Mob No. 80: “There he goes messing up again. He’s getting flustered.
If I was a criminal and Burnext was trying to persuade or arrest me, Admiral and the entourage would undoubtedly try to apprehend me.
“He’s an acquaintance from high school who was persistently recruited to join the military.”
So I decided to tell the honest truth.
Then, Admiral Breskin seemed to believe what I said and turned gaze towards Burnext.
“The old system was conscription, but now it’s voluntary service. Forcing those who don’t want to join won’t lead to good results, you know?”
Admiral said in an admonishing tone.
“I’ve told you that many times, but you don’t listen.”
“Come on now. It’s been said for ages that persistent people are disliked regardless of gender, hasn’t it?”
I take advantage of this and speak up some more then gave Burnext a look that said, “There’s no helping this guy.”
“However, those who would readily sacrifice others’ lives for their own advancement are also disliked regardless of gender, you know?”
Cutting off Burnext as he tried to argue back, Admiral spoke firmly to him.
Even if Burnext himself didn’t intend it, from others’ perspectives it probably just looked like he was trying to forcibly recruit people for his own benefit.
With those words, Burnext fell silent and looked down.
“Well then, I’ll be taking my leave.”
Thinking this was my chance, I bid farewell to Admiral and tried to leave.
“Right. Even if he’s not under my command, a subordinate has caused you trouble.”
“No, no. Well then…”
Yes, I’m saved!
I thought for sure he’d stop me, but I’m grateful he let me go so easily.
But that was Admiral Jack-Baldr-Breskin, famous for his nickname “Venomous Fang.”
I’d rather not get too close to him.
★ ★ ★
[Side: Jack-Baldr-Breskin]
I glare at the young officer in front of me.
As the head of the propaganda unit, he certainly looks good.
If I recall, his combat skills weren’t too bad either.
But he seems to struggle with talent scouting.
“Major Burnext. Forceful recruitment just creates enemies. You understand the trouble it would cause if that civilian’s resentment was directed at the entire military, not just you, right?”
“Yes…”
He doesn’t make any excuses, as if he understands his own blunder.
That’s better than those who don’t admit their mistakes or blame others, I suppose.
“Then stop with that kind of recruitment already. We may not be in the same unit, but take this advice from a superior officer.”
“Understood…”
“Good. You can go.”
“Excuse me…”
Major Burnext reluctantly bowed his head and left.
“There he goes messing up again. He’s getting flustered.”
He seems to have accepted my warning for now, but knowing him he’ll probably do it again.
“One possible reason is that Major Riol-Burnext is a childhood friend of Her Majesty Empress Amelia-Frannoerd-Auveauls.”
My aide, Major Schnella-Fros, reported some information about the major, allowing me to make a reasonable guess.
“I see. Trying to make a name for himself to marry into royalty, huh? And that civilian?”
“One moment please.”
The major operated her slim terminal, and information came up right away.
“His name is John-Uzoss. He’s a knight-rank mercenary from the Mercenary Guild.
He attended the same high school as Major Burnext. And like the major, he’s a survivor of the ‘Teacher Mercenary Recruitment Incident.'”
It was a famous incident from years ago, so I remember it well.
As soon as I heard the name, I recalled that officer in front of me was a victim of that incident.
If I were a survivor’s relative, I would have beaten that criminal teacher to death without hesitation.
“But if I remember right, there was one other survivor, a girl, wasn’t there?”
In my memory, there were two survivors – one being that Burnext guy, and the other a famous female student.
“Yes, the planet racer Schoona-Noswile. She’s expected to be the prize money ranking champion again in this year’s planet race.”
“But I’ve never heard the name John-Uzoss before.”
I remember the incident well, but that name doesn’t ring a bell. Unless I’m just getting senile.
“It seems the media at the time only covered the good-looking male student and beautiful female student, acting like the plain ones didn’t exist. Most news reports just said ‘The surviving students were Riol-Burnext (16 years old), Schoona-Noswile (16 years old), and 1 other.’ His name only appeared on the first day of the Imperial Daily’s coverage and in the police reports.”
The media really are brutal, aren’t they?
So the only ones who know his abilities are his mercenary comrades and those two, huh?
He may not be a famous mercenary, but he’s apparently worth recruiting.
“Look into him lightly. But don’t try recruiting him.”
“Understood.”
Recruitment is probably futile, so maybe I’ll try hiring him instead.
★ ★ ★
Three days after that unpleasant encounter,
I finally got a call from the old man.
“It’s arrived.”
Those two words filled me with joy, and the next day I excitedly headed to the old man’s shop.
The newly built boat there was slightly larger than my previous one, but had the same Admiral silhouette besides the size.
“First we’ll need to modify the controls.”
“Yes, may I use your space?”
“Sure.”
My previous “Patchwork” was originally a used Slitz model from Iofos Corp that I had pieced together with various inexpensive parts I had found, assembling about 70% myself before getting stuck and meeting the old man, who taught me how to finish it up.
Back then, what I focused on most was the control system.
I wanted to adjust it to my piloting habits so I could perform at my best – even more so than the radar and defenses.
And the brand new Nortegreme model from Iofos Corp in front of me didn’t need any replacement parts procured, but I still had to modify and adjust the control system.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t really be my ship.
I borrowed the old man’s space and silently carried out the work myself, of course not forgetting to have him check it.
It took five whole days of adjusting, test flights, more adjusting, more test flights, repeated until it felt just right.
Only after that modification work was done could I finally start installing the high-performance Pholog Corp PKRE-88 radar I had previously purchased, mount additional weapons, set up the interior, and so on.
It took another three days to finish the installations, but even then I still couldn’t use it yet.
I also needed to stock up on food, bedding, a first aid kit, toolbox, spare pilot suits and weapons, simple cooking utensils and dishes, toilet paper, toothbrushes, soap and other hygiene products.
Only once I had all those could I finally begin operating it.
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The translation is oddly… terse. Let me guess, new editor? Or just didn’t have time and threw it to an AI translator?
In any case thanks for translating!
I posted the wrong file, my bad
thanks for the notice, fixed the chapter with correct translation
I’ll have to read it again then, thanks for updating!