Chapter 127: Outcome and Responsibility

Heaven Hailou, shattered by the Tenshin Koudan and anti-SU government activists at great cost.

Its successor, a spatial jump ring, is under construction.

Since news of this spread through SU, many impoverished citizens and lower-tier laborers within SU no longer voiced frustration.

"Understandable. During the battle at Heaven Hailou, those who protested the government donated their meager savings to the Tenshin Koudan. They hoped that a single blow to the SU government would wake them up."

Goudo continued speaking in a mournful tone.

"Yet the SU government conducted media coverage as if they were unconcerned, claiming they were already building something new. The disappointment of those who had placed their hopes in the Tenshin Koudan was immeasurable."

Dawson understood the point from the explanation.

"Those who survived the Tenshin Koudan are actively recruiting through Chicken Ball, while pirates respond with cold detachment. That is because the new spatial jump ring exists."

"Exactly. Few are willing to rally under a flag that has already fallen once."

The Tenshin Koudan succeeded in destroying Heaven Hailou.

A significant achievement, yes. But it failed to deliver the ultimate mandate—to inflict serious damage on the SU government by producing a successor unit.

Those who supported the Tenshin Koudan had prioritized the mandate itself.

That is why the Tenshin Koudan lost public trust when it failed to fulfill the mandate.

"It doesn't matter what the Tenshin Koudan did. Now that the successor unit exists, we can no longer negotiate with the SU government to abandon their advance toward Amato Star, does it?"

Goudo lowered his shoulders in response to Dawson's question.

"That's correct. The situation has returned to square one."

"Square one? I'd say it's worse now."

Dawson spoke with irony, his gaze shifting from Goudo to Major Miko and Baron Tairou.

The two understood the meaning of his glance.

"No defense. Intelligence indicates the SU government and the space fleet are angry at the pirates who actually destroyed the Heaven Hailou, and they plan to launch a purge once the situation stabilizes."

"There was no mention of the successor unit anywhere. If we're blamed for this, we're at a loss!"

From this point forward, the SU Space Force will target pirates with absolute severity. Orders will be issued to eliminate any detected pirates immediately. Pirate activity will be suppressed.

Even if the successor unit to the Heaven Hailou is activated, its defensive capabilities will be reinforced to prevent another destruction.

In other words, much of the work Dawson has accomplished up to this point will be rendered meaningless.

To have all this effort nullified—Dawson has every right to be angry.

But Dawson knows that anger will not change the situation. He begins formulating the next course of action immediately.

"I will complete my mission. What will you do?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"This operation was your responsibility. You should report to the Amato Imperial Japan and await their decision on your next steps."

Goudu’s shoulders drop further at Dawson’s remark.

A preliminary report has been submitted. I will send the full report including details on the successor unit. The outcome assessment is daunting, though.

Tayro Baron bites back at Goudu’s conciliatory tone.

“What are you saying! The operation succeeded by destroying the Heaven Hailou! There is no way this will be judged as failure!”

“Hah. I wish that were true.”

Goudu knew, from his own history, that the Amato Imperial Japan military was merciless toward incompetence.

The majority of the achievements built by Special Lieutenant Dawson had been undone by the aristocratic faction, Major Miko and others.

An outcome deserving of the incompetence label. To entrust such an incompetent with a significant mission was unthinkable.

“The personnel involved in this operation will likely be ordered to evacuate from the Orion Arm.”

"No. Lord Goud is the administrator of Chicken Ball. For the preservation of critical facilities, he will likely be retained."

Goud gave a half-hearted expression in response to Ifo's defense, saying, "I hope it turns out that way." Taero, the baron, looked anxious.

"Sent away without a chance to redeem myself, branded as incompetent!? That's absurd!"

Dawson snorted in response to the panic.

"Originally, your noble faction came to the Orion Arm due to political decisions by Amato Imperial Japan. Your failure this time undermines the justification for the noble faction's presence here. Will the noble faction really continue supporting you, even at the cost of alienating other factions?"

Power struggles between factions are harsh everywhere.

As an example this time.

The aristocratic faction had cultivated favors with the rear operations room and its affiliates, expecting that if Major Miiko achieved results, their influence would increase.

Yet, in the previous operation, Dawson—a personnel member of the rear operations room—had committed a failure so severe it erased all credit for his prior accomplishments.

This placed the aristocratic faction in a position where they must apologize to the rear operations room—and worse, they would need to accumulate further debts.

If the debt accumulated too heavily, it would inevitably lead to the aristocratic faction becoming subordinate to the rear operations room.

Seeking to strengthen their influence, only to become weaker in return, was a complete reversal of purpose.

The aristocratic faction could not accept such a future.

So what was the solution?

The answer was simple: do not accumulate debts.

If the noble faction does not take responsibility for undermining Dawson's results, it will lose credibility with anyone else.

To avoid this outcome, the responsible party must be disciplined.

"Shifting blame onto a human sacrifice. Something the nobles have done before, haven't they?"

Dawson spoke with half a smile. Lord Tyro's expression tightened.

"There is no such thing as nonsense! No, even if it existed, responsibility could not fall upon a noble such as myself! Major Miko or Lieutenant Colonel Goudo must bear the blame!"

"Indeed, for the nobles, it would be inconvenient to hold a 'baron' accountable."

In the Amato Imperial Japan, nobles maintain their status only by continuously proving their competence commensurate with their rank.

Holding a baron accountable for incompetence risks casting suspicion on other nobles, potentially leading to arguments that the noble class is unnecessary.

To avoid that risk, the nobility must appear competent.

"Then, it would seem. Thus, responsibility—"

"Responsibility will fall to the former Tyro baron, the one whose family line has ended."

Dawson's words left Tyro baron stunned, his face turning pale.

"Y-you can't be serious—baron title, revoked?"

"Someone from the Uolji family will inherit it. Tyro baron was incompetent, insufficient for the rank. The title will be formally relinquished by him—voluntarily."

Dawson is an orphan. He does not know noble customs well.

Yet he speaks with such certainty. This comes from his experience at the Officer Academy, where he interacted with the children of nobles.

Nobles cluster together. Those of higher rank routinely shield those beneath them. But when they realize shielding is no longer possible, they do not hesitate to abandon them.

It is precisely because they can wield both compassion and ruthless judgment that those of lower rank show respect to those above, and strive to avoid being discarded.

As long as this system functions properly, it raises the capability of both upper and lower ranks.

In practice, the system is not flawless. Higher-ranking individuals sometimes hesitate to discard those beneath them due to gratitude, affection, or debt. Lower-ranking individuals sometimes grow overconfident because of favoritism.

Yet what Dawson observed was the conduct of the children of nobles at the Officer Academy—blue nobles, driven by principle and pride. Unencumbered by gratitude, affection, or debt, they made decisions based on pure calculation, the way nobles were meant to be.

There was a slight deviation from the conduct expected of adult nobles. However, in this case involving Lord Tyro, the deviation was irrelevant.

This matter had surpassed the point where minor debts of gratitude, affection, or obligation could excuse it.

Lord Tyro understood this. That was why he refused to accept it and protested.

"Such an absurd thing cannot be tolerated! A barony is a barony, a baron is a baron!"

"Even if you say that, what difference does it make? Go back to Amato Imperial Japan. Tell it to the high-ranking nobles of the noble faction."

Dawson replied coldly. Lord Tyro turned his gaze toward Major Miko and Goudo, seeking help.

But neither Major Miko nor Goudo held the authority to protect Lord Tyro. They were nobles, but not heads of noble houses.

Tyro baron collapsed from his knees and lost consciousness, eyes rolling back as he retreated into delusion.