051 Idol Arc 27 Distribution

You know, the usual exposition scene.

After docking the captured battleship and the Personal Ship, I decided to meet up with Ayame and the office (SFO branch).

I also need to brief the President about the Personal Ship’s docking.

Head to the office, aim for the president’s room.

“Hey, I’ve been waiting. Kirara-chan.”

The president’s door is open, and President Kamizawa lunges toward me, arms outstretched.

I dodge instinctively.

I did set up a meeting, sure, but what’s with the sudden… whatever this is?

“Hear you captured a battleship?”

President Kamizawa says, lounging in their chair. Eyes marked with dollar signs.

Probably pumped up after finally getting those fighter craft last time.

I sit on the sofa, then immediately decline.

“Captured it, but no way I’m doing it. Paying off debts comes first.”

“If something comes up, I’ll listen. Negotiations with the Executive Government? Leave that to me.”

“Nah… if it ends with them taking everything, we’re screwed.”

I decline with a reluctant pull-back, pushed by President Kamizawa’s insistence.

Honestly, that’s not why I came to talk to Kamizawa in the first place.

“In fact, I came here because there’s a problem with my idol activities.”

President Kamizawa’s expression darkens instantly.

“What happened?”

One second, he’s all casual. The next, he’s in full CEO mode.

I get serious too.

“My Personal Ship’s damaged. It’s in dry dock. Can’t use it for idol stuff anymore.”

President Kamizawa sinks back into his chair, exhales deeply—relief written all over his face.

"Then it's fine. As long as the Personal Ship exists, I can join the mock battles via data. What's the point of a virtual space otherwise?"

"Right. I’d forgotten how handy the virtual space is!"

I felt like a weight had just dropped from my eyes.

The serious talk ended, and I slipped into casual chit-chat mode with President Kamizawa.

"So, you captured three ships this time?"

"The battleship and stealth vessel had their cyberbrains fried—probably worth less than half their value."

"Aw, that’s a shame."

I kept the details about the Naarukrakka vague with President Kamizawa.

"I captured the cruiser by neutralizing its energy distributor. I can sell this one outright. With the proceeds, I think I’ll clear my debt."

"So you’re planning to focus on idol work from now on?"

"No. I’ll stick with the fleet until I’ve paid off Ayame’s debt. I’m literally making money as a pro-gamer."

"I’d also like to get Ayame out of real combat as soon as possible. Please look after her."

President Kamizawa bows his head.

Huh. Even the boss’s got a soft spot for a rookie idol. Guess he’s not so bad after all.

I did wonder if that meant my own combat role was in question, but I figured it was just trust in my skills.

We’re talking about the future of Brush Lips when Ayame pops her head into the president’s office.

“Good afternoon. Is Akira here?”

“Yeah, he’s here.”

I answer without turning around.

President Kamizawa stands and lunges for a hug.

Ayame dodges it instantly.

That old pervert never learns.

“Hey, I’m borrowing the conference room.”

“O-oh, sure.”

I stand up and immediately grab Ayame’s arm, pulling her toward the conference room.

The conference room had been the interview venue for that new idol recruit.

Now, a long table sat in the center, surrounded by high-backed black executive chairs that looked expensive.

Akira and Ayame sat on adjacent chairs at the edge of the table.

The room was too big, but since this was basically a money talk, it was unavoidable—just the parties involved needed to be here.

“First distribution meeting starts now. Yes, applause. Pat-pat-pat.”

“Pat-pat-pat.”

Ayame clapped along, mimicking me.

“Today’s haul: one battleship, one cruiser, one stealth vessel captured, and rights to destroy one cruiser, two destroyers.”

“Understood.”

“First, I’d like to explain the difference between capturing a cruiser and capturing a battleship or stealth vessel.”

“Please do.”

Ayame’s playing along with my rhythm. Helpful. Makes things easier.

"Captured the cruiser by destroying its energy distributor—disarmed it, then seized it. That means we can fully reclaim the vessel with just a brain rewrite and some basic repairs. The station counts this as a fully intact capture."

"Understood."

"Now, the battleship and stealth vessel—well, it was a crisis situation, so I had to use the Nerve Crack. That fried both ships’ brains. They’re now permanently bound to me, can’t be reset. So they’re only worth half their scrap value. Sorry."

"Nonsense. You took down those two ships all by yourself, Akira. No need to apologize to me."

Ayame gives a look that’s half-embarrassed, half-pleading.

I’m absolutely certain she’s a good girl.

"Being able to say that helps a lot. About the repayment method for the debt to the Directorate—selling it and paying in cash means you lose a chunk to taxes. So the Directorate pushes for in-kind payments instead."

"In-kind payments?"

"Yeah. So I’m planning to hand over the cruiser in full. Split the take fifty-fifty between me and Ayame. Even at a discount, that’s gonna be at least a hundred million G each."

"Wait, really that much?"

"Yep. The rental ship I ended up buying—thirty-meter general-purpose vessel—cost a hundred million G. So a two-hundred-meter combat vessel? Shouldn’t be any cheaper."

Ayame’s eyes go wide. Probably calculating how many more ships we’d need to capture to wipe out the debt.

"I captured a 150-meter stealth vessel last time, but the brain-core components got rejected at the Narbcrack auction—sold for less than half price. Still, that cut the debt nearly in half. A fully intact 150-meter ship should’ve been worth over a hundred million G."

"You captured another stealth vessel this time, huh?"

"Yeah, probably similar value. Let’s split that too."

Ayame shakes her head at my words.

"No way. The stealth ship and the battleship were both seized by Akira personally—risking his life. I had nothing to do with it. I can’t take a share."

"But fleet income is always split evenly."

"No way! I want to earn my own share. Since I joined the fleet, I want the payout based on actual performance. I don’t even agree with splitting the cruiser’s earnings evenly. I failed my main mission—protecting the target!"

I was overwhelmed by Ayame’s intensity.

"Then at least let me have the share from the cruiser and the kill credit. I’ll funnel the stealth ship’s allocation into strengthening the Brushlips Fleet."

"Yeah. Got it. Thanks."

Well now, the battleship’s cut’s floating out there. What do I do?

Just pondering that when a comm signal hit my wristband.

I projected the screen into midair via VR. Prince’s face filled the display.

‘Hey, Akira—something’s come up. Come to my Personal Ship’s dock immediately.’

"I’m on my way! Ayame, sorry—something urgent’s come up."

Cutting the comms, I gave Ayame a quick excuse and left the room.

Dock sector. The area on the underside of the station dedicated to repairing and constructing ships.

My Personal Ship was lodged inside one of the repair docks, fused together with the captured warship.

I’d rushed to that dock after the Prince’s call.

I used the transfer portal in the central plaza to reach the dock.

Upon arrival, I headed straight for the waiting room beside the dock.

Inside, the Prince and dock personnel were staring out the window.

I greeted them, then looked out myself.

“What the hell is this?!”

I couldn’t help but ask the Prince.

There, wrapped in a cocoon, was a lump.

The cocoon was the size of both the captured warship and my Personal Ship merged together.

The Prince replied.

“We’d just started the separation procedure when Akira’s Personal Ship and the captured warship began fusing.”

“What the hell—!!”

I ended up clutching my head again.