Book 12: Chapter 5: 7+3
"Stop screwing around!"
The Seventh Weapons Factory had moved into Banfield territory.
I was discussing future policies with Nias, whose eyes were bloodshot, when I was shouted at by her.
It's a very rude attitude to have towards me, the Duke.
--If it wasn't for you, I would have shredded you to pieces!
Nias and the other representatives and executives of the Seventh Weapons Factory were looking at me with bitter expressions on their faces -- and now they were shaking with blue faces, looking at Nias' attitude.
I guess they could easily imagine what would happen to them if I, a merciless man against my enemies, became enraged.
And yet, Nias, Avid's personal mechanic, didn't read the air.
"I would not merge with the Seventh Weapons Factory, even if it kills me!"
The reason why Nias protested against me was because I proposed to merge the third arms factory and the seventh arms factory that I had taken over.
I tried to merge them because it would be too much trouble for the Banfield family to have two weapons plants, but he resisted.
"Who asked for your opinion? This is a decision."
When I told her that it had been decided, Nias protested by banging her desk repeatedly.
She looked like a spoiled child.
"This is outrageous!"
"What about it? I'm the sponsor."
"I can't say anything back!"
In this world, he who pays the bills is the boss.
Nias couldn't resist capitalism, and she couldn't complain about the merger with the Third Weapons Factory.
The representatives and executives just turned their heads away from me and didn't say anything.
"It's settled. From now on, this factory will be operated as the arsenal of the Banfield family. As soon as possible, I'll give you guys jobs--"
As I was about to give jobs to the guys who had just moved in, Elysia, who was standing by my side, was operating a terminal.
When she finished operating it, she let out a small sigh and turned to face me.
"Liam-sama."
"What is it?"
I listen to her, thinking it is an urgent matter.
"The executive board of the Third Weapons Factory has decided to categorically reject any merger with the Seventh Weapons Factory."
"--Your former employers don't seem to understand who their sponsors are."
They're all going against me!
The last thing Elysia wants to do is to be seen as the "sponsor" of this merger.
The last person Elysia stopped to look at was Nias.
"They don't want to work at the Seventh Weapons Factory. Other than that, they said, they would accept any order but the unreasonable ones.
Nias, who had been denied by Elysia, stood up from her seat and pointed a finger at her.
She seems to be getting angry at being told that you are the only ones she doesn't want to work with.
"That's rude! Even we can't accept a merger with the Third Weapons Factory. What's in it for us in the first place?"
It seems that the Seventh Weapons Factory is aware that there are no advantages to merging with the Third Weapons Factory.
Elysia's cheeks are drawn back.
"That's our line. Merging with the technology-oriented 7th Weapons Factory would be more of a disadvantage for the 3rd Weapons Factory."
The executives of the Seventh Ordnance Plant, who had been treated as a burden, were all indignant and raised their voices at once.
"They have no technology of their own!"
"I don't want to be told what to do by people who don't have any original technology!"
"They only care about looks and are good at selling to customers who don't know what they're doing!"
Elysia, who had been allowed to say whatever she wanted, operated the terminal with a smile on her face. Then several screens appeared around Elysia, on which the faces of the executives of the Third Weapons Factory were displayed.
"Let them say whatever they want!"
"Technical idiots who don't understand our needs!"
"What's the use of bragging about your technology! Weapons are only useful on the battlefield!"
They must have heard about the meeting through Elysia.
The executives of the Seventh Weapons Factory also began to air their daily grievances with those from the Third Weapons Factory, who could not hold back and began to complain.
Seeing the two sides not taking a step back.
--I thought to myself, "It's going to be more trouble than it's worth."
I let out a deep sigh.
"Enough!"
I shouted, and the place went quiet.
These guys weren't so stupid as to ignore me.
"If you insist, I'll treat you differently from now on. But since you've told me this much, show me that you're capable."
I don't want incompetent people who complain all the time.
The others, realizing my unspoken intentions, nod nervously and reply.
Elysia breathes a sigh of relief and asks me about the future. I don't need to confirm this, but I guess it's to change the atmosphere here.
"Now that the merger is out of the way, let's talk about the future, shall we? Liam-sama, here is a document that outlines the construction of weapons, etc., when both weapons factories are in full operation."
On the screen projected in front of me, the figures for the case where the third, seventh, and two weapons factories are operating at full capacity to increase weapons production are displayed.
"That's less than I thought it would be."
I mutter, and Nias, who is lying on her desk, complains.
Not at me.
"They were confiscated by the Empire when we moved.
Subtle harassment? -No, but it's still an act of sending salt to the enemy.
It's like the Empire sent us two weapons factories to fight for real. A little less performance is still a plus.
"No matter. You guys will continue to work for us. But first--Nias."
When I nominated her, Nias straightened her back and straightened the position of her glasses.
She is a woman who knows how to do her job!
"What is it, sir?"
"There are some things I need you to build for the Seventh with the highest priority. Compile a list of what you need immediately."
"Not a naval vessel or a mobile knight? Ah, perhaps it's an ace-specific aircraft or a special aircraft!"
Nias looks a little happy, but I shake my head and deny it.
In response to Nias' blatantly uncomfortable expression, I tell her what they are going to build.
"You're going to build a mass-production machine."
Yasushi's mansion on the main planet of the Banfield family.
Yasushi lives in a splendid mansion, but he is in a great hurry to get ready to flee.
"I can't stay on this planet! I'm going to escape!"
He was preparing to run away by shoving his belongings into a magic roller bag and carrying it on his back.
His wife, Nina, watching him, looked dismayed.
"Most of the warp equipment has been destroyed and it will be difficult to get out of the territory. Unless you have a special spaceship, it's impossible."
Yasushi fell to his knees when he heard that there was no escape.
"I thought I was going to have a peaceful and happy life, but Liam, you idiot! Come to think of it, he really is an idiot!!!"
As Yasushi cried and began pounding the floor, the front door of the mansion opened.
There was Yasuyuki, who had been taken care of at Klaus' mansion.
Nina jumps at the sight of the slightly taller Yasuyuki.
"Yasuyuki!"
"--Erm, Master Klaus got busy and asked me to go back to the house myself."
Yasushi turned to look at the returning Yasuyuki and saw his disciples there as well.
"Master!"
Fuuka shouted loudly, and Rinho's face showed a sullen expression.
"Fuuka, you're being too loud. You think so too, don't you, Yasuyuki?"
The two are usually a bit rough around the edges, but they are always indulgent to Yasuyuki.
If it were Liam, the two would be spoiled, but to the two of them, Yasuyuki is as adorable as their own brother.
Seeing the two of them trying to look like respectable older sisters, Yasushi thinks.
(Even with these guys, we won't win the war.)
No matter how many monsters Liam slaughtered, he would not be able to win against an army as large as six million.
Yasushi looked up to the heavens in resignation, wondering if his luck had ended there.
Sitting cross-legged, he gazed at the patterns on the ceiling.
Rinho noticed his appearance.
"Master is so relaxed at a time like this."
Fuuka was also impressed by Yasushi's appearance, nodding her head repeatedly.
"Even I'm a little anxious, but I guess master is different. I wish I could have the same kind of open-mindedness as master."
They are making a small mistake, but it doesn't matter to Yasushi now.
(Ahhhh, if I'm going to die, it should at least be painless.)
At the Banfield family residence.
Brian is talking with Rosetta.
"I still don't think war is unavoidable."
Rosetta was acting stout-heartedly to Brian's despondent mood.
"We'll leave everything about the war to my darling and do our own work."
It was Rosetta's job to manage the house and the Banfield family's main planet.
In the event of war, she would also take over Liam's other duties.
Although she is a substitute, Rosetta is acting as the head of the Banfield family.
Seeing Rosetta's attitude, Brian straightens his back.
"Ha!"
(Rosetta-sama has become splendid. When she first came to the mansion, she was somewhat weak and I was worried about her.)
Rosetta had lived a very hard life, but now, as a Duchess, she is managing the mansion with great dignity.
However, Rosetta also knew that the war was very severe.
She looked down and asked Brian for a contingency plan.
"Brian--I'll let Edward alone go if it becomes necessary. I'll ask you to prepare for that."
Hearing this, Brian at first said, "What a weak thing to say!" and wanted to reassure Rosetta.
He wanted to tell her that the Banfield family would not be defeated, but he swallowed his words because he decided that it was realistically difficult.
"Everything is in good hands with Brian here. There is nothing to worry about."
"I beg you. I ask you, even if I die, I want him to live through it. As a member of this family, I am responsible for him, but he is too young."
Rosetta gripped her left arm with her right hand and looked down and troubled.
Being born into the Duke of Banfield's family was in a way unfortunate for Edward.
Now that he has been treated as a rebel, he cannot escape the extreme punishment on the grounds of his childhood.
Although she would normally be in a position to take responsibility, Rosetta still wanted Edward to live.
Brian accepts this.
"Yes. When the time comes, Edward will leave the blood of the two of you. He will tell future generations that Liam-sama was not wrong."
The Banfield family was betrayed and disgraced.
Brian hoped that the truth would be told along with the blood of the couple.
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