Chapter 81

"Looking for a radar for a combat boat. I want one with as wide a range as possible."

"How far can it go?"

"I want one that can detect at least 2 billion kilometers."

"2 billion, huh. That would be one model before the latest from about seven years ago. Nowadays, they can go up to about 28 billion kilometers. Do you want a brand new latest model?"

"No. Is there a proven model that can go about 25 billion kilometers?"

The store manager, apparently named Gracia Curis, of the 'Curis Garage for Repairs and Recycling' in the black market shopping district, listened to the details of what I was looking for and narrowed down the conditions.

"Well... how about this one? The 'PKRE-88' by Vollog, with a detection range of 26 billion kilometers. It has all the basic functions and is energy-efficient with a continuous usage time of 720 hours."

She quickly brought out the item I wanted.

It was a box about 50 cm tall, 70 cm wide, and 50 cm high. It didn’t look particularly impressive just by its appearance, but it was quite heavy.

Well, it’s a standard size for a radar.

"What’s the price?"

"About this much. I’m offering it at a fairly low price, so I can’t give any more discounts."

The price she quoted was 2.3 million credits.

It wasn’t an impossible amount, but it was a significant sum, and since I had also asked Mr. Dorg for a radar, I hesitated to buy it immediately.

"Actually, I’ve also asked 'Dorg Maintenance Factory' for a radar. If the one from there is better, I plan to use that one. Could you hold it for me?"

I revealed that I had also asked Mr. Dorg for a radar and requested that she hold it for me.

"'Dorg Maintenance Factory' is Bill Dorg’s father’s place, right?"

"Yes, that’s right."

"In that case, it might be okay. I just got a call from Dorg’s father asking if I had a good radar. I think he was probably looking for yours. I’ll check. What’s your name?"

"Thank you! I’m John Uzos. So you know Dorg’s father?"

"My mother knows him, and we’ve been acquainted since then."

The store manager then took out her universal terminal and contacted Mr. Dorg. It turned out that the call from Mr. Dorg was to find a radar for me, so I paid and arranged for it to be delivered to Mr. Dorg’s shop, 'Dorg Maintenance Factory'.

The world is wide, yet narrow...

The next day, I asked Gonzales to look for various interior items for the ship. I paid for the items found and had them delivered on the same day.

I didn’t want to leave them at Mr. Dorg’s shop, so I rented a storage unit near his shop and had them delivered there for storage.

The ship’s interior would be better set up after the ship arrived and I made adjustments to suit my needs.

Having completed all the tasks I could do today, I thought I might go to a izakaya (Japanese pub) and have dinner there.

As I headed to the bustling area, I ran into a very unpleasant person.

I tried to turn and run, but I was immediately caught.

"You haven’t joined the military yet, even after I gave you such kind advice before?"

The unpleasant person, Rior Bearnnext, spoke to me with a frustrated tone.

"There’s no benefit for me to join."

I replied with a bad mood, but of course, he didn’t care.

"His Majesty the Emperor is in danger! As a colonist who has been protected, don’t you want to pledge your loyalty and protect His Majesty!?"

"I can’t work in the military. As a colonist, even if I achieve something, the credit will be taken by nobles or pure Imperial citizens. It’s the same as not doing anything at all."

We repeated almost the same conversation as when I was first recruited.

"Then I’ll have you assigned to my direct unit. That way..."

"I’m confident that I won’t be able to do anything. In a direct unit of someone like you, a popular person, someone like me, an outsider, will be thoroughly disliked. If I’m useful at all, it would be as a scapegoat when you or your subordinates make a mistake."

"..."

Bearnnext fell silent at my point.

It seems he could predict the actions of his subordinates, even if he himself hadn’t considered it, that his superiors or subordinates would use me as a scapegoat.

I decided to probe further into what he had let slip.

"By the way, what do you mean by His Majesty being in danger?

Many citizens are grateful to the current and previous emperors, and the military hasn’t lost to pirates or terrorists. Where is the danger?"

"Some nobles are neglecting His Majesty. There are rumors that they are planning a rebellion. That’s why we need as many allies as possible."

As he said this, he put his hand on the gun at his waist.

He didn’t draw it, but it was clear he was serious.

At the very least, he was definitely more capable than Arordigh Ilebargas.

"I may not look it, but I value your 'eye'."

"I haven’t had it replaced with a cybernetic one, though."

But I had always wondered why this guy was so eager to recruit me.

There must be plenty of capable people from noble backgrounds.

As I reluctantly reached for the gun at my waist, someone called out,

"What are you doing?"

Both Bearnnext and I involuntarily turned to look.

There was a group of people in the same Imperial Army uniform as Bearnnext, and the biggest of them was glaring at us.

When Bearnnext saw this man, he snapped to attention and saluted.

The man ignored Bearnnext’s action and said,

"It’s not peaceful for a distinguished Imperial Army officer to be in a duel with a civilian. Is it over a woman? If so, use your fists, not guns!"

He said this with a laugh, making a gesture as if throwing a punch.

"Sir, don’t say such careless things."

A cool and beautiful woman standing next to him scolded him with a look of exasperation.

The man then turned his gaze to Bearnnext and said,

"What’s your name, rank, and unit? By the way, I’m Jack Baldor Breskin. My rank is General, and I’m the Commander of the Central Fleet’s Task Force and the 1st Fleet."

He introduced himself.

So that’s why Bearnnext saluted so quickly.

He held a position equivalent to the Commander of the Royal Guard, Kirekt Erendiber, who had led the operation against the Kaides pirate group, and was also a marquis.

"I’m Lieutenant Colonel Rior Bearnnext! I’m assigned to the Planetary Defense Fleet, Imperial Capital Defense Force, and I’m the Commander of the 18th Space Fleet!"

Bearnnext saluted again and introduced himself.

"You’re the propaganda unit, right? The military’s poster boy shouldn’t be having duels over women in such a place."

General Breskin looked at Bearnnext and me with a sigh.

However, I could see from the look in his eyes that he was prepared to take action against me if necessary.

A rare safe female character and a new high-ranking military official have appeared.

Thank you for your comments, opinions, and any typo reports.