Angel V Suppression Operation 2

Shinosuke and Marks sprint down the ship's corridor toward the bridge.

As he runs, Marks destroys the surveillance cameras scattered throughout the passage, blinding the enemy's eyes.

"Master, we'll reach the bridge shortly. Stay alert."

"Understood. Marks, how much of the enemy force do you think remains?"

"Up to now, we've dealt with four during the initial assault, followed by seven reinforcements—totaling eleven. Even that many is excessive for a cargo ship's crew. Taking into account that this is a crime vessel intended for human trafficking, and judging from the typical bridge size of ships of this class, there are likely no more than five or six remaining."

"Probably so."

Marks' assessment aligned perfectly with Shinnosuke's.

If that's the case, then securing the bridge should practically be the end of it.

"Given the situation, I believe a swift assault is the best course. With only five or six enemies, I can handle them myself."

"Are you crazy? I'm not letting you go in alone."

"Master..."

"We're a single unit, you and me. I'll follow right behind you, shielding you with my great shield as you charge in."

"...Understood."

When the two reached the entrance of the bridge, Marks attached demolition charges to the sealed door, raised his large shield, and triggered the detonation, blowing the door apart.

Without hesitation, Shinnosuke hurled a sonic flash grenade into the bridge.

BANG!!

At the instant the sonic flash grenade exploded, Marks, shielding himself with his large shield, charged into the bridge, followed closely by Shinnosuke.

"Target count: five!"

"Warning! We are here to suppress crime..."

Shuup!

Shuup, shuup!

Shinnosuke's warning was drowned out by the sound of blaster fire.

"Warning! Do not resist!"

Following Shinnosuke, Marks loudly issues a warning, but neither he nor Shinnosuke expects the enemy to comply—and they certainly aren’t going to miss the opportunity created by the disorienting effect of the sonic flash grenade.

"Two enemies to the right front at two o'clock, directly ahead to the left—three of them."

"Understood!"

From behind Marks, who shields them with his large shield, Shinnosuke fires his blaster submachine gun toward the right front.

Shubabababababab!

"Gah!"

"Ghk!"

After raking the area with a sweeping volley, two enemies collapsed, their legs shattered.

The remaining three tried to hide behind the bridge's instrument panel and seat shadows, but Marks wouldn't allow it.

With his large shield raised, he charged forward, slamming one with a full-body tackle that sent him flying, then struck another with a powerful punch.

Even without full force, being hit by a military doll or struck by one was no small matter.

Each man collapsed, unconscious.

Only one remained.

The man instantly realized he had no chance of winning and dashed toward the exit to flee—his choice was correct, but Shinnosuke wouldn't let him escape.

"Running away?...Wait, huh?!"

Shinnosuke had aimed the Buster Submachine Gun at the fleeing man, but immediately shifted his aim and raised the barrel upward.

The man gave up fleeing, dropped his weapon, raised his hands in surrender, and stood still.

The tip of Milena's saber pressed against his forehead, while Madelia's combat knife rested at his throat, having circled behind him.

"Looks like we're a bit late, Madelia."

"Yes."

Milena and Madelia, who had pursued Shinnosuke and Mark, exchanged glances with Shinnosuke and Mark.

"...No, it's not that we're late... If anything, we're too early. Right, Marks?"

"...Yes."

With that, securing the bridge completed the takeover of the Angel V.

It ended with astonishing speed—so abruptly it was almost surreal—but in a way, this outcome was entirely expected.

The Angel V had a crew of sixteen.

Though all were armed, they were merely gangsters and thugs, not trained professionals.

On the other hand, Shinnosuke's team was making a bold assault with only four members, yet their composition was formidable: Shinnosuke, a former space military officer with extensive experience as a destroyer crewman, and Milina, a noble from the Empire who had mastered swordsmanship and possessed awakened abilities.

With Marks, a military-grade doll, and Madelia, a versatile high-performance doll, joining them, their force was more than sufficient—indeed, it was excessive.

With opponents of this caliber, Marks and Madelia could handle them alone—indeed, just one of them would be enough.

That said, after subduing the threat, Marks and Madelia alone wouldn’t be able to manage the aftermath smoothly, which is why Shinnosuke and Milliena had to step in.

Thus, Shinnosuke decided to take on his role, sending Marks and Milliena to protect the victims and explain the situation, while he himself stood before the captured men.

We have identified this vessel as a criminal ship involved in human trafficking. Therefore, under my authority and duty as Captain of the Free Merchant Escort Fleet, I have forcibly boarded this ship and restrained you by force. Our actions are based on legal grounds. However, my responsibility ends here. The detainees, the vessel itself, various pieces of evidence, and the victims aboard will be handed over to the coastal patrol force approaching from ahead. Thus, you have no need to offer any explanation to us, and we have no intention of listening to any.

Madria, calmly informing Shin nosuke and Angel V's master computer, infiltrated and secured solid evidence regarding human trafficking.

With this, the operation was now fully complete.

"There's still time before the coast guard arrives... Well, it's just a small service. I'll have Ash treat the injured."

After assigning the injured to Ash, Shin nosuke returned to Fubuki.

All that's left is to wait for the coast guard to arrive.