Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison

Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Central Star Cluster, Asheido's office.

Around this time, an emergency meeting was likely being held in Congress based on the information Kait had brought. Asheido and Terapolapaneshio were exempt from attending and were instead ordered to collect and organize the information Kait would provide.

The disappearance of 9th-Terra was a major issue, but for Asheido and the others, an even more troubling topic had emerged.

"9th-Terra, huh. So that means Divin created 'Earth' at most eight times within the Federation."

This fact alone had caused great unrest in the Federation Congress.

Life replacement had occurred across fifteen planets within the Federation's sphere of influence. It was known that the former Divin were deeply involved in that abhorrent act. The entire Divin species had been exiled because it was revealed that the one leading the life replacement was the Emperor of Divin. The Emperor of Divin was exiled also because all those who carried out the act had died.

It would be fair to say the devotion of the Divin people toward their Emperor was pathological. Even when the decision was made to exile the Emperor, nearly all citizens of Divin chose to follow him.

The technology for time regression had supposedly been completely sealed. Terapolapaneshio had confirmed that they had taken meticulous measures to ensure Divin retained none of that technology. When they were exiled, they were unable to take any time-manipulating tech with them.

It was also confirmed that at that time, Divin had not extended their reach beyond the Federation's sphere of influence. That means they managed to somehow construct a planet called 9th-Terra after being exiled.

'Now we're left wondering what kind of planets the other seven to nine were'

Life replacement had been performed on fifteen planets. Of those, a minimum of six and a maximum of eight were created as 'Earth.'

As for the remaining seven to nine, everything about them was unknown. The lifeforms on those planets had gone extinct in the distant past. If this incident hadn't occurred, no one would have looked back. With the Divin who carried it out now dead, the only ones who might know are the exiled Emperor of Divin or their kin.

"The reasons why we must capture them just keep increasing."

'Yeah'

After all, there's strong suspicion that someone within the Federation was involved with the remaining planets. Only Divin was exiled, and everyone else kept silent, grateful for the outcome. It's possible some are still secretly connected to Divin and supporting them.

There's no doubt that the creation of the planet called 'Earth' is closely tied to the Re-Eden Plan. Even after being exiled, they continued the plan. Divin had a purpose in pushing it forward.

The reason for destroying 9th-Terra was almost certainly to destroy evidence. Considering the timing, it was likely related to Kait becoming a Federation citizen.

'I don't want Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif), to feel too responsible'

"Come to think of it, he said something strange. That it wasn't just destroyed."

Asheido fiddled with a terminal. It was a simulation video Kait had sent. It supposedly recreated the scene of 9th-Terra being bombarded and disappearing.

A Divin fleet gathered energy into a single ship near the planet and fired it toward Earth. The emitted light didn't directly strike Earth but instead dispersed around the atmosphere, enveloping the entire planet. After being covered in light, the glowing sphere burst and vanished.

"Hmm. A cannon that surrounds and erases a planet, huh? They've developed some dangerously powerful equipment... What's wrong, Terapolapaneshio?"

'This phenomenon... no way'

Asheido didn't find anything particularly unnatural in the footage. If anything, he just thought they had continued to focus on technological development even after leaving the Federation.

However, Councilor Terapolapaneshio seemed to have some idea. With a far more serious expression than Asheido, they stared at the repeating footage.

"You recognize it? Are you saying it's not Divin's technology?"

'Yes. Though we're not certain. It does resemble a phenomenon we know, but whether it's exactly the same, we can't say'

"That's not very clear."

'It's a delicate matter to speak on definitively, Councilor Asheido. Depending on whether this was caused by Divin or someone else, our response would differ'

"Are you saying someone else might be involved?"

'Quite possibly. ...If possible, I'd like spatial domain data. Detailed data. I'm requesting a survey team be dispatched'

Councilor Terapolapaneshio began moving swiftly.

Before long, a request from Terapolapaneshio was submitted to Congress, and the dispatch of a survey team was approved. While admiring the usual efficiency, Asheido skimmed through the roster displayed on the terminal.

"You're not going?"

'For now, we'd prefer to avoid it. If this phenomenon is what we think it is, it's safer to wait until more information is available'

"I see. But you'll still handle the delivery over there, right?"

'Of course. Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen, is there. He'll handle the rest well enough'

There was an unusually strong sense of caution. Thinking that something was happening to make Terapolapaneshio this wary, a nameless anxiety crept into Asheido's heart.

"Tell me, Terapolapaneshio. What exactly are you so wary of?"

'If this phenomenon was caused by Divin, we would have to mobilize every individual and literally eradicate Divin from this galaxy'

"!?"

'What we fear is――'

***

"I see. That certainly is something to be wary of."

After hearing Terapolapaneshio's explanation, Asheido let out a deep sigh. Honestly, he almost regretted hearing it. They couldn't bring it to Congress without solid proof, but carrying the burden alone was also too much to bear.

He sincerely hoped that Terapolapaneshio's suspicion would prove unfounded.

Then, he realized something important.

"By the way, is Kait okay?"

'We're concerned about that too. In any case, we need to share our suspicions with Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen. He's intelligent, so he'll proceed with caution'

"Yeah. ...He's actually pretty short-tempered, though."

'Y-yeah. And he's quite curious too. I'm worried he might get too interested'

When Asheido looked up at the floating Terapolapaneshio, Terapolapaneshio was also looking down at him. Well, not that he could tell where their eyes were.

Unlike Terapolapaneshio, Asheido couldn't read others' minds, but at this moment, he was sure they were thinking the same thing.

'Yeah. We're thinking the same thing'

"Stop reading my mind."

The one who could read minds had admitted it. Seriously.

"In any case, we need to capture the Emperor and royal family of Divin and bring them to trial. Just who were they replacing lives for?"

'Whether it was someone within the Federation or outside of it, the problem is enormous'

"No doubt about it."

Divin had been exiled from the Federation long before Asheido was even born. Unlike the long-lived Terapolapaneshio, to the younger Federation citizens, Divin was just history.

And now, that historical evil was beginning to reveal its true wickedness.

He just hoped that whoever had commissioned Divin to replace lives wasn't one of his ancestors or a closely related species.

"Now then, let's finish selecting the unit to send to Divin's stronghold. Help me out, Terapolapaneshio."

'Understood'