Ch.303Iron Fortress Sturm (3)

There was a slight contradiction in Shterm’s words.

“You proposed an alliance to us. Why did you then mobilize the Magnus Order to carry out terrorism behind our backs?”

“I guess they were bothered by the graviton research. It must be a key technology that could kill or expel them.”

“In the end, all aliens are the same kind. Cunning creatures.”

The already low credibility of aliens plummeted even further.

With this, everyone now knew that Shterm was a two-faced alien.

“We might be able to use this to our advantage.”

“How?”

“Extract only the information we need, then discard them when they’re no longer useful.”

A garbage strategy had emerged.

But what else could we do? We’re dealing with aliens.

With the exception of Cartesia, they’re all completely untrustworthy.

Better to strike first than be stabbed in the back later. Of course, we’d have to move carefully so the aliens wouldn’t notice.

“As it happens, I have two cards up my sleeve.”

“What are they?”

“Here, this and this.”

I wrote two words on the tablet.

“The first one is fine, but isn’t the second one too dangerous?”

“If we want to truly throw that alien off balance, this will be most effective.”

Above all, the Federation had suffered greatly in the Great War. We couldn’t afford another war with aliens.

We needed to end this quickly, with minimal loss of life and property.

That meant we had no choice but to employ a series of underhanded tactics.

***

Four days passed.

“Hello~! Shall we journey to the fantasy land again today?”

Matonica opened a dimensional gate.

Being the second time, it was much better than the first. We landed lightly on a desolate space.

Kugugugu.

Soon, a massive entity revealed itself. It looked like several octopuses intertwined together.

Though its appearance differed from last time, I instinctively knew it was a different part of the same being. I knew Shterm was an alien with an enormous main body.

“Have you thought about the alliance I mentioned last time?”

“Before that, I have a few questions.”

“Ask away. The more cautious, the better. But don’t drag it out too long. The end is approaching with each passing moment.”

Zernya, Ireh, Sonia, and Rustila asked their prepared questions in order.

I still don’t understand why we should trust an alien.

“Whether you believe or not is your freedom. Taking away free will is something Descartes would do, and we don’t engage in such petty acts.”

How can we stop Laplace?

“You’ll have to do as you’re doing—create graviton bombs and launch them where that creature might be.”

What kind of alien is Cartesia?

“She’s called Descartes’ disgrace. Abandoned by her own kind, all aliens avoid her. Beyond that, I’m hesitant to answer as little else is known.”

If we form an alliance, how will we help each other?

“As I mentioned before, you need to create graviton bombs. If necessary, we can wind time for you. Though entropy will increase significantly, we can buy time until that creature arrives.”

The second audience ended like this.

The third was two days later.

I intended to ask questions again. But Shterm, as if having waited for this, spat out an irritated complaint.

“I’ve only been giving while receiving questions. This isn’t much of a conversation, is it?”

“Then this time, you ask what you’re curious about.”

“Very well.”

The sky vibrated.

“First, Eidel von Rheinland. I’m curious about your identity. What kind of being are you to achieve such ‘monstrous’ results with a mortal body?”

He emphasized the word “monstrous.”

It seems he’s trying to paint me as Laplace’s lackey.

“It just happened that way.”

“I know such achievements can’t be accomplished with such a half-hearted attitude. Overthrowing the Queen, your research—none of these are accomplishments one person can achieve in a short time.”

“I didn’t do it alone. We all worked together.”

I looked at Ireh as I spoke. Ireh smiled slightly.

“How peculiar. Gravitational research of all things, and acting as if you know everything. Well, I understand for now.”

The third audience also ended safely.

The problem started from the fourth.

“I’d like a decision soon.”

Will we form an alliance? Or become enemies?

Shterm deliberately acted as if his patience had reached its limit.

A false threat. A tactic often used to pressure the other party.

“Give me a little more time. I’ll let you know once we’ve sorted everything out on our end.”

“Time is running out. You must decide before destruction comes.”

That’s how we left it for now.

“Eidel, did you see the news today?”

Strange rumors had been spreading from the southwest region recently.

[Rheinland forced useless graviton research for his doctoral thesis. He didn’t care at all that common people were starving to death!]

There were claims that the national finances had been strained before and after the discovery of gravitons. This was somewhat true. After all, I had received government subsidies.

[I don’t understand why he wasted national budget researching useless particles.]

Such talk appeared on the galactic common channel, so I watched for a while.

Let’s set aside the fact that they can’t distinguish between elementary particles and microparticles.

That face looks familiar.

“Isn’t that a priest from Magnus?”

Some priests had fled instead of remaining loyal to the Saint until the end. We never managed to capture those who went into hiding.

I never expected them to resurface with new identities like this.

[Eidel von Rheinland might be experimenting with the ‘end.’ Colliding microparticles can create black holes. These black holes will bring about the downfall of our Federation.]

Ireh, who had been quiet, snorted.

“Even if such small black holes were created, how long would they last? Don’t they know that a black hole’s size is proportional to its lifespan?”

“Listen carefully. They’re claiming we could be doomed in that instant.”

I could explain, but there was no need.

I didn’t want to get stabbed by the independently operating remnants of the Order.

Besides, the growing distrust toward me could actually be an opportunity.

An opportunity to thoroughly deceive Shterm.

[Stars evolve into black holes. Constellations dwell in stars, and aliens dwell in black holes. Isn’t something strange? Why do people worship stars but think so negatively about black holes?]

Eventually, even ordinary people began to be converted.

They cited Ireh’s recently published paper.

[There are results showing that alien neural networks and constellation neural networks are very similar. It’s in that paper published in <Universe>. Isn’t that credible enough?]

[Constellations and aliens are actually equal beings!]

[Perhaps the head of House Rheinland formally contracted with aliens to rule the Federation. Even eliminating his political rival Adelbein and taking a wife was for that purpose.]

Most of the content was aimed at creating social chaos and disparaging me.

This too was Shterm’s double operation.

It was also pressure on me. To form an alliance quickly. Suggesting that if I didn’t answer, he would slowly strangle me like this.

If we formally allied, the ‘Star Chain’ would take effect.

Then I would helplessly become Shterm’s slave.

“That should be enough now.”

I’ve extracted everything I could.

I headed to the Stellarium.

I had two joker cards.

One I had held from the beginning, and the other I had to retrieve directly from the Academy.

***

Discontent with Eidel and House Rheinland spread rapidly. Many people believed that the budget invested in useless research was the reason for their poverty.

Also, the number of people who believed constellations and aliens were the same beings and fell into self-indulgence increased.

The number of Magnus Order followers also exploded.

New converts made the Manus planetary system, the Saint’s homeland, their holy site. They made it the Order’s mission to rescue the Saint from the Southern Sanctuary.

However, they changed the Order’s name to avoid Rheinland’s notice. They completely erased concepts like Idea and Jihad.

Instead, their ostensible goal became “eliminating Eidel von Rheinland who will bring about the end.” They called themselves Seekers.

In just one month.

The south and west fell into chaos.

“…That concludes my report.”

“My servant, Matonica. Well done.”

This was how Shterm destroyed a civilization. By encouraging infighting, slander, and turning discontent inward.

“Having pacified the Queen’s forces, now I’ll take over this galaxy and be fully prepared to fight the ‘end.’ I will defeat that Laplace creature with Eidel von Rheinland as my servant and prevent the destruction of our territory.”

“Magnificent!”

Matonica waved her flag enthusiastically.

Thus, the Iron Forces had their own cause. That’s why many aliens followed and believed in Shterm. It was in contrast to Aurora, who was known as a tyrant.

“Summon Rheinland and his party. We’ll end this today.”

Matonica acknowledged and left.

Shterm organized his thoughts.

He had already lowered their guard through several exchanges.

They must have developed a liking for him, who provided useful information without ever showing anger.

He would use this.

But the situation began to take a strange turn.

“…Why are you alone?”

Eidel von Rheinland.

Today he came alone.

“For some reason, everyone refused to meet you today. I had no choice but to come alone.”

“Why would they refuse you?”

“I’m not sure about that. But there was a slight reluctance.”

It seems the slander and scheming have worked, though not perfectly.

“There have been many strange rumors lately. People’s minds seem to be going crazy.”

“If their minds are going crazy, it could be Descartes’ doing.”

“That might be it. Has Cartesia secretly started something…?”

Shterm inwardly laughed with delight.

If that fool’s relationships with other aliens were also severed, everything would proceed according to plan.

“Anyway, it’s time to conclude our discussion. Let’s negotiate and prepare for cooperation. As equals, to prevent the end.”

“Not bad. Alright.”

He took the bait.

Shterm opened his enormous maw and produced a contract.

The Star Chain.

On the surface, it looked similar to the ‘Oath of Pledge’ used when making stellar contracts.

But its true nature was a terrifying dark weapon that could enslave even aliens.

“Just swear a blood oath to this. Come, state your name.”

“Wait a moment.”

“What is it?”

“There’s one more person who’s considering an alliance with us.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Here, this person.”

Eidel pulled out a small cube-like object from his chest.

“What is that?”

“The Queen.”