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"Huh? Kai-chan, you're not becoming one? If Rimuru won't do it, then I want to! Being an emperor sounds super cool!"
Milim, who had just stepped through the Dimensional Gate and climbed into the back seat, excitedly raised her hand and shouted.
"Hmph, absolutely not!"
The moment Rimuru heard that, she immediately refused.
Milim puffed out her cheeks unhappily and pointed at Rimuru.
"If you won't let me become the emperor of the Jura Tempest Federation, then I'll just make a new Jura Tempest Federation myself!"
Screeeech!!!
The Humvee suddenly came to a violent stop.
"Waaahhhh!!!"
Ramiris, who had been happily licking a lollipop, got launched straight out of the vehicle from inertia.
"Kai-chan, what are you doing?!"
Rimuru looked at Kaito in confusion after the sudden brake.
Ignoring her completely, Kaito silently turned around and placed a helmet onto Milim's head.
"Huh?"
Milim blinked her adorable eyes and tilted her head in confusion.
"Nothing. I just suddenly felt like you'd be safer this way."
After saying that, Kaito calmly restarted the Humvee and continued driving forward.
Behind them, the seemingly endless convoy also began moving again.
"Hmph! Milim, if you dare create another Jura Tempest Federation, I'll have Sakuya cut off all your desserts!"
"Huh?! You can't do that! That's way too evil! Fine, I won't do it anymore!"
The moment Milim heard the word "desserts," she instantly surrendered.
"Hmph hmph, a mere Milim still wants to challenge me."
Just as Kaito continued speeding forward, a figure suddenly appeared standing at the rear of the Humvee.
"Souei, what's wrong?"
Kaito asked without even turning his head.
"Kaito-sama, Dr. Vegapunk sent over a new report. Would you like to read it?"
Souei respectfully explained.
"No need. Just summarize it for me."
"Yes. Dr. Vegapunk reports that the first frigate has already been completed, and the remaining ships are currently being accelerated in production."
The first thing that came to Kaito's mind after hearing the report was the Hyacinth event.
Comparing this world's Empire with the Jura Tempest Federation...
Hmm.
The enemy's strength was as insignificant as ants, while theirs was practically godlike.
Very good.
Very, very good.
PS: The Hyacinth is a starting event from Stellaris. Any war criminal who's played Stellaris should know it very well.
"Frigate? Kai-chan, doesn't the navy already have a bunch of frigates? Is it really worth making a special report over one?"
Rimuru looked puzzled.
Kaito chuckled mysteriously.
"Rimuru, remember when I said I'd give you a huge surprise?"
"I remember. You suddenly started laughing like you'd lost your mind, then said you'd tell me later. Is this the surprise? Isn't it just a frigate?"
"This isn't an ordinary frigate."
"This is a frigate equipped with a jump drive! The giant golden guy next door is probably crying tears of envy right now!"
"Space battleship!!!"
Rimuru shot to her feet in shock.
Thankfully, the Humvee had no roof. Otherwise, her head would've suffered greatly.
"That's right!"
"Wooow! Kai-chan, you're amazing! You can even build space battleships?! I wanna go to space too, take me with you!"
Even though Rimuru's current strength already allowed her to travel through space on her own...
Who didn't dream about commanding an interstellar fleet and conquering the stars?
Especially a former shut-in girl.
"Alright, alright. I'll take you once we get back."
"Hehe, don't forget, Kai-chan!"
Amid their casual chatter, the convoy continued advancing toward the Empire.
Meanwhile, beside the roadside...
A tiny fairy sat blankly in the grass while holding a lollipop, watching military trucks continuously drive past her.
How did I get here?
Where's Kaito?
Where's Milim?
Where's Rimuru?
Where did everybody goooo?!
...
"Who exactly are you people?! Why did you kidnap us?! We don't even have anything valuable!"
With white cloth wrapped over their eyes, Ieyasu and Sayo fearfully looked toward the group casually eating barbecue nearby.
"I've gotta say, Ace, your grilling skills are seriously good. Guess you really were worthy of working at Miss Kochou Shinobu's barbecue restaurant."
Former Rear Admiral Drake took a bite of meat and immediately praised him.
"Can eating not shut your mouth for once? Who'd want to work at that horrible woman's restaurant?!"
Ace visibly shuddered after recalling those days of brutal exploitation.
"You really don't know how lucky you are. Tons of people want to work there and don't even get the chance."
"That's Miss Kochou Shinobu we're talking about. And her sister is Secretary-General Kochou Kanae. Rumor says both sisters have a rather unclear relationship with Kaito-sama."
Drake lowered his voice mysteriously.
"Drake, that's not even a secret anymore. Secretary-General Kanae is already Kaito-sama's woman."
"Any old citizen of the Jura Tempest Federation knows that."
"It's only Miss Kochou Shinobu whose situation is hard to figure out."
A Goblin warrior accompanying the mission spat out a bone while speaking.
"But I heard Testarossa-sama, Director of Foreign Affairs, has been pursuing Kaito-sama recently!"
"Whaaat?! Seriously?! No way!"
Seeing the group completely ignore them, Ieyasu and Sayo couldn't help shouting again:
"Are you people even listening to us?!"
"We heard you."
Ace casually tossed a chicken leg toward each of them.
"Just stay quiet for now. We'll let you go when the time comes. Here, eat something first."
After speaking, Ace casually burned away the ropes binding their hands.
Looking at the terrifying strength this group possessed, the two could only silently accept their fate.
Tatsumi...
Please don't end up getting targeted by these people too.
Meanwhile, Tatsumi looked gratefully at the luxurious meal laid out before him and repeatedly bowed toward the family.
"Thank you so much for taking care of me!"
"Hehe, this was all Aria's idea. She just loves bringing home people like you. Honestly, I don't know what to do with her anymore."
Hearing her mother teasing her, Aria immediately pouted shyly.
"Mooom!"
"Hehe, alright, alright. I won't tease you anymore."
At that moment, Aria's father smiled kindly and asked:
"So, you want to make a name for yourself in the military and save your village?"
"Yes!"
"But let me tell you this. Although the Empire itself appears peaceful, foreign races surround this nation from three sides..."
Aria's father carefully explained the Empire's current situation to Tatsumi and even promised to use his military connections to help him join the army.
Tatsumi immediately thanked him excitedly and even promised to protect Aria in the future.
Time quickly passed into the latter half of the night.
At that moment, several figures stood atop the rooftop of the noble estate, coldly observing the patrolling guards below.