Chapter 62: Don't Leave Without Seeing Each Other
The appearance of the Headless Sculpture (Aze Xima type) was a great step forward.
The previous sculptures, due to being born without heads, were obedient but had poor learning abilities. They could only do simple physical work, being considered the cheapest labor force.
The Headless Sculpture (Aze Xima type) was one of the top intellectual workers, functioning as a power-free crusher, excavator, and furnace...
Centralized management like before might not be very suitable.
Adapting to the situation, Uesugi Kiyoshi introduced a new class of priests between the Pope and the faithful, served by sculptures with the head of Aze Xima.
All Headless Sculptures were considered equal, but the sculptor-priests were more equal than the others. Each year, a fixed death quota of one percent, with sixty percent allocated to the ten percent of priests, and the remaining forty percent to ordinary sculptures.
Of course, priests don't have a permanent position.
The evaluation system, set by professional managers, and the elimination of the last place, will rigorously assess all Headless Sculptures on a monthly basis.
The lower-ranking priests will hand over their Aze Xima head components, becoming disciples again, while the higher-ranking disciples may be promoted to priests, thus achieving social mobility and avoiding social rigidity.
Through this religious reform, Uesugi Kiyoshi successfully ignited the enthusiasm of the sculptures.
The most efficient Headless Sculpture (Aze Xima type - iron) works twenty-three hours a day, producing twelve hundred tons of iron. A furnace with the same effect would require an investment of at least ten billion yen and maintenance costs of around one billion yen per year.
In the previous campaign against Aze Xima, Uesugi Kiyoshi collected more than four thousand five hundred heads, but now he feels that he has been a bit too conservative.
After all, we must not only consider domestic use but also generate export earnings!
Present-day Japan is already a world-renowned focus, and Baisencho in Bunkyo Ward, where the research institute is located, is even said to be a place where dropping one brick can kill three spies.
Before the Aze Xima type Headless Sculptures stepped out of the laboratory, various forces had already heard the news and came to negotiate with Uesugi Kiyoshi about introducing them.
Especially friendly with a big country, they ordered one thousand units at a price of just 20 billion yen each.
"As far as I know, your country is the best in the world when it comes to infrastructure. Why do you still need to import this kind of thing?"
In response to Uesugi Kiyoshi's question, the person just smiled lightly.
"There are some places that need construction work but are not suitable for large machinery to enter."
"Like?"
After thinking for a moment, the person responded calmly, "Like the Himalayas."
In that moment, even Uesugi Kiyoshi was wide-eyed and speechless.
He could imagine a scene of a thousand Headless Sculptures kneeling in front of the Himalayas.
Could it be true that they wanted to melt the high mountains, let the warm winds from the Indian Ocean blow in, nourish the earth with rainwater, and turn the plateau into a land of plenty?
"I must remind you, dear visitor, that the Headless Sculpture output is not as exaggerated as you think. At least a thousand units won't be enough to make a dent in the Himalayas!"
"We are aware of that, and even if we make a dent, it won't make a difference. We just want to clear a pathway for transportation and improve communication with neighboring countries."
Uesugi Kiyoshi had no reason to refuse such a request.
He couldn't refuse the demands of another country, especially when they offered NASA's space technology.
Four thousand five hundred Headless Sculpture (Aze Xima type) were quickly sold out. As he counted his gains, Uesugi Kiyoshi even considered releasing more Aze Xima for another harvest.
However, this action would eventually bring some negative consequences. Making apologies now was not easy, and avoiding responsibility was no longer as simple as before.
As Uesugi Kiyoshi worried in his office, Hoshimi Rie walked in with two vouchers in her hands.
"Mr. Uesugi, Independence Day is approaching. Do you have any plans?"
"Independence Day?" Uesugi Kiyoshi glanced at his computer. "Isn't it only February 11th now? August 15th is far away... Oh, is today the anniversary of MacArthur's landing?"
Hoshimi Rie covered her forehead and sighed, saying, "You are joking, National Day is the celebration of Emperor Shinmu's coronation, our country's official holiday!"
"So you are planning to go watch a movie with me, Miss Hoshimi?" Uesugi Kiyoshi immediately perked up.
"Not a movie, but a comedy show, an event organized by the Tokyo government to celebrate the successful conclusion of the Aze Xima incident. The guests invited are not me, but you and your wife."
Comedy, in Japan, is a form of stand-up comedy where jokes are told rapidly, creating a comedic effect through misunderstandings, puns, and wordplay between the two performers.
Before Uesugi Kiyoshi could say anything, Hoshimi Rie preemptively declined, "And even if you invite me, I won't go, absolutely not!"
"Why?"
"Because it will definitely be boring!"
Uesugi Kiyoshi quickly understood Hoshimi Rie's point of view after a moment of thought.
Performances organized by the government, no matter how famous or talented the performers are, tend to be less entertaining, as they aim to please officials rather than the audience. Officials are never on the same side as the general audience.
The celebration theme was especially like this, with no sarcasm or mockery, just praise. This kind of language program was so boring that it made people cringe and imagine a house with four rooms, one living room, one bathroom, and one kitchen.
"Then I'm not going either," said Uesugi Kiyoshi decisively.
"No!"
"...Why again?"
"Because the performance this time will invite the families of the victims of the Aze Xima incident. If you don't go, the company's image will be greatly affected!" explained Hoshimi Rie.
"But I have already provided ten million yen in assistance to each victim's family!"
"News has a time limit, Mr. Uesugi."
Being a leader is really hard!
Unable to do anything, Uesugi Kiyoshi could only console himself. After all, his language skills were really bad; even the coldest joke would go over his head. He could just treat it like a play!
But who will the other person choose?
It seems like he doesn't have any enemies that he absolutely wants to get rid of!
......
Standing at the entrance of the Merlin Art Theater, Uesugi Kiyoshi waited for a long time, watching as the show was about to start before his companion finally arrived.
"Long time no see!" he waved, friendly greeting.
"It hasn't been that long, has it?" Ode said with a serious face, taking Uesugi Kiyoshi's ticket. "Why do I have to come watch this kind of show?"
