Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

Hachiman didn't understand culture or history.

What he also didn't understand was why others received "invitations" while he received a letter of challenge.

[...Hikigaya Hachiman... I advise you to dissolve the Church of the Holy Mother as soon as possible... abandon the darkness and embrace the light... otherwise, you'll see what's coming to you...]

Things like that, basically telling Hikigaya Hachiman to give up his so-called heretical cult and turn to the glory of the true faith.

But the problem was...

'The problem is, whether God exists is up for debate, but the Holy Mother really does exist.'

Hikigaya Hachiman thought these people were hilarious. Did they think he wanted to be some kind of religious priest? Wasn't he just screwed over by that guy?

A perfectly good high school student was forced to become the security management leader for three million people, and now he was even the head of a secret evil church.

'If they can't handle those weirdos, how do they have the guts to come after me?'

Hikigaya Hachiman wasn't boasting. With his steel body, he could smash through one or two countries without a problem. If they pissed him off, he would just go over and crush the locals.

"Ayanokouji, I keep saying I'm treading on thin ice, and these guys outside actually believe it. If I, a high-ranking official, am treading on thin ice, then what are the ordinary residents of Nagazora City? All in the water under the ice?"

Hikigaya Hachiman wished he could just drag out all these poachers. He was sure that there were people within the Academy City Judgement force who had taken bribes.

Otherwise, how would outsiders know about his identity as the priest of the Church of the Holy Mother? They even sent him a threatening letter. Was the next step to fly a plane into his Judgement building?

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka didn't really understand either. How would he know why?

Everyone in Academy City knew that Hachiman had people on both the black and white sides of the law. He skillfully navigated the various power structures to become the king of the Academy City Judgement, and even gained the favor of the Board of Directors.

Dr. Tesla herself had personally built his steel body.

In the eyes of the common people, this kind of person was bound to be a "smart guy." If anyone dared to refute what Hachiman said, some know-it-all would stand up and loudly proclaim, "He's already the Chief of Judgement, how could he know less than you?"

Then would come a torrent of praise for the leader, with things like, "How could a fool become a leader?" popping up.

But in reality? It was all bullshit! Hachiman himself had no idea what was going on before the meetings.

Hikigaya Hachiman himself was confused. Every document, including policy directives, was passed down bit by bit after repeated emphasis from his superiors. How did these people take his complaints as the truth?

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka naturally understood Hikigaya Hachiman's situation. The guy was indeed terrified while working, but if you asked him to give up this position and let someone else do it?

That would be a "hehe." After all, he had to make a living. His family still depended on Hikigaya Hachiman to support them.

"Maybe the Chief's complaints were overheard and spread? Perhaps when people chat, they always say: 'As expected of the Chief! He's so dedicated every time he works! What an admirable man!'"

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka perfectly mimicked the adoring expression.

Hikigaya Hachiman glanced at him and said with a long face, "That's not right. How come I keep hearing that the people under me are saying I'm putting on airs and are just waiting to catch my mistakes to report me to the higher-ups?"

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka gave him a blank look.

Didn't this guy know that very well?

It wasn't like reporting a leader had never happened before. The top leader even secretly encouraged it. If this were a feudal era, it would at least be a "secret memorial to the throne."

But Hikigaya Hachiman still needed these subordinates to do the work. If they really tattled on him, he couldn't do anything to them. He could only pray for the top leader's trust to be sufficient.

The only fortunate thing was that because of this, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't dare to engage in corruption, bribery, or any other messy business. The only benefits he managed to get for himself were finding a good job for his family, a good school for his sister, and some custom-made food for his cat.

Strange, how come it didn't feel like much of a benefit?

"I get it!" Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly had an epiphany.

"It must be because I haven't been lining my pockets in this position that those people think I'm some kind of poor, honest official. They think I'm not easily bought with money, so they want to use threats to target me! These people are truly evil!"

Hikigaya Hachiman was filled with grief and indignation, extremely frustrated that he had no value to be bought over. Weren't they just looking down on him, Hachiman?!

No, he had to crack down on those who were taking money under the table!

"Kiyotaka! We must launch a rectification campaign in Academy City and encourage the people to actively report wrongdoing. Only then can we maintain the glorious image of our Judgement. We must strike hard against those who eat from our bowl but help outsiders!"

At this point, Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't be bothered to ask his big boss Bronya for instructions. He still had a lot of power when it came to disciplinary matters.

An excellent idea popped into his head.

"Let's do this. I've thought of a good idea. Let's call it the 'Dual Responsibility System.' Administrative managers at all levels, while doing their administrative work and fulfilling their administrative duties, must also take on the responsibility of doing a good job in the ideological and political work of their staff."

'You're getting addicted to being the boss, aren't you? You want both personnel management power and control over other people's thoughts, right?'

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka wondered if there was something wrong with Hikigaya Hachiman. This "I want both" attitude was clearly a move to centralize power in the hands of the top leader.

One could only say that Hachiman was being a bit too unscrupulous in his quest for power.

"Chief, you mean to use the crackdown on corruption within Judgement as a reason to further centralize power for yourself?"

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was a simple person who spoke directly.

Hikigaya Hachiman looked at him in shock, stating that he had absolutely no such intention.

"A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding! How could I have such an idea? Of course, it's to use the power of personnel management to deal with those who don't share my ideology!"

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka understood this time. He nodded in realization. "I see. It's to tighten the grip on building a clean and honest Judgement! As expected of the Chief, so farsighted."

"Hahaha, is that so? I think so too!"

Hikigaya Hachiman nodded seriously, indicating that this was what he truly wanted to say.

In reality, both of them knew very well.

If you ask one person to handle everything, then the helper who does the "power-grabbing" work for the leader will inevitably become another extreme case of an "iron window" bureaucrat.