Chapter 2: Public Security Division Office

I had managed to return to work as Scarlet, and fortunately, it didn’t seem like anyone had seen through my disguise.

Apparently, the official story was that Mako had leaked during a Materia production experiment, and I had collapsed after being overexposed. Mako is the lifeblood of the planet; perhaps that was the moment my spirit flowed into Scarlet’s body. I had no intention of investigating further—if a hypothesis like that ever went public, I’d be headed straight to Hojo’s lab as a specimen.

Besides, by that logic, every SOLDIER candidate is bathed in Mako, and the countless workers who suffer from Mako poisoning every year would be overflowing with "reincarnators" from other worlds. Well, there’s no use trying to verify the cause. Right now, I need to focus on what I can do to secure my own future.

As the Head of Weaponry Development, my job is, of course, to build weapons.

Shinra’s brand power allows us to amass a massive military force, and among them is SOLDIER, the elite unit that produces unparalleled results. These two are undoubtedly Shinra’s strengths. However, the firearms and equipment they use—as well as the automated, unmanned weaponry that doesn’t rely on human pilotage—are the fruits of the Weaponry Development Division.

Unlike SOLDIERs, who take years to train, machines can be mass-produced as long as you have the gil and the materials. Unlike humans, they can soar through the sky and dye the battlefield crimson with overwhelming firepower.

Simply put: how efficiently can we kill people? How effectively can we delegate human labor to machines? That is what is demanded of a weapon.

As I scrolled through the records, I saw a star-studded lineup of "trash mobs" and "bosses" characters I recognized from the game. Some are still in development and look a bit different from the versions I know, while others are mechs I’ve never seen before.

"Hmm, not bad. No immediate issues regarding the weaponry, then."

The war with Wutai is reaching its final stages, and for the most part, we've successfully tested our new prototypes and proved the utility of our existing arsenal. They say science flourishes during wartime, and weaponry development is the epitome of that. For the time being, I won't be hurting for work or for results to submit to the company.

Ah, how long has it been since I had a job where I could consistently post such high performance? To top it off, there’s no boss dumping work on me, and no subordinates slacking off. Looking at the environment alone—while I wouldn't call it a "white company"—reaching a position like Scarlet’s could be considered the pinnacle of professional success.

I made my way alone to the office of Heidegger, the Head of Public Security.

To navigate a corporate organization, "groundwork" is essential. While I have the power to use my subordinates as I please, there are people with equal authority in each department. It’s best to pay a visit like this beforehand.

I opened the door to the executive suite to find a large, stout middle-aged man who filled out his military uniform well. With a prominent scar on his face and a magnificent beard, he possessed the aura of a battle-hardened veteran.

This man was Heidegger, Head of the Public Security Division of the Shinra Electric Power Company.

On paper, he sounds competent—strict with subordinates and willing to use any means to achieve his goals. In reality, he’s a man with zero charisma who rules through power harassment. He eventually gets played by Cloud and his crew, and once the leadership changes, he’s treated with cold indifference by the new President.

"Scarlet, is it? I heard you collapsed from Mako exposure, but you're back already?"

"Of course. The war with Wutai is nearing its end, and I’m busy preparing for the next phase."

"Gahahaha! True enough. Once the war is over, we'll have a hard time finding places to live-fire test your toys!"

"More importantly, here is the manifest of the new weapons you requested for the Wutai campaign. As per your requirements, they boast flashy destructive power that will yield results that put SOLDIER to shame."

Ever since the inception of SOLDIER, their strength was recognized to the point that they were handled as a separate entity from Public Security. While both are part of Shinra’s military might, from the perspective of Heidegger—who used to control the vast majority of Shinra’s forces—it isn’t a pleasant development. It probably doesn't help that Lazard, the Director of the SOLDIER Division, rose to power at a young age and now receives more public support as the face of Shinra than the standard security forces do.

"I can't stand that Lazard is commanding the key operations of this vital war. I’ll admit SOLDIERs are strong, but they’ve allowed a massive number of desertions in the middle of this conflict, and my security forces have had to pick up the slack! To think the President is soft enough to give him more chances to win glory without even taking responsibility for that mess!"

Slightly agitated, he slammed the desk and gulped down tea from a mug sized specifically for his massive hands. Watching him from the corner of my eye, I placed a file in front of him.

The deserting SOLDIERs had become Genesis Copies, turning their fangs against Shinra. Naturally, the Public Security Division in Midgar suffered significant casualties, and the unnecessary losses during the Wutai War would make anyone want to grumble, even if they weren't Heidegger.

"But thanks to the decrease in SOLDIER numbers, Public Security has more work to do against Wutai, right? And so do my cute little weapons. Fufufufu!"

"Exactly! When Lazard eventually comes crawling back in tears, I’ll integrate those SOLDIER brats into Public Security and manage them with proper military discipline."

Lazard is going to fall from grace regardless, and SOLDIER will eventually fall under Heidegger's jurisdiction anyway, but whatever.

"I don't care about your exploits in Wutai. The reason I came all this way today is because I want someone from your ranks."

I placed another document on the desk. This was the real objective.

"‘Establishment of an Exclusive Weaponry Division Tester’? What is this? We’re sending you every scrap of weapon data from the front lines, and I’ve lent you combatants before."

Heidegger tilted his head, wondering why I needed an exclusive tester at this specific timing. Yes, in the game, this man looks like the poster child for incompetence. He’s the number one person you wouldn't want as a boss—constantly harassing staff, throwing unreasonable demands at people on a whim, and blaming everyone else for his failures.

However, you don't become an executive of the world's largest corporation—let alone the Head of Public Security—if you are merely incompetent.

This man can read numbers. Despite treating people like objects and being abrasive, he has an excellent sense of balance when it comes to allocating resources and personnel based on quantified data. Because of this, while his subordinates have zero trust in him, President Shinra trusts him to move vast numbers of people. Because he can do that, he can replenish personnel no matter how many are lost in reckless operations, and occasionally those one-man operations produce enough results to keep him valuable.

The concept of "nurturing" talent or using people with care doesn't exist for Heidegger or Hojo. Shinra only manages because it’s a company where applicants flock from all over the world, but this is likely why Rufus eventually treats him so coldly.

Scarlet is much the same, though. She doesn't seem to view people as human either. For now, I’m maintaining her harsh personality since a sudden change of heart would be suspicious, but I won't waste lives needlessly.

...Oh wait, I don’t treat the incompetent, spies, or enemies as human at all. Anti-Shinra factions are everywhere, and while looking into the Weaponry Division, I found some idiot leaking prototypes. I gave him exactly what he wanted: I turned him into a Swiss-cheese tester for our newest model.

"Once the Wutai War ends, opportunities to gather live combat data will decrease. After that, the focus will shift to Reeve and his Mako Reactor construction, but we have to keep producing weapons. Honestly, it’s a pain to apply for SOLDIERs or combatants every single time. I want to downsize the data collection process and handle it all within my own division."

As a public justification, it wasn't far-fetched. Besides, some of the combatants I borrowed in the past occasionally "disappeared" from the records as casualties. It’s better for him if the people he lends out don't fail to return.

"But still... making them exclusive to your side makes replacements a hassle, and I’m not fond of having combatants outside my jurisdiction."

Until SOLDIER came along, Heidegger managed all troops. Even the Turks, though reporting directly to the President, technically fall under Heidegger on paper. With the SOLDIER division currently eating into his territory, he couldn't say yes immediately.

"That won't be an issue. I’m not poaching from your active roster. I just want one rookie—someone who failed the SOLDIER screening and would just be a filler in your ranks anyway."

"If that’s the case, I don’t see a problem. But is one really enough?"

Heidegger’s doubt was reasonable. He was likely wondering if a single person was sufficient as a tester, given Scarlet’s reputation for using up personnel like disposable parts.

"I’m not putting them in actual combat; I just need someone who can swing a weapon. I’m also planning to install a Battle Simulator on the weaponry development floor for testing purposes."

"Aha... so that is your real aim. Indeed, the simulators were reserved for SOLDIERs and elite combatants. You want to use the 'tester' as an excuse to use the simulator for weaponry data processing."

It’s helpful when people who don't value individuals are easily convinced by immediate, obvious benefits. Come to think of it, in my previous life, there were people who judged everything based on catalog specs or convenient numbers. While looking at numbers is important, using them as the only criterion is dangerous—though it makes them easy to manipulate.

"Very well. I’ll need the Weaponry Development Division to keep cranking out powerful gear for Public Security. I have the data for the recent recruits right here; pick whoever you like. But let me double-check the choice—I can't have you 'green-harvesting' the truly promising ones. Gahahaha!"

With that, he handed me his tablet. It contained a massive list of data from the most recent recruitment exams. It was classified information, but in my current position, accessing it was no problem at all.

The competition for the glamorous SOLDIER department is the highest, and the core of that exam is whether or not the candidate can withstand Mako. Those with the aptitude become SOLDIERs. Those without—but with a shred of hope—become combatants in Public Security, where they might eventually rise to become Turks if they have the talent.

However, Shinra is more than just these two departments. There’s my Weaponry Development Division and Reeve’s Urban Development Division. While we lack the prestige of the SOLDIER "poster boys," we still get a decent number of applicants. After all, Shinra is the world's greatest corporation. Just getting a job here makes you a "winner" in life.

Well, for the lower ranks, it’s a "black company" nightmare. It’s not uncommon for those at the Chief level to live in the Slums below the plate rather than the upper city of Midgar.

I tapped the tablet with elegant fingertips adorned with red polish, sliding through the data. It’s about seven years before the game starts, so Scarlet is 33 right now, even though she still looked to be in her mid-twenties. By the time the game begins, she’ll be 40, a full-blown "older woman." She was likely a beauty in her youth, but since she’s a workaholic with no lover, the younger girls eventually start calling her "old hag." The heavy makeup suits her, but it also tells the story of her fading youth. It’s a bit of a shock.

"Let’s see... how about this boy?"

I had decided long ago, but I showed the information of one specific male to Heidegger as if he had just happened to catch my eye.

"Cloud Strife..."

Heidegger operated the tablet with his thick fingers, checking Cloud’s exam data.

"No Mako aptitude. Physical fitness test results are quite high for his age... but his aptitude with the standard issue firearms used by general infantry is mediocre at best."

He must have just arrived at Shinra after leaving his hometown. Having grown up in the harsh natural environment of Nibelheim, his physical capabilities were high, but his mental immaturity prevented him from passing the SOLDIER exam.

Despite that immaturity, he possessed extraordinary latent talent. Unfortunately, those without SOLDIER aptitude are immediately funneled into tests for general infantry. They are tested on physical stamina, ideology, and proficiency with standard weapons. Instead of Cloud's specialized weapon, the Buster Sword, they look at his aptitude with common small arms.

At this stage, he can handle them, but only just. His only standout trait is a high level of fitness for his age. Among the sea of applicants, he wouldn't catch anyone's eye; he'd be seen as nothing more than a number to fill a quota.

"Fine. A grunt of this level won't make a difference to Public Security whether he's here or not. He seems to have stamina, so try not to break him too quickly."

Heidegger picked up an expensive-looking fountain pen from the stand on his desk. He scrawled his signature across the documents I had brought. His signature was as oversized as his attitude—not messy, exactly, but "boisterous."

"With this, we're even for the new weapons you diverted to me. Gahahaha!"

In Heidegger's mind, he had simply traded a little bit of HR influence for high-performance simulators and a new budget from the Weaponry Division. He wouldn't dream that my true objective was Cloud himself, whom I can now move using the authority of the Head of Public Security.

"Just be careful not to use him up immediately. I can't replenish your personnel that easily."

He likely envisioned me tormenting the young man as a tester until he broke.

In any case—Cloud, get!

I still have a two-year limit before Sephiroth's defection. Securing Cloud at this stage is a great start. Now then, let’s call the boy in for a personal interview.

Work hard for the sake of my bright future, Cloud.

Author's Note:

In the Urban Development Department, Reeve’s office is located on the same floor, with his desk positioned where he can see the faces of the employees. However, as an original setting, Heidegger and Scarlet—who prefer a sense of exclusivity—have their own private offices.

As for the time when Cloud came to Shinra, the official setting tells us that he left Nibelheim in the spring, seven years before the start of the game.

So, I set it up so that he joined the company in the same season. In other words, he’s a new employee who started in the spring.