Unparalleled Path ~ Reincarnated as the AI for a Space Battleship - Chapter 11

Translator’s Note:

Oh God I’m an idiot. I had this ready to post yesterday and forgot about it -_- I can easily post chapters during the weekdays, but it’s difficult during the weekends due to social obligations.

The last part of this is confusing, so I might need help clearing it up. I’ll be cleaning the past chapters tomorrow as well with the suggestions posted in the comments section!

Thanks for understanding!

Chapter 11 – Act of Betrayal

The prince’s words caused the whole conference room to grow silent.

I’ve only just came to this world, but even I know the impact of the words just spoken now. Even Sohaira’s idea of running away cause a large amount of fuss.

However, the captain who opposed her earlier responded.
「Surrender is it? That might be a good idea」

Another captain spoke up.
「Indeed. An unsightly retreat or a shameful defeat are undeniably similar. If it is noble request of the prince, then it will surely convince the alliance」

「Thank you, Garfield」he said.「To tell you the truth, we are already negotiating a cease fire with the alliance’s admiral. It is said that if we accept certain conditions, we can return to imperial space」

Sohaira said.
「What are the conditions?」

「Well, it isn’t anything serious. We just have to give them 5 star systems. Silpeia, El Gaza, Gauss, Puusite, Luciana as well as 50 billion rogu as reparations」

「Is that so?」
Saying that, she pushed a button with her hand. Cutting off voice communication and leaving only video.

She spoke up.
「Asagaya Makoto. Do you know what the consequences of passing over those star systems is?」

「It would be the end」

「What?」

The other me answered.
「For the empire, El Gaza and Silpeia can easily be handed over. It was stolen from the alliance originally and they have tried repeatedly to take it back. However, the other 3 are a problem. They have submitted to the empire for thousands of years. The empire is undeniably huge, but in reality it is an aggregation of many star systems. As such each system believes their peace is protected by the empire. If we abandon those 3, the other systems will follow」

The「Empire」seems a lot like the roman empire from Earth.

The meeting continued and the captains agreed with the prince one after another. A few disagreed, but they were quickly shot down.

Sohaira spoke.
「Then, why is ani-sama accepting these conditions?」

There is something strange.

He said that he had negotiated with the alliance fleet. However, my sensors did not pick up any communication with the alliance. Even if it’s encrypted, I should have at least been able to detect the signal.

In other words, he knew about these conditions before the battle.

I responded.
「The prince is colluding with the enemy」

「No way, why would he do such a thing?」

「It is in order to be emperor. In this fight, the 1st and 2nd princes were killed. Being the 3rd prince, he would become the next emperor」

「That’s strange!」Several of the captain’s turned their heads at the movement of her mouth. Although they could not hear any sound, they could see that she was panicked.
「Even if you become the emperor, it is meaningless if the empire is gone」

「I’ve noticed something about him. He believes the empire to be immortal, immovable. Giving away a few star systems is nothing」

「Then should we tell everyone about what ani-sama is doing?」

「It’s useless, please think twice about that. This battle was planned, kill the brothers, surrender, become emperor. So far it has gone perfectly. The only thing in his mind right now is getting the other ships to surrender. To say such a thing to the union now, it would be dangerous」

Sohaira’s expression did not change, like a noh mask. However, her voice was trembling.
「Asagaya Makato, do you know what you’ve been talking about since a while ago? You’re suspecting the emperor’s child of betrayal. That Immaku-niisama killed my other onii-sama’s. Do you think the other ships are capable of betrayal?」

I checked myself and the other me’s program. Indeed, in the AI model, betrayal against the emperor is blacklisted. Even if an officer tried to rebel against the empire, the battleship would never participate.

It’s reasonable that the other captain’s wouldn’t point this out. The AI’s of each ship are surely aware of the prince’s lie, but to tell the captain’s would be against the AI model. Immaku is betraying the empire, but he is the emperor’s son. (TLN: Sorry, have no idea. イムマクは帝国を裏切っているが、皇帝家を裏切ったとはいえない。なぜなら、彼は皇帝家の人間なのだから。)

「The prince tried to kill you too. As well as the captain of this ship and the captain of many other ships. However he never directly participated, it was due to the cooperation of the empire to assassinate the other ships」

「Come on!」Sohaira hit the table. Several captains and the prince saw her.

Chapter end