First, I contacted Lily.\n\n"Leo here. Get the civilians out!"\n\n"You heard him! Women, protect the children and get to the Prince's ship! Men, stand your ground and fight!"\n\n"Uoooohhhhh!!!"\n\nWar cries erupted from all sides. Their morale was staggering.\n\n"The pirates here... they're braver than the Imperial Army," I muttered.\n\nSergeant Huma nodded. "Most of us are former regulars. Dishonorable discharges, fugitives, or men who learned secrets better left unknown... we're just a bunch of folks looking for a place to die. They're thrilled to go out with one last big firework."\n\n"Well, try to stay alive if you can."\n\n"Heh. Boss! Captain Leo Kamishiro says, 'Don't die'!"\n\n"Hah! You heard the man! Leo Kamishiro himself told you to stay alive! Get some backbone!!!"\n\nSergeant Huma tossed me a heavy, industrial-looking rifle.\n\n"M88 Jagulator. Fires circular saws—it's a ballistic weapon. An ancient launcher used against humanoid fighters back when the machines were smaller and thinly armored."\n\n"That’s ancient tech... that must be over five hundred years old."\n\n"Still standard issue in some Baronet territories. Lethal as hell, just like a Molotov. Looks a bit dumb, though."\n\nHuma slammed a specialized cartridge into his. I followed suit, mimicking his movements.\n\n"And here, have a grenade."\n\nHe handed me a Molotov cocktail made from a sake bottle. The label read: Premium Sake [Father's Sleep-talking]. No matter how you looked at it, it was handmade.\n\n"Check the seal on the lid. If it leaks, it'll blow in your hand before you throw it."\n\n"That’s terrifying."\n\n"Everyone says that at first."\n\nThere were no gaps. It was the 'light and toss' variety. I could only carry one. I slung the Jagulator over my shoulder and held the bottle in my hand. Clunky as hell!\n\n"And this."\n\nHuma handed me a blade. Now this was impressive.\n\n"A pirate specialty—a cutlass. Forged from scrap fighter armor, so it’s tough as nails."\n\nIt came with a sheath and belt, so I strapped it to my waist. It would be useless against a Crab-chan, but it definitely boosted my mood.\n\nWe stepped out together. I saw pirates in the heat of battle. It wasn't a Crab-chan... it was the Duke who used to follow Hashimoto around like a lackey! I didn't know his name, but he wasn't the Vice Chairman.\n\nHe’d barely managed to keep a human form, swinging a massive steel beam like a club.\n\n"Clear out, you lot!"\n\nSergeant Huma hurled a lit Molotov. A pungent, volatile chemical stench filled the air. The Duke was instantly engulfed in flames. The pirates fell back, shouting their thanks to the Sergeant.\n\n"Now then, since we're here, let's have a quick lesson on Imperial tactics. Lesson one: always carry a personal shield."\n\nHuma walked forward calmly. The Duke opened its maw—a plasma cannon! But the shield absorbed the blast.\n\n"Lesson two: take the hit, then strike. Tame the fear."\n\nHe fired the Jagulator directly into the Duke's open mouth. The creature's head split in two and went flying.\n\n"Lesson three: never assume they're dead."\n\nHe pumped several more saws into the body. This wasn't a weapon meant for humans, and the Duke was quickly reduced to an unrecognizable heap.\n\n"Captain! It's still moving! Burn it!"\n\nI threw my Molotov. That smell... gasoline? A massive explosion followed, far more intense than Huma's, and the Duke was utterly incinerated.\n\n"Isn't that a bit much?!"\n\n"Hey! Clean that up once the fire dies down!" Huma barked orders to the pirates. Man... he was cool. But I was more worried about that bottle.\n\n"Uh, Sergeant Huma. About that Molotov..."\n\nMine was way too powerful.\n\n"Looks like you hit the jackpot. These are handmade, so the potency varies. You probably got one where they messed up the chemical mix."\n\n"That’s terrifying!"\n\n"I tell them to stick to the recipe, but once they get the hang of it, they start getting sloppy with the ratios."\n\n"Yikes." I'd heard of that happening—munitions factories without automation where people start eyeballing the ingredients until something blows up.\n\n"Guess nothing beats factory-made, huh?"\n\n"Tell me about it."\n\nHow heartwarming. At that moment, a call came in from my fianc e.\n\n"Lord Groom! I heard there was an anomaly over there!"\n\n"We took one down! Sergeant Huma is a beast!"\n\n"...On foot? I heard he was fighting without a machine."\n\n"Yeah, he took it down barehanded."\n\n"...Leo, try not to lose your humanity too much."\n\n"Wait, am I being classified as a monster now?!"\n\n"Regardless, reinforcements are coming! Hold out until then!"\n\n"Roger that."\n\nAs I helped with the evacuation, I ran into Fay, Lily's self-proclaimed secretary. Her tacky suit was singed—another 'jackpot' Molotov, no doubt. "Yo! Long time no see!"\n\n"Gah! It's you! Leo Kamishiro!"\n\nShe practically jumped out of her skin. Why was she so shocked to see me?\n\n"Knock it off, Fay. I'm here too," Huma said.\n\nFay brushed the soot off with overly theatrical, 'cool' movements. She always acted so pretentious around Huma. Was she gunning for him? No, that didn't seem right. Rivalry, maybe? But why? Huma didn't care about rank or politics.\n\n"Status on the enemy?"\n\n"Engaging the monsters now. Lady Lily is at the front."\n\nHmm... maybe she was in love with Lily? I saw Sergeant Huma more as a father figure than a rival.\n\n"The Boss is out there?! You idiot! Why did you let her go?!"\n\n"She just went!"\n\nHuma turned to me, his expression grave. I stopped my mental commentary.\n\n"Leo! Lend me a hand!"\n\n"Oh, calling me by name now? I like the sound of that."\n\n"Just move!"\n\n"Roger!"\n\nWe had to save Lily. I had a feeling things weren't over yet. We sprinted toward the sector where the Duke was.