[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 157

No one denies Kaiser Corporation is the Black Market’s largest firm.

But ask what moves this city, and it’s not “Kaiser” but capital. Holding 20% of shares is supreme but far from a majority.

Some economists say we live in a democracy under capitalism.

Democracy needs a parliament.

Civilized academies built their own. Since the First Ecumenical Council, Trinity General Academy maintained the Tea Party system for centuries. Gehenna tried defying history, but democratization followed the former student council president.

D.U.’s Administrative Committee and board-like General Office exist, but even they claim “democracy.” Millennium Science School and Red Winter Federal Academy’s dictatorships are exceptions.

Failing to keep pace with the times, clinging to outdated forms, ensures eventual collapse.

Long ago, firms formed the Black Market’s city and nation. We have a parliament, active and alive. The glass palace where people gather, called the stock market.

One share, one vote. Companies are ready to do anything to gather votes.

They huddle in the exchange, waiting for the market to open, their fates rising and falling. No one questions why stocks fluctuate.

Isn’t that the hand of God at work?

Our city adopted a bicameral system. The stock market is the lower house; the board of presidents and chairmen is the upper house. It allocates quarterly budgets, nominates sheriffs, and decides how to handle bankrupt firms.

Approval or rejection is determined by share volume. No matter how much you issue or raise stock value, market cap has limits. The Black Market’s market cap is public, and shares equal power.

Last session’s 21.8%—the myth of supremacy—was built on that weight.

A majority isn’t needed. Small firms with decimal shares, fearing dismissal, align with one side. With Tokyo gone, Kaiser and Nephthys split the board.

If opinions align, resolutions pass easily. If they differ, a cold war begins.

Sides form and shift, and the balance tilts. One side loses, facing internal audits based on severity, while the other flaunts victory.

This session has major issues. Trinity recovered and hit its peak. Naturally, those predicting Kivotos’s two major academies—conservative cities don’t recognize Millennium as major—would fall are swept away.

The storm from Styria Arms’ bankruptcy lingers. Only six of the top 30 firms survived.

Tokyo’s once-praised boxy headquarters became its nightmare, so those failing to adapt to the changed ecosystem must choose: lick the boots of the two giants or stand tall.

—But what we truly fear isn’t economic hardship, but the despair and resignation to it…

…Or so I thought five minutes ago.

The economy is an unpredictable dragon; panics shift power dynamics. Normally, ants swarm the boardroom to replace fallen masters.

What’s this? Did someone sweep the ants before the session? Not one in sight.

“…Unexpected.”

I bet wrong for once. Stocks are falling, and my mood’s sour. Tsk, I lit a cigarette.

“Isn’t smoking banned here?”

Huh?

A new voice made me turn, searching for its delicate owner. I met the eyes of a girl covering her nose.

In an era where Black Market presidents are beasts, robots, humans, or even AI, a student with no social experience running a company is unheard of.

Unaware of my doubts, the blue-eyed girl smiled and offered a handshake.

“…I’m Carl.”

“Call me Ritsuko. A greeting for a stranger—people here are kind.”

She acts like she’s never been to a board meeting. But entering the boardroom means verified identity, so she’s not some random Trinity or Gehenna student.

“Where’re you from? I mean… your company. Hope it’s familiar.”

“Don’t have one.”

…What? No company, yet she’s in the boardroom?

“My senpai’s no ordinary person. A few days ago, she said mentioning her name would get suits to let me in. And when the board starts, I should note the market cap rankings.”

She doesn’t seem to have a public affiliation like a typical worker. Looks innocent, though.

If she couldn’t attend, did she send a friend to gather info? She said “senpai,” so likely a young person close in age, but that’s ruthless for her age. Pure rationality doesn’t cut it.

And why come to the boardroom for info? Newspapers’ economic sections would suffice. Maybe her group’s less competent than I thought.

“I’ll tell you. First is still Kaiser Corporation, second is Saint Nephthys…”

“Look, it’s happening!” Though I was spilling info, her words made me turn instinctively.

“…What?”

A crowd stirred, growing louder.

Old men rubbed their eyes in disbelief, presidents frantically called someone.

Everyone in the city knows their name, but no one expected this group to take Tokyo’s place.

Outsiders no one thought would enter.

Days ago, they acted disinterested, yet now they’ve stepped into the Black Market.

Watching a despairing old man, I recalled: Didn’t a Trinity Proxy or something release a document after the Eden Treaty Incident? It caused waves in adult society.

In this solemn place, I swear: The gentle Tea Party is gone. Trinity won’t force allies to choose “us or them.”

I shook my tie absentmindedly, envying the girl’s smile.

TRINITY 1547—New Tokyo Era Begins

Pfft, huge success!

I laughed, gazing at an unchanging horizon. Trinity General Academy reaped the fruits of its efforts. Economic journalists, stunned, filled papers with exclamations.

We roughly calculated shares secured, but the actual results exceeded expectations.

Nagato-senpai said 11% at most. We planned to act as a vague third force or balance keeper, but today we can pivot to aggressive intervention. I should treat her to a meal.

Since stepping down as Military Administrator, my workload dropped drastically. Last night, I chatted with Hanako on MomoTalk till late—she doesn’t sleep? Sayuri-san was working overtime.

Waking around noon, I found multiple calls from the President.

How’d he get my number? When I called back, a flustered President asked if the plan was this big. Like a kind public servant, I said it was just luck. Honestly, it’s true.

We expanded influence while the General Student Council, Gehenna, and Millennium were unaware. After securing a foothold in Abydos’s vast lands, we could swallow a city.

Nagisa-sama was thrilled, saying the Ordnance Bureau’s security issues were resolved.

The diplomatic success was huge, so I sent a report summarizing prospects and strategies to calm Nagisa-sama’s endless enthusiasm.

I thought I’d die just listening. My mind went hazy.

“…It’s over, Hikari. Really.” Sending Ritsuko-chan a congratulatory message, I felt drained.

Since when have I been working? Since the Eden Treaty Incident, not a day passed without handling Trinity’s major affairs. I processed, fought, and moved.

I worked hard. The Senior Administrator thanked me, so I did my part.

I hope others think so too.

I feel bad for the Checkpoint kids. As director, I used to treat them often, but I’ve barely shown my face for a month or two. How’s Checkpoint HQ?

Not too lax, right? Well, it’s already lax, but they’re elite in their own way.

One hour, two hours.

Pfft. My thoughts wandered, and I laughed. At least no one calls me a cushy job holder. I folded my signed paper into an envelope and sent the final administrative order to the Tea Party.

The sunset painted the sky.