Alright, time for some important business at the Battle Dome.
Since Old Man Eyens, one of the Pirate Guild’s Five Taijin, had passed away, I had to meet with the four remaining high-ranking executives.
I couldn’t exactly have Wifey rubbing shoulders with criminals, so I acted as the sole representative.
Pirates were enemies of the Galactic Empire. I couldn't treat them like official delegates of a sovereign nation, so I opted for a standard military uniform. I’d actually been torn between my electrical work clothes or a pair of knickerbockers, but Raven-kun suggested the uniform. Raven-kun... he’s a man who gets things done.
Among the Five Taijin, three were from races I’d never seen before, and the fourth was a Latarnian. The one who really stood out was the octopus person—literally an octopus-like creature with its head in a water tank and its body replaced by a machine.
Two of the others were humanoid. One was tall and muscular, resembling a Galactic Empire citizen who had undergone Chlorella Treatment. His physique was close to that of the Ogre God Nation people, but he didn't have any horns. The other was a man with a mohawk. A cyborg, probably. He had a young boy with him as a subordinate.
The mohawk man was so heavily modified that I couldn't even tell what race he originally was. You see that occasionally in the Empire, mostly in the military or the Mafia—combat-specialized augmentation. Since most injuries can be treated with nanomachines, these types of people choose to be modified on purpose.
However, replacing that much of the body with machinery inevitably shortens your lifespan, and sudden death is always a risk. I’ve often heard of people who replace half their bodies to become the strongest, only to have their hearts stop one day due to a random allergic reaction. Plus, once you use certain suppressants to stop the body from rejecting the metal, you become susceptible to every disease under the sun—it’s a self-defeating cycle of seeking strength and finding frailty. You can’t even use an MRI anymore. If an artificial organ fails, you're usually looking at permanent kidney damage and mandatory dialysis.
Back at the academy, they taught us that cybernetics were a desperate last resort for when nanomachines couldn't rebuild flesh fast enough. In the end, a natural body is simply the most cost-effective. Even in the military, cyborg soldiers are seen as nothing more than brainless, puffed-up yankees. So, rather than feeling intimidated, I just looked at him and thought, How pitiful...
Perhaps noticing my expression, the man’s face twisted with rage.
"The hell you lookin' at, huh?! You wanna go, you bastarrrrrrrd?!"
He lunged at me with a punch, but I caught his fist with ease. Honestly, his weight transfer was amateurish; he was just throwing his arm. I simply twisted his wrist backward with one hand.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!"
The man collapsed to his knees as a sickening grinding sound filled the air. Technique? I didn’t need any. This was pure brute strength—the kind you gain whether you want it or not from swinging a wooden sword under Katori-sensei’s watchful eye.
With a loud snap, the protective cover on the man’s arm popped off, revealing a buckled internal frame.
"What should I do with this one?" I asked the other three.
Seriously... compared to Old Man Eyens, these guys were such small fry. The old man had achieved a total strategic victory over me before making his final getaway through death. I wasn't expecting someone on his level, but I’d at least hoped for someone who could hold a conversation.
"Please, forgive us with just that," the boy whispered.
"Oh? So you were the Taijin."
The boy was also a cyborg, but he had horns. Likely someone from the Ogre God Nation.
"Please forgive the display. We were testing you. I am Lahesh. I am one of the Five Taijin, and I primarily handle smuggled goods."
Being tested like that honestly ticked me off. I decided right then to give him the 'Saria-kyun Sentence'—I’d dump so much work on him that he’d be pushed to his absolute breaking point. If he’s smart enough to handle smuggling, he can handle paperwork. If I find out he deals drugs, though, I’ll wipe his operation off the map.
Next, the Latarnian introduced himself.
"I am Chet. Also one of the Five Taijin. I handle money lending."
He looked like a textbook intelli-yakuza. A loan shark, plain and simple. And likely one with astronomical interest rates. I’d stay far away from him.
Then came the tall man.
"I'm Oliver. I manage the bars, brothels, and the bodyguards."
Right, okay. This guy was the type whose business was technically illegal, but if you cracked down too hard, the situation would just turn uglier. These things will always exist in society; it’s better to keep them out in the open where they can be monitored. For a guy like this, the best move is to force him to promise better treatment for his workers, transparency in accounting, and a total ban on drugs. If you push them completely underground, they turn to human trafficking and murder the moment the 'merchandise' isn't useful anymore. The fact that he uses bodyguards means he at least has an interest in protecting his assets. I’ll keep him close enough to keep him from rotting.
"Mr. Oliver. As long as you keep your business legitimate, you’re free to do as you please. However, if you cause trouble on my turf, I will kill you without mercy. Keep the drugs and the diseases out."
"I’ll keep that in mind."
He seemed surprisingly intimidated. I wasn't even trying to pressure him.
Finally, the octopus person spoke. I couldn’t help but be fascinated by the tank.
"I am To."
Oh, her voice was female.
"I primarily handle weapon smuggling and collect tolls in the space near the Taikyoku Nation."
And there it was—a pirate. A real, old-fashioned, straightforward pirate.
"As long as you don't interfere with us or the Taikyoku Nation, do what you want."
"The Taikyoku Nation as well?"
"Yes. They’re in chaos right now. If you go too far, I’ll be forced to annihilate you to maintain our nation's peace."
"I understand."
I was firmly marking the Taikyoku Nation as our protectorate. They could play at being privateers if they wanted, but I was making it clear that I reserved the right to kill them if they crossed the line. I’m sure they had their reasons for being pirates, but we had our own interests to look after. If they didn't want to die, they could just stop. But criminals rarely quit; people usually just drift down the path of least resistance.
With that, I had my reconciliation with the Pirate Guild. It didn’t matter what they thought of it—if I decided we were reconciled, we were. I wasn't officially recognizing their existence, but I made it clear that as long as they stayed quiet, they wouldn't be hunted. If you crush an organization like that, a new one that doesn't know the rules will just pop up. It’s better to monitor them and prune them when they overgrow.
I protected Proone because pruning and education were possible. I annihilated the Ghouls because I judged that neither was an option. Some of the races who hated Proone complained, but they settled down once the Ghouls were gone. The pirates were the same. I wouldn't call them a 'necessary evil,' but if an evil has existed since the dawn of time, it’s better to have it under management. At least this way, there’s a contact point for complaints.
We can talk until they’re exhausted. And if talking leads to the conclusion that they have to die, then they die. Either way, the power of life and death stays with us. That’s the only conclusion that matters.
Hahaha. With the last of my concerns settled, it was finally time for a long-awaited homecoming. I think I’ll go relax at the Kamishiro Main House resort.