Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison Chapter 114

Chapter 114

After calming down, the Fulgadonga copy began to share various stories as if a burden had been lifted.

That didn't change even after Kait left, and Nezasuriwe and the others expressed deep gratitude. However, there were still many Aguares in the galaxy—and many Fulgadonga copies who continued to hate them.

Kait, heading straight to where Emotion was working on a solution, brought her a small gift.

"An ergency shutdown code?"

"Yeah. Apparently, the Fulgadonga copies have a code that can externally shut down their functions. It's inherited during the copying process, so the code should be universal."

"......Why would Fulgadonga prepare sothing like that?"

Emotion tilted her head.

Subtle emotional nuances like that seed to be a field she didn't quite grasp. Understandably so.

"He must have known that what he was doing was wrong. But his hatred and anger couldn't be stopped. So maybe he entrusted the decision to soone else."

"Entrusted...? What, and to whom?"

"Whether his anger and hatred should be justified or rejected. He left that judgnt to soone living in another era, on another planet."

That's why, Kait thought, there had been room to accept his words.

Otherwise, the Fulgadonga copy would've just sneered and rejected them—spitting out even more hideous words of hatred.

"So the Captain rejected it."

"That's right. The Aguares alive now weren't the ones Fulgadonga directly hated. They don't even inherit the mories of their ancestors, so there's no need for them to be hated."

Whether Fulgadonga truly intended that when he embedded the ergency shutdown code could no longer be confird.

But judging from the way he spoke when he entrusted the code to them, Kait felt it wasn't entirely off the mark.

Even after confirming the ergency shutdown code, Emotion still seed sowhat unconvinced.

"Thank you, Captain. But I'm surprised the Fulgadonga copy provided sothing like this. Isn't it a code to shut down itself?"

"He said it was probably too much trouble to keep convincing himself every ti. If soone knew the code, it would an that so version of himself had forgiven the Aguares."

"Forgiven... you say?"

Emotion still looked like she didn't quite understand.

But Kait thought that was fine. Because what he truly wished for was a future where she'd never have to experience such inner conflict.

***

Now then. Soon after, the Federation and the Corporation began to take action. The details were thoroughly summarized in a press release compiled by a certain news agency within the Federation.

'Recently, several fleets were organized within the Federation. This was due to the discovery of critical facts regarding the space tuna teor swarm. The Federation Congress, which announced their fatal mistake and declared a permanent resolution of the space tuna teor swarm issue, began full-scale capture of the space tuna ahead of legal reform.

A manual for capturing space tuna, allegedly proposed by the well-known Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif), nicknad the "Space Fixed-Net Operation."

A high-purity energy field, the "fixed net," is deployed over a wide area to decelerate and capture the space tuna traveling at ultra-high speeds. Among them, the large individual leading the swarm is neutralized by inputting the ergency shutdown code.

The captured space tuna are said to carry the ancient, ever-evolving species Aguares. Their protection has been entrusted to the Rare Species Conservation Agency. The protected Aguares will aim for new evolution under the Corporation's managent.

A statent from Corporation President Palnesbrogia expressed both criticism toward the Federation Congress and full cooperation toward a resolution.

Notably, Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen who played a key role this ti, has in the past—'

***

"Will it really stop with that ergency code!?"

Panatini, a leading authority in space archaeology, let out a scream.

Even with the so-called "net" energy field deployed before them, the approaching swarm of space tuna was overwhelmingly intimidating.

For Panatini, who was rely a researcher, this battlefield-like scene was enough to scare him out of his wits.

"No need to worry. Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen, resolved the situation with this thod—no damage to the fleet, and no harm to the space tuna."

"I don't know who this Kait fellow is, but wouldn't it be better to just cull a few of them?"

Fleet Commander Ryunzack didn't particularly react to Panatini's outburst. Federation citizens are guaranteed the freedom to criticize others. He simply thought it was regrettable for soone to speak such words without realizing their own pettiness.

Despite being called an authority in space archaeology, the reason Panatini's citizenship remained at the eighth rank was said to be his personality. He claid he stayed at that level because the duties that ca with higher ranks were botherso, but in reality, he applied for citizenship upgrades every ti he made a discovery. It had beco an open secret due to the sheer number of tis, and he was the only one unaware of it.

Thinking that Panatini would again apply for an upgrade after this job, Ryunzack began issuing orders to those around him. It was almost ti.

"Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen, is truly remarkable. He used himself and his ship as bait to resolve the crisis."

"Hmph, sounds like he's just inefficient! H-Hey. What's with that number?"

The swarm of space tuna shown on the monitor. Seen as giant projectiles, their number was truly hopeless. Even the battle-hardened Ryunzack found the sight chilling. It was amazing that Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen, remained calm in front of that.

"S-Shoot them down already! If that many charge at us, we're done for!"

"Silence! Is the 'fixed net' ready!?"

"Ready!"

"Good, deploy it!"

The view on the monitor took on a yellow tint. Almost simultaneously, the lead space tuna thrust into the field.

Gradually slowing down, the space tuna approached dangerously close to Ryunzack's ship.

"Eek!"

"Alright, begin capture!"

Once they confird that the kinetic energy had nearly co to a halt, the hidden fleet ships revealed themselves. Using capture arms, they began steadily subduing the space tuna one by one.

"Oh, it's really working."

Apparently, the space tuna in the rear hadn't noticed the deceleration in the front. Without any suspicion, they plunged into the fixed-net field and slowed down.

After confirming that even the last one had entered the fixed net, Ryunzack moved on to his next role.

"Notify the observation ship to search for the command unit space tuna. Its distinguishing feature is that it's slightly larger than the others. Hurry!"

"Understood!"

Several ships not participating in the capture positioned themselves between the field and the capture ships, beginning to compare the space tuna.

Before long, a report ca in.

"Found it! Displaying location!"

"Good, open communication."

A transmission was sent to the ship carrying Fulgadonga.

"You appear to be the Aguares fleet."

What are you?! What do you intend to do with us?!

According to the manual, the first to respond should not be Fulgadonga. However, since Fulgadonga was controlling the fleet from behind the scenes, Kait had reported that he was definitely listening.

Without fear, Ryunzack said,

"Ergency code. Yutila Sene Zengeriori Ivn liark."

'What are you tal...king...'

The confused voice of the machine intelligence cut off, followed by a mont of silence.

Then.

'I see. So one of you heard it.'

"Yes, Dr. Fulgadonga. Your mission is complete."

'Understood. Thank whoever heard it for . Ergency code accepted. Shutting down all functions...'

With those final words, the ship's functions clearly ceased. If life support inside had also stopped, it would be a major problem. While ordering top-priority capture, Ryunzack felt a growing reverence for Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen, whom he had never t.

"To think he'd be thanked in the end. Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen, really is as incredible as I thought."

Though he had served aboard Federation warships for a long ti, he had never won in a way that earned gratitude from an enemy. Ryunzack now realized—this must be what the greatest victory feels like.