Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Omen
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"There's something I need you to do."
"What is it? Can't you tell me now?"
"I'll tell you later. It's not something that would harm the Monarch family. In fact, if we use it well, it could be a huge help."
"There's something going on, huh."
It might cause some financial loss, though.
I averted my eyes from Naphael's gaze and shut my mouth.
"Alright. Whatever it is, it doesn't seem like it'll be a total loss."
Naphael nodded and flashed a grin.
'At his level as family head... it should help.'
In any case, Naphael had sided with me now.
I didn't care what he was thinking.
Business aside, there was no reason not to join forces when he was betting this much.
'In this situation, it's like I hit the jackpot. ...No, more like the Super Bowl?'
I was confident I could turn the tables later, but for now, that was the reality.
The detailed agreement on the stock transfer was handled by the staff.
For the Monarch family's military weapon tech, since it wasn't a personal deal with me, we proceeded by issuing new shares equivalent to 15%.
Afterward, I swapped my 5% stake one-for-one with shares in the Monarch Ru Dock Station.
That sorted the ownership: me, Monarch family, Mohaim royal family, the headmaster, and others.
'My stake is just over 60% now.'
Still comfortably over majority.
Honestly, I could cut my shares here by more than half and it wouldn't matter.
Money wasn't my goal.
The value of Salmon Lab came from my knowledge.
If I cut ties with Salmon Lab, what then?
They might thrive short-term, but they'd hit massive roadblocks on new tech development.
In the end, shares meant nothing to me.
'Still, I should secure a bigger cut for myself.'
The lab was the lab.
My knowledge had nothing to do with it.
I needed royalties on tech developed from my knowledge.
I decided to bring this up with Sahiim, then saw Olland and Naphael off.
"Take care, bro. I'll swing by if you stir up another storm."
"That won't happen."
"Look after yourself."
"Yes, Mother."
The two departed.
Time began to fly by again.
*
The semester started just yesterday, it feels, but half of it was already gone.
Two more months like this, and it'd be finals, then second-year cadet.
Was time speeding up because I'd grown used to life in the original world's story?
Each time, I suppressed the impatience bubbling in a corner of my mind.
'This is the best I can do right now.'
I reassured myself.
Aside from two hours of sleep a day, I poured everything into learning and training.
There wasn't a day I didn't collapse from exhaustion, nor one where I truly rested.
That was my best effort.
Even so.
[Breaking News! Atlas 4th Defense Line Breached.]
I couldn't hide the feeling that my heart had skipped a beat.
"What? No way, it's fake news, right?"
"Three fleets wiped out?"
"Atlas planet..."
It had begun.
Last time, the new entity, Land Crawler, had been dealt with early on Hurnshia, delaying the 4th defense line's breach.
I'd hoped, maybe.
That defending Hurnshia would hold the line or push it back further.
But what I'd bought was just over a month's peace.
"Lemon, Lemon? You okay?"
"...Yeah, sure."
I'd been too distracted.
I realized we were in the middle of lunch.
"Don't worry too much. Reinforcements are already en route. They'll plug the gap somehow."
"Yeah, eat first. Today's lunch is that curry rice you like, right?"
"...Right."
I nodded and resumed eating.
This was the first breach of the 4th defense line, but it'd been speculated endlessly before.
The relief fleet was built for this exact scenario.
As my companions said, the line would reform like in the original story.
'But...'
My worry went deeper.
A defense line was like a wall.
Even one breach let contaminants roam freely inside.
Those spread contaminants would seed future disasters.
The problem? I had nothing to do right now.
As a mere cadet, I couldn't influence any military action.
'Not that prep guarantees blocking it anyway.'
Who'd keep the interstellar defense net active all year on a maybe?
So, it was hopeless.
For now, I'd prep for planets I remembered from the ones that'd blow up.
"Huh? Lemon, not eating more?"
"Sorry, heading back first today. See you at dinner, Sahiim."
"Sure."
I left the cafeteria behind their worried faces.
I wanted to bolt from the academy right then, but that was impossible.
'Let's see. Funds I can use...'
Still short.
A few days ago, Fontana Unthe approved the intro.
I'd been expanding production, certain of success, but it was still a money pit.
'Had to spend as needed.'
Back at the dorm, I eyed Santinow's heart on the bookshelf.
No need to sell now with funds flowing, but soon it'd have to go.
I spent a while firing off contacts busily.
After those steps, I sat on the bed.
I'd acted busy, but that was all I could do.
Now, it was sitting and tamping down impatience.
And what I always did then was similar.
'Let's take a look.'
I activated my ability to connect to myself.
Faster now, it took just minutes.
I'd pushed hard after realizing this greatly aided self-understanding and body control as a martial artist.
-Reactive Exoskeleton [7/192]
-Sticky Leg Tendons [4/23]
-Thick Heel [2/14]
-Tough Wrists
-Deep Lungs
-Ultra-Reactive Nerves
-Wind Antenna
-Rapid Cell Division
List of traits from aliens so far.
No new entities since the Helmeted Boar, so no new traits.
Per staff, headmaster might secure a Hazard Level 2 next week—jury out till then.
But had I gained nothing?
No.
Experience showed not all of the same species held identical info.
Traits varied by terrain, environment; long-active ones evolved superior qualities.
This let me refine applied traits, boost some performances.
'Could get decent traits if done right.'
Couldn't extract complete new ones yet—lacked full data.
Just glimpsed potential.
After trait check, I tuned my body.
Drew on Roze's body control lessons and trait-application feel.
This went beyond maintenance to true tempering.
'Efficiency low still...'
Nothing special vs. direct training.
Would be useful once proficient.
But huge merit: trained beyond usual muscles—viscera, rarely used ones too.
Been at it a month.
Roze noted my balance had improved a lot.
I called it Mindforge Training—sculpting body to mental image.
Finished Mindforge, woke from self-immersion.
Sweat out, mind calmed.
That breaking news felt distant now.
'What'll happen anyway. Just do what I can.'
Rushing wouldn't help.
Slow and steady was my best.
Resolved, I rose.
Time for planned routine.
Then, the bell rang.
"...Who?"
"It's me, me! Lemon."
"Roze? ...Barton and Merdi too?"
Opened the door.
Roze, arms full, barged in before invite; Barton and Merdi followed, each with something.
All snacks.
Took the drink Merdi grudgingly handed over.
"What's up?"
"Snack party! Snack party!"
Roze yelled excitedly.
"Out of nowhere?"
"Sometimes it's good, right?"
"Roze is right, Lemon. Hard work's great, but you'll burn out. Rest matters."
"Ice queen says something sensible."
Never expected that.
"...I'm fine."
"Oh yeah, got ingredients too. That thing you made last time... the black-wrapped one?"
"Kimbap?"
"Yeah, that! Can you make kimbap?"
How to refuse with all those ingredients?
I chuckled.
"Sure. Sit comfy. Be quick. Merdi, you like lots of fish cake, right?"
"...What're you on about."
"I eat anything. Oh, Sahiim and Ryucheong are coming later. Maybe more."
"Better make a bunch then."
"I'll text for more food!"
Suddenly, dorm party.
I headed to kitchen, ignoring Merdi's grumbly glares and hair flicks.
Abrupt, but the noisy vibe wasn't bad.
"Anyone for drinks!"
This was the first rest day since Darmosa's academy visit.
*
Next morning after rest started amid wreckage.
Room trashed from all-night eating and chatter.
Cadets' superhuman stamina left nothing behind.
Drank plenty, yet all walked out fine.
Opened fridge, saw empty, closed quietly.
'Water's the only meal, huh...'
Too stuffed for breakfast anyway.
Called house cleaning, showered, left dorm.
Mid-laughs, it hit me.
Maybe more I could do—time to push harder.
'Bit off-topic, but worth trying.'
Found RTA Tactics program, opened tactical table.
Somehow, my commander level hit lieutenant-grade.
Near-max XP ensign, even.
Drafted a tactical report.
Unlike past ones, this was packed with wild, out-there ideas.
Like a novel, kinda.
No choice.
Warning of massive future events from a brief 4th line breach in a tactical report?
Couldn't claim I was the original author knowing the future.
No basis for unseen alien threats.
Pure fiction.
'But this is the one line that'll buy my words.'
Harsh, but I drew eyes.
Rare superhuman with top commander skills.
My reports got heavy military review; several post-Hurnshia tactics adopted.
'Just need one believer. Higher rank better.'
Works great or flops—no biggie.
If asked how I predicted later, awkward, but not straight facts.
Framed as 'plausible risks' to sound legit.
'This should cover it...'
All I could do, right?
Submitted report, closed program.
Realized late for morning class, hurried.
'Next is... zero-G adaptation training?'
Among academy classes, the one farthest off-campus.
Required shuttle to space—starts earlier than usual.