54: Situation Ended

Today's update features the fourth chapter.

This is the fourth chapter.

"So, Satu. That strange-colored flame just now...?"

"Who knows? I've never burned my own fat—let alone adjusted it down to the mod level to make it burn better. I don't understand anything, not even why it turned purple after igniting the seaweed humanoid."

The seaweed humanoid burned up completely safely.

The floor material had melted to a depth of several centimeters from the surface, revealing what appeared to be the asteroid's original rock beneath—evidently, the fire had been quite intense.

"Anyway, Vee. Did any fragments of the seaweed humanoid remain?"

"...From what I can see with my own eyes, there are none left. I'm certain we burned everything completely."

"Is that so? Then we can rest easy?"

Vilijanira and I glanced around the room.

I thoroughly searched every visible spot—behind cover, inside the cockpit of the combat aircraft where the seaweed humans had emerged—and even the smallest crevices and pipes.

Additionally, just in case, I coated the combat aircraft with my ink in a smoky form, sealing off any tiny gaps or internal piping to prevent any modifications from being made.

This is because there's a possibility that crucial information might be hidden within the data from this aircraft, and I can't afford to have any seaweed human fragments lurking in unexpected places.

"Shall we call up the memo and handle the data section as well?"

"Yeah."

Vilijanira summoned Memoqsi, and with Memoqsi's assistance, they proceeded to secure the data stored within the fighter jet.

With this, they would have obtained nearly all the information available within the facility, excluding only what had been held by the humans who had been turned into seaweed humans.

"Miss Vee, Miss Sata. The intelligence unit's warship has arrived."

"About time."

"It seems they're planning to secure the entire asteroid. They've offered to investigate various aspects, including the methods used to conceal the facilities."

"Hmm. Well, aside from the technology capable of creating those fake space monsters, it's clearly mixed with top-tier advanced systems. Whether for tracing origins or conducting reverse engineering, it might be worth taking the whole thing with us."

Looking outside from the main body, there's definitely a warship approaching.

It's a warship larger than this facility.

From that warship, machinery and people are emerging, preparing to tow the asteroid.

Oops, the asteroid just shifted slightly.

"Note: Have we received instructions on what to do next?"

"Please wait a moment... They're requesting that we open the landing bay door. It seems we can't determine where the entry points are or where the safe control console is located from the outside."

"Understood. Preparations for connecting to space... In fact, there was no need for anyone other than me to worry about that."

Vilijanira activates the machine beside the landing bay door.

Then, the air inside the landing bay gradually vented out until it matched the external environment, and slowly, the door opened, connecting the landing bay with the outside.

Meanwhile, I stay close to Vilijanira, along with Memokushi, just in case something goes wrong.

"Thank you, Lady Vilijanira. This is the Third Fleet of the Imperial Military Intelligence Division, Branch Office of the Glogrobeta Star System..."

Several fully armed soldiers enter through the opened door.

Upon seeing our presence, the incoming soldiers immediately declared who they were, rushing toward Virijianira.

I can't be sure if my declaration is correct, but judging by Virijianira's expression, it seems to be the right one.

Incidentally, the fact that they didn’t show even a single sign of surprise at seeing me and Memokushi standing bare-skinned in an environment identical to space suggests one of two possibilities: either they had prior knowledge of our situation, or they’re professionals who maintained composure with full effort.

"Then, please, Lady Virijianira and your two companions, step inside the ship. From here on, we'll take over."

Understood. Safety should be ensured, but we still haven't identified the opponent, so please remain cautious.

Affirmative.

And so we moved inside the warship.

After being sprayed with the various disinfection mods used during the previous visit to the *Tsume Bakei*, we were led to the waiting room.

"Hah... finally, a moment to catch my breath... Ah, wait—what about the rocketcorn farm?"

"From what I've been able to gather, the terrorist attack at the asteroid belt's rocketcorn farm seems to have been resolved for now. They've detained over a hundred suspects and are currently searching for any who might have escaped or are still hiding."

"Is that so? It's turned into quite a large-scale incident, hasn't it?"

"Well, considering they were aiming to destroy an entire star system, it's actually surprising there weren't more involved."

That might be true, I suppose.

It seems that, while we've been working hard, they've also resolved the matter regarding the rocket corn farm.

Saying there are over a hundred suspects... well, given that they attempted to attack three rocket corn farms scattered across the asteroid belt farm simultaneously, it's hardly surprising that the number would be that high.

Moreover, there was certainly the possibility of traitors among the humans working at the farms, just as there must have been traitors within each company across the Grogrobeta system, like the Tricium Factory.

Considering it from that angle... the number of suspected individuals would undoubtedly continue to grow.

"But who could the mastermind possibly be? I don't think there are many people who would benefit from destroying the entire Grogrobeta system itself."

"Moreover, the technology they're using is cutting-edge—so advanced, it's almost as if they created something akin to a space monster. There's almost no one out there who could possess such technology, even if you looked from every angle."

"I agree with both of you. But we don't have any information that could lead us to the mastermind, and acquiring it... well, that's another matter."

Listening to our words, Virijanira fell into deep thought.

Then she spoke.

"Let us head toward Imperial Planet Vanilla Sid. Its headquarters houses our intelligence division, and all classified information from across the empire—whether transmitted via communication or not—should be gathered there. Therefore, we should be able to find some clue about the mastermind there."

"Understood."

"…Yes, understood, Lady Vee."

It seems we are indeed heading toward Imperial Planet Vanilla Sid.

Yeah, I'm still curious about the mastermind, but I'm just as excited to finally get to Imperial Planet Vanilla Sid.

"Still, Lady Vee. I'm sorry to dampen the mood, but the memo trio will be hospitalized for about a week—undergoing maintenance and interrogation for precautionary reasons. Given who they're up against."

"……"

Apparently, the destination seems to be rapidly receding now.

10/11 Correction of typo