Emerging from the tunnel of light, the Sperm Whale concluded its long voyage through subspace.
The starry sky unfolding before us belonged to a sector of space thousands of light-years away.
We had arrived at Argos Gateway No. 9.
From here to Techne Prime, it was a few hours' journey via sub-light navigation.
"Gateway exit confirmed. All systems reporting normal values."
"Good. Set a course for our destination."
At my command, the ship banked and turned.
Before long, a star shining with exceptional intensity appeared in our forward monitors.
No, it wasn't a star.
It was a massive artificial celestial body, shimmering in silver, its entire surface encased in metallic structures—the technical colony, Techne Prime.
Even its atmosphere was shielded by an artificially controlled barrier. From the vacuum of space, it looked like a piece of intricate silver filigree.
"...It’s certainly quiet," I muttered, staring at the monitor while we proceeded with the port entry procedures.
Numerous ships were moored at the docks, but I didn't see a single person.
The unloading, refueling, and maintenance were all being handled by inorganic, autonomous drones working in silence. Even the controller’s voice over the comms had the grating, inflectionless quality of a synthetic recording.
"Requesting entry permission. Transmitting identification signal..."
As Lucia operated the console, a warning alert suddenly blared.
Warning. Identified as an unregistered armed merchant ship. Shut down engines immediately and prepare for disarmament. Failure to comply will result in elimination protocols.
Countless security drones came swarming out like a disturbed nest of hornets.
As expected of a closed research city, the security was airtight. A suspicious vessel like the Sperm Whale would normally be detained without a second thought.
"Hmph. A stiff-necked bunch as always," Professor Stein snorted, tapping his ID card against the console.
The authentication code for his Academy Special Grade Pass was transmitted.
...Authentication code confirmed. Dr. Stein, your return has been verified. Our apologies. Applying VIP Code Alpha.
The synthetic voice’s tone shifted instantly to one of oily courtesy.
The drones that had surrounded us dispersed at once. In their place, a lead drone appeared, its guidance lights flashing a welcoming rhythm.
Guiding you to the Super-grade VIP Hangar. All immigration and quarantine procedures are hereby waived. Welcome to Techne Prime.
"...That card is incredible."
"Authority exists to be exercised, my boy," the professor said with a nonchalant expression.
Led by the drone, we glided into a special sector that ordinary ships were strictly forbidden from entering.
◇
As we touched down in the designated Super-grade VIP Hangar, a boarding ramp was immediately extended.
The facility was entirely unmanned, yet the decor was luxurious and pristine.
"Now then, first comes the promised reward."
The moment we stepped off the ship, the professor pulled out a terminal. A notification chimed on my own handheld device.
Deposit confirmed: 2,000,000 Credits.
"...Two million? That’s significantly more than we agreed upon in the contract."
"The transit fees for the Gateway aren't exactly pocket change, are they? Consider this inclusive of your expenses. Your voyage was comfortable, and more importantly, that cheese was exquisite," the professor said generously.
Even after subtracting the 850,000 credit transit fee, we were in the black by over a million. It was a welcome windfall.
"My thanks. This certainly warms the pockets."
"Think nothing of it. Now, it is my turn to return the favor. Allow me to invite you to my favorite local haunt."
Leaning on his cane, the professor led the way into the depths of the gateway with a confident stride. Mina and I shared a look before following after him.
The streets were almost too clean to be comfortable. We passed nothing but cleaning robots; the occasional human we did see was usually hunched over a terminal, muttering to themselves as they hurried past.
The entire city was a massive laboratory—a paradise for eccentric shut-ins. It was exactly as the professor had described.
He led us to the high-rise floor of a silver building that didn't even have a sign.
The interior was stark white, a restaurant that looked more like an operating room or a high-tech lab.
"Welcome, Dr. Stein. What sort of experiment—pardon me, what sort of meal do you desire today?"
The waiter—an android so sophisticated it was indistinguishable from a human—offered the menu with a respectful bow.
"I’ll leave it to you. Show my companions the 'essence' of this city."
A few minutes later, the table was set and the cutlery laid out. Even the utensils were unique, looking more like tweezers and scalpels than forks and knives.
And then, the course began.
"For your first dish, the amuse-bouche: 'Void Space'."
The server presented a single transparent capsule resting on a small spoon. It appeared to be completely empty.
"...Professor, what exactly is this?"
"Put it in your mouth and bite down. It is a fragrance bomb."
Following his instructions, I popped the capsule into my mouth and bit.
Pop.
Instantly, an intense "scent of the forest" exploded across my palate.
The smell of damp earth, young grass, tree nuts, and wildflowers. There was no actual taste. However, the sheer force of the aroma piercing my nasal cavity made my brain hallucinate that I was in the middle of a forest.
"Whoa, that’s amazing! My mouth feels like a forest!"
"It is a volatile aroma designed to directly stimulate the olfactory receptors. It has a proven appetite-enhancing effect," Lucia observed.
Then came the second dish: the appetizer.
"The 'Reconstructed Crustacean'."
Sitting on the plate was a cluster of rainbow-colored bubbles. That was all. It wasn't in a bowl; the "foam" somehow stood on its own on a flat plate.
"This is the pinnacle of Molecular Gastronomy. It is the engineering of food—deconstructing ingredients to the molecular level and then rebuilding them to design specific tastes, aromas, and textures."
I scooped up the rainbow bubbles. They had no weight at all. When I put them in my mouth, they fizzed and vanished.
In that heartbeat, the rich flavor of shrimp bisque flooded my senses. It was a torrent of umami, as if the shells had been simmered to their essence and the tomalley dissolved into the liquid. It wasn't hot, yet I felt the distinct illusion of drinking steaming soup. Only the powerful aftertaste of the umami remained etched on my tongue.
"Third dish: the soup. 'Spherical Consommé'."
This arrived as an amber-colored sphere, looking much like a glass marble. I scooped it up and ate it in one go. When the thin membrane ruptured, warm consommé overflowed. It was a technology that trapped liquid in a solid state. A soup you ate rather than drank.
"Fourth dish: the fish course. 'Silence of the Deep Sea'."
The plate was piled with nothing but a fine white powder. However, the moment it touched my saliva, it transformed into the texture and flavor of a sauteed whitefish. Everything from the richness of browned butter to the delicate flake of the meat was perfectly replicated from the powder.
"...I think my brain is going to short-circuit," Mina said, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Finally, the main meat course was served.
"The 'Concept of Beef'."
Sitting in the center of the plate was a pitch-black cube. At first glance, it looked exactly like those loathsome Tasty Cubes. I instinctively braced myself, dreading the taste of flavored clay.
"...Rest easy. The shape may be similar, but the contents are of a different dimension."
Trusting the professor, I pressed my knife into it.
Slide...
My eyes widened at the sensation. That dull, rubbery resistance of a synthetic cube wasn't there. Instead, my hand felt the delicate, elastic response of cutting through countless layers of incredibly thin membranes.
This was meat. It was the exact feeling of slicing through a premium cut of steak. I took a bite.
"...!!"
The moment I chewed, fat and juices erupted.
This wasn't the flat, uniform flavor of a Tasty Cube. These were muscle fibers reconstructed at the molecular level, unraveling with every bite to release an explosion of aged umami and the sweetness of rendered fat. Even the savory aroma of the Maillard reaction had been perfectly calculated to tickle the senses.
"...What is this? It’s incredible."
The appearance was that of an industrial block, but the experience was that of an A5-rank steak. With no sinew and no gristle, it was like the soul of beef had been extracted and crystallized into a pure form of culinary violence. If a Tasty Cube was clay with the flavor of meat, this was the very essence of beef given shape. They weren't just different; they existed on entirely different planes of reality.
"Fascinating, isn't it? Unfortunately, high-quality natural ingredients are hard to come by in this colony. Distribution is limited, and honestly, no one here cares for them," the professor said, swirling a deep red liquid—a reconstructed wine—in a test tube. "But we have technology. We use science to compensate for missing materials and hack the taste receptors directly. This is the Techne Prime definition of fine dining."
I see. It didn't quite fill the stomach, but as a stimulus for the brain, it was absolute top-tier.
"Elemental structural analysis... This is highly intriguing," Lucia added, uncharacteristically talkative. "The extraction purity of the flavor components exceeds 99.9%. It is a beautiful structure that minimizes fiber and moisture to maximize the efficiency of the taste receptors."
"Do you find it to your liking, young lady?"
"Yes. However, what I truly wish to understand is the difference between this perfect 'structure' and the 'fluctuations' found in the Master's cooking. Once my sensors are implemented, I hope to conduct a comparative verification."
The course continued, and a palate cleanser was brought out.
'Memory of Wheat'.
It was a single sheet of semi-transparent amber film, roughly the size of a postage stamp.
"...We eat this?"
"Place it on your tongue and press it against the roof of your mouth to melt it."
As instructed, I let the film sit on my tongue. The moment it met my body heat and saliva, it dissolved into a syrupy liquid. Suddenly, the aroma of freshly baked bread and the sweetness of wheat exploded in my mouth. There was nothing to chew, yet I felt the distinct satisfaction of having eaten a warm, crusty loaf. Even the aftertaste of high-quality fermented butter was flawlessly reproduced.
"Amazing... It’s like the memory of eating bread was just uploaded to my brain."
"Precisely why it's called 'Memory'. It has no mass, but its informational density exceeds the real thing."
Finally, we reached the dessert.
"The 'Frozen Smoke'."
This was a mass of meringue-like substance, flash-frozen with liquid nitrogen. When I popped it into my mouth, it vaporized instantly, causing white smoke to billow from my nose and mouth. The sharp scent of mint and vanilla washed away the lingering richness of the meal.
"Hahaha! You look just like a dragon!" The professor laughed heartily, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. "Well then, that may not have done much for your digestion, but your brain has been fed. Shall we get to the heart of the matter?"
The professor’s gaze sharpened into that of a cold scientist.
"I will introduce you to a brilliant engineer who can install those sensors of yours."
I straightened my posture.
Finally, the time had come. Here, in the heart of this city of technology, I would grant Lucia's wish.
(Author's Note: I previously joked about Molecular Gastronomy Level 100, but I’ve reflected on that now! If you enjoyed this chapter, please click the "★"! It might just help Akito upgrade his dinner tomorrow. Thank you!)