptable, right?]
…Seems like it wasn’t really a defeat but an attempt to negotiate a truce.
“Yeah, that should be enough.”
At least, I was able to secure what I wanted. For me, it was a negotiation with no losses.
