Chapter 2: The alleged crime number is 279502

"The decision has been made. The court has sentenced Kite Hughes, the defendant, to exile. His prison term is 7,000 days."

The commotion behind me sounded like shouting, but the voices were subdued. Someone slammed an object after yelling that the sentence was unfair. Kite listened impassively, showing no visible reaction to the verdict.

For some time now, people have been preoccupied with their own interests in politics, driven by personal gratification. This self-centeredness could be seen as a byproduct of modern times. Kite Hughes, who grew up representing a political faction, is in peak condition, possessing an exceptional blend of mental and physical prowess. In other words, someone who can innovate is deemed superior. The ultimate goal is to achieve victory and ascend to leadership. A "secret society" had trained Kite, instilling these ideals in him. His family had abandoned him at a young age, fostering a deep interest in societal dynamics. I remain uncertain about the specific factors that led to his selection. He was chosen as one of the two "final candidates" in the tests, but the police apprehended him before he could become the "leader."

"Well, it's fortunate you’re not facing the death penalty," someone remarked.

Kite saw his experience at a test prep school as merely an excessively demanding education. I had grown weary of their seemingly infallible political beliefs and cannot recall ever truly aligning with their views. If someone tells me that letting my circumstances overwhelm me is my fault, I would have to agree. Upon hearing the decision, I felt a strange sense of relief at the absence of dictatorship, a role I had no desire to assume. Whether it takes approximately 1,900 days or 7,000 days, I wondered if it would be doubled.

"Grant, I can't finish it. I’m going to pass the task on to someone younger like you."

"That’s not an issue. It’s better than forcing yourself into a job you don’t want."

"It’s odd. If it weren’t for this meeting, you’d definitely take over as my replacement. I won’t repeat it."

"Your health is deteriorating, Master."

"I’ve devised strategies to ensure your well-being in the private prison you’re about to enter. As commander-in-chief, this is the best I can do. Please forgive me."

"That’s the best thing in the world to me. Thank you very much."

It’s strange that I became close friends with the commander-in-chief, now the head of government, both before and after the trial. Kite’s standard of living remained relatively high due to the Commander-in-Chief’s actions before and after his space mission. Meanwhile, the group that raised Kite continues to seek and mentor the next leader. It seems his own rescue plan was either never considered or immediately discarded. Kite feels sympathy for them, but he understands that his presence serves as an outlet for people’s anger. I take pride in believing that you can still contribute to the world, even if it’s just through study and physical training.

Shortly after receiving his sentence, Kite finds himself in his cell. His experience is not unique; all prisoners returning to their homeland go through similar situations. The crime report number is 279502. That’s now the name Kite Hughes goes by.

"Hello, Hughes. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m the warden, responsible for your life here. In space, I’ll manage your physical and mental health, as well as the prison’s life support systems. I also advise against any thoughts of harming me." A sphere about 30 cm in diameter will be my companion from now on. He was unable to complete his sentence. Thus, losing oneself before turning 40 has become the norm. What should I do?

"We will use a list of prisoner numbers to communicate with Mr. Hughes after this greeting." This is our plan, so please comply. Now, prisoner 279502, let’s proceed to the next phase. Most readers might see these words as bitter irony. However, Kite did not find them ironic at all. He was exhausted, lying down. He preferred solitude over the distractions of others’ thoughts. Now, he intended to enjoy his solitary existence without worrying about the future.

"That's right. Thank you for all your help today, jail officer."

"Yes."

"Prisoner 279502, do you need assistance with anything else?"

"Yes. Could you tell me what items are prohibited in this area?"

"Yes, there are some rules. Generally, it is illegal to be aware of certain facts. After your application is reviewed, information may be shared, but I’ve heard that email exchanges or similar communications are not permitted."

"I understand. I don't think you need to worry about that; I doubt you’ll apply."

"Is it really that frightening?" At this point, all inmates have inquired about the scene. If necessary, sign up."

"Alright. Is there anything else?"

Prison administrators take their responsibilities seriously when listing prohibited items. Don’t attempt to break into the jail, enter the prison's maneuvering spaces, or damage anything inside. Also, don’t harm yourself or commit suicide. When I inquired, the prison guard explained that self-harm and escaping the prison are not viewed the same way.

"Unfortunately, you can't return to Earth because of your health. Once the medical technology is in place, you will be responsible for addressing various illnesses. You will also manage medical equipment. Remember, we will receive orders directly from Earth. If you injure yourself or contemplate suicide, you won’t be able to return to Earth."

"In other words, a previous inmate wanted to return to Earth for medical treatment and harmed themselves, right?"

"That’s correct." There are times when someone can return to Earth before their sentence ends. A simple mistake might include colliding with a rock. The jail administration will attempt to manage or prevent escapes, but if that fails or is impossible due to the scale of the attack, they might return to Earth briefly. This likely explains the prohibition on hacking.

"But if there's an accident, wouldn’t it be time to see Buddha before returning home?"

The prison warden concluded his statement while I was still pondering.

"That’s all for now. To maintain the prisoners' mental stability, we provide tablets with entertaining programs suitable for certain age ranges. We can expand this range for model prisoners."

"Oh, that’s fine."

If you sign up ahead of time, we will install literary works from the past few hundred years to the present day. Please sign up separately for other media."

"Warden."

"What do you need?"

The Commander-in-Chief must have set this up. His initial bond with Kite stemmed from their shared interests. With a bright expression, he interrupted the jail guard.

"Is it possible to obtain unpublished works?"

"Are they not available for purchase? I will search for them, but I can’t promise I’ll find any. If you need anything else, just let me know."

"What about Moai Kokonoe-sensei's Shinobi Sword?"

"That work is not listed in the database. Would you like me to request a search?"

"Of course. Please do!"

Even before his arrest, Kite enjoyed discovering and reading ancient Christian texts hidden deep in the web. While the Commander-in-Chief favors famous books, Kite, being younger, prefers more profound reads. Among unpublished works, there are numerous exceptional ones that remain concealed.

"Yes, this won’t be boring."

"It looks interesting; it’s great.” The jail guard's voice was mechanical, but it sounded cold or shocked.

"It’s unfortunate that people can only read so many books in their lives. There isn’t enough time to read all the great books, and most people can’t dedicate their whole lives to reading. Kite enjoys his imprisonment, believing that his brief existence entitles him to read books freely without interference."

"Alright, the workout is over. Director of the prison, please verify."

"Yes." There is no loss of physical or motor ability. "In my opinion, today's plans are concluded."

"Thank you very much." I immediately turned my attention to my tablet after finishing my daily workout. Read, exercise, eat, and sleep. Kite’s life in jail is perfectly aligned with his routine. The jail guard noted that he truly was a model prisoner. At least, that’s what he believed would happen if Kite followed his own wishes. Indeed, a reduction in the sentence for this reason would be detrimental.

"Yes, prison guards."

"What do you want?"

"Would becoming a model prisoner shorten my sentence?"

"No. Deportees do not have the right to a reduced sentence. While this might seem insignificant,"

"Don’t worry, it’s okay. Also, prison officer, have you been able to see the underground buildings you’ve been asking about since the early 2000s?"

"Yes. We will send the information within 300 hours."

"Okay!” The prison guard clenched his hands but did not react. He might be in shock. While waiting for the data to be sent, Kite looked for information about the books listed in the database.

Less than three years ago, he was exiled. Kite Hughes has actually had a beneficial time in jail up until now.

"I have a report, Hughes."

"?" I was startled when someone called me from an unfamiliar number. I glanced at the jail guard.

"It’s unusual for you not to call me from your usual number."

"I wanted to inform you that, as of today, Hughes's sentence has expired."

"Would you like more details?" Ending prison terms isn’t a peaceful process. We also confirmed that deportation orders would prevent the release of prisoners. No, even if he were the target, his term of more than 10 years would not end abruptly.

"We've lost contact with the ground."

"This is the first I've heard of this."

"Hughes doesn’t seem to care about earthly matters."

"My hearing is impaired."

"Yes." Numerous factors suggest that human society is in disarray. For example, we’ve learned that we can’t communicate with all possible national entities, and polluted areas of Earth are expanding rapidly. Kite naturally approached the window to view Earth from a perspective that seemed nonsensical.

"The orbital elevator is broken."

"Yes.” When did you last see the ground? I noticed that the orbital elevator, extending from the surface, had broken for an unknown reason. Some people must have been hiding, feeling unsafe from the outside. Kite quietly remarked, "I see, the story of humanity is over."

"We’ve decided that Hughes’s time for deportation is over due to these circumstances." Jail officials (8979) relinquished their position as the top authority in this jail and recognized Hughes as the new leader. The words of the prison clergy echoed through Kite’s jail.

The time in jail is over. It’s true, but it’s still unfortunate.