Ch.91Ancient Vessel (4)

# Chapter 91: Ancient Vessel (4)

Although Prosnack’s marines had beheaded the Pioneer’s soldier…

The situation hadn’t changed at all.

If we hadn’t responded, they might have blown up both the vessel and our troops.

To avoid such a fate, we had no choice but to capture and subdue the enemy.

Of course, even though the severed head was a hologram, having it fly through my body wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience.

I was somewhat shocked at the time.

But honestly, after giving lectures about water and fire elements to spies…

Turning crustacean aliens into live lobsters…

Creating an orchestra with cat-like aliens…

Perhaps because as the Minister of Execution—the head of the secret police—I’ve seen all sorts of unspeakable things.

After sleeping and waking up, any feelings about yesterday’s events had melted away like snow, leaving only indifference about spending another day as a happy office slave.

“Are you alright, Minister?”

Of course, our closest human friend, Riel the Humanoid, showed concern for me as soon as I woke up.

“Don’t worry, Riel. My mental state isn’t so rotten that I’d fuss over something so trivial.”

Thinking I’d caused unnecessary worry, I responded with an exaggerated attitude to dispel Riel’s concerns.

“I thought so. Here’s the work you need to process today.”

“…”

And right after my response, I felt anger surge within me as I saw the massive amount of work being transferred.

‘Evil and vicious hatred-intelligence level.’

Seeing that the hatred-intelligence level hadn’t changed at all, I grumbled inwardly while naturally starting to work.

“See? No matter how much you complain, Minister, your body is honest.”

“…”

I wanted to deny those words, but having no way to do so made me even more frustrated.

Anyway, I spent another joyful day working, lending Alina to the Technology and Science Department.

“Give! Alina! Back to us!”

“Go back to work.”

After suppressing the rebellion of office slaves who seemed to spawn automatically whenever Alina disappeared.

As I watched the sun setting, I was wrapping up today’s work.

While organizing my tasks, I looked at my terminal, which had been quiet all day, and fell into thought.

‘Fortunately, there don’t seem to be any special reports today.’

Yesterday ended like a spectacular action movie as we captured and subdued the Pioneers.

If every day were like that, my troops’ fatigue levels would be no joke, not to mention my own.

The game I’ve been incarnated into takes an incredibly long time to progress through a single event.

‘Let’s see… a basic investigation event takes at least 180 days, half a year, right?’

Considering that, it would be unreasonable to expect major developments in the current situation when not even two months have passed.

After organizing my thoughts and completing the final approval of work.

-Crack!

“Nnnghhh…”

“Good work today.”

As I stretched my body that had stiffened from working, a strange sound came from my waist as I felt my spine realigning.

‘This refreshing feeling, is today an early leave day?’

No special reports, no accidents—how long has it been since we had such a day?

Wanting to savor this happiness, I immediately stood up and walked toward the break room behind my office.

“Nothing can stop me, no one…!”

“Oh, okay.”

But just as I was about to turn the doorknob to the break room.

-Ding♪

The clear, familiar sound from my terminal instantly froze all movement in my body.

Meanwhile, only my head turned with cracking sounds.

And at the end of my gaze…

“What are you doing? Stop avoiding reality and come receive the report.”

There was Riel, standing in front of the terminal I had left behind, pointing at it with an annoyed expression.

———————————–

After once again applying the manners injection rod to Riel’s crown.

I sat down with a sigh and immediately connected the communication through the terminal.

-“Minister, I have something new to report… would now be a good time?”

“It’s perfectly fine, go ahead.”

At my words, Meteorun, the one making the report, nodded and immediately began his situation report.

-“First, regarding the Pioneer forces, we estimate fewer than five enemies remain inside the vessel. Of those, one has been captured alive, and one was killed during resistance.”

“…You have a captive?”

-“Yes, Minister.”

The proud Pioneers, captured as prisoners by what they consider an inferior species.

It was quite surprising news, so I decided to hear more details about it after Meteorun finished his report.

-“Additionally, pursuit operations for the remaining Pioneers are ongoing, and coordination with the Prosnack Marines is proceeding better than expected.”

Of course, when the Prosnack Marines were mentioned, I unconsciously felt my expression sour slightly.

Although I corrected my expression as quickly as possible, there was no way a superhuman soldier like Meteorun would miss such a subtle change with his enhanced vision.

-“I apologize for my indiscretion.”

Seeing Meteorun bow his head urgently, I waved my hand lightly and said:

“No need to worry about it too much. Don’t worry and continue your report.”

-“Understood.”

After that, there wasn’t anything particularly memorable in Meteorun’s report.

-“…and that concludes my report.”

When Meteorun finished, I decided to immediately bring up what I wanted to ask about.

“I see… understood. Then let’s have a conversation with this Pioneer who was captured.”

-“Yes, I’ll bring them right away.”

As Meteorun temporarily disappeared from the screen, I leaned back on the sofa, interlocking my fingers while killing time.

But time passed, and continued to pass.

One minute, two minutes, three minutes.

When the waiting time exceeded five minutes, Riel, who was doing semi-forced overtime in front of me, sighed and said:

“Minister, would you like me to make you some coffee while you wait?”

“…Yes, please.”

And after Riel brought iced coffee with floating ice cubes and snacks.

After sharing them and finishing the coffee.

Even after taking a bathroom break, the communication still hadn’t reconnected.

“Riel, how long has it been since Meteorun said he’d bring the prisoner?”

“Hmm, it’s just passing 30 minutes now.”

As I was repeatedly tapping the table with my finger to calm my overflowing irritation after hearing Riel’s words.

-Beep!

I immediately accepted the finally connected communication.

-“I apologize for the delay. We had a small problem while bringing the prisoner…”

“…Hmm.”

But the appearance of Meteorun and the Purge Unit members on the communication screen made it difficult to scold them just for a late connection…

Dark circles under sunken eyes and gaunt faces.

They looked thoroughly exhausted in many ways, so I decided to show concern rather than anger first.

“No, is there some problem?”

At my words, Meteorun on the screen shook his head and said:

-“No, it’s not that…”

“Hmm?”

-“It’s just that the prisoner is so noisy and annoying that everyone’s minds are in a daze.”

Hearing Meteorun’s words, I wondered what level of annoyance could cause such irritation…

A moment later.

-“Ifyoureleasemerightnowiwilldoeverythingicantoensurethatyourpathetic empirewillbesafedfromthewrathofmyhomecountry.”

Seeing the ‘prisoner’ speaking like a machine gun without taking a single pause.

Just by looking briefly, I could understand why Meteorun’s team had such a hard time.

“…Has he been talking like this from the beginning?”

-“Hard to believe, but… it’s true.”

How could a person speak with such a speech pattern?

I couldn’t just say it was because he was a Pioneer.

The woman who was beheaded by the Prosnack Marines might have had a superiority complex, but at least she spoke like a normal person.

-“Youdon’tdeservetopossessthisvessel butifydowell imightcontactmyhomecountryandgetyoupartialownershiprights.”

“…”

-“Sofreemeimmediatelyinferiorspecies!”

Just as I was dumbfounded by the speech pattern that seemed to have thrown spacing to the dogs:

[Event: Warning]

[The Pioneer Empire, which has survived from the Dark Ages, sent operatives to destroy the vessel that has appeared this time.]

[They entered with special forces from the Kerzin Federation, their descendants, but even after all the special forces escorts were annihilated, they continued to focus on their mission.]

[However, you have successfully interfered with their plans.]

[As their plans were disrupted by you, the Pioneer Empire’s goodwill toward you and your empire has decreased by a certain amount.]

[Pioneer Empire’s goodwill toward the Holy Seveli Empire -5% for 5 years]

Seeing the event message with no choices available, I felt a sigh escape me.