Chapter 137: The Attacker
“The sharing of the public key has been completed. The link to the common device is also functioning normally.”
“Right… I must admit, I’m feeling quite tense.”
That night, after making contact with Amagio Salmon, Commander Eve initiated a call on the common device that she had given him, as the designated time approached.
Three mechanical ringing tones echoed before a final connection sound chimed.
“Good evening, Amagio Silverhead. I am Eve, the master of the Paraiso.”
“Ah, nice to meet you. My player name is Kitsuneski… Oh, I mean, Eve! It’s a pleasure to meet you again!”
“Ma’am. His player name is Amagio Salmon, is that acceptable?”
“RINGO!! The name he introduced himself with is the correct one!!”
“I apologize, Ma’am.”
RINGO bowed deeply.
“I’m sorry about that… Once again, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Amagio. I never expected to meet a player in such a manner.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think I would be able to contact a player at this point either…”
In the end, no significant information was exchanged during the call, and they spent the time engaging in small talk.
Both parties were wary of each other, and since it wasn’t a top-level meeting, the conversation drifted into casual topics.
“…For now, discussions with you will take place at the upcoming meeting on the ship. Let’s wrap it up for today.”
“Yes. It was nice to talk to someone who shares my interests after such a long time. Depending on the situation, I hope we can have regular conversations.”
With that, the call ended abruptly.
“…Ugh, haaaah.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Ma’am.”
Once she confirmed the connection was completely severed, she let out a deep sigh and sank into her chair.
“Talking really is difficult…”
As a naturally reclusive person, Commander Eve found it nearly impossible to engage in a proper conversation with a stranger. With RINGO’s full support, she had managed to keep the dialogue going.
“If you continue like this, you’ll be able to converse without feeling so pressured. It’ll be fine.”
“Are you a counselor now?”
RINGO’s lighthearted joke indicated just how drained she felt. However, it was merely the fatigue of conversation. With a bit of renewed energy from the banter, Commander Eve huffed and stood up from her command seat.
“Alright. Let’s see… I think I should aim for a call with Amagio every three days… no, maybe once a week… or every two weeks…”
“I believe daily would be acceptable.”
“That’s impossible!”
Of course, RINGO’s suggestion was a jest. She sent a message proposing a weekly call for now.
“I received a prompt response. He said that’s fine.”
“That’s more casual than I expected.”
She had sent a polite message, but received a comical “OK” stamp in return. It was hard to believe he was an elderly gentleman who had lived for decades.
“By the way, how old is he really? Should I treat him like an old man…?”
“Perhaps you could ask him next time?”
“…Ugh, that’s a high hurdle…”
She sighed, feeling the weight of her social anxiety. Having lived a reclusive life and completely avoiding contact with others since her transfer to this world, she didn’t count RINGO or her six sisters as people. Thus, Amagio was her first real contact.
“I wish it had been a meeting without political implications…”
Amagio was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Repuitari, while she was the queen of the Paraiso. Regardless of the reality, at least on the surface, that was the case.
“Speaking of which, I was a man, wasn’t I? I had forgotten, but talking to Amagio reminded me.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
During her conversation with Amagio, she recalled the dissonance she felt. She was now acutely aware that her gender had changed.
“I hadn’t thought about it at all until now. But when talking to someone else, I can’t help but be conscious of it…”
The differences in expressions and tones from the other person made her increasingly aware of her own words and mannerisms. Once she started to notice, her focus became scattered, leading to stress.
“Ugh, thinking about the next time makes it hard to relax…”
Eventually, she went to bed that night, burdened with her swirling emotions. Commander Eve fell asleep as she always did, almost instantly.
Was this a blessing or the tolling bell of doom? Amagio Salmon gazed up at the night sky from the terrace of his mansion.
“Is it too late, or has it finally begun…?”
He fiddled with the crystal hanging from his chest as he murmured.
“Time has certainly passed…”
How many years had it been since he awoke in this world? Initially confused, he had fought to survive after settling down. There were times he resented his ageless body, but those feelings had faded into memories.
“However, if I play my cards right, the revival of this thing is no longer a dream.”
What he needed was scientific prowess. A large facility capable of regenerating data, performing calculations, and generating the energy required to sustain it. He was making progress toward that goal.
“Well, first, I need to establish friendly relations; otherwise, nothing will come of it.”
That Paraiso, and the woman he had just spoken to, Eve. The mechanical dolls he met on the ship, Drei and Vier, seemed to have human shadows behind them. After all, a super intelligence (AI) that had lost its reins wouldn’t be so amicable.
“I owe this country a debt, so I can’t act recklessly.”
He was a duke, holding power second only to royalty. Regardless of the circumstances, he was willing to contribute to the Kingdom of Repuitari. Still, if he could realize the long-held ambition he had dedicated his life to, he wouldn’t shy away from some sacrifices.
“Well, I did lend my strength to the nation for that purpose.”
Depending on the situation, he might even offer his hidden treasures. If it would earn him trust, or serve as a bargaining chip.
“Perhaps I could even leave it to them… but that might be a bad bet.”
He wasn’t ready to entrust something to someone whose character he didn’t fully understand. It was worth considering as an option, but it wasn’t his top priority.
“For now, it looks like negotiations will continue for a while. It’s unsettling that I can’t quite grasp what they’re thinking… Our goals are fundamentally different, after all…”
Why would a force capable of building such ships and sending them out take an interest in such a backward country? If he could predict that, he could approach negotiations more effectively.
“Being left to plead for mercy is tough…”
With that, Amagio Salmon turned on his heel.
Suddenly, he felt an arm thrust out from behind him, which he swiftly caught and spun around.
“…!”
“Whoa there. Don’t make a sound. Good boy.”
He pressed the attacker against the terrace floor, a faint smile gracing his lips.
“If you want to do something to me, bring at least fifty more.”
With that, he might just get a scratch or two.
The man pinned beneath him let out a faint groan in response to Amagio’s taunt.
“I don’t know who sent you… but you might not even be aware of it yourself. Seriously, I’ve been underestimated during my little retreat.”
He tightened his grip on the arm he was holding. The attacker lost consciousness almost immediately. The precise obstruction of blood flow had deprived his brain of oxygen.
“Geez. Calling the guards is such a hassle…”
Amagio Salmon grumbled as he lifted the unconscious man and headed outside to hand him over to the soldiers on guard.
“With this, the number of guards will surely increase, right? I can’t relax at all…”
Last time, he had insisted on reducing the number of soldiers, but this time, they would likely increase instead. No matter how strong Amagio was, it would be a matter of reputation to be without guards. That was a decision for the Navy.
“Damn it, this is such a pain. It’s probably just some old coot’s reckless behavior… Yeah, I should crush it. It’s a good opportunity to get closer to the Paraiso folks. Alright, let’s do that.”
Thus, the Kingdom of Repuitari was about to face a significant transformation.