Ch.175Into the Unknown! (3)

#175

“How’s the torture going? Making progress?”

“Torture? What do you think we are, Cold War CIA?”

Himena pouted at Dexter’s playful voice.

“I just persuaded them properly, okay? Anyway, from what we found out, a man wearing sunglasses and a mask threatened the boss’s life and hired him to follow someone.”

“Why go through the trouble when he could have done it himself?”

“They said he even used a voice modulator.”

“Then he deliberately hired those garbage thugs.”

Jesse, who was wiping grease off her hands next to Dexter, chimed in.

“If one or two of them disappear, no one would notice since they’re the type who hang around in those circles anyway.”

“So he went through all that trouble to maintain secrecy?”

“Or he has too much to hide. You know, like in movies where people who can’t afford to be discovered do stuff like this.”

“That only happens in movies.”

“Reality is often more incredible than movies. Take your spaceship, for instance. What prison guard in the world owns a spaceship?”

“I can’t argue with that.”

“But Miss Jesse, why are you spending time here instead of in the maintenance department?”

William had simply asked why a maintenance staff member was here, but Jesse took the question with slight embarrassment.

“Well, Dexter has helped me a lot, so I wanted to see if there was anything I could do for him.”

“What a rare, kind friend.”

“Her? Kind?”

“Shut your mouth.”

As Jesse glared at Dexter with a growl, William chuckled heartily at the sight.

“It’s not common for someone to neglect their own work to come help.”

“Actually, I don’t have much work…”

“The very fact that you came to help is something to be grateful for.”

As the four exchanged not-quite-insults, the landline on Himena’s desk rang.

“Hello, Special Investigation Team.”

Himena answered the phone.

“Yes? What? No, those bastards—I mean, those guys? Is it important? Ah, well, memory… Yes, you can just show me the video. Yes, yes… I understand. I’ll see you shortly then.”

Her voice remained cheerful, but Himena’s face gradually darkened, and wrinkles formed between her eyebrows.

By the time she hung up, she was sighing deeply with her eyes closed. Seeing this, Dexter, who naturally didn’t know the content of the call, had to ask.

“What’s wrong?”

“The three guys you brought in, they finished investigating them.”

“Then why that expression?”

“They barely know anything. They’re completely useless despite acting so high and mighty.”

Anyone would be annoyed to find that what seemed like a lead turned out to be nothing more than a worthless piece of straw.

Himena was no exception, and Dexter, sympathizing with her feelings, simply nodded without saying anything.

William, who had been observing the two carefully, quietly spoke up.

“I may not be an expert in interrogation, but don’t you think they were trying too hard to maintain secrecy?”

“Us? Or the client’s side?”

“OSA is naturally secretive. I’m talking about the client who hired those mafia members to follow Agent Hughes.”

William reconsidered his thoughts before continuing.

“Don’t you think this client is excessively pursuing security?”

“Why do you say that?”

“They’re all too easy to dispose of.”

Jesse, sitting nearby, adjusted her posture and agreed.

“Exactly. They’re all easily replaceable. A stupid private detective, obscure Asian mafia members. And that android? Androids are just obedient robots. It would be even easier to get rid of it than those mafia guys.”

At this, Dexter turned to Himena and asked.

“Right, what about the android?”

“It’s been wiped.”

“Oh, come on! What kind of meticulous mafia thugs do that?”

In response to Dexter’s strong complaint, Himena paced in front of her desk with her hands on her hips.

“They said it’s an older model android, so a few manipulations would erase all stored data. And those mafia guys…”

“Would have done that manipulation. Is that why it was slumped in that chair?”

“…I suppose so.”

At Himena’s weak response, Dexter leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply.

Every time they try to catch something, it slips away, again and again.

“This is really pissing me off.”

With those words, Dexter closed his eyes, startling the other three.

It was somewhat frightening to see Dexter, who had never spoken like that before, not lashing out but instead sinking into silence.

Leaning back with his eyes closed, Dexter did nothing but slowly breathe in and out.

The situation remained similar even when Jesse, Himena, and Dexter returned home and were preparing dinner.

Dexter was still angry, Jesse and Himena were preparing dinner, and Emily, unaware of what had happened, was helping Jesse set the table.

Dexter briefly explained the Negative-related incidents to Eliya and asked if he knew anyone with information about it. The response was:

-I’m not someone you only contact when you’re in trouble.

“I’m really irritated right now, so just do it.”

-You’re genuinely angry, aren’t you?

“Yes, I’m really angry, so don’t push me and just do what I asked.”

As Dexter spoke in an uncharacteristically cold voice, Emily approached Jesse in the kitchen and asked quietly.

“What’s wrong with Dexter?”

“He couldn’t catch the gang that was following him.”

“I’ve never seen him this angry before.”

“I know, I feel like I’m walking on thin ice. He never gets angry, but now he’s like this, ugh…”

“I’ve seen it once before.”

“When?”

“When Dexter found out he was sent to space because of OSA’s mistake. When Director Steve mentioned it… but even then, he wasn’t this angry.”

“Don’t talk about me.”

Dexter, who was waiting for Eliya’s response, glared at the three of them, prompting Jesse to retort sharply.

“It’s not like we did anything wrong. We can’t even talk about you because you’re angry?”

“……”

Still holding the phone to his ear, Dexter looked at Jesse silently before turning away.

“Himena, can you flip this?”

“Huh? Oh, sure.”

After handing the spatula and frying pan to Himena and putting an apron on her, Jesse approached Dexter from behind.

Just as Dexter sensed her presence and was about to turn around, Jesse hugged him tightly and said.

“You and your temper, seriously.”

Dexter, not entirely displeased, pulled Jesse forward so she could continue embracing him.

“Oh my, look at that. He’s still letting Jesse hug him.”

“I want to go hug him too.”

“Wait, so I’m cooking while you two hug Dexter? What’s that about!”

Feeling somewhat cheated, Himena glared at the three while vigorously stirring the food.

-I contacted several people, and one responded.

“One person?”

-A friend who holds a position in the Galactic Union.

“Wait, what? The Galactic Union?”

As soon as the words “Galactic Union” left Eliya’s mouth, Dexter’s expression hardened.

“Why did you ask someone from the Galactic Union of all places?”

-Naturally, information beyond my knowledge would be known by the Galactic Union. Why, is there a problem?

“No, it’s just… wow, this is…”

Dexter couldn’t finish his sentence, and at the mention of the Galactic Union, Himena also froze in the kitchen, still holding the spatula.

“We’re really screwed now.”

-What’s so bad about talking to someone from the Galactic Union? Hello? Are you listening?

Eliya realized he had made a mistake, but even he couldn’t know that a Galactic Union spaceship was approaching Earth at maximum speed because of it.

* * *

OSA Bureau personnel were tensely lined up in front of Mohave Spaceport’s Terminal 1, waiting.

Soon, a reptilian alien with red scales emerged first from the terminal exit.

The ceiling lights reflected off the red scales on its face, scattering crimson light in all directions.

Unlike the vast majority of reptilian aliens whose scales were green, yellow, or white, the sight of this intensely red-scaled reptilian alien made the bureau personnel nervously swallow.

Four large aliens dressed in black followed behind, and the deputy director from the bureau stepped forward first to approach the red-scaled alien.

“Chair Bella of the Galactic Union Security Council, we truly welcome you to—”

“One moment. This is an unofficial visit, so let’s keep the greetings to a minimum.”

“Ah, yes…”

As the deputy director awkwardly stepped back, Director Makoa personally pointed toward the direction of the temporary conference room and said.

“This way.”

In the temporary conference room set up at the spaceport, Bella, the Chair of the Galactic Union Security Council, sighed deeply as soon as she sat down with the OSA Bureau personnel.

“Let me repeat. My presence here is unofficial, not official. Do not proudly announce it or mention it even to your close Earth friends.”

“As if we would ever do such a thing.”

One of the bureau personnel said lightly, as if joking, but Bella couldn’t let it slide.

“Then how did Eliya Tenpenny, the head of Tenpenny Corporation, learn about the nature of Negative? Hmm?”

“Ah, that’s…”

As one of the bureau personnel who had spoken lightly tried to explain with a dismissive wave, Bella flicked her forked tongue and said.

“The warning I’m about to give is no joke, Earth people. This is a case where erasing the memories of everyone who leaked the secret and then ordering orbital bombardment would barely be sufficient, yet such words come out of your mouth?”

The hissing sound in Bella’s voice intensified.

“Negative is an energy that must never be disclosed on any planet, especially Earth. And yet, not only that, you demonstrate it as a weapon in front of important Space Security Bureau personnel?”

“So they could see how dangerous Negative energy is…”

“Be quiet!”

When a bureau member tried to explain, Bella slammed the table and shouted.

“There must have been Earth people who first discovered Negative, correct?”

“Yes, but one is an honorary agent, and the other is currently a team leader…”

“Both need to be summoned immediately.”

Bella said in a low voice, still hissing.

“Especially the one who spoke to CEO Eliya, without fail.”

When one of the bureau personnel nodded to a junior agent standing by the door, the agent hurriedly left and soon returned with two people.

The bureau personnel each made comments about the visibly nervous, awkwardly moving Himena and the openly sighing Dexter who entered while picking his ear.

“D-despite causing problems, not a hint of remorse…!”

“We’re all doomed…”

“Get your finger out of your ear this instant!”

“True troublemakers of OSA.”

Observing this scene, Bella looked over the bureau personnel and said.

“I’m sure I told everyone to be quiet, yet I don’t understand why there’s such a commotion.”

“……”

“……”

As the bureau personnel fell silent, Bella addressed the annoyed-looking Dexter.

“It’s been a while, Hughes.”

“I never wanted to see you again, and I didn’t expect you’d rise to Security Council Chair, Chair Bella.”

At those words, the bureau personnel wore dumbfounded expressions, and even Himena beside him widened her eyes and whispered.

“You know each other too?”

“‘Too’? That’s harsh. But yes, we do know each other.”

After taking a deep breath, Dexter added.

“Though it’s not a pleasant acquaintance.”