Cosmic Environment Bureau

Shinonosuke, plunged into an economic crisis after losing Cerberus and gaining Fubuki, came to the union seeking work to improve his situation.

Marks remains aboard Fubuki, as she is still set up as a escort vessel, and Seira is occupied with organizing her newly assigned cabin, checking navigation controls, and verifying communication systems, so this time, Mireena is accompanying her.

"Alright, I'd like to take on a job that's a bit riskier, but offers better returns."

"That's right. While steady work is fine, considering our current finances, prioritizing profit makes more sense."

The two of them, chatting casually while operating their terminals, checked the data on the currently available missions.

As always, numerous job requests are coming in, but rewards for missions heading toward the Damra Star Cluster Commonwealth—currently at war with the Rimlia Galactic Empire—are especially high. Not only are escort requests common, but small cargo transport jobs are also plentiful.

Escort missions pay better, but even though the economy's in bad shape, I'd rather not throw Fubuki into actual combat without proper navigation experience—so I'd prefer to avoid escort jobs that require protecting other ships.

"Guess we should just go with a solo cargo transport this time."

Based on Shinosuke's suggestion, Milena operates her terminal to pick up a few jobs.

Both are requests for cargo transport toward the Damura Star Cluster Commonwealth.

For cargo transport under 100 tons, requests that carry risk but offer good rates are usually like this. Still, it's unusual—there are several requests for food and grain transport, even though 100 tons isn't a significant amount.

Indeed, among the jobs Milena picked up, there were several related to transporting food supplies.

Transporting food supplies typically involves large cargo ships capable of handling tens of thousands of tons.

"Yeah, that's common during wartime."

"Huh?"

During wartime, using large cargo ships to transport essential supplies is too risky. For example, a large cargo ship can carry 10,000 tons of supplies in a single voyage, which is cost-effective. So in peacetime, large ships dominate such operations. But during war, the situation changes. With dangerous shipping routes, losing just one large ship could mean the entire mission fails. That's why, even at higher costs, clients prefer to spread the risk by assigning work to medium or small ships instead.

"I see, that's how it is. So, Shinosuke-sama, what shall we do? Should we take on the food transportation job as well?"

Sinosuke, prompted by Milena's question, compares the requests they've picked up. Suddenly, he notices a transport request for pharmaceutical raw materials that stands out with an exceptionally high reward, despite not being food transportation.

"What's this?"

Milena, prompted by Sinosuke, displays the details of the request.

"The reward is indeed unusually high. It's a shipment of pharmaceutical raw materials to the frontier planet Librina in the Damura Star Cluster Kingdom... Ah, I see now. This isn't a colony transport—it's a delivery to a city on the planet's surface."

In other words, the ship must be capable of atmospheric entry and flight under gravity, making this a request exclusive to vessels equipped for such conditions.

"Oh, I see. So I'm supposed to descend all the way to the planet and deliver it personally... Hmm, I'll take this one."

"Wha—? Master Shinnosuke, are you really going to use this? That means Fuuki can survive atmospheric entry, right?"

"Yeah, it's possible. Cerberus could handle atmospheric entry and flight under gravity. Though for Cerberus, it lacked the thrust to escape the atmosphere and required a dedicated booster. But Fuuki can manage atmospheric entry, flight under gravity, and atmospheric escape without any issues. Alright, I'll take this."

Shinnosuke made his decision and headed toward the counter where Lina was waiting.

Lina, who had been handling paperwork at the counter, noticed Shinnosuke and her expression instantly brightened.

"Ah, good morning, Shinnosuke-san. Those glasses really suit you."

Lina greeted him with a smile that wasn't just a sales smile.

From beside Shinnosuke, she could feel a tense, crackling aura emanating from Miliena.

It was almost as if she were electrified—but Miliena's ability definitely didn't involve generating electricity.

Gently turning her gaze toward Miliena, she forced a cheerful smile while her temple twitched uncontrollably.

(I won't fall for such a cheap provocation!)

Unaware of Miliena's inner turmoil, Shinosuke mistakenly interpreted her composed demeanor as maturity and proceeded with the procedure, reassured by an unfounded sense of calm.

"I'll take on this request."

"Um, cargo transport to the planet Librina in the Damura Cluster Republic, correct?"

As she spoke, Rina operated the terminal, cross-checking whether Shinosuke's newly assigned escort vessel, the Fukuki, possessed the necessary capabilities for the task.

Incidentally, she also reviewed Shinosuke's personnel file, making sure to verify his prior experience with atmospheric re-entry.

"Payload and planetary descent capabilities are both functioning properly. Everything's fine, right? So, shall we accept this request?"

Yes, please.

After confirming the details, Rinna smoothly proceeded with the contract procedures.

Yes, the procedure is complete. Please be extra careful as this is a transport to the Damura Star Cluster Commonwealth during wartime.

Rina maintains a smile, suppressing the anxiety within her heart.

"I'm fine. I've got 'me' with me, after all."

Milena finally can't hold back, speaking up with a proud chest.

Still, it's a bit childish.

"Yes, please take care of us."

Rina, who maintains her smile without faltering, is far more mature.

For now, since he'd already agreed to the job, Shinnosuke decided to quickly leave before Milina's mood worsened further. But just as he was about to exit the union hall, a pair of男女—man and woman—came running after him.

"Sorry, Shinnosuke Kasimura, may I have a word?"

Shinnosuke turned around, having been directly addressed by the middle-aged man.

"Yeah?"

Keeping a neutral expression, Shinnosuke observed the man and woman who had called out to him.

The man appeared to be in his forties, and the woman accompanying him was around thirty.

Both wore navy-blue uniforms.

"Forgive the sudden interruption. We're staff members from the Space Environment Bureau. I'm Dashim Sanders, and this is Mayfa Yang. We're here with a pressing request regarding Mr. Kasimura. Would you be willing to hear us out?"

The two bowed in unison.

The Space Environment Agency is a national organization tasked with investigating space environments, maintaining the safety and conditions of domestic space regions, and managing various space-related matters—such as predicting black hole formations and stellar explosions, surveying asteroid belts, and even removing space debris. The two individuals are government officials affiliated with this agency.

"What kind of request is this? I've just accepted another assignment a moment ago?"

Yes, we are aware that Kasimura-san has taken on a task related to the Damura Star Cluster Commonwealth. It would be quite disrespectful to piggyback on that, but might you also be able to take on our request as well?

It's not uncommon for agencies like the Cosmic Environment Bureau, Navigation Bureau, or Harbor Bureau to request assistance from the Free Merchant Guild, but it's rare to personally stop a newly hired free merchant and specifically assign them a task.

"I'm willing to listen, but regardless of the request, prior commitments take precedence."

"That's perfectly fine."

Shinonsuke decided to change locations and listen to the conversation elsewhere.

Moving to the guild's café, Shinonsuke listened to Sanders' request.

"In fact, I'd like to ask for your assistance in surveying the space near the border region between the Damura Stellar Federation and our territory."

Sanders' request was for cooperation in a space environment survey.