Ch.512Cold, gloomy, and complicated. (5)

While there were indeed such trivial matters, there didn’t seem to be any major issues beyond that.

I decided not to care whether users in this territory formed clans or not, and just enjoy my own time.

There weren’t any major events happening right now, nor were neighboring users invading.

Conversely, I had no reason to push into other territories, so wasn’t it appropriate to enjoy this peaceful time?

Therefore, I made it clear that users could do whatever they wanted within the territory, as long as they didn’t engage in hostile actions.

“Oh, oppa, you know I can’t be reckless since I’m pregnant, right?”

“Yes, so there’s no need to strain yourself like this—”

*Thud!*

“But I can still use all the other places…♡”

“Huh?”

After meeting Marian after a long time, I was trying to have a cozy conversation, only to fall for her plan to squeeze me dry using every part except the “front.”

Yet after setting me up like that…

“Hieek, o-oppa, be a little gentler… Ahng!”

I witnessed third-rate hole Marian getting overwhelmed by me, powered up by Griyanar’s amazing stamina supplement.

I spent sticky and warm time with Marian, doing all sorts of “oomph-oomph wiggle-wiggle bean paste filling push-push pee-pee squirt.”

Of course, I wasn’t some wild stallion galloping across the plains, so I wasn’t just doing that kind of thing.

I was spending my time quite productively doing many other things as well.

And what were those things, you might ask? For example…

*BOOM!*

*ARRRGHHHH!!*

“What is that?”

“It’s a chimera weapon that Professor Griyanar and Dr. Nero created by combining mechanical and biological characteristics.”

“…A chimera weapon?”

“They used that D-rank superhuman the Commander obtained before as material.”

“But why is it rampaging in the middle of the base right now?”

“They accidentally injected a stimulant instead of a sedative due to a malfunction in the drug injection machine.”

There was an incident where a collaborative chimera creation by Griyanar and Nero had a seizure, causing an unexpected fight with superhumans inside the base.

“Your ears are so soft and pleasant to touch.”

“Nyaaaa… it feels good when you pet me too, nya.”

“Since they’re cat ears, wouldn’t it feel better if I put my hand where it’s covered with fur? It would be warmer.”

“Oh.”

With not much to do, Ignis was spending time fiddling with Smeraggi’s ears while having her sit in front of her.

“Um, excuse me, how far does this go in?”

“Nyaaaaa♡”

“Shouldn’t I pull my hand out? Is this really okay?!”

“No, don’t pull it out, nyaaaa♡”

“Holy shit.”

Perhaps because of Griyanar’s intense modifications…

Ignis was shocked to see her hand go into Smeraggi’s ear all the way up to her forearm.

“Commander Icarus, one of my hobby fleet’s Harpy-class ships has disappeared… do you happen to know where it went?”

“A ship suddenly disappeared?”

Just as I was starting to feel intrigued by Princess Luca’s story that sounded like the beginning of a Neapolitan ghost tale, thinking this event might be horror-themed…

“Um… Princess, I’m sorry but we’ve found the Harpy-class ship.”

“Oh?”

“But… well… hmm.”

“Where is it that you’re acting like this? The neural network can’t pinpoint its exact location.”

“Actually, it seems Commander Icarus’s Kraken No. 3 has… eaten our Harpy-class ship.”

“What.”

“What.”

It turned out that the week-old baby Kraken No. 3, while leveling up, had secretly eaten one of Princess Luca’s ships as a snack because it was tired and hungry.

As a result, I had to apologize to Princess Luca and compensate her with resources to build a new ship.

Though nothing was particularly serious, I was experiencing all sorts of random incidents that continuously diverted my attention.

==========

But not long after I started experiencing these things, strange rumors began to emerge from various places.

Skipping all the miscellaneous stories and focusing only on the essential parts…

—————————————–

Title: Is it true that Icarus Kingdom will give territory to users if they form a clan?

Author: Anonymous

Content: [Image of users in a clan chat room drinking their own Kool-Aid about possibly receiving territory rights from Icarus]

So if there’s a clan that’s taken a stronghold, will he hand over the stronghold to them?

Wow, that’s awesome

Comments:

-[Of course he would lolololol]

-[What kind of Templar is this?]

-[Dude, why would Icarus give territory rights to you guys?]

-˪[Our clan leader said he would]

—————————————–

—————————————–

Title: I heard talk about receiving strongholds and establishing a proxy governance system

Author: Anonymous

Content: [Image of a user in some chat room talking about Icarus transferring stronghold authority to users and changing to a proxy governance system]

Is this real?

It sounds like complete nonsense to me

I’m a newbie who just joined a clan so I don’t know if this is true

Comments:

-[These kinds of rumors keep coming up lately]

-[Just go ask Icarus directly, why are you asking us?]

-[But all those strongholds were captured by Icarus himself, why would he give them away for free?]

-˪[There’s talk about him handing them over because it’s hard to manage multiple strongholds, is that a lie?](Author)

-˪[How would I know? If I knew that, I’d be Icarus, not hanging out here]

—————————————–

—————————————–

Title: Isn’t this just Icarus using a trick because he doesn’t want to create a massive clan for the central zone?

Author: Anonymous

Content: [Image of conspiracy theory about Icarus restructuring the governance system through clans]

Since it’s hard to handle the responsibility of being a clan leader

He’s creating small clan leaders to serve as officers, giving them territories to gain experience

Then later he’ll absorb them all to naturally create a massive clan structure

Comments:

-[That makes sense]

-[They’re all bastards!]

-[Oh, that’s a really interesting theory]

-[But didn’t he explicitly say he would never join a clan?]

-˪[Anyone’s mind can change]

-[Better to wait and see, the person himself hasn’t said anything]

—————————————–

‘What kind of nonsensical stories are boldly popping up?’

I’m not creating a clan, but supposedly letting users create clans.

Supposedly transferring strongholds to clans and establishing a proxy governance system.

And these ridiculous claims about planning to create a massive clan through such a structure keep appearing in the gallery.

Moreover, these stories weren’t just circulating in the gallery, but people were saying the same things in my territory’s chat room.

—————————————–

<Central Zone Neutral Area Chat Room>

<Notice: No strange rumors>

-[Your Majesty, please respond to your citizens’ opinions]

-[Are we really dividing territories and stuff?]

-[How would Leviathan Fleet protection work then?]

-[Is it true that strongholds will be transferred to other users? For real?]

-[Come on, that’s too much even if it’s true]

-[Someone kept saying it’s true]

-[Who?]

-[I want to have sex]

-[Hoeeeeee]

-[Is it true that you’re changing the governance structure to rule over numerous small clans?!]

-[What, are you taking the path of an empire emperor now?]

—————————————–

“What is all this nonsense?”

“I know, right?”

Seeing such absurd conspiracy theories floating around, I naturally felt my sanity ascending to heaven as my mind went blank.

Of course, that dazed feeling didn’t last long.

“Commander, you need to focus and assess the situation first.”

“Y-you’re right, you’re absolutely right.”

Thanks to Jessica shaking my shoulder to bring me back to my senses, I barely managed to hold onto my mental stability and decided to figure out what was going on.