Chapter 6: Determination

Words: 2,203

...

Alexander Luthor did everything imaginable on the path to prosperity for his business, and murder wasn't the worst of it.

Even the world's best hacker wouldn't find direct evidence against him.

However, Cortana was able to make the connection between the "strange" deaths of business owners whose companies "LexCorp" had taken over.

Lex used families and hidden threats to blackmail powerful people, and many of those he blackmailed were far from saints.

Cortana correctly identified him as an ambitious individual who didn't care about anyone else.

"But these types of people often achieve the most."

I commented and pondered what I had heard.

"That's true."

Cortana confirmed.

"He's also a bit egotistical, and the information gathered shows that he's quick to seek revenge when he feels he won't suffer any losses. He also doesn't care about losses if they don't touch his reputation."

Cortana added.

"Yes, he seems like that. We need to deal with him without giving him a second chance. He's a genius and one of the most dangerous villains in this world because of his intellect and his ambitions."

"By the way, speaking of the latter, what do you want to do?"

Cortana asked casually.

"I... heh, it seems my brother and I have some things in common."

I said this while thinking about the answer to her question.

"I want to live peacefully without fearing that 'Superboy' or other beings of similar power will come after me or that they want to take control of me... In the end, it all comes down to power, which is also ambition."

"Ambition isn't bad. They are often the fuel that keeps people moving forward."

Cortana said.

"I understand and accept that."

I said this while standing up and walking to the window.

We lived on the ground floor of a multi-story building. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for Lena to come down and go up.

"That's why our goal is LexCorp."

"It's very reasonable to steal from thieves. Well, considering that he abandoned you, it's normal... Tony, did I hurt your feelings?"

Cortana asked with a bit of concern.

"You're more human than other people, do you know that?"

I looked at her avatar on the table.

"No, you didn't hurt me. It's a fact, so I understand. He abandoned us and doesn't care about what happens to us, so it's normal if we take from him what he's worked on for years. I don't like the idea, but it's mostly better for Lena."

"Yeah, that rich guy deserves it."

Cortana nodded.

"But... I've never done anything like this before. Or rather, I haven't done anything at all... I literally appeared before you. So what should we do?"

"Can you take control of all of his communications, like gaining access to his email, phone, and so on?"

"Do you even need to ask? Done."

Cortana snapped her fingers playfully, and the laptop screen dimmed for a moment.

"This laptop's power is quite low..."

"I have another one."

I took out the card of the laptop I received through Gacha, and a new massive laptop was on the table.

"Yes, this is better."

Cortana nodded, and a few seconds later, I was reading all the emails, listening to calls, and gaining access to the office cameras. 

There was also a lot of security around all of these cameras which shows how much Lex values his privacy.

There were no cameras in his office at all, but I managed to find the right amount of information.

Lex had interactions with only Mercy Graves who is his right-hand woman. It's strange that he trusts her with his protection.

Cortana confirmed a lot of information about Mercy, including that she has a lot of experience and is a good bodyguard.

The thought of killing my "brother" made me feel bad, but knowing what he could do and that he would destroy us with Lena without hesitation woke me up.

Lex has a meeting with some investors on the second of the following month that he also blackmails.

It would be good to do business with him right afterward so that the investors would be suspicious.

Luthor is the sole owner and shareholder of the company.

After his death, the company's rights will go to his closest relatives, Lena and me.

This date is still a few days away and is currently the twenty-eighth.

Anyway, the opportunity to buy Gacha Points changes every first day of the month.

That means I should have another chance to buy a hundred points the day after tomorrow because I got Gacha today and missed the first day of this month.

I asked Cortana not to invade the most secure places on the planet for now and went to spend time with Lena.

We decided to watch a comedy on her laptop, and I prepared snacks for us.

"She fell asleep."

I stated the obvious after an hour and a half since the movie started.

Lena was lying next to me, and she put her head on my shoulder and fell asleep.

I carefully picked up the girl and put her stroller next to her bed.

A lot of exciting things happened today, like my assimilation, meeting a cosmic being, and getting Gacha with Group Chat.

I opened the chat and noticed that the previously silent chat participant started talking to Rias.

She was looking for information about house elves and ignored the Group Chat all day because of this.

MissKnowItAll: Demons don't exist, at least not like the ones you described. I read about dementors, and they are also called demons.

Rias Gremory: So they hide very well.

MissKnowItAll: Don't talk nonsense. Is this some kind of Weasley joke? Surely, those pranks again...

MissKnowItAll: Dimensional Chat even sounds silly... How could several worlds be connected in this way? This is not scientific!

Rias Gremory: A person of science? You said you're a witch and probably not from my world. So miracles shouldn't be something new to you, so why don't you believe in this?

MissKnowItAll: This is different.

Anthony (Administrator): Welcome, "MissKnowItAll," to our Group Chat. I can assure you that this is not a prank by the Weasley brothers or anyone else from your school. Do you remember when you received a letter from Hogwarts—that feeling of wonder and magic? What did you think about magic before that? It's probably all fairy tales and fiction just like an ordinary person would say. You're a witch and most people think that beings like you are fiction. So why shouldn't something else like this exist?

MissKnowItAll: How do you know about Hogwarts?! It's definitely the Weasleys!

Anthony (Administrator): I doubt the Weasleys would come up with something like this. I know about you as much as I know about Rias's world. That is you are from fictional works in my world. That's why I understood who you are by mentioning the Weasleys. Apparently, you really like to read in reality, right?

MissKnowItAll: Of course, I like to read, and books are a source of knowledge. Let it be known to you that using my old and offensive nickname is not funny at all!

Anthony (Administrator): The member's name was added automatically. You can change it by scrolling through the chat above. I gave instructions to Rias there.

MissKnowItAll: Changed name to "Hermione Granger."

Hermione Granger: Thank you.

Rias Gremory: What is Hogwarts?

Anthony (Administrator): It's a school of witchcraft and wizardry for wizards living in Great Britain and Ireland. It's one of the best schools in the world, but the security there is so bad.

Hermione Granger: Don't say bad things about my school!

Anthony (Administrator): Are you saying it's not true? A troll in the first year? A basilisk in the second? How many times could you have died in this "safe" school?

Rias Gremory: That sounds dangerous.

God's Tongue: Changed name to "Erina Nakiri"

Erina Nakiri: Do you have magical food? Vegetables, fruits?

Anthony (Administrator): I guess you've already prepared everything with berries?

Erina Nakiri: Yes! I managed to make four different dishes, and the taste became even better with these berries! Here you can send items, so here it is.

Erina Nakiri: Sent items by mail to participants: Anthony (Administrator), Rias Gremory, Hermione Granger, and Shinoa Hīragi.

I noticed the notification and clicked on the received item. It turned out to be a Panna Cotta with berries.

The moment I selected it, a plate with a neatly arranged dish appeared in front of me.

A sharp pleasant smell hit my nose, and I was even stunned for a second.

"Did you just use 'Gacha'?"

Cortana asked while clearly noticing the plate appearing before me.

She was probably watching the room through the laptop camera, and I put the nanosuit back into the Gacha inventory.

"You could say that. There's also a Dimensional Group Chat where you can communicate with people from different worlds."

I nodded.

"Informative."

I only heard a voice from the holographic projector, and she is probably monitoring Lex right now.

"Mmm..."

I barely restrained myself from letting out a full moan when I tasted it... It really was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten.

After all, I only took a piece of the main dish with the berry.

Anthony (Administrator): This is the most delicious thing I've ever eaten. Thank you Erina.

Erina Nakiri: I received a reward from the Croup Chat for a hundred Chat points!

Anthony (Administrator): For sending your dishes?

Erina Nakiri: Yes...

Anthony (Administrator): Check your Dimensional Store, maybe there's something that can enhance your talents?

Erina Nakiri: Indeed, it says here that I can buy something that will significantly improve my culinary skills! It's called the "Master of Cooking" talent! It costs a thousand Points, and I only have a hundred and twenty-five points. You know, I'm not even surprised that something like this exists.

Rias Gremory: I also have a lot of useful stuff in the store, and it's just a shame that everything is so expensive... By the way, Anthony-kun, what you sent me... is it all serious? I compared it with what's happening, and I have about five months before everything that happened there begins.

Anthony (Administrator): You can just call me Tony. And most likely, that's exactly how it all went down.

Erina Nakiri: Are you talking about the High School DxD plot? I watched only the first hour. It's very embarrassing. Do you really like to sleep naked?

Rias Gremory: Yes, I don't like sleeping in clothes and just looking at myself from the outside.

Anthony (Administrator): Is it disappointing? I can understand you. But that's why the Group Chat changes the future. Now you know what will happen in the near future and what you will do?

Rias Gremory: I don't even know; I was weak in that version. I never looked at my actions from the outside. Tony-kun, can you honestly tell me your opinion about me?

Anthony (Administrator): Honestly? You're a very beautiful, kind girl... always living in luxury under the wing of your family and brother. You have tremendous potential comparable to your brother's, maybe even higher, but you're not using it. You're perfectly capable of defeating the same Rooster of Fire on your own, but you're trying to find additional people for your pair without taking care of yourself and the team.

Rias Gremory: Do you really think I can?

Anthony (Administrator): Who if not you? You have the power of Destruction! Take ideas from the same manga or anime! I can give you some ideas on how to train your strengths if you want. I'm more than sure you can do it.

...

[Rias' POV]

A girl with red hair and tears running down her face sat in the occult research club close to Kuoh Academy.

After learning about the owner of Longinus the Welsh Dragon.

I immediately wanted Issei as my peer, but somehow I managed to calm down and stop myself.

I had to admit that no matter how smart I was, I lacked experience and often acted too impulsively.

I realized this after watching a part of her world.

I looked at myself from the outside, and it was a surreal experience for me, but I quickly accepted it and began to notice the details.

I tried to imitate my friend Sona Sitri, who always beat me at chess.

I watched as my possible future "self" received such a strong pawn from my peer.

I could understand why she was so desperate to cling to him because he was my last hope but I now understood that it was foolish to think so.

I could perfectly understand my mindset at such a moment when the wedding was just around the corner.

Now that I have talked with Tony Kun, I can say he is my new friend, but I didn't immediately believe in "Otherworlds."

I realized that I had never done anything to achieve my goal.

I never trained until I felt like it and didn't give it my all.

After reading Anthony's message which was a little hurtful but honest, I understood that it was time to take charge of my own life.