Miracle Card Shop: All My Cards Can Be Actualize

— Still in the program —

"And you know why? Because if they don't, their position will be compromised. They need to portray themselves as being loved and praised and elevated into living gods all the time. Because if they don't, there will be factions wanting to replace them," explained Mr. Cortez.

"Then, if they can't afford that, why don't they try to be truthful and just improve the lives of the people as they show?" the host asked in confusion.

"That's a good question, Wendy. It's because it's not in their interest," answered Mr. Cortez.

"It's not in their interest? How so? Shouldn't the ruler's interest be their people? As long as the people have a good life, their rule would also be justified," the host asked again.

"In theory, yes, they should do that. But in reality, it takes a rare kind of leader to actually do that, and this includes all forms of government in the world: Monarchy, Democracy, Dictatorship, Oligarchy, even states ruled by corporations," Cortez said with a smirk as he looked at Wendy, who could only smile wryly.

"Just because I receive help from your corporation doesn't mean I'm going to spare you from criticism, you know, Wendy," said Mr. Cortez.

"It's okay, Mr. Cortez. Our Astral Tech is open to any criticism because it means there are areas we need to improve on," Wendy answered, then continued. "Let's return to our subject. Is there any reason behind what the Tessia Royal Family did?

The thing you said 'It's not in their interest.' I find it very hard to believe such a claim without evidence to support it." The host quickly brought the topic back on track.

"It's because the royal family needs all the money, other than what they spend on their luxuries, for the projects they've been studying. Yes, the bioweapon project that just wreaked havoc in the Tessia Kingdom and ended the Tessia Royal Family's rule."

—-

"This... This is a lie! A blatant lie!" I shouted, and many of our loyal brethren shouted too. Some of them tried to destroy the projector, but it seemed some kind of energy shield was protecting it. Damn Astral Tech! The refugees who are still loyal to the Tessia Kingdom are revolting, and the soldiers in power armor are surrounding the place, trying to look intimidating.

Yes... they are really intimidating, but they just stand there and don't step into the refugee area. I see, they just want to contain us here and don't want us to go outside! Damn corpo dogs!

And the program continues...

—

"I have... evidence of all of this," Cortez began, as graphs and evidence appeared on the screen.

"As you know, the Tessia royal family needed a lot of money to develop this bioweapon. And as a small country in Southeast Asia where most people live in poverty, where were they going to find that money? Taxes alone weren't going to cut it. Please look at this presentation." Cortez switched to an infographic about a major corporation in the Tessia Kingdom that everyone knew: The Prescott Group.

"As you know, The Prescott Group is a large conglomerate that encompasses many corporations—food, energy, communication—nearly every aspect of life requires their products or services. The largest shareholder of this conglomerate is not Mr. Benjamin Prescott, but the royal family, holding nearly 45% of the stock." Mr. Cortez then turned toward the camera.

"Now do you know why your living expenses are so high? You don't have enough money to pay taxes, but that doesn't mean your money isn't going into the royal family's pockets. To those who are grateful to the royal family for accepting your taxes despite your poverty, consider your favor repaid—your money is in the royal family's safe hands," Cortez said, mocking the viewers.

"So… Is this the reason why the electricity bill didn't decrease despite the royal family asking the Prescott Group to lower it?" the host asked.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Mr. Cortez laughed out loud before answering. "Yes, it's just a show, a show to say, 'We, the royal family, have your best interest in mind, people.' They have 45% of the shares. Why can't they intervene in the conglomerate's decision-making? Besides, the price of oil and raw materials for producing electricity isn't that high," Cortez said, then the presentation changed again.

"I'll let you see something that officially comes from the board of the Prescott Group." The presentation switched to a graph.

"Do you see the graph that's as high as a skyscraper? That's the profit margin—900% in electricity alone last year. And do you remember what happened last year? There's a significant relation to it. It's about your corporation's founder," Cortez prompted the host.

"Umm... Judging from the date... Is it because Mr. Emberweave announced the new energy?" the host answered.

"That's correct, Wendy. They knew they couldn't keep up the farce, so they immediately launched a price increase before their technology became obsolete. And that's after they were sure there was no way they could get the power generation technology from Daniel Emberweave because he didn't play along with them.

As you know, sabotage wasn't possible either. I suspect that Mr. Emberweave had his private military company working for him back then. Otherwise, the Tessia royal family might have used heavier methods to acquire things from Mr. Emberweave," Cortez said, sharing his suspicions. The host could only laugh and smile wryly.

"You don't want to answer? That's fine with me too," said Mr. Cortez.

—-

This... This is a lie! I refuse to believe it. It's a lie! But those Prescott profit margins... They're real.

I remember the mysterious shareholder in the Prescott Group... I even cursed them. It was all because of the corporations... But it's a lie.

I... I don't want to listen. Someone make it stop... I... I don't want to hear it anymore. If it's true, then...

then... all my misery, the bioweapon, the secret lab... Come to think of it, there's no way the corporations could have built a secret lab under the royal palace without the royal family's consent.

So... what about my dead wife and children? Damn them all... The royal family and the Prescott Group, those damn corporations! One day... One day I'll get my revenge.

I'll kill them all!

—