Chapter 21
Chapter 21
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Psionic Factory Guards
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There was a high likelihood that Psionic-awakened individuals already existed in the Deneb Federation.
But that wasn't something widely known across the Federation.
Even with my 'eyes' evenly spread throughout the entire Federation via countless Space Whales and Lushaka Warhounds, I'd never heard a peep about Psionic awakeners.
Honestly, more shocking than the existence of Psionic ability users in the Deneb Federation was the fact that someone could operate without ever slipping through my surveillance net.
Sure, a Psionic could awaken in the Federation—what's the big deal? Ozz has taken root in Cateah, after all. Coincidences like that happen. Who'd believe someone running around yelling, "I suddenly got superpowers!"? Naturally, they'd keep it hidden.
Besides, even if one Psionic popped up, how much real damage could it do to the Lushaka Kingdom?
That's what I'd like to think, but there were way too many suspicious points. Never once detected by my net, definite Psionic awakening confirmed, and freely handling the substance tied to awakening?
It wasn't a huge investment anyway—just idle me sending a few to poke around. Might as well investigate lightly.
The target was already set without needing to narrow it down.
Investigate the company selling that Deneb cigarette. Something would turn up. The Ozz-mixing process was blatantly obvious.
But I couldn't just ask the leadership.
"Hey, looks like superpowered folks popped up in your country, and they might mess with our interests, so mind sharing their location?"
Or maybe lie and ask? Nah. No point tipping them off that I'm interested in their cigarettes. Blatantly probing like that and getting the Federation properly aware of Psionics would be the dumbest move possible.
First, I had one of my entities living on Cateah buy some Deneb cigarettes. Needed to confirm if they matched the ones Admiral Nicholas gave me or the ones used in trade.
"One Soboro Violet, please."
"Pardon? Oh, right. That's 35 dollars."
Lucky part-timer. You're the first Deneb citizen to witness an alien buying cigarettes. I'll make sure to spread it wide open in front of the convenience store. Snap a pic and brag to your friends.
The admiral said this was the closest to the real deal among the counterfeits.
Sure enough, it was noticeably pricier than other cigarettes.
—
Hm. Confirmed. Someone's mass-producing and selling cigarettes laced with synthesized Ozz.
Let's see the manufacturer. Soboro? Guess I'll pay them a visit.
As someone who wasn't even a detective, my investigative methods were pretty limited.
Drawing on memories and experience from my human days, I headed to a facility like an old-school PC bang. A quick search should turn up something, right? At least the head office address.
Sitting there searching, the stares pouring in from all sides were intensely enthusiastic.
First time seeing a chimp pounding a keyboard? It's burdensome, I tell you.
The search revealed that Soboro had already been acquired and dissolved. They were just keeping the brand name and selling under it.
So now Black Mango—a mercenary company?—had taken it over and was selling it?
Tak-tak-tak.
A mercenary company?
What kind of mercenary outfit buys a cigarette company?
Suspicious. Super suspicious.
This Chimp No. 1 was done here. No way a company lets a chimp tour the cigarette production line. Even if they did, they'd never show the key Ozz-mixing step. Tried anyway, got denied as expected.
Guess brute force was the only way.
For starters, I spawned new rats and snuck them into the Federation.
Didn't want to risk detection causing headaches, so I originally planned to make them identical to local Deneb rats. But this incident showed my Space Whale and Lushaka Warhound-heavy spy network had plenty of gaps, so I built these with feedback in mind—hoping to activate a new layer of espionage.
Rats can't carry many functions. Treegalaon's vast capabilities and performance come from massive organic consumption. Rats can't forage that much, so I loaded only essentials.
First, slowed their metabolism. A spy needing meals every three hours? Useless. Focused on long lifespan and reduced organic needs for extended activity. As long as they stay alive, they do their job.
Slower speed from low metabolism? Reduced heat leading to hypothermia? Screw the downsides. Can't survive? Die. Spawn more.
And made them as cute as possible. That's the pinnacle of evolution for animals coexisting with humans. Look cute, and food sorts itself out.
Why rats get exterminated? Gnawing walls, raiding grain—sure, but their creepy death throes when caught don't help.
Mine, with slow metabolism, eat less than normal rats and should last longer. Or not— just make more.
Hid in Space Whale bellies, hopped out fast upon landing.
Fast as we went, the sheer numbers drew Federation eyes, so I worked to divert attention.
Next, spread across the planet. Space age or not, planetary trade's still bustling. Civilians can't all afford starships yet.
Starships, planes, ships, vehicles. Slipped into all, dispersing rats planetwide. Gorged on organics inside whales pre-drop, so good for activity without foraging awhile.
Unlike wild rats, I could strategize—quickly displaced locals and took root.
Over months, unlike Warhounds or Whales, rats spread densely everywhere. Tracked logistics reverse to cigarette origins.
Finally. Infiltration.
Meant simple check, but it snowballed.
Most tobacco from vast farms went straight to factory zones, but some headed to remote factories in sparsely populated spots.
Tobacco entering those heavily guarded factories emerged days later as Ozz-laced cigarettes.
And to make Ozz cigarettes, you need Ozz.
Massive rock shipments in periodically, out days later.
Probably extracting Ozz from rocky spreads or mining asteroids.
Confirmed no personnel traffic except supply vehicles, then attempted entry. Plan: cling under vehicle, slip in with a shh-shh-shh.
But connection cut as vehicle neared factory.
What happened?
Dead for sure, but no clue how.
Keep trying till I know. Plenty of rats.
Second try: some unidentified force crushed it instantly.
Third: no need to hide in vehicle—entering factory radius kills. Radius keyed to guards, not factory itself.
Guards detect and block entrants in range via some ability. Probably Psionic powers.
Same at other factories. Any handling Ozz had Psionic guards.
Shelved factory infiltration for now. No clear path. Endless mystery rats would raise flags—stopped before more suspicion.
Thought of machines since they detect life, but industrial espionage predates space age; they'd be prepped. Dropped it.
Could this be random awakening fallout?
No way.
A faction in the Deneb Federation clearly knows about Psionics.
Beyond knowing—they're gathering and training awakened Psionics into a military force.
When Ozz depletes far future, no more Psionics, but by then tech to haul it galaxy-wide.
Thought it was just lucky merchants cashing in—turns out something far more dangerous lurks.
Psionic soldiers couldn't win fleet battles, so Lushaka safe, but enough to seize planetary power. That's asymmetric warfare.
Already rooted, eradication impossible. Identify the owner, then decide countermeasures.