Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: A Meeting at the Estate
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The meeting took place at the family estate.
As I entered the reception room, I saw one man and one woman already waiting.
They both looked a bit on in years, and somehow cowed.
"I'm Leonard Monarch, the one who contacted you. This is my colleague, Roze the Superhuman."
"I'm Frederick."
"I'm Katina."
I offered them seats first and sat down across from them.
Only then did they cautiously take their seats, after confirming I was settled.
"I thought you'd rejected us since the reply took so long, so thank you for coming all this way."
"It was something I couldn't decide on my own, so it dragged out a bit. My apologies."
"I take it coming here now means you're open to my proposal?"
My offer was simple.
A formal investment in the Horizon Aviation Training Institute.
I'd attached a list of what we'd provide if they accepted, most of which were things their current situation made it hard to even dream of.
"It's a generous offer that caught us off guard. If you don't mind me asking, what about us prompted such a proposal?"
Frederick stepped forward with the question.
His eyes clearly held suspicion about any ulterior motives.
"You know my situation, right?"
"Yes, you've been assigned to run an independent unit this time..."
"I plan to keep expanding that independent unit's size going forward. Every time, I'll need crew willing to board risky warships, but it's such a hassle."
I said it like it was no big deal.
It might come off a tad flippant, but that was deliberate.
"You're doing all this just for that? With that kind of money, you could hire skilled crew anytime."
"Haha, try it and see how long they last. You know my family name, right?"
"Ah..."
No one living on York Planet would be unaware of the Monarch name.
He made a face like it suddenly clicked.
A house like Monarch would see spending like this as par for the course, no doubt.
"And I really like the family-like atmosphere at Horizon. Not that I, with all my money, should be saying it, but money alone can't do everything, right? Loyalty's the same."
In this era, prizing loyalty might seem odd.
But precisely because it's this era, it's all the more crucial.
Civilization and tech have advanced, we're pioneering space, but the vastness of the universe and the distances between planets have isolated worlds from each other.
In the end, massive corporations and houses have become the new nations of the age.
"Couldn't you just get crew from the military?"
"I want to run the independent unit as autonomously as possible. Filling key ship crew positions with military personnel would make that tough."
The easy route wouldn't be bad.
But I wanted a truly independent unit.
Filled solely with my own people who'd follow me even on bizarre ops.
"I think that's explanation enough."
I cut it there, prompting a response.
Frederick exchanged a glance with Katina, then nodded.
"We'll accept the proposal."
"I'll leave management to you. What I want is for the institute to keep its current philosophy."
"...Thank you."
"But you know what you need to do for me in return, right?"
My goal from the start: warship crew.
I'd spent extra thinking long-term, but with the chance of snagging that genius too, it was money well spent.
"I'll go."
"You, Frederick? As I understand it, you're the institute's director."
"It's just a title for outsiders. We don't fuss over it internally. Think of it as a mask I got stuck with because I liked it."
Frederick was definitely a character.
With his stylishly groomed beard and deep-set eyes, he was the picture of a well-aged middle-aged man.
"You won't be going alone, I assume?"
"Right. Including me, three instructors and seven grads will serve under the captain."
I had to pause at the title he used for me.
It was the first time I'd been called "captain."
It was one of the titles I'd hear from now on, but I couldn't hide the quiet thrill.
"Exactly ten people."
"For a Sheila-class ship, ten of us will be more than enough."
He seemed worried it might feel too few.
But I'd figured on maybe five and called it good, so no complaints here.
When I didn't reply right away, Frederick elaborated.
"Our instructors' skills hold up anywhere. The grads are top-notch too; they're just struggling to find jobs. We may be poor, but we scraped together facilities to teach cutting-edge ship ops, so they'll adapt fast."
"Solid. Guess I can count on you from here on, Director."
"We're the grateful ones for this overly generous treatment. Now we can flesh out our curriculum even more."
"World's best crew trainers—dare I hope?"
I asked with a touch of personal interest.
Frederick flushed a bit as he replied.
"Of course. Not just talk, either—we've got a trainee right now with insane talent. Learns so fast, if she keeps it up, world's best isn't hyperbole."
"I'd like to meet her sometime."
"You're the institute's new benefactor; you should tour the facilities."
"Nah, I'm just an investor with an employment contract. You're the real owner running the place."
We traded a few more rounds of humblebrags.
It felt like hives breaking out trying to say stuff I wasn't used to.
Still, I kept my tongue rolling to plant a good impression.
*Gotta start off right.*
Using people isn't something to half-ass.
Frederick was someone I'd be with long-term; screwing up from the jump would be a nightmare.
Plus, while I'd done something huge from their view, it boiled down to just spending money.
True loyalty would take nonstop effort going forward.
"Captain."
Suddenly, Frederick lowered his voice.
"You should drop the formal speech now. We're your crew, and you're our commanding officer."
"You're not even officially on the roster yet."
"Better get used to it starting now. Easier for us that way."
It didn't sit right jumping straight to casual with someone way older.
I cleared my throat, then spoke.
"Fine. We'll do that. Looking forward to working with you."
"The feeling's mutual."
Frederick and Katina saluted in unison.
He'd said he'd eaten in the military once; the moves still had snap.
"Departure's in three days. Have all boarding personnel finish preps and assemble at the Monarch Dock Station's shipyard in orbit by then."
Three days to ship out to the front might feel tight, but it was specified in the message.
Frederick acknowledged, then asked when I'd tour the institute.
"Schedule's packed now, so next time."
No real rush, and the institute held little interest currently.
I'd seen academy facilities before; the only draw was that one genius, and better to show up after aid kicked in and facilities changed—let them chalk it up to me.
"Then, see you in three days."
We talked institute business another hour before wrapping.
Their bright faces leaving suggested a promising partnership.
*
Crunch! Grind!
Smack smack!
In pitch-black darkness where even right in front couldn't be made out, the sounds of something being eaten echoed loudly.
The overlapping noises suggested more than one or two creatures chowing down.
And they kept at it so voraciously the smacking didn't stop after ages.
Then, suddenly, the ceiling's membrane peeled open, flooding the interior with light.
Grarl?
The unidentified eaters looked up.
Bloody somethings rained down on them.
They scrambled for the fresh meat.
Even with plenty, they fought each other, greedily hugging chunks and shoving them into their maws.
"...Gah!"
After they'd snatched handfuls of the new fodder, the ceiling dumped the rest and sealed shut, plunging the space back into darkness.
Moments later, one of the last dropped bits opened its eyes.
Bloodied like the others, but alive—it coughed, coming to.
It looked around and startled.
"Eep!"
Fearing noise leakage, it clamped its mouth shut.
Crawling between the engrossed feeders, it wedged into a corner.
The floor and walls oozed horrific alien biomass texture, but it barely registered.
Now fully hidden, the man exhaled in slight relief.
But only briefly.
Realizing his plight fully, he sobbed quietly.
"...S-sob! H-hic-hic-hic!"
The stifled weeping circled the space.
Luckily, the feeding din masked it from escaping.
After ages, he sank into numb resignation, staring blankly.
Then, some thought struck; he peeked out, peering where he'd fallen.
Most armorsuit functions were busted, but luckily the helmet's night vision held, letting him scan the gloom.
*'There? No? Wait, yes. There it is.'*
His gear caught his eye.
Comms specialist gear—bulky comms kit, somehow transported with him.
He ducked back behind the wall, steadying his breath.
He agonized to the end.
Not for survival.
A contamination-riddled body couldn't last till rescue anyway—no point dwelling.
Easy death or gruesome one.
*'If I'm dying anyway!'*
Resolved, he peeled from the wall and belly-crawled forward.
Sweat soaked him quick.
Every alien limb brushing past for more food froze him silent.
Such caution, the short distance took thirty minutes.
He eased the comms unit close, gulping.
He'd steeled himself, but this was a long-shot gamble.
Hatcheries blocked comms to hide from alliance radars.
The wall membranes handled that; even max power might not punch through.
But no backing out now.
Hardening his will, he draped comrade corpses over himself to block stray light from the device, then activated carefully.
*'No good...?'*
Transmit only, no receive.
Max power, same story.
He pried the side panel, tinkering circuits.
Forcing overload.
One use then fried, but that wasn't his problem.
Prepped, he prayed inwardly and triggered it again.
Zzap-!
God heard?
As the signal fired, the ceiling membrane yawned open again.
Staring desperately at receive, he caught a tiny light blink in his display.
"It's...!"
Grurrr!
"...Aaaagh!"
His view flipped.
An alien had spotted and grabbed his leg.
It drooled at the still-live meal.
But he didn't tremble in fear.
"H-hehahaha! You're done for now! Done!"
He laughed, blasting its face with his energy gun.
The alien grimaced at the pathetic shot, then gaped wide.
Crunch!
Moments later.
The membrane that dumped new fodder sealed.
Darkness filled again with nothing but smacking sounds.