Previously on What Do You Mean I'm The Captain Of A Yandere Mercenary Company?...
The protagonist's ship was intercepted and boarded by security forces, who took control of the vessel and confined the crew. Despite the overwhelming force, they complied due to a mind-reading confirmation that the security personnel were legitimate and acting on orders regarding an "illegal item" on board. The protagonist was then escorted off the ship, blindfolded, and taken to a secluded, ornate room on a Pleasure Station, only to find themselves alone with the guards.
Immediately, the armed personnel within the room struck me as different from the police who had been escorting me. These guards, clad entirely in black body armor, possessed equipment that appeared significantly more advanced than the police issue gear. I surmised they represented distinct factions, not mere elite police officers. An palpable tension filled the air between these two groups, even though their faces were concealed by helmets. One of the black-armored guards gestured dismissively towards the police. "We can handle this now; you may leave." The police guard stationed beside me remained unmoving, instead stepping forward to position himself protectively in front of me. "Absolutely not. You claimed illegal cargo was aboard their vessel, yet we discovered nothing. Additionally, you insisted they be brought before your superior without proof, a clear violation of our protocols. We only complied due to your boss's assertion that station security was at risk if we refused. Now you expect us to abandon her to your custody? Impossible. Her safety remains our responsibility until you provide a valid reason for us to transfer it to you." My surprise grew; these police officers were unexpectedly principled and dutiful. The other guard bristled at the officer's defiance, several of his companions tensing as if anticipating a confrontation. Surely, they wouldn't resort to open gunfire here, would they? Just as I braced for an outbreak of violence, a side door slid open. A man in a dark grey suit emerged, accompanied by several women who appeared to be his secretaries, though the weaponry they carried suggested otherwise. The man was tall and slender, his eyes obscured by a visor that covered the upper half of his face. He frowned upon seeing me, and a flicker of hope ignited that perhaps he, too, would possess reason and order these armored guards to cease threatening the police. Regrettably, I should have anticipated that the leader would be as unreasonable as his subordinates; he immediately pointed an accusing finger in my direction. "I distinctly recall ordering the apprehension of the entire crew. Who is this?" The police officer shielding me turned to address the man in the suit. "Your intelligence has been unreliable thus far. You asserted the presence of contraband on that ship, but we found none. You also suggested the vessel might be infested with hostile creatures, yet no such threat was detected during our boarding." "Then you clearly targeted the wrong ship!" the other man bellowed, striking the table beside him. The officer shook his head. "We utilized the tracking device you provided, and it pinpointed that specific vessel. No other ships were in the vicinity, so a mistake was impossible." A tracker? Infested with creatures? Wait a moment... Ah, I comprehend now... Their objective was to intercept and capture Clement, not me. They must have affixed a tracker to his ship, likely via the smuggled goods, enabling them to follow his movements. The mention of creatures infesting the ship implies that the outbreak of alien life forms aboard his vessel was also part of their calculated plan. Given that Clement's sole handover to me was the turtle, the tracker must have been concealed on the creature itself. I surmise I was apprehended instead of Clement because the turtle escaped prematurely, unleashing the creatures and forcing him to alter his course towards the nearest system capable of rendering assistance. This, in turn, initiated the sequence of events leading to my undertaking the turtle's illicit transport. However, with Renata having absorbed the turtle, the tracker might still indicate my ship's location, but they would be unable to retrieve the creature. The suited man narrowed his eyes at the officer. "What did you discover aboard the ship?" "Nothing. It was merely transporting supplies, none of which were illicit. We even inspected the vessels in the hangar bay, including the unoccupied Exo-Knight carrier attached to it. While an entirely empty ship might raise suspicions, it is not, in itself, illegal."
Clearing my throat, I stated, "Ahem... While we've ordered Exo-Knights to enhance our capabilities, they're still in production, leaving the ship currently unoccupied. We acquired this vessel from Insurrectionists and have since registered it under our name."
The officer acknowledged my explanation with a nod before continuing, "Furthermore, you've caused us to detain a Platinum-ranked Mercenary, known for single-handedly defeating a Pirate Lord. If this was a case of mistaken identity, the compensation you'd owe would be substantial."
A moment of silence fell upon the room, and even the guards accompanying the suited man appeared uncertain. All attention shifted to the suited man himself.
He inhaled slowly, asking, "Are you implying that no alien creature was released aboard the ship?"
"Correct. It was merely a standard Mercenary vessel with minimal cargo. Explain yourself, Mr. Matsumoto!"
Matsumoto? I wondered if he had any connection to Yumiko's former second-in-command.
The businessman scowled, then straightened up and bowed his head. "It appears I have been misinformed, officers. I suspect a malfunction with the tracker I provided. May I examine it to ensure its proper function?"
The officer before me produced a rectangular device and handed it to one of the guards in black armor, who then presented it to his employer.
Instead of accepting it, the suited man gestured for one of his secretaries to approach and take the device.
She promptly placed it on the table and retrieved various tools, her dexterity in handling them rivaling Ries's skill when she worked on her own gadgets.
In less than a minute, she had disassembled and reassembled the device, then powered it back on.
After observing the projected screen for a brief moment, she turned to her boss and gave a slight shake of her head.
I wasn't sure if this indicated a malfunction or something else entirely, until Mr. Matsumoto turned back, spreading his arms towards the police officers.
"My sincerest apologies, officers... It appears the tracker was indeed faulty. I take full responsibility for this error and am prepared to cover any costs incurred due to this inconvenience. Additionally, I will compensate Miss Mercenary for all the trouble she has endured."
Huh... That's... Quite an unexpected turn of events?
The police officer gestured towards me, inquiring, "So she is innocent?"
"Given that you found no incriminating evidence on her ship, that would be the logical conclusion, wouldn't it?"
"We found nothing."
"Then she is entirely innocent!"
"You have just caused us to arrest an innocent individual?"
"And I accept complete accountability for that. Do not be concerned; my representative will contact your superiors, and we will reach a suitable resolution. You have my assurance."
The officer grumbled before turning back to me and removing my wrist restraints.
As he did so, he whispered, "Get as much compensation from him as you possibly can. He is exceptionally wealthy. My apologies for putting you through this ordeal..."
He then stepped aside, gesturing towards the door, intending to escort me out, but Mr. Matsumoto called out to stop us.
"Wait, could you allow her to remain? I wish to apologize to her personally and provide a full explanation. That should not pose a problem, correct? You are aware she is with me, so if anything were to happen, you know who to hold responsible."
The officer hesitated before looking back at me. "I will inform your crew of the situation and provide you with my contact information. Call us if anything arises, and we will break down his door to rescue you if necessary. Feel free to leave if you are unwilling to accept his offer."
I informed him that I intended to hear what Mr. Matsumoto had to say, and the officer nodded before departing with the other officers.
Well, this is certainly not how I envisioned my visit to this station unfolding.
