Chapter 35
Well then. Despite the unpleasant reunion, the job was done.
Kait had to head for the next destination, an artificial celestial body. Just as he was about to leave the ship and entrust the rest to the branch director, a voice called down from above.
"Captain Kait. How about staying here until we confirm things with the Earthlings under the Corporation? We could arrange for you to have an opportunity to explain things to them."
"I'll pass. Once confirmation is made, you can contact Rebecca Luthiano of the Federation or the Federation Congress. Whether they go to the Federation or not, it's up to them."
"Are you sure? I believe more of them would choose to go to the Federation if their misunderstandings were cleared up."
"I think you're misunderstanding something. I'm not interested in the status of Earthlings within the Federation or increasing their influence. If they're living a satisfactory life here, there's no need to move to the Federation."
The branch director seemed unable to grasp Kait's true intentions. He kept groaning in thought.
At times like this, Kait was glad it was the Federation that had taken him in. Those bound by something always sought reasons within the scope of their own understanding.
"Then why are you speaking to the Earthlings of the Corporation? I don't know about the ones you've attacked before, but here, we haven't subjected Earthlings to cruel labor."
"I think being picked up by the Federation was just luck. If Earthlings living now have the right to obtain Federation citizenship, then they should at least have the equal freedom to choose."
"You'd go that far just for that?"
"Is that a problem?"
Kait's answer didn't seem entirely satisfactory to the branch director. But lacking any grounds to refute it, he didn't press further.
***
Since no one tried to stop him, he began walking the path back to the Queen Bee.
Unlike when he first entered, the staff were now moving about busily. It seemed they had been hiding out of caution toward Kait. It wasn't pleasant, but understandable, considering how his background might have been portrayed.
Unlike the Federation's central star system, many of the species here seemed to share relatively similar traits. The absence of mechanical intelligences was probably because rare species under protection were working within the Corporation.
The Queen Bee was still not in sight, but Emotion reacted to something.
"Captain Kait. There's a figure near the Queen Bee. Seems to be an Earthling."
"It's not Prosecutor McDonnell, is it?"
"No. It appears to be a man."
Since Emotion had worked on the Queen Bee's hull, its security performance was extremely high. Given the recent unpleasant encounter, he didn't have a good feeling about this.
Rounding the corner, the Queen Bee came into view. Kait also spotted a figure vaguely looking up at the ship. There was no sign of tampering. Emotion, understanding the situation, informed him that nothing had been touched.
As he approached, the other person seemed to notice him as well. He turned his face toward Kait and gave a small bow. He looked to be in his thirties. Unlike Lucia McDonnell, perhaps he hadn't altered his appearance to look younger—or that was just his natural age.
"You must be Kait Crouch. I'm Saitou. Gorou Saitou."
"Mr. Saitou? Sorry, have we met somewhere before?"
"No. I just know of you. Do you know Mika Saitou?"
"Mika?"
"My sister. She wasn't selected among the initial hundred thousand, so I believe she's in the Federation."
"Emotion, do you know?"
Turning to check, Emotion paused briefly before nodding.
"Yes. Mika Saitou is among those protected by the Federation. It seems she had a chronic illness, correct?"
"Exactly! It's not a disease that immediately affects life, but with Earth in that state..."
"She's already been treated, and the body modification was completed successfully. She's currently enrolled in a training program to find work in the Federation."
"......Thank goodness."
Gorou collapsed to the ground, his legs giving out.
Seeing tears welling at the corners of his eyes, Kait allowed a small smile to form on his lips.
"When I was selected, my sister was bedridden from overexertion. I said I'd decline, but she told me to live on in space for both of us. I'm so glad..."
"I see. I hope you can meet again someday."
"Yeah. Thank you."
He extended his right hand toward the tearful Gorou.
Grasping Kait's hand and rising to his feet, Gorou scratched his cheek in embarrassment.
"Mr. Crouch... no, I should call you Captain Kait, right? Are you operating out of this ship?"
"The combat vessel Queen Bee. Like Emotion, she's my precious partner."
"I envy you. In the Corporation, it's hard to own a ship privately, so I admire it. If I had a ship like this, fieldwork would be so much easier."
"Fieldwork?"
"I've been a biologist since my time on Earth. Oh, and no need to speak so formally with me. I've always worked in places where that kind of thing didn't matter."
Gorou laughed, saying he was a second-rate scientist who hadn't even published a notable paper, and Kait couldn't help but smile too.
He was being modest, but the fact that he worked on such a massive ship meant he must be highly knowledgeable and recognized. Especially in the Corporation, where rare species protection was a primary duty.
This encounter wasn't a bad one. That was the impression Kait got. Unpleasant meetings, and not-so-bad ones. This ship really made it hard to judge.
"Is that so? Then I won't hold back."
"Where are you headed next, Captain? Off to rescue more Earthlings somewhere?"
"No. I've received a job request from the Federation, so I'm heading to a nearby artificial celestial body. I only came to this fleet because it was along the way."
He explained the situation honestly.
When he mentioned they seemed to be heading in the same direction, Gorou looked slightly uneasy.
"An artificial celestial body of the Federation, huh?"
"Right. I heard it's a celestial body set up to observe planets inhabited by underdeveloped lifeforms."
"Not a battle fortress?"
"I don't think so... Have you heard anything, Emotion?"
Gorou's concern was understandable. Even Zodogia, which monitored Earth, had been ominously referred to as an impregnable fortress by those outside the Federation. Surely not all Federation celestial bodies had such functions, but it was still concerning.
This time, Emotion shook her head.
"It seems it doesn't have the equipment or combat vessels like Zodogia. It's more similar to Abakia."
Now that he thought about it, he realized he hadn't even heard the name of the artificial celestial body. But it was too late now. Confirming it in front of Gorou would only embarrass him, so he let it go.
Even after hearing that, Gorou's uneasy expression didn't change. He kept muttering things like same direction, Federation request, and so on.
"Is there something bothering you?"
"......Yeah. You know we're engaged in the protection of rare species, right?"
"Of course."
"This fleet is also heading out to protect such rare species."
"I figured. And?"
When Kait asked, Gorou hesitated slightly.
But it seemed he thought staying silent would be dishonest. With a stern expression, he spoke.
"The ones we're trying to protect might be the same ones the Federation is trying to eliminate."
"What?"
"I have a favor to ask, Captain. Could you confirm that with the artificial celestial body from here?"
He knew it was a ridiculous request.
But seeing Gorou's serious gaze, Kait had no choice but to nod.