A few hours after departing the commercial colony Transaction Hub, the Sperm Whale reached the crucial junction of this sector: the Interstellar Gateway "Zephyrion."
"...It’s massive."
I couldn't help but let out a low whistle at the sight filling the bridge’s main screen.
A ring-shaped structure spanning tens of kilometers in diameter floated in the abyss of space. Within its inner rim, distorted space swirled in a vortex, drawing in a torrent of bluish-white light particles.
This was a neutral, absolutely inviolable zone managed jointly by the Galactic Trade Federation and the System Army. Heavy patrol fleets kept a vigilant eye on the surrounding space, maintaining an ironclad defense ready to incinerate any unauthorized vessel attempting to slip through.
The gateway served as the entry and exit point for a "Subspace Tunnel," a shortcut designed to bridge astronomical distances in the blink of an eye. Attempting to reach our destination without it would have meant a journey of months via standard Hyperdrive, or decades under sub-light propulsion. It was, quite literally, the main artery of galactic civilization.
"Currently entering the queue for gateway transit. Estimated time until passage is approximately 120 minutes," Lucia announced in her usual flat tone.
The wait was long. A massive line of ships had formed before the gate: gargantuan container ships, high-speed couriers, and even military patrol vessels. With this much traffic, delays were inevitable.
"Hmph. Inefficient as always." Professor Stein, our passenger, snorted as he glared out the viewport. "They aren't simply folding space, you see. They are burning an absurd amount of energy to punch a hole in reality and forcibly fix the coordinates. Even as a reverse-engineered piece of lost technology, the maintenance costs are astronomical. Inefficiency is the baseline here."
"Heh... You sure know your stuff."
"Hardly my specialty, but I'd consider it part of a basic education."
I listened to the professor’s lecture as we crawled forward. Eventually, our turn arrived.
『Hull number confirmed. Length 500-meter class... A heavy-class transport ship. Calculating transit fees.』
A clerk’s monotonous voice crackled through the comms, and the total appeared on my terminal.
『Total transit fee, including weight and size surcharges... 850,000 credits.』
"...Huh?"
I stared at the screen, unable to believe my eyes.
850,000.
That was enough to wipe out the entire profit from a standard job.
"Whoa, hold on. Isn't that a bit steep? This is a civilian ship!" I groaned, burying my face in my hands.
Back in my days as a player, gateway fees were nothing more than a rounding error. It was just a fast-travel mechanic, so it was never expensive; besides, I’d been so wealthy then that I wouldn't have noticed even if it was.
But this was reality. Gateway management was a business. The fees followed a pay-as-you-go model based on the ship's mass and volume. My investment in high-end, heavy-duty armor and weaponry, combined with the sheer bulk of a high-capacity transport ship, had resulted in the worst possible "transit fee"—the equivalent of terrible fuel economy—under this billing system.
"I'm sorry, Boss..." Mina whispered. "Was the armor plating I loaded for the repairs too heavy?"
"No, that’s just a drop in the bucket. The ship itself is just too damn big. I guess I know now why most transport ships prefer light equipment..."
I authorized the payment with a heavy heart. Safety and time cost money—I understood that—but the hit to my wallet was a psychological blow.
『Payment confirmed. Proceeding to security inspection. Please remain stationary and prepare for scanning.』
Colossal sensor arms on either side of the gate began to move, swiveling toward the Sperm Whale. Apparently, inspections had been tightened in the wake of recent terrorist and pirate activity.
"...This might be trouble," Mina murmured. "If they find the Bio-core... or any of our other 'special' cargo, we’re in for it."
"Relax. This ship is fine," I replied coolly.
『Commencing scan...』
Waves of sensor energy washed over the hull. I held my breath, but the alarms remained silent.
『...Scan complete. No hazardous materials detected. All systems green.』
"See?"
Mina stared at me, wide-eyed. "How? There should have been some seriously illegal readings popping up."
"Let's just say I have my ways." I gave her a cryptic smirk.
In truth, the explanation was simple. As part of my player privileges, the ship was outfitted with illegal Jamming Systems and Camouflaged Containers—the kind of gear only found in star systems that served as hubs for "extralegal" activities. In the game, players needed the freedom to move between factions regardless of their alignment, and that system was still working perfectly in reality. To an outsider, our most sensitive cargo looked like nothing more than ordinary luggage.
『Now, final confirmation. Cross-referencing crew manifest—』
Just as the controller began the procedure, Professor Stein leaned forward.
"Good grief, enough! How much more of my time do you plan on wasting?"
He cut into the transmission, holding up a single card toward the bridge camera. It was the Academy Special Grade Pass. In the academic world of this galaxy, it was essentially a golden ticket, carrying absolute authority.
『ID confirmed... Wait, you're... Dr. Stein!? My apologies, sir! Initiating VIP lane guidance immediately!』
"I don't care about the lane, just let us through! If my research materials degrade because of this delay, I'll hold you personally responsible!"
『Y-Yes, sir! Opening the gate! Priority clearance for the transport ship!』
The gate ahead yawned wide as the controllers scrambled. Ignoring the tedious manifest check, we sailed past the long queue of waiting ships.
"...Nice one, Professor."
"Hmph. Bureaucrats are pathetic creatures who live and die by titles."
The professor settled back into his seat with an air of self-importance. In this universe, it pays to have both high-end illegal tech and high-level social status.
"Entering the gateway," Lucia announced.
At her word, the Sperm Whale dove into the vortex of light. My vision turned a blinding white, and the laws of physics seemed to blur. Communication with the outside world vanished, leaving us alone in the silence of the ship.
Once we emerged from this tunnel of light, we would be at the city of research, Techne Prime.
Author's Note: The gateway, the main artery of the galaxy, and a bit of world-building. If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider leaving a "★" rating! It might just help Akito afford a slightly better dinner tomorrow. Thank you for reading!