Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: Scouting Deal and Inspection
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The preparations for the attack would be complete in another three to four years.
But that didn't mean they could just recklessly activate the AD Drive and charge in once everything was ready.
Reconnaissance was essential.
‘Someone has to go check it out eventually. And we have some spare time.’
The Stella Walker exploration team had more than enough capability.
Sure, they'd suffered a disappearance incident, which must have wiped out a bunch of key veteran members, but it was hard to imagine a prestigious outfit like Stella Walker couldn't muster the necessary personnel.
I pondered for a moment before laying out a few conditions and how the results would be divvied up.
“……Is that really all?”
“Yes.”
“No other special requests?”
“That's it.”
I nodded along with him.
The brothers' eyes flickered.
The conditions included handing over their prized navigational logs and journals in full, but otherwise, they were heavily skewed in the brothers' favor.
No pesky demands like slotting someone onto the expedition, either.
The most forceful stipulation was that they had to prep and depart within a fortnight.
Fail to do so, and the investment falls through, with all advanced funds reclaimed.
“We'd be grateful for terms like these, but…….”
“These terms are contingent on a successful expedition.”
“Of course.”
I nodded and stood.
“Then that's that.”
“……You're leaving just like this?”
“If you want to launch within the promised timeframe, time's tight. Got time to dilly-dally?”
“Ah……!”
The brothers snapped to attention, stood to bow, then vanished.
‘Can't just let them waste time.’
I hoped the brothers succeeded.
Even if our definitions of success differed.
*
The unit training grounds.
Thwack! Boom!!
“Gahk……!!”
The dummy rocketed back, slamming viciously into a sand pile.
It burrowed nearly ten meters deep before finally grinding to a halt.
“Keuk!!”
“Ugh……!!”
But there was no need to pity it.
Scattered across the training grounds were plenty of humans involuntarily experiencing flight.
Even though it was just training, no one here pulled punches.
“Incoming!”
The superhumans, who'd been brawling every which way, suddenly snapped to focus and grouped up.
What had captured their attention was a massive orb of lightning.
It swelled ominously, like a balloon overinflated with air.
And expectations like these never missed the mark.
“Now!!”
As the lightning orb detonated, the prepared superhumans unleashed their abilities.
Emitter-types moved first to neutralize it, followed by others weakening the blast even further.
Any residual force was absorbed by barriers reinforced by physical enhancers.
“……We did it!”
“We blocked it!!”
Ten superhumans blocking a single attack, and they were jumping for joy.
“Blocked it?”
A chilling voice cut through.
Stung that her attack had been stopped, apparently.
This time, two lightning orbs began forming simultaneously.
As the superhumans paled and reformed ranks, a savior arrived.
“Merdi, visitors! Call it for today!”
Merdi pouted at Roze's distant call, then dispersed the orbs into the air.
Only then did the superhumans exhale in relief.
“Whatever we didn't get to today, we'll pick up tomorrow. Be here on time.”
The superhumans froze at Merdi's words.
Then, after she left, they let out even deeper sighs.
“Ugh, what a drag for tomorrow…….”
“At least you're still alive. Be grateful for that.”
“Khuh……!”
Kitan collapsed at Ralph's words.
His legs had given out completely.
Slumped on the ground, Kitan groaned.
“Why's the training here so brutal? Shouldn't have joined…….”
“You loved it when you signed up, and now it's the same complaint every time.”
“Didn't know it'd be this intense!”
The two were among the newest provisional superhuman unit recruits.
Actually, all ten here were.
“When Roze goes easy, it hurts like hell but you know you won't die. But Merdi…….”
“Feels like she might actually kill you.”
“Exactly!”
Kitan yelled, then laughed.
The others joined in.
After days training together, camaraderie had already set in.
And truthfully, as tough as the training was, not one wanted out of the provisional unit.
Because it was great.
Low mortality, top-tier programs, and benefits to boot.
The provisional unit boasted better conditions than most official ones.
The intense regimen was a unique culture here, but they could chalk it up to skill-building.
The superhumans sprawled out for a good while.
Then someone piped up.
“Heard we're up for official unit certification soon.”
“……Already? Might be too soon. We've only been provisional for a year.”
“Anything's possible. We're short on numbers, but everything else is above average.”
No one could argue with Kitan.
The Styx Frontline was small-scale, but its raid frequency made it fiercer than standard defense lines.
Not quite the vanguard, but hotter than central defenses.
Yet a provisional unit had performed flawlessly.
Including the Uranus planet incident, their crisis response in several mishaps had been top-notch.
Sure, four superhumans died in the process, but compared to other fronts, that was excellent.
“The captain really seems amazing.”
“That hatchery-finding knack or his admin skills…….”
“What about his wealth?”
“Yeah.”
Even before the space fortress project kicked off proper, rumors were flying.
Just how loaded was he?
From the superhumans' view, a rich captain wasn't bad.
Salaries came from the Union, but bonuses and perks scaled with the captain's pockets.
In fact, their treatment rivaled central units.
That's when someone showed up to tour the base.
A conspicuous outsider.
The superhumans watched, then guessed their identities.
“……Hey, isn't that the captain and Tana?”
“Tana? Tana Silva? The central unit's dark lioness?”
“Lemme see!”
All eyes locked on the woman beside the captain.
Tana Silva, confirmed.
“But why's she with the captain?”
“Why do you think? Here for the inspection, duh!”
“The unit review?”
“Ooooh……!”
They buzzed with excitement.
Unit certification.
Talk from moments ago turning real—who wouldn't care?
“We shouldn't just lounge. Should show some hustle, right?”
“Yeah, maybe?”
The sprawled ones all got up.
“……But what do we do?”
“Spar. Sparring. Just like always.”
Always meant no-holds-barred sparring.
Suddenly, they eyed each other warily.
Then split into teams and dove in.
“Kuheuk……!”
“Yaaah!”
“Euk……!”
Knowing big shots were watching amped everything up—bigger moves, louder yells.
They bellowed and courted pain with gusto.
Oblivious that the decision was already made.
*
“Facilities check out.”
“Put a lot of effort in.”
“All this in one year? Impressive.”
Tana remarked as she looked around.
“Haha, pretty good, right? But this is just one ground base. Three on Acheron alone, and one per Styx Frontline planet.”
“Need that many?”
“They're bases, but double as defense outposts.”
The facilities were built sturdy enough for outpost duty.
“Must've cost a fortune. Okay to splash like this?”
“We still rely on military aid for ammo and supplies.”
“Fair enough. ……Eh, whatever. This is plenty. Let's head back.”
“No need to see more?”
“It's all for show anyway.”
Tana shrugged and walked off.
I'd already gotten Darmosa's firm yes on official certification.
Just needed to pick a date.
Her trip here was purely for appearances.
As we entered the building, Tana glanced at me sideways.
“……And I hear you've been up to something weird lately?”
“The space fortress?”
“Yeah.”
“Didn't expect you'd know already.”
“With how many eyes on you? Of course.”
“What's central think?”
“Not bad on the fortress build itself. Your money, no real grounds to oppose. But after that……”
I listened closely.
“There are concerns. Not loud yet, but they think you're getting too cocky. Not a good look.”
“I see…….”
“No need to sweat it much. But ignore it, and it'll bite eventually.”
I'd figured as much.
Like she said, not worth fussing over yet, so leaving it.
“Do well. Darmosa's got high hopes for you.”
“No help?”
“Want help? Show proof first.”
Prep from me and Major General Rebel had limits.
Central backing was needed for perfection.
“Proof……any ideas?”
“That's on you.”
Supporting me meant risk for them too.
‘Gotta hope the exploration team delivers. If not…….’
Two months since Gun and Bullet brothers' team shipped out.
They should've reached the target by plan.
Return would take longer.
“……Anything?”
“Dunno.”
“Anyway, it's on you. Me…….”
Tana trailed off.
I sensed it too.
We both whipped around to the sky.
Raid incoming.
Beeeep!!
Alarms blared moments later, with situation reports.
‘Right on schedule.’
Acheron hadn't seen a raid in over ten days since the last.
Ironic, given Styx's raid density.
Less surprise, more inevitability.
“Perfect timing. Let's see your skills.”
“Haha, you know how it is. Not much for us during raids.”
“……Yeah, true.”
Minus hatchery assaults or surprises, superhumans rarely stepped up.
Defending shaky outposts was common for rank-and-file; at my level, it was wait-and-see.
“Watch from the command post?”
“Sure.”
I led Tana to the Golden Fleet flagship.
Nowhere beats the bridge for spectating space action.
“Lemon!”
Boarding the shuttle for the flagship, Roze latched on.
“Roze.”
“Missed you! Feels like forever.”
“Two weeks, yeah.”
“Eek! Already?”
“Yeah. Styx patrol kept me away.”
I circled the Styx Frontline routinely, monitoring hatcheries.
Half a month per segment, splitting the whole.
Tough on me, but necessary.
Without my legwork, hatchery ops would've ramped up.
Holding the line with minimal losses was thanks to me.
“What, I don't count?”
Tana stepped forward with a greeting.
Roze recognized her and beamed.
“Oh, Tana! Hi!”
“Been a while. Doing good?”
“Yes!”
“You two……still thick as thieves.”
“You look prettier too, Tana.”
“Really?”
Tana's smile reminded me of Darmosa's last call.
He and Tana had progressed to solo trips.
Leave 'em be, and they'll ripen naturally.
Hope they keep serving humanity.
We reached the bridge.
Frederic, as vice captain, had inspected the ship and awaited me.
But his briefing face was off.
“What's up?”
“The rift wave's energy readings are insane.”
“What?”
“Highest I've ever seen.”
I checked Frederic's data.
Then naturally looked to the rift.
Freshly opening post-precursor, it looked unusually massive.