The Reality of Militia

“They call it a Private Security Service, but isn’t it really just a promotion for their Mercenary Business? They say they’ll protect you, save you, wherever you are... but that also means they can kill you wherever you are! And they say that ridiculous security service specializes more in dirty, bloody work like Strike, Destruction, Assassination, and Spy operations, rather than Escort operations.”

It was surprisingly similar to what I felt. I didn’t know the Militia Private Security Service specialized in dirty, bloody work; I just felt uneasy because of old memories.

“It’s already been over ten years since Militia International, one of the world’s top Military-industrial Corporations and the biggest Beneficiary of the Corpo War, entered the Dusk Mercenary Industry. At first, everyone was negative. Even with Militia’s overwhelming technology and elite combat personnel, most predicted they’d bleed if they rashly stepped into the tangled mercenary industry of this vast, complex city—a Pandemonium teeming with all sorts of gangs and skilled Ronin.”

The history of Militia and how they first entered the mercenary industry was new to me.

Information about Megacorps was notoriously hard to find. There was an Information Lock on Lower Class residents, and since these were matters of the Upper Echelons, high above the clouds, it was impossible to grasp their true nature.

More than anything, everyone kept quiet about such topics, both online and offline.

And for good reason; it was a world where corporate censorship and control were commonplace. You had to be careful with every word, every line of chat.

You could truly be dragged away without a trace.

One mistake, and you could find white and black-suited cyborg corporate soldiers lined up at your doorstep. Wasn’t the mere thought terrifying?

I’d actually seen something similar happen to a neighbor on the Lower Floor; just watching from a distance gave me goosebumps. I didn’t know what mistake they’d made to end up like that, but it taught me a lesson to always be careful with my Demeanor.

In that sense, should I call Mr. Self-proclaimed Sherlock Holmes brave, or say he has guts of steel, for speaking so freely about Militia, the second-ranked corporation in Dusk and a colossal Military-Industrial Complex?

“However, the results were shocking. With aggressive strategies that unhesitatingly employed cutting-edge Strategic Weapons, all sorts of combat cyborg and android Agents, and even deployed Special Forces, the Militia Private Security Service firmly established itself in the mercenary industry. They didn’t just establish themselves in a short period; they encroached upon the mercenary industry at such a terrifying pace that they were even called Ecosystem Disruptors! Now, it’s hard to find a corner of that market where Militia’s hand hasn’t reached.”

Wow. Hearing such specific information about Militia, which I only knew as a terrifying Megacorp, was quite new. And the mercenary industry, no less.

Indeed, when doing missions in the game, I’d unusually often encounter Security Agents in Militia uniforms. They were all Dangerous Units with glowing red indicators of high combat power, and the guides explicitly stated not to provoke them before a certain Appropriate Level, and to avoid Hostile Missions involving them.

In the game, with free Save/Load, and overpowered features like Item Farming and XP Acquisition, they weren’t difficult opponents once you had the right specs. But reality was different.

With no Player-controlled protagonist, they were the absolute rulers of the industry, Dusk City’s strongest Mercenary Organization. And there was no protagonist in this World. I’d looked hard, and I was sure.

At least, there was no trace of the character I’d designed. It seemed its very existence had been erased. Not that it was surprising, given that I, the Player, had been dropped naked onto the Street.

Thinking about it again, it was a shame. If I’d been given even one of those overpowered character abilities, I wouldn’t have to live such a wretched life now.

Militia, Megacorps—I wouldn’t have anything to fear... well, maybe not *nothing*. I’d still be reluctant to deal with Megacorps carelessly. But at least I would have avoided becoming a test subject or a corporate slave like some people.

While I was lost in such fantasies, my mouth watering with regret, Mr. Self-proclaimed Sherlock Holmes was still chattering away enthusiastically.

“Furthermore, Militia’s ambition wouldn’t possibly end with just the mercenary industry. It’s an open secret, but Militia was also the one who spearheaded the Police Department Privatization of the DCPD several years ago by leveraging their accumulated influence in the underworld to deal a major blow to the City Police, and simultaneously, they secured a significant portion of the Police Department Shares using that as an excuse!”

I flinched, startled by what I heard.

This was something I absolutely, completely didn’t know. The DCPD was privatized? And its shares were transferred to corporations?

And a significant portion of those shares belonged to Militia. It’s one problem after another. No wonder I felt a terrifying chill and unease every time I underwent a Stop-and-Frisk; there was a reason for it all.

This is why the city was such a mess. The police, who were supposed to be responsible for public safety, had become a private corporation driven by money. The rumor that the City Police’s response time to calls depended on the amount paid to the Police Department wasn’t just an idle tale.

Unconsciously, I found myself listening intently to the Detective Sir, who was suspiciously knowledgeable about Militia, and I asked.

“Is that true?” “Of course! Watson, I never lie. It’s not even that old; it happened just five years ago. If you don’t believe me, ask the other Guardians. They’ll know it’s true.”

Was I ignorant? Despite having been a Chef who often conversed with Chairmen at high-end Hotel Restaurants, my information network was worse than a neighborhood Bar Bartender's or even this Troublemaker Detective's.

Then again, these people had lived here their whole lives, while I’d only been here for half a year. Perhaps it was already remarkable that we could communicate this much. It was like I was catching up on a nearly century-long gap in such a short time.

As I rationalized and scratched my head, it was then.

“You can tell just by the name of the famous MILI-TAC (MILItian Special TACtical Unit), the Police Department Special Tactical Unit composed solely of High-Ranking Officers, all of whom are Patrol Officer rank or higher and have Body Modification Level 6 as a basic requirement. Doesn’t it seem like the Police Department’s strongest Subordinate Armed Group had a lot of influence from a specific corporation right from its inception?!”

Ah, this much I did know. I remembered frequently encountering MILI-TAC in the late game.

Their patterns were so annoying that I had to retry the same sections countless times, so the memory was still vivid in my mind. I’d complained endlessly about how it wasn’t even normal difficulty.

I’d just thought of them as a police special forces unit protecting important corporate facilities, but they had a close connection to Militia.

No wonder they were suspiciously strong bastards when I played the game. Even after matching the Appropriate Level, I had to repeat Save/Load dozens of times, scour guides, and control with all my might just to barely clear them; they were severely difficult.

Especially those Elite Units—I remember them shouting something as they turned my character into a rag dozens of times.

“Meta. *META*.”

It suddenly came to mind, and I mumbled it softly. It was definitely like that. They’d spout proud lines like “Metaforce” or “You can’t survive once you’ve met us,” with subtitles full of self-importance.

Today, old memories kept coming back. All were related to the Original Game, of course. If only I hadn’t played that damn game, tsk.

“...!” While I was lost in thought, the Self-Proclaimed Holmes beside me suddenly gasped and started looking around.

Though not as much as when I served the Fallen Angel earlier, his pupils dilated, and he was clearly surprised. Only after confirming that no one else was paying attention to us did he sigh in relief, patting his chest.

“Hmph... I have to admit it. I may be something, but you, Watson, have truly remarkable confidence. To speak so boldly of MILI-TAC Top Secret. I was quite startled. What if someone had overheard? Even if this place is protected by the Dragon’s Blessing.”

*...What?* Whether I was bewildered or not, the Troublemaker Detective shook his head, his thick arms crossed.

“Do you mean to say you’re confident you can handle it even if you’re caught... Ha. You’re a far more formidable individual than I thought, Watson. Indeed, you are quite qualified to be the Assistant to this Detective Sherlock Holmes.”

Handle what? MILI-TAC Top Secret? Did I mishear?

For a moment, my brain stopped working, then I belatedly gaped.

My mind went blank. If that Detective Yangban wasn’t joking...

Perhaps I had just said something I shouldn’t have.

“Come to think of it, your feigned ignorance about the relationship between the DCPD and Militia must have all been acting earlier. Knowing such intimate details, there’s no way you wouldn’t know simple facts like the Police Department Privatization. Were you testing my knowledge? Ha, you got me there.”

Mr. Self-proclaimed Sherlock Holmes, who seemed so delighted, chattered on even more enthusiastically. Cold sweat trickled down my back at the sight of him, as if he had a motor in his mouth. This was incredibly ominous.

*...I probably shouldn’t talk about this topic anymore.*