Chapter 66

Chapter 66. Faction Sentiment (5)

And apart from that ‘tendency’ being different from expectations, what’s truly fortunate is that the ‘tip post’ written by some old-timer wasn’t wrong after all.

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Title: Hey, the faction characteristics summary is still the same though

Author: Jack O’ Lantern

Content: [Image of a majestic fleet]

I was lowkey hella worried after seeing all those changes, but when I actually tried it, only the events and quests were weirdly different.

The fleet characteristics and other mentioned parts either didn’t change much or just stayed the same.

So, everyone can just relax and keep enjoying it, y’know?

But for those who were expecting something else, just give up already.

Comments:

– [Well, that’s a relief.]

– [So, dealing with fleets is still the same?]

– [Probably?]

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After checking the gallery’s reactions, I felt it was time to make a choice.

Though, in the midst of this, there was a tiny hiccup where I had no idea where the ‘selection screen’ was and ended up wandering around.

But after rummaging through my Status Window and command console, I finally found the newly created ‘Faction Selection’ screen.

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[Choose a Faction!]

[1. Pirate Alliance]

[A group aiming to plunder everything in the universe under the command of the Pirate Empress.]

[Joining this faction favors ‘Superhuman Training and Development.’]

[2. Xenobia Empire]

[A cosmic empire composed of various alien species, including Space Elves, seeking to show ‘mercy’ to inferior races.]

[Joining this faction favors ‘Technological Advancement.’]

[3. Space Monsters]

[A group of intelligent alien monsters from the far reaches of outer space.]

[Joining this faction favors ‘Fleet and Troop Production.’]

[4. Earth Federation]

[The homeland of the Commanders, a nation primarily composed of ‘humans.’]

[Joining this faction favors all areas except the main specialties of other factions.]

[Warning!]

[If you leave your chosen faction, you must wait at least 1 month before joining another!]

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Just as the gallery said, it didn’t seem much different from what the old-timer had written.

Nodding, I decided to stick to the original plan and choose our Space Monsters, the Ajoshis.

Of course, during this process, there was some grumbling about the already predetermined choice.

“Buuuuuu…”

“Oh, come on, why are you like this?”

Our Pirate Empress, Marian, puffed her cheeks and voiced her dissatisfaction.

“Anyway, everyone knows the Pirate Empress is practically a pirate herself.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Even though you’re here, the fact that I’m not joining the pirates shows how much I trust you, right?”

“…Heh, well, if you put it that way, I guess I can’t help it! Of course, you should trust me!”

Though I’d used this trick before, a bit of flattery and affection could calm the Pirate Empress’s volcanic anger (?).

Anyway, after subtly suppressing the complaints that popped up, I decided to finish the faction selection I’d left halfway.

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[3. Space Monsters][Selected]

[A group of intelligent alien monsters from the far reaches of outer space.]

[Joining this faction favors ‘Fleet and Troop Production.’]

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[You have chosen the Faction: Space Monsters.]

[A communication link with the faction will arrive shortly.]

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As soon as I selected the faction, a message popped up, and…

-Beep beep! Beep beep!

“Commander, a massive object… no, a lifeform has been detected at the northeast coordinates!”

“Ah, they’re already coming?”

Hearing Jessica’s urgent voice, I turned my head toward the reinforced glass of the command center.

From the vast expanse of space, a giant… Space Pupa? was flying toward us.

A living satellite?

Anyway, I saw this bizarre, hard-to-describe biological structure flying towards us.

Naturally, Jessica tried to activate the base’s air defense system, but I stopped her.

“Jessica, cease fire.”

“Huh?”

“That’s an ally, that thing.”

“Ah, it looks so weird, I couldn’t help it.”

==========

Strangely enough, the Space Pupa flying towards us seemed to deliberately avoid the air defense radar we had constantly turned on.

It gradually slowed down and approached… and after a while.

“That huge… pupa is about to approach the base, Commander.”

“Leave it be. It’s going to semi-parasitize our research lab and communication facilities.”

“Eww… parasitize?”

==========

As if to prove my words true, the Space Pupa, which had flown from the distant monster’s home planet nest, reached near the newly built Biological Research Institute and the Dimensional Signal Collection Communication Amplification System module.

It gently and softly attached itself, and soon, tentacles and mucus began to seep out from its hard shell, slowly taking over the base.

The sight reminded me of the Necromorphs from Dead Space or the enemies from the classic game Contra, and Jessica, who was watching, frowned with a hint of disgust.

“Eww, it looks really grotesque.”

“Yeah, it does.”

==========

To be honest, if it weren’t for the fact that the system proved we were in an absolute friendly relationship, I would have immediately deployed troops and fleets towards those modules.

The visuals alone made me want to smash the modules and the entire base.

But as many users have already proven, as long as we’re on the same team, these space monsters are surprisingly gentlemanly.

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[Notification]

[The neural network with the Hive Mind has merged with the base.]

[By joining the Monster Faction, the following buffs have been granted to your base:]

[‘Monster Nest’ module unlocked]

[As long as the ‘Monster Nest’ exists, the efficiency of the ‘Biological Research Institute’ increases by 15%]

[Additional research points can be obtained when developing biology-related technologies]

[‘Monster Fleet’ production and ‘Biological Ship System’ can be applied to existing fleets]

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Seeing the timely notification, I headed straight to the Biological Research Institute with Jessica, where the monster representative was waiting.

==========

And the moment we arrived, who else but…

“Oh my♡ Commander? I never thought you’d bring such a precious sample for me♡”

Gryanarr, who was stationed at the Biological Research Institute for quests and leveling up, greeted me with a wide, sinister smile.

Of course, knowing her settings, I immediately gave her a warning to prevent any potential mishaps.

“Just to be clear, they came here as allies, Gryanarr.”

“Don’t worry too much, I know. I won’t recklessly experiment on our allies.”

==========

Even as she said that, Gryanarr herself was settling into various spots in the Biological Research Institute, eyeing the glossy, red-and-purple tentacles with a hungry look, which made me more than a little worried.

But that worry… disappeared in an instant.

A living wall, covered only in flesh, split open, and from within emerged an eyeball monster… no.

<[“So, you’re the ‘Commander’ who decided to join our faction.”]>

The monster representative appeared, speaking directly into my mind like telepathy, and instantly, all my worries vanished.