The Small Magellanic Cloud is governed by the Aooa species.
Their national governing system is similar to an oligarchy, with a single emperor and a council of elders holding power.
This is the capital planet of the Aooa species. Over 80% of the planet’s surface is covered by deep, dark oceans, with low and intricate streamlined dome-like structures forming a megalopolis on and under the sea.
Inside the palace made of blue minerals, the elder Aooas speak with melodious voices.
【Your Majesty. The Chimeraz fleet has arrived. Our fleet has granted them entry into orbit in order to maintain friendly relations with the Chimeraz.】
Emperor Aooa, standing on a high platform, closes his eyes wearily.
Emperor Aooa is ruling over the Aooa species, which is in a state of decline. Lately, in particular, he has been experiencing a great deal of distress.
【What was the name of the fleet’s commander? Kreion?】
【Anima Selas. She is the second ruler of the Chimeraz, just below Kreion in power. She even made a statement that she is targeting the Large Magellanic Cloud for expansion.】
【The Large Magellanic Cloud. . .? Isn’t that the Crolr race’s territory?】
【She requested an audience with Your Majesty. Shall we grant her entry to the palace?】
【The Chimeraz. . . aren’t they the species causing a commotion in the Milky Way?】
【Your Majesty. According to the chief diplomat of Aooa, the Chimeraz are aggressive towards humans, but they are a species with whom we can communicate well enough.】
【. . . Invite her to the palace.】
After a while, Anima appeared in the room where Emperor Aooa and the elder Aooas were.
Anima, with white hair, pale skin, red eyes, and a red dress. She gave off a completely different vibe from the humans that the Aooas were familiar with.
Four Elites stood behind her like a wall, and she stopped in front of the emperor.
She did not bow, but raised her head and faced the emperor boldly. She herself was also the leader of a species.
“Nice to meet you, Emperor.”
The words exchanged between Anima and Emperor Aooa were automatically translated in the palace and displayed as holographic text.
【Welcome, Anima Selas. The second ruler of the Chimeraz.】
“This is the first time the Chimeraz have come since the trade last time. Are you using the self-replicating protein satellites well?”
Perhaps intentionally, she asked about their well-being out of the blue.
Emperor Aooa pondered his response.
【It didn’t turn out as expected. But more importantly, you said that you came to me today for the purpose of expansion. The Large Magellanic Cloud is ruled by the Crolr.】
“I know that the Crolr is the ruler of the Large Magellanic Cloud. After all, they were a species that once had diplomatic relations with the Milky Way. But the Crolr won’t be able to stop our expansion.”
It was a statement that seemed to antagonize the Crolr.
Emperor Aooa asked cautiously after a few more moments of deliberation.
【This could be a very dangerous decision for both sides. So first, I would like to hear the details.】
“I saw the Crolr, and it seemed like they were assembling a fleet and preparing for war. I wanted to ask you about that first.”
【What do you mean?】
“Which species the Crolr is going up against.”
The nameless existence in the protein satellite had reported to her. That a large Crolr fleet was gathering somewhere in the Tarantula Nebula.
【I’m sorry, but we don’t know. Crolr is a species that is always at war. So Crolr’s diplomacy is simple. Humans are the only species that they have equal relations with, and the rest are either targets of Crolr’s exploitation or future conquests.】
【The fact that they are preparing for war means that they have found their current target of conquest. And since there are so many large and small species in this universe, it is difficult for us, as a neighboring species, to determine which species they are targeting.】
“You’re not lying, are you?”
At that moment, the elder Aooas tensed up all at once.
【Would I need to lie to you, Selas-nim?】
“Okay. Then let me tell you this.”
Anima took a few more steps towards Emperor Aooa.
The elder Aooas were about to say something after seeing that, but they fell silent without realizing it after making eye contact with the Elites.
“The three self-replicating protein satellites. The Crolr took all of them, didn’t they?”
【. . . How did you know that the Crolr took them?】
At that moment, Anima smiled, as if she knew everything.
“One of those satellites. There’s a huge Chimeraz inside it.”
【If you mixed Chimeraz into the organic matter when trading with our diplomatic corps, then Kreion deceived us?】
“It was a failsafe.”
【I believed that we had made a fair trade. How could you do such a thing to us?】
“That’s what diplomacy is all about. Thanks to that, I have now secured a foothold to strike the Crolr species. Kreion-nim may have deceived the diplomatic corps at the time, but in the end, isn’t it a gain for Aooa?”
Emperor Aooa was unable to refute her momentum.
“So the self-replicating protein satellites have been observing the Crolr’s movements all this time. . . On the day that the self-replicating protein satellites were seized, the Aooa diplomat made a statement to the Crolr.”
The Aooas were shocked. They were truly innocent responses.
➖They are peaceful, and their galaxy is bountiful. Only because humans rule that vast galaxy are there many celestial resources left, and thanks to that, they are a beautiful species that creates advanced art and culture.
➖From a human standpoint, there is nothing more to conquer in the Milky Way. Humans live in the best galaxy where weapons and war are truly unnecessary. It’s enviable.
The Aooa diplomat, for the sake of his species,
Incited the Crolr’s warlike tendencies,
Made the Crolr attack the humans,
And so led the Crolr to ruin,
That statement was made in the hope of eventually liberating the species that had been the Crolr’s targets of exploitation and Aooa.
“I remember it exactly. Shall I translate it here?”
【No, that’s not necessary. I understand what you’re trying to say, and I would appreciate it if you kept it a secret from the humans.】
“Really?”
【I beg you.】
“Got it.”
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