Chapter 28
Chapter 28
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Planetary Administrator
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I couldn't tell if I'd triggered some mechanism or if they'd opened it from inside, but with the entrance now ajar anyway, I decided to stroll right in.
The entrance and staircase weren't as spacious as I'd imagined.
A gorilla could probably squeeze through, but its movements would be severely restricted.
It felt just right for a Hirak's size, though a little wider would've been preferable.
It'd probably seem perfectly sized for a human.
Anyhow, I casually sent down some legion units I wouldn't mind losing even if they croaked.
Clank—clank—
Stepping down on the numerous steel pipes shaped for easy footing, the machines we'd spotted from outside—spewing smoke for reasons unknown and churning endlessly—continued filling the interior just as densely.
But the deeper we delved, the more the din from those ceaseless machine motions faded, and the blistering heat that could sear skin quieted down.
Were those surface mechanisms just pointless decoys? The machines deeper inside lay utterly still, as if holding their breath.
As we passed through the passage where incoming external light dwindled to nothing and only our footfalls echoed, a glow began emanating from within.
Faint sounds leaked out from that light.
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Planet rotation #2,569,774 at 43.125%. N lat 15.8, E long 35.74. Tropical depression formed. Planet rotation #2,569,774 at 43.129%. N lat 43.12, E long 25.33. Organic entity's atmospheric escape detected. Details unavailable. Planet rotation #2,569,774 at 43.130%. Electromagnetic waves reaching planetary surface down 0.00035%.
Following the light, I sent units into the inner chamber, and the first things to catch my eye were machines scurrying about busily.
A colossal, gaunt humanoid machine sat at the center, its body sprouting numerous elongated mechanical arms.
Smaller machines modeled after it dotted everywhere my gaze wandered.
Amid the frenzy of moving machines, the massive figure sat aloof in prayer-like pose, almost tricking the eye into seeing a pious monk in deep meditation.
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Planet rotation #2,569,774 at 43.213%. Lat 0, Long 0. Organic entity entered Record Management Office. Type confirmed. Database search: Not found. Temp code: X-TE01-PS1-CT7. Planet rotation #2,569,774 at 43.215%. Lat 0, Long 0. Administrator encounters visitor. Constructing introduction phrase.
Dozens of those mechanical humanoids clutched what could only be called pencils—slender rods—and scribbled furiously atop what resembled books.
Real graphite and paper? Hard to say. But speakers embedded in their forearms blared nonstop audio, and they appeared to jot down notes in frantic response.
The scratch-scratch of pens and the overlapping voices of multiple machines droned on ceaselessly—noisier, no doubt, than anywhere in the Lushaka Kingdom.
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Planet rotation #2,569,774 at 43.221%. Lat 0, Long 0. Administrator informs visitor of entity name Si1-L0-K granted by Creator. Administrator inquires about visitor's entity name.
Screee—creak creak.
This time, the massive frame tilted unmistakably toward me with the question, leaning its face in close.
The camera lens doubling as eyes swiveled, locking precisely onto me.
So it had introduced itself, and now it wanted mine?
"I'm Albarak, attached to the Lushaka Kingdom's Foreign Affairs Department."
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Planet rotation #2,569,774 at 43.229%. Lat 0, Long 0. Detected thought-wave emission from visitor. 'I'm Albarak, attached to the Lushaka Kingdom's Foreign Affairs Department.' Logged.
True to the log, one pair of mechanical arms on the machine hurriedly scribbled into a book the instant I finished speaking.
Having never seen machines like this, I had no clue how to handle it.
Well, technically the second time. The Telluris Assimilator was a massive machine too. Just an incomprehensible tech gap separated the two.
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Planet rotation #2,569,774 at 43.231%. Lat 0, Long 0. Database search: Lushaka Kingdom. Does not exist. Visitor statement veracity unverifiable.
What the...? A perfectly real kingdom, and it's calling it nonexistent?
For now, a friendly approach fit our pacifist creed best. No telling its true nature yet—going hostile prematurely could spell trouble.
"The Lushaka Kingdom takes Lushaka Planet as its capital world in the Tyrant Star System. I don't know which database you're referencing, but it's a real kingdom. If you need proof, I can provide it."
The self-proclaimed administrator machine replied after a brief silence.
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Planet rotation #2,569,774 at 43.240%. Lat 0, Long 0. Database search: Tyrant Star System. One of Deneb Federation's primary mining systems. Formerly home system of Tyrant Predator Legion, conquered and occupied by Deneb Federation.
What?!
Too many points to nitpick.
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Planet rotation #2,569,774 at 43.251%. Lat 0, Long 0. Notifying: Response per Level 3 security access granted to race that first discovered Solar-03 Planet's primary administrator.
The two arms that had diligently logged up to that point closed the book—last page filled—and handed it to the largest arm.
That enormous arm gathered books passed from all sides, stacking them neatly atop the towering pile dominating the chamber's center.
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Acknowledged. Lushaka Kingdom identified as organization or corporation under Deneb Federation. Visitor affiliation confirmed. Now conveying primary administrator's request.
I tried correcting the misinformation, but it barreled ahead without pause.
With those words, a gigantic arm plucked a book from the mountaintop of the stack.
Freshly completed, it seemed—from near the top. It flipped to a page and read aloud from the book.
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Planet rotation #2,569,772 at 68.05%. N lat 0.60, W long 0.35. Hostile external attack on Management Office detected at site. Primary administrator requests visitor refrain from repeating such acts.
Hostile attack?
Ah. The laser I'd fired at the steel plate?
"Ah, yes, understood. I promise no further attacks on this Management Office."
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Affirmative response logged. Request conveyed. Risk alert level on archive records reduced.
"In that case, may I ask a question?"
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Visitor request acknowledged. Attempting Level 3 security database access. Response prepared.
The bizarre turn of events and enigmatic machine had left me flustered for the first time in ages, but since it agreed to answer questions, I seized the chance without overthinking.
Alas, follow-up queries yielded no proper responses.
Warning. Unauthorized access. Security level insufficient.
Most of my real curiosities got that canned reply. Still, some accessible answers proved intriguing.
⚙ SYSTEM LOG ⚙
Nualalkaima. Capital of the Great Bahilila Holy Knight Order. Orbits F-type main-sequence star Alhamra. Varisa Space Company. Enterprise under Great Bahilila Holy Knight Order. Primary business: interplanetary cargo transport and mining.
To this machine, the Bahilila Holy Knight Order endured intact, its neighbors conquered by the knights.
Since it answered accurately on real star systems, the info rang true—yet utterly divergent, like from a parallel world.
"Tyrant Predator Legion" especially. Probably this world's legion, sans my reincarnation.
Beyond that, boosting security for the discovering race? Plenty suspicious by my standards.
Too many baffling bits, and leaking this parallel-world drivel wouldn't help matters. I considered smashing it outright.
But security might upgrade someday, or future questions could yield new intel, so I opted to leave it be.
Of course, no other nation or race must access this info.
That resolve solidified when the administrator summoned a micro-wormhole to shunt the stacked tomes to another dimension.
Way beyond our legion's league.
Better not provoke it—maintain cordial ties.
I summoned a few Brain units from Ferma Planet and ordered ongoing interaction.
Hoping at least to confirm it posed no threat to the kingdom.
This newly discovered machine outstrips every race the kingdom has encountered as the greatest menace.
The Bahilila Holy Knight Order directly wounded the legion before perishing in our bellies.
Aliens drawn to our open Psionic minds vanished after casual chit-chat.
But this machine lurks on our food production planet, tech dwarfing the kingdom's.
Building facilities this vast in the mantle alone, mechanical engineering a whole other branch from genetic—but casually spawning and collapsing wormholes for transport? Beyond even game tech.
Thank goodness it's not overtly hostile. The laser failing to pierce the steel plate was a blessing. Had it, we might be enemies now.
Wonder if we've got a massive tumor grafted onto the kingdom for no reason.
```