The Chaotic Max-Affinity Icarus Elimination Grand Operation

Honestly, if I was being completely frank, "not bad" didn't even begin to cover it.

Sure, it was the kind of open secret that anyone in the know already knew about…

But the Earth Federation as a faction had, for all practical purposes, already been seized by the Humanity Clan — and that fact was being discussed so openly it might as well have been public knowledge.

So if I ended up on friendly terms with the Humanity Clan?

That would mean enjoying the Pirate Union's protection through Marianne, while simultaneously maintaining good relations with the Space Monsters thanks to Princess Luca — currently living it up in the Nest of Life like some pampered little tyrant — and also getting a free pass from the Earth Federation. In other words, I'd become an unprecedented player under the patronage of three major factions at once.

Hell yeah.

Of course, while the Pirate Union's protection was one thing, the secret alliance between the Space Monsters and the Pirates — and the fact that they were shielding me because of it — was classified. So I carefully smoothed my expression, forced my excitement down, and opened my mouth with deliberate calm.

"Friendly relations, huh… Not a bad proposition."

"I thought you might see it that way, Lord Icarus."

And the moment I showed a positive reaction, Tiara — and by extension the Humanity Clan behind her — seemed eager to drive the nail home.

"It's a modest token, but…"

She immediately opened a player trade window and, calling it a gift, offered not only a pile of resources but even Gold for use on the auction house. I nodded at the gesture, then made a polite show of declining.

"No, please, don't trouble yourself."

"Oh, come now."

"Well, then…"

Of course, both of us knew my refusal was nothing more than courtesy. So in a thoroughly stoic atmosphere, Tiara and I sealed the trade and shook hands as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"I hope we can continue meeting on good terms going forward."

"But of course."

"Hahahaha."

"Hahahahaha!"

And while our Icarus was busy exchanging warm, friendly laughter with Humanity's representative in the Golden Reception Room…

Among the superhumans who had tagged along, Humanity Clan had dispatched SSS-grade Mirai along with S-grade Sherpa and August. One of the accompanying players — no, in truth a spy for Betelgeuse's Loki Clan by the name of Indian Machete — was watching Humanity casually secure a power boost right before his eyes, and the sight left him thoroughly rattled.

"Ah, this is bad. We're screwed."

If he just sat back and let this happen, Humanity Clan — Loki Clan's greatest rival — would smoothly reinforce its military strength. That much was obvious. So Indian Machete immediately dove into his dedicated one-on-one chat with Loki Clan's handler and fired off a rapid situation report.

The Chaotic Max-Affinity Icarus-sama Elimination Grand Operation. (1)

The contents of the report from Indian Machete — spy of Loki Clan and, simultaneously, an executive of Humanity Clan — were as follows.

He couldn't just sit there with his eyes open and watch Humanity Clan power up. The "elimination" he was proposing was pure chaos-sowing — specifically, putting into practice the "Icarus Base Terror Attack" operation that Antares had nearly been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠baited into once before. And not alone, either. He planned to whip up the former pro-attack faction — the ones who'd been saying Icarus needed to get wrecked — and put them to work.

But when Indian Machete's frantic report finally got a reply from Loki Clan's spy network handler, several full minutes had already passed…

As unfortunate as it was for Indian Machete personally, the moment news of Humanity Clan's "power reinforcement" reached Betelgeuse, she had verified the intel herself. And once she learned the target was Icarus, her position was clear: even without resorting to the so-called "elimination" method, there would be more than enough material later to drive a wedge between Humanity and Icarus. Better to detonate it at the perfect moment for maximum effect. Starting the beatdown this early? Where was the fun in that? She was currently sitting right next to the handler, casually swinging her legs and roasting Indian Machete through the chat.

Of course, Indian Machete had no way of imagining that Betelgeuse herself was perched right beside the handler he was talking to. So he immediately snapped back with more messages.

And when Indian Machete brazenly declared he was pushing ahead regardless of Betelgeuse's orders, Betelgeuse — who had been watching the whole thing — finally had enough and fired off a string of curses through the handler herself.

No matter how much spying he'd done, no matter how coldly analytical he'd supposedly become — the fundamental "troller" instinct never went anywhere. Watching Indian Machete go full rogue out of nowhere, Betelgeuse was once again reminded exactly what kind of people filled her clan. She clutched the back of her neck and started nursing a splitting headache.

And whether Betelgeuse's blood pressure was skyrocketing or not, our dear sp☆y…

…operating on that miraculous logic, began diligently preparing for the so-called Chaotic Max-Affinity Icarus-sama Elimination Grand Operation.

Of course, pulling a stunt like this meant there was a real chance he'd earn Betelgeuse's "favor" and get reverse-eliminated himself. But for a man who had carved Loki Clan's spy network motto deep into his heart — "If you're a spy, take initiative first and report later when necessary. Results are all that matter." — this was no different from any other job.

As long as he could sour the relationship between Icarus and Humanity Clan through a little rabble-rousing… or knock a ranker out of the game entirely…