After leaving Mishyltia Prime and spending fifteen days in hyperspace, we finally made it back to Akul. I sigh as the auto-pilot docks. There’s honestly too much to do, but I’m standing firm.
“I’ll go buy that mechanical intelligence then.”
“Have a safe trip~.”
“We’ll take it easy here.”
“Make sure you purchase it after talking about it thoroughly and accepting it.”
In this space age, people don’t see mechanical intelligence as dangerous. The Galactic Credit Union Alliance was formed by mechanical intelligence anyway, and they manage it.
Apparently there were plenty of artificial life revolts, but eight thousand years later, no one finds that strange.
Apparently Kori’s race started a conflict over husbands, scary. Also, said conflict stemmed from them wanting to make gender reassignment surgery free because of their theory that women should become men.
I think about stuff that doesn’t really matter as I walk, looking at the concrete sidewalk, the artificial trees that don’t drop leaves, and the multi-tenant buildings all line up neatly, as the scenery around me slowly changes into a safer area.
After twenty minutes of walking, I reached my destination, a gray five story building with a big box behind it that’s as tall as a two story building. The building’s name is Occidental Industries, and it’s also written in big letters on the box. I assume it’s their storehouse.
I walk towards the gray building. The first floor has glass that’s completely see through, and I’m welcomed by an open atrium that stretches all the way to the third floor. I stand in front of the automatic door feeling a little awkward, and smell flowers when it opens.
The smell gets stronger when I step inside, and the concrete sidewalk turns into a marble floor. I feel awkward. I’m not used to this.
I look left and right and see sofas that you’d see in a coffee shop, positioned so they can be seen from the outside. Many people are sitting in pairs and chatting.
I see many men of different races nodding, and people talking to them, who look like walkers but have white elliptical shapes where their ears would be. Those are mechanical intelligence.
The atrium continues in front of me, and the reception desk is split into left and right paths. I head to the right path, and get ready.
Suffice to say, the receptionist is a mechanical intelligence, with blue skin.
“Welcome, I am Kosh, a guide of Occidental Industries. Are you here to pay to receive your new partner, grassland two mercenary Mister Genma?”
“Yes, but can I introduce myself to my new partner?”
“Of course. Smooth reception and cordial business is the motto of Occidental Industries.”
Apparently when we were in hyperspace to deliver a mechanical intelligence, Sumire, to Mishyltia Prime, she tried to make business with the girls when I wasn’t around, focusing on making managing the night easier.
Kori was the one who was most against it, but… I guess Saratha and Suzuri convinced her.
“So, I’m buying, but what now? Do I pay here?”
“No, first you check the product, and then you receive ownership rights from Occidental Industries.”
A small drone that’s like a baseball on a bamboo-copter signals for me to follow it. Of course, it’s floating. I thank her, and follow the floating drone.
I’m taken to the long atrium floor I saw earlier. What sounds like a vibraphone echoes from both sides… And there’s a sensual mood in the air… Is it just me? I feel like the smell is getting sweeter too.
After a few minutes, the drone stops, so I assume I’m supposed to enter here. I thank the floating drone, and knock on a gray door.
“Come in.”
I hear a low female voice, and the automatic door opens. If it opened to the outside, it would’ve hit me in the nose.
The first thing that catches my eye is the wood grain walls. They don’t really grow trees in space, so I think they get that paint from planets.
There’s now a carpet under my feet. The interior is like a business hotel, with a small double bed near the wall.
In front of this bed, there is a mechanical intelligence, with close trimmed hair on the left side and somewhat long hair on the right, hanging over her eye. Overall, it’s close to a short bob. It’s light blue with faint purple underneath.
The ears are the white elliptical characteristic of mechanical intelligence, and she has round glasses on her kind of drooping eyes. She’s standing there smiling silently, with her eyes on the same level as mine.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, master. I am Iris, a mechanical intelligence.”
“Yes, I’m Genma. I assume you already have detailed data?”
She bows with her arms by her sides. She’s wearing a black tailcoat with a gray vest, white gloves, and a black tie. Her chest that can only be described as ample is further emphasized by her starched bosom shirt. Still, it’s a little smaller than Saratha’s.
I took the responsibility to design her properly, and she came out perfect.
“Yes master, all the information is in the operational schedule.”
She says as she pulls up a chair and prompts me to sit, so I sit… No, she’s grabbing me?
“The final check in Occidental Industries is compatibility.”
She suddenly picks me up and throws me on the bed. She holds me with her left hand while taking off her tie with her right, and stripping one piece at a time. And she even licks her own lips.
“No, hum, what!?”
“I heard from the other ladies that you like forceful women in this manner, so please count the stains in the ceiling to your heart’s content.”
And she has her way with me, no questions asked.
▽▽▽
An unfamiliar ceiling, an unfamiliar bed, and a familiar girl next to me.
“I can’t be a husband anymore…”
“You have three wives…”
But you stripped away my dignity as a man…
“Well, fine. What time is it? I need to pay to make you mine.”
“It is eight o’clock, and payment will be completed upon bank transfer.”
I check my account, and see I have a million puni left. I need to sell the stuff I got from Van, or I’ll be in trouble.
I send the six hundred thousand puni to Occidental Industries with trembling fingers, and purchase Iris.
“Ahh… That leaves four hundred thousand.”
“That is big money for an average colonist.”
“For me, it’s like money melted away in an instant. When I get back, I need to turn those materials into money and check how much it would cost to make that new shield generator.”
“Leave it to me. Miss Suzuri has told me about the actual deal, and I have calculated the current market price. The materials will be worth an estimated six hundred fifty thousand puni.”
“Will the port authority buy them at this hour?”
“They are open twenty four seven.”
“I want to get that money, so maybe I’ll go there right away…”
“Very well, I will dress you.”
“No, I can dress myself so… I can!! By myself!!! Aren’t you a bit strong!?
Ten minutes later, the battle of the clothes ends with a ripping sound, but I won. And I’ll fix that later.
“I should go talk to the receptionist… Ah, it’s the floating drone. I guess I don’t need to then. Yes, thank you for your service.”
“President, Iris is off to perform her duty and make master successful.”
Artificial life forms, servant races… You guys are alike in that aspect.
▽▽▽
After buying the new member of my crew, Iris, we return to the dock where Tortilla Double is parked.
“Yes, Servant Model N.8 Kyuryukan… Understood. It really is different from other combat ships.”
“It just barely fits the dock. I wouldn’t be able to fit it without the auto-pilot. I feel like you could sum it up with weirdly short and stout.”
“It’s a ship where its appearance is the ornament of its battle history.”
“Well, yes.”
I open the hatch to the cargo bay, and see the three girls standing in front of the elevator.
“Ooh… Nice to meet you~! I’m Kori~! Darling likes them big~.”
“I’m Saratha. Yep, I knew it.”
“I am Suzuri… I feel as though if I do not work hard, I won’t be called at night and will be sent away as a nuisance…!”
“I am Iris, and I will be Mister Genma’s property. I hope you treat me well despite my inexperience.”
Iris beautifully bends over in a show of respect to the three girls. I’m showing it off, but it feels really weird to hear her say she’s property…
Well then! Let’s go in~! Says an excited Kori, but Iris stops her. What is it?
“Excuse me, but there isn’t much time. Miss Suzuri, let us sell the materials bought in Mishyltia Prime.”
“What do you mean there is not much time?”
“Until recently, Mishyltia Prime kept its communications limited to administration, keeping it to a minimum even in regards to the mechanical intelligence consultant. In fact, the Alliance did not expect them to sell materials in this manner.”
“R-really? They seem very eager.”
“I thought they might need puni for defense, but I was told they are keeping that to a minimum, and Van himself can go up to space and fight… Did he change course after learning about remnants from Earth?”
“And that means he decided to release materials?”
“Today, he opened the gates and has already sent a few transport ships to Akul Prime.”
“That might drive down the price!”
“What!?”
“Yes, and while that has not yet happened, I would advise you to sell quickly.”
Iris approaches Suzuri, who is checking the prices on her small communications device.
Meanwhile, the transport drone and battle drones acting as transport drones are busy in the cargo bay.
“Let’s go where we won’t be in the way…”
“Yes~.”
“Suzuri! If there’s nothing we can do, we’re talkin’ to the higher ups!”
“Yes, it’s all right. Iris is controlling the drones, so the two of us can handle it.”
We go up the elevator as we watch the busy drones.
We sell all the materials, and the million and a half plus five hundred thousand worth of materials are sold, and turned into six hundred fifty thousand puni in my bank account.
That means I’m now worth seven million.
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Thanks for the update. By the way, has the “Storage old man【Asura】” series dropped?