Chapter 350: The Planar Rescue Corps
Valley Base. The Master's Shack.
Kaito lay within the custom-carved coffin he had fashioned for himself. He had
left the lid slightly ajar, just enough to allow a sliver of localized light to
penetrate his "Respite-Zone."
Within his mind, the Soul Link pulsed. Skele-Greed's voice resonated on
schedule, carrying a note of meticulously rehearsed, high-tier fervor.
[My Sovereign, I have data to report. The preliminary assembly of the Planar
Rescue Corps is finalized.]
[The first bracket of volunteers totals 342 units. All are registered Imperial
Adventurers of Tier 2 rank or higher.]
[Their enthusiasm-parameters are exceeding the threshold. They are prepared to
deploy to any coordinate in the Multiverse that requires your Radiance.]
Rescue Corps?
Kaito's thought-stream stalled for a micro-second.
Ah, correct. That particular variable.
He recalled a casual dialogue with Greed several cycles ago. He had mentioned,
off-hand, that once the Transit Hub was operational, it would be logical to
investigate worlds similar to the Eldritch Realm—to localized "Novelties,"
manage potential threats, and perhaps procure a few regional specialties.
How had Greed translated "Inter-planar scavenger hunt" into "Planar Rescue
Corps"?
The title carried a heavy administrative tax. It sounded... exhausting.
[The primary mission-coordinate has been locked: Plane Designation Greensia.]
[Data indicates the sector is undergoing a 'Scourge Event.' Civil order is in
terminal decay.]
[Our Vanguard shall serve as the embers of hope, manifesting within that
despair-ridden coordinate.]
Kaito offered zero vocal response.
He was contemplating the variable "Scourge." Statistically, is it another Undead
Calamity? Or perhaps a swarm-intelligence like the Zerg?
If it were the former—an Undead Scourge—the irony was palpable. He, a Skeleton
Sovereign, was dispatching a legion of living humans to a world of the dead to
help other living humans liquidate his own kind.
The narrative logic of this Multiverse is becoming quite convoluted, he mused.
"Identify the reception of the Adventurer's Guild," Kaito commanded through the
link.
[Reporting, my Lord: the resonance was beyond projections. The moment the notice
was pinned, the enrollment sector was swamped. We were forced to deploy
secondary Punishment Legion units just to maintain the queue-logic.]
Greed's voice vibrated with pride. [Several elite party-units have emerged.
Notably, a trio led by a former Imperial Guard named Piers. The unit contains
his son, Karl, and a human youth designated Modi.]
[Their requisition-motivation was logged as 'Extreme.' Their synergy-rating is
categorized as 'Superior'.]
Modi?
Kaito localized the memory-file. The somewhat wooden human 'friend'. A unit
possessing high kinetic energy.
"And the Hub? Identify the status of the first recruitment cycle."
[Finalized, my Lord. The audit resulted in twenty-three successful appointments.
All units reported to their stations yesterday. Pre-deployment training is
currently at eighty percent completion.]
[One graduate, designated Eric, performed exceptionally during the audit. He
stated his objective was to stand at the Hub and witness the Empire expand
beneath his boots.]
Greed repeated the phrase.
"Mmh," Kaito hummed.
One youth sought the unknown horizon; another sought to guard the gate. The
diversity of human ambition was an interesting data point. As long as they
fulfilled their labor contracts and didn't introduce new "Drama-Loops," he was
satisfied.
[My Lord, a minor logic error has manifested regarding the Vanguard's equipment
issue.]
Greed's tone shifted slightly.
"Detail the error."
[The Logistics Division followed standard protocol, issuing every unit a diluted
vial of Emerald's Respite for emergency recovery. Furthermore, considering the
threat-rating of the mission, they were issued high-output Alchemical Relics
provided by the Arcane Legion.]
"And the result?"
[A percentage of the human adventurers, upon auditing the gear, discovered the
Alchemical Relics... possess 'Aggressive' side-effects.]
Kaito: "..."
"Clarify the biological reaction."
[They stated that utilizing the Imperial-Standard gear induces a 'Toxic-Shock'
debuff in human biology.]
"...Identify the casualty count."
[Census data: Forty-two units are currently experiencing system-failure. They
are localized in the Cathedral's medical sector. Symptoms include severe
gastro-intestinal rejection and 'Od-Nausea.' Parameters are stable, but they are
combat-ineffective.]
[I have dispatched a Myriad-Captain to audit the relics. His assessment is that
the output is 'Excellent,' but the biological tax is statistically too heavy for
a non-undead frame.]
Kaito tapped the interior of his coffin with a knuckle.
He felt a phantom migraine. Who authorized this? Issuing 'Skeleton-Tier' gear to
'Human-Tier' biologicals? Which genius ignored the compatibility variables?
"Broadcast my mandate," Kaito said.
"First: recalibrate the Alchemical Relics. Lower the output-threshold to
'Human-Compatible' before re-issue."
"Second: provide the forty-two casualties with a double-ration 'Gourmet
Subsidy.' Record it as 'Psychological Damage Compensation'."
"Third: inform the Vanguard that their directive is Reconnaissance. If a
variable manifests that exceeds their logic, they are to initiate a NIGERUNDAYO
maneuver and report back immediately."
[As commanded, my Sovereign,] Greed replied, his voice saturated with fresh
adoration.
Observe, Greed thought. The Master. Balancing Punishment with Providence.
Majesty fused with Mercy. Neutralizing a crisis with a single directive while
simultaneously securing the loyalty of his subjects. Flawless management.
Kaito had zero data on Greed's internal fan-fiction. He simply felt that if his
subordinates were vomiting due to his own labs' gear, the logical response was
to provide them with extra food. It was basic maintenance.
[My Lord, regarding the ultimate positioning of the Hub... you previously
mentioned it would serve as the 'Main Switch' for Imperial Planar Affairs.]
[The High Command has debated this term for cycles. We have yet to fully
conceptualize the depth of your wisdom. Pray, provide a secondary explanation
for our understanding.]
Greed's posture was a literal kowtow in the link.
Kaito recalled the phrase. He had utilized the term "Main Switch" because, after
claiming the Necrotic Realm, the Arcane Legion had localized a staggering amount
of Planar Coordinates.
He had no desire to see Skele-Pride dragging a half-dead Dragon through the
front gates of the Valley Base, asking if he should grill it or stew it for the
evening meal.
He didn't want Skele-Gluttony shipping an entire Plane's worth of local fauna
back because "they possess high bone-density and might be good for farming."
And he certainly didn't want Skele-Lust localizing an "Automatic Emotional
Massaging Chair" from a tech-world and trying to install one in his shack.
Therefore: The Hub.
A gargantuan sector containing Customs, Quarantine, Security Audits,
Warehousing, and Dispute Resolution.
Every item extracted from the Multiverse—spoils, souvenirs, or prisoners—must be
processed there first.
Registered. Sanitized. Evaluated. Categorized.
The high-value variables proceed to the Empire. The statistical trash is
liquidated or returned. The biological hazards are contained.
That was the "Main Switch." A planetary-scale pre-filter to ensure the
Sovereign's peace wasn't disturbed by external noise.
"The logic is elementary," Kaito's voice resonated in Greed's mind.
"The Hub is the Great Gate."
"All units seeking entry or extraction—biological or material—must pass through
that threshold."
"We do not seek to conquer for the sake of destruction. We provide a Platform.
An Opportunity."
"Those who seek integration are welcomed, provided they adopt our Protocols."
"Those who seek only trade are authorized, provided they offer 'Novelties' of
equivalent value."
"And those worlds being processed by Scourge or Calamity—like the Eldritch
Realm—we extend our Shadow. We provide an extraction route."
"If they follow our logic, we retrieve them. If they decline, we harvest the
required resources and leave them to their own liquidation."
"Our purpose is not Annihilation. It is Connection."
"Utilize trade, utilize order, and utilize 'Unrejectable Benefits' to link every
world to the Evernight banner."
"That is the function of the Hub."
Kaito finished the explanation and felt his vocal processors hitting their
limit. Truthfully, his logic was even simpler: he wanted an inter-planar
shopping mall. A place where everyone could trade peacefully so he could
scavenge for interesting toys.
Endless war is tedious, Kaito thought. I much prefer 'Gacha' and 'Trade'.
In the Soul Link, Greed had entered a state of terminal awe. A long, heavy
silence followed. Finally, his shivering voice returned.
[...Your servant... understands.] [Connection... replacing Conquest... utilizing
Order to create centripetal force...]
[My Sovereign, your foresight has surpassed the dimensions of space and time.
We, with our narrow intellects, can only glimpse a fraction of your Grand
Design.]
[You do not seek to be the King of Worlds. You seek to become... the Multiverse
itself!]
Kaito: "..."
Whatever. He is exhausted. Let him process it however he wishes.
"That is sufficient. Notify me when the Vanguard initiates transit."
[YES, MY SOVEREIGN!]
The link cut.
Silence reclaimed the interior of the coffin. Kaito sat up, pushing the lid open
and performing a slow stretch.
Governing an expanding Empire is a significant logistical tax, he thought. So
many variables. So many units.
It is statistically draining. I really need to go fishing.
☆☆☆
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