--- MEI Corp, Massive Conference Room ---
Li Mu sat at the far end of a long table, wearing a pair of non-prescription glasses.
Leaning forward, his arms rested on the table, fingers interlaced and propped against his chin.
In front of him, every seat was occupied. MEI Corp's management sat upright, occasionally stealing glances at Li Mu out of the corners of their eyes.
The CEO of MEI Corp slowly raised his head, a cold glint flashing across his glasses. His voice echoed in the conference room.
"Everyone, there is something I need to tell you." Li Mu's gaze swept over everyone present as he said, "Just now, I embezzled several billion in funds."
As soon as the words were out, the already quiet conference room became silent enough to hear a pin drop. The executives barely dared to breathe.
"What do you all think?"
Hearing this, everyone present exchanged glances with their neighbors, but no one spoke.
Until one person stuck his neck out to break the silence.
It was a middle-aged man with meticulously groomed clothes but mostly balding hair.
"Mr. President, I feel that doing this is against regulations..."
Hearing this, Li Mu glanced at him and said:
"You truly are an honest person. Go to the finance department and settle your salary. You've been optimized."
The middle-aged man's face instantly turned pale. He hurriedly said, "Mr. President, I was just joking."
But the conference room door had already opened.
A pink-haired woman in a Defense Department uniform, with an ID badge hanging on her chest, led several Defense Department agents inside. They dragged him directly out of his seat.
Soon, with one less person in the conference room, the door closed again.
"Let's continue discussing the previous issue," Li Mu said. "I embezzled several billion in funds. What do you all think?"
This time, everyone sat up straight. Someone spoke up:
"Mr. President, this isn't an issue at all! It's just moving money from the left hand to the right. Every company does it. As long as the money is replenished within the specified time, there's no problem."
"Even if there is a problem, just bow and apologize, then find a temp worker to take the fall."
Li Mu took in everyone's reactions.
These people were executives from companies acquired by MEI Corp. Since MEI Corp was just a newly built framework with no personnel available yet, he had to use this old management to fill the gaps for now.
But the downside was that these people inherited their original interpersonal relationships. Various cliques were formed, relying on their so-called seniority to act high and mighty, even daring to breathe down his neck as the CEO.
They were seriously hindering his plan to build the St. Freya Academy City cluster!
Please, I hold almost 100% of the shares. Where do you get the courage to question me?
Naturally, Li Mu didn't tolerate those who dared to question him. He didn't know how many people he had fired during this period.
He thought his word was already law in MEI Corp, but unexpectedly, someone still dared to jump out.
Next, he needed to build the St. Freya Academy City cluster within a year, requiring absolute control over MEI Corp. At this critical juncture, if anyone dared to sing a different tune, he wouldn't mind throwing them into the Great Rift Valley of East Africa to grow bananas.
"In that case, let's find someone to take the fall!"
"The President is wise!"
...
In the darkness, Ryoma's consciousness was reviving.
Soon, Ryoma woke from his coma.
Before he could even notice where he was, a stinging pain in his neck made him suck in a cold breath.
"Hss... what happened... hmm?"
Clutching his neck, before he could check the source of the pain, his attention was drawn to his surroundings.
In front of him was a huge floor-to-ceiling window. Through the glass, he could see the distant urban area of Nagazora City. He even saw the Chiba Academy where his daughter was enrolled.
Retracting his gaze, he looked to both sides. The spacious room was decorated in a low-key but sophisticated manner.
Then, Ryoma looked down at what was in front of him.
It was a desk with stacks of documents. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught glimpses of confusing terms like "St. Freya Academy City Cluster," "Yae Grand Shrine," "Creation Engine - Wotan Mech Project," and "Controllable Earthquake Generator."
Finally, he looked at himself.
He was sitting in a soft leather executive chair. He wasn't wearing his plantation work clothes, but a perfectly ironed suit.
With his experience, he recognized it as some kind of custom-made high-end clothing.
Putting it all together, Ryoma realized he was now in an office. Judging by the layout, it was likely the office of a very important person.
"What happened before?"
Ryoma fell into recollection.
Soon, he remembered the events before he passed out.
Defeated at the pachinko parlor, falling into despair, then meeting that strange pink-haired woman.
Thinking she was someone similar to that strange Faded Elf, he wanted to exchange the rest of his life for some money.
And then... and then he didn't remember what happened.
"How did I faint?"
Clutching his stinging neck, Ryoma thought hard, but ultimately found no answer.
Unable to figure it out, Ryoma decided to leave first. This looked like a big shot's office, and he couldn't explain why he was here.
But just as he was about to get up from the executive chair, the office door opened.
A pink-haired woman wearing non-prescription glasses and a secretary's outfit walked in, holding documents in her arms.
Seeing the woman's appearance, Ryoma's eyes widened abruptly.
Although she wasn't wearing a mask, Ryoma recognized her immediately. She was the last person he saw before fainting, that suspicious pink-haired woman.
"You..."
Just as Ryoma spoke, the woman dressed as a secretary said, "President, you have a fund of 5 billion waiting to be processed."
Hearing Sakura's words, Ryoma's eyes widened. Pointing at himself, he said, "You... what did you call me?"
Sakura adjusted her glasses.
"President, this isn't the time for riddles. You need to process this fund as soon as possible."
"Stop joking. How could I be a President?" Ryoma stood up and ran towards the door in a panic. "I didn't mean to come in. I'm leaving right now."
Sakura didn't stop him, watching Ryoma run out.
After running out of the office, Ryoma headed for the exit of the MEI Corp office building. He felt this was a prank show, something not uncommon in the Far East.
But soon Ryoma discovered that the situation seemed different from what he thought.
Running out of the building, he encountered no obstruction. In fact, everyone he met along the way greeted him respectfully upon seeing him.
After running out of the building, Ryoma looked back and realized that this was the tallest landmark building in Nagazora City, but now it bore the large letters "MEI."
Ryoma suddenly began to doubt if this was really a prank. After all, renting an entire landmark building to prank him would cost an astronomical sum.
He even saw a huge projection on another building opposite, showing an interview record of himself!
"This... isn't the cost of this prank a bit too high?"
And when he saw 'himself' shaking hands and talking with dignitaries from the Far East and even the world in the video...
He knew that this might, possibly, perhaps, not be a prank.
At this moment, a notification came from his pocket. Subconsciously putting his hand in his pocket, he found a communicator with an incoming call notification.
Ryoma hesitated, but eventually answered it nervously.
"President, please stop joking. The entire MEI Corp needs your decision."
Ryoma's throat moved, and he replied hoarsely, "I'll be back soon."
Soon, Ryoma returned to that spacious office, sat at the desk, and saw the pink-haired woman dressed as a secretary again.
At this moment, he was finally sure that a miracle seemed to have happened to him.
Perhaps he had come to a parallel world!
Here, he wasn't a failure, not a father who disappointed his daughter, and certainly not a gambler, but a true success!
He would completely bid farewell to his past failed life and start anew.
Thinking of this, Ryoma swore in his heart.
Since he had a chance to start over, he would definitely make a clean break with his past failed life and be a successful father MEI could be proud of!
"Mr. President, there is a fund of 5 billion here waiting for your decision."
Sakura's words drew Ryoma's attention. He noticed a number.
"How much?!!"
"Mr. President, 5 billion."
Hearing this, countless banknotes floated in Ryoma's mind. Soon, these banknotes turned into clinking pachinko balls.
"With so much money, how many rounds can I play..."
Just as this thought rose in his mind, Ryoma shuddered.
SLAP!
Right in front of Sakura, Ryoma gave himself a fierce slap.
"Ryoma, you are already a successful person. You must break with the past. You have to be a father MEI is proud of!"
With this pep talk, the gambling urge rising in Ryoma's heart was suppressed. His mind became clear, seemingly devoid of joy or sorrow.
"Mr. President, please do not harm your own body."
"And, please decide the use of this 5 billion fund."
"Oh, right... right." Ryoma pretended to be calm and asked Sakura, "Do you have any recommendations?"
"Although as a secretary I shouldn't interfere with your decisions, according to the company's original plan, I suggest you invest the funds into the research and development of plasma weapons."
Ryoma knew he understood nothing about these business matters, so he prepared to follow Sakura's advice.
"Let's do as you say. Invest in the research of plasma weapons!"
Hearing this, Sakura nodded and prepared to leave.
Ryoma breathed a sigh of relief, leaning back in the executive chair. His gaze naturally turned towards the floor-to-ceiling window.
Looking through the glass, he saw the familiar streetscape. It wasn't far from his original home.
Further down that street was where MEI often bought groceries, and further still was a pachinko parlor...
Just as Sakura reached the door and was about to push it open to leave.
"Wait a moment!"
Sakura looked back in confusion.
"Mr. President, do you have any other orders?"
Ryoma gritted his teeth, his face extremely conflicted. Finally, he asked, "This money, I can use it freely, right?"
"Of course. After all, you are the President."
"Then, withdraw a portion for me. Not too much, just one million will do."
Sakura nodded.
"I understand. Your request will be completed shortly."
Watching Sakura leave, Ryoma's heart was a mix of regret and excitement.
In the end, the rising gambling urge suppressed the regret, leaving only excitement on his face.
"Now that I have so much money, even if I just smash them with cash, I can win once, right?"
"As long as I win once and achieve my life goal, I can quit pachinko completely. Yes... guidance is better than suppression."
Ryoma comforted himself like this, until...
BANG!!!
With a loud noise, the office door was pushed open.
Ryoma found the pink-haired secretary entering again, but this time her attire was completely different.
She wasn't wearing a secretary's outfit, but a capable Defense Department uniform.
Behind her, several Defense Department employees followed.
"Sakura, what are you doing?"
Just as doubt arose in Ryoma's heart, he saw the employees rush up and drag him out of the executive chair.
"What are you doing?" Ryoma struggled. "I am the President of MEI Corp! Are you trying to rebel?!"
To this, Sakura said expressionlessly, "Mr. President, your embezzlement of funds has been exposed. What awaits you is a period of prison life."
With that, ignoring Ryoma's reaction, she signaled the employees to drag him out of the office.
Embezzlement of funds?
Prison?
This opening isn't right, is it?
"Wait, I am the President! You can't treat me like this! You can't treat me like this!"
Just like that, Ryoma was dragged out of the MEI Corp building by several employees.
Suddenly, Ryoma's peripheral vision swept across the ground through the building's glass.
He saw MEI in the distance, currently chatting and laughing with someone who looked exactly like him.
His eyes widened abruptly. Struggling constantly, he shouted towards MEI's direction:
"GWAAH!"
"MEI, save me quickly! Save Daddy!"
Below the MEI Corp building, MEI, who was chatting and laughing with Li Mu, suddenly looked thoughtful and raised her head to look at the MEI Corp building.
However, the building's glass was one-way; MEI only saw a sheet of bright glass from the outside.
"What's wrong, MEI?"
MEI looked at the outside of the building for a while and found nothing abnormal.
So she shook her head and smiled, "Just now, I thought I heard Father calling me from inside."