The Arein System contained two habitable planets, three research colonies, and a trade colony. One of those habitable planets had been adjusted to boast a year-round warm climate, making it perfect for agriculture. Thus, it had a bustling, efficient, and high-tech agricultural sector focused mainly on producing luxury foods.
The other habitable planet suffered vicious storms constantly, making it a difficult place to live, but that apparently also provided a specific environment perfect for certain scientific experiments, so it became a major research hub. Well, given the Empire’s technological level, I’m sure any structures they create there can handle the environment. And they could always use shields if necessary, so living there probably isn’t that challenging. Hm? What about that research colony? Those places were stations that only research lunatics visited; they apparently didn’t contain a single entertainment facility. At least, according to Elma.
“Wow. How nostalgic,” Dr. Shouko said happily as she looked around the port district.
We’d just touched down on Arein Tertius. The port district’s first level, hangar bays included, was a dark place with lighting meant to emulate nighttime. I wasn’t sure why that was, so I asked the former resident.
“Oh, the first level’s always dark because some races are uncomfortable with light,” Dr. Shouko explained. “You know how some humans are effectively nocturnal? This floor was made to cater to nocturnal races and to those humans. Haters sometimes call them creeps or loners, but a lot of them are just really thoughtful, and they’re typically very gentle people.”
“I see. The people in charge here do their best to cater to different needs,” I noted.
“You don’t see that often elsewhere,” Elma said.
“That feature is probably unique to Arein, since research is the system’s main ‘product,’” Dr. Shouko remarked.
We continued to chat idly as we walked down the street as a group. This was the rare outing in which the entire crew, including Mei, participated. Arein Tertius was a pretty safe colony, and we’d been here before, so the lay of the land was familiar. Well, the place was a mess last time we were here, since monsters were attacking it. But that’s not something that happens every day.
“This system’s reputation for bein’ high-tech ain’t unearned,” Tina exclaimed.
“The ceiling feels a bit high,” Wiska commented. “I don’t really like it.”
Tina seemed quite excited to be here, while Wiska came off as somewhat uneasy as she gazed up at the colony’s high ceiling. That’s quite a unique perspective. I’ve heard of claustrophobia; is she feeling something like agoraphobia? That doesn’t sound right either. Maybe dwarves are just instinctively uncomfortable in spaces with raised ceilings?
“Structural upgrades on the Black Lotus; the installation of research equipment and proper medical facilities; party preparations; and equipment maintenance, including maintenance for me… We have a lot of tasks before us today, Master.”
Mei seemed unusually excited, as it had been a while since we’d had so much to do. By the way, the “equipment maintenance” she mentioned included maintaining the combat bots from Eagle Dynamics. Tina and Wiska had adjusted those bots to be capable of maintenance as well, so I couldn’t help worrying that the store would refuse to service them.
As a side note, since we probably couldn’t stay on the Black Lotus while it was being worked on, we’d reserved rooms at a hotel. We could simply have stayed on the Krishna and Antlion, but since the hotel option was available, we’d decided instead to book rooms in a nice one where we could rest properly.
On that edge world, we’d never been able to really kick back and relax. The Dauntless had basic entertainment facilities, but the Black Lotus’s lounge was far more comfortable, so our crew had elected to stay on our ship for most of the expedition.
“This is a good place to shop.”
“Yeah… There’re so many different stores.”
“It can’t compete with the capital. Still, they seem to be selling more interesting things here than in the Wyndas System—goods sold there tend to have military uses.”
“Master Hiro. That store. We should take the crew there.”
“Which one? Wait… Ah. That store, huh? That’s a good idea, Mimi. A very good idea.”
Mimi was likely referring to the store that offered Lolita fashion. Mimi rarely wore that attire for me; still, dressing up the entire crew in those outfits…was truly a very good idea. A wonderful idea. Although Elma would likely give me some pushback, I very much wanted to see her wear one. Being so small, Tina and Wiska would definitely look amazing, and Kugi was practically made for such clothes. As for Mei and Dr. Shouko…would they look good? Yeah, I was certain they would. The possibilities were endless.
“I’m getting a bad feeling about this…” Elma said.
“You’re just imagining things. For now, let’s check into the hotel.”
We’d booked our rooms for two weeks, and we’d already sent our luggage ahead through the inter-colony freight system, so all we had to do was check in and register an electronic key to our personal terminals. I had informed the hotel that we might extend our stay beyond a fortnight, and they’d told me immediately that that was fine. My reputation apparently worked in our favor.
“Seems like I became famous at some point.”
“You really don’t pay much attention to what others say about you,” Elma said, somewhat astonished. “Your reputation’s pretty decent, just so you know. The general consensus is that you’re a gentle guy who seldom gets into fights with regular people. You’re one of the good platinum-rankers.”
I turned to her in confusion. “I’m a good platinum-ranker? I seldom fight regular people? I had quite a few run-ins with those guys from Space Dwergr. I even made them kneel and apologize.”
“But you haven’t gotten violent with someone for no reason, nor have you used the threat of violence to intimidate anybody. You also haven’t ended up in trouble while drunk or gotten into fistfights with normal people. Plus, you haven’t forcibly dragged women aboard your ship and gotten rough with them.”
“Of course I haven’t! What the hell? I’m not a turn-of-the-century Mohawk-sporting gangster.”
“The way you recoil at the very idea of such actions is why people think you’re a good platinum-ranker.”
If having normal sensibilities was enough to cause people to see me as among the “good” mercenaries, then the others must’ve been quite unruly. Were most mercenaries the “If you look down on me, I’ll kill you!” type? Yikes… That didn’t make sense, though; the mercenaries I’d met hadn’t given me that impression.
“The mercenary guild punishes offenders who act too out of line,” Elma continued. “Besides, you mainly hunt pirates for bounties. The only missions you’ve taken on were direct requests from either the military or nobles, so you’ve only run into relatively upstanding mercenaries in your work.”
“I see…” I still wasn’t all that familiar with the sensibilities of this universe’s mercenaries, so having Elma around was a godsend at times like these.
“By the way, this is common knowledge that even Mimi is familiar with,” Elma added.
“What…?” I gasped at this shocking revelation.
“Mimi actually studies, unlike a certain someone.”
“Everyone’s got their own strengths and weaknesses…” Please stop looking at me as if I was dropped on my head as a child. It actually kind of hurts my feelings.
“After we check into our rooms, my lord, what plans do we have for the day?”
I thought for a moment before answering, “Hmm… It’ll probably be best if we split into three groups safeguarded by Elma, Mei, and me. Dr. Shouko, you made your appointment with Inagawa Technologies, right?”
“Yes. Mei helped me prepare the resignation documents, and I already informed Inagawa of my intentions. We scheduled a meeting for today.”
“In that case, I’ll head to Inagawa Technologies with you,” I decided. “It’s only right that I meet with them as your future captain, since you’ll be joining my crew.”
“I’ll accompany you, my lord,” Kugi said.
“I’ll lead the group shopping for the food and drink we’ll need for the party,” Elma volunteered. “Mimi, you’re with me, right?”
“Yes!”
“I’ll come too!” Tina said.
“I will stay in our rooms and arrange for the ship’s upgrades,” said Mei. “I may go to visit the dealer in person.”
“I’ll stay behind with Mei and help her with the necessary arrangements,” said Wiska.
That was that. I’d go with Dr. Shouko and Kugi to Inagawa Technologies, and Elma, Mimi, and Tina would shop for food and alcohol, while Mei and Wiska would get to work arranging to overhaul the Black Lotus.
“Make sure to contact the other groups if anything happens,” I reminded them.
“Aye aye, sir,” they all chorused.
Once we finish at Inagawa, I should probably meet up with Mei’s group. I’ll have to approve their expenditures, after all. At any rate, checking into the hotel will be the first step.