Hearing such an arrogant declaration, Roland froze for a moment, then broke into an involuntary laugh.
Clearly, Teitoku Kakine's intelligence had been wrong.
No, that was hardly a fair way to put it.
In Academy City, members of the Board of Directors held exalted positions, but their combat abilities were usually quite limited.
After all, they were neither researchers mad enough to experiment on themselves nor ability users who had undergone repeated screening. Stripped of the protection their power and status afforded them, they, too, could be threatened and exploited.
Besides, judging by how he had brought his entire team and specifically recruited someone with Electric Current Push, this fellow actually had quite a good head on his shoulders, didn't he?
"Now do you understand your situation, Mr. Roland? All you can do now is obey my orders. If you do, not only can you retain your position as leader, you might even rise further."
Apparently taking Roland's silence for wavering, Teitoku Kakine wore a mocking smile and a condescending expression, as though this were some rare act of charity.
"Really? But rather than the reward of rising further, I'd prefer to exchange it for something else that pleases me."
Roland shrugged casually.
"A pretty girl, for instance. That would at least make me hesitate."
"Oh?"
Teitoku Kakine frowned and glanced at Umidori Kage beside him. Was the leader of the Blue Dream Company really such a straightforward scumbag?
Roland's cooperative attitude had caught him off guard, but resolving this peacefully would undoubtedly save considerable effort.
"Merely hesitating isn't enough. Tell me what you want. Equipment, personnel-anything that exists in Academy City, I can get for you."
"That couldn't be better."
Roland rubbed the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed.
"Actually, there's no need to go to that