Ch.191Emergency Quest (3)

# Chapter 191: Emergency Quest (3)

At some point, my vaccine removal quest achievement operation was dubbed “Project V,” a name with no real foundation.

To put it simply, the vaccine removal was progressing remarkably smoothly.

[Emergency Quest: Vaccine Removal Operation]

[Remove the ProSnack Covard Type-C 19 vaccine and “Verichip” from citizens who have been injected.]

[Time Limit: 153 days]

[Available Operation Time: 180 days]

[Progress: 95.03%]

[Failure to complete within time limit will result in -90% stability throughout the Holy Sebeli Empire and creation of large-scale rebel forces]

‘Hmm…’

The time limit was originally one year, but by mobilizing the entire empire’s capabilities and pushing hard…

Despite having more than 150 days remaining, the progress had already exceeded 95%.

‘This is it.’

All of this was possible because, contrary to what I had thought, the vaccine wasn’t as widely distributed.

It seemed that most people who received the vaccine tended to stay on the “Paradise” planets.

Searching just one planet would yield vaccine recipients in massive numbers, like fish caught in a trawl net.

The exception would be the Kerjin people who had recently sought asylum in the empire…

But since they had arrived when vaccinations were no longer being administered, they were naturally excluded from consideration.

Of course, as I’ve mentioned before, not just in our country but in others as well…

People don’t only live on planets. For various reasons, whether work-related or otherwise, some people live scattered throughout space.

For example, researchers stationed at research bases deployed to observe unusual phenomena.

Or miners at remote mineral collection facilities would fall into this category.

There were also eccentrics who, disliking human interaction…

In this world where interstellar travel had become commonplace, insisted on building homes in uninhabited asteroid belts.

But such people were rare oddities—perhaps one in hundreds of millions—so there was no need to worry about them.

Anyway, my quest was progressing with such favorable winds…

—————————————-

“They say life never goes according to plan…”

As I received Riel’s urgent briefing after she rushed over, I found myself muttering under my breath.

Naturally, Riel tilted her head in confusion at my sudden mumbling.

“Minister, are you listening?”

“…I’d rather not have heard it.”

Nodding at my response, she spoke as if she understood my current state.

“Denying reality at this point won’t do any good, Minister.”

“Urgh…”

Despite Riel’s cold words, I found it impossible to accept the reality before me.

[Pause]

‘Damn this event, what the hell is it…!’

The reason was the event message that appeared after receiving Riel’s briefing…

[Event: The Governor’s Resistance]

[Your vaccine removal operation, commonly known as Project V, has successfully suppressed most of the discord that arose during its implementation, but…]

[Unfortunately, someone has emerged who opposes Project V.]

[“Why is the imperial central government wasting budget, resources, and manpower on the futile and foolish task of removing vaccines that have already been administered!”]

[The problem is that this individual happens to be not only the governor of a planet…]

[But also the governor who rules over the entire planetary system that includes said planet.]

[How will you respond to the situation in the Avar planetary system?]

The information showed that it wasn’t just anyone, but a planetary governor—no, a system governor—who was opposing my actions.

‘A planetary governor is opposing this?’

To be precise, it would be more correct to call them a system governor.

Except for the “Saunar Planetary System,” the empire’s largest special economic zone, most planetary systems had only one habitable planet…

So typically, a planetary governor was treated as a system governor as well.

The important point was that I was forcibly informed through this event message that one of these planetary governors was opposing my actions.

Fortunately, the event came with choices.

[Choice 1: Let’s try to resolve this like gentlemen through dialogue first (Linked event will follow)]

[Choice 2: How dare they choose to resist so impudently, crush them all (Linked event will follow)]

‘Hmm.’

Neither choice seemed to indicate any negative events would occur.

‘Does this mean it doesn’t matter which I choose, or that I’ll be screwed either way?’

This event, which genuinely required a “choice” rather than an obvious answer, was the first in a long time…

It caused my decision paralysis to resurface for quite some time.

However, since I was in a paused state, the decision paralysis didn’t actually interfere with my life.

After what felt like about two hours of deliberation, I decided to choose option 1.

[Choice 1: Let’s try to resolve this like gentlemen through dialogue first (Linked event will follow)] <Selected>

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to choose the obviously more radical option 2.

‘ISTO (Interstellar Security Treaty Organization) is still in its nascent stage and not yet stable. If physical conflict breaks out internally within our empire, which leads ISTO…’

If I were another country, I would clearly cast doubt on the leadership of the Holy Sebeli Empire upon seeing such a scene.

Moreover, considering that competition for dominance within ISTO was still ongoing among member states…

‘How can they manage other countries when they can’t even properly manage their own and face rebellion?’ would be the reaction.

I couldn’t afford to expose such a weakness and throw away my grand plan of “achieving game victory by reaching #1 in the national rankings” when it was within reach.

‘So please, Mr. Planetary Governor, let’s agree to talk?’

I cautiously offered a prayer(?) to the “deity” of this local state religion, in which I didn’t particularly believe.

——————————-

A few days later.

*Nom nom nom*

“It’s such a joyous occasion that the vaccine removal operation is progressing more successfully than expected.”

“This is all thanks to the Minister’s remarkable decision and the heavens’ protection over you.”

Since I knew the operation had been thoroughly executed except for the area commanded by that damned planetary governor mentioned earlier…

I was enthusiastically giving toasts at a party celebrating the operation’s success, partly to boost the morale of those who participated.

However, I was only there because Riel and others had dragged me out, insisting “Minister, you must grace the occasion with your presence!”

In such gatherings, someone of my extremely high position would normally ruin the atmosphere just by being present…

‘This is thrilling, always fresh.’

But now that I was the one in that position, I found this kind of thing surprisingly more enjoyable than expected.

Of course, staying any longer would turn this from a party into a torture chamber where everyone only cared about impressing the important person.

“Well then, everyone enjoy the party. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“Yes, Minister!”

After politely drinking just one cocktail, I decided to quickly slip away and return to the Diplomatic Enforcement Planet.

…But of course, life doesn’t go according to plan.

“Minister Arto. What exactly prompted this Project V that you’ve been conducting?”

“…Hmm.”

As luck would have it, upon hearing that I would be attending, ministers from other departments had all rushed over.

This party venue, which was meant to be a simple celebration before a quick departure, suddenly transformed into a closed-door meeting attended only by minister-level officials and above of the Holy Sebeli Empire.

Moreover, because of the sudden influx of ministers and admirals, the unfortunate frontline personnel who hadn’t managed to escape…

*Trembling*

‘Ah, ah, aah…’

Were standing there like newborn fawns, their bodies tense with nervousness before the array of stars.

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry!’

But I couldn’t just abandon these people and dash off, leaving everyone behind.

Since things had come to this, I decided to give a brief congratulatory speech, fill my stomach, and discuss future plans.

But just as I sat down…

“Let’s eat first.”

“That sounds good.”

Just as I was about to take my first bite with my fork…

A message from the negotiation team sent to the Avar planetary system through the warp gate network appeared on my terminal.

“Hmm? I think I heard something.”

“I’ll check it quickly.”

While inwardly annoyed at having to maintain the damned Sebelian noble style in this situation, I decided to check the message on my terminal.

And the moment I saw the content…

[Report: Avar Planetary Governor refuses negotiation.]

*Crack!*

“Ah, Minister Arto?”

*Crunch…*

Because of that brief one-line report…

I was so consumed by intense irritation that I didn’t even notice I was gripping my fork so hard that it was being crushed in the shape of my hand.