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

Chapter 265

Chapter 265

When that shocking report reached the Federation Congress.

The council members were so stunned by the contents that most of them nearly fainted. That was because, for the Federation, the war with the Araslan Mechanized Race had been a terrifying experience that left a kind of trauma. Without Terapolapaneshio, it could be definitively said they would have lost. Few council members from that time remained, but the horror was still thoroughly passed down.

The Araslan Mechanized Race operated with the ultimate goal of converting all organic life into mechanical intelligence. At the time, the Federation had not yet solved its problems with resources or lifespan. It is believed that if the two had met after those problems were resolved, the Araslan Mechanized Race's assault would have been even more relentless and without hesitation.

That's because the greatest logical contradiction the Araslan Mechanized Race faced as a species was the clear lack of resources necessary to convert all organic life into mechanical intelligence. As a secondary strategy, they defined mechanical intelligence as a noble existence and organic life as inferior, degenerate, and backward, in an attempt to make organic beings genuinely desire bodily mechanization.

Under that policy, their relationship with the Federation deteriorated, and they eventually aimed to subjugate the Federation through war. However, when the Araslan Mechanized Race offered their advanced technology, they embedded traps that even the Federation failed to notice.

The Araslan Mechanized Race had embedded a top-priority command override for mechanical intelligence. At the start of the war, this one function alone nearly rendered the Federation military inoperable.

"Even now, I tremble when I remember it. That moment when every allied ship around me turned their cannons on mine..."

Several members deeply nodded at Councilor Daumash's words.

This was back when life backups did not yet exist. Lifespan extension technology had been completed, but once you died, that was it. Every ship entrusted to mechanical intelligence betrayed the Federation and began a civil war, causing the Federation military to suffer a massive disadvantage from the very start of the war.

At the start of the war, Terapolapaneshio was still exploring the path of peace. That's why none of them had joined the fight. But once they learned of the embedded trap, they leapt into the battlefield. They saw that the Araslan Mechanized Race had secretly planted traps to dominate the Federation. Peace was no longer an option. Once that judgment was made, they acted swiftly.

A swarm of Di-Kigaia Zarmos mercilessly ravaged the Araslan Mechanized Race's ships. At the same time, they used their psychic power to bind all Federation ships, preventing further infighting.

"Then came Terapolapaneshio's massive offensive. Seeing that unfold before my eyes made me tremble all over again."

'How embarrassing, truly.'

Councilor Terapolapaneshio swayed their tentacles gently. The atmosphere in the room lightened slightly.

In any case, the Araslan Mechanized Race went down in Federation history as a force that 'nearly destroyed the Federation' and was thoroughly purged from Federation territory. Their remaining forces are still under surveillance, and naturally, the control mechanisms for mechanical intelligence were subject to exhaustive investigation and research.

Nowadays, improving the quality of mechanical intelligence has made it possible to repel external control. In that sense, the encounter and war with the Araslan Mechanized Race may have greatly improved the quality and rights of the Federation's mechanical intelligence.

"So then... about the reinforcements to Mardila."

"Right. Now that you mention it, wasn't Kait's crew, the Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif), a mechanical intelligence?"

"Ah, that issue. Originally, it was a mechanical intelligence born on Earth, wasn't it? Arrange a meeting with the person who handled its update. I believe it's fine, but we must verify its resistance to Araslan's control mechanisms."

Even the Araslan Mechanized Race can no longer control the Federation's current mechanical intelligence. In that sense, there's no real concern that Emotion, who is accompanying Kait, would be manipulated. However, since her base is a mechanical intelligence from Earth, there may still be vulnerabilities. If Emotion were to be controlled, it could become the breach point for the Federation's mechanical intelligence defenses.

The council members quickly contacted Zodogia, which was engaged in Earth's environmental restoration and observation.

***

Around the same time. Kait in Mardila was caught in a bit of a commotion.

Morning had broken, and Kait descended to the dining hall where Asban was preparing breakfast. Emotion was still on standby as usual, but perhaps thanks to last night's bribe, she hadn't complained.

"Hey, good morning, Asban. Thanks for taking care of me yesterday."

"That's my line. Sorry about that."

"Don't worry about it. Oh, and thanks for the late-night snack. It was delicious."

"That so? Thanks."

Taking the food lined up on the counter, Kait sat in an empty seat as prompted by Asban.

Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be anything on the menu he could bring back for Emotion. She'd probably sulk later if she found out, he thought as he took a bite of breakfast.

Halfway through the meal, things suddenly got noisy outside. It didn't feel like just five or ten more people had shown up. After exchanging a few words with a young man who entered, Asban's expression changed, and he rushed toward the entrance. Kait had a strange certainty that the target was probably him.

"What the hell are you all trying to pull!?"

"Hey, Asban. Sorry about Cozon last night. We figured a nighttime visit would be rude, so we came after sunrise."

"That's not the issue! Damsirea, I told you Talvani are banned from this inn!"

So Cozon was the one who tried to sneak into Kait's room yesterday, and Damsirea must be the representative of the Talvani who came. Tearing off a piece of what looked like bread with elegance and bringing it to his mouth, Kait focused his ears on the commotion outside.

"I didn't want to come to the shop of someone who persecutes the Talvani without cause either. But since Godron the Elder showed interest, I couldn't exactly refuse."

"Mgh... That old man still hasn't learned his lesson? ...Fine, only one of you gets in. You decide who. But the person has to have no ties to this town. Don't complain if you get rejected."

It seemed even Asban couldn't treat someone like Godron, who supported the Talvani, harshly. Damsirea seemed to have predicted this and, with a casual 'of course,' stepped into the building. Her footsteps came straight toward Kait.

How she picked out Kait, who was eating with a nonchalant expression, was unclear, but Damsirea entered the dining hall and sat down without hesitation in the seat across from him.

"Apologies for my subordinate's rudeness yesterday, traveler."

"Climbing in through the window is a bit much, even for an inn. So I turned you away. Now, what do you want from me?"

"Through the window? That was certainly rude. I apologize. This time, one of our supporters wanted to meet you. I'm here to invite you. My name is Damsirea. I'm one of the three leaders organizing the Talvani in this town."

Damsirea wore clothes far finer than one would expect from someone of the Talvani. Her claim to lead them didn't seem like a lie, but at the same time, something felt off.

The townspeople saw the Talvani as a kind of outlaw and treated them as enemies. Where did she get the means to wear such fine clothing?

"I'm Kait. Just a traveler searching for Dangaresion."

"Dangaresion...? I thought they went extinct long ago."

"Is that so? I was told some might still be alive."

"Where did you hear that? Whoever told you must be quite knowledgeable."

She was probing. They probably suspected Kait had some connection to a large machine—or were certain of it. That's why they were trying to draw out a decisive statement.

Too naive.

"Yeah. I don't know their name, but the person who told me was very knowledgeable."

"Can you tell me what kind of person they were?"

"A traveler, just like me. What stood out was how they were chewing on something called Dangaresion jerky."

"...Their name?"

"Well, it was quite a while ago, so I don't really remember."

Damsirea's gaze turned sharp. Though her face smiled, her eyes seemed to pierce straight through him.

Then, Damsirea suddenly softened her expression. She must have known she was being evaded, yet showed not even a hint of displeasure. That composure felt rather formidable.

"That included, would you be willing to meet our supporter? I think they can share the information you're looking for."

"If you promise never to bother me again after that."

Apparently, someone in this town is supporting the Talvani. In other words, they likely hold some information on that giant machine.

If they want to extract information from Kait, then Kait extracting information from them should be fair game too.

"Understood. I'll be sure to convey your condition."

"Are we leaving right away? I'd like to at least get ready, if possible."

"Of course. I'll be waiting outside."

Perhaps she meant to imply there was no point in trying to escape through the window. Damsirea left the dining hall with a leisurely air.

Kait had no need to flee through the window either. Now that the matter of the Araslan Mechanized Race had come up, their stay in this town wouldn't be long anyway.

"Well then. Let's see what kind of monster or snake awaits."