Chapter 2

In the Amato Star Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, there is a star system named after the star Next Sun, which was named so because it is the next star after the Sun. Among these, the planet Amato was originally equipped with an environment suitable for human habitation.

This planet Amato in the Next Sun system is the home planet of the Amato Empire.

The establishment of the Amato Empire began when a group of later immigrants from the Solar System Earth, after their long-distance warp device went out of control, drifted to a habitable planet in a different star arm. From there, they built a civilization from scratch without any aid from Earth or the Solar System, and developed their own country and culture.

Three hundred years after the immigration, the Amato Empire has, despite minor disputes, developed technology and planet colonization as a single nation in peace.

However, a threat has arrived.

The United Human Nation Space Union, a dominant nation in the Orion Arm with Earth in the Solar System as its core, has now set its sights on the Amato Arm after completing the development of the Orion Arm.

The Amato Empire claims that the Amato Arm is their territory and has repelled the Space Union (SU).

However, the SU has not given up and has been sending military ships to try to establish a foothold in the Amato Arm.

This relationship has been ongoing for fifty years.

In the Amato Empire, opinions have shifted from simply wanting to drive the SU out of the star arm to more actively striking the SU to crush their expanding ambitions.

It was during this time that Dawson Iida, known in the Amato Empire as Dozo Iida, was about to graduate from the 178th class of the Amato Imperial Naval Academy.

After the graduation ceremony and the reception in the gymnasium, the graduates were sent back to their classrooms.

They were about to be called out in the order of their graduation results to receive their assignments from the principal and be assigned to their posts.

"178th class, top of the class. Akatsuki Sumeragi. To the principal's office."

"Yes!"

The one who stood up when his name was called was a 16-year-old, extremely handsome young man with long, lustrous black hair and cool, black eyes.

As his surname "Sumeragi" suggests, he is a member of the royal family and the third prince of the current emperor. If given an Amato Empire name, he would be known as Prince Akatsuki.

The authority of the emperor is vested solely in the current emperor, so even though Akatsuki is the son of the current emperor, he is treated on par with other members of the royal family. However, since the royal family itself is of noble blood, they are regarded as such not only by the common people but also by the nobility, and are treated with respect by everyone.

"Please do your best, Prince Akatsuki!"

"It's a sure thing for a battleship, Prince Akatsuki!"

As the classmates cheered, Dawson showed no reaction. Even when he received cold looks from those around him, he did not care.

Akatsuki, for some reason, looked at Dawson with a pleased expression and then headed to the principal's office.

After about five minutes, Akatsuki returned. In his hand was a piece of paper—traditionally, the appointment is written on paper for the naval academy graduates—and he immediately unfolded it upon returning to the classroom.

"I have been appointed as a fleet commander candidate on the battleship 'Okahigashi'!"

The battleship 'Okahigashi' is a state-of-the-art battleship, less than ten years old, and a current focus of attention. Five years ago, it reduced an illegal space fortress built by the SU within the Amato Arm to cosmic dust with a single volley from its main guns.

Not only being assigned to such a battleship, but also being trained as a fleet commander on board, is an unprecedented promotion for a young graduate, even considering his royal status.

This also proves that Akatsuki's graduation results were outstanding, surpassing all previous records.

While his classmates were cheering for Akatsuki's achievement, the name of the second-place graduate was announced.

"Dawson Iida. You are the second-place graduate. To the principal's office."

"Yes."

The moment Dawson's name was called, the cheers that had just been given to Akatsuki seemed to have been a lie, and the classroom fell silent. It was as if they were saying, "We don't want to be mistaken for cheering for Dawson."

The treatment was overtly cold, but Akatsuki was the only one who spoke to Dawson.

"Our competition isn't over yet."

"Hmph. Keep talking, you senile prince."

Dawson's insult made Akatsuki chuckle, but his classmates were indignant.

"How dare an orphan, whose parents are unknown, mock Prince Akatsuki!"

"That's right! This country exists because the royal family was the first to land on the planet and raised the flag!"

"Don't think that just because you have good grades, you can act however you want!"

Dawson laughed and responded to their criticisms with a sneer.

"Being second means you're all below me. You've tried to bring me down with all sorts of tricks, but it was all for nothing!"

Laughing loudly, Dawson left the classroom.

After continuing to laugh loudly enough for the classmates to hear, Dawson composed himself and headed to the principal's office.

He knocked on the closed door, and the principal's voice came from the other side.

"Come in."

The principal used a unique, formal language, indicating his pride in his abilities and lineage.

Dawson, being an orphan with no connection to the nobility, could only perceive it as a pretentious noble's speech, but he decided to overlook it as part of the principal's personality.

"Entering—Amato Star Navy Academy 178th class. Dawson Iida!"

Upon opening the door and announcing his name, he saw the principal, who had a face painted in the traditional style—white face, black eyebrows, and a small red mouth—wearing a military uniform with prominent muscles, sitting behind a heavy desk. The combination was quite mismatched.

This man, who looked like a street performer, was the principal of the Amato Star Navy Academy.

"Close the door and come closer."

Dawson closed the door and took five steps forward as instructed.

The principal nodded in satisfaction and took out a piece of paper. Just before handing it to Dawson, he lifted it up.

"Before I give you this appointment, I have a proposal."

"A proposal?"

Dawson realized that something unusual was happening.

The principal, noticing Dawson's wary look, continued.

"Let me be clear, this appointment is to serve as a captain candidate on a battleship. If Dawson wishes, I am not averse to giving it to you."

"…With all due respect, may I ask a question?"

"Go ahead."

"It seems like there's another option. Isn't it customary for the top three graduates to serve as candidates on battleships?"

"That's correct."

"Then, wouldn't it be a break from tradition to assign the second-place graduate to a different post?"

"That's correct, but there are precedents. A graduate once requested a change in his appointment due to a hidden conflict with the captain of the ship he was assigned to and his family."

"I see. If I decline the appointment, no one will be upset, except for me."

Dawson's polite language betrayed his discomfort with the principal.

"Basically, it's like this. Among my classmates, there is a daughter of a duke and a son of an earl. If there are only three positions available on the battleships, wouldn't you prefer to give them to the children of the nobility rather than an orphan like me?"

"I can't deny that. Especially from the duke's family, whose daughter is in fourth place, they have requested a change."

"Hmph. To think that even the principal of the prestigious Amato Star Navy Academy would stoop to this. The principle of the Amato Empire is that the strongest should lead. The best should be at the top, and it shouldn't be decided by lineage alone, right?"

Dawson's contempt made the principal shrug.

"Those are harsh words. Well, don't be so worked up. Listen to my proposal. It's not a bad deal for you. If you don't like it, you can still take the appointment to the battleship."

"…If that's the case, I'll listen to your proposal."

Dawson calmed himself and waited for the principal to speak.

"Then, what I want to propose to you is an appointment as a 'Special Lieutenant'."

"Special? Are you trying to make me a superior to my classmate Akatsuki?"

"In the Amato Empire, 'Special' ranks above the same rank. For example, a first-year Special Lieutenant would be a superior to a hundred-year veteran Lieutenant. If you become a Special Lieutenant, you would be a superior to other Lieutenants, including Akatsuki, who will become a Lieutenant after graduation."

The principal confirmed this system.

"Of course. However, as the name 'Special' suggests, this assignment is confidential and cannot be openly used."

"Even if you offer me a rank that can't be used, I won't be swayed, and you should know that, Principal."

"I understand. In your case, practical benefits are more important, aren't they?"

"…You've investigated me."

"It seems you send money to the orphanage that raised you, even half of the salary and training allowance given to officer candidates. That's a commendable action, not often seen among young people these days."

"By bringing up the salary, are you saying that I can earn more as a Special Lieutenant?"

"Your quick understanding is helpful. If you take this assignment, you will receive the same base salary as a Lieutenant, plus danger pay, travel allowance, special assignment bonus, and an additional pension. After completing the mission, you will be treated as a captain, and you will be provided with housing, so your salary will accumulate. You can send much more money to the orphanage than before."

On the surface, it seems like a very attractive offer.

However, Dawson had one question to ask.

"Who else is involved in this mission besides me?"

"No one. This is a mission for you alone."

"I see. In that case, I accept."

The principal seemed surprised by Dawson's acceptance.

"Are you sure you made the right decision before hearing the details of the mission?"

"Being alone is better than having a classmate as a colleague. If a classmate with the same mindset becomes my superior, I would refuse that as well."

"…You seem to be quite disliked. Do you really dislike it that much?"

"Sharing a table with someone who misinterprets the principle of the Amato Empire as 'trip others to bring them down' is something I would rather avoid."

"Those words are also painful for me, the principal."

The principal handed the paper appointment to Dawson, who took it and asked one more question.

"Should I go directly to my assignment?"

"You don't have to return to the classroom, do you?"

"If this is a special assignment, I can't disclose its content. Besides, it would be a hassle to deceive my classmates who aren't particularly close to me. It would be easier to just not tell them."

"…I see. I will inform them that you have been immediately assigned to a post."

Dawson bowed and left the principal's office. As he walked down the corridor towards the exit, he checked the appointment again.

The appointment read—Rear Operations Room, Special Operations Division, Privateer Captain.

"Privateer—become a pirate, huh?"

The irony of the pirate hunter becoming a pirate made Dawson's lips curl into a twisted smile.