episode_0621

“This is the Manta Ray, an exploration ship belonging to the Aurelian family. Requesting planetary entry. Route control, please come out.”

-This is the route control room. Confirmation of entry request for Exoflight EX-200 Equinox model. State the registration number.

“Registration number KEEQ20524852.”

– Confirmed. State your purpose and number of people.

“Total of 7 people. The purpose is to report the results of the exploration of the remote planet system and supply supplies.”

– Confirmed. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a frontier planet exploration party. Jamad welcomes the expedition party. We hope you have a safe flight from Frontier-7016.

“Thank you.”

Stop

‘Jamadrama…’

I already had an idea of what kind of group it was because I had already heard an explanation from Maria.

We were told that this is a non-galactic organization that manages the Frontier-7016 planetary system we visited.

‘It’s amazing that a single group can govern a planetary system.’

I still haven’t quite gotten used to the scale of the human empire stretching out into space. It’s a different kind of majesty.

While people in reality are struggling to survive on a small planet, the world in the work is conquering the universe.

When you consider that this group called Jamad also governs the planetary system, it is clear that they are a group of people with a strength that cannot be dealt with even if the entire Earth achieves world unification.

Because the scale of a government that unifies a planet and an organization that governs a planetary system are incomparable.

‘They’re a bit difficult for me to deal with alone. If they were settled on a single planet like Earth, I could just cut off their heads and be done with, but Jamad isn’t only active in this planetary system. They must have connections to other planetary systems as well.’

Of course, if you use all the cards you have, you will be able to fight somehow.

The power I have now surpasses the level of an individual and is now at the level of a group or country that can fight and eat.

I was confident that I could inflict devastating damage by using the Key and Manta Ray as a guerrilla strategy wherever I went.

But what does that mean?

There are so many more powerful beings in the universe, like stars in the sky. It wouldn’t make much of a difference to defeat these developing planetary systems or governing groups.

‘Anyway, I got permission to enter, so it doesn’t matter.’

Communication with the route control room was lost, and the massive structure blocking our probe’s path was removed.

Although I couldn’t hear any sound because of the vacuum environment, I thought I heard a ‘kukukukukung…’ sound effect in my ears.

“A barricade set up in outer space… Does this mean anything? The rest are all breached.”

“That’s the law. If you approach the planet from a different direction, you’re innocent even if you get shot down. From that perspective, it makes sense.”

I said that in response to Moon Ji-yu’s question and nodded at the plasma cannon aimed at us.

“The more backward a planetary system is, the more you have to watch out for space pirates.”

“Space pirates… I’ve only seen them in comics. When you say it like that, it feels like the world in the work is real.”

Olivia looked at me with her upper body stretched out next to Moon Ji-yu, who nodded.

“But why did you come to such a backward place? If you’re going to go, I’d rather see a place with a bit more of a SF feel.”

“It may not be as advanced as other planetary systems, but it should have a cyberpunk or dystopian feel to it. And you’re already on a space probe and talking about science fiction?”

As Olivia lamented, I chose this place not just because it was close.

Basically, the identity I am using now is a fake identity called Aurelian’s Inquisitor.

Considering that most nobles would start a war if they were called Inquisitors, it was easier for me to operate in a planet controlled by a group like Zamad rather than a noble house.

Of course, no one knows that I’m an Inquisitor except for the Aurelian Institute Director, and I lied about my destination, and the institute even gave me a normal identity instead of an Inquisitor, so I don’t think anyone will find out… But still, what if I don’t know?

‘And above all, at this point in time, that man is probably active here.’

“Wow… That’s amazing!”

While I was lost in thought, Sarah, glued to the screen that illuminated the outside, was amazed with shining eyes. The sight of the planet filling her field of vision as it got closer was truly spectacular.

The Manta Ray we were on was lowered into the hangar following the guidance of the route control room.

Since I do not have my own personal hangar on this planet, I had to park it in a hangar operated by this planet.

If it was a remote planet system with no management entity, it wouldn’t matter where it flew, but since there was an administrator named Zamad, it couldn’t be helped because even though a personal vehicle like the Sky Rover didn’t matter, an official exploration ship like this had to report every time it took off and landed.

What this means is that it’s difficult to carry a manta ray in your inventory.

Because if a probe that clearly exists in the data suddenly disappears from its hangar, it’s bound to cause confusion.

There wasn’t really any problem.

If something happens and you need to escape, you can enter the hangar with the key from anywhere and steal the probe into your inventory.

“Then everyone, get ready to get off.”

“Here, everyone, please put this on.”

As I gave instructions, Maria distributed something like a cloak to the group.

Our group consisted of one man and six women. This trip consisted of four people: Moon Ji-yu, Jung Soo-jin, Olivia, and Sarah, plus Janey and Maria.

There was no reason to draw attention with such an unusual gender ratio and realistic clothing.

The group obediently put on the cloaks Maria gave them and covered their faces with the hoods attached to them.

Some of the party members looked slightly uneasy, as if they had not yet fully adjusted to Maria’s purple hair and eyes. Janie also had blue hair and eyes, but purple was a color that felt more mysterious.

Perhaps the previous misunderstanding that Maria was simply an artificial intelligence, and the fact that her body was an artificially created navigator clone, are also contributing factors to this sense of distance.

Although the misunderstanding was more like something I had deliberately kept hidden rather than the fault of the group.

‘But the other party members are now convinced, and Maria is behaving well, so there’s no need to worry.’

I had no worries at all about Maria in particular.

Even a capricious master like me is being treated so well, so I’m sure things will go well.

The group exited the hangar and headed toward the planet’s center.

It was not a planet with a specific country, but the center was right next to this hangar that could communicate with the universe. Even in this era when civilization was expanding into space, the city was developing around logistics.

“So where are we going?”

Janie asked as she approached me. She was using her power to calm the dust storm that was blowing as if it was going to take off her cloak. The group following behind were being protected by Sarah while she practiced her barrier.

I spoke with inner strength in my voice, as if I was telegraphing so that everyone in the group could hear, but so that others around me could not eavesdrop.

“There are two reasons I came to Nova Empire this time. One is to prepare to replicate and mass-produce Telos Ampoules. The other is to acquire equipment and technology that can only be obtained here.”

The first one is self-explanatory. The second one is, for example, something like the Valkyrie’s optical camouflage combat suit technology that I had previously thought of.

“Then, like Liv said, shouldn’t we have gone to a more technologically advanced planet? I don’t think that’s possible here… ”

Moon Ji-yu looked around with a skeptical look.

The group soon entered the market area, but the noisy surroundings looked like an alien refugee camp at best. Except that there were no real aliens, only humans trading in unusual items.

“Even if we go to a place like that, there’s no way we can use the facilities there as we please. Even if we try to do something secretly, the defenses will be tight. In that case, it’d be faster to take over the abandoned and forgotten production facilities and research complexes.”

“There’s such a facility here?”

“No, but I know someone who has such a facility. Turn right here.”

I skillfully dug into the narrow alley between the shops. Maria had already figured out the location of my target.

As I entered the back alley, the noise of the market diminished to background music. The lively atmosphere of the market disappeared as if it were a lie, and a maze of streets unfolded before me.

The narrow streets between the commercial building blocks gave the feeling of being lost in a port full of containers.

Thanks to Maria’s guidance, our group was advancing without hesitation when we came across a group of thugs.

“Who are you? It’s busy here right now, so go back somewhere else.”

I opened my eyes and figured out what was going on over there.

A situation where the person presumed to be the target is surrounded by a gang of thugs.

‘I think there’s a problem?’

It wasn’t the right situation for me to pursue my goal, but it was the perfect opportunity to bestow grace.

“What, why aren’t you answering? These guys are suspicious… Take off your hoods!”

Thud thud…

I ignored the thug’s words and walked forward.

“Huh? Won’t you stop there?”

The guys who sensed something was strange then tried to stop us, but it was no use.

Ordinary humans, including me and the rest of the group, could not stop it by force.

“What, what is it?”

“Where did these kids suddenly come from?”

“Block it!”

“Mo, I can’t stop you! I’m too strong… ”

Hwaruruk-

I asked the sole survivor, who had just dismissed the noisy guys with his supernatural powers and was sitting there looking up at me with a blank expression.

“I’m looking for a man named Kai. Am I in the right place?”