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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Eugene Patriarch
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Mega Corp had no official capital.
The entire nation had been corporatized, with every term replaced by company jargon. For instance, space marines were called Crisis Management Teams, and the Industrial Division overseeing all sectors of industry was known as the Resource Management Team.
Though they avoided the word "capital," Mega Corp did have a central hub worthy of the name.
That place was Earth. What they called their headquarters.
Earth housed Mega Corp's nerve center.
The five corporations that founded Mega Corp were its kings.
Now known as the Five Great Families, the Eugene Family among them had roots in what was once called East Asia.
Starting as a commonplace business from a small nation called South Korea, Eugene Agriculture never forgot its origins even after becoming a galactic megacorporation that dominated the stars.
The ancient capital of that long-vanished country had become the Eugene Family's estate. Not figuratively—the entire city was their living space.
Inside the massive dome-shaped "mansion," magnetic levitation trains and small aircraft zipped about for transport, and an artificial sun shone from the top to sustain the internal ecosystem.
Centuries ahead of other planets, this place was home to the Eugene Family members and tens of millions of "tools" serving them.
Amid the high-tech extravagance of the mansion stood a weathered cabin and garden.
This was where Akira Eugene, patriarch of the Eugene Family, resided.
Akira Eugene.
The solar system's overlord, who had served three terms as Mega Corp's CEO.
And now, he was tending a modest vegetable patch.
Over two hundred years old, gene modification treatments kept him looking middle-aged.
Near the garden, two men in suits stood waiting. One was an elderly man with white hair slicked back, the other young.
They had been there for an hour already.
No complaints, though. They said nothing.
Dogs don't bark until their master commands. They waited patiently for Akira to finish.
Akira finally straightened up from hoeing the soil.
"Kept you waiting. Come here."
At his words, the younger man approached.
"What is it?"
"It's about the young lady."
"Young lady?"
Akira tilted his head. The man added,
"Miss Kisaragi."
"Ah, my third daughter's girl."
Akira smiled as if remembering now. The old man watching silently twitched slightly.
"So, what about Kisaragi?"
"Her signal beacon was destroyed."
The implication was clear. Kisaragi Eugene was dead.
Akira frowned.
"Impossible. I never burdened her with anything taxing."
"The last signal came from C-08. It's Space Dogs territory."
"Hmph."
Nodding as he listened, Akira raised the arm holding the hoe.
Then he smashed it down on the man's head.
The hoe embedded in the man's skull; he collapsed without a scream. Akira yanked it free and kept striking the face.
The sound of mincing meat filled the garden.
Blood and brains splattered on Akira's face and hands. He tossed the hoe onto the corpse.
"Clean it up."
"Yes."
As if this were routine, the old man snapped his fingers. Black-suited men entered from outside, hauled the body away, and vanished.
"That hoe was useless. Our most vital asset is tools. You know that, right?"
"Yes. I'll be more careful."
"Good."
The reason for the man's death was simple. He'd answered unasked questions twice.
"Raising Kisaragi cost 10 billion credits. Equivalent to a next-gen warship's development budget."
"...."
"Even paid for gene mods because her body was frail. Could mere pirates touch her?"
Akira wiped his face with a cloth from his pocket.
"I'm curious who would dare harm the Eugene Family's prized flower."
"...."
"The ship she was on. Captain Yuseong Samuel, right?"
"Yes."
"Samuel Family from the Titan moon. The Ezurtons take interest in them."
Ezurton was a Prime Capital family with sway over Mars. A step below Noble Capital, but still rivals vying for Mega Corp dominance.
"So, Ezurton's scheme? No. Their whelp is a coward. Wouldn't bare teeth at us."
The "whelp" was Ezurton's current patriarch, dubbed Mars's Tiger. Yet Akira dismissed him as a fool.
The butler knew Akira had ruled the Eugene Family while that patriarch survived two assassinations.
Thus, he could affirm the old monster deserved such scorn.
"If not Ezurton, who? Child, your thoughts?"
"Perhaps T&C meddled."
The butler answered promptly.
Akira's eyes curved like crescent moons, pleased.
"Haha. Same as me."
"...."
"T&C and Ezurton pretend to fight over Jupiter rights, but they're in cahoots. Ezurton's credits flow from T&C."
The butler hid his shock. He'd suspected, but not confirmed their pact.
Earth's rulers T&C uniting with Mars nobles Ezurton was top secret. Known only to the patriarchs.
Unfortunate for them, Akira was one who knew.
"That snake wants to seize initiative before the board meeting. You know?"
Akira handed the bloody cloth to the butler.
"Yes. T&C Patriarch Sadam Chetwolrin eyes the CEO seat—your position, sir."
"Indeed. That arrogant brat. Seeing him target me outright, he must fear me."
Akira burst into laughter, amused. Blood-soaked, the butler waited stoically.
He'd witnessed such quirks for decades; it stirred nothing.
Akira's guffaw cut off abruptly. His face blanked, as if the laughter were a lie.
"We hold the justification. Strike first. Inform the entire family."
"Yes."
"And."
Killing intent flickered in Akira's expressionless eyes for the first time.
"Those who damage my assets deserve death. Yuseong Samuel, his crew, anyone linked—bring them all before me, not one spared."
"Yes."
"A Shadow infiltrated C-08 vicinity. Contact him. Handle it."
"…Understood."
The butler startled at "Shadow."
Shadows were the patriarch's elite special forces. Mutated soldiers with extreme gene mods, infamous for monstrous power and brutality.
'A bloodbath looms.'
With Shadows moving, Yuseong Samuel and his crew's fate was sealed.
Merciful to call it death—their end would be horrific.
Sending silent pity to them somewhere beyond the stars, the butler withdrew.
As colossal war and merciless slaughter were decreed somewhere on Earth.
Chaos erupted on Yuseong Samuel's ship from an unforeseen disaster.
"What the hell is this shitshow?!"
Yuseong wanted to pass out.
Before him lay the morgue—or what was left. A sudden fire had reduced it to ashes.
The Crisis Management Team Leader summoned his guarding subordinates.
"What happened?"
"W-Well..."
Under his sharp gaze, the soldiers tensed, stammering their account.
"Smoke from inside? Checked because it was weird, found it ablaze."
"Yes."
They'd noticed odd smells and smoke mid-watch.
Per protocol, only doctors entered, so they waited for shift change.
When smoke persisted, they opened the door.
Flames, not the doctor, greeted them.
"Doesn't add up. Just bodies in there—how does fire start?"
"H-How did this happen?"
The late-arriving Medical Team Leader gaped at the scene.
The dazed captain couldn't explain, so the Crisis Management Leader summarized.
Face hardening, the Medical Team Leader replied,
"Chemicals in the morgue could ignite, but such a blaze is rare."
"Meaning?"
Glancing around, the Medical Team Leader clammed up.
'Arson.'
An arsonist among the crew spelled disaster.
Especially targeting the Research Team Leader's body—highly suspicious.
"…Check the bodies first."
"Agreed."
After extinguishing, soldiers pulled out corpses. The Medical Team Leader examined the charred remains meticulously.
"This one's an overtime team member."
Torso and head badly burned, but the ring identified the night-shifter subordinate.
Bitter over the loss, he finished inspections. Then noticed a missing body.
"These all the corpses?"
"Yes. Why?"
"...."
The Medical Team Leader pulled the captain and other leaders aside.
Out of earshot, he revealed two bodies gone.
"Guard and Research Team Leader missing?"
"Yes."
"Bodies don't walk off!"
"Medical Team Leader, you sure?"
"Checked repeatedly. Exactly two missing."
Research Team Leader's death followed by mysterious arson.
'Someone inside is attacking us.'
The thought flashed through all minds.
"Not ghosts..."
"Maybe unidentified alien aboard?"
"Hey! This a joke? Cut the nonsense!"
"Just spitballing. Why's Logistics Team Leader so riled?"
"Ahem. N-Nothing."
"Bigger issue: Research Team Leader's body gone. Weren't we meeting pirates at C-08?"
At the point, Yuseong paled. Losing Kisaragi's corpse left him no cards.
He barked desperately,
"Find that body at all costs! Clear?"
"Catch the culprit first..."
"Damn it! This isn't just my problem. If you fear Noble Capital retaliation, cooperate fully!"
Yuseong was right. Kisaragi's death unavoidable, but botching the body? No excuse.
They needed it intact, or worse than death awaited.
"Crisis Management Team Leader."
"Yes, Captain."
"Contacted them?"
"Yes. Right after the meeting."
"Shit. Don't mention this—say body's fine."
"You sure?"
"No fix if we find it. Just find before rendezvous."
Risky gamble, but the Crisis Management Leader didn't object. Yuseong unaware, he pondered darkly.
Like hiding a dagger, he bowed blankly.
Yuseong next called Security Team Leader.
Partly culpable, he looked cowed.
Yuseong placed hands on his shoulders.
"You know? Must catch the bastard."
"W-We're doing our best..."
"Best isn't enough. Search everyone. Full authority."
Despite total delegation, Security's face stayed grim.
'Can we even catch 'em?'
No confidence, but couldn't admit.
"Ahem. Will find them."
"I trust you."
Security bluffed resolve.
As panic spread, the perpetrator watched from a ceiling vent.
Dismissing, 'it' silently tailed one.
-
'Things went perfectly.'
Hide identity, sow chaos: arson.
Mixing morgue chemicals—unimaginable for an alien.
No outsiders, so they'd suspect humans, not me.
Devoured all guard corpses, gathered chemicals. Acidic blood drops ignited fiercely.
'Reinforced Exoskeleton resists fire.'
Flames licked harmlessly. I strolled through to the ceiling.
Waiting nearby, crowds arrived. Fire out quick, but most inside ashed.
Bodies handled smoothly—one close call.
'Alien talk? Damn sharp team leader.'
Logistics snapping shut it down.
After, oblivious, captain and leaders spilled secrets.
'Pirates. Captain's lost it.'
Space Dogs: multi-species pirate alliance. Self-styled star conquerors, aka space trash.
Mercs sometimes, but betray at whim. Better trust wordless Aemorphs.
Captain likely planned pirate handoff to blame them for Kisaragi. Know them better, no way.
Not his idea—someone egged.
'Crisis Management Leader pushing. Mark him.'
Maybe pirate mole.
'If pirates target this ship...'
Pirate raid: mixed bag.
Pro: Diverse genes for Gene Essence harvest. Ambush during assault, easy pickings.
'Con: Fewer genes from research ship.'
Pirate numbers unknown, but ship unlikely winner. Guards sharing Powered Armor vs. battle-hardened pirates? Crew mostly dies, less for me.
'Hold off.'
Need to gauge pirates first.
Meeting ended amid thoughts.
Disperse to duties; auxiliary senses pinged anomaly.
'That guy?'
Logistics Team Leader, who'd denied my existence—off.
Acting fine, but racing heart, sweat under clothes. Classic tension signs.
'Why nervous?'
No link to incident.
Curiosity halted nest return. I tailed him.
He glanced back constantly.
'Hiding honey pot?'
Alert, he halted.
Before him: cargo hold.