Chapter 133

“Hold on a moment.”

At Rigerda’s remark, Tomban stopped the video.

“Why is that, Admiral?”

“Didn’t you notice this creature’s face just now? What does that behavior signify?”

“I don’t know. The information provided by the other fleet had very little on this native organism… this human.”

“Hmm…”

Rigerda fell into thought at Tomban’s response.

Though the lack of information was regrettable, they had always seen the Cryptids and Invaders as the main obstacles of their conquest operation, not considering humans as primary adversaries.

‘There’s nothing else to do, it seems.’

Rigerda collected her thoughts.

“Please continue.”

“Yes, Admiral.”

The video resumed.

The girl – Edu – who had been still, began to move again.

[The reason I’m contacting you now is because I think you might have started to notice by now.]

Edu smirked across the screen.

Without understanding that action, Rigerda still furrowed her brows with an uncomfortable feeling.

[And here we are! The Third Interstellar Navigation Fleet no longer exists! Though I’m telling you this just in case… Surely, you didn’t actually know this already, did you?]

Her exaggerated actions were laced with mockery.

In clear mockery, Edu’s attitude left Rigerda scowling.

‘A substandard native organism, presuming to…!’

Rigerda suppressed her fury.

Was Tomban thinking the same thing? He trembled his antennae and spoke in a low voice.

“I’ve heard it many times now, but it’s still unpleasant.”

“…Hmm.”

[By the way, the ships you kindly passed along are in our plans for good use. We welcome any additional contributions from you anytime!]

Edu continued.

[However, we only needed the ships, and you sent along unnecessary extras.]

As Edu’s head slightly turned to the side, another screen appeared within the main screen.

Rigerda narrowed her eyes at the smaller screen.

A moment later, her eyes widened as she recognized what was contained within the smaller screen.

“Tu… Tomban! That’s-”

“…Yes, Admiral. It seems to be the survivors of the Third Interstellar Navigation Fleet.”

[Can you see them clearly? They are the people from your side who came with the ships. There are quite a lot of them.]

At the end of this, Edu’s playful tone shifted drastically into seriousness.

Caught off guard by the unexpected change, Rigerda tensed.

[To be honest… What you did to our people was so terrible that we considered reciprocating the same treatment, but as they say, hate the sin but not the sinner… right?]

Raising her right hand, Edu extended her index finger.

[Therefore, I’ll offer you a chance. The request from our side is simple. In exchange for all captives, you must fully liberate the land you’ve occupied and our people. That’s all there is to it. Quite easy, isn’t it?]

“That’s absurd!”

Contradicting Edu’s words, a reacting response.

But Rigerda’s voice was not something Edu within the video message could hear.

Edu continued speaking.

[The deadline is one week. If we don’t get any response by then, these prisoners won’t remain prisoners. It would be wise to consider carefully. And that’s all for now. Goodbye~]

“Hold-”

The video abruptly ended.

Tomban quietly murmured to Rigerda, whose hand instinctively reached out.

“Admiral, that was a video message.”

“…Ahem.”

Rigerda withdrew her hand with an awkward expression.

“Is that all?”

“That’s correct, Admiral. How will you respond?”

“Hmm…”

Rigerda paused briefly to think.

Her contemplation didn’t last long.

“Let’s delay by responding formally and work with the Fourth Interstellar Navigation Fleet to find a way out.”

“Understood, Admiral.”

…

In the headquarters of the Forward Base.

“By now, the aliens must have received the video message.”

“Hmm, that would seem right.”

The president nodded at my words.

“Will it work? Can’t that alien admiral just move the fleet?”

Freya asked cautiously.

“You needn’t worry. That one’s an incredible coward.”

The admiral of the First Interstellar Navigation Fleet, Rigerda.

She is described positively as a cautious commander but negatively as a coward lacking determination.

Still, with all precautions in mind, we tempered the provocation within the video message.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Frankly, there’s another reason they won’t move.”

“What is it?”

Freya tilted her head and asked.

“Hmph. What I mean is, while they are all part of the same nation, they are not harmonious comrades.”

Usustasha Galactic Empire.

As is common in vast territories of such empires, they seek honorary and prestigious values.

But beyond such ideologies, everyone knows that results and achievements are equally vital, since in the vast Empire, impressive outcomes are essential to climb the ladder.

Ideals versus realities, comrades yet rivals.

Because of this chronic issue, high-ranking officers maintain lukewarm relations with each other, regardless of their loyalty to the Empire.

Put simply, they resemble feudal lords or warlord factions constantly in rivalry.

“Come to think of it… When we fought the Third Interstellar Navigation Fleet, no one stepped in.”

“The ground forces are the same. Based on Edu’s observations, there’s a sense of intentional separation of occupied areas.”

Nodding, both the president and Freya agreed with the explanation.

“I’ll add a bit more to that. They are not engaged in desperate combat like we are. Even if it slightly affects their record, they will prioritize the safest path.”

Currently, the Imperial Army is only defending territories they’ve conquered while dealing with Invaders and Cryptids on Earth.

And even then, only the Fourth Interstellar Navigation Fleet is making the tough decisions while the Third Fleet, stationed in the rear, remains complacent.

Would the First Fleet, having preserved its full strength, suddenly descend on Earth and engage in battle?

That’s absurd.

Even if the elite fleet had already achieved all its goals, they might not act solely for the Empire’s sake.

“Then, shall we proceed to the next phase?”

“Let’s do it. Freya, what’s the status on that one?”

“I gave the orders just now, so they should be arriving soon.”

Just as Freya said, the door soon knocked.

Knock knock.

– Commander, I’ve brought the prisoner you requested.

“Alright, come in.”

– Yes, excuse me.

The door of the headquarters swung open.

Several soldiers came in and saluted us.

“Hurry up!”

“A, understood.”

Responding to the soldier’s harsh command, an alien hesitantly stepped forward.

His fish-like shiny skin, with eyes bulging on both sides, was dressed not in a grand uniform, but in tattered clothing, his face sullen.

This was Toric, captain of the first destroyer we captured.

“Huh? You two…!”

“You two?”

Toric’s words drew an immediate reaction from the soldiers.

Their threatening shout made Toric flinch. Freya nodded, gestured with her hand for the soldiers to leave.

Understood the signal, they saluted again and exited the room.

Thus, only we four remained.

“Long time no see, Toric. How have you been?”

“…Yes.”

A lackluster response.

Even if commanders receive better treatment usually, the fact that he looks so down indicates he’s burdened by his betrayal of the Empire.

“Why are you looking so glum? Is it still bothering you about what happened before?”

“…”

A silent affirmation.

Sighing as I watched him.

“Toric, the incidents have already happened. Let’s stop dwelling on the past and talk about the future.”

“…Huh? The future?”

An uncomprehending reaction.

“Do I even have a future?”

“If there weren’t, we wouldn’t have called you here, Toric. We have a favor to ask of you -”

“I won’t betray my comrades again.”

“Ah, you should hear the whole thing before refusing. Would your current stance really be the best choice?”

The subtle threat made Toric swallow audibly.

I waited silently.

His eyes increasingly filled with anxiety and restlessness.

Good, seize this moment…

“Well, if you refuse, there’s nothing we can do. Please leave.”

“Huh?”

Toric’s confusion at the nonchalant dismissal.

“Freya, ask the soldiers to bring him back to his cell.”

“Alright, just-”

“Wait! Hold on!”

Toric urgently interrupted our conversation.

“Why are you stopping, Toric? You didn’t say listening to the story sounded displeasurable, did you?”

“I… It’s not that! I may have acted prematurely. I apologize.”

With a more desperate tone, Toric bowed his head.

Trying hard not to smile at his submissive demeanor.

“That’s better. Frankly, Toric, wasn’t what we did last time also by your choice, not coercion? Right?”

“…Yes.”

Answered with difficulty, stained with guilt.

Feeling the situation unfold as planned, I continued swiftly.

“But, in a way, Toric’s decision wasn’t just for his own benefit.”

“Huh? What do you…?”

“If Toric had died carrying a false charge, would his subordinates have been alright?”

“…”

Toric’s silence.

Through subtle persuasion, his guilt transforms. The burden of being a traitor dissolves, becoming a big decision made for himself and his subordinates.

“…You’re right about that.”

A slightly relieved response.

Good, nearly there.

“But, I also know Toric’s heart hasn’t been at peace, which is why this isn’t about betraying comrades.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Just to be clear, if you handle this task well, we’ll return a fully functional destroyer and all your remaining crew.”

“…”

Gulping.

Offering them as a reward linked to the earlier conversation, Toric’s once-dull eyes regained their light.

“Is this true? The ship and the crew…?”

“Yes, absolutely. So, what’s your decision?”

“I’ll do it!!”