Chapter 577: We're the Suicide Squad, Team A!
Author's Preface
It's way too hot very outside. [*1]
I felt the wind of a dystopia blowing past me for a second, but nothing of the sort actually happened. Even though the cost was a bit heavy, the Android Crew was incredibly competent.
That being said, an update is an update, but GalaTra is still GalaTra, so the core gameplay loop remained unchanged. You wander, you drop by somewhere, and you set off on a journey again... That's the fundamental loop of GalaTra.
"No planets fit for landing. Is this star system gas giants only? And completely useless gas to boot..."
It's a dud star system. Better to just harvest some thermal energy from the star to generate power and leave immediately... hm?
"Sonar, any responses?"
『Negative, Captain. No responses detected.』
"Visuals. Search that planet and see if there's anything there."
『Understood.』
"...Comms. Broadcast a Class 3 Encrypted Transmission toward that planet. The message is: 'We are unaffiliated.'"
『Understood.』
It's a hazy memory, so I'm not entirely confident, but I recall hearing that if a massive number of spaceships use their stealth systems simultaneously, the systems will interfere with each other and cause a "ripple" every few minutes.
Since the gas giant looked like it did a strange, split-second shimmer just now, I sent out an encrypted transmission that any player with decent visual confirmation skills and proper equipment could crack in an instant, but... sure enough, the answer was a massive cluster of stealth systems uncloaking right before my eyes.
"Whoa, seriously...?"
『Multiple thermal signatures detected. Scanning indicates the reaction of eighty Travelize Reactors.』
『Intercepting and decrypting Class 3 Encrypted Transmission... "We are the Supreme Flat-A Fleet. If you wish to cooperate, follow the navigation beacon and proceed to the 3rd Ship, 'Great Wall'." ...is the message.』
Supreme Flat-A... Great Wall... Ah, so that's what it is. Being granted the power to see through evil by an evil entity sounds like the prologue to some dark hero story, but in reality, I was just granted the power to see through evil by an evil entity, so it just fills me with sadness.
Still, a grand fleet, huh? It seems like multiple players have gathered, but looking at the information caught by the transparent monitor, an overwhelming majority of the spaceships clearly display the exact same name. In other words, the grand fleet is practically being operated by a single person... a massive whale.
"Now then, let's see what this heavy cash-shopper is doing gathering up free-to-play users..."
Poking my head into a massive battle with a high mortality rate right after coming back from a hiatus feels a bit daunting... is what I would say if I were a coward! If there's a flashy event happening right after I come back, how could I *not* stick my neck into it?
"Third Rakuou Maru, follow the navigation beacon and prepare to dock."
『Understood.』
◆
I suppose they didn't think I was genuinely clueless since I approached them acting like I knew what was going on, because when I asked, "So, what's this gathering for?" they were genuinely surprised. But after listening to the explanation again, I mostly understood the situation.
There are two key players involved in this massive battle. One is Love Board, the individual who was recruiting daredevil mercenaries in this sector. The other is the apex of the enemy fleet we are about to fight, "The Great Fleet of the Twin Hills", G-Cup Breast Meat. Just from the names alone, you'd think this was a relationship founded purely on mortal animosity, but the actual reason for their hostility is apparently some messy dispute over vested interests.
Well, none of that matters to the mercenaries. If they could operate on such a grand strategic level, they wouldn't be playing as daredevil mercenaries in the first place. Anyway, Love Board, who was preparing their military forces for the decisive battle, engaged in espionage and discovered that The Great Fleet of the Twin Hills had formed an alliance with other players (fellow whales) and was setting up an allied front. In other words, the enemy is trying to eradicate Love Board even if it means dividing the profits. Or perhaps they intend to slaughter their allied brethren as well once they've outlived their usefulness...
But there's no time left until the decisive battle. Or rather, specifically speaking, it's tonight, so it's far too late to form an alliance of our own. Because of that, Love Board changed strategies. Instead of forming an allied force of heavy cash-shoppers, they decided to gather trash mobs... I mean, free-to-play users to form a mercenary corps.
"Gentlemen, even in the event of our defeat, I guarantee that you will receive some form of compensation. And should we emerge victorious, I promise a reward far surpassing that of defeat!"
"Like what, specifically?!"
"To the individual with the highest contribution, I shall present a Teraton-Class Space Battleship!!"
" " " " "Uwoooooooooooooooh!!!!!" " " " "
The mercenaries erupted into massive cheers at those words. Hell, even I let out a shout... After all, a free-to-play player's ship is basically Megaton-Class. You can build a Gigaton-Class for about 30,000 yen, but a Teraton-Class Space Battleship is a heavy cash-shop vessel that costs well over 100,000 yen. If winning and contributing heavily meant getting that for free, anyone would be fired up.
"Your targets are the heads of the four players forming the alliance!!"
Bam! The monitor Love Board smacked displayed the information of the four players.
- Rikumogami Hotel "Saijou"
- Pearl Circular Casket "Umitori" [*2]
- Hornet's Nest "Deer Horn"
- The Great Fleet of the Twin Hills "G-Cup Breast Meat"
What an illustrious lineup. There are even names that I recognize...
"I'm sure you've heard *various things* about them, but it doesn't matter! I give you my guarantee, whether you smash them into a star or turn them into space debris, cook them up however you like!!"
The mercenaries cheered wildly as Cutting Board handed out free pardons with eyes gleaming dangerously, but there were some whispering among themselves. Specifically, right next to me.
"These names are way too big..."
"A founding family member of Grand Supreme, and the president of Akoya Foods..."
"I absolutely love the Honey Candy made by Honeycomb Hexagon, so I feel kinda bad about fighting them..."
"Wait, are they gonna read our data and ban us from their businesses in real life?"
"If you've got the guts to betray the top executive of the nation's largest home electronics manufacturer, why don't you just join their side?"
"A Saudade refrigerator with an emergency power supply literally saved my life once, I can't sleep with my feet pointed in their direction..."
In other words, well, that's how it is. The money and power faintly visible behind the scenes are just a bit too massive to write off as 'just a game'.
That being said, when the decisive battle actually starts, everyone will do their jobs. The ships of the mercenaries have already surrendered their navigation controls to the Supreme Flat-A Fleet's grand flagship "Horizon of Love," and we are currently en route to the decisive battleground, the "Moscow Mule Sector," so there's no turning back now.
"I apologize to those who possess Gigaton-Class spaceships, but you will be participating in the fleet battle. Most likely, you'll be lucky to get away with your ship only half-destroyed, but... we will cover the repair costs in full, so please steel your resolve."
A Gigaton-Class Space Battleship is functionally 30,000 yen. Unlike heavy whales who can toss that kind of money around like buying a can of juice, losing one would be a massive blow to a light spender, and their attachment to it is probably far greater than that of a free-to-play user. They seem to have steeled their resolve, but all the Gigaton-Class owners have tragic expressions on their faces. Well, since they put their ships up as collateral themselves, if they get sunk, they only have themselves to blame.
"And to all of you with Megaton-Class vessels or lower... No, at this point, I will speak without sugarcoating it. You are the suicide squad."
A fired bullet never returns to the gun. Our lives—boarding enemy ships to directly assassinate the players—are practically synonymous with being disposable pawns.
"If you request them, we will provide space transport shuttles, but you should operate under the assumption that the vast majority of you will not be returning... Even so, I thank you for cooperating with our fleet."
The president of a major home electronics manufacturer... or rather, the heavy whale player, bowed their head, causing the suicide squad mercenaries to panic, but my thoughts were pointed elsewhere.
"A transport shuttle... huh."
By the way, everyone, do you know about Universe Storm?
Author's Afterword
This is definitely not a proxy war, you know?
Translator's Notes
- [1] Atsuga Natsu sugiru: The author doubling down on the Atsuga Natsui spoonerism from Chapter 574. "It's too summer outside."
- [2] Idk how to explain it but it basically means "Canned Tuna".
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