Shared Berth and Imperial Doubts
“You folks seem like nobles, but this room's better than the one I use, so no complaints, alright?”
“This is plenty.”
“Bathroom's out the door and to the left. It'll take about nine hours to get there, so catch some shut-eye and you'll wake up right on time.”
“We'll play it by ear.”
Nine hours? That's a bit farther than where we started from.
“And try not to come up on deck if you can help it. It'll just cause headaches for both of us.”
His warning hung heavy in the air, and Eden and I nodded in unison.
“These guests are easy to deal with for once. Last time was a nightmare.”
“Must've been rough.”
“Gotta make a living somehow. I'll bring food when it's time. Rest up.”
With that, the man delivered his full message and left the room.
“I'm beat. You too, Captain?”
“Yes, sir. Only got two hours of sleep—feels like I'm dying here.”
And that was after some deranged superior woke me without warning, making it even worse.
Then Bessinia shows up out of nowhere, and now I'm on a smuggling ship. How is this not a movie?
Just one sigh escaped me for real.
“I've had two days totaling two hours. You've been living the high life, Captain.”
Eden's words hit me like a punch to the back of the neck—I clutched it instinctively.
Damn bastard.
Couldn't argue when he was suffering too. Just had to suck it up.
“One bed here. You take it.”
“I was planning to anyway. Join me, Captain. It looks narrow, but two can fit fine.”
“Pardon…?”
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Share that single bed?
Something you'd only dream of with a lover or family.
“Problem?”
“No, sir… but won't it be cramped for you?”
“Since when do you worry about me like that? I sleep fine on construction sites. Don't fret.”
No. No. I am fretting.
How the hell did I end up in this mess?
“I'll just crash on the floor.”
“A noble captain sleeping on the floor? Nothing stupider than nodding off on duty from exhaustion. No stubbornness.”
His logic was airtight again—no countering it.
Fine, sleep it is. I'm probably just overthinking this.
I shoved down the discomfort, kicked off my shoes, and lay on the bed.
Moments later, Colonel Eden settled right beside me.
I braced for awkwardness…
“Whiiieeeew, huuuuh, whiiieeeew.”
Five seconds—no, three—and he was out cold.
“What a… monster.”
“These damn pirate scum, asking us for our opinion without a second thought!”
Riiip!
Emperor Simon of the Aditz Empire vented his rare fury, tearing the neutral declaration with both hands.
“Your Majesty, it's a diplomatic blow, but you must calm down.”
“Can Duke Seto stay calm in this? We're losing ground every step.”
From the defeat at Rimir Castle, the failed Bisok operation, and now an ally's defection.
The emperor's anxiety was entirely understandable.
“With trust shattered, Osiris Kingdom's neutrality was inevitable. Your Majesty, we need to assess and redirect.”
“Hah… how did it come to this? You're right, Duke. Time to pull ourselves together.”
Simon pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a deep sigh.
“Duke Seto, what do you think we should do?”
“The enemy will strike somewhere the moment winter ends. Preparing for that is priority one.”
“We're already on it—repairing Belgium Fortress walls and bolstering troops, I hear.”
“Your Majesty, with Osiris neutral, we can't assume they'll target Belgium Fortress outright.”
Simon frowned, baffled by Duke Seto's words.
“If not Belgium, where? I'd prefer they hit elsewhere—let us retake Rimir.”
Sure, multiple fortresses meant other options.
But considering value and geography, attacking another western fortress without taking Belgium was foolhardy.
“Not that, Your Majesty. They might target the sea—specifically Yalk Island.”
“Hm…? What are you saying?”
The Lycan Empire gunning for an island? Hard to swallow.
“If they're focusing west, why push so hard for Osiris's neutrality?”
Simon stroked his chin, pondering.
“True, it was sudden.”
“Duke, the Lycans fighting us at sea with their navy? Madness.”
Commander-in-Chief Maemold Sikaite, listening quietly, rejected the idea outright.
“Commander, neutrality voids our Yalk Island military pact. Is dismissing it wise?”
“I get the concern, but our navy won't lose to Lycan without support.”
As former navy chief, his pride in the fleet was unmatched.
“Still, with the pact void, we should reinforce.”
“Yalk and Hasmon Fortress already have ample warships docked. Duke, no one's more expert on sea than me—search the continent.”
A flat refusal from the commander.
Seto tried again, but the emperor cut in.
“Even I see the commander's point. We can't shift troops on a slim chance—not with our margins.”
“Your Majesty, losing Yalk would—”
“Enough. Our empire rules the seas unchallenged. Trust them.”
More possibilities would just give the overloaded emperor a headache.
“But since it's you, Duke, have the commander review closely.”
“As Your Majesty commands.”
The emperor clutched his throbbing forehead, ending the topic while saving the duke's face.
“So, better to detour north over the ridge instead of the planned canyon pass—even if it's longer.”
“Makes sense. We'll adjust.”
Back in the capital unexpectedly after the mission, Colonel Eden and I briefed on recon findings.
Thought we'd head straight south for ops. What the hell is this?
Steam fizzled out of me.
“Additionally, Hasmon Fortress defenses were as expected—lackluster. Wall height lower than intel suggested…”
Eden's report continued.
Mostly known info, but plenty new.
When the hell did he survey that?
From this trip together, one thing was clear.
This guy was either an alien or post-human.
“That's all from this recon op.”
Eden finished, eyeing Major General Kelvin at the head.
“Good work. Clean intel, handling variables—classic Colonel.”
“Just one expected contingency—no issues.”
“You never cease to amaze.”
The commander smiled faintly, scanning the report again.
“I'd love to launch now, but schedule's backed up.”
“May I ask why, sir?”
Eden had wondered the whole way back—natural question.
“Enemy's sniffing around. Reports say Commander Maemold's inspecting Hasmon now.”
“Their commander-in-chief…? Leak?”
My face twisted at the thought of op cancellation.
Hey, no jokes. We risked our necks.
Realistically, cancellation wouldn't bother me.
But it felt too anticlimactic.
“If leaked, they'd fortify hard. Reports say no.”
“Suspicion, then.”
“That's the read. Osiris neutrality probably tipped them.”
Made sense if you connected dots.
Someone smart over there.
Bad omen.
“So, op status?”
“On hold till Maemold leaves Hasmon. Legend's a legend, age or not.”
Training camp lesson flashed: Maemold Sikaite—monster among monsters.
Undefeated general, navy godlike figure.
“Don't worry. Just a delay—landing op's on.”
Not that worried, but I nodded to the commander.
“Briefing ends here. Captain Palan, stand by for next orders—rest, visit home.”
De facto vacation.
My lips twitched upward—too mercenary.
“Thank you for the consideration… ahem.”
“Meeting adjourned. Colonel Eden, a word.”
Major General Kelvin left, kindly taking Eden too.
No need to wait, right?
Who knew when that'd end? Waiting was inefficient—he hated that.
Yeah, head home. Exhausted.
Decision made, no hesitation in action…
“Captain Palan.”
Just as I stepped toward home plans.
A heavy star called me.
“S-Sir…? Yes, sir!”
Brigadier General Gevil Terf, intel director from the briefing.
His eyes sparkled eagerly at me.
“Tremendous work on recon.”
“No, sir! Just doing my duty for intel.”
Mouthed the rote response—zero enthusiasm, not even 0.1.
“Always tracking your devoted, stunning results—even across departments.”
“R-Really…?”
First I'd heard of it.