Premonition of a Great War Part 1
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Translator: SFBaka
Editor: Thor’s Stone
With the establishment of the transferee companies and the railway network, Fortress Area P336 had rapidly grown into a major heavy-industrial sector that surprised the surrounding bases even though it has only been about a month since its recapture.
The recruitment of mercenaries had also progressed well, and the number of people staying at Fortress Area P336 had ostensibly increased. There were many Therianthropes in particular, but that was probably due to the Quattro Silhouettes.
At the same time as the increase in the Therianthrope population, the number of Nereid immigrants also increased. That’s even if they weren’t aware of the fact that Asia was actually staying in the Fortress Area.
Fortress Area P336 was attracting the attention of Familiars, Therianthropes, and Nereids the world over.
Even so, interest among humans was still low, and only those who’ve heard of information about it from trading companies have decided to migrate. It’s probably because the circulation rate of information on Planet Asia was just too poor.
Asia’s front lines were still in a state of a lull.
Several Defense Domes have already switched sides to the Stones, but no large battles have taken place until now.
Kou’s side wasn’t making any moves either. As expected, after being hit by a simultaneous assault operation, the alertness of the enemy has increased significantly. They should have implemented proper countermeasures.
「It looks like everything’s going well.」
Kou and the others were called over by Asia and had gathered inside the ship Astraea.
Even Astraea herself was present at the meeting.
「We’ve finished the railway line connecting the Underground Arsenal, Silhouette Base, and Fortress Area P336. The factories for Jialing’s company and Kurt Maschinenbau have also been completed. Matty’s company is already on track.」
「That’s great.」
Asia replied with a clouded expression.
「What’s wrong Asia?」
「Un…… I have a bit of bad news, actually.」
「Let’s hear it.」
Asia looked somewhat downcast.
「When I found you, I made you a Development Engineer, right, Kou?」
「I remember. The reason why I have everything I have now is you, Asia.」
「I appointed you directly and made you an EX-Class Development Engineer. But it’s a bit different for other Development Engineers. I suppose you can say their rank is granted to them based on their affinity when performing maintenance on Familiars and machines.」
「So it’s like they suddenly awaken to being a Development Engineer?」
「Right. Even I wouldn’t know exactly who would fulfill the qualifications and what rank they would turn out to be. But when it comes to A-Class Development Engineers, they’d be able to hear my voice once they awaken, so I can interact with them. That’s why……」
Asia seemed to find it hard to continue.
「Just go ahead and say it, Asia. I won’t get angry.」
「That’s just like you, Kou. Un. I understand. You see, a newly awakened A-Class Development Engineer has voluntarily joined the Stones. I’m going to tell you all about that matter.」
It was certainly quite a serious development. Everyone perked up their ears to listen to Asia’s words.
「A man that gained the qualification to be an A-Class Development Engineer joined the Stones?」
「I met with the person in question to ask about his reason for doing so. But I’m just an AI programmed to be beholden to humans. It’s not possible for me to convince him to change his decision.」
Asia confessed.
This development would be a painful one for humankind as well. In the first place, transferees like Kou were being summoned to compliment the current generation of humanity who have lost their ability to make proper use of the available futuristic technology.
「Just what was that person thinking?」
「He said it was to obtain the optimal environment for weapons development. And also a kind of insurance for humankind’s continued survival.」
「What does he mean by that?」
「He plans to raise his worth and obtain many achievements while working under the Stones so they would consider continuing to shelter humanity in the event that we lose the war. I don’t understand his reasoning that well myself, but Astraea should be able to.」
「I do.」
「Can you explain for us, Astraea?」
If humanity loses, they will lose all protection.
Astraea pondered for a short while and started her explanation.
「It is a valid strategy to ensure the continued survival of a faction. It’s especially prevalent in politics. For example, in order not to be too biased toward only one side, conservative governments also allow the existence of a progressive faction. And vice versa. There would be people who would put forward opposing views while looking at the big picture.」
「I think I understand. There was also an opposition party aside from the administration in my country who often objected to the administration’s policies. It also goes both ways.」
「That’s exactly it. Whenever a change of regime takes place, if the new ruling party did something extreme, the opposition would serve as the brake. Among the countries that have adopted this two-party system in the far past, politicians with differing views served to balance one another out. It seems that the newest A-Class Development Engineer has joined the Stones with that system in mind as a survival strategy for humankind.」
Kou pondered about the matter himself.
「So it’s safe to say he can’t be persuaded, right, Asia?」
「Rather, I think he’s an enemy we need to defeat. Like the Stones, he doesn’t really consider humans as people. He’s just too logic-driven. He’s a person who single-mindedly seeks to advance the technology and theories related to machinery. If Kou didn’t appear, he might have been the one to be named Outis.」
「So he’s the man who could have been Outis huh…… What does he think about Familiars?」
「I suppose you can say he’s not interested in them. His affinity is mainly directed to the machines he creates. But because he only limits it to that, his affection for his personal creations might be extremely high.」
「So, there are different ways of having an affinity for machines, right?」
「That’s how it is. I’m really glad I managed to find you.」
「You saying that makes me really happy, Asia. So, the person we’re talking about is so fond of his own machines that he was recognized as an A-Class Development Engineer huh. To a person like him, the current Nemesis system should be like heaven.」
Even Kou found the prospect of maintaining and improving Unit 5 and spending time with Familiars a lot more enjoyable than anything else.
However, the man they were talking about seemed to have nothing to do with those concepts.
「Someone like him wouldn’t have been sent to this system if it was Sophia who had performed the selection.」
「People who shared the same moral principles and values were placed together, then those different groups were separated, right?」
「Right.」
「Can you tell us his name at least?」
「He’s called Vasa. His full name is Vasily Igolevna Yakshev. He’s of Slavic descent from his father’s side.」
「Vasa huh. I’ll take note of him.」
Even though he was told the guy had Slavic blood, he really didn’t have any impression of something like that at all. He wasn’t exactly that knowledgeable about the characteristics of people from other countries.
「He’s already been promoted to a top executive of the Stones forces. In a way, he might be more troublesome an opponent than even the Stones themselves.」
「I got it. I’ll make sure to remember him. We have to prepare accordingly.」
Asia wouldn’t normally share such information.
That just meant that the situation was that critical.
「Un. I can’t reveal anything further. I’m sorry.」
「It’s alright Asia. That was more than enough.」
Kou inwardly pondered for a while, then he spoke out.
「I also have something I want to tell everyone.」
「What is it?」
「Kou, you also look like you’ve been thinking hard about something.」
Asia and Aki became worried about Kou.
「Both the Silhouette Base and the Fortress Area are already on track. They should be able to function just fine even without me here.」
「Just what are you saying all of a sudden?」
Aki became angry. Nothing would have started if it were not for Kou.
「I was just saying. Don’t get angry, alright? I’ll talk about my idea now. I’m not sure if it’s the correct decision, but it’s something I came up with after thinking about what I should do now in consideration for the future.」
「You don’t really need to worry about us, you know? You’re doing very well already.」
Kou promoted the industrialization of the Silhouette Base and Fortress Area.
Even if he couldn’t have accomplished so much without making use of Asia’s power, Kou believed his actions will eventually lead to humankind being able to stand on its own.
Even if Kou wasn’t there.
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