What Do You Mean I'm The Captain Of A Yandere Mercenary Company? Chapter 859: Even The Turtles

Clement had dispatched an application, designed to send a ping across a specific frequency using my Codex. I wasn't entirely certain of the mechanics behind it, but I presumed that whoever was meant to receive this shipment would now be alerted by me. As anticipated, mere moments of waiting were all that was required before a call materialized. Upon answering, a figure, veiled in shadow, materialized on the screen. Curiously, it appeared that from their perspective, my own image was similarly obscured, leading me to wonder if this was a deliberate setting for calls. "Is the shell prepared?" the figure inquired. Recalling Clement's instructions, I promptly responded with the designated password. "It has yet to emerge." The figure offered a brief nod. "A maintenance vessel will arrive shortly. Prepare the cargo for transfer." "Ah, about that... the cargo is... currently outside of its containment." A brief silence followed, during which the figure seemed to shift away, presumably to attend to something off-screen. I couldn't ascertain their actions precisely, but I conjectured they might be communicating with someone. After a few seconds, the figure turned back to face me. "What do you mean it's outside of containment?" "The container intended to house the cargo? Well... let's just say the cargo breached it and is now situated outside, so... I'm unsure how you intend to move it." Another pause ensued before the figure finally spoke. "I will call you back." The screen went dark, leaving me to ponder their course of action. Frankly, I was already taken aback when the individual informed me they would collect the turtle directly from me. My expectation was to receive a location and proceed there with the turtle myself for delivery. Not that I am complaining, as this arrangement allows them to handle the turtle, which had escaped and was now resting in a corner of the cargo bay, instead of me devising a method to sneak it onto the Pleasure Station. After all, questions would undoubtedly arise if a maid were observed expelling a car-sized turtle from her mouth... On that note, I suppose I should also brace for potential visitors boarding my ship and perhaps arrange a meeting with their superior. I had also harbored a hope that the woman named Yuki would contact me directly, but I should have foreseen that she would delegate the smuggling operation to a subordinate to obscure the trail back to her. In that scenario, I would need to make a direct request... However, at this juncture, I remain uncertain whether the client for this turtle is indeed Yuki or someone else entirely. It seems we will have to navigate the complexities of this trade as we proceed. It took them approximately half an hour to re-establish contact, the shadowy figure now replaced by someone noticeably more portly. "Are you the smuggler?" the new individual queried. "Evidently, yes. I assume you won't be disclosing your identity?" He disregarded my question and pressed on. "What occurred with the cargo?" "As I conveyed to the other individual... it breached the container..." "Hmm... I see... Is the cargo undamaged?" "Yes, it is intact." "My ship will be arriving shortly. May I assume your vessel is... The Iridescence?" "That is correct." "Very well, I am initiating docking procedures with your ship now..." The individual terminated the call, and indeed, a docking request appeared from what seemed to be a maintenance ship. Just to be safe, the girls were armed and ready, anticipating a possible trap. The doors cycled open, and a stout man emerged, accompanied by two drones hovering nearby. I immediately recognized the drones as combat models, equipped with mounted weaponry. However, the guns were retracted, suggesting their presence was for his personal security rather than an imminent threat toward us. He was also adorned with a cybernetic mask, resembling a gas mask but enhanced with neon lights, and his goggles displayed digital projections instead of solid glass lenses. I contemplated whether I should have concealed my face after all to preserve my anonymity, just as I felt Renata subtly shift from my neck, forming a face mask to obscure my features. Gratitude, Renata~ Though now I ponder if it's advisable for my companions to remain uncovered-- When precisely did they don those masks? All of them were currently sporting strips of cloth wrapped around the lower halves of their faces, and I hadn't even witnessed them putting them on… Well, no matter… I approached the portly gentleman and acknowledged him with a nod. He scrutinized me from head to toe, and despite the mask obscuring his face, I sensed a distinct air of disapproval directed at me for reasons unknown.

"You are the smuggler?" he inquired, his gaze sharp.

A silent nod was my only response.

"And where is the cargo?"

My thumb gestured subtly towards the cargo bay's far corner.

He turned, his accompanying drones mirroring his movement, all eyes fixing upon the turtle resting placidly on the ground in the alcove.

After a prolonged minute of scrutiny, he pivoted back to face me. "How are you still alive?"

An eyebrow arched in question. "What do you mean by that?"

"That creature... it should have eliminated you and your entire crew if it managed to breach containment... How are you capable of restraining it in that corner without it attacking you?"

I tilted my head. "Isn't it merely a matter of not approaching it too closely and ensuring it's well-fed?"

"No, no... you misunderstand... We were compelled to keep it under sedation constantly, and its container was specifically engineered for that purpose. Without sedation, that beast would have been wreaking havoc!"

I blinked. "Wreaking havoc? It moves so slowly, though. I mean, its durability is practically absolute, as I mentioned, but simply keeping it fed and maintaining a distance seems sufficient?"

He shook his head vehemently. "You genuinely have no comprehension of what that creature is, do you? It's a 'Walking Disaster'! A weapon crafted to obliterate any defenses and annihilate all resistance in its path! Its control is impossible save through constant sedation to subdue it!"

My gaze drifted back to the turtle, which remained contentedly still, having shown no disturbances throughout the entire journey.

Additionally, 'Walking Disaster'? Is that the actual name of this turtle, or mere descriptive terminology?

Although I hesitated to be mistaken, I had indeed noticed the turtle behaving with remarkable compliance and obedience recently.

For instance, when I needed to reposition it, it offered no resistance or biting, unlike the initial encounters, simply allowing me to move it as I pleased.

Naturally, I maintained my wariness, especially recalling its previous attempt to bite, thus I consistently kept a safe distance.

Now, this individual is implying that its current placid state is abnormal?

Could it be that its initial hostility towards me stemmed from the heavy sedation, preventing it from properly discerning my identity and causing it to lash out at anything that neared?

I offered a shrug. "I can only tell you what I've observed; it's been like this since the beginning."

He let out a low growl. "Are you attempting to deceive us with a counterfeit, perhaps?"

"A fake of what? What could I possibly use to substitute the genuine article?"

He seemed to lack a retort and chose to dismiss the query.

Instead, he pointed towards the turtle. "May I inspect it?"

"You are meant to acquire it from me, after all. I've just fed it, so it should be quite docile at the moment."

He approached the turtle and...

The turtle instantly rose to its feet, extending its head slightly from its shell, its maw opening in a menacing posture.

Right... I... do not recall the turtle ever exhibiting such behavior in my presence. At most, it would merely lift its head and slightly open its mouth, primarily recognizing my approach signaled an impending meal.

Wait... Could it possibly be...

"No. Bad. Sit down," I commanded.

The turtle immediately clamped its mouth shut and settled back down.

...

...

At this point, I am utterly bewildered.