The commercial colony, Transaction Hub.
The Sperm Whale glided into its berth at the largest trading base in the sector.
It had been several days since our last visit, but our financial situation had undergone a radical transformation. With fifty million credits sitting in our account, the very world looked different. Even the sterile docks felt more welcoming when viewed through the lens of wealth.
"...And now, an immediate summons?"
No sooner had we completed the entry procedures than we were invited to the office of the branch manager of the Mercenary Management Organization.
The reception room we were shown into was decorated with high-priced furnishings and sofas upholstered in some kind of leather I was too afraid to identify. This was clearly not a place meant for your average mercenary.
"Ah, I’ve been waiting for you, Captain of the Sperm Whale."
The man who appeared before us was the branch manager himself, wearing a soft, professional smile. He tapped away at the terminal in his hand and transferred a file to my handheld terminal.
A license card, shining in brilliant silver, appeared on the screen.
"Congratulations. As of today, your rank has been promoted from Bronze to Silver."
"...That’s quite a leap. I’ve only completed a few jobs since I arrived here, haven't I?"
Normally, a rank-up required years of proven service and the completion of hundreds of requests. For a newcomer like me to skip several rungs and jump straight to Silver was likely unprecedented.
"In terms of raw numbers, perhaps. However, you had a very powerful recommendation."
The branch manager gave me a knowing wink.
"Colonel Victor Hound of the Regular Army Logistics Department. An evaluation report arrived directly from him stating that you are an 'extremely excellent transporter.' Combined with your capture of pirate vessels and the success of your investigation in a high-risk zone, your quality of work is arguably already Gold Rank level."
"I see. So, a word from the military."
The Colonel was a shrewd man; he hadn't breathed a word of this to me. People would likely gossip about me being a 'backdoor hire' through military connections, but I had no reason to refuse the promotion.
In fact, it was more than welcome. I kept my expression neutral and responded coolly.
"Well, the Mercenary Guild is a meritocracy. As long as the person is useful, their background doesn't matter, right?"
"Precisely. It is our job to provide appropriate privileges to talented individuals like yourself to ensure you remain loyal to our organization," the branch manager affirmed with a businesslike smile.
Silver Rank.
The benefits were substantial. It granted the right to purchase medium-caliber kinetic weapons and high-grade personal armaments, flight permits for restricted blockade zones, and—perhaps most importantly—access to the wealthy districts within the colony. While these perks came with a litany of caveats and restrictions, a Silver Rank was the definitive mark of a veteran professional.
"Now, enough with the celebrations. Let’s talk business," I said, getting straight to the point.
I was pleased about the promotion, but my ultimate goal was still Lucia's upgrade.
"I want to head to the technical colony, Techne Prime. Do you have any transport requests bound for that sector?"
"Techne Prime, hmm? That’s a closed-off research city. Inbound shipments are strictly regulated. Even regular commercial flights are often forced to wait at checkpoints for days."
The branch manager searched his terminal with a troubled frown. It was exactly as Lucia had feared.
"Normal cargo transport is handled exclusively by designated contractors. ...However," he paused, his hand hovering over the terminal. He looked at me with an expression that was part concern and part curiosity. "There is 'one' request left that no one wants to take."
"Is it dangerous?"
"No, there is no threat of combat. It’s just... the cargo is 'troublesome'."
The branch manager pulled up the details for an escort and transport mission. The client was a doctor of bioengineering stationed at Techne Prime.
"The subject is an old professor who came to this colony for an academic conference. However, due to his eccentric personality and a string of repeated incidents, he has been blacklisted from every scheduled commercial liner."
"...Blacklisted? What did he do?"
"Storming into galleys to lecture the chefs about the quality of in-flight meals, smuggling prohibited experimental organisms... he is quite the handful. However, his credentials are valid, and the reward is excellent. If you deliver him to Techne Prime, your entry permit will likely be granted as part of the deal."
I see. A normal contractor would steer clear of a headache like that, but for us, it was a golden opportunity.
If he was the type to complain about in-flight meals, it meant he had high standards for food. That was far more interesting than dealing with a passenger who had no sense of taste. The smuggled organisms were a concern, but between Lucia and Mina, we should be able to handle it.
"I’ll take it. Where is the professor now?"
"He should be at the membership-only high-end grocery store in the colony, Ceres Marche. Your Silver Rank ID will get you through the door. Please finalize the contract with him directly. I’ll send word ahead that you're coming."
The membership-only high-end grocery store, Ceres Marche.
It was a sanctuary of gastronomy where only the select elite were permitted entry. We flashed our brand-new silver licenses and passed through the security gate.
"Whoa...! Akito, look! The air feels so clean!"
Mina’s excitement was justified. The interior was perfectly climate-controlled, and every product on the shelves gleamed like a gemstone.
There were genuine vegetables, fruits, and grains. There wasn't a single Tasty Cube in sight. Everything here was the "real deal."
"Amazing. I didn't think this many fresh ingredients could even be gathered in one place."
I couldn't hide my own excitement. The shelves were lined with spices from planets I’d never heard of and vibrant, colorful produce. However, the prices were in a different league entirely.
Huge Mushroom from Planet Valde (1 piece): 1,500 Credits. Organic Tomato (1 pack): 3,000 Credits.
Considering a hot dog at a street stall cost 800 credits, this was nothing but a playground for the wealthy. But now that I had fifty million to spare, I could afford to indulge in a bit of "research."
"Oh, is this... fresh-baked soft bread? And this cheese... it's a real dairy fermented product, not synthetic! Five thousand credits a slice...!"
Just as I reached for a block of cheese inside the refrigerated case, a gnarled hand reached out from the side and snatched it first.
"Oho. I believe I set my eyes on that one first."
The voice belonged to a white-haired old man wearing a tweed jacket over a lab coat. The eyes behind his round spectacles were sharp and intelligent, but they carried a distinctly neurotic edge.
"Pray, yield it to me. I am likely the only person in this store who understands the true value of this Camembert Type 9."
"Oh? It's certainly fine cheese, but eating it alone is only half the story. You need the honey from the next aisle over and the black pepper on that shelf. Topping it with those and lightly torching it is the only way to do it justice."
When I talked back, the old man’s eyebrows twitched.
"...What? You're suggesting one should put honey on this cheese?"
"Yeah. The balance of salt and sweetness is exquisite. Then you pile it onto this fresh-baked bread. It pairs well with wine, but personally, I’d recommend a bold black tea."
I laid out my explanation, drawing on every bit of culinary knowledge I had. I could only pray that honey and pepper in this universe tasted like the versions I remembered.
The old man stared intently at my face for a long moment, then let out a sharp smirk.
"Interesting. A mere youngster talking as if he’s a connoisseur... I like it. Tell me, boy, what is your name?"
"I'm Akito. And you?"
"I am Stein. ...I believe I am the 'troublesome cargo' you’ve been sent to collect."
The old man tossed the cheese to me and started walking, leaning on his cane. He stopped abruptly and looked back at me and Lucia, who was standing close behind.
Stein’s gaze swept over my clothing—a clean, professional jacket that was at least appropriate for the setting—and then shifted to Lucia’s refined classical maid uniform.
"Hmph... For a mere mercenary, you at least have the sense to dress for the occasion. The tailoring on that maid isn't half-bad, either."
A mere mercenary, huh?
"How did you know I was a mercenary?"
"Your gait. You leave no openings. Furthermore, you lack the greasy, stagnant boredom common to the wealthy fools who frequent this place. You smell like a beast that has survived a few life-or-death scrapes."
"...Thanks, I guess."
I gave a wry smile and straightened my collar. It seemed the initial investment in our appearance had paid off.
"Your eye for quality seems decent enough. You pass. I wondered what sort of blockhead they’d send this time, but at least you’re someone I can talk to."
The old man nodded with satisfaction and resumed his walk.
"Follow me. If you can provide a lecture that satisfies my palate as well as my ears, I suppose I’ll allow myself to be a passenger on your ship."
Apparently, I had passed the interview.
I caught the cheese and followed after him with a dry chuckle. My journey with this eccentric professor didn't look like it was going to be boring.
Personally (the author isn't a fan of wine).