If I wore a yakuza-style suit, I’d just look like some bottom-tier student out on a job hunt.
Or maybe someone interviewing for a job at a host club.
So, combat suit it was.
The premise: I’d just returned from the front lines.
There was a reason for this.
If I were to wear a military dress uniform...
It would lack impact.
In the end, I was a blue-collar worker through and through. Work clothes suited me best.
I thought it might be rude, but that wasn't an issue. The other party wasn't dressed well, either.
They were just speculators operating on flimsy authority.
To begin with, if this were the Ogre God Nation, they’d be beaten to a pulp without question. Compared to that, I thought we were being quite hospitable.
"Excuse the combat suit."
I greeted them, cradling my helmet under my arm, flanked by Rikochi in full gear. The Kamishiro Knight Order stood nearby as well.
Even Raven-kun was in villain makeup. It was hilarious how much he hated it, so I’d slicked his hair back. He gave off a powerful "capable young head vibe."
Our syndicate members—well, the soldiers selected from the former pirates—bowed their heads in their "past mistakes fashion." "Your Excellency the Brigadier General! Good morning!"
They made a point of flaunting their tattoos.
"Ah, hello, yes..."
I didn't think the City Council Member had done much research on us. That information was available in commercial records, but it was hard to look things up when the Locusts had devoured everything.
If he were a specialist like a former diplomat, we’d be in trouble, but the Senator in front of me didn't seem like the type. Based on our intel, there was a high probability he was clueless.
To begin with, Chronosians tended to look down on foreigners. They viewed citizens of the Galactic Empire as only slightly better than the Ogre God Nation—basically primitives from a lower culture.
And yet, they loved Count One-Two-Three and Cervantes!
I observed the Senator. He looked arrogant, even though his clothes were filthy. He clearly hadn't changed. More importantly, the source of the stains was the real issue.
I whispered softly. "Kevin."
"Understood."
Kevin’s drone scanned him, and the results popped up on my terminal. I wanted to see if he’d helped with the rescue operations. Specifically, I was looking for bloodstains.
"No blood detected. No injuries, either."
"Roger."
I mean, come on—if you’re conducting rescues in normal clothes, you’re going to get a scratch or two, or at least some blood from the people you saved. If you truly wanted to help, you’d be out there digging. (Smiles)
In short, this guy hadn't done a damn thing. Then again, maybe he’d been handling some other "ultra-important" mission. Regardless, I deducted fifty points from my first impression.
I guided him through the battleship. Along the way, Isono, playing the villain to the hilt, was busy walloping an Ogre God Nation guy with a length of timber.
"You bastard! You mocking me?!"
He spoke in remarkably fluent Latarnia Language.
"Big Brother Isono! I'm sorry!"
Isono whipped out a folding chair and slammed it down. Clang!
"Hieee!"
The Senator shrieked.
You might think this was excessive, but it wasn't. Like Isono, the guy being hit was a student from Tank-shishou's pro-wrestling class. They were buddies.
We walked right past the "beating" and into the reception room—the one not intended for serious meetings.
Zashiki-warashi-chan waddled in, carrying an ashtray. What a helpful girl.
...Wait, why were there snacks inside?
"What?! The snacks appeared out of nowhere!"
Ah, so the Senator couldn't see her. Good, that scared him. I took the opportunity to contact Nina-san.
"Um... Nina-san? Why are there snacks in the ashtray?"
"Eh? Is it not a candy dish?!"
Apparently, she wasn't familiar with the iconic ashtrays seen in every yakuza movie. Good grief.
Ren arrived with the tea, wearing a military uniform. She looked... incredibly sexy. Wait, could makeup really change someone that much? I couldn't stop staring.
Then the door burst open, and Nakajima arrived in a combat suit and helmet.
"Boss Leo! What should we do with that pirate bastard?!"
She’d used a voice changer to make her voice gravelly. She was clearly loving this.
"You idiot, Nakajima!"
I snatched the ashtray and smashed it against her helmet. It shattered into pieces.
"Ow! That actually hurt!" she whispered.
"Endure it... Listen here, Nakajima! Didn't I tell you to kill the lot of them?!"
"I-I'll go hang them all right now!"
"Hey, you lot! We have a guest! Drag this moron out!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Ogre God Nation guys hauled Nakajima away.
"Sorry for the ruckus."
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Nakajima’s scream echoed from the hallway. It was a bit over the top.
"So noisy! Someone shut her up!"
I turned back to the Senator, my voice now smooth and coaxing. "Now then, was it a matter regarding a colony for the Galactic Empire?" (Smile)
The Senator’s face said it all: Ah, these guys are just Ogre God Nation thugs in uniform.
Fool! You’ve been played!
If he’d had the guts to double down here, I would have treated him with more respect.
"Ah, yes. About the aid supplies..."
"Was it not a colony?"
"Ah, well, I suppose there was a miscommunication... Ahaha..."
Good. He was folding.
"Aid, is it?! Yes, yes, we must help one another!" I leaned in, applying pressure.
"Y-Yes, quite..."
His eyes were darting everywhere. This was a total victory.
"Then for now, let's discuss baths, clothes, food, and temporary housing!"
"Y-Yes."
I was only suggesting common-sense relief. Honestly, we had no obligation to help. Our only goal was to help the Chronosians who hated the Ghouls rebuild their government. If they succeeded, we’d be safe.
To put it bluntly, I have no use for a Senator who wouldn't even lift a finger for a rescue! You have no future!
Afterward, the Senator practically fled the ship.
Mission accomplished.
Then, another request for a meeting arrived.
"It's a Colonel," Claire said, having looked into it with the Fairy.
"I believe it's the real deal."
"Let's meet him."
I agreed with a smile. This time, I donned my formal dress uniform. Isono and the Ogre God Nation guys cleaned themselves up as well.
The Colonel was a white-haired man who looked to be nearing retirement. We shook hands with a smile. As a fellow soldier, he was much easier to talk to.
I wouldn't let my guard down, of course.
"By the way, we've received requests from across Chronos for annexation. Your thoughts?"
"I am merely a soldier. I have no authority to make such political decisions."
Now, he was someone I could trust.
We drafted a military memorandum—an agreement for cooperation while the local government was offline. He didn't just ask us to do everything; he insisted the Chronos Army participate in the operations as well.
I found myself hoping this man would become the next President.