Interlude: Meanwhile, the Corporation Left out of the loop
While the Federation was steadily deepening their friendship with Toona, the Corporation’s researchers detained in a room on Radia were maintaining contact with the Corporation. Though it was called detention, they were merely prohibited from going outside, and their communications with Corporation headquarters hadn’t been severed.
Among them, the Research Department Director, who held the highest position, finished his communication with a look of joy spreading across his face.
“Good news. Headquarters is apparently going to take action.”
“Really?!”
“Yes. They also had doubts about the destruction of the fleet that was heading to protect Planet Eater. They even mentioned that the President himself might come.”
“The President?!”
“They must feel that the Federation’s tyranny this time is a serious matter. We’d like to somehow get management rights over Planet Eater back to our side, but…”
Even as they continued their ominous conversation, they all fell silent at once when they sensed the wall shifting.
Gorou, who appeared, showed a suspicious expression at the suddenly quiet room, but without pursuing it further, he called out to the Director.
“Director Hokiodzu. Your detention is being lifted. The return of your ship and room preparations should be completed shortly.”
“Oh? I heard headquarters was taking action, but this was faster than expected. Impressive indeed.”
“Headquarters?”
“That’s nothing for you to concern yourself with. Is that all you came for?”
“Yes. I just came to collect some research equipment while I was at it.”
“I see. Well done. You may go now.”
“Understood. If you’ll excuse me.”
Gorou left the room with no particular emotion. The moment the wall separated them, the Director—Hokiodzu—twisted his expression hatefully.
Gorou, who cooperated with Kaito and the Federation, was treated among them as if he were a traitor.
“Earthlings stick together with Earthlings. Sucking up to the Federation.”
“Actually, Director, most of the Corporation’s Earthlings don’t trust the Federation. That Earthling called Kaito was apparently quite the criminal on his original planet.”
“Hmph, so that’s the kind of person the Federation values. Even with their galactic reputation, their character is only at that level.”
All the staff, including Hokiodzu, were rare species rescued by the Corporation. In particular, there were a considerable number of beings from planets destroyed by the Deevins, besides Earthlings. They were also victims of trafficking, illegally bought and sold in markets after escaping from their dying homeworlds destroyed by the Deevins.
Through the education provided by the Corporation, they learned that they had been manipulated at will in the palms of the Deevins, but strangely, not many held much resentment toward the Deevins. After all, the fact that they had been saved from dying planets by the Deevins was more direct than the fact that their history had been interfered with. Some even interpreted that the Deevins, regretting their past lawlessness, were performing atonement by saving them from near extinction.
For such people, Kaito, who had defeated the Deevins head-on, was a hateful figure who had accomplished what they themselves couldn’t do.
The reason MacDonnell’s words slandering Kaito spread so quickly was also largely due to such sentiments being widespread within the Corporation. Many even believed that the selfish thoughts of the Deevins, later exposed, were embellished by the Federation to justify themselves.
In any case, it seems that even in space, most people believe only what they want to believe, in the way they want to believe it.
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“Impossible, they’re already able to communicate with Planet Eater…!?”
Hokiodzu, whose detention had been lifted and who was gathering information in his assigned room, stared at his terminal in astonishment.
An article issued by Federation headquarters to the galaxy: [Success in Communication with Space Eels, Through Dialogue with New Friends, Federation Parliament Anticipates the Arrival of a New Era].
While detailed content about their ecology wasn’t written, the article was filled with joyful text. The photos were only of Radia; there were none of the creatures called Space Eels.
It stated that the artificial celestial body Radia, which had been conducting planetary observation in the Namibif planetary system, had succeeded in the first communication with Space Eels that had flown into the system. Though it wasn’t clear what the term “Space Eels” meant, considering the location and timing, there was no doubt that Space Eels referred to Planet Eater.
Confirming that they possessed high intelligence sufficient to form friendly relations, the Federation Parliament announced it would soon implement legal reforms. Furthermore, regarding this matter, the efforts of Kaito, Third-rank Citizen, Enek-Ragif from Earth were extremely significant…
“Don’t mess with me, how could they achieve something like this in such a short time…!”
Hokiodzu was from the second planet to be destroyed among those whose ecosystems were manipulated by the Deevins. Having worked for the Corporation for a considerable time, he took pride in his knowledge and experience.
The repayment of the amount the Corporation had paid to buy him was almost complete. Once repayment was finished, he wanted to save money for himself and have his own fleet. In that sense too, he had approached this fleet expedition with extraordinary resolve and determination.
All his calculations about observing that individual named Planet Eater and earning wealth through papers and protection theories had come to nothing.
“High intelligence sufficient to form friendly relations…? A giant silicon lifeform Gwasura that just swims through space eating planet? Ridiculous!”
About to impulsively smash his terminal, he hurriedly brought his fist down on the desk instead. The pain that slowly spread, and the unpleasant feeling expanding in his heart.
Now that the Federation had issued the article, regardless of its truth, they would treat Planet Eater as a friendly entity and push forward the questionable intelligence.
“That’s right. Come to think of it, the whole story about it having intelligence was brought up by them in the first place.”
Perhaps the Federation had discovered a method to control Planet Eater ahead of the Corporation. Since the Corporation would be in the way of conducting those experiments in secret, they devised a plan and drove the fleet to destruction.
Without any proof, just speculation. No, this thinking, which could even be called delusion, ran wild unchecked because there was no one to stop it.
Hokiodzu sent communications to trustworthy researchers. Sending his speculation and gaining agreement, he invited his colleagues to his room.
“Now then, we’re going to be busy.”
Stop the Federation’s tyranny and bring profit to the Corporation. He would show them how scholars fight.
Outside the Namibif planetary system.
A ship far larger than ordinary celestial bodies was soaring through space toward the Namibif system.
An operator called out.
“President-san. The Namibif planetary system is coming into view. Considering the impact on the planetary system, we need to stop soon.”
“4ff1rm471v3. Pr0c33d 4cc0rd1ngly.”
“Understood.”
A mechanical voice, different from what Terapolapanecio emitted.
Following the instruction, the operators sent commands throughout the ship, and the vessel gradually decelerated.
The high-speed movement technology bought from the Deevins was the foundation of the Corporation fleet’s mobility.
“Th3n, 1 w1ll 4dv4nc3 th1s b0dy. Th0s3 wh0 w1ll f0ll0w: pr0c33d 4cc0rd1ngly.”
“Please leave the escort to us. Please watch over us.”
“C0nf1rm3d. M4y 4ll p3rs0nn3l r3m41n 1n s4f3ty.”
The Corporation’s President was also an extremely rare creature. Not only due to its massive size, but because its ecology made independent movement difficult, it used a specialized terminal for negotiations and such.
Those who escorted the President’s terminal were specialists in interpersonal combat who held the same loyalty to the terminal as to the President himself.
Corporation flagship [Vovlimos]. The crew consisted entirely of veteran employees who continued to serve the Corporation willingly even after paying off their purchase price debts.
“N3w 3nc0unt3rs: 4lw4ys c4t3g0r1z3d 4s [d3l1ghtful].”
From Vovlimos, countless ships departed toward the artificial celestial body Radia.
Until Kaito would achieve his third encounter with an intelligence that defied common sense, there was only a little time left.
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