The Evil Scientist is Too Competent

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“Divine Spirit—? Where are you—?”

Aita, the self-proclaimed scientist who came from Evilus, began to prance around with a playful attitude, glancing left and right. Liu Boss furrowed her brow slightly and glared at him.

“…Since you’re here as a guest, I should treat you properly.”

“Eh? Ahh—it’s fine. I didn’t come here for tea or anything.”

“No. We can’t neglect a guest who comes to our center. As a host, that’s simply unacceptable.”

“Hmm… Now that you mention it, I guess that makes sense?”

Since it was a perfectly reasonable remark, Aita willingly stood up and followed Liu Boss. She led him to a place farthest from the altar. In other words, to where her main business, the Spiritual Center, is located.

Inside the center, numerous customers were already meditating, sitting in various postures. The center’s employees were moving around, providing guidance on meditation, while a little farther away, a café buzzed with people relaxing and studying.

“Meditation and a café… It’s all over the place.”

“…Do you not know what kind of place our center is?”

“I don’t know. Do I really need to know that?”

With Aita deliberately poking fun, Liu Boss frowned slightly but explained the center’s identity.

“Our center is a place that stabilizes the minds and bodies of tired modern individuals, helping them focus. It’s frequently visited by students preparing for exams, businessmen facing major investments, and young runaways or mothers experiencing family conflicts.”

“Is all that thanks to the Divine Spirit?”

“…It’s the power of feng shui and various superpowers.”

“Come on, you don’t have to hide it like that.”

*Phew, ha.*

After a light deep breath, Aita realized Liu Boss’s words were true, and that the effects she mentioned weren’t just psychological. There was indeed something mysterious imbued within this space, providing those present with physical and chemical comfort. Even those who would normally pick on others outside would become well-behaved guests and enjoy the air and atmosphere here once they arrived.

‘Talking about feng shui is a stretch.’

People seemed to think that the Spiritual Center hired special superhumans to create these effects, but that wasn’t the case at all. There was no way a being with such powers would be content merely running a center like this.

If one thought about how the cities similar to City H and the antics of their companies unfolded, the truth would become clear. They brainwashed their own citizens to employ people at the cheapest wages in the world, and voraciously captured the consumer goods market with that low-cost labor.

Ignoring the fact that workers might lose a limb or two from industrial accidents was just the cherry on top.

‘Still, it’s hard to imagine that someone could become a ruler of a city with just this…’

Of course, it was still a remarkable business. Was it really possible for so many people to be practicing yoga in broad daylight on a weekday? This place isn’t even that conveniently located.

In other words, it meant that people were willing to spend their time and effort coming here without regret. And any business capable of gathering this many people, regardless of what it was, would be regarded as a lucrative venture.

However, that only equated to a medium-sized company. It couldn’t hold a candle to other giant corporations battling globally.

“Isn’t there a business for VIPs?”

“Of course! I can’t show you because you’re not a VIP.”

“Well then, I’ll just become a VIP.”

With that, Aita rummaged through his pockets. He then pulled out another business card. One of the fake identities he had gained while spreading AI. Specifically, it was an enhanced version of an existing identity.

[CEO of Laémon Investment Company]

Laémon

“…What’s this?”

“You’ve heard of it, right? It’s one of the companies I run as a hobby.”

“Hobbies…?”

Since the AI incident, there had emerged a company yielding ridiculous results unparalleled by any other investment or financial firm. They continuously succeeded in bold investments that no human would typically dare to make with enormous sums of untraceable origin, instantly establishing themselves in the world rankings of businesses.

Could it be that the identity of this company was just one of Evilus’s hobbies? Everyone knew that Evilus’s technology was extraordinary. Just look at the AI they boldly distributed with their name stamped on it. Months had passed since its spread, and still, no software with similar performance had emerged.

“…How much is the investment?”

“Shall we start with something light, like 10 billion dollars?”

“10 billion dollars… 1…”

You must never accept that.

That’s a whisper from the devil, a poisonous chocolate left behind by the enemy.

Even while knowing that fact, Liu Boss couldn’t reject the offer extended by the man before her.

At that moment, her company was not only in grave danger but also staggering due to various slanders piling up. While knowing it was a deception, and recognizing it was a trap, she was in such a desperate situation that she couldn’t refuse it…

“Ah, shall we go inside and discuss? VIP guest?”

Eventually, she put everything down and smiled at Aita.

Her once forceful tone had disappeared into the distance.

* * *

Liu Boss, who brought him to the interview room, began brewing the tea herself. Shortly after, she set down a cup of tea that was undeniably luxurious, far beyond comparison with the instant coffee they had before by just the aroma alone.

“It’s a specialty from City N that you can’t buy even with money now.”

“You can’t buy it even if you pay?”

“Yep. The Eternal Tree has been completely chopped down.”

With a bitter smile, Aita sipped the tea. Even a complete tea novice like me could tell that it was exquisite to the point where sweetness would elicit an exclamation of delight. To think this flavor would no longer be obtainable? It would be a thunderbolt to those who usually relished this taste.

However, regardless of feeling sorry for them, I couldn’t help but smile broadly while looking at Liu Boss before me.

Sensing my gaze, she immediately began discussing business.

“As you mentioned, our company’s main business is a different matter.”

“It’s using that Divine Spirit, right?”

“…Yes. Other companies’ bosses might not acknowledge it, but the power of the Divine Spirit is indeed real.”

I knew very well that the existence of Divine Spirits was real, and what their powers were, since I had experienced it firsthand.

Perhaps aware of this, Liu Boss began to glance nervously toward me. But was there something more urgent? She quickly got to the point.

“What we do is simple. It’s a kind of ritual.”

“A ritual.”

“Would it be easier to understand if I say we pray for the success of your business?”

Upon hearing that, I could grasp what they were doing. It was akin to a shamanistic practice.

I had heard such things were common on Earth, where shamans would pray for business success.

To think there was a similar practice in this world was astonishing.

“We perform rituals to ensure businesses succeed, and in return, we take a portion of the profits from successful businesses. That’s our main business.”

“Hmmm… Sounds like you’re going to fight not to give it.”

“That won’t happen. If a business fails, we don’t receive payment, and they quickly realize that we have no influence over their business’s rise and fall.”

In fact, it was said there were several individuals who, in trying to avoid payments, ended up losing everything—including their existing wealth—when their business failed. Hearing that, I thought it was quite a well-crafted business idea.

In reality, Liu Boss didn’t do anything at all. They simply sit back and pray for someone’s success, and when they see that person succeed, that’s the end. It’s a business that just sits around collecting piles of money.

Of course, such a psychic business wouldn’t fare well. Most likely, the earnings would only suffice for a person to live off for a lifetime… that is assuming the Divine Spirits didn’t exist.

‘With the power of the Divine Spirits, every company that entrusts their prayers to them will undoubtedly succeed, and as people start to gather, more and more will turn to these superstitions…’

I couldn’t even imagine how many companies the Spiritual Center was involved with or how much they would receive. Just looking at how they managed to ascend to the level of twenty-six large corporations in such a parasitic business structure was jaw-dropping.

“─Alright, I happen to have a place I want to invest in, and I’d like to wish them success.”

“Aha, I see. I’ll fetch the contract.”

“Before that— I want to meet the Divine Spirit.”

“…Well, that, um…”

“Is that not possible?”

I twirled my pen cursorily in front of the contract. Liu Boss’s eyes seemed to flicker at the vision of 10 billion dollars. After a brief moment of contemplation, she cautiously spoke up.

“P-please follow me…”

A short while later, I followed her to the place with the altar, standing quietly in front as she began a prayer.

“Oh Divine Spirit, another soul in need of your power has come to seek you…”

“Please, Divine Spirit.”

I smiled widely while gazing at the altar. Moments later, something indescribable began to sneak out from the altar.

All I could describe was that it was radiantly white. It locked eyes with me. I couldn’t tear my gaze away and exchanged looks with the Divine Spirit.

‘This is a Divine Spirit…’

While I peered into the Divine Spirit, it seemed the Spirit was doing the same toward me.

A silent reconnoitering between us.

An unexpressable, lengthy exchange of interaction ensued.