084 Drifting Arc 24: Parental Visit

The transport ship visiting Anoi Fortress carried a figure cloaked in a hooded mantle, a man and woman in white medical uniforms, and various officers or guards assigned to escort duty.

Upon reaching Anoi Fortress’s administrative tower, they slipped into a special district under government jurisdiction, avoiding notice.

Whispers circulated with alarming credibility: a wounded Earthling had been treated on a distant star system and returned to the Empire.

A secret delegation from the True Empire had arrived for confidential talks.

Nine individuals total—representative Kae, two technical staff, one military negotiator, and five guards.

To avoid surprise attacks, Kae sent a dimensional transmission to her flagship, coordinating timing so the visiting party wouldn’t cross paths with enemy fleets.

The "true imperial delegation" is classified as top secret, so they're being presented as a human named Sato and his overseer.

Sato is supposedly recovering from injuries, having been treated at an Imperial medical facility on another star system, and has just returned.

This is because there's still a chance enemy spies are hiding among Anoi's ranks.

The spy situation? High probability the autonomous group's wristbands were tapped for eavesdropping.

That's because when the human moved from the station to Anoi Fortress, they were technically registered under both facilities—giving the station's administrator, the Prince, free access to all information.

So the human's been under surveillance this whole time.

That's why the Count sent his people—to enslave them before word spread about the human's promotion and their rising status within the Empire.

But then there are parts that don’t add up—just ambushes and such. There’s growing concern that an agent—spy—might’ve slipped in.

That spy should be wearing a wristband too. And right now, it’s one under Anoi Fortress’s jurisdiction.

So we’re currently rechecking every detail, trying to work backward and flush them out.

I’m in a secret meeting with the CEO, Anoi Fortress’s commanding officers—Sanderson, Noah, John, and Hunter.

Officially, it’s to monitor Sato’s condition—since he’s under protective observation—and have the watchdog report on his behavior.

“Apologies for the discomfort this must be causing the Empire’s representative.”

Commander Sanderson bows to the true Imperial delegation.

“Not at all. It’s only right we remain hidden—our cover would only worsen our brother’s position.”

Kaede speaks in princess mode.

“Sorry about that, Kaede. This room’s under a shielding field—no eavesdropping, no comms. You’re safe.”

Just as Akira said, this conference chamber was a special vault for classified meetings, sealed tight so no internal signals leaked out, and external sensors couldn’t siphon off any data from inside.

“Now then, let me introduce myself. I’m Yaegashi Akira. Officially recognized as the Sixth Prince of the Empire—but I wasn’t born one of them, so loyalty to the Empire? Never felt it. Never thought about it.

But for self-preservation, I’m using this position right now.

Next to me is Mr. Kanzawa, the Earth representative of the Anoi Fortress. He’s my employer back on Earth. At Anoi, he’s the reliable big brother figure keeping the Earth-born together.

Next to him: Commander Sanders, commander of the Anoi Fortress. Noah, commander of the Caprius forces. John, commander of the mixed forces of the minor domain. Hunter, commander of the Graul forces.

The defense force of the Anoi Fortress. Since I’ve taken a wife from their lord, I’m now the commander of their family’s military forces.

They’re looking out for me. Acting as my support, and my fighting strength.”

I introduced the Anoi Fortress representatives, then prompted the true imperial delegation to introduce themselves.

“I am the current representative of the True Empire, Yae-gashi Kaede. As my name suggests, I’m the younger sister of Akira.

Next to me is the Southern Governor of the True Empire’s military—the commander of the Third Fleet. I’ve invited them here to discuss our future cooperation.”

The two geneticists next. They were brought here to confirm that Akira, my elder brother, is indeed a child of the True Emperor’s lineage.

A precaution for the True Empire’s people to accept, I’ll add—though I’ve never doubted my brother’s identity myself.

The other five are guards.

Secret meeting, so we couldn’t bring a large entourage. This is how it had to be.

I couldn’t stop staring at the two geneticists.

They looked exactly like my parents—just like they’d appeared in my childhood memories.

“Sorry if I’m wrong, but… aren’t those two geneticists my dad and mom?”

“Knew it, huh? Yeah, they were my parents on Earth.”

“Apologies, Akira… no, Akira-sama. We’re not your real parents.”

"Your genetic father is the True Emperor Himself."

"Akira-sama, I'm sorry... we tricked you, didn't we?"

The male and female technicians reply. Of course they are my parents.

Maybe not my genetic parents, but the ones who raised me—Yaezaka’s parents.

And Kae, the ground’s showing. The ground’s showing.

"Father, please... stop. To me, you’re both irreplaceable parents. Genetic ties mean nothing."

"Is that so? Thanks, Akira. By the way—where’s Karen?"

The words from Yaezaka’s father snapped something back into place.

I’d been so focused on repaying debts, forced into battle, caught in a life-or-death succession war—so consumed by it all—that I’d completely forgotten the most important mission I’d joined SFO for: finding my older sister, Karen.

I’d thought I’d eventually hear from her—except the whole idea of “contact” was just a lie from the Prince in the first place.

We weren’t taken to the Empire by some emergency attack from enemy forces. No. That was a scripted abduction, no mistake.

Which means my sister’s disappearance might’ve been orchestrated by the Empire… or by the Prince himself.

The Prince was regularly snatching Earth-born people and enslaving them.

So my sister probably was among them.

From the moment they figured out I was the Sixth Prince, they’d have known she was my twin.

Seems only males are allowed to inherit the throne in the Empire.

So what kind of treatment would a sister with the Emperor’s genes even get?

The beast-wives kept saying, if they can’t take her as a wife, at least take her as seed.

This isn’t a joke. In this empire, valuable DNA is worth fighting over—it’s the key to advancement.

After they found out my sister had special DNA… what kind of treatment has she been getting?

"Shit. She’s probably been taken by the Emperor’s likely Prince. We’ve gotta rescue her…"

I went pale and shut up, and the Yaegashi parents’ faces went serious too.

"Yeah… we sent forces to reclaim her from Earth, but it didn’t go well."

"The Prince had Earthlings guarding her all along.

And my sister… no, I was tricked into fighting *her*—she was supposed to be an ally who came to rescue Earth, but she’s actually one of them."

SFO… what a goddamn setup.

"What the hell. Are we still fighting Earth’s war… with Earthlings?!"

"Still? So the station’s really still in Earth’s orbit, huh?"

"Yeah, sitting there on Earth, fighting us like we're the enemy."

"We were told Earth had been taken over by the enemy. So it's really the station still under their control, huh?"

I finally realized—clear as day—Earth’s enemy was the Prince.

No invasion intent? No interest in the planet itself. But Earthlings, wildlife—resources worth stealing.

The Prince. No, the Empire. They were the ones devouring Earth all along!

"We should've formed an alliance sooner."

Southern Commander suggests.

"Me neither," I say.

"Kae, I'm with you. Everyone at Anoi Fortress okay with that?"

"“““We are subjects of Akira-sama, so we have no allegiance to the so-called Empire.”””"

"Before that—DNA check. We need proof. Evidence that we're truly loyal to the True Empire."

Mom pulls out the DNA testing kit, responding to Dad’s suggestion.

Have my cells taken and run them through the专用 machine.

"Knew it all along—definitely the Heir."

"Then let’s get down to business, no problem?"

"Leave it to me!"

Kaede snaps back into her usual princess act and grants permission to the Southern Commander.

Now the True Empire’s officially on my side.

From now on, the Southern Commander will send over a resident military attaché.

We’ll keep in touch via hotline from here on out.

Sato’s name will become that attaché’s official title from now on.

The True Empire delegation slips away quietly.

Short time, but I managed to meet my adoptive parents—spending the lost six years catching up in conversation.

Never thought both of them were being hunted by the Empire too.

Turns out they faked their deaths to evade pursuit... and in doing so, actually protected us by leaving behind the illusion of their demise.

She’s had a rough time—probably got a lot she wants to say—but I just couldn’t bring myself to blame her.

Not blood-related, not really a parent… but I’m glad she’s still alive. That’s all that matters.

Next episode is scheduled for the 29th.