What Do You Mean I'm The Captain Of A Yandere Mercenary Company? Chapter 801: I’m Cheating?

It took me only moments to grasp what Gary meant.

The women headed to their quarters to slip into more relaxed outfits, given how this spot seemed pretty casual about uniforms when off the clock.

For my part, I just ducked into a restroom and let Renata shift back to my regular gear, and I was set.

With lunch hour upon us, I made my way to the mess hall to snag a table for my crew and me, then instructed them to join me there.

Entering the mess hall, I scanned around for a spot where we could all dine together.

Though fairly crowded by the time I arrived, ample seats remained available for folks to claim.

The idea of returning to our vessel for a meal crossed my mind, but I figured we'd make the most of their amenities instead.

Naturally... if their grub turns out downright awful, I might rethink that decision.

Yet, considering we're in the Inner Colonies, I anticipate the cuisine to be at least decently tasty.

As I set off to find seating, however, a group of three guys and two gals—fellow test pilots I knew—stepped forward to obstruct my way, none of them wearing even a hint of a smile.

"You... Who do you think you are?" one female pilot demanded, arms folded across her chest.

I cocked my head, feigning ignorance of her point.

"What do you mean? I’m your new colleague aren’t I?"

The second woman jabbed a finger in my direction, "Don’t feed us that crap! We know exactly what you’re scheming!!"

I stared at her, genuinely puzzled about their suspicions.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about? What do you mean?"

A guy scoffed, "Now she’s pretending she has no clue, how astonishing."

I coughed lightly, "Ahem... What do you think is happening? I would very much like to know."

The initial female pilot stomped once and thrust her finger at me, "Don’t play innocent! We know you’re cheating!"

I blinked once more, totally thrown by her claim.

Cheating? What on earth is she on about? Cheating how? At flying the Exo-Knight? How could anyone even pull that off?

"Cheating?" I inquired.

"Yes! There’s no way a regular person could handle flight like that! You must be running some program or gadget that controls the Exo-Knight for you, right?!"

I scowled at her, "You think I’m using AI to fly the Exo-Knight or whatever?"

"I knew it!! You absolutely are, aren’t you?! That’s your admission right there!"

"No, no... I wasn’t admitting a thing. I’m just... Stunned that you believe I’d stoop to such measures."

"Don’t treat us like fools! We’re the top pilots of Crusaders Inc.! You really think your sneaky little schemes won’t get caught?!"

Wow... Gary, you could’ve warned me these folks are totally out of touch...

I shook my head, "I’m telling you straight up that it was all skill. I didn’t cheat or rely on any extra software to help pilot the Exo-Knight."

"Lies! How could a rookie Exo-Knight pilot with just a month of practice pull off maneuvers like that!"

"Well... I’ve logged tons of hours in simulators?" I suggested.

Truth be told, it wasn’t entirely false—I’d gamed plenty in my previous world, essentially steering Exo-Knight-like machines... So yeah, that ought to qualify.

One male pilot bristled at my words and advanced, growling, "I advise you to come clean right now. Keeping up the deception won’t do you any favors."

"But I am telling the truth though? What more can I do to convince you?"

"There’s nothing you can do, we already know you’re cheating! Just confess!"

What sort of twisted logic is that?

You’re slamming me with an accusation, yet you’ve already decided the ‘facts’ and won’t budge on any evidence against it?

I glowered at them, "In that case, what do you plan to do about it?"

The lead woman jabbed at me smugly, "Ha! I knew it! You’re a cheater after all!! Now it’s confirmed!!"

Another guy grinned slyly at me, "You’re done for! We’ll inform the company and you’ll be sacked on day one!"

Seriously? All because I questioned their next move?

Yet another male pilot approached and cracked his knuckles, "Firing her alone isn’t sufficient. She humiliated us all in today’s trials. Let’s give her a proper thrashing now!"

Whoa, for real?

He drew back his fist and swung straight at my face.

The move was so obvious that I easily sidestepped, letting the punch sail by.

I straightened up as he retracted his arm, the man’s eyes widening in shock at my evasion.

I cleared my throat, "Ahem... I’m offering you one last opportunity to rethink before you deal with repercussions."

"Is that a threat?"

"Hmm... I suppose so, yes."

He lunged to seize my throat, and this time I let him.

His hand wrapped around my neck and tightened, meant to strangle, but... Renata had hardened around my throat, rendering it immovable.

For a split second, he smirked, believing he had me, until he noticed his grip wouldn’t yield despite his full effort.

I ensured he got the point before slamming my fist into his face, making him release me and stagger away, clutching his shattered nose.

A different male pilot moved in to grab me, so I slipped beneath his reach and delivered an uppercut, my knuckles colliding with his chin and sending him sprawling backward.

The final male pilot advanced for a wild haymaker.

I lifted my arm to deflect the strike, then swiftly followed with a right hook that crashed into his cheek, causing him to reel.

With a furious bellow, he barreled toward me like he aimed to bulldoze me down.

A simple sidestep and extended leg was all it took to trip him, and I watched with a grin as he slammed face-first into the floor with a thud.

The first choker recovered and swung his right fist toward my head’s side.

I tilted back, the blow whistling past, before thrusting my leg out and driving my shin into his groin.

He emitted a shrill yelp and crumpled, cradling his privates in agony.

Hey, I’d warned him three times to stop, and he persisted, so he earned that.

The tripped one struggled to rise, so I approached and kneed his temple, flattening him as he went limp like a ragdoll into blackout.

I spun around just as one female pilot shrieked and charged with flailing fists, as if to pummel me.

I merely lifted my hand and delivered a sharp slap to her face.

She froze, dazed by the smack, and her expression screamed she’d never taken one before.

As her mouth parted to speak, I backhanded her other cheek.

Again, she gaped silently before my palm struck once more.

Third strike sealed it—she caught on and clamped her lips shut, backing away fast.

I faced the remaining female pilot, who’d observed it all with bulging eyes, and she promptly threw up her hands in defeat.

Wise choice.

Right on cue, a squad in what appeared like armored plating burst into the mess hall.

"What the hell is going on here?!" their commander bellowed.

Oh fantastic, security? Handle them, would you.