The Latarnians were essentially a band of loan sharks; to make a promise to them was to raise a death flag.
They were widely seen as an unpleasant lot, known for grumbling incessantly about the most trivial details.
Because they had been a slave race for so long, they were still dismissed by many as an ignorant, unenlightened people with a low-class civilization.
The fact that the Latarnia Language was understood almost everywhere in the surrounding sectors offered a grim glimpse into their history of being sold into slavery across various nations.
In short, by absorbing the words of other cultures, their tongue had evolved into something of a galactic lingua franca.
Despite their reputation, Tarnia Banks existed throughout outer space, and the nation maintained diplomatic ties with many others.
Which meant that any content we exported to Latarnia would naturally ripple out across the stars.
In fact, I’d intentionally signed contracts that disregarded profit just to ensure that would happen.
Naturally, the goal was to broadcast our propaganda.
The Battle Dome was another asset—a mutual aid association for small nations that the major powers ignored.
Information funneled through the Battle Dome reached those minor states in the blink of an eye.
Essentially, we’d been incredibly lucky to strike up friendships with Latarnia and the Battle Dome.
Then there was our newest ally, the Taikyoku Nation.
They were also located far from the center of the galactic superpowers and were looked down upon by the same ignorant fools.
But since they had diplomatic ties with so many worlds, they were another perfect channel for exporting our content.
At this point, while no one was saying it out loud, the general consensus was: "The Zen God Race has a bit of a nasty vibe, doesn't it?"
From our perspective, there was no reason to look down on Latarnia or the Taikyoku Nation.
If anything, I felt sorry for the major powers; they had it rough.
Latarnia’s reputation had taken a slight hit because of their treatment of Proone, but if you actually talked it out, it was obvious that Proone had committed economic suicide.
There was no way in hell someone could borrow money from Latarnia and expect to get away with defaulting.
As for the Taikyoku Nation, our relationship started with hostility, but they were already in checkmate by the time we met due to years of internal corruption.
The Pirate Guild might have been criminals, but they knew how to distinguish between those who needed to be suppressed and those who didn’t.
The only ones whose impression hadn't changed at all were the Ogre God Nation—the 'Yankee' nation.
Case in point: I was in the dining hall, pondering what to cook, when a locally recruited soldier from the Ogre God Nation stomped over.
"His Excellency the Brigadier General! I challenge you to a duel!"
"Fine, but make it quick. I’m hungry."
He threw a punch. I stepped to the side and slammed a hand knife down onto the inside of his elbow with everything I had.
His balance shattered, and he was lifted off his feet.
He slammed into the floor with a heavy thud!
Behold, the Breath Throw (Brute Strength).
"Disqualified. Try again after Katori-sensei gives you the okay."
"Damnnnnnnnnnnnnnnit! You’re way too strongggggggg! Big Brother Leo! I'll follow you for the rest of my life!"
He was weeping tears of joy.
Stop that. You're being annoying.
Naturally, dealing with one of them just drew in the rest of the Ogre God Nation crowd.
"Me too! Count me in! Hey! Big Brother Leo’s giving out free lessons!"
"Don't mess with me, you bastards! I'm hungry!"
"Charge, boys! Big Brother Leo is a monster! Don't let anyone call us cowards for ganging up on him!"
A mob of idiots charged.
"Hey, wait! Don't screw with me!"
Honestly, the ones brave enough to challenge me even within the Ogre God Nation were seasoned veterans. It was a higher barrier for entry than a commemorative application to the Imperial University.
I had no choice. I launched a spear tackle at the first guy in line!
I hoisted him up and hurled him into the idiots behind him.
"A-Are you even human?!"
Shut up!
I delivered a back-kick to some moron trying to sneak up behind me silently with a wooden sword.
Ah! That was a foul!
I used the opening to snap him into a headlock.
"Hey, didn't I tell the whole unit that weapons are prohibited?"
I had issued a clear warning: "I'll play with you if it's barehanded. If you pull a weapon, I'll kill you."
I tightened my grip on his skull.
"B-Big Brother, barehanded is totally imposs—ugyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
I knocked him out with the headlock alone.
"It looks like you lot need a bit of a lesson."
"N-No, wait! He just did that on his own..."
"Shut up! Collective responsibility!"
I thrashed about ten of them right then and there.
Once I made them all sit in seiza, they shouted a spirited, "Thank you, sir!" ...I really wanted to kick them.
The whole thing had been caught on camera by a commercial broadcast, but I didn't care.
A caption was going to be added later: '*Note: This is Ogre God Nation culture.'
It was because of broadcasts like this that I was being labeled the 'Ultra Violence General'!
It made no sense!
I wasn't the bad guy here!
The Military Labor Bureau even made me write an apology letter!
Why was I getting chewed out just because 'some idiot pulled out a weapon, so I dodged everything and beat him until he passed out'?!
'It was just a taser, so it's fine' my foot, you morons!
I broke three of his ribs with the first hit?
How was I supposed to know! He should be grateful I didn't snap his neck!
Apparently, in the Ogre God Nation, if you fight me and survive to tell the tale, you're treated like a hero back home!
What a huge pain in the ass!
But that wasn't the only problem...
Because of the detailed reporting on these events, people from nations I’d never even met were starting to think of the Galactic Empire as 'Ultra Barbarians who surpass the Ogre God Nation.'
I complained to my 'close friend,' Saria-kyun.
"What? Barbarians? Well, you did bring the notorious Zork and Proone to heel, didn't you? Of course people think that. Listen, Leo-san! You have no self-awareness! You're a legendary Demon King who suddenly appeared from another world! You even managed to seize control of the Pirate Guild in the middle of all that chaos."
I just recognized their existence!
I even declared we'd be cracking down on crime.
Though we don't have police rights, so we mostly just ignore them.
"I annexed Zork's territory through formal end-of-war negotiations, and I only took Proone under my protection due to academic interest and public demand~"
I even properly signed agreement documents with One-oh-one!
Specifically, the one where Wifey becomes her guardian until she reaches adulthood.
"In the first place, I’m not even hostile to any of those nations!"
"Every faction that’s ever been hostile to you has been completely wiped out! And what is up with that drama?! It’s so popular it’s actually terrifying!"
"But you made a profit, didn't you?"
"Well, yes, quite a bit..."
"Then it's all good, isn't it?"
"I mean, technically, yes... but honestly! Before I knew it, you were speaking the Ogre God Language fluently without a translator! It’s creepy!"
"It's the Ogre God Language with a Latarnian Accent, mind you. I'm currently working on the Taikyoku Nation Language."
"That’s exactly what I’m talking about! That right there is the problem!"
"Look, I just want to get along with everyone! People just keep picking fights with me without listening to reason, so I just corner them so they can't fight back anymore."
"I know you well enough to know that your desire to be friends isn't a lie, Leo-san! But from the perspective of other civilizations, you're terrifying! The Galactic Empire is like an incredibly friendly devil! You’re several times scarier than Latarnia!"
For my part, I was perfectly willing to let bygones be bygones and become a friendly nation even with the Zen God Race.
Though, I wouldn't know anything about any retaliation they might face from Latarnia, the Taikyoku Nation, the Ogre God Nation, or Chronos.
That was a separate matter. (Scummy grin)
Now then, time to corner them a bit more.
They might have some sort of excuse to make.
First up: the Liberation of Chronos.