Collection Time part 1

 

Sabazios sat sprawled on an oversized sofa, women in attendance at his sides.

Lavish dishes arrived without pause, a parade of excess. Perhaps out of disgust for the spectacle, Europa refused to set foot in the room.

「Lord Sabazios. A word—」

Sabazios ignored him, so Alexandros III reluctantly switched to a wide-area broadcast.

「State your business. I’m busy.」

He answered with open irritation, responding to the transmission from Achilles—Alexandros III’s mounted unit.

「It appears Okeanos is about to begin a system-wide broadcast to the entirety of the Nemesis System. I believe you should listen.」

「What can Okeanos do? Even if I’ve lost the bull’s power, Europa and I still possess the processing capacity of two planetary-management super AIs.」

「Then I will compile a report for you afterward.」

「…Wait. Just in case, I’ll hear it myself.」

Since becoming human, Sabazios had grown even less capable of trusting others.

「Understood. It’ll begin shortly.」

And, as Alexandros III said, the system-wide broadcast began not