Chapter 20

I had forgotten about the scheduled post (^_^;)

Since I feel bad about it, I will refrain from advertising this time.

The capital planet of the Arggrand Empire.

A person who came to a bar located on a high floor was sitting at a counter seat, gazing at a glass of alcohol.

When he shook the glass, the color of the alcohol changed from red to blue.

The person, a young man, was watching this change.

The bartender inside the counter was waiting for him alone.

In the high-class bar located inside a high-rise building, the young man was the only customer.

Several waiters were on standby to serve the young man.

Music was playing in the store, but it was now turned off because the young man was communicating with someone.

The young man was talking while looking at the image projected in front of him, beyond the glass.

"Has the third one pulled out?"

"Yes. A report came in stating that the special equipment development is not profitable, and they are considering canceling the plan. They are also offering to return the money for the scheduled weapons as an apology."

The woman in the image had red eyes and an expressionless face. She was dressed in a maid's uniform with long, lustrous hair tied in a ponytail, and was calmly reporting to the young man.

"Too quick to give up, aren't they?"

"The Lady Yurisia predicts that it is due to the factional struggle within the third weapons factory."

"Using me to stir up a factional struggle?"

The young man, slightly frowning as if he was angry at the third weapons factory for using him in a factional struggle, soon smiled.

"It's a good thing. If I don't suffer any loss, there's no problem."

The third weapons factory has apologized to the young man and offered to provide the warships and mobile knights they had planned to trade for free.

Although the plan was canceled, he gained more benefits.

This is evidence that the third weapons factory is considerate of the young man.

The woman in the image confirmed.

"Then, will the plan be frozen as it is?"

"That would be boring."

The development plan for Atalante should have been frozen or canceled.

However, after the young man finished his drink and placed the glass on the counter,

"Call Nias."

◇

In the facility for mobile knight development on the asteroid Nia.

Atalante, with only its head and torso, was fixed in the hangar.

An argument was taking place in front of Atalante.

One of them was Percy, who was excited and had a red face.

"Why do we have to work with the seventh to modify Atalante! This child's reactor is the third's top secret!"

The decision from the upper management was not to cancel the development but to continue it under certain conditions.

One of the conditions was to produce results.

There were several other conditions, but Percy could not accept the condition of "joint development with the seventh weapons factory."

In contrast to the excited Percy, Nias, who seemed to lack enthusiasm, was checking Atalante's data on a tablet while letting out a small sigh.

Nias Karrin, a technical lieutenant, was assigned to modify Atalante.

"I'm not idle either. If it weren't for his order, I wouldn't have accepted a request to modify a defective machine using precious rare metals."

Nias, who was called a mad genius at the seventh weapons factory and acted as he pleased, seemed to have someone he could not disobey.

Mag, who was dispatched to assist Nias, shrugged and looked up at Atalante.

"The upper management has already made a deal, so there shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Percy, with a complicated expression, shouted.

"I can't accept it!"

Without any intention of talking, Nias was looking at the data and thinking about how to modify it.

In other words, he was ignoring Percy.

Mag, who took over the conversation, seemed to want to move things forward while trying to calm Percy down.

"Alright, alright. Rather, let's try to modify the basic frame. Your Nevan type is slim and trendy, but lacks durability, so can we make it thicker?"

"Are you kidding me, you dwarf!!"

Percy's scream echoed throughout the development room.

Meanwhile, Nias, checking the pilot data, narrowed his eyes and frowned.

(That kid, could it be?)

After thoroughly examining Emma's data, Nias realized a possibility.

◇

The light carrier Melea, which was being modified, had improved performance compared to before.

The members of the third squad, watching from inside the building, were talking about the new Melea.

Emma, displaying data on the glass window, was surprised.

"Various values have increased by 20% compared to before. Modification is amazing."

Lally, with a hint of sarcasm, explained to the surprised Emma.

"That's proof it was left untouched for so long. It could have been retired, you know."

Molly, on the other hand, didn't seem to care about the situation.

"It's good that the living environment will improve. The cafeteria was dirty before."

Doug, however, seemed to feel uneasy about the modified Melea.

He crossed his arms and looked dissatisfied.

"The number of mobile knights it can carry has been reduced to half of what it was before."

As a light carrier, which serves as a mother ship for mobile knights, a reduction in the number of mobile knights it can carry is a problem.

Emma explained the reason for the reduction.

"The development plan for Atalante has continued. As planned, the equipment for it was loaded, which reduced the number of mobile knights it can carry."

This time, Lally expressed his dissatisfaction.

"The upper management is so arbitrary. I thought it would be canceled, but they suddenly decided to continue it."

Molly looked at the other border security force ships.

They were being dismantled as they were judged to be impossible to modify.

"I heard that the escort ships will be completely replaced, and the third will provide them. The seventh will only provide Melea."

Lally put his hands behind his head.

"While we're at it, I wish they would provide mobile knights too. Even if they're not for knights, Nevan is better than Mohayev."

Doug, however, showed reluctance at Lally's opinion.

"Nevan is too specialized for knights. I prefer ordinary mass-produced machines."

The comrades, talking about various things.

Molly spoke to Emma.

"Emma, it's good for you too. If the development of Atalante continues, you can still ride it."

"---Yeah."

Emma, nodding happily, was glad that the development plan was not canceled.

She was so happy when she heard the news that she almost cried.

"I'll definitely complete Atalante."

◇

Inside the ship of the mercenary group Feet.

Siren stood in front of the members of the mercenary group, dressed in black space suits.

Her black hair turned white, and her eyes changed color.

The person standing there was Sirena, and the mercenary group she led was the Daria Mercenary Group.

"We won't be able to go to the seventh weapons factory, but even so, the reward for this mission is attractive. Also, there's an additional request from the client."

Sirena informed her subordinates of the content of the additional request.

"To carry out sabotage at the seventh weapons factory."

Her subordinates were laughing under their helmets.

"Trying to trip up a rival?"

"They've been making money lately, so they want to put a stop to it."

"The weapon factories on the capital planet are dirty."

Sirena, raising her hand to stop the chatter, put on her helmet.

"Since we're committing the main force of the Daria Mercenary Group, we need to produce results. When the operation starts, the main force outside will also move according to the plan. Be careful about the timing to escape."

One of the subordinates asked.

"What will you do, Commander?"

"I'll destroy the machine as requested. And I'll kill the pilot to get the bonus."

The destruction of Atalante.

And the murder of the pilot would earn a bonus.

(The man who issued the request called himself River, but does he have a personal grudge? She just looked like an ordinary girl to me.)

When Sirena thought of Emma, she only saw a girl who was unknowingly working as a knight.

This was bothersome to Sirena.

(A poor, innocent girl. Maybe I should play with her a little before killing her.)

The darkness in Sirena's heart made her see Emma as an unpleasant person.

◇

The members of the third squad were in a car, returning to their accommodation.

A large explosion occurred inside the colony on the asteroid Nia.

Seeing the explosion on the ceiling, Lally, who was driving, stopped the car in a panic.

"What is it!?"

The four of them hurriedly looked around, and the alarm sounded.

'People in the residential area, please go to the designated evacuation area immediately—'

Evacuation guidance signs were projected everywhere in the air.

Doug, stepping outside, was startled by the vibrations coming from the ground.

"An accident? No, this shaking—could it be that the weapon factory was attacked?"

When Doug judged that it was not just an accident, a communication came to Emma's terminal.

It was a message for the Banfield family to return to their ship immediately.

Molly also checked her terminal, but Melea was still under modification.

"What should we do?"

Lally tried to start the car.

"In that case, we should get on a friendly battleship and escape quickly. If we get caught in the crossfire, we'll die."

Whether it was an accident or an attack, Lally judged that they were not involved if the target was the seventh weapon factory.

However, Emma had a bad feeling.

"! Doug, get in the car! Lally, keep driving!"

"O-Okay."

"What are you—!?"

As Doug hurriedly got in, Lally, noticing something before closing the door, started the car.

The car, which was running on the ground, slightly lifted off and the tires were retracted, flying through the air.

Doug and Molly, looking back, saw a small, round mobile knight without legs approaching them.

"Who brought a mobile knight into the colony! Molly, what kind of machine is that?"

"How would I know! It looks like a modified mass-produced small machine. Wait, aren't those the machines that attacked Emma!?"

"Only now?"

While listening to their conversation, Emma told Lally where to go.

"Fly to the facility where Atalante is."

"What!? Why would you want to go to an incomplete mobile knight!"

Then, the pursuing mobile knight aimed its sub-machine gun and pulled the trigger.

The bullets passed by the side of the car, causing it to shake violently.

Emma urged Lally.

"Just go faster!"

"Alright!"

The car made sharp turns, weaving through the gaps between buildings.

Even though it was small, it would be difficult for a mobile knight to chase them.

◇

Sirena, who intentionally let the car escape, jumped out of the mobile knight's cockpit.

Her subordinate was also in the cockpit and asked her.

"Is this the right place?"

"It's fine. They will lead us to the target."

The cockpit hatch closed, and the Backler moved away.

When stealth mode was activated, Sirena's figure disappeared.

Sirena then ran after the car, using her space suit, which was also a powered suit, to overtake the general vehicles on the road.

She saw the car that Emma and the others were in enter a large hatch.

"There it is."

Before the hatch closed completely, Sirena jumped in and successfully infiltrated.