Chapter 34
The ship the branch director was aboard had an absurdly long name. Kait hadn't planned to remember it from the start, so he let it pass, but for someone like Emotion, who had a good memory, it must have been painful. He instructed her to assign a suitable abbreviation for now, and then guided Queen Bee inside through the open hatch.
"For someone who was scared of us, that's a bold move."
"They don't intend to fight, do they?"
"Of course not. Even if it came to a fight, I don't plan on losing."
"If you weren't the Captain, I'd advise against doing anything reckless."
Following the displayed guidance, he docked Queen Bee and stepped into the ship.
The interior resembled a passenger ship he'd boarded several times back on Earth. Perhaps it was built by a species with a civilization similar to that of Earthlings.
"......We've been instructed to come this way. Isn't it a bit rude not to send an escort just because a machine intelligence is present?"
"No complaints, Emotion. Their culture and our norms aren't necessarily the same."
"That may be true. But if they're protecting Earthlings to some extent, they should at least learn that much courtesy."
Emotion, ever the complainer. Perhaps she was even more hot-blooded than him—though technically, no blood should be flowing in her.
The two of them headed in the indicated direction. Despite the size of the ship, they didn't pass a single person. Given their technology, it wouldn't be strange if the vessel was operated by a small crew.
It was something he'd felt since the first communication—he couldn't shake the feeling they were afraid of him.
"Maybe I went too wild."
"It couldn't be helped. The initial targets were all people who wouldn't even listen."
There were species that treated Earthlings as food, or as slaves. Those kinds of people were basically impossible to reason with, so he had indeed gone on a rampage. While Kait had earned high praise within the Federation, who knew what kind of rumors were circulating outside it.
"I'm a pacifist, you know."
"I don't think a pacifist would outfit Queen Bee with such vicious equipment."
Emotion's blunt retort stung his ears.
***
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kait Crouch. I am Nezasriwe Nekeles Azavoid Ekelekemeneu. I serve as the branch director of the Corporation."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Captain Kait."
Kait raised an eyebrow at the way he was addressed and responded.
Kait's real name was almost never disclosed within the Federation. He was known as either Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif), or Captain Kait. If someone knew the family name Crouch, that meant—
"Seems someone who knows my background on Earth is nearby."
"Indeed. I've also heard about your imprisonment as a thought criminal."
A horn protruding from its forehead, four legs. Its face didn't resemble a horse, but if one had to categorize it, unicorn might be the closest. Towering over Kait, the branch director let out a high-pitched voice.
"There's no need to worry. I'm well-acquainted with the Federation. Since you've obtained the status of a third-rank citizen, I don't believe you sold out Earth and the Earthlings to the Federation."
"I see. So outside the Federation, that's the kind of person I'm seen as."
"Did that offend you?"
"Oh, absolutely."
Kait didn't represent the Federation, so he felt no obligation to get along with the Corporation. He believed he had the freedom to express his displeasure, and the branch director's attitude was clearly condescending.
Hmph, the branch director snorted.
"My apologies. Then from now on, I'll refer to you as Captain Kait."
"Is that so? Suit yourself."
"Hmm...... McDonnell, he seems quite rational. He doesn't look like the villain you described."
The one being addressed wasn't Kait. When the branch director turned his head behind him, a person hidden by his massive frame stepped forward.
"Don't believe a word he says, Branch Director. ......Or has his personality softened after three years of exile?"
"Prosecutor Lucia McDonnell. I see. If you were around, it makes sense the Corporation knows about my past."
She looked to be in her early thirties, with a stern face. Kait returned the sharp gaze of the woman with hostility of his own.
"So you're alive. If you were sold off, that means you were with Gilbert Jane. You must have seen that man's face."
"......I don't know what you're talking about. I just came to space seeking a new world."
A lie. She averted her gaze. This woman, who served as the prosecutor during Kait's exile trial, must have known the face of the man who sold him into space. Gilbert Jane's trial and Kait's were held at the same place. Even if she wasn't directly involved in the trial, he was infamous enough to appear in textbooks. There was no way a prosecutor wouldn't know him.
Still, he thought. Her face was the same, but compared to the time of Kait's trial, she looked much younger. She shouldn't be under fifty, though.
"Well, whatever. So, what's this about me selling Earth and Earthlings to the Federation?"
"There's suspicion that you handed over Earth and Earthlings to the Federation in order to gain status within it."
"Huh."
Ridiculous. But from the outside, perhaps it looked that way.
If Kait hadn't been picked up by the Federation, all Earthlings would've ended up like Lucia. They probably believed they were lucky to have made it to space, and in fact, they now seemed to hold respectable positions within the Corporation. They wouldn't think of themselves as unfortunate—nor would they want to.
"I gained third-rank citizen status in the Federation because of its own regulations, not because I sold out Earth. If anything, Earthlings becoming Federation citizens was largely due to the Federation's goodwill."
Goodwill? And for free? That's impossible. When we immigrated, the Corporation took us in for a fee. That's why we work for the Corporation, gradually repaying the cost of that relocation.
He silently turned his gaze to the branch director.
Perhaps understanding what Kait meant, the branch director let out a thoughtful hum.
"I apologize, Captain Kait. It seems some of the Earthlings we protected don't hold the Federation in high regard. We've told them we originally belonged to the Federation, but......"
"I see. Then, can I assume that no one from the Corporation wishes to immigrate to the Federation? If everyone prefers to stay with the Corporation, I'll report that to the Federation government."
"Are you trying to drag even us into the Federation!?"
"Branch Director?"
"My apologies. I called her here because she knows your background, but it seems her assessment of you is rather biased. She's usually quite competent."
That made sense. She had been in a position to serve as prosecutor for Kait's trial. She had connections everywhere, and her skill in securing a near-perfect conviction was undeniably impressive.
He didn't want to praise her personality, but her ability was unquestionable.
Kait sighed and spoke to Lucia.
"The Federation is prepared to grant citizenship to the Earthlings it has accepted. Those protected by the Corporation may not need it, though."
"Of course not! We don't need such shady rights――"
"Hold on, McDonnell. Captain Kait, what's the citizenship rank?"
"Tenth-rank citizen."
"Understood. Then in my name, I promise to convey your words to all Earthlings under the Corporation. Naturally, I'll explain the Federation in detail first."
With that, the branch director bowed his head.
Lucia looked over in surprise, but several staff members emerged from the back and took her away without giving her a chance to object. She was shouting something, but he couldn't make it out.
"Captain Kait. If there are Earthlings in the Corporation who wish to immigrate to the Federation, we can't waive the repayment of the purchase funds. Is that acceptable?"
"That's understandable. As an Earthling, I'm grateful that you protected them safely."
The price of Earth's culture, which had been sold to the Federation, continued to rise. He'd heard that Rebecca was managing it as common property of the Earthlings, so while covering the full purchase price might be difficult, they could probably shoulder some of the cost.
Still. One had to wonder how far Lucia McDonnell's slander of Kait had spread among the Earthlings in the Corporation.
"So that was Prosecutor Lucia McDonnell. ......I'd heard she was the one who convicted the Captain, but what a strange place to meet again."
"No kidding."
Life rarely goes as planned.