Chapter 24: A Heroine for the Protagonist, and a Conspiracy for Me
  “I see. You have rebelled against the organization. In other words…… I’m a hostage, aren’t I?”
  
  After having the briefing room prepared as a makeshift reception room and explaining the situation to Franny, she neither became angry nor afraid, but simply accepted it as it was.
  She fearlessly took a sip of the prepared coffee and looked steadily at Shougo.
  It wasn’t a normal reaction. The fact that her father’s subordinates had revolted and she was on their ship should have been more shocking.
  Even if it meant she was saved.
  
  “Despicable. You say you saved Ojō-sama only to commit such rudeness?”
  
  Rather, it was the maid who was restless. The bespectacled intellectual who looked like the very picture of seriousness. She was called a maid, but she wasn’t wearing a maid uniform. She was wearing a rather simple dress.
  She was glaring at them nervously from behind her glasses. But she was restless and strangely fidgety. He knew she was nervous.
  
  “I have no intention of taking you hostage. You are allowed to move freely within the ship, except for places like the launch deck and the b*idge. Rather, that situation was unexpected for us as well.”
  
  Shougo spoke with the intention of appeasing her, but the maid was looking at him with suspicion, as if to say, “I don’t know about that.”
  In a way, this might be the most fitting reaction.
  
  “It’s true that I have turned against New Balance, and against Commander Fauden, but that doesn’t mean I intend to harm civilians. Therefore, I promise you. I will never harm you. If anything were to happen to Franny-ojōsama, Fauden would pursue us to the ends of the earth, to the ends of the universe.”
  “Ufufu, indeed. Even from my perspective, my father dotes on me. I am his only daughter, born to him in his old age, so I understand that. Besides, I also understand that my father has made many enemies.”
  
  While she spoke in a conversational tone, there was calmness in her words.
  
  “I was prepared for something like this to happen eventually. After all, my father is oppressing people for the sake of his own ambition.”
  “Does Ojō-sama know Commander Fauden’s true intentions?”
  
  Franny shook her head at Shougo’s question.
  
  “I know he’s trying to achieve something, but I don’t know what it is specifically. He often used to say, like a catchphrase, that he had to take care of the chicks.”
  “Chicks?”
  
  Shougo wished he would stop talking about his ideals with this vague imagery.
  It’s not just limited to anime, but characters who uphold some grand ideal often act according to their own unique sensibilities.
  To put it more bluntly, they are self-contained, recognizing their actions as justice itself, and trying to make others obey, whether consciously or unconsciously.
  And he feels like there are many who brand those who don’t understand their own justice as fools and try to dispose of them. It’s Shougo’s own image, but at this moment, it’s not a far-fetched guess.
  
  “What’s that, are you stupid?”
  
  It was Anish who responded to Franny’s words with words that were too straightforward.
  
  “Hey Anish, your language.”
  
  Yuuki tried to subtly restrain Anish, but she ignored him and continued.
  
  “I don’t know if it’s a parent bird or something, but parents don’t k*ll their children for no reason. Rather, such parents are the worst. In other words, your father is looking down on us colony planet residents, thinking he’s managing us, and attacking us for discipline? Who does he think he is?”
  “You, how dare you speak like that! How rude!”
  
  The maid stood up and retorted in a high-pitched voice.
  
  “It’s rude to suddenly drop bombs on us! Colony planets may give to Earth, but they never receive anything! Sure, resort areas like Al Minar are fine, but we’re barely managing to stabilize our lives without much equipment or resources!”
  “My father must understand the hardships of pioneering.”
  
  Franny, on the other hand, was resolute.
  
  “I hear that my father was also involved in planetary development when he was young. It was my father who developed Al Minar into a tourist destination.”
  “Eh?”
  
  That was news to him.
  
  “Come to think of it…… I’ve heard that before.”
  
  Major Kes, who was also present, started to speak as if he had remembered something.
  
  “It’s said that Commander Fauden was involved in the technical department when he was young.”
  “Ah, that’s a common story. They always advertised it in those d*mn boring documentaries.”
  
  Mark, who was also present, seemed to have something to add as well.
  
  “The Al Minar sector is far from its star, and originally had many planets buried in glaciers. They developed a light-collecting lens colony to gather light and heat, creating a warm climate and oceans……”
  “And with that success, he was able to take it easy in the military. After that, he got involved in military affairs, and before you know it, he’s the Commander.”
  
  Listening to Kes and Mark’s statements, Shougo thought.
  
  ‘Why didn’t they depict that in the anime, you idiots!’
  
  He complained inwardly.
  
  “Such a man who has experienced hardship is oppressing the colonies? I can’t quite connect the dots…… But, no matter what his past may be, New Balance has privatized the military, imposed oppression, and the more arrogant members have no hesitation in destroying planets and massacring residents. Franny-sama, I have witnessed it firsthand. And I am the one who received those orders.”
  
  Even Franny couldn’t hide her surprise at Shougo’s words.
  
  “My father, gave such orders? I had heard that he was carrying out oppression…… but massacre?”
  “I, it’s a lie, Ojō-sama! Commander Fauden would never do such a thing……! In the first place, it’s because terrorists like the Rebel Army are ravaging space that Commander Fauden organized New Balance to pacify the universe……”
  
  The maid couldn’t believe it either. She was flustered, as if she wanted to say they were lying.
  It seems that the concealment of the truth through information control has affected even his own daughter. She seems to know nothing about the atrocities her father is committing.
  Perhaps she only thought that he was hated because he was the high-handed head of the military.
  
  “I have data showing that I gave the order for Anferu to destroy a planet using the Planet Killer. To tell you the truth, I was that man’s subordinate. And Yuuki and Anish here are the ones who almost became victims. Right now, they are here due to an accident…… but I received the order to destroy their hometown. I opposed it and defected.”
  “Did my father…… admit to that……?”
  “No matter how hawkish Anferu is, he can’t act without ignoring his boss, Commander Fauden. It must have been the Commander who gave the permission.”
  
  In reality, Anferu was acting quite independently and ignoring orders to a certain extent, but it could be said that Fauden was equally guilty for not controlling him. However, he hesitated to tell Franny that.
  He was planning to say something even worse than that.
  
  “Therefore, I have rebelled against New Balance and taken action to correct this. Whether the current arrogant New Balance can become a new order in the universe, I don’t think so. That’s why I’m here to make it all public.”
  
  Then he thought. If he were to spread this evil deed to the whole world, even Franny, Fauden’s daughter, could become a target of criticism.
  She would definitely be attacked.
  “Several planets have already been destroyed by New Balance. I don’t know why a man who knows the hardships of pioneering would condone this. But I can’t allow any more atrocities. Franny-sama, please understand. I’m not lying. I intend to put this into action.”
  “My father…… could it be, such a thing……”
  
  Franny’s expression clouded slightly. It seems she didn’t think he was pure and innocent, but his dark side was far beyond her imagination.
  
  “I understood that you can’t run an organization on idealism alone…… but if my father really did such a thing…… then he should be punished. Are you going to do that?”
  “If I can’t do that, I’ll be eliminated. You can laugh if you want. I will denigrate others to survive. I have no hesitation in making the facts public.”
  
  Both Franny and the maid were speechless.
  They seemed to be at a loss as to how to react to the shocking truth.
  
  “I do intend to release you eventually. But not now. If I do it now…… you will be in danger. It’s obvious that the violence of those who resent you will rain down on you.”
  
  The previous rampage of the soldiers was probably one of the reasons.
  The three soldiers are currently locked up in the ship’s brig. He intends to interrogate them later and obtain information.
  
  “Well then, I’ll be going. I have things to do.”
  
  Shougo stood up and left the briefing room with Mark and Kes. As he did so, he patted Yuuki on the shoulder.
  
  “Sorry, but can I leave the rest to you? I’m not good at that sort of thing.”
  “Eh? Captain?”
  
  Ignoring Yuuki’s bewilderment, Shougo quickly left the room.
  And then……
  
  “Haa…… this has become a big deal.”
  
  This is it.
  
  “What does the Captain intend to do with that girl?”
  “Lieutenant Mark. I’m also worried about that right now. I have no intention of stopping our activities now. But, Franny-ojōsama’s presence is quite troublesome. We’ll have to release her somewhere eventually, but……”
  “It seems like she’ll be lynched by the anti-New Balance people the moment she’s released, doesn’t it?”
  “That’s the point. I don’t want that. I don’t like the idea of pushing a parent’s responsibility onto their child.”
  
  Shougo doesn’t hate her, not really.
  Rather, he even feels sorry for her, thinking she was born under an unlucky star.
  
  “However…… I don’t understand.”
  
  Kes muttered along the way.
  He had been making a difficult face ever since they rescued Franny.
  
  “What is it, Major Kes? You seem to have something on your mind.”
  “Well, no…… I understand the story up to the point where Franny-ojōsama was attacked by the anti-New Balance hawks. To remove the Commander from his position in exchange for Ojōsan’s safety…… well, the success rate is low, and even if it were to succeed, it would only garner sympathy. But…… I don’t understand why she was in that sector in the first place. Even if she was being chased by the military, would she really escape to such a place?”
  “Hmm…… certainly, that’s a valid question. What about the shuttle captain?”
  “He’s currently undergoing treatment. His life is not in danger, but he’s not in a condition to be questioned yet.”
  “So, about the interrogation of those three……”
  
  He also wanted to know about the movements within the military.
  In that sense, the new prisoners were a lucky find. And the three undamaged Rabi Reivs were also a big deal.
  Therefore, Shougo and the others headed to the brig, intending to begin the interrogation of the three prisoners.
  It was at that moment.
  
  “C, Captain!”
  
  Anish came running up to them, looking flustered.
  
  “Um, the TV broadcast…… they’re saying that Franny is dead……”
  “……Huh?”
  
  That seems like a rather quick response.
  
  “Who’s saying that?”
  “Th, the bald guy……”
  “Anferu!”
  
  Shougo and the others turned on their heels and returned to the briefing room.
  There, they saw the bald giant, Anferu, shouting, shedding tears, and delivering a loud speech.
  
  『──What I cannot forgive is the fact that the terrorists calling themselves the Rebel Army, not content with proclaiming anti-New Balance sentiments and engaging in piracy in various locations, are freely moving between planets, taking young lives like this! I intend to send the Rebel Army, who have basely assassinated the daughter of our leader, Commander Fauden, who has protected the peace of the universe, straight to h*ll! Terrorists calling yourselves the Rebel Army! Divine punishment will surely befall you for your actions!』
  
  It was a message that conveyed his self-righteousness.
  More than that, it was too well-timed.
  Franny’s attack was just a short while ago. It was a press conference timed as if he had foreseen it.
  
  “What…… what does this mean? Did New Balance…… know about Franny-ojōsama’s attack?”
  “T, that’s ridiculous……! We were just heading to the rendezvous point as instructed by Commander Fauden! Then, the military suddenly appeared and……!”
  
  The moment the maid said that, Franny ran out of the briefing room.
  
  “Ah, Franny!”
  “Hey, where are you going?!”
  
  Yuuki and Anish chased after her.
  The maid was in a panic.
  Shougo decided to leave Franny to the two of them and question the maid himself. He grabbed her shoulder and spoke to her calmly.
  
  “Hey, what’s going on? Commander Fauden’s instructions?!”
  “Yes! I heard from his subordinates that we were to return to our home…… and so, and so……”
  “What’s going on…… did he try to k*ll his own daughter?”