Raiden Ryoma's imprisonment was necessary—it concerned the continuation of the subsequent plot.
But his current identity as MEI Corp's president Ryoma couldn't be discarded either—it concerned MEI Corp's construction, St. Freya's construction, and resolving the Third Eruption.
And for this multiple-choice question, Lucius's answer was naturally to choose all.
"The identity of MEI Corp's president can't be lost, but Raiden Ryoma also has to go to prison."
As for how to do it? Of course, he would continue serving as MEI Corp's president under Ryoma's identity while throwing Ryoma into prison to complete the plot check-in!
This way, it was a win-win situation for both sides.
However, since he was taking Ryoma's identity, he naturally had to give him some compensation... provided he could completely reform and become a productive young man.
Before that... let him continue receiving re-education in prison.
Although both meant going to prison, different prisons had completely different treatment. What kind of prison Ryoma could move into next depended on how much he had changed in these two months at the African plantation.
If he could really break his gambling and alcoholism habits, Lucius didn't mind arranging him into a prison comparable to a vacation hotel. Conversely, if he remained incorrigible, he didn't mind throwing him into those harsh environment prisons to pick up soap!
"However, he's been picking bananas at the African plantation for two months now. Having experienced the bitterness of life's beatings, he should have improved somewhat, right?"
As a character with a certain plot role, Lucius still hoped Ryoma could become normal—that would help him advance the plot later.
While thinking, Lucius took out his communicator and sent a message to his other good brother who was far away on the African continent, verifying certain things.
[Lu: Teacher V, the plan is moving to the next stage. Send Ryoma back.]
...
There was such a game—it didn't scam you for money, had no stat inflation, and no complicated recharge options.
Moreover, the benefits were excellent. You could claim 100 pulls just upon logging in.
Morning, noon, and night, you could each claim 100 pulls without even signing in. If you couldn't complete the day's tasks, not only was there no punishment, but you'd be rewarded with another 100 pulls.
So at this point, some friends might ask:
Bro, bro, is there really such a conscientious game? Where can I play such a conscientious game?
There is, brother, there is—it's in the limited-time return American nostalgia server.
Africa, Ethiopia.
At a newly developed plantation.
"Crack! ***!!!"
"Ahhh! Ahhhhh!!!"
Two black brothers holding whips cracked them loudly, lashing at Ryoma who was tied to a tree trunk.
Hearing Ryoma's hysterical wails, one black brother frowned and said to his companion somewhat reluctantly:
"Big brother, should we go easier? Don't actually kill him."
To this, the other black brother said nothing, only increasing the force of the whip in his hand, causing another round of wails from Ryoma.
After finishing that lash, he said to his companion with dissatisfaction:
"This guy not only doesn't work hard, takes every opportunity to slack off, but even tries to get other people in the plantation to gamble. He's corrupted the innocent young men from our tribe! Honestly, I've wanted to whip him for a long time!"
"But we can't beat him to death..."
"He won't die. This whip was given by Miss V. It's extremely painful but doesn't hurt people."
"And Miss V specifically instructed us not to hold back. Are you smarter than Miss V?"
Hearing the words "Miss V," the hesitation on the originally hesitant black brother's face instantly disappeared, replaced by some kind of worship mixed with awe.
Then the two no longer held back and vigorously beat Ryoma.
Soon, Ryoma, who hadn't completed his morning check-in, received his hundred-pull reward.
After the two black brothers released him, Ryoma lay on the ground wailing.
Ryoma was experienced with this. Although this whip didn't leave wounds on the body, the pain would linger for at least three days.
Feeling the burning pain coming from various parts of his body, tears rolled out of his eyes. A man of decent build now cried so helplessly.
"When will these days end... Mei, Dad misses you so much!"
Ever since being thrown onto this African continent by that woman calling herself the Faded Elf, he had been doing the work of an ox and horse at this strange plantation.
The owner of this plantation was called "Miss V," and she was particularly "caring" toward him. At least apart from himself, he had never seen anyone else whipped, as if only he was stuck in this limited-time returning nostalgia server.
Ryoma vaguely felt that all of this seemed to be targeting him.
He just had itchy hands and wanted to gamble a little with others in the plantation to cultivate some sentiment, but ended up tied to a tree trunk and severely beaten.
How bad was this Miss V!
Moreover, he was a scientist. Couldn't the knowledge in his head create more value? Why treat him like an ox and horse?
Ryoma didn't understand, but he only felt his future was pitch black.
However, if asked whether there were any benefits to coming here, there probably were some.
At this time, he was actually much more spirited than when he came here. His body, which had become thin from alcoholism, had even become much more robust.
After all, at this plantation, after working all day picking bananas, physically and mentally exhausted, there was no opportunity to gamble or drink. He could only sleep on schedule.
With such regular routines, three meals on time and in quantity, even with heavy daily labor, he had become much more robust after two months.
Even his vitality was completely different, without any of his former decrepit appearance.
Feeling the pain in his body, Ryoma knew that according to past experience, no one would come to disturb him for half an hour after being beaten.
Having labored all morning and then been beaten, Ryoma's drowsiness quickly surged up.
Soon, his consciousness became blurred.
Vaguely, he seemed to hear an ethereal voice.
"Will you gamble in the future?"
Ryoma hesitated, but under the stimulation of the pain that hadn't dissipated from his body, he still subconsciously answered:
"I won't gamble anymore, I won't gamble anymore."
"Will you be a responsible good father in the future?"
This time Ryoma didn't hesitate and immediately answered:
"I will definitely be a good role model and make Mei proud of me!"
...
In his sleep, Ryoma felt someone shaking him. In a daze, he opened his eyes to see a mouthful of white teeth, followed by a dark black face behind the teeth.
This black brother, seeing Ryoma wake up, said: "Bro, you're awake?"
Hearing this, Ryoma's body trembled and he immediately got up.
"I wasn't slacking off, I'll go work right away, don't whip me!"
He recognized this black brother as one of the plantation's overseers who had whipped him plenty in the past.
However, this guy who was usually fierce now had quite a gentle expression and was carrying a briefcase.
Seeing Ryoma wake up, he reached into his briefcase.
But what he took out wasn't the whip that made Ryoma's heart race, but a sealed document envelope.
"Mr. Ryoma, although our time together hasn't been very pleasant, I regret to inform you that you've been let go."
Looking at the document envelope he handed over, Ryoma was stunned before showing confusion.
"Huh?"
"Inside is your salary for these two months, plus severance pay."
Seeing the confusion on Ryoma's face, he explained:
"We purchased engineering robots specifically for picking bananas from MEI Corp. They only need to sunbathe to survive."
"The rest of the people went for technical transformation training, and some went to the newly developed banana byproduct company. We don't need so many people anymore."
"So, I regret to inform you that you've been dismissed."
"This is your salary. We're a legitimate conscientious enterprise and won't short you a penny."
Hearing this, Ryoma's body shook, then shook again.
He pointed at his face in disbelief.
"I can leave?"
Regarding Ryoma's repeated confirmation, the black brother carrying the briefcase also looked somewhat impatient.
"If you don't want to leave, you can continue working, learning mechanical operation and maintenance, though there's no salary during training, but food and lodging are provided."
"No! No no!! I'm leaving, I'm leaving right now!!!"
...
Not until walking out of the plantation and feeling the bulging envelope in his hand did Ryoma confirm he wasn't dreaming.
He thought of the clanging pachinko machines on Nagazora City streets.
He thought of his gentle, homemaking daughter, thought of that happy little home he had missed so much in his dreams.
Thinking about it, Ryoma's tears couldn't stop falling.
He wiped his tears, his voice carrying a sob.
"The good days are finally coming back."
---
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