Preparation Period for the Next War
The Scheelite continent had remained in a state of relative stability since the end of the Dignity War.
Trireme, the new Mercenary and Corporation Alliance began its operations without issue, its management and operations overseen by the executives of Ulysses and Metal Iris. While it held the same authority as the Mercenary Association, the actual administration of the planet was left primarily in the hands of Okeanos.
The Trireme Headquarters became primarily responsible for coordinating the shipment destinations of weaponry and preparing for the deployment of mercenaries to other continents. The power balance had now solidified in three factions: the neutral Mercenary Association Headquarters; Trireme aligned with Asia and humanity; and Argo Force aligned with the Stones.
「Kou’s biggest achievement this time is that we now have a clear distinction between friend and foe. The conflicts over territory will become more intense, though.」
「That’s true. But it’s still better than not knowing who the enemy is.」
「Mercenaries affiliated with Trireme will have no restrictions when purchasing weapons. As for the Mercenary Association, they’ll mostly receive mass-produced secondhand units.」
As expected, cutting-edge weaponry would be prioritized for Trireme and its allies.
「Even so… I have to say, this kind of work isn’t really my thing. I’ll leave it to Robin.」
「You can count on me.」
Robin was participating in the meeting as the representative of Aubade Force. The main representatives of Trireme were Barry, Kelly, Yunlan, and Robin.
「It’s not uncommon for secondhand weapons to trigger conflicts, so we should be careful with them. However, the reality is that we’ve ended up flooding various factions in war zones with a massive supply of them… and yet, it’s still not enough.」
「It can’t be helped. We are constantly updating to newer weapon models, while the other continents are desperate for military strength—so much so that they’d willing to purchase even a Bear with a few additional armor parts.」
「The frustrating part is that mercenaries on the Stones’ side will also end up using them.」
「We have to be pragmatic. It’s not like we’re actively selling to them, but if the alternative is letting Argo Force’s mass-produced weapons take over the market, it’s better that we provide them ourselves.」
「This kind of negotiation is the only thing that reminds me we are still at war.」
「That’s just like you, Kelly. Up until now, Argo Force’s mass-production models were John Arms’ latest mass-production units, but soon, they’ll all be replaced by Vasa-designed true Argo Force units.」
The enemy’s A-rank Development Engineer, Vasa, continued to develop excellent weapons. He had developed from efficient mass-produced units to high-end machines for aces. When Ulysses’ engineers analyzed a captured Arular, they were stunned. To achieve this level of performance at this cost was unbelievable.
「On that front, Metal Iris is centered around Lanius A1 and B models. There’s been an increase in C-type units for ace pilots, too.」
Even Barry himself was operating the latest C-type model.
「That’s something only Metal Iris can pull off. For regular mercenaries, it’s way out of reach.」
「No doubt about it.」
Kelly, ever strict about cost management, nodded. Yunlan, standing beside him, also agreed.
「Even the Shrike, a standard model without armored artificial muscles, still costs a fair amount.」
Pilots capable of operating a Lanius were limited, their numbers were so limited that every single one of them had been assigned to carrier units.
「Mercenaries can’t survive without battles. Even if the war isn’t here, conflicts are raging elsewhere. Supply is unlikely to exceed demand anytime soon.」
「That may be true, Yunlan, but anyone putting their life on the line would want to pilot a high-performance machine.」
「And that’s exactly why most mercenaries want to belong to Trireme. Silhouettes equipped with metal-hydrogen reactors can only be obtained through Trireme. Even though Argo Force has managed to get their hands on some, their production rate is probably just half of ours.」
「Manufacturing and acquiring them requires Okeanos’ approval, which is directly tied to the number of A-rank Development Engineers belonging to the organization. We’ve got six, including Kou. On their side, they’ve only got Vasa. They might have other ways to obtain the technology, but…」
「That’s the point. If it’s Vasa, he’ll prioritize the units belonging to the Argonautai first. It’s going to be a long time before mercenaries on the Stones’ side get their hands on the new Silhouettes.」
「We’ve been analyzing captured enemy units, but damn, that guy really knows how to build cost-effective machines. Gotta respect the craftsmanship, even as an enemy.」
「That’s something we should learn from as well.」
Kelly nodded at Yunlan’s words. Excellent machines are naturally expensive, but industrial manufacturing was never that simple.
「How’s the new Mercenary Association Headquarters coming along?」
From the corporate side, the new Mercenary Association Headquarters was seen as a new distribution hub.
「We’ve sent Familias and Nereids to the Mercenary Association Headquarters to oversee their operation. The new Headquarters has now occupied two Fortress Zones and built up their base. The only concern is that some Underground Forces might refuse to take on administrative duties.」
「Until they pay off their assigned debts, they’ll remain registered under the Mercenary Association Headquarters. Tough luck for them.」
Jenny’s remark was followed by Kelly’s comment.
「I’ve heard rumors about some strange movements within the Argonautai.」
Kurt spoke up, sharing what he’d heard.
「Yeah, no doubt about it. Those guys have been recruiting a big number of mercenaries. And… I don’t know what their goal is, but they also placed an order for musical instruments from one of our affiliated companies. They tried to go through intermediaries, but there’s no mistaking it—the Argonautai is behind it.」
TAKABA hadn’t just been making weapons, they had also been supplying various Earth-originated technologies, including musical instruments. Given the lack of entertainment options on Planet Asia, such goods were quite popular.
「Musical instruments?」
Even Kinukawa, a connoisseur of music, was taken aback by Argonautai’s unexpected order.
「I have no idea why those things would want instruments, they are pebbles for god’s sake… Instruments can’t be used as weapons…」
「Still, we should keep an eye on this. There’s always a chance it’s some new brainwashing technique.」
「Agreed. We’ll stay cautious.」
This unprecedented move by the Stones was something worth noting.
Trireme’s Development Engineers tensed at the unexpected development.
「By the way, where’s our great leader Outis?」
Kelly, eager to hear Kou’s opinion, turned to Barry for an answer.
「He’s taking the day off. Can’t say I envy him, though—it’s a mess of his own making.」
「What’s that supposed to mean?」
「You’ll understand when you see the footage.」
The screen displayed an image of Kou. The meaning behind Barry’s words became painfully clear the moment they saw the scene unfold.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Today, Fortress Area P336 had the lively atmosphere of a festival. However, the Familias were maintaining a discreet but strict state of high alert.
The reason? A certain group was present.
Walking at the center of attention was Kou, flanked by two stunning women. To his right was Astraea’s projected avatar. On his left, Aimer walked with a composed air. A step behind them, carrying their belongings, was Voy, assigned as their porter.
Since it was his day off, Kou had come shopping for clothes as promised.
The group besides Kou’s was not less imposing though.
In the center was Matty, the CEO of Gallop Corporation, dressed as a woman. Next to Matty stood Libya, a super AI taking the form of a Therianthrope, as well as Eunomia’s and Eirene’s projected avatars.
This impromptu gathering of high-profile figures, casually enjoying a shopping trip, had caused the Familias to converge on their location voluntarily for security purposes.
Across the various buildings, countless birds perched ominously, creating a scene reminiscent of a horror movie—though in reality, they were just monitoring the group from above. This high-alert system had been implemented after a previous incident, where a drunkard had attempted to assault Aimer. A bird-type Familia had intervened just in time, leading to the unofficial decree that Aimer’s protection within the Fortress Area was now the responsibility of the bird-type Familias.
Meanwhile, cat, dog, and rat-type Familias had embedded themselves throughout the city, covertly securing routes ahead of time.
Additionally, Therianthropes were cooperating with the Familias, blending seamlessly into the crowd—posing as bystanders or vendors. Kou and his companions, however, remained blissfully unaware of these security measures.
Meanwhile, the Pleiades members and several members of the Trooper Unit were finally enjoying their long-awaited group date—an event in which Kurose and Eira had naturally chosen not to participate. Kou had been invited as well, but he had used shopping as an excuse to decline.
「Hey, Matt—what kind of clothes should I be picking out in a situation like this?」
Kou lowered his voice, addressing Matty by his nickname, hoping for some fashion advice. The pressure was real.
「It’s simple. Just ask a professional store attendant to pick out three recommended outfits. Then, while taking the girl’s opinion into account, you take your time deciding which one suits her best.」
「Take my time?」
「If you answer too quickly, it’ll seem like you’re not putting any thought into it. The key is to engage in conversation while shopping. The focus isn’t just on the clothes themselves—it’s about the reason behind your choice and the process you go through together.」
「Thanks, Matt. I’ll keep that in mind. And good luck on your end too.」
「Leave it to me. This is fun for me. Honestly, I never expected to meet so many AI that are completely fine with my cross-dressing hobby—but I suppose that’s to be expected from AI modeled after Greek mythology.」
Kou nodded in understanding. He wouldn’t even be surprised if someone claimed Greek mythology was the origin of all forms of gender nonconformity.
Neither Libya nor Eunomia seemed to care in the slightest. In fact, Eirene was actively and enthusiastically discussing various aspects of cross-dressing culture with Matty—so much so that it was making some of the others feel slightly uncomfortable.
「I should have invited Asia too. Maybe I’ll ask her to join next time.」
「You should have invited me from the start, Kou.」
Aimer’s golden eyes gleamed. It was Asia’s Aimer.
「You were here from the start!」
「That’s right! All thanks to Aimer! I’m glad she’s such a good girl—this kind of opportunity doesn’t come around often!」
「I figured this would happen.」
Astraea said with a gentle smile, clearly enjoying the situation.
Kou let out a thoughtful hum.
「Hmm…」
「Oh? Do you have a problem with me being here?」
「No, it’s just… we came here to buy clothes for Aimer, but I won’t be able to pick something for you if you are inside her, Asia.」
「Wait a second—oh no! But… I really want to spend today with Aimer. Uh, n-next time, please!」
Asia’s Aimer was genuinely panicking, causing Kou and Astraea to laugh at her reaction.
「Alright, I got it.」
Watching this scene unfold, a Familia murmured quietly.
「Asia-sama… Aimer-chan… This whole scene looks just like a loving couple and their daughter. A perfect little family…」
「Truly tragic…」
With Kou, who had now begun to exude a certain air of dignity, standing beside the elegant and refined Astraea, they resembled a well-matched married couple rather than mere companions. And with Asia’s Aimer positioned between them, the resemblance to a tight-knit family was even stronger.
Of course, this was never Asia or Aimer’s intention. Many Familias sympathized with their situation.
Ensuring that Asia and Aimer didn’t feel out of place on subsequent dates would become a topic of discussion for future security assignments—that much was certain.
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