n

n

nShreguc Stoutsnarl, the captain of the Alliance's first warship Omen and was tasked to destroy the relic that the empire was looking for, was in front of his fellow people as they were left alone to have a rest after working for the whole day.

n

"Melruc, did they gave you any unreasonable commands?

"

n

"No, father. They were only asking questions about our living standards and confirming any unwritten information about the Mind Stones.

"

n

"The Mind Stones?

"

nShreguc paused for a moment after hearing this. He didn't think that the Xeno Collective has an interest in this. After all, mind stone doesn't have potent power…

n'Oh wait, is it due to the fact that they only have artificial intelligence? Do they want to use it in some kind of experiment?'

n

"Haa~ If that's the case, how about the others?

"

n

"It's the same… It seems that they are interested in our living conditions and about the existence of the stones…

"

nShreguc nodded. Anyway, even the Major Race would be interested in the Mind Stone that can only be found on their planet at first but after learning about its weak potential, they will just throw it away soon.

n'At the very least, this is good news. As long as they needed something from us, they shouldn't be planning on killing us. Hope will remain as long as our life wasn't extinguished.'

n

"Oh, right. About that one abnormal mauton?

"

n

"Automaton, I believe is what they're called, father.

"

n

"Right, automaton. Was it still taking some blood from everyone?

"

nThis question prompted many others to express their grievances.

n

"That's right, captain!

"

n

"Ugh… Even Alguc didn't return alive after that automaton's experimentation.

"

n

"Mhm… I heard about that and it was telling me that it just made a mistake… Haa~ It probably thought that we were just tools for experimentation.

"

n

"I won't accept this…

"

n

"Let's fight them to the death! We can't bring disgrace to our race!

"

n

"I even heard that Malrec's squad was taken to that same laboratory. Although they haven't died yet, it may not be the same for long.

"

n

"I understand. I will try to ask them their purpose for doing this. But we might have to exchange the secret information about our mind stones in return for better living conditions.

"

n

"T-this…

"

nIf there was an option for them to live honorably without fighting, then that would be for the best. In truth, they were tempted to do this as well when the automatons were asking them about the mind stones.

nHowever, information like this must only be handled by the leader of their group so they didn't say anything. It was also something that wasn't written in any medium and was only passed through stories by the noble families of their race.

nBeing part of the expedition in this grand spaceship, it was normal that they all came from noble families so they were aware of the mind stone's secrets. Some other races may even be aware of it but they just didn't know that it was the power of the stone.

n

"Tell me the details, about Alguc's death.

"

nShreguc commanded one of Alguc's closest friends in the spaceship.

n

"Y-yes…

"

nAfter learning about the details of his death. Shreguc had an idea of what was happening so he prepared himself to speak with the abnormal automaton.

n***

nVeda, who had successfully supplied Aether to the aristocrats it was controlling was doing its job to satisfy Wallace or Ace...

nIt was now focused on studying the DNA of the Arians in order to understand the secret of the mana suffocation that was happening to the foreign entities descending to that planet.

n I'm busy.

nVeda's automaton working inside the laboratory suddenly said.

n There are seven Arians in the medbay that is convulsing right now.

nIt was Avalon's automaton that was reporting. It doesn't know how to handle such a situation as it only knows some first aid. Unfortunately, nothing works with its attempt to save them.

nVeda's automaton that was working on something seems to be too busy and it even cut off its online communication for a while.

nAfter all, not even 1% of Veda's calculation speed was working here in this spaceship since its core hasn't been delivered yet. It was only temporary connection using Avalon's core and it was obviously a poor connection.

n Okay. I'll look into it.

nInstead of walking, Veda just transferred its control to one of the nearest automatons working at the medbay to take a look at the Arian's situation.

nThese Arians were the unlucky ones who had first undergone Veda's experimentation. One of them had actually perished just a couple of days ago.

nIf Veda didn't stabilize their condition, they might follow next to Alguc.

n When will the supply of equipment and artifacts arrive.

n ETA: 23:43:20

nAfter getting the reply from Avalon, Veda or the automaton it was controlling had injected something into the Arians who were convulsing on their beds.

nIt calmed them down before they continued their sleep.

n This is only a temporary solution. I will monitor their condition until they get better.

n Very well. Master instructed us not to treat them too harshly.

n Yeah, I know. I will continue to work in the laboratory. Inform me when the supplies have arrived.

nIt seems that Veda has its own trouble due to its limited function in this very far away place. It's several cores that were placed around the planet had difficulty having a reliable connection in this Lagrange point unless he had one of the cores here in the spaceship or at least in the Moon Base.

nEven if it was a super A.I., there was nothing it could do if the distance it was trying to reach was just too much.

nIn the end, even after returning to the laboratory, it was still confronted by Shreguc asking for better living conditions.

nActually, the Lagrange point they were at already has a small asteroid on it. It was smaller than their Omen.

nThe Arians' daily jobs were to go out there and to create a foundation for future external defense line that will be made. They were told that more supplies will arrive in a while and they will soon be working hard to nurture this place.

n

"As long as you promise… I will be providing you information about the mind stones.

"

nThe artificial intelligence that was part of the Xeno Collective was known for its reliable actions. They will always keep their words, unlike some races who always like to deceive others.

n Very well… Let me hear about these mind stones.

n