Chapter 127

Deep underground.

In a large tower shrouded in darkness, information on the Invaders mobilizing from all fronts is consolidated.

[Order, N325 Armored Combat Unit to move to A4-C1 area. Search and annihilation requested.]

[Acknowledged, N325 Armored Combat Unit moving to A4-C1 area. Initiating search and annihilation.]

Vast amounts of information are combined to derive the best outcomes while steadily building the steps towards an impeccable victory.

When they were carrying out their missions seamlessly, a leftover contingency in one corner of the decision circuit flagged a single fact.

– Suspicion.

The decision circuit was immediately split in half, automatically proceeding with its tasks while moving towards somewhere.

Soon, he opened his eyes under the dim sunlight, in the Invaders’ ground fortress.

Five chairs arranged in a dome-shaped space.

At the center of the table, the high-level processing unit emerged as a hologram and began to speak.

[Attendance, so let’s start the meeting-]

A hand was raised.

A robot with a human form but excessively long arms and legs, and a cylindrical face, blinked its gray sensors.

[Wait, K1. Eisen Lier is absent.]

[???]

Hearing that, the high-level processing unit – K1 – turned around.

As expected, one of the five chairs was empty, and a tremor arose within K1.

– What is this, why is he not here?

[Question, information regarding Eisen Lier’s whereabouts is required.]

[Ah, an inquiry. But so am I.]

The cylindrical-faced robot shrugged.

A robot with a triangular head resembling a face with heat vents, who stood nearby in an odd pose, blew out steam and responded.

[He is… impulsive. He must be doing something, right?]

K1 turned his head toward them.

A spherical robot with multiple legs and various devices attached signaled K1 and spoke on its behalf.

-…(Signal indicating lack of knowledge).

[…]

K1 turned his head toward the last target.

[I don’t know either.]

The same negative answer caused a slight waver in K1’s decision-making circuit.

At that moment, the door opened automatically.

K1 had been looking for Eisen Lier, who now walked steadily into the room.

[Ah, I’m a bit late!]

A figure of considerable size, larger compared to the others, swathed thoroughly in a thick gray mantle.

The face, reminiscent of an ancient knight, had a conical-shaped projection and a green sensor glowing beneath it.

K1 turned around to look at Eisen Lier.

[Eisen Lier, failure to abide by the designated timeline is an indication of insufficient rationality. An explanation for this situation is demanded.]

[I have nothing to hide from you. I brought a small force to confirm who our adversary truly was, someone capable of putting K1 in such a predicament.]

Eisen Lier reported as if it was no big deal.

However, K1 became greatly startled upon hearing those words.

– Why did you do that?

The first-generation command unit intended to be kept as a hidden card was exposed, which would cause a significant problem for future plans.

A flustered K1 spoke up.

[Understood? So, it is correct to interpret that you used forces without authorization to make contact with the bug? ]

[Accurate.]

[Unacceptable! Such impulsive actions are a deficiency in rationality. Eisen Lier should adhere more strictly to the directives of K1.]

K1 pressed Eisen Lier.

However, Eisen Lier only showed a dismissive reaction.

[ It was merely to analyze the enemy. K1, if you only wanted subordinates who follow orders, you wouldn’t have called upon us and given us the authority for independent operations, would you?]

Saying that, Eisen Lier turned to address his companions.

The other commanders also agreed with his words.

[That is a fair point.]

[My… thoughts… coincide.]

-…(Signal agreeing with the previous two).

[ I am in agreement as well.]

Another wave of slight waver arose at the one-sided support.

– This is why the first-generation command units are…!

The strong-willed first-generation command units often exhibited unpredictable behaviors, making it difficult to command them.

Nevertheless, given the unprecedented situation of a “Bug” occurrence, it would be wasteful not to utilize their exceptional abilities.

That is why K1 – the high-level processing unit – decided to summon them.

In other words, whatever the case may be, since K1 had summoned the first-generation command units by their choice, the unpredictable actions of the summoned ones also had to be endured by K1.

Realizing this, K1 slowly opened its mouth.

[…Acknowledged, Eisen Lier. Was the contact with the bug successful?]

[Of course! Beneath the seemingly fragile exterior lies a courageous warrior who exchanges danger for opportunity and possesses unyielding valor.]

Eisen Lier showered effusive praise.

[Truly, a worthy adversary!]

Gazing steadily at Eisen Lier nodding his head in affirmation, K1 slowly responded.

[Understood. I request the sharing of detailed information about the enemy’s patterns and combat styles.]

Thinking there was still something gained, K1 made a natural demand.

But upon hearing this, Eisen Lier tilted his head slightly.

[Hmm? Why do we need such a thing? Isn’t it just about fighting with all our might, accepting defeat if we lose?]

No, just want to fight like a man. If I lose, then I lose.

[Unacceptable! Not considering the means to achieve victory is madness! I demand detailed data for measures against the bug!]

You rat, hand over the information!

[ I refuse! To hide like a rat and plot despicable plans–that’s tossing pride out of the window, isn’t it!]

No, I don’t want to. I’ll keep doing things my way, so don’t interfere!

[ No…!]

Hey, you-

The conversation disconnected to the point where even the emotion module, allocated negligible memory, went out of control.

[ Whatever I say is useless. I move toward victory according to my way. Don’t force your thinking onto me.]

[…]

In complete misunderstanding, K1 unconsciously gripped their forehead in their subconscious.

Once again, a slight waver arose in the decision circuits.

The nature of this disturbance was a headache, something K1 thought would never be experienced once digitized.

….

A golden fleet advanced on the surface.

In the captain’s quarters near the command bridge of the flagship, the president rested together in the bed.

‘President and Edu have also had a lot to endure, so take a little rest.’

This scenario arose due to Freya’s insistence.

However, now lying on the bed, sleep did not come due to future concerns.

“Edu, you haven’t fallen asleep yet?”

“And what about you, president?”

“Hmm, I guess I’m being childish at this age… but with a big event approaching, I cannot sleep.”

An honest confession.

Upon hearing that, a question arose.

“President.”

“Yes? What is it?”

The president turned his head to look at me.

Behind the pale skin, his jewel-like crimson pupils shone vividly.

“I have a question.”

“Speak.”

“You seem to be in a rush, is there a reason for it?”

A brief silence.

The president, looking somewhat embarrassed, scratched his cheek.

“…Hmm, did it look like that even to your eyes?”

“Yes.”

“…Understanding so much has made it hard for me to remain calm.”

Upon hearing that, I remembered my own actions from days past.

“Ah, is it because of what I informed you?”

“Yes. But I am not blaming you, so do not have any peculiar thoughts.”

The president reached out and stroked my hair.

A gentle warmth flowed through my small hands.

“To be honest, I wasn’t without such thoughts. As the situation grows more perilous, I couldn’t shake off the continuous question—is my thinking too optimistic?”

His gaze was directed not at me but at some distant place.

“In such a situation, the knowledge you conveyed allowed me to make a decision. If something must be done eventually, isn’t it better to do it when the opportunity arises?”

Pat pat.

“Thus, Edu, you need not bear such an expression. Though you were the catalyst, it was this Ryuje Erdarkenen who decided to act.”

A confident declaration about himself.

Upon hearing that, as I was about to respond, there was a knock at the door of the captain’s room, and a familiar voice came from beyond.

– Edu, President. I think you should come take a look!

“Nisia…?”

“Let’s go and see what it is. Up, Edu.”

“Yes, excuse me.”

“Un.”

As soon as we stepped out of the captain’s cabin, Nisia was there to guide us.

She led both of us to the ship’s arsenal.

“Nisia, why are we here-”

“Edu, are you here?”

The voice had barely finished when another voice sounded.

“Eh? Sister Simonia?”

Turning my head toward the direction the voice came from, I saw Simonia standing in high security.

With short brown hair, wearing the red uniform of the 1st battalion underneath and a gold medal-festooned long coat on top, she stood there.

The curves that couldn’t be hidden by the clothing revealed her attractive figure, and the exposed parts of her body clearly showed the scales distinct to those with reptilian ancestry.

Golden eyes, with vertically slit pupils, gleamed beyond the slightly raised sunglasses.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“How did you find your way here?”

“I just used a well-known method.”

While licking her tongue, she approached me.

Just when Simonia extended her hand toward my head, the soldiers aimed their guns and shouted.

[Stop!]

The soldiers looked tense, perhaps thinking she intended to harm me.

“Things are too formal.”

Though Simonia replied casually, she complied with the soldiers’ instructions.

“It’s fine. Ms. Simonia isn’t someone who would engage in suspicious activity.”

[Pre…?]

The confused response from the soldiers.

Upon hearing my words, Simonia’s face lit up with a smile.

Her hand extended again, touching my head pat pat.

Only then did the soldiers realize Simonia’s actions and lowered their guns.

“You were involved in the incident while at the 2nd battalion, right? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, I’m fine. Sister Simonia, what brings you here?”

“I came to queue up.”

“Queue?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes flicked to the side.

“We’re having a revolution, aren’t we?”

Though directed at me, it was a somewhat ambiguous statement also aimed at the president.

The seriousness behind her golden gaze, visible behind the sunglasses, intensified.

“Eh? Did you know?”

“Yes, maybe we can discuss the details inside?”

“Sure.”

Responding thus, I bowed slightly to President Erdarkenen.

“President, is this permissible?”

“Uh…”

The president, frowning as he thought it over.

Though his expression seemed somewhat dissatisfied, his head gradually bent under the pleading gaze.

“Well, there is no harm in hearing the story.”

“Then, could you please guide us?”

…

In the 1st Ark, where the Ark government is located.

Within the Central Zone, known as Ark City, stood a massive fortress shaped like a crude box.

1st Battalion Headquarters.

Moss Hallet walked with steady steps down the lengthily extended corridors.

As he entered the command room, the soldiers and officers all rose from their seats to salute Moss, who nodded slightly.

Approaching him, the deputy division commander said,

“General, they are here.”

“Hmm, where are the boys?”

“They are quickly approaching the 1st Ark.”

As the deputy division commander spoke, a hologram emerged inside the command room, showing the landscape on the ground.

Amid the night sky, covered in a veil of darkness, something was approaching, flashing countless lights.

The golden-clad alien fleet.

This must be the new force of the ground reclamation army we heard about through the informants.

Moss’s cold gaze fixed on the hologram shifted back to the deputy division commander.

“Block power to all the elevators that can enter the Ark, gather troops, and prepare for defense. Absolutely do not let the rebels inside the Ark.”

“Understood.”

“By the way, where is Simonia?”

“I don’t know. Unable to reach her.”

“Hmph, incompetence.”

A sharp critique towards his daughter.

At that moment, a junior officer holding communication equipment raised his hand and shouted,

“General!”

“What is it?”

“A video call request has been received from those fellows. What would you like to do?”

“Video call…?”

A brief thought.

“Connect it.”

“Understood!”

Moss shifted his gaze to the hologram screen at the front of the command room.

He ordered the connection without much thought for the video call, purely as a part of information warfare.

‘President Ryuje or Commander Freya perhaps.’

Whoever it was, it didn’t matter.

Moss was confident that he could extract beneficial information from whoever the counterpart might be.

However, the opponent that appeared on the screen shortly after was someone far beyond Moss’s expectations.

“Ho…?”

Moss’s face clearly showed his bewilderment.

“Why are you there?!”

His trembling voice.

Watching this from the other side of the screen, Simonia licked her tongue and flashed a sly smile.

[Father, this time we meet through the screen?]