Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: All-Out Warriors
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Being an all-out warrior isn't just about being strong.
"Battle machine."
An all-out warrior has to view their own body—not to mention their life—as nothing more than a resource, coldly expending it for victory.
This is different from simply risking your life in battle or enjoying the fight.
Humans aren't computers.
We get ruled by our emotions, and when faced with something as massive as death, we waver.
No matter how much training you have, it's never easy. So why does Bashmut covet all-out warriors?
Simple: all-out warriors fight battles they can win.
They treat combat like a game, always choosing the most efficient path to victory with minimal losses.
Personal ideologies or common moral sensibilities naturally get ignored in the process.
A unit made up of such people would have issues, but from a commander's perspective, how could you not be tempted?
"I wouldn't know." Still, it's surprising that he saw someone as emotional as me that way.
In my opinion, I could never become an all-out warrior.
I shook my head to clear away the stray thoughts.
"Ugh. This is a total mess."
"They blocked my path, so that's to be expected. More importantly, are these things test subjects?"
"The base is definitely human. But with this level of refinement, it's not the work of amateurs... Any guesses? Commander Leonard?"
Saladian, who had been chattering away with Rhino while examining the monster, suddenly directed a question at me.
I had my suspicions, but since I wasn't certain, I played it off.
"No idea on my end."
"If even the owner of the Salmon Research Institute doesn't know, then no one here does."
"What? You're the owner of the Salmon Research Institute?"
Rhino turned to me in surprise.
Seeing Saladian grinning, it was clear he'd said it on purpose.
"Is that true?"
"Yes."
"I had my suspicions ever since you nearly landed a hit on Bashmut, but you're one hell of a guy!"
"In the end, I didn't accomplish anything."
"Pffft, hahaha! Greedy much? Even I have a hard time landing one on that bastard. The sneaky way he fights!"
Rhino was always so lively in moments like this.
Once he takes a liking to you, he's easy to get along with.
Like most martial artists versed in Mad Bull style, he was stubbornly set in his ways, so if things soured, mending fences was tough.
"Anyway, let's talk later. About that energy amplifier thing—I need to pick your brain."
"Sure."
As I nodded, I felt eyes turning our way.
The attendees who were still hanging around.
They were staring like they wanted to devour me whole.
"Oh boy..."
I'd forgotten amid everything, but public interest in the energy amplifier was explosive.
After launching with three initial specs, production had expanded to over ten variants.
Amplification rates still topped out at 30% outside of the ship-mounted models used for military supply.
Even so, attempts to integrate energy amplifiers into existing gear and reinvent products were endless.
It was a full-blown new trend.
The device's power to defy energy conservation laws was that immense.
In the end, I had to promise time to every single attendee before I could break free.
"You're giving me some too, right?"
"We'll see."
Once everyone else had backed off, Saladian sidled up slyly.
"It'll be a productive use of time... And thanks to me, you've built rapport with the commanders."
"Even without your help, Commander, it'd be plenty productive."
"Come on. We can talk about 'those' things too."
He jerked his head toward the monster corpses and winked.
Did he know something?
"If my hunch is right, I need to find out."
It was undoubtedly connected to me, after all.
I nodded.
I'd built a week's buffer into this schedule anyway.
Plenty of time to meet with the commanders.
We agreed to link up at the Salmon Research Institute on Terra and parted ways.
"You kept us waiting. Let's go."
Sahim greeted me with a smile as I approached.
Behind him waited a lavish spaceship emblazoned with the Mohaim royal crest.
*
I quietly watched Roze, who had dozed off sprawled on the sofa.
Her snoring softly, she looked worn out.
I tucked the blanket the servant had brought over her properly, then sat back down.
Sahim promptly handed me a glass of liquor over a large chunk of ice.
"You like it cold, right?"
"You remember."
"No way I'd forget after just a year."
I took a swig and leaned back into the sofa.
With the four of us like this, it reminded me of academy days.
For a while, we all just drank in silence.
The joy of reunion from all that time apart had already been fully shared when Roze was awake.
This was more than enough.
A lot had changed since back then, but our mutual reliance hadn't.
"One more." I held out my glass, and Sahim poured personally.
It was the royal house's dedicated ship that Sahim had brought, so servants were plentiful—but they wouldn't show unless called.
I took the glass from Sahim and asked,
"You're operating as an independent unit now? Just the two of you?"
"Sahim dragged me into it. All the prep was on him."
"Not true. I couldn't have started without you."
Sahim shook his head at Barton's words.
The two seemed to lean on each other quite a bit.
"Was the independent unit always the plan?"
"No chance. It hit me after seeing you, Lemon."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Had no intention originally. Planned to join some decent superhuman unit like everyone else."
That tracked.
It was the same in the original story.
"But hearing about your exploits changed my mind. Know how often your name came up?"
"To the point our ears were falling off."
"Exactly."
The two of them had spent the past year in the Triple Link sector.
And that was the hub of my own operations, along with the surrounding systems.
In just over half a year, we'd taken down 700 hatcheries, so no superhumans in that region could have missed it, just as they said.
"We got inspired. How could I sit idle while my old friend was racking up feats like that? But starting up ourselves, it turned out way harder than expected. Obstacles everywhere."
"I get it..."
I understood his struggles.
Without Sia and the Monarch family's help, I might have abandoned the idea of an independent unit myself.
Money alone couldn't make it happen.
We were stable now, but who knew what scaling up would bring.
'Sahim must have gotten backing from the Mohaim royal house too.'
In terms of family support, he had the edge over me.
As a key heir with major influence in his house.
"Haha, but you set the precedent, so it was easier for us. Looks like they want to turn us into the second Golden Fleet."
"You guys can do even better."
"But no confidence we can match the Golden Fleet, no matter how hard we try. How the hell did you pull it off?"
"Taking down 700 hatcheries with just five superhumans and a battalion-sized force—that's insane." Barton shook his head, showing rare emotion after so long.
They were right; what I'd achieved was nothing short of legendary.
'The real work's ahead.' I just smiled without answering.
Any response would come off as bragging.
"What's the plan going forward?"
"Expanding the unit for now."
Sahim was modeling after me.
Fielding only elite operatives for hatchery assaults, pouring money in to boost survival rates.
I'd offered help, but as someone tied to the Salmon Research Institute, he didn't need it.
"And once ready, straight to the front lines."
"...What?" I asked, stunned.
Pushing to the front lines wasn't a light decision.
A small independent unit charging in half-cocked could vanish in an instant.
Talking front lines already felt way too soon.
"That's too..."
"Reckless?"
"Yeah."
"Not a snap decision. The commander overseeing that sector's an acquaintance—he'll look out for us. Superhuman unit connections went through Darmosa. Shouldn't be too dangerous."
I was still worried.
Wasn't it rushing things?
On the front lines, favors from connections meant squat.
Too many variables; even caution couldn't guarantee survival.
But looking at their faces, they weren't about to back down.
"We've got our own vision. No intention of falling behind you—see you out there."
"If you're that set..."
I shut my mouth at Barton's words.
If they'd made up their minds, all I could do was cheer them on.
Barring a major screw-up, I couldn't picture those two failing.
"Lemon, your turn to talk."
"Not sure there's more to say."
"Three troublemakers together—stories never run dry."
"Haha."
I raised my hand at Sahim's words.
The night deepened amid starlight and liquor.
*
After reunion time, we headed straight for Terra.
Roze was bummed, but we were both busy, so we couldn't drag it out.
If I'd just been a regular superhuman unit member, I could've taken leave—but as head of a group, free time was a luxury.
Once on Terra, I held meetings with the commanders as promised.
Their requests were much the same.
Top of the list: supply priority.
Energy amplifiers were newly developed, so production couldn't keep up.
Factories were expanding nonstop, but estimates said even meeting current demand would take another three years.
Small wonder unit commanders were scrambling for first dibs.
The combat power boost was immediate and undeniable.
I granted most of those.
Fairness issues aside, bonds with commanders weren't easily forged, so I pulled strings.
But the second was different.
The biggest issue with energy amplifiers was "specs."
Over ten were in production, but considering all the gear they'd integrate with, it was still too few.
Military equipment too.
Each superhuman unit favored different gear.
Commanders demanded custom specs, but that required redesigns—couldn't greenlight easily.
Couldn't outright refuse either, so I said I'd look into it.
"So you brought this to me?"
"Yes. Possible?"
Fontana scowled at my question.
Then groaned and flopped into his chair.
"Aw, come on, boss. You're killing me. I have enough on my plate—now you're dumping more work?"
"No need to force it. Just want to know if it's doable."
"Same difference! Doesn't checking take time?"
"...Does it?"
"Boss, redesigns are grunt work. Not the time for this—why not just say it'll take a while?"
I hadn't expected it to work anyway.
Even expanding to ten specs had taken Herculean effort.
Amplification tech wasn't mature yet; fussing over this was near-time waste.
'Time will sort it naturally.'
Right now, improving amplification rates was all we could handle—and barely.
The limit we'd agreed with Fontana: 100%.
Near-perfect replication of the Red Wings' amplification rate.
Materials research lagged, so 100% was tough now, but 75% was a safe bet, he'd assured.
"How's the output coming?"
"No real gains yet. Hit the wall already. At this rate, we're stuck."
"Simple tech tweaks won't cut it. Need a breakthrough."
"Right. Innovation. Or a game-changer."
"Tall order."
Fontana drummed his fingers on the table, deep in thought.
Then, abruptly:
"Actually, might be easier than that."
"...Huh?"
"Thing I've felt studying your 'info' all this time..."
He paused dramatically.
"What is it?"
"Aliens might have a deep tie to advanced civilizations."
"...You serious?"
"Yeah. I'm pretty damn sure."
Fontana nodded gravely.