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 mbers were so stunned by the contents that most of them nearly fainted. That was because, for the Federation, the war with the Araslan chanized 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 mbers from that ti remained, but the horror was still thoroughly passed down.

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

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

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

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

"Even now, I tremble when I rember it. That mont when every allied ship around turned their cannons on mine..."

Several mbers 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 chanical 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 chanized Race had secretly planted traps to dominate the Federation. Peace was no longer an option. Once that judgnt was made, they acted swiftly.

A swarm of Di-Kigaia Zarmos rcilessly ravaged the Araslan chanized Race's ships. At the sa ti, they used their psychic power to bind all Federation ships, preventing further infighting.

"Then ca Terapolapaneshio's massive offensive. Seeing that unfold before my eyes made 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 chanized 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 chanisms for chanical intelligence were subject to exhaustive investigation and research.

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

Around the sa ti. 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 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 nu 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 al, 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 nightti visit would be rude, so we ca 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 ca. 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 co to the shop of soone 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 seed even Asban couldn't treat soone like Godron, who supported the Talvani, harshly. Damsirea seed to have predicted this and, with a casual 'of course,' stepped into the building. Her footsteps ca 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 ?"

"Through the window? That was certainly rude. I apologize. This ti, one of our supporters wanted to et you. I'm here to invite you. My na 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 soone of the Talvani. Her claim to lead them didn't seem like a lie, but at the sa ti, sothing felt off.

The townspeople saw the Talvani as a kind of outlaw and treated them as enemies. Where did she get the ans 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 so might still be alive."

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

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

Too naive.

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

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

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

"...Their na?"

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

Damsirea's gaze turned sharp. Though her face smiled, her eyes seed 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 et our supporter? I think they can share the information you're looking for."

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

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

If they want to extract information from Kait, then Kait extracting information from them should be fair ga 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 ant 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 chanized Race had co up, their stay in this town wouldn't be long anyway.

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