Chapter 107: The Encroaching Threat
The members of the Southern Continent Exploration Team enjoyed a week of well-deserved leave before setting sail once again for their homeland.
This time, they were on a familiar route, heading back to their motherland. Many of them had families waiting for their return, and morale was understandably high.
Since this was not a major trade route, there were hardly any ships passing by, but they were still within the sphere of influence of the Kingdom of Repuitari. As a result, their vigilance was somewhat lax, and the captain did not reprimand them for it. With ample supplies replenished at the Stepping Fortress, the head chef was eager to showcase his culinary skills, serving up creatively crafted dishes every day.
“Looks like the Bird Star is out again today…”
“Yeah, that means the weather’s nice. It’s a shame to miss the chef’s cooking, but we’ll be back on the mainland soon. That’s a good thing, right?”
The Bird Star, which had been frequently observed over the past year or two, shone brightly in the daytime sky. It was likely that the islanders, who had lived there before the construction of the Stepping Fortress, were the first to notice it. They had been overheard discussing it while being used as slaves. On clear days, either in the morning or evening, a shining star would appear in the distant sky. Unlike the stars in the night sky, this one was clearly moving, leading navigators and scholars to believe it was something traveling high in the atmosphere rather than a celestial body.
Previously, it had only been observed in the southern sky from the fortress, but recently it had been spotted in various locations.
“I wish we could have fed the crew of the Second Ship, the Glary Divan…”
“That’s a no-go, brother. We’ll save the sentimentality for after everything’s done. Now, it’s almost time for dinner!”
The return journey was far more comfortable than any previous voyage. The weather remained calm, and there were no urgent tasks at hand. Each crew member wrapped up their work as they pleased, indulging in poker games or fishing.
“That’s the situation.”
“Impressive. We’re completely in the clear.”
The Spy Bots infiltrating the fleet were successfully hiding in the shadows, monitoring the ship’s conditions in real-time. The signal reception was being handled by a high-altitude drone hovering above them. Normally, picking up weak signals from hundreds of kilometers away would be challenging, but on this planet, where there were no other sources of electromagnetic waves, it was possible to collect long-range signals with practical accuracy.
“If all goes smoothly from here, we should arrive at the capital of the Kingdom of Repuitari in ten days. While the likelihood is low, we are preparing a plan considering the possibility of an underwater patrol network. Essentially, we will have the Orca submarine accompany the flagship directly beneath it. Once the safety of the route is confirmed, we can deploy the submarine fleet.”
“An underwater patrol network, huh…”
“Yes, Ma’am. There is a possibility that they have some means of detection, whether scientific or otherwise, to identify intrusions. Based on the technological level, the chances of scientific means being effective are negligible, but we cannot even speculate on the fantasy-based methods. Therefore, we will only have the Orca accompany us and monitor for any reactions.”
If they had the capability to detect something that did not belong to their faction, there was a chance they would also notice the Orca’s presence. That could serve as a valuable piece of information, and since they were returning from overseas, they might be overlooked. If they could infiltrate, they could scatter the Spy Bots and embed them within the decision-making structures, making future responses easier.
“There’s a possibility they have advanced counterintelligence capabilities…”
“Yes, Ma’am. At least, based on our investigation of that fortress, their level of civilization appears to be underdeveloped. Even if they have specialized fields, it is unlikely they possess the knowledge or experience to handle them effectively. Even if they have excellent detection capabilities and notice our intrusion, accurately deducing what has intruded and how to respond or counterattack requires a comprehensive accumulation of experience. We hold that knowledge in the form of a library.”
“They lack that historical accumulation, huh? Well, they do seem like a young nation, just beginning their industrialization.”
“Even if the Orca is dealt with, we could always try a saturation attack next…”
“Yes, Ma’am. We can deploy as many Spy Bots as needed.”
The Tree had successfully established a continuous resource collection system, with significant increases in production expected. If ten units were insufficient, they could send one hundred; if one hundred were not enough, they had the resources to deploy one thousand.
The Second Fortress was also steadily expanding its functions. They were increasing the scale of underground resource extraction while simultaneously expanding production facilities. A large-scale chemical plant utilizing oil and natural gas was being constructed. Conveyor belts for transporting minerals extended out like a web, controlled automatically.
Additionally, they were constructing a closed-loop plant for producing silicon compounds as building materials. This was a test facility aimed at securing a large amount of cellulose and establishing efficient methods for cultivating plants. It was also part of their exploration into the uses of silicon compounds. Currently, most of these compounds were being processed into blocks for land leveling and reclamation.
And then, approximately twelve days later.
Despite some delays due to rough seas and a stopover at a fishing village, the fleet safely arrived at the capital of the Kingdom of Repuitari, Moar.
Accompanied by infiltration machines manufactured by The Tree.
As Commander Eve gazed at the continuously updated map of the Kingdom of Repuitari, she let out a sigh.
“Something feels off… The level of development is lower than I expected.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I anticipated this. Given the low level of civilization in the Afrasia United Kingdom, I could infer the overall civilization level of this entire continent to some extent.”
She had expected it. However, due to the ongoing irrational (fantasy) events, she had to lower the accuracy of her predictions.
“Is their magical technology not very advanced?”
“So far, we haven’t found anything that poses a threat. Everything can be replicated at a level comparable to The Tree’s scientific technology. In that sense, the Kingdom of Repuitari does not warrant significant caution.”
“At least call it a nation.”
The submarine, the Orca, which had infiltrated alongside the exploration fleet, deployed Spy Bots in the cover of night at the port. It laid bare everything from their base capabilities to their command structures. The results revealed various distortions accompanying rapid industrialization, a military organization that could hardly be described as refined, and numerous political entanglements, corruption, and a proliferation of government agencies.
“Compared to historical situations, it seems considerably better. We are still investigating the history of the Kingdom of Repuitari, but it appears there was a significant political upheaval in the last few decades. The entrenched interests of the nobility do not seem to be a major issue, but corruption among the civilian sector is quite pronounced. Rapid economic development has likely led to a level of inequality that cannot be ignored.”
Ultimately, it was confirmed that the feared patrol network did not exist at all. That same day, a large number of Orcas surged into the coastlines of the Kingdom of Repuitari. Countless Spy Bots were scattered around various ports. Following the dissemination routes established from previously acquired aerial photographs, the Spy Bots were infiltrating throughout the kingdom. Meanwhile, the strategic AI-equipped special submarines deployed on the seabed were rapidly constructing an intelligence network, organically controlling the bot swarm.
“At this rate, we should be able to reach the core of the Kingdom of Repuitari.”
“We have already established an intelligence network at the royal palace, various councils, and the residences of key officials.”
“Oh, I see…”
Recently, there had been an increase in sightings of the Bird Star.
Complaints about a sudden rise in large winged insects, even though it was not their breeding season.
Well, both were, of course, the result of The Tree’s intervention, but it was unlikely anyone would suspect that it was part of an infiltration operation from another faction.
“I almost feel sorry for them.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”