Cop Craft – Dragnet Mirage Reloaded

Book 1: Chapter 2.1

The morning had already passed.

The boat had departed at exactly eight oclock. Leaving behind the city of San Teresa, Matoba traveled across the surface of the ocean for around an hour.

At this latitude, the sun should have been high up by now. However, a thick layer of clouds veiled the sky, blocking out the sunlight that attempted to escape through its surface. The ocean that lay below the horizon was a dismal gray, while the sky above was a dirty pink.

Matoba rode on the Golden Heart, a small, high-speed boat that belonged to the Coast Guard. A .50 caliber machine gun was installed on its bow. According to the crewmen, the boat could easily travel at over 50 knots if they needed it to.

On the tail of the boat stood the flag of the Kariana self-governing colony under the United Nations, waving through the air beside the star-spangled banner of the United States.

Though the Kariana self-governing colony, along with the city of San Teresa, was not typically considered to be part of any country, it was technically under the rule of the United States. The reason why Matoba had to read his captured suspects their Miranda rights was because he was required to do so under US law. Moreover, the majority of the people that worked in San Teresa law enforcement were American citizens. Though there were plenty of people like Matoba who came from other countries such as Japan, there wasnt a single Semanian that worked with the Coast Guard or the city police.

We will shortly arrive at our destination, announced one of the crewmen.

Matoba got up to his feet, clutching the railing to stabilize himself. He tried his hardest to keep his balance as the boat swayed heavily from side to side.

The Golden Heart slowed its pace down to a crawl. Though the latitude of their location wasnt too far off from Okinawa or Taiwan, the surface of the ocean was freezing cold. Here, the sun did not shine. A thick fog filled the air around them. The horizon that they had been gazing at just ten minutes ago had been completely obscured, and Matoba could only see a hundred meters in front of him.

These strange transformations would always occur whenever one approached the Mirage Gate.

The Mirage Gate was the mysterious space that linked this world with the one that lay on the other side.

However, the gate did not have any sort of defined shape or appearance. And there wasnt only one of them, either. Ten years ago, there were more than fifty different dimensional gates that were scattered throughout the ocean around Kariana Island. Almost like regions of air pressure on a weather map, they were constantly springing up and disappearing at random intervals. They did not follow a defined pattern, meaning that it was impossible to predict where the next gate would appear.

The Mirage Gate was the only exception to this rule. Located on the surface of the ocean 45 miles southwest of San Teresa, this gate was in a state of constant stability. As a result, the permanent gate, known as the second Silk Road, was the only cross-dimensional trade route to be officially recognized.

The sound of the engine died down, and the boat came to a halt.

Silence filled the misty air around them. The gentle sound of the oceans waves could be heard as the Golden Heart floated alone in the water. The footsteps of the Coast Guard crewmen rang out loudly against the silence.

The captain walked over to Matoba, who stayed leaning against the railing.

You seasick?

Eh, Im alright

Im impressed. Usually when we take land-dwelling officers on our boats, they give out within minutes.

I fought in the war.

Ohh

I was in the army, though. But a lot of my missions were in the wetlands, so Ive ridden on my fair share of boats.

The captain looked at him intently.

Which must mean that youve been to the other side?

I have. I was with the so-called Peace Keeping Force. But whenever we crossed, I was crammed into a transport plane like a sardine. So this is my first time seeing the gate with my own eyes.

You say see, but the Mirage Gate isnt exactly something that can be seen, the captain said, squinting his eyes as if to look through the fog. The only way we can locate the position of the gate is through the use of satellites. Theres a discernible pattern in the magnetic field lines and infrared radiation around the area. We can only get here by following a digital nautical chart that shows us the location.

Ive heard something like that.

However, the aliens regularly cross the gate without having access to electronic equipment of any sort. They dont even know what a magnetic field, or what the law of gravitation is. But even then, they can easily find the gate by reading the patterns of the wind and the waves. Much more accurately than we do, at that.

So thats why the Coastal Guards always so busy, huh

Thats right. We dont even have enough ships. And to make things even worse, our radars dont function as well around this area. If we really wanted to stop those smugglers and illegal immigrants from crossing the gate, wed need way more men and a much higher budget. Too bad the government is full of brainless shitheads that wouldnt understand, anyway. Things were still better back when I was fighting drug traffickers in the Caribbean sea.

Listening absentmindedly to the captains ranting, Matoba narrowed his eyes.

He thought that what he had seen was just an illusion, but it clearly wasnt. Through the foggy air, he saw the vague silhouette of some strange, massive object floating in the water.

At first glance, it looked like a pair of towers that rose above the oceans surface.

However, it seemed to be moving toward them, and he soon realized that it was a massive ship. On its hull stood two enormous masts that leaned to the side. The shape of its silhouette was confusing. Countless ropes draped down from the masts and yards, intertwining with the numerous poles that stuck out in various directions. The mysterious ship gave off the sinister aura of some sort of unidentified monster.

Matoba could make out the shapes of humans walking atop the masts.

Such a ship had never existed in human history. It was undoubtedly a ship built by the Semani. A large crest was drawn across the sail. It was the crest of the Farbarni, drawn with the motif of a birds eye.

They have arrived, the captain said. I wonder how theyre able to sail with masts like that. They might be useful for making tight turns, but they wouldnt last a second in harsh winds, though I have heard that the wood in their world is much more durable. But they supposedly say the same kind of things about our boats, so who knows.

The sound of whistles and bells rang out in the air as the Semani ship approached them.

It was preparing to make a stop. The ships crewmen ran around busily, following the orders that they were given. The enormous sail was folded up. The ship gradually slowed down, producing waves as it turned, and it aligned its side to the Golden Hearts deck with astonishing accuracy.

The Semani ship was more than three times the length of their boat. Its massive size and majestic appearance was overwhelming to the eye. Matoba could clearly see the faces of the crewmen that now looked down on them.

The ship was not nearly as worn-out as it had appeared to be from a distance. It seemed to be very well maintained, and its surface was clean and polished.

On its side was a strange yet elegant pattern of flowing lines. The circular carvings that were spread across its surface resembled large, majestic eyes. These countless eyes now glared intimidatingly at the tiny Coast Guard boat.

There were no cannons on their ship. The Semani did not use gunpowder technology.

Instead, attached to the ship were enormous stone ballistas that could have easily been used in the siege of a castle. There were fifteen of them on each side. They were around two human arm spans in width, and the arrows that they shot were each around the size of a grown man.

Though the sheer force of their weapons was intimidating, in battle, their ballistae wouldnt stand a chance against the .50 caliber machine gun installed on the Coast Guards boat. However, this would only hold true if they hadnt enchanted their ship using the power of Mildi.

A rope was thrown down to the deck, and the vessels of the two worlds were connected. 

After a moment of negotiation in Farbarnian and English, a ladder was lowered from the Semani ship. The Semani crewmen that had nothing to do stared curiously over at the Coast Guard officers. Their clothes were worn and tattered. They whispered something to each other, pointing at the boat and snickering. They must have been speaking in Farbarnian, but their accents were so strong that Matoba couldnt understand what they were saying.

The captain, who had been busy coordinating the meeting of the two ships, rested his hand on Matobas shoulder.

A very important person is going to come down the ladder. Well leave the rest to you, he said.

After the ladder, which was surprisingly sturdy, had been secured in place, a short whistle was sounded and one of the crewmen began to climb down. He was very small and wore a white coat. He was facing away from Matoba, so his face couldnt be seen, but he had blond hair. He appeared to be a child. He was probably an attendant of the nobleman, or something of the sort.

Several leather suitcases were lowered onto the deck using ropes and pulleys. That must have been their luggage.

Matoba wondered when the long-awaited nobleman would appear. As Matoba stayed staring up at the ship, the tiny attendant walked straight past him.

The bell rang once again. The Semanian sailor yelled something unintelligible, and the ladder was lifted off of the deck.

?

The nobleman hadnt come down yet. What were they doing?

Matoba and the crewmen watched quizzically as the ladder was pulled back up. 

Hey.

The attendant was speaking to him. In perfect English.

No, they werent an attendant. In fact, they werent even male.

My name is Exedilika, the balsh (apprentice knight) of the Milvao. Do you Dorini not have any manners, not welcoming your guest?

It was a girl. She appeared to be in her early teens.

Her skin was pure whiteso white that it was difficult to believe that there was blood flowing through her body. Her golden blond hair was so smooth that it seemed almost synthetic. The fine tunic that she wore was covered in elaborately embroidered patterns, and there was not a single speck of dust on her overcoat and tights. A thin sword hung at her waist, still sheathed. Her large eyes were slanted slightly upwards, resembling those of some cold yet majestic feline. Her beautiful lips formed a pout, showing no hint of amiability.

Standing in the gray, misty air of the ocean, her very presence felt unreal.

Alien.

Matoba had encountered many, many Semanians over the past few years, but he had never met anyone who felt as otherworldly as her. If anything, her existence seemed closer to the fairy that he had seen shining inside of that glass bottle.

So she was the noble that Roth had been talking about? It wasnt some old geezer that he had to escort?

Matoba's mouth hung open in shock as he stared at her. The girl glared back. For some reason, he was reminded of his cat, who would always look at him like that when she was hungry.

Do you not understand English?

No I do.

The girl let out a sigh of what appeared to be relief. She puffed up her chest and spoke in a pompous manner. 

Then why didnt you respond to me? Who do you think you are, just completely ignoring me like that?

I didnt notice you.

Hmph. I see

She unsheathed the sword that hung at her waist. The sound of cutting air filled Matobas ears as the sharp tip of the blade passed right before his nose. He staggered back in astonishment as the girl stood upright, waving the sword from left to right. Holding the sword diagonally in front of her chest, she spoke in a clear voice.

My name is Tilarna Balsh Mirvor Lata-Imsedarya Ye Teberena Devor-Nerano Seya Nel Exedilika In the English language of you Dorini, it translates to firstborn daughter of Seya of the Exedilika family, descendant of Archduke Devor, apprentice of the glorious Knights of Mirvor. Understood? Now, whats your name?

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