106 Lord's Compilation 18 Research Facility

The interrogation continued, relentless—where had the clone champions come from? Who was the mastermind behind it all?

One by one, each was separated into individual interrogation rooms. Here, Keith O'Brien A was being questioned.

"Try holding this. Can you endure it?"

"Damn it! I can't! I'll talk, I'll talk—just please stop!"

"Where did you come from?"

"Ugh... we came from the Gerun System research facility... ugh, gurgle... came..."

"Who gave you orders?"

"Gurgle gurgle... the director, Gail... gurgle... gave them..."

"Who's above him?"

"Blah blah... don't... know..."

"Alright, eat."

"Yay, cake!"

Even though he looked like an old man, deep down he was a four-year-old with a reverse-ponytail-and-sweets obsession. He couldn’t resist the delicious dessert right in front of him—no matter how hard he tried.

The sight of him lunging at the cake, drool dripping like a middle-aged man with a sweet tooth, was straight-up surreal.

"All witnesses reported the same thing. The research facility in the Gern system. Orders came from the director, Gail."

"Even if we're dealing with a four-year-old, we can't exactly torture him. This is as far as we can go."

I, the CEO, Miss Ai, and the military brass from the Anoi fortress were receiving the interrogation report.

"The planetary lord of the Gern system is Lord Campbell. He's said to be mild-mannered, a man of integrity.

He has no strong ties to any prince, and equally maintains shallow relationships with all of them.

The facility might just be rented out for business purposes."

That's why Miss Ai was brought here—to gather this kind of intel.

She's filling in the gaps we're missing about faction politics within the empire.

"So if we're going to seize the research facility directly, we'd better avoid provoking the system's military forces."

This looks like one of those situations that demands careful handling.

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"This is Fleet of Prince Akira, Sixth Heir. We’ve received intelligence that Earthlings abducted in your system are being hidden here. Requesting permission to dock for investigation."

"This is the Gelun System Control. We’ll check with the planetary government. Please wait a moment."

Our fleet arrived at the subspace side of the Gelun System’s Dimensional Jump Gate and sent a dimensional transmission.

The system control’s response was standard procedure. No signs of hostility detected.

"Welcome to the Gelun System. This is Lord Campbell, the System’s feudal lord. We welcome your visit, Your Highness.

By the way, regarding the investigation into the Earthling abduction—we have no knowledge of such a matter."

You can’t just let a full fleet in based on suspicion alone.

I’d like to request proof, if you don’t mind?

Unexpected—Lord Campbell himself handling the matter. You could say he made a reasonable proposal.

Instead of sending a small fleet to explain, he offered to allow the full fleet to dock—if we explained ourselves.

That was a gesture. No ambush. A clear signal: if the abduction is real, we’re ready to accept it.

“Appreciate the courtesy. Not suspecting Lord Campbell—suspecting the head of the research facility on your system, Gale.

That’s where the illegal Earthling clones were made—and launched attacks on our system.

Evidence data is currently being transferred—finished—”

Checking the data, I suppose. Baron Campbell falls silent for a moment.

“This is nothing short of brazen! You permit entry into the star system—and attack on the research facility.

The facility is built on an asteroid within our system. No other installations surround it, so by all means, go ahead and destroy it.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

“Your highness, I am deeply honored.”

Baron Campbell bows his head on the communication screen.

He must have recognized me in the feed coming from our side.

He gives me the coordinates of the asteroid housing the research facility.

I warp my Personal Ship into that sector.

Simultaneously, I launch a fleet of a thousand escort vessels from the Dimensional Storage Vault to ambush the facility.

No ambush waiting at the Dimensional Jump Gate.

Baron Campbell’s allegiance is confirmed.

"Anoi III Fleet and Earth Force, commence entry into the Gern system."

I ordered the Anoi III Fleet's 6,000 ships and the Earth Force's 2,000 ships, waiting in the subspace side of the Dimensional Jump Gate, to push through.

A grand fleet of 8,000 vessels entered the Gern system, encircling the research asteroid.

"External armament: Long Barrel 40cm Railgun deployed. Leap Bullet readiness."

"Enemy research facility scanned. Information acquired. Where shall we target?"

A holographic screen unfolded before my eyes. A target list appeared.

I scrolled through it. Tapped the one I wanted.

"Target: enemy research facility control brain. Load 5cm Erosion Bullet into the 40cm Leap Bullet casing. Fire upon readiness."

"Prepared. Target: enemy research facility control brain."

"Fire!"

I pull the trigger (metaphorically) on the forty-centimeter Long Barrel Railgun.

The projectile vanishes—reappearing inside the chamber housing the enemy research facility's control brain, initiating erosion via Erosion Bullet.

A message flickers on the virtual screen before me.

『Erosion complete. Data link initiated. Take over?』

I say nothing. I grab the YES icon.

『Narbcrack initiated. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1. Completed. Enemy research facility secured. Storage hatch sealed. Erosion of enemy vessels now commencing.』

『Ground assault team landing! Secure the facility!』

My command sends the Rahtel landing craft gliding into the research facility’s dock, beginning the seizure.

I'll detain the director, Gehr, and make him cough up every dirty secret.

I’ll make him pay for how he treated Earthlings.

Total score exceeds five thousand points.

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