Chapter 11: And Thus, They were Thrown Into the Darkness


    In the early afternoon of the next day, Hiroki called the university from his workce.


    The 10-ton dump of waste brought in earlier in the morning had already been cleared away by him in an hour.


    The hole had gotten a little biggertely, so the disposal was getting easier.


    [Researcher Ishida speaking.]


    [Ahh, thank you for the other day. Im Hiroki Gomi, the person who asked you for soil analysis. Youve really helped me out at that time]


    During the time between Ishidas lectures, Hiroki was able to talk to him directly.


    However, Hiroki felt that he would just end up being an annoyance if he kept making small talk for too long, so he quickly started talking about his business.


    [Actually I have a question regarding my business. So, I was wondering if I could ask for your wisdom]


    [Yes. Industrial waste disposal, right? I may be able to help you with the technical aspects How can I help you?]


    [As Ishida-sensei knows from the previous inspection, our business might be small, but we have the technology to dispose of waste at a low cost. However, we would like to avoid revealing it if possible. Like that, I would like to talk to you if you could help me think of a good way to hide the technology, but still expand my business]


    [Why!? President Gomi, the test results of thatnd were excellent! If we could spread that processing technology around the world, the benefits to society would be immeasurable!]


    [Errr, its kind of hard to say this, but the technology Im using is difficult to replicate and spread. It was created only by ident.]


    Hiroki told him the excuse he had prepared in advance.


    [I see The technology is still in its seed stage, and what you use is still a prototype huh.]


    [Yes, its that prosomething.]


    Even if it was a bit forceful, Hiroki felt relieved to hear that researcher Ishida hade up with a theory that he could ept.


    [So May I ask why you want to expand my business? The business seems to be running well enough as it is now, doesnt it?]


    It was understandable why Researcher Ishida is suspicious.


    Hiroki didnt seem to be the type of person with a lot of ambition and self-expression that is often seen in people who want to expand their business.


    However, Hiroki has a reason prepared for this as well.


    That is exactly when shes asking him for advice.


    [Actually Im embarrassed to say this, but weve recently been threatened by some unsavory business partners who have taken notice of my technology folks that tread upon the gray area]


    [Ahh, I suppose that could happen No, that was rude of me. However, wouldnt that be something youd talk to awyer or the police about?]


    [Thats the thing. Among my business partners is an influentialpany within the prefecture. It seems that he had rtives in the government and within the police, so consulting with them would get me nowhere Thats why, I thought that I should expand my business. If my business was apany instead of something I privately own,panies like that in the prefecture wouldnt be able to do as they please.]


    Moreover, in Hirokis mind, if his business bes a bigpany, he can collect even more garbage and throw even more garbage into the hole.


    Hiroki feels it.


    The hole desires more garbage.


    Ishida is unable to gauge the middle-aged man on the other end of the phone.


    Hiroki, the President of his small waste disposal site, was a man that had a rather thin impression.


    Many of the people who manage local businesses in this area- Unlike those in Tokyo- have an air of unreliability around them.


    It is said that people like Hiroki, who have worked in Tokyo before, often had this personality where they made light of the business world.


    In reality, however, Hiroki seems to be doing well.


    Thend Ishida was asked to analyze the other day was not onlyrge, but also cleaned up to the nooks and crannies so well that at first nce, one wouldnt have thought that it was a waste disposal site.


    Only a few conveyors and a pile of galvanized iron sheets discreetly asserted that thisnd wasnt farnd or residentialnd.


    Normally, there should have been heavy equipment and dump trucks for waste transportation and disposal around but manypanies seemed to be renting those expensive equipment, so they might have just been out of town while the soil analysis was being conducted.


    Just to be sure, Ishida did ask if he was still just nning to start his business on thend, but Hiroki answered that work has been in progress for a few months already.


    From the look on Hirokis face as he carried a shovel in his well-worn jumpsuit, it seemed that he wasnt lying.


    It was a slightly strange request, but after passing him the clean test results- that should have been the end of their rtionship with Hiroki.


    And yet now, holding upon the revolutionary waste treatment technology, the man hase to him for advice on how to expand his business.


    For theboratory, which has been starving for research funds since the national university incorporated them, this is an extremely delicious prey.


    While on the phone, Ishida unconsciously gulped as he imagined the huge amount of research funds that Hirokis story would generate and the strengthening of his position within the university.


    [I see With that being the case, I think I can propose a good solution.]


    [Ohh! As expected of you! Schrs really are different huh]


    On the other end of the phone, Hiroki sounded impressed.


    Thats right. This story was an opportunity.


    New technology, an asset for all mankind, must be used correctly by the people who can handle it correctly.


    Using his brilliant mind to draw up a strategy to maximize the value of this technology, and for himselfter on, Ishida answered Hiroki on the other end of the phone.


    [Yes. Its actually very easy. With President Gomis technology, you just have to use the universitys facility and turn it into a universityunched venture!]


    [Ehh. Such a thing is possible?]


    [Its possible! The university has a funding facility called the Industry-Academic Coboration Office. Although we have a meager budget, we have excellent credibility with the general public and banks. We are also well-staffed for press releases and media rted groups.]


    Once it started revolving, Ishidas brain and tongue wouldnt stop.


    Dont give the caller a chance to think.


    Flood them with so much information that their thoughts would paralyze from the overflow.


    [I see Universities sure are amazing.]


    Thats right. Yes, the university is an umtion of vast amounts of knowledge assets.


    Its full of talented people, including Ishida.


    However, for there to not have the necessary research budget allocated to them, it is the world that is mistaken.


    [If you set up the system properly, no backwardpanies wille to you. In order to leverage the business by bringing in funds, its essential to have good governance andpliance. In terms of business security and sustainability, I think its greatly advantageous for President Gomi to work with the university.]


    [Oh my Thats very kind of you.]


    Ishidas tongue remained sharp until the end, and he felt that he had overpowered his opponent.


    After hanging up the phone, Ishidas cheeks couldnt help but rx.


    It was a good thing that they only made an audio call, not a visual one.


    If Hiroki had been able to see his facial expression, Ishida felt that their conversation would end right there and then.


    The proposal Ishida made certainly is a good one.


    The problem is that there is a minor difference in the vector, as to whom that proposal is good for.


    Thereupon, thinking of solidifying the future structure of the university with a team that could do as he wished, Ishida started vigorously contacting people in departments both inside and outside the university.


    Within theboratory, the fast sound of typing keyboard resounded until midnight.


    At the same time that Researcher Ishida was striving towards his future dream, Hiroki was sitting on the sofa after work, opening his daily can of beer.


    [Its getting hot already. I might as well splurge and buy some American beer online]


    Hiroki has been honestly making a lot of money as an individual these days.


    "


    "


    The proceeds arent so bad, but his profits are on a different level.


    After all, the investment cost of his business is almost zero.


    As for the breakdown


    Zero transportation costs because he lets thosepanies bring their waste to him.


    Zero rental equipment costs because he uses shovels instead of heavy equipment like bulldozers and excavators.


    Zero disposal costs because hes just throwing the garbage into the hole.


    Zero storage costs because the processed garbage will disappear.


    Zerobor costs because Hiroki didnt hire any employees, working only by himself.


    His office is also his home.


    Thepany boasted an astonishing profit margin that would look like bogus to hispetitors.


    [Well then, I wonder hows the appetite of the hole today?]


    Suddenly feeling hungry, Hiroki went to the kitchen, grabbed a pack of fried chicken from the refrigerator and came back to the monitor showing the hole.


    What Hiroki didnt realize though, is that in the ten seconds he had been in the kitchen, he had missed the scene of something that looked like a beast running out of the ck hole at great speed, leaping over the 4-meter high galvanized iron wall and disappearing into the darkness.


    The second-hand rm system recorded how something had crossed the wall, but the monitor showed nothing, so Hiroki stopped paying attention to it as just another malfunction.


    The surveince camera also showed something that looked like a beast with a torn ear, but the scene was buried in the usual pile of recorded data and was never sought out by Hiroki.