Episode 79

Alan was practically vibrating, his words tumbling out in a frantic, huffing rush. Taro did his best to settle him down, coaxing the man to spill the details. Alan spent a few more moments panting like a winded dog before taking one final, rattling breath and finally finding his composure.

“It happened about seven years ago. You wouldn't know about it—nobody does. It was the Empire, or at least a specific branch of the military. I’ll spare you the boring bits, but a certain unit decided it was time to wipe the Outsiders off the face of the galaxy.”

The mood in the room plummeted. Taro’s expression mirrored the grim looks around him as he thought of the girl he’d met recently—Leila. He felt a sharp pang of annoyance knit his brows together.

“Wipe them out? That’s not just ‘unpleasant,’ that’s a straight-up massacre. Why the hell would they do that?”

Alan tapped his temple rhythmically. “The root of it all? BISHOP,” he grunted. “You know Outsiders can’t use BISHOP, right? Well, unfortunately for them, that trait is hereditary. A certain racist prick of a Regional Official took notice. He convinced himself that if they weren't culled, the number of humans unable to interface with BISHOP would skyrocket.”

“That’s completely absurd,” Marl interjected, crossing her arms. “I’ve never heard a single report about the Outsider population increasing. And besides—and I know it’s terrible to say—most Imperial Citizens wouldn't dream of getting close enough to them to... well, increase the population.”

Alan nodded firmly at Marl’s troubled assessment.

“Exactly. The whole thing was based on nothing. There was no reason to suddenly panic over something that hadn't changed in thousands of years. Like Marl said, their birth rate hasn't so much as twitched. Whether that’s a good thing or not is beside the point.”

Alan reached for a glass on the table, moistened his throat with a quick sip, and pressed on.

“The point is, the order was given. I don’t know how they justified it, and they probably didn’t care. And so, on that day, ‘we’ headed out to execute the mission.”

“...‘We’?” Taro asked.

“Yeah. We. I told you once before, didn’t I? I was in Land Combat.”

Alan stared Taro straight in the eyes. Those sharp, military eyes looked the same as ever, yet Taro thought he caught a flicker of something profoundly sorrowful deep within them.

“Why we had to do it, what we were actually accomplishing... we didn't find out until much later. Well, I say ‘we,’ but only a handful of people lived long enough to learn the truth.”

Alan’s gaze drifted toward the past. When Gon asked if the mission had been classified, Alan gave a slow, weary shake of his head.

“No. It’s because everyone died. Everyone except three of us. Me, Dean, and one other guy. Can you believe it? Two thousand two hundred soldiers boarded that station. We were annihilated by a tiny group of guerrillas. It was just him and a few Local Faction fighters. I left Land Combat because of that disaster, and the official who dreamed up the operation committed suicide—at least, that’s the official story. These days, nobody brings it up. It’s been scrubbed from the records.”

“Two thousand people...” Taro whistled. “So, was that ‘him’ the Phantom guy you mentioned?”

“The one and only. After that, he popped up everywhere, causing chaos in everything from Land Combat to Fleet Combat. He played the Empire like a fiddle. They could have crushed him if they’d sent a massive fleet, but they chose to sweep it under the rug instead. They didn’t want the bad PR of a public scandal. He topped the Bounty List for five years, then suddenly vanished right around the time that official kicked the bucket.”

“Okay, yeah, that official was definitely murdered,” Taro deadpanned.

Alan shrugged.

“Who knows? But something happened behind the scenes. You don’t just put a fifty-billion-Credit bounty on one man and then delete it the next day for no reason. It’s a legend among hunters.”

Gon nodded, his face solemn. “Yeah, it’s a famous story. But since nobody ever saw him and lived, people started doubting he was even real. That’s why they started calling him the Phantom. To think... he actually existed.”

Taro shuddered. Fifty billion Credits? A man who could wipe out two thousand soldiers? He’d met this guy. He had actually stood in the presence of a literal monster and was only now realizing he should probably be a puddle on the floor.

“He sounds like a total freak of nature... So, let me guess. The only reason you’re bringing this up now is because...?”

Taro looked up at Alan, squinting suspiciously. Alan gave a complicated smile—part grimace, part chuckle.

“A Commando is a professional of war. They embed with a Local Faction, teach them how to fight, and turn them into a top-tier military force in record time. They know everything: Land Combat, fleet maneuvers, warship specs—the works. Since we’re dealing with a threat of our own, why not try to reach out?”

The suggestion immediately sparked a cacophony of protests from the rest of the team.

“But hey, the fact that he’d even show up for a meeting is just the Teiro-chan quality at work! Tehe!” Taro chirped, sticking out his tongue and winking.

Alan looked at him with pure exasperation. “Your terminal lightheartedness usually saves us, Taro, but right now, it’s not helping. I’m the one who suggested this, and even I feel like I’m about to wet myself.”

Taro gave him a reassuring thumbs-up. “Don’t worry. I’m already halfway there. But look, it’s fine! He’s not gonna kill us out of nowhere. There’s no profit in it.”

“I suppose...” Alan replied, his face still a mask of gloom.

“Look, I get it. Your whole unit got wiped out; that’s major trauma. Why don’t you let Gon and the others handle this? You can head back.”

“No,” Alan snapped. “I’m the one who brought it up. I’d look like a pathetic coward if I ran now.”

“I mean, fair point, but... uh, Alan? Your right hand and right foot are moving at the same time.”

Alan froze, looked down at his limbs, and realized he was walking in a stiff, synchronized shuffle. Taro burst out laughing at the rare sight of the stoic soldier losing his cool.

“Dammit, you tricked me! The military teaches you how to walk on day one! There’s no way I’d mess that up...”

Alan continued to mutter to himself. Taro shrugged, realizing his friend was a lost cause, and looked down at the small device he’d prepared for the occasion.

I even brought a gift... I don’t know if he’ll like it, but hopefully, it’ll keep him from vaporizing us on sight. God, I hope so.

As Taro’s own anxiety finally began to catch up with him, he started muttering under his breath just like Alan. Followed by the four Cats, the group hurried toward the park.

The Natural Nature Park was a lush, green oasis in Katsushika Station. Where exactly is the ‘natural’ part? Taro wondered. The entire place was a masterpiece of artificial management. The soil and grass had been shipped in from other planets, and broad-leafed trees were meticulously planted in every corner.

The park was only about three hundred meters square, but since every wall was a high-definition screen projecting realistic landscapes, it felt like an endless wilderness.

“Is it just a bachelor’s instinct to want to throw rocks at them, or are those couples actually that annoying?” Taro grumbled, watching families and lovers frolic in the greenery.

“Shut up,” Alan hissed, ignoring the banter. “Listen, Teiro. If anything goes sideways, run. Don't look back. Don't try to be a hero. Just run.”

“Right, right. I got it. But like... can we actually outrun him?”

Alan paused. “...No. Probably not. Actually, let’s call it off. I’ll go alone. You go back.”

“No way! We’re already here. It’ll be fine! If he wanted us dead, he would’ve done it last time... Oh! There she is! Found ‘em! HEYOOO!”

Taro spotted the familiar girl on a bench and started sprinting toward her, waving his arm like a maniac. Alan tried to grab him, but Taro was already gone. Leila noticed him and gave a slow, hesitant wave back.

“Hey! Long time no see! Sorry about the other day. Is your terminal acting okay?”

Leila held up her screen, showing a flurry of active buttons and status bars. It was working perfectly.

“＊＊＊＊＊＊,” she said, pointing behind Taro. He didn't understand a word, but he assumed she was asking about the Cats trailing behind him.

“Oh, these are my employees! This is Alan, Gon, Cha, Yuki, and Taiki. Just between us, they look cute, but they’re absolute beasts in a fight.”

Taro leaned in and whispered the last bit to her. The Cats, hearing themselves described as "cute" yet again, looked visibly offended.

“I am Alan,” the soldier said, stepping forward. His voice was polite, but his eyes were scanning the area like a hawk. “A pleasure, young lady. Tell me... is your brother around?”

Leila shrank back for a second, intimidated by his intensity, then silently pointed a finger directly behind Alan’s head.

“...If you were there the whole time, a simple ‘hello’ would have been nice,” Alan said, his voice dropping an octave.

He slowly raised his hands in the air. Standing behind him was a man draped in a heavy robe. He hadn't made a sound. The Cats instantly dropped into low, lethal stances, their fur bristling.

“Whoa, whoa! Time out! Everyone chill!” Taro shouted, jumping into the middle of the standoff.

The man reached out and gently lowered Alan’s hands. “I have no intention of fighting,” he said, stepping toward Taro.

Taro took the man’s hand and gave it a firm, confident shake, looking him straight in the eye.

“Thanks for coming. Sorry about my guys; they’re just a little overprotective. I told them I’d be fine on my own, but they wouldn't take no for an answer.”

Taro gave a "you know how it is" shrug. The man let out a small, genuine chuckle. He glanced over at Alan’s group and nodded.

“It simply means you’re a leader worth protecting. I don’t mind. Though, if you’re going to set up snipers, you should really update their gear. Their camouflage is... well, it’s a bit ‘last decade,’ wouldn’t you say?”

Taro shot a sharp look at Alan. Alan looked like he’d just swallowed a lemon but reluctantly tapped his terminal.

“All units, stand down. Fall back to the entrance and wait.”

The robed man smiled thinly. He gestured toward the deeper part of the park. “This area is a bit too exposed for the conversation we need to have.”

He began to walk, and after a quick exchange of nervous glances, Taro and his team followed him into the trees.