Homo Sapiens

Seychelles.

Victoria Harbor.

Inside the local port authority building.

Ever since Garcia Michel had become the top man in Seychelles, a nation the size of a small town, nothing had gone his way.

First, the economy took a heavy hit. Seychelles’ entire economy was based on tourism, and for the past two years, the tourism industry in small island countries like it had met its Waterloo.

This caused the foreign debt, which had been reduced to just 24% of the GDP, to once again skyrocket past 100%. The massive debt and the slump in international tourism were a splitting headache for Garcia Michel.

However, a short while ago, an even more troublesome matter had arisen.

The island of Diego Garcia, which had previously been occupied by America, had unexpectedly fallen under the control of the Homo Sapiens Company from Southeast Asia.

Garcia Michel was furious, but he didn’t dare show it. After all, one couldn’t afford to provoke America. A company that could drive out America, like Homo Sapiens Company, was definitely even more dangerous to cross.

But as ill luck would have it, the Seychelles Islands were located in the middle of the Ceylon Ocean, a strategically vital position. For anyone who wanted to dominate the Ceylon Ocean, controlling the Seychelles Islands was a crucial step.

Unwilling to lose the Ceylon Ocean, America had recently roped in Tianzhu, Australia, and France to forge a Ceylon Ocean Security Treaty, all with the aim of containing Homo Sapiens Company.

The Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros, and Mad Island were among those invited to join.

Right now, Roland, the French consul to Seychelles, was in the room. The big-bearded man was using a mix of threats and promises as he spoke:

”Michel, you should be well aware of the greed and brutality of Homo Sapiens Company. Once they make a move on Seychelles, you won’t be able to resist at all.”

”Moreover, Homo Sapiens Company will likely confiscate all of your assets. When that happens, you and your family will be reduced to ordinary laborers, doing demeaning and strenuous work.”

”If you cooperate with us, the security of Seychelles will be guaranteed by the French Army and the United States Army. Your wealth will be protected, and we’ll provide 300 million US Dollars in special aid.”

However, Garcia Michel knew that no matter how much money he was offered, he had to be alive to spend it.

He replied, polite yet firm, ”Consul Roland, my position hasn’t changed. Seychelles does not want to get involved in matters between you. Please leave!”

”Mr. Michel, are you planning to refuse our goodwill?” Roland demanded, his expression turning hostile.

”Yes, I refuse,” Garcia Michel replied, his expression resolute.

Laughing from sheer rage, Roland gave a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. ”Excellent! I hope you won’t regret this. Goodbye.”

”I won’t see you out.”

Watching the flustered and exasperated Roland leave, Garcia Michel felt as if he’d been completely drained of strength and collapsed onto the sofa.

Suddenly, a cup of hot coffee appeared on the table. He looked up at the woman before him, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

”Please. This is your favorite, isn’t it, Mr. Michel? Java white coffee,” Domino said, smiling as she sat down opposite him and took an elegant sip of her own coffee.

”You’re one of the Homo sapiens?” Garcia Michel swallowed hard.

Domino set down her cup. ”That’s right. It seems Mr. Michel is a smart man. I was listening to your conversation with Mr. Roland the entire time.”

”...” Garcia Michel gritted his teeth. ”Since you already know, then please respect the choice of Seychelles.”

Domino stood up and pulled open the curtains. ”In this dog-eat-dog world, you shouldn’t say such naive things. It can bring about misfortune, you know.”

”You...”

BOOM!

’What was that?’ Garcia Michel’s pupils contracted. He scrambled desperately to the window.

On the road not far away, a Renault had been crushed like a sandwich by a large truck. The truck’s fuel tank had exploded, engulfing both vehicles in flames.

Thick smoke billowed up from the raging inferno.

’Is that...?! Damn it!’ Garcia Michel’s eyes widened as he stared at the Renault. He recognized whose car it was.

He whipped his head around, a mask of shock and rage, and roared, ”You’re insane!”

”So, Mr. Michel, have you had any new thoughts? Would you care to be a guest at the Homo Sapiens Company headquarters? Our security is top-notch. Little ’accidents’ like this are completely avoidable within the company.”

”You... you people...” Garcia Michel was so furious he was sputtering.

He clearly understood Homo Sapiens Company’s intention: they were ”inviting” him to their headquarters to continue serving as the top man of Seychelles.

”Oh, and I forgot to mention, Mr. Michel. To combat piracy in the Ceylon Ocean and secure the trade routes, our company has dispatched a naval detachment. It will arrive in Victoria Harbor tomorrow afternoon.”

Upon hearing this, Garcia Michel collapsed to the floor.

Clearly, Homo Sapiens Company was determined to have the Seychelles Islands this time; they had even dispatched a fleet.

What could Garcia Michel do in this situation? The entire population of Seychelles was less than 100,000. They didn’t even have a standing army. Faced with the fully-armed fleet of Homo Sapiens Company, they lacked any capacity to resist.

He thought for a moment, forcing himself to calm down. ’Given how Homo Sapiens Company treats its own, the locals won’t have to worry about the economy.’

His main concern was that some people might not recognize the reality of the situation. The previous incident in Java had been reported ad nauseam by the international press, so Garcia Michel was well aware of Homo Sapiens Company’s methods.

He gritted his teeth and said, ”I’m willing to cooperate, but please allow me to stay here. I can help you stabilize the situation.”

”Are you sure?” Domino asked, a faint smile playing on her lips as she watched him.

Garcia Michel nodded, his gaze firm. ”So long as you treat our people with equality, I am willing to help you.”

Domino assured him, ”If equal treatment is all you’re asking for, then you have nothing to worry about. All employees within Homo Sapiens Company are equal. We have only one identity: Homo sapiens employee.”

With Garcia Michel’s cooperation and the arrival of the Ceylon Ocean naval detachment, Homo Sapiens Company swiftly took control of the Seychelles Islands.

「Meanwhile.」

The Maldives and Comoros also fell under the control of Homo Sapiens Company’s pawns.

After Homo Sapiens Company’s transport aircraft rapidly deployed several regiments to the Maldives Islands and the Comoros Islands and began constructing airfields...

「French Réunion.」

Louis Port.

”Bastards! The Homo sapiens Foreign Affairs Department reacted so damn fast,” Selin, the Governor of France stationed in Réunion, said with a look of shocked fury.

Charles Russell, the head of France’s African Intelligence Department, looked even more grim. ”We’ve lost contact with all our intelligence personnel in Seychelles and Comoros.”

Selin paced back and forth in front of his desk. ”This is unacceptable! We cannot allow them to continue expanding toward Africa. Otherwise, France’s interests on the continent will be severely threatened.”

”But we can’t beat the Homo sapiens in special operations, and a hot war is out of the question...” Director Russell reminded him.

Selin was well aware of France’s own limitations. Even America couldn’t defeat the Homo sapiens forces. For France to go head-to-head with them would be suicide.

He racked his brain for a moment, his eyes scanning a map of Africa and the Ceylon Ocean, before they finally settled on a massive island.

”Our only option now is to throw our full support behind Mad Island. Let them be our shield in Africa, to block Homo Sapiens Company’s expansion.”

”But Mad Island is in chaos right now, and Andrew doesn’t want us interfering in their internal affairs.”

Selin’s eyes turned cold. ”That’s not up to him. Director Russell, if it comes to it, ’deal with’ him. Put Federer, the man we’ve been cultivating, in his place.”

After weighing the pros and cons, Charles Russell had to agree it was the best option available. He was sure the Elysee Palace would understand the difficult position they were in.