21: Aftermath - Report

"Hmm... We'll have to scrap this whole thing..."

"Yes, indeed. We can't possibly write an article about a battle with the Giga洛克 Space Pirates."

Well, the incident involving the suspected members of the Giga洛克 Space Pirate Gang attacking the "Tsumebakei" had many unexpected developments, but it was ultimately brought under control.

After that, everything proceeded as planned.

Once the emergency repairs on the "Tsumebakei" were completed, it was moved under escort.

The three of us, passengers aboard the "Tsumebakei," were moved ahead to the guide colony on the Grogrobeta system side aboard a patrol vessel.

The pirates themselves, along with their ship, were towed by the patrol vessel and would undergo detailed inspection in the space near the guide colony of the Grogrobeta system.

"I had originally planned to write an article about what interstellar travel was like... but well, darn it, I'm forced to start the Grogrobeta system article out of nowhere?"

"A troublesome situation, indeed."

And so, the three of us—me, Vilijanira, and Mekoshi—are currently stuck in a high-end hotel on the guide colony of the Grogrobeta system, awaiting further instructions.

Due to questioning and various procedures, we're stuck here for at least several days with no possibility of moving.

Well, not being able to move isn't really a problem.

The entire cost of our stay is being covered by the patrol unit, and thanks to the presence of Vilijanira, who's affiliated with the royal family, the accommodations are something far beyond anything I've ever experienced—what they call a royal suite.

There's no shortage of things to do during the stay—aligning the details of the interrogation, formalizing the contract with the intelligence unit of the imperial army that Vilijanira belongs to, disclosing our respective abilities and circumstances, coordinating future plans, and so on. I won’t be left with nothing to do.

That said, the fact that one more potential angle for my freelance writer persona has been shut down means I’m left with nothing but a frustrated "gurunununun!"

Ah, but of course, the Royal Suite.

The milk tea, brewed with premium tea leaves from the Glorgrobeta star system and premium milk eggs from the Hiratratsumi star system, has a remarkably balanced aroma of black tea and creamy sweetness—truly a masterpiece.

Thanks to this, my mind gradually calms down.

"Miss Vee. Master Sata. The first report of investigative findings has arrived for Memo."

"Let me hear it. Memo."

Sigh... I'm listening. What's the situation?

And at that moment, MeMokushi, who had been waiting inside the room, spoke up.

It seems some kind of information has been received.

I'll explain them in order.

And so, as Mebokushi explained it... the contents were nothing short of astonishing.

"Annihilated? The Giga Rock Space Pirates?!"

Yes

First, the Giga Rock Space Pirates apparently suffered what could be described as total destruction just a couple of weeks ago, in an entirely different sector of space.

And the reason for their destruction wasn't due to an attack by a space monster, being wiped out by the Imperial Army, or scattered by a group of exceptionally skilled mercenaries—no, it was internal collapse.

Even now... despite having heard accounts directly from the perpetrators themselves, the exact circumstances remain utterly unclear—some mysterious internal collapse seems to have occurred.

"Could it have been a malfunctioning mental manipulation mod, or perhaps an illegal drug or substance mod gone awry?"

"Possible, but... let's set that aside for now. More importantly, what were those attackers who ambushed the *Tsumebakei* doing here?"

"That part is simple."

As a result of the internal collapse, brutal infighting broke out, and those who survived scattered to various regions across the Empire.

One of them was the group that attacked the 'Tsume Bakei' ship.

As for the reason behind the attack, it was said to be a simple matter—because the target appeared to be an easy catch, just like typical space pirates. There didn't seem to be any hidden motives.

"What about the crab in question?"

"Unknown. However, no signs of abnormal modifications were found on the artificial human manufacturing device, and reports suggest that the other group of space pirates aboard the second ship also appear to know nothing about it."

"Creepy, isn't it? If that's the case, shouldn't we consider the origin of that crab as the root cause of the internal collapse?"

"Maybe. Still, it's better not to jump to conclusions—seems like we should keep all possibilities open."

We don't know anything about the crab that came from the artificial human manufacturing ship.

There are some complaints that we could have investigated further if the actual specimen had remained... but the enemy we're facing is a pirate ship crewed by patrol forces—overwhelming in numbers, so we'd be hunted down without a chance if we don't hit them with superior numbers.

From a safety standpoint, there was no choice but to eliminate it.

That was the decision made by everyone on the scene, including me.

If anyone still has an issue with it... well, they'll just be shut down by the rest of the team.

"The report for the current situation is complete, Your Highness."

"Thank you. Memo. Please inform me as soon as there's any update."

"Understood."

Memoqui bowed slightly and returned to standby.

"Satya."

"What?"

"If they question you about your abilities during the inquiry, tell them you can't disclose anything due to departmental policies. If they wish to know, ask your master, Vilijaniela."

"Got it."

It seems, since we're already at it, we'll proceed directly to aligning our statements during the inquiry.

However, I'll have Vilijaniela answer completely regarding my abilities.

Indeed, my current master is Vilijaniela, so that should pose no issue.

"Instead, could you please share as much as you can about your abilities? The request to disclose documents about you, sent from Seiryō Corporation to the Empire, hasn't been approved yet."

"I understand. Then... let me start by explaining how I came into existence."

Please, my notes, my records...

Then, I'll proceed to speak about myself, to the best of my own understanding.