Major announcement and Terrorist Attack

As always, my hopes and expectations were miserably betrayed.

Team Leader Hank obediently nodded and replied, “If the Young Lady thinks so, there is no need to ask for my opinion.” The Companions ultimately remained in the banquet Hall to wait for the Meredith Family’s major announcement.

I was dying of frustration.

The terrorists would definitely aim for this timing to attack. Perhaps because of the major announcement, the number of people was increasing rather than decreasing.

The massive multi-layered structure of the banquet Hall was gradually filling with people. From a terrorist’s perspective, it would be a truly mouth-watering target. Even detonating just one bomb would cause unbelievable damage.

Let’s think about it from their perspective.

If I were a terrorist, where would I target first? Where would I infiltrate from?

A tiny ventilation shaft that only a small drone could barely navigate? The staff passageway inside the crystal wall that no one but Dolls could traverse? Or somewhere in the space beyond the sparkling glass ceiling?

“Hey, are you okay? You don’t look so good. Don’t tell me your stomach hurts again and you want to go to the restroom or something? Hold it in a little longer. The presentation is going to start soon. The surroundings will get incredibly chaotic, so we need to keep our wits about us. There might be those bastards who try to use that opening to pull something.”

Beside me, Ms. Kali tapped me and spoke.

To think there might be those bastards trying to pull something.

“I know that too. The problem is that I know it too well…!”

My mouth went completely dry. This wouldn’t do. Wouldn’t it be better to speak up even now?

Even if I didn’t outright say a terrorist attack was going to happen, if I somehow beat around the bush and said it seemed dangerous―.

Rumble.

Suddenly, the surroundings grew dark as if the banquet Hall lights had been turned off.

Don’t tell me, is it starting?

I visibly stiffened and tensed up. Beside me, Ms. Kali laughed awkwardly, saying, “Uh… you don’t need to keep your wits about you that much.'

Looking around, I realized the lights hadn’t actually turned off; rather, the mirror surfaces on the walls that had been reflecting light and illuminating the area were rotating and shifting their focus elsewhere.

There was no way the terrorists could interfere with the structure of the banquet Hall itself, so it seemed related to the major announcement rather than a terrorist attack.

The gradually moving beams of light concentrated in one spot, and a dais/platform made of transparently sparkling crystal rose into the air from the stage.

A Ladam stood on top of it.

Three eyes shining and sparkling like jewels on a smooth metal scalp, artificial flowers flamboyantly pinned onto a sharply dressed pure white suit, and various rare accessories.

It was too far to see the fine details clearly, but based purely on the image, he was a typical showman.

Seeing that his gender was clearly distinguishable and his attire and appearance were distinct to anyone’s eyes, it seemed not all of the Meredith Family had ambiguous appearances; just as Ms. Kali had said, Prezen de Se Meredith appeared to be a unique case.

When the Ladam opened his mouth, the banquet Hall trembled from the sound waves.

[Ah, ah.]

He frowned at the excessively loud volume and made a gesture of lowering his hand. The volume naturally adjusted.

[That’s a bit better. Welcome, Visitors. Standing here before you, I am Delmore Meredith.]

Delmore Meredith. This was a name I knew too.

That name was in the information regarding the Meredith Family Members among the materials I received during the mission briefing.

Was he the executive director of Enatomia Corporation who was extremely active in public relations?

Naturally, he would be a figure with strong power even within the Meredith Family.

It was indeed fitting for a major announcement painstakingly prepared by the Meredith Family. The host himself was a magnate, after all.

[Are you enjoying the banquet well, everyone? I worry that our Family’s Mirror Castle might have dizzyingly overwhelmed the eyes of our precious customers. Yes? No need to worry? It was beautiful? Thank you. Our Dolls, who work hard to manage the Mirror Castle, also wish to express their gratitude to you all!]

As Delmore Meredith shouted comically and waved his hand, the Dolls standing here and there, or lined up in rows like an honor guard, all bowed their heads with disciplined precision.

At the sound of cheers and applause, Delmore Meredith grinned, widely revealing his platinum-plated teeth.

[Ah~ by the way, it’s good to enjoy the banquet, but you all know you shouldn’t enjoy it too excessively, right? For instance, drinking too much champagne and becoming blackout drunk, or suddenly slapping another customer’s cheek with a smack!…]

Laughter erupted from various places, with people perhaps thinking it was a joke. However, for a brief moment, I felt as though Delmore Meredith’s eyes were looking coldly in this direction.

Ladam knew about the slap Incident.

Then again, there was no way a Meredith Family Member wouldn’t know what happened in the Mirror Castle.

It was just that since both Schneider and Sedouforne were high-ranking noble families, they weren’t kicking them out and were leaving them be for now.

It was best to view those words just now as a warning along the lines of, “I know everything you did. I’ll be watching, so do not act rashly.'

Although it was the Sedouforne Family that blew the matter out of proportion, it was definitely Schneider that started it, so there was no way we could say anything in our defense.

Even after that, Delmore Meredith threw a few more jokes, perhaps to lighten the mood, and every time he did, I shuddered at the passing time, my eyes darting around like a feverish patient and glaring at the blind spots all over the dark banquet Hall.

[Shall we stop with the jokes here then? You all didn’t come all this way just to listen to Delmore Meredith’s comic talk, after all. You have waited a long time, everyone. On behalf of the Meredith Family and Enatomia Corporation, it seems the time has come to proudly introduce our prototype.]

The gazes in the banquet Hall, which had been scattered until now, all converged fervently on a single point.

noble families, competitor company executives, upper-class celebrities… Basking in the gazes mixed with all their various emotions, Delmore Meredith raised both his arms high.

“Ladies and gentlemen, and Ladams and Evers. I shall introduce it. I can confidently say it is Trinity, the limited artificial intelligence module combination with the highest performance of the current generation.”

Simultaneously with the declaration, three massive circular crystals - burning red, chilly cyan, and pale white - rose up, overlapping each other.

The circular programs exuded presence, shining intensely like stars.

Those three combined like that were the Trinity, in other words, the holy trinity.

On the outside, they took the shape of flat geometric figures, but it felt as though one could catch a glimpse of the massive aggregate of calculations swirling inside them.

“First is Casey. This artificial intelligence is the ruler of cyberspace. No matter how outstanding a Net Diver might be, they had better not think of carelessly setting foot into Casey’s territory. That is, unless they want all their neural circuits to burn away!”

As if reacting to his words, the chilly cyan circle of light vibrated and shone.

“Second is Eggsy. This artificial intelligence intervenes in reality. Even now, it is seeing and hearing everything happening in the banquet Hall, and if it wishes, it can take action directly. Isn’t that right, Eggsy?”

[Of course.]

An androgynous voice was heard. However, it wasn’t from just one place. It came from the dolls everywhere, invisible speakers, and even from the electronic instruments. The artificial intelligence answered, taking control as lightly as breathing.

If it were only that, I wouldn’t have been surprised.

As if to give a demonstration, Delmore Meredith called out lightly.

“Oh my, I see quite a few people holding empty glasses. You should fill them up.”

[Understood.]

Simultaneously with the answer, Dolls with red eyes, holding champagne bottles, appeared everywhere and poured for the customers holding empty glasses.

The surprising part was that even in places without dolls, sand-like compounds suddenly surged up in several spots from the ground, formed a human form, and poured champagne.

Perhaps this was quite an astonishing sight, as the murmuring from everywhere grew loud. It was to the point where there were even people freaking out, pointing fingers, and their hands trembling while saying it made no sense.

I didn’t know much myself, but it seemed an incredible technique had been incorporated that an industry person would recognize.

“And third is Prezen. This artificial intelligence is… a secret. It’s no fun if we reveal too much from the start, right? Something beyond that will be waiting, whatever you imagine, so please look forward to it.”

Sighs could be heard from the people at the word 'secret'. I flinched at the familiar name and narrowed my brow.

…It seemed too exquisite to be a coincidence.

“Come to think of it, I’ve only shown you the second’s skills, but I haven’t properly shown you the first’s skills yet. Let’s see!”

He said this while taking a stance as if about to snap his fingers.

“Let’s say there is an operation attempting to cause problems with the internal facilities or systems of this banquet Hall. Now, Casey will―.”

At that moment, the chilly shining cyan circle suddenly wavered and grew faint.

Delmore Meredith looked back in surprise at the anomaly that occurred before he had even sent the signal.

[Intruder detected, intruder detected.]

Simultaneously with the alert spat out by the prototype AI, all the lights flickered. There was a blinking field of vision, and a chill brushed down my spine.

I intuited it. What was meant to come had come.

This time it was real. I was certain!

“Huh? I haven’t yet…”

The next moment, behind the flustered Delmore Meredith’s back, a figure dressed in stealth garb slid down hanging upside down from the ceiling.

An intense single phrase covered all other noise like a lie amidst the murmuring banquet Hall.

“Do-mo. I am the New-Mecha Komuninja.”

“What!”

Delmore Meredith tried to turn his head, but it was already too late.

The Japanese sword had already sliced cleanly through his neck like cutting tofu and passed by. At the same time the Ladam’s head rolled lightly and fell, the Ninja made a soft landing onto the dais/platform and politely performed pressing palms together.

“I have appeared to deliver Communism to you gentlemen. Please cooperate.”