Ch.296Tannhäuser Attack Operation Preparation (1)

Anyway, there was that incident where Aquarius suffered various experiments as a subject of Griyanar’s “Clement-Borosilov (K-V) Project.”

Other than that, there weren’t any major issues.

After experiencing the aforementioned incident, I was able to enjoy an incredibly smooth period of growth and resource accumulation.

And during that process, I realized I could stockpile more resources than I initially thought…

“Commander, I heard you’ve been worried about resource stockpiling issues.”

“I heard the same thing, Commander.”

“Me too!”

“Ah, so you all already know about this.”

Led by Division Commander Lephan with her large and beautiful chest, Berial and Tiamat came to visit together.

Then they brought up a solution I had carelessly forgotten.

“If you can’t fit all the resources in the base storage, how about utilizing the cargo holds of your ships?”

“…Cargo holds, huh.”

“That’s right. Even just the destroyers you’ve fully upgraded should each be able to hold resources in the thousands.”

That’s right.

The solution was none other than stockpiling resources in the “cargo holds” of the ships currently serving as my main fleet.

“Jessica, how much can we store if we utilize the fleet’s cargo holds?”

“Hmm… give me a moment. Excluding the Kraken and Hresvelgr since they don’t have cargo holds, combining all the other ships would give us about 1.2-1.3 million.”

“Hmm.”

“Oh, and I didn’t include the mining ships used for resource extraction or the transport destroyers in that calculation.”

After hearing this, I put my heads together with Jessica again.

“So the base’s own resource storage is 16.5 million, and using the cargo holds of all ships regardless of fleet division would give us roughly 1.5 million more.”

“With 18 million total, plus about 30,000 gold as you mentioned, we’d get around 700,000 to 800,000 on average.”

“Being generous, with 19 million we’d have about 14 million minerals and 5 million rare resources.”

“That’s right. It looks like we can last exactly one day.”

No matter how we calculated it, if we hired four times the number of mercenaries from last time, we would barely last a day after hiring them.

“We need to hold out for at least three days minimum.”

“Commander, for that we’d need to secure an additional 6.5 million minerals and at least 1.2 million rare resources from somewhere.”

Trying to tackle a level 7 stronghold alone when I’m only level 5 was clearly proving to be extremely challenging in many ways.

But at that moment, I suddenly remembered something I had been forgetting all this time.

“Wait a second, Jessica?”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Come to think of it, haven’t we barely done any gacha pulls recently?”

“Not ‘barely’ – we haven’t done any at all.”

That’s right.

Because I had unexpectedly satisfied my random drawing urge with the mercenary gacha(?), I had completely forgotten about it.

It had been nearly three months since I last pulled the gacha.

I just realized that I had accumulated about 100 dimensional causality whatever gacha pulls by now.

Of course, using gacha to get 100 resource boxes meant I was essentially going all-in on the gacha.

Normally, posting such results online would make me the laughingstock of the gallery…

‘Please, gacha gods, give me 100 glorious resource boxes…’

Since I had little hope of getting anything good from the gacha anyway.

In the current situation, any extra help would be welcome, so I immediately got up and headed to where the gacha machine was located.

==========

But as always, this damn piece of garbage gacha machine didn’t give me what I wanted.

—————————————-

<Results of using 100 Dimensional Causality Fixed Usage Rights!>

<Rare Resource Box x15>

<Common Resource Box x45>

<Common Equipment Box x40>

—————————————-

‘You sons of bitches!!!’

No way.

40 of them were all equipment boxes, which would only sell for about 400-500 gold total if I tried to convert them.

The rest were mostly “Common Resource Boxes,” which wouldn’t yield many resources even if I opened them all.

“This is…”

“Sigh…”

“Even being generous, this is only about 100,000 to 150,000 resources, Commander.”

“I know.”

With a truly sad heart and dejected spirit, I returned to the command center and sat down, deciding to just focus on my work.

But right at that moment.

-Beep, beep!

“Oh, Commander.”

“What is it?”

“Princess Luca wants to have an audience or direct communication with you. Should I accept?”

“Princess Luca?”

“Yes.”

Our Monster Princess Luca, whose presence had noticeably diminished lately except for her hobby of fleet production.

I wondered why Her Highness was looking for me.

Though I had many questions, there was absolutely no reason to refuse.

I nodded at Jessica’s words and decided to meet with Princess Luca.

A moment later.

“Ahem, Icarus, it has been quite some time since we met in person!”

“I feel the same way, Princess Luca.”

Princess Luca, who appeared with Oxianor guarding her from behind, looked quite different.

Unlike her first appearance where she wore living heavy armor that made “knight princess” an apt description.

Now she wore a flowing, thin white dress with long golden hair.

Combined with her “horns” that resembled a crown, she gave off a very comfortable impression.

And it seemed I wasn’t the only one feeling that comfort.

Princess Luca herself had a much more relaxed expression than when we last met.

Seeing the princess’s appearance, which had changed significantly from before, I couldn’t help but wonder about it.

“By the way, Princess, you’re wearing much more comfortable attire compared to last time.”

“You mean this? Well, this place isn’t threatening enough to require my escort to remain in armor form all the time.”

In response to my question, Princess Luca made a gesture as if she appreciated my noticing, pointing to her bio-outfit… which doubled as her escort.

“I see.”

“Indeed!”

After this preliminary conversation ended, Princess Luca immediately told me why she had come to see me.

“Ah yes, the reason I sought you out is none other than this.”

“Hmm?”

“Actually, after hearing that you, unlike other commanders, single-handedly captured a powerful stronghold… the Queen declared that you should be given a gift!”

“…Oh.”

And right after those words.

An event message that I hadn’t seen in quite some time appeared before my eyes…

—————————————-

<Event>

<Monster Faction Trust Level 100 Breakthrough Reward Acquired!>

<Details>

<Your trust level with the Monster Faction has finally exceeded +100.>

<As a result, the ‘Space Monster’ faction has decided to send you a ‘Behemoth-class Mobile Ship Cultivation-Growth Platform’ as a gift, recognizing your ‘special relationship’ with them.>

<Naturally, as this is simply a reward, there’s no need to send an escort fleet this time – it will be sent directly through your base’s teleportation system!>

<Additionally, resources and goods will be sent as a gesture of goodwill for continued good relations!>

<Rewards>

<‘Behemoth-class Mobile Ship Cultivation-Growth Platform’ x1 acquired!>

<Comprehensive Resource Supply Bio-Container x1 acquired!>

—————————————-

‘Oh.’

Surprisingly, I had somehow reached a trust level of 100 or higher with the Monster Faction.

First, I made sure to show my utmost loyalty to Princess Luca who had personally descended here to inform me of this fact.

“Commander, a massive reaction has been detected in the fortress’s large-scale warp system!”

“Oh, it’s here already!”

“Having been elevated to a special relationship, it’s only fitting that rewards be given promptly, is it not?”

“Ohhh.”

Less than five minutes after the event message appeared.

Seeing the enormous and magnificent giant space slug, along with a relatively smaller space slug beside it.

I felt my mood instantly improving at the sight of something that would provide immediate assistance for the upcoming stronghold assault.