Ten hours remained until our arrival at Azurite Prime. We were gathered around the Main Bridge’s hologram table, holding a briefing regarding our next destination.
“...Master. The rendering of the collected data is complete. Projecting now.”
As Lucia slid her finger across the console, a wireframe model of a creature—one strikingly similar to what I knew as a ‘Star Tuna’—flickered into existence at the center of the table.
“Hmm... Listen closely, Akito-san. The biological organisms on Azurite Prime—the so-called ‘fish’—are quite different from the Star Tuna we ate before, even if they look similar-uu.”
Emalgand pushed her glasses up her nose and pointed at the hologram. Her tone had lost its usual gluttonous edge, replaced by the clinical precision of a professional bio-investigator.
“Yeah, I’m familiar with fish. But purely in terms of appearance, they don’t look that different from the tuna we’ve seen so far.”
At my remark, Emalgand looked back at me with a look of mild surprise.
“...Oh? You are familiar with fish? That’s encouraging, but don’t lower your guard just yet-uu. Physical structures can vary wildly depending on the planet. While the basic skeletal structure is similar—a spine and developed lateral muscles—that Star Tuna was a ‘Space-adapted Species.’ In contrast, these creatures spend their entire lives in a high-density liquid... in other words, ‘water.’ It makes things quite complicated-uu.”
Emalgand rotated the hologram, switching the display to a cross-section.
“Water is far heavier than air, yet it also provides significant buoyancy. Because these creatures rely on that buoyancy to support their frames, the flesh of certain species will actually collapse under its own weight the moment they are pulled onto land. Furthermore, cellular degradation occurs much faster than in space-adapted species. You have to account for mucus removal, changes in meat quality due to osmotic pressure, and above all... the instantaneous severing of the nervous system. As a bio-investigator, I’ve had field-work sampling and butchery techniques hammered into me, but performing them perfectly under a strict time limit is a daunting task, even for a researcher-uu.”
I was a little surprised to hear Emalgand speak so casually about her butchery skills. Then again, she was a pro who had clearly spent time in the thick of things.
“...So you can fillet them, Emalgand?”
“Yes, more or less. I can perform sampling without damaging the cells using a specialized scalpel or a high-precision laser cutter. But I suspect the kind of butchery required to bring out the ‘genuine’ flavor you talk about is a different beast entirely from mere scientific sampling-uu.”
Emalgand looked at my hands with a mix of wonder and skepticism. I unconsciously tightened my grip.
“Yeah. I’ll handle it. Whether it’s Three-piece Filleting or sashimi. I have the right tools for the job.”
“...Three-piece Filleting? You mean to say you’ll strip the meat from the spine by hand-uu? I won’t ask about your past, Akito-san... but that’s the kind of technique I’d only expect from a local who has lived among primitive nature for generations. I’m looking forward to seeing it-uu.”
Lucia calmly interjected, cutting through Emalgand’s admiration.
“...Master. Technical issues aside, there is another hurdle to consider on Azurite Prime. The planet is classified as an Imperial ‘Class 1 Nature Reserve,’ but it is also one of the most prominent Ultra-luxury Resort Planets in the galaxy.”
“...A resort? Wouldn’t that make it more welcoming?”
“On the surface, perhaps. The tourist sectors are lined with magnificent marine cities, overflowing with simulated ‘bounties of the sea.’ However, those areas are independent territories effectively ruled by the ancient ‘Ocean Guild.’ With only a standard entry permit, you may be able to walk the tourist strips, but you won't be able to get your hands on so much as a single Genuine Fish.”
Lucia opened a new window showing a list of strict management regulations buried behind the glossy resort brochures.
“To acquire unprocessed fish, one must either hold the ‘Ocean Chef’ qualification recognized by the local guild or work through a certified ‘Coordinator.’ The most efficient way to avoid trouble is to act like resort guests while letting a local agent handle the back-end logistics. Fortunately, my research has allowed me to contact a powerful local agent. Paying them a fee to navigate the red tape is considered the ‘smart way’ of doing things among the Imperial elite.”
“So it’s a place where the local laws carry a lot of weight. No matter where we go, there's always a local rulebook to follow.”
I let out a soft sigh as I listened to Lucia's briefing. We would have to blend in with the tourists and their ‘fakes’ while diving into the local scene to find the real thing. It all came down to how well we could negotiate with the locals.
The bow of the Sperm Whale cut through the void, bathed in the light of the jump.
Silence returned to the bridge as the holograms flickered out.
But in my heart, a spark of anticipation remained—a hunger for the bounties of the sea that lay hidden beneath the bustle of the resort.