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    One of the tallest buildings in Isabelle, New York is a skyscraper containing the main offices of the Plutus Spectral Energy Technology Corporation. The corporation is wealthy enough that 1. the building is very tall, and 2. it doesn't even need to share its real estate with any other companies or businesses.

    In the early afternoon, in one of the upper stories, a tall middle-aged blonde woman in a scarlet suit stands in her office, her hands clasped behind her back as she faces the glass wall overlooking the city, looking directly towards the block where Misaki, Talia, and Justina defeated the Specter Spawn. She has sharp green eyes, a sharp haircut, and a sharp smirk.

    A mousey bespectacled brunette wearing a blue dress and a pearl necklace enters the room behind her. "Ah ..." She nervously clears her throat. "You wanted to speak to me, Miss Kingston?"

    Janine Edwards Kingston stands there silently at first, not yet acknowledging her subordinate. But only for a few seconds. "You know, Monica," she says, "this world has problems."

    Monica Odette Reynolds Gainer peers at her. "You mean besides the ones we're actively causing with our business practices alone?" she says dryly.

    Janine snorts. "Shhh," she says. "I mean the problems for us."

    Monica goes silent, because she's pretty sure Janine is about to start waxing poetic.

    This assessment proves to be correct. "On the face of it, as one of the wealthiest corporations in the world," says Janine, "we the top executives of the Plutus Spectral Energy Technology Corporation are among the powers that be." She clenches her fist. "We rule the world! As long as PSET maintains its wealth and position ..." She pauses.

    Monica feels like she's being prompted. "We're on the gravy train," she hazards.

    Janine nods approvingly. "Excellently put!" she says. "We're on the gravy train."

    She gestures in the direction of the scene of the fight. "And yet," she continues, "there is a snake in our Eden."

    Monica can't hold back a giggle.

    Now Janine turns, giving her a thin-lipped smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "What's so funny?"

    Monica shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Miss Kingston," she says, smiling. "I mean, I get what you're saying, and I'll follow you to the ends of the Earth. But I don't think that's really the best metaphor."

    "Really," says Janine, tilting her head in an almost threatening manner.

    Monica shrugs. "Our paradise isn't one of innocence and ignorance, given to us by a god who lords over us," she says. "Ours is a kingdom, one which humanity itself built." Her smile matches Janine's. "We're the rulers here. We are the gods, in every way that matters to any Eden."

    Janine's expression softens. "A fair point," she says. "And honestly, Monica, your desire to remind yourself of that fact at every opportunity is one of the things I like about you." She raises her eyebrows. "Notwithstanding your constant protests that you'd rather work under me than be one of the rulers the world yourself."

    Monica lets out a nervous laugh. Did she mess up there? "Well ..."

    Janine turns back to the window. "But regardless of which metaphor we use," she says, "the issue is that we are not gods. Rulers, yes, but not even absolute ones. And now, on top of everything else, we have this 'World Tree' and all its complications." She shrugs. "We're too big to fall, but some of our numbers might go down, y'know?"

    "I suppose," says Monica. "I expect you have a plan?"

    Janine chuckles. "Fools plan," she says. "A wise woman steers." She smiles over her shoulder at Monica. "Let's put the MT System to the test, shall we? See if it can't formulate a plan to gather any useful information on these saviors of humanity from another world."

    "I ... don't know if that's a good idea," says Monica hesitantly. "Using the MT system, I mean. As far as our technicians could tell, it was optimized for making business decisions, not getting the kind of intel you're suggesting. And its creators went bankrupt."

    But Monica's protests only seem to have hardened Janine's decision. "No. No." Janine gestures grandiosely. "Spectral Acme Ltd obviously didn't know how to use the MT System properly -- we've gleaned that much just from the fact that the System still had their operational records inside it when their assets were auctioned off, let alone what those records actually said." There's a note of finality in her voice. "Get Willard to authorize me, would you? Tell him it's ... mmm ... a case-study for developing business intelligence in general, that sort of thing."

    Monica frowns. It looks like she's been dismissed. "Well, if you're sure," she says. "I'll bring you Mr. Willard's response ASAP." She turns to leave ...

    ... but as she exits the room, she has a thin-lipped smile on her face. It's a satisfied smile, the smile of someone who just got everything she wanted.

    And Janine quietly turns to watch her leave; her own expression is unreadable.