Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Securing the Core
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The conversation's atmosphere had softened even further as the talk circled around.
Eventually, the topic turned to the spoils.
"There was an issue with disposing of the core."
"Yes. I've secured it for now and have it stored on my ship. How should we handle it?"
"Hmm..."
The cardinal couldn't give an immediate answer.
Given the goodwill he'd shown so far, it wouldn't have been strange for him to hand it over outright, but this wasn't something to dispose of lightly.
'At that level, even minimal processing would make it viable as a power source for a Behemoth-class ship.' That put it in the category of a strategic asset.
The Cross Alliance possessed only a handful of Behemoth-class ships themselves.
I spoke up first to the cardinal, who was deep in thought.
"Cardinal. Grant me ownership of the core."
"...Pardon?"
My sudden words seemed to catch him off guard.
He stared at me with wide eyes.
"I know how important the core is. That's why I'm not asking for it for free." To be precise, the ownership would likely be split 50-50 between the Cross Alliance and the Human Alliance.
And about half of the Human Alliance's 50% stake would belong to me.
So if the Cross Alliance handed over their 50% share to me, I'd secure a total of 75%, and with a bit of smooth talking to the higher-ups, I'd claim it without issue.
"If you needed it, you should have just said so. I'd have gladly handed it over." The cardinal quickly gathered his thoughts and spoke in a pleased tone.
"No, I was only doing what any member of the alliance should."
The Cross Alliance was a group that absolutely needed to remain strong for the hopeful future I'd planned.
It wasn't as if I could fleece them when I should be grateful just to give.
On top of that, the Paradise sector—a key stronghold for the Cross Alliance—had been thrown into disarray by the Infected Overlord's surprise appearance.
They were now in a position to face even tougher battles than in the original story.
"Did I mention I'm affiliated with Salmon Research Institute? We'll waive the production license fees for combat mechs for the next three years."
"Pardon?"
"And for the energy amplifiers we've just started mass-producing, we'll offer them to your forces at the same price as our Alliance deliveries. With minor tweaks to the standard specs, they can be fitted to Cross Alliance standard rifles too."
"No, that's..."
The cardinal trailed off, swallowing hard. "Even as an insider, can you really decide that on your own?"
"Yes. I hold that much authority."
"Huh..."
His surprise was understandable.
Since inventing the energy amplifier, Salmon Research Institute's status had skyrocketed beyond comparison.
A position at Salmon that could unilaterally decide such major contracts wasn't one to be taken lightly.
"...I'd love to decline out of courtesy, but my position won't allow it."
"You've made the right call."
I extended my hand with a smile.
The cardinal gripped it firmly.
*
The next day, the second assault on the hatchery commenced.
If the previous goal had been removing the core and the Infected Overlord, this time it was to completely shut down the hatchery's functions.
Three days after the Infected Overlord's elimination, the contamination levels had significantly neutralized.
It was still higher than a standard hatchery's, but not enough to hinder entry.
Once the contamination density was confirmed safe, the rest was a piece of cake.
Deprived of the core, the Aliens had lost their command structure and showed no organized resistance—only scattered remnants blocking the path by chance.
Sweeping them aside, the assault force advanced swiftly and reached the depths once more, where the surviving Aliens were attempting to rebuild the core.
Judging by its fluctuations, the new core barely reached first-phase levels, struggling even to maintain the hatchery, let alone produce more.
Reactivating the hatchery would take at least a month, by our estimates.
But we weren't about to give them that time.
The assault force thoroughly demolished the hatchery.
Even after scouting every corner, the operation wrapped up in just eight hours—shorter than the first assault.
Over the following two weeks, we conquered every hatchery in Paradise.
'Quite the haul.' Back in my cabin on the ship to Valhalla, I appraised the spoils.
Top of the list, naturally, was the grade-6 hatchery core, enhanced to exceptional quality by the Infected Overlord's influence.
I'd have to surrender all the other cores acquired over those two weeks to the higher-ups for it, but I felt no regret. Second was my rapport with the cardinal.
Or more accurately, the strengthened ties with the Cross Alliance.
I'd bestowed favors so one-sidedly that it bordered on charity, but considering our long future together, it was undoubtedly a smart move.
And who knows—with even closer relations down the line, I might gain something truly vital.
Next up were the traits.
During the operation, I'd encountered numerous new Alien varieties.
After getting burned once by the Reds, it felt more like treasure hunting now, but with the sheer numbers, hits were inevitable.
Especially the trait from the Infected Overlord—it was just as I'd hoped. -Infected Overlord's Blessing
Generates energy with special properties. Targets infused with this energy awaken their physical abilities until the energy is depleted.
The Infected Overlord's traits broadly fell into three categories: spreading contamination, interfering with Aliens, and enhancing them.
The key one—spreading contamination—wasn't suitable for me.
Interference tied into the Overlord's physiology, so even if I acquired it, I couldn't put it to use. That left enhancement.
Infected Overlord's Blessing.
This was why the high-risk Aliens we'd faced inside the hatchery had shown boosted combat prowess.
Using the Blessing granted an effect akin to doping.
Not the weak stuff athletes use.
This was the kind that could nearly double your power in an instant.
But there were side effects.
The Blessing triggered hyperactive cell responses, leading to random mutations and severe exhaustion.
For Aliens, it didn't matter how grotesque they got—they didn't care about looks anyway. But for me, it was different.
'I'll test it slowly.'
I'd accepted it despite the side effects because I had a countermeasure.
The mutations from the Blessing resulted from special energy effects, akin to Alien contamination.
Meaning, I could self-heal via my ability.
'Got a trait perfect for short battles.'
Post-Blessing exhaustion worried me, but with healing fluid, recovery would be swift.
And if exhaustion scared me that much, I could just end things before it hit.
But one thing, I couldn't help.
'It's grown again...'
I checked the mirror.
After applying the trait, my horn had grown slightly larger.
It had grown last time after acquiring Infiltration, and now another energy-conversion trait had enlarged it further.
The bigger horn was losing its cuteness.
Its color had changed too.
It had started blue-ish, but was darkening.
Yet when channeling horn power, it emitted a soft glow, exuding a mystical presence.
'Good or bad...' At least it didn't look hideous—that earned points.
-Thumb and Index Finger
Bishop's hand muscles, developed for spear handling. Vastly increased nerve clusters in thumb and index finger. Heightens fingertip sensitivity, flexibility, and strength.
-Flexible Joints
Bishop's physical trait enabling bizarre spear maneuvers. Expands range of motion in wrists, elbows, and shoulders.
These two were my first direct physical enhancements in a while.
Both from Bishops—low info load, high effect, so I adopted them.
Combined with the 'Sturdy Wrists' from the Blade Beetle, my hand strength now had few rivals at this volume.
-Infected Overlord's Blessing
-Thumb and Index Finger
-Flexible Joints
-Biomass Bones
-Reactive Exoskeleton
-Sticky Leg Tendons
-Thick Heels
-Infiltration
-Natural Camouflage
-Healing Fluid Secretion
-Rubber Band Stomach
-Small Liver
-Frog Legs
-Vampire Fangs
-Super Lymphocytes
-Sturdy Wrists
-Deep Lungs
-Hyperreactive Nerves
-Wind Antenna
-Rapid Cell Division
My traits now numbered twenty.
Add the transplanted Red left arm and Blue Demon horn, and my body had undergone massive changes.
'...Looking at it like this, am I even human?'
In some ways, I'd clearly transcended humanity.
I had abilities no pure human could possess.
Even Nexter—the pinnacle mutant from the original—didn't stack up.
Scratching my head, I examined other spoils.
Among them was the spear used by the Bishop.
Like the Dread Knight's sword, it was hatchery-forged, but made of a special metal unrelated to contamination.
Exceptional hardness and toughness, plus it stabilized specific energy flows.
Without this spear, the Bishop's black aura sword would have lost half its power.
But I needed it for another reason.
'Finally found one.'
The metal composing this spear was material to reinforce my Biomass Bones.
Mix it with a few more items and consume over time, and I could push my body even further.
Then, I might even beat an Iron Giant-trained martial artist in a toughness contest.
Four days passed swiftly as I applied traits and recovered.
*
With the Human Alliance's front lines under constant Alien assault, all existing survey teams operate in the outer reaches—opposite the warzone.
The Columbus Survey Team, active since the same era as the legendary Stella Walker team, never halted deep-space exploration despite the war.
Today, their captain, Grimwell, was in high spirits.
"Uahaha! Look at this—Glass Metal!"
"Score! Nice one, Captain."
Glass Metal was a rare metal prized across advanced industries.
Demand outstripped supply; synthesis was tough, mining harder, so it fetched top prices.
Today, the Columbus team had discovered a massive meteor cluster laced with it.
For a team with no gains after nearly a year in space, it was a godsend.
"Back up the navigation logs and start operations!"
"How many should we deploy?"
"All of 'em! Once done, we head home!"
The crew sprang into action.
Some boarded work exosuits and exited the ship to plant signal beacons around.
With no Drive Gate this far out, these were essential to return.
Plant beacons at intervals, follow nav logs to a safe AD Drive spot, then trace signals back to the resource.
"Space 'em out far! One here's set—put the next on that big meteor up top."
"Got it."
The rookie surveyor jetted through space at his senior's order.
Meteors looked clustered from afar, but up close, distances were vast.
Even the closest spanned kilometers.
After a long swim, he arrived, braking with retro-thrusters, clinging carefully to the rock before sighing in relief.
"Alright, just this one and..."
A year cooped in cramped quarters, eating and sleeping there.
On his first voyage, achieving this felt amazing.
Body aching, but big payoff meant fat bonuses.
Survey work paid premium for the risks—enough to buy a home on the homeworld.
"Wait for me, Lindsey."
Thinking of his fiancée, he focused.
But that oversight let him miss the shadow creeping closer.