Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Unexpected Encounter
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To safely travel from Terra Planet to Yumaha Planet, it was best to make at least two intermediate stops.
The now-defunct Yamah Planet regular shuttle service had operated that way too.
But there was no time for that now.
The probability of an accident was less than 3%.
Excluding minor incidents like coordinate calculation errors, the chance of a truly serious problem was only 0.1%.
Naturally, I chose the shortcut route that only passed through New Eden Planet.
Thanks to Sia handling things efficiently, by the time I arrived on New Eden Planet, the combat ship was already ready for departure. I just had to board, and we could leave immediately.
'Saved 12 hours.'
When something like this happens, reacting as quickly as possible is always crucial.
By current estimates, the people left on Yumaha Planet had a very high chance of turning lawless.
Since they'd essentially been abandoned by the Union, it was understandable that they'd aim to survive on their own if they valued the planet they lived on.
However, isolated groups like that rarely survived well.
The Drive Gate was still there for now, but once the Union dismantled and recovered it, there'd be no way out.
Pushed into harsher conditions with dwindling supplies, what choice would they make?
Nine times out of ten, they'd turn into space pirates.
'It's a bit different, but...'
The group left on Yumaha Planet was the same.
They were already cornered.
Just attacking a transport carrying superhumans proved they were acting without regard for consequences.
They couldn't even hide the attack, so they were as good as Union's public enemies.
That's why the Union dispatched a combat ship so quickly.
However, what mattered here wasn't punishing the outlaws—it was confirming the status of the missing superhumans and rescuing them.
"We'll arrive at the destination soon. Prepare yourselves."
The captain informed me of the schedule.
Ten minutes until drive-out.
The captain was a colonel attached to the New Eden Defense Fleet.
Among the people I'd met recently, he was one of the rare ones showing a cold demeanor—not because he had ill feelings toward me, but because of his inherent aura.
'From a retribution unit?'
The Union employed several methods to solidify its influence over its vast living sphere.
One of them, not well-known to the public, was the existence of retribution units.
These units, fittingly described as "without blood or tears," operated entirely in secrecy, with all activities conducted below the surface.
Their most recent major operation was capturing key figures from Mutant Corp.
Mutant Corp had crumbled without mounting a proper resistance, largely thanks to the retribution units.
"As I said, please delay the attack on the terrorists as much as possible."
"Understood. But we can't wait forever. We need to confirm the superhumans' whereabouts as quickly as possible."
Unlike me, the captain considered punishing the outlaws just as important.
'Does he think they're already dead?'
Analyzing the situation data recorded with the rescue signal, the odds of Roze and Merdi being alive weren't high.
At the time of escape from the transport, Merdi was already on the brink of death, and Roze, being a physical-type, had no defense against anti-air fire.
Falling vertically to the surface for over three minutes while completely exposed to attacks, there was no way they could hold out with just their Core Weapon barriers.
"The two of them are alive."
I said, staring straight into the captain's eyes.
His cold face was hard to read.
But after a brief silence, an unexpected response came from his mouth.
"...I hope so too."
Leaving those words, the captain returned to his post.
'Who knows.'
At least he wasn't being unreasonable, which was a relief.
I'd asked him to delay the attack as much as possible because there was a chance Roze and Merdi had been captured.
Charging in blindly could lead to the worst outcome.
'Cornered people will do anything.'
If they thought they were done for anyway, they'd have no time to think about hostages or negotiations.
So, it was right to avoid rash actions until we had a clear grasp of the situation.
"Drive-out!"
With the captain's voice, the combat ship plunged back into a world governed by physical laws.
A white planet appeared beyond the bridge viewport.
*
"Ugh......"
Only occasional groans echoed in the cave.
Light reflecting off the walls illuminated a woman with snow-white hair.
Rustle!
At that moment, footsteps approached, and someone entered the cave.
They'd clumsily draped foliage over themselves for camouflage, but it only made them look dirtier.
"Merdi, Merdi?"
After calling her name a few times with no response, Roze sighed.
"Haa......"
Roze set down what she was carrying on her back.
She first took out a canteen and carefully poured water into Merdi's mouth.
"Can't spill it......"
The emergency kit's rations were already gone.
This was the last of the clean water.
She couldn't give dirty water to a patient like Merdi.
Roze was injured too, but not as critically.
Merdi was barely hanging on thanks to her Core Weapon's auto-repair function.
......Ugh?"
"Merdi?"
Just then, Merdi opened her eyes.
Her focus was off, but regaining consciousness alone made Roze leap with joy.
"Merdi! Are you awake?"
......Where is this?"
"Inside a cave. Hiding from people."
Roze hurriedly talked to her, afraid she'd pass out again, and offered her food.
Merdi grimaced at the hard-to-chew food, but when Roze kept pushing it without caring, she forced it down.
Boom!!
At that moment, a rumble came from somewhere outside the cave, a bit distant.
"Again."
Roze trembled, anxious that the cave might get bombed.
Five days ago, Roze had escaped the transport while holding onto Merdi and miraculously landed safely on the surface.
She'd used the enemy's anti-air fire to adjust her descent direction and slow her fall.
Arriving far from where the outlaws had set up camp, Roze desperately dodged further attacks and hid.
In the process, she'd even counterattacked and repelled enemies coming to capture them.
But the enemies were persistent.
As if nursing a grudge, they kept forming pursuit teams to hunt the two.
Luckily, their radar gear was subpar, making it hard to pinpoint their location. Otherwise, the two would already be captured or dead.
After days of chasing without success and only increasing their own losses, they resorted to indiscriminate bombardment like this.
Knowing Merdi's condition was poor, they aimed to worsen it this way.
"Is it over? Good......"
Once the shelling stopped, Roze let out a sigh of relief.
Then, the hitherto silent Merdi spoke.
......How long has it been?"
"Fifth day today. Hang in there a bit longer. Rescue should come soon."
"Five days?"
Merdi's eyebrow twitched.
......Already?"
Merdi tried to sit up but flinched from the pain in her chest.
Roze rushed over in alarm.
......I'm fine. Communications?"
"Tried a few times at first but stopped. Felt like they were tracking us every time."
"Good call."
It was position tracking.
Superhuman panels had built-in encryption, but any transmission attempt risked reverse-tracing the signal.
If they could reverse-trace, jamming was inevitable too, so successful contact was unlikely anyway.
Leaning against the wall, Merdi spread her hand to attempt her ability.
A weak current flowed along her fingertips before cutting off.
Merdi clutched her chest and groaned.
She tried again despite the pain but stopped at Roze's urging.
"Ugh......"
"Don't. Not now."
Merdi gritted her teeth.
She couldn't stand her own weakness.
Entrusting her life to someone else?
Even if it was Roze, whom she acknowledged, this situation was unacceptable.
"Damn it....... Just you wait!"
Flames seemed to rise in her eyes.
Thud! Thud!
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed inside the cave.
Intentional sounds, weighted steps meant to be heard.
Roze jumped up in surprise and turned toward the entrance.
'When......?'
Roze had kept vigilant even while tending to Merdi.
Yet she hadn't sensed a thing until the footsteps started.
Meaning the intruder was no pushover.
Letting her guard down could endanger Merdi.
"Relax. I'm not your enemy."
The figure who appeared was a tall man in an armor suit.
He spread both palms outward, bodily signaling no intent to attack.
However, the cave's darkness hid his face.
......Come out more."
"Sure."
The man took a few more steps forward as Roze instructed.
His face came into view.
The dim cave still obscured details, but it was clear he carried no other weapons.
"How'd you find this place?"
"Put in some legwork. Wasn't easy. The one lying behind you is Merdi, right?"
Roze inwardly wrestled with dilemmas.
Couldn't distinguish friend from foe.
The man could switch stances anytime.
Maybe better to strike first and eliminate the threat.
But then, Merdi's voice rang out.
......Albert?"
"It's Merdi, as expected."
Roze's head turned automatically.
"Someone you know?"
"No need to be wary. He's not an enemy."
"Uwa......"
Roze's tension drained at Merdi's words, and she stepped aside.
"Thanks for protecting Merdi. Your name?"
"I'm Roze. Got any food?"
"Didn't bring much. Take this at least."
"Wow......!"
Even though Merdi said he wasn't an enemy, the shift was too quick.
Albert watched Roze tear into the rations he'd offered with amused interest.
"Merdi! Eat this."
"I'm fine. You first."
Roze glanced between Albert and Merdi, then nodded.
But not fully trusting yet, she didn't step away.
Albert gave a slight smile and said to Merdi.
"She's unique. Must feel reassuring."
"Just tell us what happened."
"Asana took over the planet with her faction."
Merdi urged him on, her expression unchanging as if she'd expected it.
"It was so sudden, we had no choice but to fall. A few of us survived, including me."
......Should've finished them off properly back then."
Merdi muttered regretfully.
Time had been short.
Academy cadets got at most three weeks of vacation.
Minus round-trip travel, only two weeks.
"So they got my message?"
"Yes. Probably. I only realized you came after the attack on Merdi."
From Albert's words, it was inferable that they wouldn't have been attacked if not for the prior contact.
"Asana was preparing to leave the planet. If you hadn't shown up suddenly, they might've already left."
"Still hanging around means they want me dead no matter what?"
"It's Asana. Father of the children who died by your hand."
Albert's words pierced Merdi's ears.