I, Karen, was at my wit's end.
Armed Yakuza had surrounded the building. They were Camila McCarthy Co.’s men.
We had deployed our own soldiers, but the odds were stacked against us. Camila McCarthy Co. is the top firm in the defense industry. While this country officially claims to be governed by a conglomerate, in truth, it is nothing more than a band of pirates that happened to acquire a nation. If you try to integrate pirates with military might into a formal system, this outcome is inevitable.
Chronos is the only outlier.
Normally, defectors are slaughtered. Yet, the Grand Duke of Chronos forgave those who turned their backs on him. While it seemed like an overly soft judgment, in reality, he keeps the Pirate Guild at arm’s length, using them as his hands and feet.
Was he a monster? I understood that secret the moment I saw him at the meeting. It was a primal fear—no, it was awe.
At first glance, he was just a youth you could find anywhere. But his aura, his presence, was anything but ordinary.
The Zorks and Proones are races that share the same wild instincts as we Lepsitolians. They feared that presence and rushed to kill him, and the result was their extinction.
I shivered at the thought... He was undoubtedly a monster.
You must never oppose him. You should build a friendly relationship instead.
But that opinion was rejected by the Conglomerate Assembly. I was stripped of my position as an Assembly Member and now found myself a target for elimination by Camila McCarthy.
Fools! Why can’t they see it!?
Leo Kamishiro is a monster! If we don’t establish a friendly relationship with him, we will perish!
Besides, anyone who looks directly at the absurdity of a man being the husband of the Galactic Empire Emperor while simultaneously ruling Chronos should understand. You old men who can’t read the signs of the times!
’Lady Karen! The Yakuza have breached the defense network!’
’What about reinforcements!?’
’They’re currently engaged with the National Army!’
Is this where my fate ends...? Lepsitol will likely spiral toward destruction now. That was my only lingering concern.
’All personnel, evacuate! I’ll stay behind! Everyone else, run!’
’B-But, Lady Karen!’
’Tell the clan and the executives! "Do not oppose the Grand Duke of Chronos! Seek asylum in Chronos!"’
The Grand Duke of Chronos is a monster, but he is merciful to others. He would likely take them in. With that, my duty was done. Finally, I would take those soldiers with me by blowing up the chairman’s office. A drone would buy me enough time to compose a death poem.
As I was selecting a death poem template, a transmission came through.
’Yo! Pirate Guild here. We’ve come to pick you up on the orders of Great Leader Kawagon. Please head to the heliport and wait for us.’
’Great Leader?’
It had to be the Grand Duke’s people. But... Kawagon?
I headed to the heliport as instructed. To my surprise, a state-of-the-art Latarnia transport aircraft arrived. No, no, no, no—calling this a ’pirate’ ship was a stretch. This was clearly a regular military vessel!
A Lepsitolian, likely a mixed-blood pirate, stepped out to greet me. He was short, a common trait among mixed-bloods, with few scales on his face. Speaking in Lepsitolian with a thick Latarnia accent, he addressed me. He must have been raised in Latarnia. In Lepsitol, cross-breeding with other races is loathed. Such blatant discrimination is common there. Ridiculous. It was a loathsome prejudice.
’Big sis, please get on!’
’A-Ah, alright.’
The transport aircraft bore the name ’Amada Security Service.’ It was a Pirate Guild corporation headquartered in Chronos. They were responsible for escorting the shipping routes between Parcion, the Taikyoku Nation, and Latarnia. Rumor had it they negotiated with pirates to ensure safety. They were a highly capable company, able to negotiate even with groups that had defected from their own ranks.
This, too, must be the Grand Duke’s orchestration. What a terrifying man.
’Big sis, first we’ll escape to Magellan. This is the route we’re taking.’
’Isn’t that area dangerous?’
The path they indicated cut straight through the territory formerly ruled by the Ghouls. It wouldn’t be surprising if remnants were still lurking there. No matter how skilled a pirate might be, it should have been dangerous.
’The deal’s already been struck. Besides, our ship is strong.’
We departed the planet in the transport aircraft.
’What about my family and the executives!?’
’Don’t you worry. The big brothers—er, I mean, another unit is heading for them now.’
Oh, how could this be? The Grand Duke of Chronos had somehow caught wind of our plight and sent a rescue party. I had incurred an incredible debt...
A ship came into view. Wait...
’Isn’t that Latarnia’s latest battleship?’
’Nah, it’s big, but they tell me it’s a cruiser.’
Anyone with a discerning eye would recognize it as a state-of-the-art Latarnia vessel. This meant Latarnia had effectively taken military action against Lepsitol. At the very least, Lepsitol would interpret it that way. The implications were massive.
Once inside the transport ship, I was even more stunned. I saw female soldiers, but... I knew by wild instinct. This crushing pressure... they were Zorks.
’Amada Security Chief, Keiko Donovan Kano, reporting!’
She was petite, yet... well-endowed. It made me realize my own chest wouldn't stand a chance on the galactic stage.
In the course of our conversation, she mentioned her real name was Donovan. Since he had become female, he had taken the name ’Keiko,’ which is commonly used for women in the Galactic Empire. She looked like a girl in her teens, but apparently, she was actually a man in his late forties. He told me he used to be a non-commissioned officer in the Galactic Empire.
’I used to have a face like this,’ she said, showing me a photo of a dandy, bearded middle-aged man. ’Well, since I’ve ended up like this, I might as well enjoy life.’
Keiko-san laughed. Apparently, she even does idol activities on her days off, leveraging that appearance. An idol!? My brain couldn't process the information fast enough. My head was spinning. The Grand Duke of Chronos’s subordinates were far too eccentric. Every single one of them was strange.
’Well, we pass through this area all the time, so rest easy. We’ll rendezvous with the rest of the fleet in the Asteroid Belt. Until then, why don’t you grab a meal in the Dining Hall?’
’I... I appreciate your kindness.’
When I went to the Dining Hall, a girl with twin tails approached me.
’I am the Amada Security Captain, Mirai Byron Watanabe.’
She was cute, yet had a gravelly, mature voice... Once again, my mind was thrown into confusion. She was also a Zork.
’I am Karen. My company will likely face bankruptcy proceedings, so I am just Karen now.’
’Hmph. There is no need for concern. After all, we have the Great Leader of the Pirate Guild, the Space Kaiju Kawagon, on our side. Gah-hah-hah-hah!’
The laughter didn't suit her at all. At any rate... it seemed I had been saved. However, I think the sheer volume of information is going to give me a nervous fever.