"I am Captain Allison Baker. I will be aboard the Melea for this operation. Pleased to meet you."

The key crew members of the Melea were gathered on the bridge, including Emma, who was acting captain of the Mobile Knight squadron.

Allison, who gave a textbook-perfect salute, appeared to be a bridge crew member.

The ambiguity of "appeared to be" stemmed from the fact that her role on the Melea had been determined by Fleet Headquarters.

"Um, may I ask a question?"

Emma raised her hand tentatively, and Allison nodded slightly after glancing at her.

"Captain Emma Rodman, correct? Yes, go ahead."

While her words were soft, Allison's demeanor seemed to create a wall around her.

Emma inquired about Allison's role.

"I heard you were dispatched as a supervisor, but what exactly will you be supervising? Our Mobile Knight squadron?"

Allison turned to face Emma and smiled.

However, the smile felt somehow condescending… mocking.

"Everything."

"Everything?"

"This unit's predecessor was a backwater security force known as a dumping ground for demotions. Morale and training are low, and there are records of passive actions in past missions. Despite that, you're in a special situation with the deployment of the new units… Fleet Headquarters decided they couldn't leave it unattended and dispatched me."

Emma realized the purpose of Allison's dispatch.

"You're a watchdog?"

"Monitoring is part of my mission, but my role is to make sure you follow Fleet Headquarters' orders. You could say I'm a temporary overseer."

When the surrounding crew stirred at the word "overseer," Allison raised her voice.

"My orders are Fleet Headquarters' orders. Disobedience will not be tolerated. Regardless of rank, you will follow my instructions from now on."

Allison glared at those around her, seemingly looking down on Emma and the others.

Among those gathered, Doug pointed out something that bothered him.

"Another troublesome big shot has arrived. By the way, the name Baker…"

Doug's words drew everyone's attention to the silent Tim.

Glances went back and forth between Allison and Tim, making both of them appear uncomfortable.

Allison was the first to speak.

"There's no need to hide it. The Commodore is my great-grandfather."

Hearing this, everyone exclaimed in surprise, "Eh!?"

Intrigued, Emma asked Tim about his relationship with Allison.

"Commander, you have family!"

"...Yeah."

At Commander Tim's curt reply, the surrounding crew became excited.

"His great-granddaughter got assigned here?"

"Commander, you're being secretive. You could have told us."

"She's a fine great-granddaughter, Commander."

The previous atmosphere vanished, and the bridge shifted into a welcoming mode towards Allison.

However, Allison herself did not open up.

Not only did she maintain a military demeanor, but she also seemed to look down on the Melea unit and showed no intention of getting deeply involved.

"Even relatives can bef strangers. I've never met the Commodore. So please don't bring up family matters."

Although Allison behaved disrespectfully towards Commodore Tim, she was a troublesome guest dispatched from Fleet Headquarters.

Perhaps Tim was also feeling conflicted, as he remained silent, prompting Emma to speak up in his place.

"Captain Baker, isn't your tone a bit harsh?"

"After all the unbelievable actions you've taken as a military unit, it's absurd to think you'd be treated normally. Reflect on the reason I was dispatched here and face this battle accordingly. Frankly, I didn't want to be sent to a unit like this either."

The surrounding crew reacted with obvious frowns at the phrase "a unit like this."

Emma couldn't remain silent either.

"Saying 'a unit like this' is a bit much. We are—"

Allison continued, seemingly aware of Emma's protest.

"You seem to be receiving special treatment, but Central Command's priority is the main force, the regular fleet. Understand that you, assigned to a raiding fleet, are only worth that much."

Allison, who boarded the Melea alone, was either fearless, arrogant, or both… she looked down on Emma and the others.

◇

Doug remained on the bridge after Allison and Emma left.

"Your great-granddaughter is quite something. Not just her rank of Captain at that age, but she's quite the elite."

Allison had become a Captain at a young age and was a talented woman on an elite track.

Tim put a hand to his forehead, recalling his great-granddaughter's attitude.

"To think that a pretentious elite is my great-granddaughter, the world is full of surprises."

Tim hadn't imagined that his great-granddaughter would become an elite and be assigned to the Melea.

Doug gave Tim a complicated look.

"Commander Tim, what about your family?"

"...I haven't been home for hundreds of years. I keep sending money, so I haven't received divorce papers yet."

Tim replied jokingly, but Doug was worried.

"If you have a family, shouldn't you go back at least once?"

However, Tim didn't want to go back.

"What face could I possibly show them now? Like that girl said, we're just strangers connected by blood. Someone like me, now…"

Not wanting to talk any further, Tim pulled his hat down low, hiding his eyes.

◇

The star system chosen as the battlefield between the Algland Empire and the United Kingdom of Oxis was teeming with mercenary groups and arms dealers who saw war as a business opportunity.

Selena, leading her Dahlia Mercenary Group, had also come to the battlefield.

Large-scale wars between interstellar nations involve enormous budgets.

Although aided by artificial intelligence, most people in this world disliked AI.

Therefore, vast budgets were entrusted to human hands.

These budgets attracted not only mercenary groups and arms dealers but also groups that provided entertainment for the soldiers.

On the bridge of the Dahlia Mercenary Group's flagship, Selena stood instead of sitting in the captain's chair.

The corners of her mouth turned up at the scenery displayed on the monitor.

"With a war of this scale, we should be able to earn for at least a few decades."

The subordinate she had chosen as her adjutant this time stood beside Selena, chest puffed out and hands clasped behind their back.

"It's a time to make a fortune."

"Thanks to the foolish interstellar nations and nobles. By the way, who do you think will win this time?"

Selena enjoyed the conversation with her adjutant.

She also didn't forget to assess how capable her new adjutant was through their conversation.

After all, this adjutant was a newcomer she had recruited when replenishing her personnel.

Selena had appointed them as her adjutant to nurture them into a competent commander.

The adjutant put a hand to their chin.

"Numerically, the Imperial Army has the advantage, but the United Kingdom of Oxis has higher morale... In addition, the Empire's overall commander this time is the Third Prince Cleo, who is vying for the throne with the First Prince. I hear he has little battlefield experience. On the other hand, the United Kingdom of Oxis has a talented woman as their commander-in-chief, who rose to the rank of general at the youngest age ever… so I'd say the United Kingdom of Oxis."

Selena applauded and praised the adjutant for their analysis.

"Very good. I think the same way. With that in mind, which side should we support?"

The adjutant grinned at Selena's question.

"The side that pays us more and ensures our survival. It doesn't matter which one. We can even switch sides as the situation demands."

Selena was satisfied with the adjutant's answer, giving them a passing grade in her mind.

"Correct. In a war of this scale, it's unthinkable to side with only one party. Since we're mercenaries, we have to side with whoever offers the highest price. But don't forget, we don't participate in losing battles."

"Yes!"

As the adjutant saluted, the bridge operator turned around.

There was a slight tension in their expression.

"Commander Selena, the Empire's de facto commander has been identified."

The Third Prince Cleo was merely the figurehead commander-in-chief; a general or knight acting as his aide would be in overall command.

Rumors and unconfirmed information were flying around, but they hadn't been able to pinpoint the individual.

Selena feigned calmness despite her curiosity about the operator's reaction.

"Who is it?"

"It's the Banfield family's knight, Klaus Serra Mont!"

The bridge crew's reaction to the name was divided.

Some crew members reacted with surprise, while others tilted their heads in confusion at the unknown knight's name.

In this kind of war, it was customary for a skilled and famous knight to serve as an aide, so they couldn't believe an unknown knight was assisting Cleo.

However, Selena's reaction was the former.

Her eyes widened for a moment, and then her brow furrowed.

Despite their confusion, the adjutant spoke about Klaus.

"Klaus… I haven't heard of such an influential knight. I doubt the Banfield family would recommend an unknown knight as an aide, so perhaps he is skilled. Or perhaps some political maneuvering has placed an incompetent in that position."

Selena explained to the bewildered adjutant.

"I told you about how the Dahlia Mercenary Group suffered a major blow a while back, right?"

"Yes. I heard you had a hard time rebuilding the group because of it."

"...Klaus Serra Mont."

"Huh?"

"I investigated later, and it was Klaus who dealt us that heavy blow. It seems he was leading a smaller fleet back then… So, he's risen this high in such a short time."

Selena and the Dahlia Mercenary Group had suffered heavy losses at the hands of Klaus during the raid on the Seventh Weapons Factory.

On this battlefield, most people would likely underestimate him as an unknown knight, like her adjutant.

However, Selena and her group knew how dangerous Klaus was.

"He's certainly not incompetent. However, it's unclear if he has the talent to command on this scale."

Leading millions of ships required more than just talent, experience, or luck.

It was a feat that only a handful of individuals, possessing all three and blessed with favorable circumstances, could achieve.

There were many generals and knights who could lead tens of thousands of ships in battle but failed when put in charge of millions.

It was unknown whether Klaus had the talent to command a war of this scale, but Selena considered him an opponent she couldn't underestimate.

"It's best not to underestimate him as an amateur. At least, we'll operate under the assumption that the Imperial commander is competent."

The adjutant gulped.

They probably hadn't expected Selena to hold him in such high regard.

"Understood."