This is sudden, but there are twelve asteroid general-purpose processing stations in To Akul Prime.
There are four colonies, each with three stations mining metal resources, but apparently that’s not nearly enough. To meet the increasing demand, they have to import resources from star systems that make money off their mining work.
But they don’t just import all sorts of finished products. To meet demand, they also produce things like mining armors and ships. And they have to meet demand for those too… They’ve fallen into this spiral.
That also necessitates making sure the asteroid belt is safe, so there’s always work for mercenaries. In fact, buying a nice profitable ship… Means one can go back to a colony and have a pleasurable life that would be the envy of someone working in Japan like I was. There’s also talk of building more colonies and stations, so…
But Tortilla Single got a bite taken out of its left engine. Even landing wasn’t easy, but the Mining Guild and others were kind enough to outfit it with four new engines, bringing it up to Double.
That means working for a day to test it, and we continued doing standing quests for the asteroid general-purpose processing station for ten days.
“Eh… These are the results for hunting for ten days. The base estimated pay for one day was fifty thousand puni. By when we add the sale of magic stones and shells in the colony, that is presumed to grow to half a million… What is this amount…”
“Getting an engine makes for easy money.”
“Yep, good thing we were compensated.”
“Let’s buy a whole ham leg and the refrigerated case~~~~~!!!”
It’s too much money. Fifty million yen for ten days of work. Apparently it’s not just me, other mercenaries and adventurers who have their own ships make that much too.
Then they go to the colony, have fun, have their ships serviced, and go out to make more. Armors carry small containers, so they don’t make as much.
The difference between this and Earth is the scale. The economic bloc extends far beyond this star system, so they sell how much they can make. The scope of the transports is completely different too.
“If we’re making this much, I’m feeling like we could buy and install a high quality food printer.”
“I heard the number one cause of death for mercenaries is wasting too much money, panicking, and accepting too much work.”
“What do we do~… We talked about resting after working for ten days, but should we rest for ten days~? It’s not like we can’t~.”
“Honestly, working for ten days straight was quite harsh, so I feel we could rest that much. And buy the whole ham.”
I feel like that could be appropriate too. Space eels and space turtles aren’t scary, but taking them out carefully so I didn’t destroy resources took effort.
“Ahh, if mercenaries make this much, what was my life in the colony all about? Let’s buy that ham leg.”
“We didn’t make any money there~…”
“Well, the lower classes in a colony tend to make a thousand to fifteen hundred puni… And I made about that much as well…”
“Yes yes, stop stop. That’s not the case now!”
I really really really get how you feel, but mister money tends to feel lonely, so that’s how it is…
“Then let’s get that ham and the refrigerated display case. And let’s get lettuce and bread and take it easy and munch.”
“Agreed!”
“No arguments here!”
“I want to buy more cheese as well! We should add a refrigerated container to the cargo bay!”
“Are you sure, minister of finance…”
That organic farmers market was clearly targeting mercenaries…
▽▽▽
We safely return to the colony via hyperspace, sell the magic stones and shells, and get our half a million puni for the ten days. Then we rest for three days, while doing some extravagant spending, and today I’m going to have some indoor fun with the three of them. I intend to just hang out and relax… But an email comes that sets up a flag.
“Genma, the shower is free… What are you looking at?”
Asks Suzuri.
“Hnn, how should I put it? The Mercenary Guild has a designated quest for me.”
“Hnu? What is it about?”
“Transporting stuff through hyperspace and attacking something when we get there. The others are still asleep, so I’ll take a shower and we’ll have breakfast.”
Three hours later, everyone’s in the living room. The couch is draped in a thin blanket, and today’s tower of pillows hasn’t fallen yet.
There are computer game machines, cards, board games, and a TRPG rule book on the rug. There are also two low tables. One has the moss ball that’s happily shaking as always, and the other the ham leg, that’s down to three fourths of what it was. Should we get a third low table…
“You can have your ham sandwiches, but listen. Around six this morning, I got a designated quest from the guild. I was told I can say no, and received prior information.”
On the big monitor in the living room, there’s a globe colored blue and green, with reddish brown mountains and deserts. A real paradise planet. I assume it’s in the same position as Earth was, and I’ve read it’s the perfect environment for life to grow.
“This is Mishyltia, a planet that was named a month ago, and at the same time, registered in the Galactic Credit Union Alliance as a privately owned planet.”
“Privately owned? I heard they have those in some empires and kingdoms.”
“Eek~. How much money does someone need to own a paradise planet!!? A quadrillion wouldn’t even do~!”
“Is this the only civilized planet in that star system?”
“Yes, Suzuri.”
The girls let out shrill yells. Yes, to the Galactic Credit Union Alliance, the owner of a star system is its most powerful ruler, or leader of a civilization. The ownership of these assets are guaranteed and secured by the Alliance.
Basically, this planet called Mishyltia being owned by someone means this person owns the whole system, sun included!! I think it’d be easier to have an elementary school student come up with a name to estimate the value of this person’s assets rather than an economist.
Incidentally, To Akul Prime is designated as being owned by all those registered in it. It is ruled under a parliamentary democracy accepted by the Alliance.
If someone wanted To Akul Prime, in theory, they would have to kill everyone registered in it. If they could kill everyone down to every single person operating a power armor in space.
“Continuing. The Mercenary Guild is asking us to transport cargo and destroy a space pirate base for the new ruler of this new star system… Hum, Van Elbes Leu Mishyl Mishyltia.”
“Are they chartering a large transport ship for said cargo?”
“No, it’s five containers, so we can carry them. It includes mechanical intelligence to help the new owner rule.”
“Aren’t they asking to transport spaceships?”
I guess it would make sense, but no.
“Apparently not. Just containers and personnel.”
“What is the reward?”
“The Galactic Credit Union Alliance is offering an advance pay of a hundred thousand, reserve funds included, with nine hundred thousand for the transport, and five hundred thousand for the space pirate base destruction. We don’t have the right to salvage, but that brings it up to a million and a half puni. And it says that the employer will only offer fresh fruit.”
Although from our point of view, an orange costs about twenty puni.
“Honestly, the transport reward sounds too good, and it seems pretty dangerous. Then again, seeing a new star system sounds fun, so I want to accept. What do you all think?”
“I want to know if we can reject the part about destroying the space pirate base… I doubt space pirates would send out destroyers to a system with a protected planet, but still, just to be safe.”
“I think it sounds fun~.”
“I also am interested in whether we can discard the combat portion…”
Well… Ahh, I guess that’s why it’s treated as separate.
“Maybe we can scout it and reject it. Apparently there’s no penalty, but since it’s a guarded planet, there’s few information.”
Should we take it then? It’s headed in that direction. Our break is being interrupted. Let’s call them.
“Hello, this is class… Yes, Genma. We’re thinking about accepting the designated quest… It will take ten days to prepare? Yes, I understand. The advance pay is already… Yes, I’ll wait for your contact… Hey everyone, it looks like we have ten more days for ourselves! And advance pay!”
“““Yay!!!!”””
Should we restock on ham… I think I’m going to harvest my lettuce in the meantime too.
▽▽▽
After ten days of taking it easy and doing some stuff, we’re stocked up on organic ingredients, food cartridges, water, torpedoes, missiles, and all that stuff. We’re in the dock, standing by outside the ship.
The five containers will be loaded onto the ship at the appointed time, and a female mechanical intelligence approaches.
Mechanical intelligence are artificial lifeforms with positronic brains capable of will of their own. They’re incredible computers, so they can quickly perform calculations, record, and search. They are mostly used as work assistants.
They are the founders of the Alliance, so it’s no exaggeration to say they hold the economic reins in this galaxy. And apparently they can be purchased normally, and Suzuri seems interested.
This mechanical intelligence looks like a walker, like me. She has shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes, and her skin is the color of chocolate.
She’s wearing a suit, not with a skirt, but with pants. But her brown high laced boots look hard, and the heels seem made with practicality in mind. Being kicked by that would cause more than pain.
“Hello Mister Genma, I am the mechanical intelligence known as K-74F-AU1.”
“Hello… Hum, excuse me, I know this is rude, but I didn’t catch your name.”
“Please call me mechanical intelligence. I only have my model name until I am named by my master Van Elbes Leu Mishyl Mishyltia.”
“Hello~.”
“Hello Miss mechanical intelligence.”
“Hi.”
“Pleased to meet you. I will serve as a guide in the cockpit. Have you discussed that previously? If not, we may.”
“It’s all right, let’s load the stuff onto the ship.”
Loading the containers is a job for the five meters tall battle drone, that seems to never actually fight. Speaking of names, I should give you one soon…
It doesn’t take long for the five containers to be locked onboard. The mechanical intelligence confirms that and the shock absorption equipment, and we move to the cockpit.
“It’s a cute living room, isn’t it? It’s especially interesting that it’s decorated with ham legs. Two even.”
“Don’t mention that too much.”
“We should have put those away…”
“But I wanna eat~…”
“Yeah, going to the freezer container in the cargo bay and back in the elevator is annoying.”
Maybe we should use one of the free rooms as food storage…
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Thanks for the treat.
have a pleasureful life that
Hida, wouldnt “pleasurable” work better here?
The economic bloc extends
Block*
Having a ref near your couch or bed is luxury, you know~?