Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

Hachiman Hikigaya was having a difficult meeting.

He seemed to have met his match. And of all things, it was a sharp-tongued woman who fought with her words, emerging from the Kengan Association—a place filled with muscleheads.

Then again, you couldn't really use the word "woman" to describe someone anymore. After all, anyone on the street could have had their reproductive system removed.

Hachiman didn't want to elaborate. He could understand why some people would willingly remove their systems to be free from traditional sexual pressures.

After all, being constantly bombarded with advertisements for the "New Genitalia Exhibition" tended to desensitize a person to the thrill of the act.

The two companies, Defiance Corp. and Entropy Inc., were the most aggressive advertisers, as if they were accelerating humanity's loss of biological pleasure and any sense of sacredness associated with sex.

Just as Hachiman had predicted, the new humans of this era were gradually abandoning procreation, and even the pleasure derived from the act itself was fading.

"I'll ask one more time: does the City Guard truly have no intention of intervening? Organ trading is rampant throughout Academy City, and people are having new organs implanted without even knowing their origin. I know that advances in Honkai factor research have given us special abilities to keep organs viable externally and reduce rejection."

"But shouldn't we at least know where they come from? Academy City has ninety-three major biotech research institutes. A third belong to Schicksal, a third to Anti-Entropy, and the rest are a motley crew of dubious origin. How can you just let them be used on people?!"

Yukino Yukinoshita hadn't come empty-handed. She even produced case reports of patients who had received faulty organs.

Hachiman Hikigaya and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka exchanged a look, then both tacitly lowered their heads to examine the documents Yukino had prepared.

They didn't argue, not because she was wrong, but because they simply couldn't be bothered to refute the points.

Everyone knew the Kengan Association was backed by the Board of Directors. And the modular limbs used on the living Stigma Battle Suits were, in themselves, a type of new organ. If you were looking for the shadiest marketplace, it was undoubtedly within the Kengan Association.

Hachiman could just picture the scene.

Two Kengan bros meeting up.

"Brother, you want the goods? Latest model arm, strong fingers, easy plug-and-play."

"What a coincidence. I've got some new stuff too. Latest model arthropod limbs."

"Looks like quality stuff! Wanna trade?"

But that wasn't what Yukino was talking about. She was referring to the trade within Academy City itself, the part that affected most ordinary people.

Whether they had cancer or a disability, these were people in desperate need of new limbs and organs. When they made a purchase, they had no way of knowing the quality of the seller's product, so they were naturally duped by all sorts of shady research institutes, whose main strategy was to lure people in with low prices.

The medical research factions in Academy City were broadly divided into three schools based on their focus: the Schicksal school, focusing on artificial Stigmas; the Anti-Entropy school, focusing on genetic cultivation; and the Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical school, focusing on activating factors.

Faking it with organs was just the appetizer. The main event came next.

What was the most expensive thing in Academy City?

Without a doubt, it was genetic information.

And the sources of different genetic information varied. First, there were Stigmas, whether artificial or from battle suits. Stigmas could enhance a person's physical constitution, break through human limits, and fundamentally increase Honkai resistance.

The genetic changes they brought were the most common and best suited for humans, and this genetic information could be repeatedly sold as a person grew stronger.

Second, there were Honkai Beasts, living or dead. That was self-explanatory. Honkai factors were a crucial component for breaking through the limits of the human form.

The third source was the most tragic: a person's innate Honkai resistance, confirmed through Honkai sickness. Because it was extremely rare, it was the most expensive.

Yukino Yukinoshita's purpose was clear: she was here to address the ownership of this genetic information.

But she approached it from a different angle, pushing the conversation in another direction.

The issue of the human rights of sinners.

"The crimes committed by the sinners are certainly unforgivable. Many of them are serving sentences of five to ten years. They must endure a state of non-freedom, where they have no control over their own bodies."

"All of this falls under the purview of the Board of Directors, and the City Guard should supervise it accordingly."

"But what I want to ask is, are these smaller companies unqualified to be involved in the collection of genetic information? Furthermore, I believe the major corporations should come together to quickly establish industry standards to prevent these small, rogue institutes from using their chaotic techniques to conduct harmful experiments on the citizens of Academy City."

Hachiman's first instinct was to argue.

Suddenly, Ayanokoji kicked him under the table, a sharp reminder not to let the City Guard take the blame for this.

This wasn't an ordinary problem. This was someone trying to usurp power from His Majesty, the Emperor of Academy City.

'Damned troublemakers! Always causing problems!'

Hachiman fumed internally, ready to strike this damned woman down and pledge his loyalty to the Emperor.

But alas, he didn't have the guts.

Brother Hachi didn't dare make a decision, much less a decision to act. He would have to report this to his pint-sized superior.

Even getting an earful of "What good are you?" was better than overstepping his authority.

Yukino Yukinoshita frowned. "What, do you disagree? Isn't this for the good of Academy City's future development?"

Ayanokoji's lips moved slightly, silently forming the words "St. Freya."

Yukino wasn't just representing herself; she was also representing the granddaughter of Schicksal's leader.

'Brother Hachi, this is someone we can't afford to offend.'

Beads of sweat formed on Hachiman's forehead. He had to admit, Dr. Tesla's work was exquisite; she had even managed to simulate sweat glands.

He tried to deflect. "Miss Yukinoshita, I believe you're still a high school student, aren't you? Is it really appropriate for you to be involved in these matters?"

Yukino raised an eyebrow. "I've completed all my courses within a year and have already graduated early. On the other hand, Chief Hikigaya, I believe you still have a middle-school education and haven't yet graduated high school, correct? If you can be the Chief, there's no reason I can't... is there?"

'Damn it, a critical hit!'

Ayanokoji glanced at his boss, who had frozen like a robot that had run out of oil.

Hachiman scrambled for a defense. "I... I'm so busy with work, how could I possibly graduate early? That would be using public office for private gain!"

Hachiman's words made the members from the Kengan Association lose it. The conference room was instantly filled with a joyous atmosphere.