161 Free-floating Planet Arc 3: What Leonardo Left Behind

side: Rasty System, Factory Mothership, Living Quarters, Shira Residence (Akira)

I warped the factory mothership into the Rasty System.

The quarantine operation on the Niahyuum vessel in the Crowney System was complete.

The massive task of translating Niahyuum language? Solved with a single sentence from Gail.

"Hey, Niahyuum can understand Imperial."

Right—when I took over Ethan, I’d been chatting with the Niahyuum in Imperial just fine.

If that linguistic knowledge is shared, then every Niahyuum understands Imperial.

Good thing, my wife-bunch has been translating all kinds of content into Imperial for fun.

Let the quarantined Niahyuum savor Earth culture to their heart's content.

The more I think about it, the more fascinating it becomes—how different cultures affect the Niahyuum, and what happens when Niahyuum exposed to different cultures actually meet each other. Purely academic curiosity, really.

Gale was equally intrigued. I’ll leave the next phase of experimentation to her.

“So, what do we do with the small carrier-class vessel? AK-E002’s been neutralized, right?”

“Neutralization’s no problem. But cramming something that size into a single standard Dimensional Storage Vault compartment? That’s pushing it.”

According to the factory mothership, a small carrier-class vessel could hold up to ten thousand Niahyuum warships.

And that’s not even counting the dimensional jump (warp) drive and repair docks it’s equipped with. The current standard Dimensional Storage Vault can’t handle something that big—no way.

Hmm. So it’s okay if we don’t fit it whole?

"Originally the goal was isolating Neahyume, so why not just store the core?"

"Then it's simple. Just reshape the storage field and cut the core out."

"The problem is the core removal might be seen as hostile action—could trigger other Neahyume ships into attack mode..."

"Prince had ordered the Neahyume in the Rasty system to stand by, didn't he? They were neutralized and inactive even before AK-E002 activated."

Ayame cuts in, her tone suggesting she’s got something in mind.

"Yeah... it felt different from the Crowney system."

"Meaning... the Prince’s forces left Rasty system, and Neahyume just... self-isolated to prevent contamination?"

"Meaning...?"

"Guess it means the Rasty system got stricter orders than the Crowney system."

"So the Neahyume in the Rasty system is getting different commands—wanting to fight, but not wanting any extra hassle?"

"Which is why I figured the Neahyume in Rasty wouldn’t budge even if we severed their core."

"Still worth a try, then."

Ayame pushed me from behind, her hand firm on my back as I hesitated to carry out the core severance.

Even if I blew a minor-core vessel to pieces, it’d still be worth trying.

"Alright, I’m going."

"Can I come too?"

The light in Carrie’s eyes flared behind us.

I launched my Personal Ship and moved toward the Dimensional Storage Vault to extract the minor-core vessel.

Around me, Carrie had already deployed her Personal Ship, ready for any unexpected developments.

Ayame was guarding my back, as always.

As I approached the light carrier class, the Dimensional Storage Vault reshaped its storage field, extending it toward the core’s position—like pushing a straw deep into a drink.

It reached in, deeper and deeper.

The tip wrapped around the core. Then, without hesitation, I initiated the storage sequence—cutting it off at the boundary.

Result? No worries. The extraction succeeded perfectly.

A short while later, twelve cores from the light carrier class, along with the Niahyūm fleet of twenty thousand, were safely stowed aboard the second vessel of the large transport ship equipped with the dimensional isolation facility.

Now, all Niahyūm forces that had invaded Lorenzo’s and Leonardo’s territories were either isolated or eliminated.

Future Niahyūm threats would be handled the same way—neutralized and sealed off.

“Didn’t need to worry at all. Thanks, Ayame.”

“Mm. You’re welcome.”

Too much caution isn’t always good, either.

Sometimes you just gotta push forward with momentum.

"Looks like it's over, Akira. I'll thank you properly as a system lord."

The timing was perfect—Lorenzo's comm came through.

"Lorenzo. The invasion of Neihyūm is still ongoing. Be careful."

I gave him a firm reminder not to underestimate the Neihyūm threat.

"I know. Thanks for the repairs on the fortress ship. Now I can actually fight."

"We'll prioritize handing over the AK-E series. Once they're neutralized, the fight'll be easier."

"Everything you've done is a lifesaver. There's something though— I want to transfer one of the systems I acquired from Leonardo to Akira."

"Wait... what?"

I couldn’t figure out Lorenzo’s intent.

"Even though our dispute was officially labeled as royal intervention between me and Leonardo, the truth is— I couldn’t have beaten Leonardo without Akira."

I would’ve handed over Leonardo’s entire star system to Akira by default… but that’s not exactly feasible, given the circumstances.

"Useless. Outposts are a pain in the neck when it comes to managing territory."

Yes. The truth.

Being far away means there's risk of rebellion—and if something goes wrong, you're always playing catch-up.

A pain in the ass.

Then just make the high-ranking official we rescued from Leonardo's fortress a regional governor.

You knew!?

When I fired the antimatter particle cannon at Leonardo's flagship fortress ship, I held back just enough to make sure the command center didn’t get caught in the blast.

Even the five thousand warships of the elite fleet were destroyed by the shockwave—but the pilots were programmed to be evacuated and transferred to the fortress ship.

I wanted to avoid destroying that transfer chamber and protect the astronaut—pilot—too.

Leonardo’s a dictator. His subjects obey only because they have no choice.

I won’t say the subordinate’s innocent—but I did want to at least save their life.

‘Actually, Leonardo wasn’t killed by me.

When I arrived at the Leonardo system, he was already dead—murdered by his own subordinate.

We confirmed the body at the DNA level. He was the real deal. Even his subordinates hated him.

That’s when I found out Akira had saved the subordinate. Good work. Well done.’

I was stunned. To Lorenzo, Leonardo’s subordinate was a co-conspirator in killing his own subordinate.

I figured I’d get scolded for meddling—but Lorenzo seemed ready to forgive the man.

And he knew full well I’d brought the rescued subordinate back.

Leonardo’s subordinate’s a moron who can’t even lie (which, honestly, is a compliment).

‘Sorry, Lorenzo. So what you’re saying is, I’m supposed to protect Leonardo’s subordinate right there in the system?’

Hahaha. Can’t possibly convince every single citizen in the territory.

The senior lords will send Akira to the star system they’re handing over.

Whatever happens there—well, that’s someone else’s problem now. Do whatever you want with it.’

Lorenzo tried to make a grim face, but his good-natured features just wouldn’t cooperate.

‘This is strictly between us—Leonardo has a daughter. Leonardo’s wife is an imperial princess, meaning she’s the Emperor’s granddaughter.

To me, she’s a half-sister’s child—so my niece. To Akira, she’s his daughter-in-law’s niece.

Natural-born princes are always married to imperial princesses.

Which makes her the child of such a union. The Emperor seems to want to help that granddaughter of his.’

Ah. So the Emperor wasn’t really helping Leonardo’s subordinate… just his granddaughter.

"The princess and her daughter have headed toward the Imperial Capital. After this, they’ll spend the rest of their lives in the shade of others’ shadows."

"Even if the Emperor’s grandson were to try pulling a stunt like raising a banner with Leonardo’s orphan, no one’d be that stupid."

"I know. But it’s a matter of setting a precedent."

"Still, she’s done nothing wrong."

"Exactly..."

Silence settled in. But there was nothing I could do about it.

I couldn’t save anyone.

I couldn’t leave the princess and the girl in a system of senior nobles.

"Speaking of which, have you heard about the free-floating planet?"

"Nope. Not at all."

"Hmm. If Akira hasn’t received any info, then it’s not connected to Nyahyūm."

"If it’s not Nyahyūm-related, then I’ll just take it easy."

"True. If there’s no news, there’s no reason to worry."

That’s when I realized how exhausted I’d become.

I mean, it was a problem that Leonardo’s subordinate was way too loyal to me.

Next update scheduled for Sunday at 00:00 to 07:00.