Cosmic Environment Bureau, Once Again

While Shinosuke and Marks were idly cleaning the dock and office, they received a call from the union's Rina.

『Shinosuke-san, I'm sorry to disturb you during your break, but the Cosmic Environment Bureau's Mr. Sanders and Mr. Yang are here to see you with a request. What would you like to do? Should we send them to your dock?』

If it's a request from Sanders and Yang, who previously asked us to investigate the cosmic whale, then it's clearly a designated assignment.

In that case, it would be quicker for Shinosuke to go to the union than to have them come to the dock.

"I'm heading to the union now. Please have Sanders and the others wait there."

"Understood. I'll pass it along."

Shin nosuke and Marks, cleaning in their training suits with Kumachan's apron and work uniforms with Hiyochan's apron, quickly changed clothes and headed to the Free Merchant Guild.

When the two arrived at the guild, Rina had already prepared the waiting room, and Sanders and Yan were waiting inside.

"I'm sorry to drop in unannounced, Mr. Kashimura."

Sandars bow their heads to Shinosuke upon his arrival.

No, I was just idling around with nothing specific to do, so there's no problem at all. Is this an urgent request for work?

Shinosuke sits on the living room sofa, laughing.

Mark is standing behind Shinosuke, though this is because Mark is a doll and doesn't need to sit. Moreover, to avoid potentially damaging the sofa due to Mark's weight, even if it doesn't break completely.

Lina quickly brought tea for four, but upon seeing Marks standing behind Shinnosuke, she placed tea for two in front of Shinnosuke and then left.

"It's not exactly urgent work, but since free merchants are hard to catch once they're out on the job, I decided to come here in person. I heard just now that Mr. Kashimura had returned, so I asked to be connected."

"Well, free merchants are like cannonballs—you never know where they'll land."

Shinnosuke chuckled self-deprecatingly, and Sanders and Yan couldn't help but laugh along.

After sipping a little of the tea offered, Yan got straight to the point.

"Actually, I'm reaching out to Mr. Kashimura—of course, through proper channels—but I have a request regarding work."

"Would this be another investigation for the Environmental Bureau?"

The two nodded in response to Shinosuke's question.

"In fact, after analyzing the data collected during our previous mission to rescue the space whale, we've begun to uncover some of the mysteries surrounding the space whale's ecology."

"Is that a significant discovery?"

When it comes to unraveling the mysteries of the space whale, Shinnosuke finds himself somewhat intrigued.

"Truly priceless—calling this a historic discovery wouldn't be an exaggeration. As a researcher, I'm utterly proud to have made such a remarkable find and to be able to announce it to the world. I'm completely head over heels for the space whale now!"

Yan, who has a scientist's passion, gradually becomes more and more excited, and Shinnosuke, honestly overwhelmed by the intensity, can't help but step back.

"Yan, calm down for a moment. I'm just as astonished and proud of this discovery, but isn't Kasimura reacting with a different kind of surprise?"

"Oh... s-sorry. I'm such a fool..."

Shinosuke chuckles at Yan's flushed cheeks, teased by Sanders.

"It's fine. Since this job request involves the space whale, I'll need an explanation. I'm also genuinely interested in this discovery, after all."

Shinosuke, being a spacefaring traveler who roams the cosmos, would naturally be intrigued by a new discovery like the space whale—yet he only feels a mild curiosity. The difference in enthusiasm compared to Sanders and the others was obvious.

After hearing Shinosuke's words, Yan sipped his tea once more, calming his thoughts before continuing his explanation.

After analyzing the click-like signals transmitted from the cosmic whale, the video recordings from when we rescued its offspring, and the collected tissue samples from the cosmic whale in detail, it was confirmed beyond doubt that the cosmic whale is a life form uniquely adapted to survive in outer space. Furthermore, it was discovered that unlike most life forms on planets—including humans—that rely on gravity, the cosmic whale does not have a liquid like blood circulating within its body. Instead, it sustains life by circulating a gas containing various components throughout its body. This alone was a groundbreaking discovery, but even more remarkable revelations followed.

"What is that? What exactly is it?"

"Upon detailed analysis of the collected tissue's DNA and other components, we confirmed it indeed possesses genes similar to those of aquatic mammals—whales. However, even more notably, it has a greater number of genes similar to those of another aquatic creature: turtles."

"A turtle? You mean that turtle?"

"Yes, that turtle."

"So then, it's not a space whale after all—but a space turtle?"

Yan shrugged slightly and shook his head in response to Shinosuke's question.

"It's not inaccurate to call it a space turtle. After all, its genetic makeup is more closely aligned with turtles than whales. However, it merely possesses genetic traits resembling those of aquatic creatures like turtles and whales, making it entirely distinct as a biological entity. Given its strong social nature—its herd behavior and close familial bonds—and especially its appearance, we concluded that the traditional name 'space whale' remains the most appropriate. That's why we announced our new discovery as a breakthrough in space whale research."

Yang passionately arguing about the new discovery of the space whale.

Even Shin nosuke understands it's a major breakthrough and finds it interesting, but his interest is merely superficial compared to Yang and Sanders' intense enthusiasm—Shin nosuke's reaction feels shallow in contrast.

"Really? So, what's the important part—the actual job request?"

For Shin nosuke, the nature of the work itself is what matters most.

It seemed Sanders and the others understood the situation, so instead of Yan's lecture, Sanders began explaining the request.

"What we're asking is that you continue taking on the investigation of the cosmic whales."