Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: The Brothers' Secret Signal
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“We seem to have a lot to talk about.”
I felt the need to find a separate space.
The number of people left in the banquet hall had dwindled to less than half long ago.
They were all just the ones checking if they could snag more crumbs after achieving their goals.
I left the former family head in charge and dragged the brothers into another room.
“...Um, about the investment?”
My brother’s voice was flushed with hope at my actions.
“Before we get to that, I have a few questions.”
“Ask away.”
The younger brother, Bullet, took the lead in the conversation.
The older one had the bigger build and more gravitas, while the younger had a lively personality.
“Could you explain in as much detail as possible about the area where the exploration team was operating when they went missing?”
“Ah, that...”
Bullet glanced at his brother upon hearing the question.
A silent exchange passed between them for a moment.
Bullet nodded soon after, as if granted permission, and opened his mouth.
“...There’s no reason not to tell you. It was a failed expedition anyway.”
“We can’t jump to conclusions yet, can we?”
“Explorations are usually done in three-month cycles. We load up plenty of food, but it’s already been a year since they went missing. Even without any other incidents, they would’ve starved to death by now.”
“...”
“Besides, at the time of disappearance, our parents left on a year-long expedition, swearing to produce results no matter what. There wouldn’t have been room for extra provisions. The fact that the disappearance has dragged on this long is as good as saying they’re dead.”
Bullet was speaking in an increasingly agitated tone before he knew it.
He seemed to notice it himself and caught his breath for a moment.
“So don’t worry that we might take your investment and go looking for the missing exploration ship.”
I might’ve made a slight misstep.
That hadn’t been my intention, but I’d poked at a sore spot.
I just nodded silently.
Bullet then manipulated a panel to bring up a hologram.
“What’s this?”
“It’s the exploration plan we made before departure. And this...”
“It’s a virtual map.”
“Yes. It’s constructed based on data from preliminary surveys. It’s the most crucial tool for planning an exploration.”
Unlike a rough star chart, the virtual map was incredibly detailed.
From asteroids a few hundred meters across to the distribution of interstellar matter, gravitational influences, and even changes over time.
It was practically a living, breathing universe in itself.
‘Now this is the real treasure.’
The virtual map Bullet showed boasted a high level of completion.
It must have cost a fortune just in preparations.
“Let me zoom in a bit. These lines you see are the pre-planned routes.”
“The schedule looks packed.”
“No need to take it seriously. Just as an example. This is only possible if everything goes exactly according to plan. But as you know, Captain, the odds of everything going your way in deep space exploration are...”
“Extremely low.”
“Exactly.”
‘Everything depends on the god of adventure. So pray.’
It was practically a proverb for adventurers exploring deep space.
Deep space exploration was fraught with variables and dangers.
I examined the route a bit more before asking Bullet.
“Mind if I touch it?”
“Go ahead.”
He scaled the map back down.
The path the exploration ship had taken was indeed close to the Styx Frontline.
‘But trying to predict from this is too...’
The reason I’d asked was to pinpoint where the exploration ship might have encountered aliens.
But as it was, the range was too broad.
If I couldn’t predict accurately, it was better not to bother.
“Is this everything?”
“We have a few more routes prepared for contingencies. Want to see?”
I nodded.
But still, I couldn’t find what I needed.
A plan was just a plan; it wouldn’t match the actual route.
“...Captain, you seem surprisingly interested in our affairs.”
“Does it come across that way?”
“Yes. A bit excessively...”
He must have sensed something off from my persistent questions.
I feigned innocence and replied.
“My childhood dream was to become an exploration team member when I grew up. Of course I’d be interested.”
About 20% true.
My dream back then was to be an astronaut.
I’d achieved it in this world in the most absurd way, but the desire to venture into uncharted space hadn’t fully faded.
“Don’t you feel the same, Bullet?”
“My dream was to follow in my parents’ footsteps and become a proud member of the Stellar Walker exploration team. But... dreams are beautiful when they stay dreams.”
“...”
“...Captain, do you know why my brother and I didn’t join this expedition? Even though it was a crucial one-year mission?”
“Bullet!”
“Stay out of it, bro.”
Bullet shook off his brother’s hand gripping his shoulder.
“If it’s uncomfortable, you don’t have to say.”
“This ties into what our exploration team plans to do next.”
“...”
“The truth is, my brother and I had already quit the exploration team a few years before this mission.”
“What happened...?”
“We were burned out. Exploration teams may look glamorous, but the reality isn’t. These days, they’re more focused on making money than unveiling the mysteries of deep space.”
“Isn’t that always the case?”
“Of course, they have to prioritize profitable ventures since they rely on investments, but it used to be different.
The lull in exploration activities is old news.
Back in the Space Pioneering Era, countless teams ventured into deep space staking their dreams and futures.
It took enormous capital and many sacrifices.
Thanks to that, we came to understand space, distinguish habitable planets from dangerous zones, and learn to survive.
That’s where explorers find their fulfillment.
But now, the goals are narrower.
Less deep space adventure, more hunting for profitable resources or exotic lifeforms.
They avoid dangerous areas entirely, chasing only the safe bets.”
“My brother and I grew disillusioned with exploration life. We quit to try other paths. I became a trader, he a miner. We’ve done well enough until now.”
“Then why dive back into exploration now? Because your parents went missing?”
“No. Even when we heard they were missing, we didn’t make a fuss. It just felt like something that was bound to happen.”
“...”
“We had no intention of carrying on the family business. Not until we were settling the team’s assets after their disappearance and picked up a special signal.”
Bullet’s tone rose.
“Signal?”
“Yes. Analysis showed it came from a signal generator our exploration team had installed.”
“...Could it be an error?”
I had to ask.
Based on the projected route, the signal device would’ve been installed at least dozens of light-years away, even at closest.
Even at light speed, receiving it here would take decades minimum.
Impossible in a year.
“We thought so at first too.”
“...”
“But it wasn’t. The signal generator’s transmissions are divided into two types: basic signals and encrypted ones.”
Bullet shook his head and switched to a new screen.
“If it was an error, only the basic signal would’ve been picked up. Even if an encrypted one was detected, it would’ve had gibberish content.”
“Then...?”
“Yes. The encrypted signal clearly contained information only the missing exploration team could’ve sent.”
“What’s going on?”
Bullet laid out a few guesses.
Maybe a passing alien opened a rift, delivering the signal through the astral dimension, or the ship had returned secretly to hide the failed expedition and leaked it by mistake, and so on.
Even as he said it, his face showed how ridiculous it sounded.
But without such explanations, it didn’t add up.
“Yeah, well. Anyway, we decrypted the encrypted signal and pinpointed the signal generator’s location. And figured out what’s there.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“...I can’t tell you that until you commit to the investment.”
Bullet shook his head.
Fair enough. Reveal that, and they might not need the exploration team.
“This is the fruit of the exploration. I don’t want to be an explorer anymore, but with a treasure map in hand, I have to go claim it.”
“...”
“I think this gives you a full picture of our goals.”
“...Alright. I’ll invest. But.”
At the word “but,” Bullet’s face, which had brightened rapidly, stiffened.
I continued with a slight smile to ease the tension.
“Tell me everything about this signal right now.”
“That’s...”
“Oh, of course, I’m not just asking you to talk. I’ll cover the financial needs for the expedition right away. How’s this?”
I showed them the amount, and both brothers’ eyes widened simultaneously.
I completed the transfer from my seat and spoke again.
“I don’t know the scale of your team, but this should suffice as a down payment.”
“...Uh, um. It’s overly generous for a down payment.”
“What if I hear the info and then pull out on the rest of the investment?”
“That’s...!”
“It’s also payment for the information. I might decide not to invest after hearing it.”
You said you don’t want to be explorers anymore.
Then just take this and sell the info.
If they were the type only after money, that’s how it might’ve sounded.
“Need more time to think?”
They showed signs of conflict.
Exchanging glances between themselves.
This time, Gun spoke up.
“...I don’t know your intentions, but if you really planned to do that, Captain, you wouldn’t have tipped us off.”
“...”
“We’ll trust you and tell you.”
I’d tested them a little.
They’d quit once due to personal reasons.
Even if they left on their own, they might’ve been kicked out for causing trouble.
I couldn’t entrust massive funds lightly.
“I’ll show you.”
The virtual map reappeared.
“Each sector on the virtual map has a sort of address attached. The encrypted signal contained one.”
“Why go to such lengths?”
“For follow-up teams. Signals might not transmit cleanly, so this method ensures it. And it’s useful in cases like this disappearance.”
Bullet overlaid the signal on the virtual map.
A bright dot appeared.
“Here.”
“This place...”
I shut my mouth.
It was farther than expected, but the dot was unmistakably in the direction of the Styx Frontline.
“Do you know what this place is?”
“Yes.”
“And you still plan to go?”
“Of course not straight there.”
Bullet drew a new route.
One that curved widely around the Styx Frontline toward the destination.
“We won’t take unnecessary risks.”
“You could still run into aliens this way.”
“Venturing into deep space is risky by nature.”
Bullet grinned as he spoke.
Smiling in this situation proved he had the guts for exploration.
Maybe my expression looked off.
He added reassurances.
“But no need to worry too much. Expeditions with a clear target like this are safer than general ones. General explorations feel like wandering the open ocean. Plus, if we just reach the signal point, the rest is smooth sailing.”
“...”
“And for safety, we’ll move with plenty of margin. Factoring in work time, it should take about six months max.”
The missing team had found a meteor cluster rich in the rare metal Glesmetal.
“The goal this time is to recheck the route and confirm the Glesmetal deposits.”
“Glesmetal...”
“And it’s probably not just Glesmetal. Rare metals rarely exist alone. With luck, we might score something even more valuable.”
A massive haul of Glesmetal would have mining companies lining up to buy the info.
If deep space made it tough, they’d form a consortium.
‘Assuming no aliens are really there.’
The brothers watched me, as if asking what I thought of their plan.