Yukino pressed the key fob.
The black Cadillac a short distance away lit up.
Yukino took a step forward, opening the passenger door.
She gestured for Yukima Azuma to get in.
Yukima Azuma blinked.
It felt like Yukino's attitude had changed a lot compared to when they first met.
Now, there was no longer any sense that she was treating him as a superior.
After all, if Yukino could satisfy her superiors, she wouldn't have been fired repeatedly like that.
The car left the underground parking garage.
The two of them headed to a factory located on the outskirts of Tokyo.
Upon arriving, the loud rumbling of machinery and the sound of people talking could be heard inside.
This was one of the relatively small factories that Laplace had acquired.
Previously, it produced rice cookers, and it still did, but the entire industrial chain had been completely reformed.
Even though it was a relatively small factory.
It employed around three to four hundred workers.
Along with the management team and sales staff who traveled around.
The factory had nearly six hundred people in total.
As the two of them got out of the car and walked toward the factory.
An elderly security guard at the entrance called out loudly:
"You two, what are you doing here? This is a factory, you can't enter freely."
Yukima Azuma smiled and walked up.
"Sir, we're with the company, here to check on the situation at the factory."
Hearing this, the elderly guard seemed half suspicious, half convinced.
"Is that so? You look so young, and you're saying you're with the company?"
"I just look young."
Yukino tapped lightly on Yukima Azuma's head.
This guy was really good at bragging.
Then, Yukino handed her business card to the security guard.
The elderly guard took a look at it, and couldn't help but exclaim.
"Well, well, it really is you two. You're quite impressive."
"A factory this big, if we don't work, a lot of people won't have food on the table."
Yukima Azuma smiled.
Yukino, on the other hand, seemed deep in thought.
The two walked into the factory.
The environment inside the factory was truly far from ideal.
Hot, with no sunlight.
But every worker they saw didn't look demoralized; they were only tired at most.
"Hey, Yukino, what do you think is the most common and enduring relationship between strangers in modern society?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
Yukino had already had an answer in her mind for a long time.
"Labor relationships."
"Then, just evaluating a business solely with money is unreasonable."
"Because we're using money to buy human relationships?"
"Exactly, once it clicks, Yukino, you really are a genius."
Yukino looked at the workers working diligently.
Being called a genius by a genius really felt somewhat strange.
After all, it was only when she had bought the factory and began hiring a large number of employees that she truly understood the reason Yukima Azuma spoke about spending money.
She was originally from the Yukinoshita family, which had long been wealthy from real estate, so it wasn't too surprising that she didn't understand these things.
But Yukino still felt a bit embarrassed.
Now, she finally understood Yukima Azuma's plan.
At the same time, she also had to admire his ambition.
"If it was just an investment, no matter how much money was on paper, there would still be people trying to resist."
"But if it involves thousands, even close to ten thousand jobs, anyone thinking of making a move would have to think twice."
Yukino looked around the factory, speaking about the benefits of buying human relationships.
"Yukinon-chan~, I'm tired of hearing the word 'genius' already."
Yukima Azuma chuckled smugly.
"Sasuga Azuma-sama, may I ask what comes next?" Yukino smiled slightly at the corner of her mouth. "You must have even bigger ambitions, right?"
She had seen Yukima Azuma's plan.
When the capital from Laplace Corporation's headquarters returned.
Or when the Japan branch started making substantial profits.
Next, they would continue expanding at all costs.
It was like walking a tightrope.
After this madness, there would certainly be even greater ambition.
Yukima Azuma paused when he heard Yukino's address.
Is this really Yukino!?
She's even joking now!
Incredible.
Yukima Azuma also wanted to show a bit of his own flair.
"Yukinon, do you know the benefits of doing business in a small country like Japan?"
This question made Yukino a little confused.
She really couldn't think of any particular advantage.
Benefits usually came from population size or cheap materials.
These were the typical industrial advantages of large countries.
Japan was small, its population wasn't too large, and it was agingthere didn't seem to be any advantages.
She thought for a long time, but couldn't come up with an answer.
So, Yukino decided to look directly at Yukima Azuma, waiting for him to answer.
When Yukima Azuma saw Yukino looking back at him, he snapped his fingers.
"The advantage is: A small country."
This answer, which seemed like a joke, made Yukino furrow her brows.
She didn't quite understand, so she continued waiting for Yukima Azuma to explain.
"One hint: Samsung for South Koreathat's the advantage of a small country, and it's something that could never happen in large countries."
This time, Yukino immediately understood.
She widened her eyes as she looked at Yukima Azuma.
Samsung, one of the pillar corporations of South Korea.
Last year, Samsung accounted for around 20% of South Korea's total trade profit.
Unlike 99% of companies around the world, which rely on government direction, Samsung has the power to somewhat influence the country's official decisions.
This is something that could never happen in large countries.
That was the advantage Yukima Azuma had been referring to.
Upon understanding the meaning behind this answer, Yukinoshita Yukino felt goosebumps rise on her skin.
The hairs on her body stood on end.
And at that moment...
Yukima Azuma clapped his hands, brushing away the feeling from Yukino's body.
"Of course, talking about these things now is just daydreaming."
"It's good to have dreams, but making them happen would definitely be troublesome."
"Let's work hard together, Yukinon-chan."
Yukino absentmindedly nodded.
...
The two of them toured for a while.
Then they drove to the next factory.
Throughout the day, they visited three factories.
Whether large or small in scale, the conditions inside were almost the same.
In the current era, many people in Japan were unemployed due to the collapse of the economic bubble.
Laplace Corporation seemed to hire many people.
But in reality, it was just a spoonful of water taken from a bucket.
It might cause a small ripple, but it couldn't create a big wave.
Under the cover of night, Yukinoshita Yukino drove towards Yukima's house.
"By the way, the people from the electronics division are really free right now."
Yukino suddenly mentioned the branch.
Laplace Electronics had only completed one project so far.
That was the White Album project.
Of course, the project had been very successful.
To date, global sales of White Album had surpassed a million copies.
A phenomenon in the galgame industry.
A huge sum of money had already landed in the company's account.
And it was foreseeable.
The company would be able to earn money from the IP of White Album in the future.
But...
"What are they so free for? They should be making plans! I didn't hire them just to sit around all day!" Yukima Azuma said uncomfortably.
It was outrageoushow could someone be hired and still be so idle!
— — — — — — — — — — —
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Chapter 104: Let the World Witness Megumi's Charm
Chapter 104: Let the World Witness Megumi's Charm
"Damn right! Just a bunch of second-rate programmers sneaking into Laplace Corporation, and they dare to slack off!"
Yukima Azuma sat in the car, loudly voicing his complaints.
Yukinoshita Yukino could only smile wryly.
Clearly, plenty of employee-friendly policies had already been established.
And yet, here he was, loudly making statements that could easily be misunderstood (like a demanding boss).
"Isn't it because you didn't make things clear? They're waiting for the plan for White Album 2."
Yukino calmly replied.
Anyone in the industry could see it.
White Album left a lot of loose ends, numerous clues that were deliberately unresolved.
It was obvious there would be a second part.
The first part told a university story.
But the second part was truly the main stage of galgame storytelling.
High school!
With the explosive phenomenon of the previous installment,
Merging the clues and youthful themes into the second part,
It nearly touched the hearts of every White Album fan.
Moreover, it drew in a large group of staff involved in the production of White Album.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma suddenly remembered he had completely forgotten about this matter.
"Umu, umu, the plan for White Album 2 will definitely need to be delayed for a while longer."
"Everyone has their own things to deal with; they can't drop everything just to focus on this."
Hearing this, Yukinoshita Yukino appeared thoughtful.
The two bishoujo in charge of the script and main illustrations were currently living at Yukima's house.
Yukino, of course, was aware of this.
After all, it had been a long time, and as the tenant, as well as a member of Laplace Corporation, she couldn't be unaware of such internal matters.
However, from Yukino's perspective,
The current work those two were handling shouldn't have been more important than the plan for White Album 2.
While Yukino was thinking this,
"Kasumigaoka-senpai is a talented novelist; she's currently busy with the next volume of The Metronome in Love. Word is, it will be the final installment."
"As for Eriri, she's a famous online illustrator with a huge fanbase. Because of White Album, she delayed releasing her Doujinshi and was chased down by fans for an explanation."
"They both have their own lives. Even though they came together because of me, I can't expect them to revolve entirely around me."
Yukima Azuma gently tapped his fingers on the car's armrest.
Yukino glanced at him.
Then slightly nodded.
"I understand. Tomorrow at work, I'll take on some tasks and assign them to electronics department."
Compared to money,
The young man sitting in the passenger seat clearly valued people more.
This was entirely different from others.
Normally, someone in Yukima Azuma's position
Would almost inevitably be swept into the current of capitalism, advancing relentlessly.
Like a snowball rolling on the ground, it could only grow bigger.
Once it stopped, it would only end in collapse.
But Yukima Azuma was different.
He wasn't swept away by any influence.
He only moved forward when he wanted to.
In the direction he chose, he advanced only when he decided to.
This was the result of his cheat-like abilities.
All one could say was:
He truly lived up to the name "Laplace Demon."
Such thoughts naturally arose in Yukino's mind.
The car slowly pulled into Yukima's garage.
"Moreover, I have something else to do right now."
Yukima Azuma spoke with a hint of resignation.
"What is it?"
Yukino's curiosity was piqued.
"Writing a light novel."
...
Yukima House.
Yukima Azuma immediately felt a gaze full of resentment fixed on him.
He gulped.
At that moment, the boy suddenly rememberedhe hadn't returned home last night.
Kasumigaoka Utaha glared at Yukima Azuma for a while.
But in the end, she said nothing.
If she were to scold him too much here, it might come off as excessive and suffocating.
On the contrary, it could provoke annoyance.
Kasumigaoka decided to note this down in her little black book.
She would settle the score another time.
"You asked me to contact Fujikawa Publishing, and I've had Machida arrange it. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon... Have you finished your first draft yet?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha sounded skeptical about Yukima Azuma's progress.
Lately, she had often seen him staring at his light novel manuscript, revising it repeatedly.
He had rewritten it countless times.
"Umm... I think it'll be ready in time."
"So, it's not done yet."
"Well, the deadline isn't here yet, so I still have time."
Kasumigaoka felt like Yukima Azuma was using a sarcastic tone with her.
But she had no proof.
"As for the content of the work, I can't help you with that. You're on your own."
Kasumigaoka waved her hand dismissively.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma chuckled softly and changed the subject.
"In July, there's going to be a rare, once-in-a-thousand-years comet. Let's go to Hokkaido to see it together."
Hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha blinked.
Hokkaido and stargazing.
That didn't sound bad.
Moreover, it was an invitation from him.
Her mood instantly improved.
"Sure, but there's been a lot of storms lately. We might not see the cometjust rain."
Kasumigaoka recalled recent weather forecasts and reminded him.
"Ah, this storm doesn't seem like it'll affect late June. The skies over Hokkaido might even be clearer then."
Yukima Azuma sounded optimistic.
Kasumigaoka Utaha said nothing further and simply nodded in agreement.
After that, Yukima Azuma hurried back to his room to continue revising his manuscript.
"The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine."
In fact, once the title for this light novel was decided,
The rest of the content became much easier to fill in.
The heroine was right beside him; Yukima Azuma was intimately familiar with her every word and gesture.
As for the plot of the light novel, that was even simpler to handle.
