After the Festival

The large-scale space pirate group Red Flags were dealt a heavy blow

resulting in them withdrawing into deep space, so the operation to

destroy the Red Flags spearheaded by Lt. Col. Serena was to be halted

for the time being.

Although the operation did manage to deal a considerable amount of

damage to the Red Flags, the main leaders and other executives

managed to slip away, and in the second half of the operation, the rest

of the Red Flags got up on their bums and escaped, so the ending was a

little anti-climactic. However, it was still an impressive feat to drive

away a large-scale space pirate group that had widespread influence

without incurring much damage.

[I'm personally not content with the outcome though.]

Lt. Col. Serena said such a thing when we parted ways. However, it looks

like the evaluation of the military top brass and general public opinion

wasn't too bad, and if things continued going the way they were, she

might be up for another promotion. Perhaps the next time we meet,

she'll be Colonel Serena Holz instead of Lieutenant Colonel.

"Well, it looks like they're going with this official story huh."

I sighed as I propped up my chin with one hand while reading the

article displayed on my tablet terminal inside the dining hall of Black

Lotus.

"Ahaha..."

"You're not planning to leak classified info out to the general public,

right?"

"Of course, not. Do I look like someone who'd do something so

terrifying?"

What was written in the article was only a superficial summary of

events coupled with a glowing tribute to the young commander who led

the operation. Well, in other words, the military was trying to package

Lt. Col. Serena as a hero, or rather, an idol. She had the looks, demeanor,

and pedigree after all. Her parents and the noble house she's from were

very influential. They also had fairly deep pockets. Although she'd

probably just serve as their publicity mascot most of the time, I'd have

to hand this one to the imperial military. It's not a bad plan at all.

Furthermore, she hated injustice and corruption, so I think she'll

eventually become an indispensable asset to the imperial military in

the future.

"I wonder what really went on back there? Judging from our previous

experiences, the imperial military stinks a bit, doesn't it?"

"Well, it's a fairly huge organization after all, so it's only natural that

they're not an absolute monolith. It's said that three people can already

form a faction or something like that."

"As an imperial citizen, I feel a bit complicated about it."

Elma was a genuine aristocratic daughter who had a wealth of

experience as a mercenary under her belt, so she seemed to be

generally used to such things. Mimi, however, was just a common(?)

imperial citizen, albeit an upstanding one, so she felt a bit complicated

after witnessing the dirty linen of the imperial military that she

probably looked up to. For the imperial subjects, the imperial military

that protects the empire's domain and people's lives from invasions

from other countries, space pirates, and space monsters, was probably

akin to heroes of justice.

We had witnessed several things that pointed to a very high possibility

that some people connected to the space pirates were also connected to

the imperial military.

There was the murder of Chris's father and the plot to take over the

position of patriarch of the Dareinwald house. What was that guy's

name again? Anyway, it was Chris' own blood-related uncle, and

somehow, he managed to get his hands on a secret weapon of the

imperial military. And even beyond that, traces of corruption within the

ranks of the imperial military could be smelled in most of the cases we

encountered that involved the nobility as well. In the latter half of the

operation, the Red Flags made their move so quickly and decisively that

you wouldn't be able to avoid suspecting that someone might have been

leaking information from within the military to them. The maneuvers of

that special squadron also highly resembled imperial military combat

tactics.

"That squadron might not be from the imperial military at all, but the

Vereverem Federation."

"That's possible. Well, that would mean that Vereverem Federation

engineers have been able to penetrate deep into the imperial territory

and are performing sabotage operations."

"That's quite the terrible prospect... We really can't reveal this stuff to

others huh."

"That's why they included hush money in the rewards you know."

The reward money paid by the imperial military this time around was

quite substantial. That said, it wasn't enough to buy another custom

ship like the Black Lotus. Even so, if we combined it with the savings

we've made so far, we can probably afford a smaller custom starship for

Elma.

"Will they tell us the results of the investigation on those unknown

ships?"

"They probably won't, and it's not like I'm interested in knowing either.

There's nothing good that'll come out from knowing too much."

"That's right. I honestly don't want to get involved in the shady working

within the military."

"[1] Should you or any member of your crew be caught or killed, the

authorities will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This holo-data

will self-destruct in five seconds or something like that."

"I wouldn't want to be involved in that for sure... Or rather, those lines

kind of sound familiar, Hiro-sama."

"I'm sure they're from some retro movie of some sort. It's Hiro after all."

Correct, my dear Elma. When I wandered around the colonies we

visited, I would sometimes find retro movie holo-data stored in data

chips selling for very cheap prices. Since you could view them on

portable data terminals and tablet terminals at your leisure, it's

recently been my private hobby to collect data chips containing retro

movies. I also sometimes stumble upon incomprehensibly bad lowbudget movies, but oh well.

I've seen quite a lot of them together with Mimi and Elma. After all, we

had a lot of free time when traveling through the hyperlanes. I also play

some when we unwind and relax in the break space or when I retreat to

my room. It's not like I'm all work and no play even when we have some

free time. It's also important to relax and spend time together with the

girls.

[Master, we will soon be entering the Refill system.]

We had nothing to do while Black Lotus was navigating the hyperlane

so we were fooling around in the dining hall, but it looks like we've

finally arrived. I really can't thank Mei enough for controlling the ship

by herself while we're relaxing like this. When we get back to the Refill

system, I'll take some time to spoil her.

Though somehow, it almost always turns into her spoiling me instead of

the other way around. Anyway, let's just ignore that little detail, shall

we? By the way, the mechanic sisters were busy repairing that

unknown ship we captured after demanding some hugs. They were

trying to put together a single working ship by salvaging parts from the

wreckage of multiple ships. It seems they were about to finish it soon.

"Let's head to Krishna. So we can sortie at any time."

"Yes. But you're being awfully cautious, aren't you, Hiro-sama?"

Mimi tilted her head cutely as she stood up and followed after me.

"Just in case. We socked it to the Red Flags this time, right? As a result,

we've stood out a bit too much to my liking."

Actually, although it wasn't treated with much importance compared to

Lt. Col. Serena's accomplishments, our activities were also mentioned in

the article. They simply wrote that Captain Hiro, a Platinum-rank

mercenary who became the grand champion of the war games recently

held in the imperial capital, also actively participated in the operation.

But we did personally deal with that fishy special squadron after all.

The survivors should have already reported our details to the Red Flag

higher-ups. The senior executives who've received their report might

have already pulled up relevant information about us.

"You mean there's a chance they would go after us for revenge?"

I shrugged my shoulders in response to Mimi, whose face had turned a

bit blue.

"We can't discount that possibility. The full strength of the Red Flag

pirates still wouldn't be able to match up with the imperial military, but

they would be more than enough to prove troublesome to a single

mercenary, even if one's Platinum-rank... Maybe that's what they're

thinking you know."

"We're really newsworthy too. After all, we, or rather, Hiro, won the

recent war games, and that event was broadcasted all throughout the

empire too."

"Yep. And nabbing us while leaving a message that goes 'The Red Flags

were here.' or something like that would be a pretty good show of

strength for them."

"B-But isn't that really bad!? Or rather, that's why we've been on high

alert all this time, right!?"

"Yep, that's right. Well, we don't really need to change our routine and

just continue like usual, Mimi."

Elma seemed pretty chill about the whole thing, but having my ships

destroyed or captured along with the entire crew were situations I

didn't even want to imagine. That's why I made sure to stay on high

alert.

"We're about to arrive back in the Refill system soon, so keep that

matter in mind, you two."

"Aye, sir."

"Understood."

I called out and briefly greeted the mechanic sisters who were busy

working in the hangar and boarded the Krishna. Those two won't be let

off lightly as well if I mess up, so I better make sure not to let my guard

down.

I briefly glanced toward Mimi, who was checking the sensor and comm

systems like usual, albeit with a slightly nervous expression, and

proceeded to perform a routine diagnostics check of the ship together

with Elma. Tina and Whisker performed regular maintenance on the

Krishna, so she was practically in perfect condition.

"...Come to think of it, we wiped the space pirates lurking within the

Refill system first, right?"

"That's right."

"So does that mean there's a low chance we'll get attacked here?"

"Yes, I suppose. But the chance isn't 0%, okay?"

"That's why we still have to be on guard."

I operated Krishna's console and projected the footage displayed by the

Black Lotus's main screen onto Krishna's main screen. Since Black

Lotus was still currently navigating the hyperlane, the main screen

projected an image of a multicolored tunnel that flowed backward.

"This scenery is as impressive as usual. Mei, keep alert and scan the

surrounding area immediately the moment we jump out of the

hyperlane. Also, make sure you'll be able to deploy the ship's

armaments at a moment's notice. Set the hangar hatch and

electromagnetic launching catapult on standby."

[Aye, aye, sir.]

As I listened to Mei's prompt reply, I fired up Krishna's main generator

so we could sortie immediately if needed. We'll be out of the hyperlane

in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1–

[Hyperlane exit complete. No reaction indicating nearby hostiles.]

"Got it. Proceed to the Refill Prime colony while maintaining alert

status."

[Aye, aye, sir. Activating FTL Drive.]

I glanced sideways at Mimi once more and found her sighing in relief. I

also exhaled lightly. Things are gonna get pretty stressful for a while.