Ch.92Ancient Battleship (5)

# Chapter 92: Ancient Battleship (5)

[Event: Warning]

[The Empire of Pioneers, survivors from the Dark Ages, sent operatives to destroy the newly discovered ship.]

[Despite the complete annihilation of the special forces assigned as escorts, they continued to focus on their mission.]

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

[As their plans were thwarted 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 Sebelli Empire -5% for 5 years]

Looking at that damned event message, I was consumed by thoughts of whether I could somehow reverse this situation.

For example, the save-load technique I frequently used in games during my previous life.

Unfortunately, this cursed world didn’t grant me a save-load function.

Actually, it didn’t provide most UI functions that come to mind.

And the functions that did exist had such terrible user interfaces that I practically used nothing except the pause function…

‘Damn it all.’

Faced with this reality and the malicious event message that imposed a debuff without even giving me a choice, I mentally hurled every curse I could think of.

“Haah…”

After taking a deep breath and exhaling, I called out to Meteorn who would be waiting on the other side of the screen.

“Meteorn, you can take that esteemed prisoner away now.”

-“Yes, Minister.”

“…And do you have anything else to report?”

-“No, sir.”

“Good, then report back when there’s any progress.”

-“Understood, Minister.”

-Communication terminated

Right after ending the communication.

“Haaaah… damn it all.”

With a sigh and an eruption of curses, I weakly got up from my seat and decided to trudge into the break room.

“Nyuuu, good work.”

“Aren’t you curious about how things will unfold from here, Riel?”

“Minister, if you lose your mind in a situation like this, the empire will be in serious trouble.”

Since Riel’s words weren’t wrong, I decided to take them to heart even as I flopped down onto the bed.

————————————–

And as the next morning dawned.

I visited the imperial palace with Riel after a long time to make a regular report about that ancient ship.

To be precise, we were headed to Artralaia’s private chamber within the imperial palace.

Once again, we were escorted all the way to her private chamber by those burly imperial guards…

-Swish swish swish.

Artralaia was wearing yet another unique dress, sitting at the head of her private chamber, busy reviewing and approving documents.

“Hmm, did we come at a busy time?”

“Oh, you’re here? It’s not like that, just sit and wait for a moment.”

And as if to prove her words true, Artralaia began rapidly processing the visibly large stack of approval documents.

-Beep beep beep!

“Ah!”

Of course, in the midst of that, I witnessed the spectacle of her massive motherly assets pressing against the terminal screen, causing random approvals to be registered.

“…”

Immediately after, Artralaia’s expression stiffened slightly as she contacted someone.

“Yes, it’s me. Cancel the three documents that were just approved and send them back.”

Seeing her effortlessly exercising her imperial power, I felt a small pang of envy.

‘Meanwhile, I have to face the consequences when I make approval mistakes.’

This was a clear demonstration of the emperor’s cheat map, and I keenly felt the difference between an emperor and a subject.

A moment later.

“Ah, finally done. Did you wait long?”

After processing the substantial pile of documents, Artralaia looked at us sitting modestly on the sofa and casually tossed her terminal to the opposite sofa.

Seeing her casual demeanor, I shrugged and said:

“No, it didn’t take that long.”

“That’s right, we basically just sat down after arriving.”

When Riel chimed in with agreement, Artralaia smiled slightly, and the atmosphere became noticeably lighter.

“So, what report did you want to make that you contacted me? Arto.”

“Ah, right.”

Not missing the opportunity in this relaxed atmosphere, I reported everything I had remembered, organized, and noted down to Artralaia without omission.

“And then… umm…”

“The Kerzin special task force.”

“The Kerzin special task force showed up and…”

Whenever my memory was a bit fuzzy, Riel would subtly provide hints.

Thanks to this perfect support, I successfully reported all the information I knew to Artralaia, literally without missing anything, in an easily understandable manner.

“…Phew.”

As a result, Artralaia’s previously bright mood had completely vanished.

Learning about the exciting, pleasant, and heart-pounding tense relationship that had formed with the Pioneer Empire, she showed a worried expression, sinking into deep contemplation.

“Arto, will this really be okay?”

“…I’m not sure.”

To be honest, I also didn’t think the current situation was very good.

How much more so for Artralaia?

But providing false information to reassure her would only create a bigger snowball effect that would eventually engulf me and the empire.

After careful consideration, I chose the empire’s future over Artralaia’s feelings.

And because Artralaia understood this, she remained silent despite the sudden deterioration of the previously good atmosphere.

But regardless, perhaps because we might end up fighting the Pioneer Empire before Prosnack if we’re not careful.

Artralaia’s beautiful face showed no sign of her concerns subsiding.

However…

-Ding♪

“…Hmm.”

“What is it, Arto?”

“It’s from the team I sent to investigate the ancient ship I mentioned earlier. They’re contacting me saying they have something to report.”

After saying that, since I couldn’t take reports from subordinates while talking with the Emperor Artralaia.

I was naturally about to end the communication, but…

“What if it’s good news? You said yourself to report when there’s progress.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m curious too… Ah, just take the call right here!”

Whether Artralaia was curious about the situation.

Or perhaps she wanted to try the direct communication with field units that politicians from egalitarian countries often employ.

For reasons I couldn’t precisely determine, she requested that I take the communication. I nodded and looked at Riel, saying:

“You heard that, Riel? Go connect the terminal to the screen.”

“…If you’re going to do this, bring some maintenance personnel with you next time.”

Despite grumbling, Riel faithfully carried out my request.

Shortly after.

-Crackle… beep!

“It’s done.”

“That’s our Riel for you.”

“You did great, Riel. You really suffer a lot because of Arto.”

After Riel connected the communication equipment to the massive wall-mounted TV-like device in the emperor’s private chamber.

I showered her with praise.

Artralaia even hugged Riel tightly like a little bear doll.

It was truly the ultimate, heavenly reward, and for the first time in my life, I felt something akin to jealousy toward Riel, but.

“Don’t do this, I can’t breathe.”

“Ah!”

Our Riel, with her childish personality and her orientation that could be either heterosexual or asexual, showed no appreciation for the feel of Artralaia’s big motherly assets.

Instead, she was more focused on lifting those massive maternal pouches with her hands to extract her buried head, quite impertinently.

Feeling unnecessary thoughts crowding my mind at that sight, I shook my head to clear them away.

“Artralaia, let’s begin now.”

“…Ah, yes.”

When I pressed the terminal that had been blinking continuously for the report, the massive screen occupying one wall of the private chamber lit up, then went dark.

When it brightened again, there was a Purge Unit member covered in blood and some unidentifiable substance.

And this Purge Unit member, without even wiping the blood from his face, looked at the screen with an incredibly bright smile and said:

-“Minister, we’ve finally succeeded in taking control of this ship!”

Behind the grinning Purge Unit member who was even raising his arms in celebration, Prosnack’s marines and other Purge Unit members appeared to be holding some kind of welcoming ceremony, which was quite inappropriate in many ways.

Normally, this would have been something to laugh off, but…

“Wait, the Emperor is currently watching this communication.”

-“Ah.”

The problem was that Artralaia was right beside me, watching this communication.

As soon as they heard my words, the Purge Unit members hastily cut the communication.

But Artralaia, having already seen everything, was just staring at me with a very subtle gaze.