After teasing Anne a little, Duanmu Huai returned to the command room, since he needed to check what had happened during his absence.
"Mia, report the current situation."
"Okay, master!"
Hearing Duanmu Huai's inquiry, the artificial angel seated at the console cheerfully raised her hand.
"Let Mia see… hmm, Miss Kukuru reports that the current modification progress of the team is only at 23%… she says they still haven't fully grasped the technology of the Forerunners…"
"That's normal. Tell them to take it slow, stability first. There's no need to rush."
"Okay, next is… the report from War Planet. Miss Rebecca says the first batch of renewable energy systems has been transported and installed on War Planet. She suggests focusing on restoring hydroelectric power next…"
"Do it."
Duanmu Huai nodded.
"Mm… next… ah, Mr. Dardaniel left a message. He seems to need the Inquisition's assistance~"
"Oh?"
At that, Duanmu Huai raised an eyebrow.
"Did he say what it's about?"
"No."
"Contact him. I want to know what he expects from the Inquisition."
"Understood, master~~~"
Soon, Dardaniel's sly, bearded face appeared before Duanmu Huai.
"Ah, greetings, great Inquisitor. To receive your response so quickly—such an honor—"
"Enough with the useless nonsense."
Duanmu Huai waved a hand, cutting off Dardaniel's flattery.
"What do you want from the Inquisition? If it's something pointless, you'd better worry about your head."
"Of course I wouldn't hide anything from you, my lord. In fact… I have a small commission and hope the great Inquisitor can help resolve it."
"Oh?"
Duanmu Huai narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of commission?"
"It's like this…"
Dardaniel rubbed his fingers together.
"You may not know, but I once had dealings with a level-five human civilization. I even held certain power and status among them…"
"Mm."
Duanmu Huai wasn't surprised. Rogue Traders often depended on primitive civilizations to gain power, wealth, and status. In the days of the Imperium, they were essentially privateers with imperial sanction — roaming around with their ships, adventuring, looting, and colonizing undeveloped regions. In the interstellar age, Rogue Traders weren't much different.
Just like in many web novels, where the protagonist has a portal between modern times and ancient eras and makes a fortune by exchanging goods — yes, that is exactly how Rogue Traders develop.
"That civilization is still confined to its homeworld. Their population has reached its limit and is overwhelmed. I built a new transport system to reduce pollution, but it was only a drop in the bucket. Fortunately, not long ago, they finally stepped into space…"
"Don't ramble. Get to the point."
"Yes, of course, Inquisitor…"
Dardaniel rubbed his hands nervously.
"The transportation system I built requires a type of superconductive ore. We located the deposits we needed on a planet 4.2 light-years from their homeworld. That planet is rich in superconductive ore. If fully mined, it could drastically change that civilization's situation and even help them develop further…"
"Point."
"Yes… during the mining process, we were attacked by the native inhabitants — an alien species called the Na'vi. We tried to negotiate with them to ensure peaceful mining, but unfortunately, they are too primitive and savage to understand our intentions. They constantly attack my mining bases. I sent some soldiers, but shamefully, that civilization is not capable of defeating the Na'vi. So… I hope the Inquisition can help resolve this problem."
At this, Dardaniel smiled obsequiously.
"Ah, of course, I won't ask for help for free. As compensation, I can offer one-third of the profits. If you have any other requests, feel free to say them…"
"I know."
Duanmu Huai nodded, thinking for a moment.
"Send me the data and coordinates of both planets. After I review them, I'll give you an answer."
"Yes, Inquisitor. Sorry to disturb you…"
Dardaniel knew his limits; after a few more words, he quickly cut off the call. Soon after, Mia received the files.
"Mia, dispatch a warship to the coordinates and observe the situation. Then report back to me."
"Okay, master."
After issuing his orders, Duanmu Huai stared at the data.
This was an opportunity. It was time for the girls around him to understand what the Inquisition truly existed for.
Of course… assuming that Rogue Trader wasn't lying.
Dardaniel acted quickly, and Mia's response was also fast. Soon, Duanmu Huai received the scouting fleet's report. After glancing through it, he stood up.
"Mia, notify everyone to come to the tactical command room for a meeting."
"Yes~~~"
Soon, the girls gathered. Duanmu Huai sat in his chair, looking at them.
"Everyone, I have something very important to tell you. Here's the situation. Just now, Dardaniel requested assistance from the Inquisition…"
He explained the human civilization's plight, then displayed the footage from the scouting fleet. The video showed a gray, smog-covered planet with barely any greenery. Under towering skyscrapers, countless people moved like ants — pale, wearing masks, exhausted.
"How pitiful…"
Hearing Duanmu Huai explain that the planet's massive population caused the air quality to collapse, making it hard to breathe clean air, the girls were stunned. It was their first time witnessing the dark, diseased side of civilization development so directly.
Though they had visited advanced planets before, those had usually been destroyed by demons or raided by orcs — all ruins, unfit as normal examples.
"Uu… I've read about pollution before, but I didn't think it could get so serious…"
Anne frowned in genuine worry.
"But Dardaniel found a solution. If we use the ore extracted from this planet called Pandora, the humans' situation can be greatly improved. And after modifying the environment, they could even colonize the planet in the future. However… there is a small problem."
"Problem?"
Hearing that, the girls tilted their heads. Duanmu Huai pressed a button. They saw a lush jungle — and in it, tall, blue-skinned humanoids with tails running agilely among the trees, riding strange beasts and hunting.
"These are the native lifeforms of the planet, called the Na'vi. The mining zone happens to be a sacred land to them, so they refuse to let humans dig there and have repeatedly attacked the mining site. Therefore, Dardaniel came to us, hoping we can help solve this problem."
"Solve this problem?"
Anne repeated the phrase — then her expression drastically changed.
"Wait, Mr. Knight — you mean…"
"That's right. Dardaniel wants the Inquisition to wipe out the Na'vi to secure mining and colonization."
"That's impossible!"
Lorena shot to her feet.
"This is pure invasion!"
"Yes, it is invasion."
Duanmu Huai nodded.
"So, what do you think?"
"This is definitely not okay…!"
"Yeah, how can we do such a thing?!"
The girls quickly voiced their stance — all opposed. Anne turned back to Duanmu Huai.
"Mr. Knight, don't tell me… the Inquisition intends to do this."
"Yes. We do. Because it does not violate the Inquisition's duties."
"What?!"
The room fell silent in shock. For them, the Inquisition had always been a righteous force that saved humanity. But…
"I understand what you're thinking."
Duanmu Huai pointed at the Na'vi on the screen.
"They've lived here for generations, harming no one. Suddenly, outsiders want to drive them from their home. It's sad and unfair, right?"
"Mm…"
"Fair point."
Duanmu Huai then switched the screen.
"Then what about these humans?"
"...…"
The ruined cities. The suffocating air. The endless, suffering crowds.
The girls had no answer.
"B-but…"
After a long silence, Lorena finally whispered:
"Isn't there… any solution that helps both sides?"
"No. In fact, all life in the universe survives by consuming other life."
Duanmu Huai shook his head.
"You think this is cruel and evil. But it's not exclusive to humans. Look at wolf packs — when they grow too large, they split in two and fight for territory. The losers leave and hunt elsewhere. To the animals living there peacefully, aren't these wolves also invaders bringing disaster?"
"Uh…"
"Anne. Lorena."
He looked at them.
"You want your nations to prosper, right?"
"Yes…"
"Then you know what that means. Your cities and nations will grow — more people born, needing land to live, work, farm, hunt, and raise animals. Where does that land come from? Does it appear from thin air? For the creatures that originally lived there, how are humans different from invaders?"
"...…"
Both fell silent.
"This is the truth of the universe."
Duanmu Huai spread his hands.
"For any species, survival comes first. Civilizations will expand unless destroyed. But the total matter of the universe is fixed — like a cake. If you take more, someone else must take less. Feeling guilty about that is foolish. Life is competition. Humans fight orcs and demons for survival — you've seen this."
"B-but…"
Guleya raised her hand timidly.
"But… in those wars, the orcs and demons were the evil invaders…"
"Evil? By what standard?"
Duanmu Huai snorted.
"The orcs invaded humans because they were infected and forced out of their homes. The Mek race allied with demons to steal soul energy to survive. Every race fights for its own survival."
"...…b-but…"
"From humanity's viewpoint, their actions were evil because they harmed humans. That is all. And the Inquisition…"
He stood.
"The Inquisition exists to protect humanity — to wipe out anything that threatens it. Whatever hardships other races have are irrelevant in the face of human survival. When two species fight for survival, there is only one outcome — you die, or I die. No third option. All survival and expansion is built upon the corpses of others."
Silence.
Anne's face went pale. Lorena clasped her hands in prayer. Ranni looked contemplative. Feline swiped boredly on her tablet. Guleya sat stern and silent. Bambi looked confused. Olgis remained expressionless. Sherry looked torn, opening her mouth then closing it again.
"This time, I will not bring you."
Duanmu Huai sat again.
"I could have kept all this from you, but I believe you need to understand the true meaning of the Inquisition. To humans, we are heroes. To other races, we are demons — but we will always stand with humanity. That is our mission."
He looked at them.
"If you feel this conflicts with your ideals, you may leave the Inquisition and return to your former lives. I don't want you carrying misconceptions — especially beautiful misconceptions."
He knew their hearts were messy. They always thought they were doing "the right thing." Now they saw they might do things they thought "not right."
To him, this was naïve — like those Western idiots who cry "cruelty" at videos of slaughtering chickens or pigs, as if meat grows from the ground. Idiots too fragile to accept that humans survive by killing other creatures and calling it "evil."
If they felt so guilty, they might as well kill themselves — that'd raise the average intelligence.
He had seen countless betrayals caused by such "beautiful misconceptions."
Just like the ridiculous claim that "idols don't poop." As if those girls weren't human. Pure illusions people imposed — and once shattered, backlash followed.
He had no use for illusions. He didn't want the girls having false ideas about the Inquisition.
"...…"
Finally, Lorena stood.
"Sorry, Sir Knight. My heart is a mess… I want to return to the Holy City to calm down."
She left without looking back. Anne stood next.
"Me too… sorry, Mr. Knight. I understand what you mean… I just need time to calm down."
She left. The others soon followed, until only Olgis and Bambi remained.
"Uu, Bambi thinks everyone is making this too dramatic. It's not that complicated."
Bambi tilted her head. Duanmu Huai shrugged.
"Haha. Humans are different from vampires. If their needs were as simple as yours, things would be easy."
"Humans really are such complicated creatures."
"Aren't they?"
Duanmu Huai stood and sighed.
"Well. Either way, we need to begin preparations."
(End of Chapter)