Unexpected nomination request

When Shinnosuke arrived at the Free Merchant Guild accompanied by Marks and Milena, Rina, who was at the counter, rushed over to them.

She looked quite flustered.

"Shinnosuke-san, just in time. I was about to contact you."

"Is something wrong?"

Shinnosuke and Milena tilted their heads in confusion.

Even Marks tilted his head, but no one made a comment.

"In fact, Mr. Shinnosuke, or rather, Kasimura Corporation has received a direct request."

"A direct request? Again, is it Mr. Glenn?"

Even so, if it were Glenn and his team, they'd have come straight to Shinnosuke's dock after submitting the request to the union.

Besides, if it were Glenn's job, Rena wouldn't be so flustered.

"It's not Glenn's work....But I can't explain the details here. Please come to the reception room."

Rina gave Iris at the counter a nod, then guided Shinnosuke and the others to the reception room.

Rina's behavior seems strange somehow.

Still, no one dared to tease Marks, who was arms crossed and head tilted.

As soon as Rinna led me into the reception room, Iris quickly followed and entered as well.

Holding a bundle of documents.

It's unusual to use paper documents in an era where data exchange via devices is commonplace.

"So, what's this request to appoint me to your company?"

Responding to Shinnosuke's inquiry, Rina nodded toward Iris, who was holding a bundle of documents. Iris then took one document from the bundle she had brought and handed it to Shinnosuke.

Shin nosuke... The request from Kasumura Corporation is a convoy escort mission. The client is Villet Imperial Trading, a company from the Rimlia Galactic Empire. We're to escort five cargo ships through the 6325 Star Alliance to the capital of the Rimlia Galactic Empire.

A surprise request from the Rimuria Galactic Empire Corporation.

While the Akunelia Galactic Federation and the Rimlia Galactic Empire are in a state of tension, they have not severed diplomatic relations, and private-sector trade still takes place between them.

However, it's hard to believe that the Rimlia Galactic Empire Corporation would specifically request protection from the free merchant escorts of the Akunelia Galactic Federation.

Especially when that request explicitly names Shinnosuke's trading company.

Could there be something hidden here? And besides, Milena, the refugee, is on my ship...

Shinnosuke remains on guard, but Milena denies it.

There's no need to consider me. With the Damura Constellation Commonwealth now annexed and the Empire's territory expanding rapidly, securing the Emperor's rule is the top priority. I'm nothing more than a refugee who fled to another country and settled there—completely irrelevant to them. Besides, the client this time, Villet Imperial Trading, is no exception; it's an enterprise with Imperial capital, though the shareholding is only about eight percent. Within the Empire, it's a negligible, insignificant little company.

According to Milina, many enterprises within the Rimurian Galactic Empire have capital invested by the imperial government, suggesting these companies are significantly influenced by imperial authorities.

While the rate of capital investment varies, state-influenced enterprises with higher capital shares face stricter government oversight, yet are prioritized in transactions within the empire and with allied nations, receiving preferential treatment.

On the other hand, companies like Villet Imperial Trading, which have lower capital investment ratios, receive no such preferential treatment and must achieve results through their own efforts.

"It is said that this time, the Villet Imperial Trading fleet has arrived at the Salius Stellar Province empty-handed, planning to purchase precision machinery and other goods here, then acquire additional industrial machinery and rare metals in the 6325 Stellar Federation, before returning to the imperial capital."

In that case, I can understand why you'd hire a guard ship through the Sirius Stellar Province's Free Merchant Fleet.

"So, you don't hire a guard ship for the outbound trip with no cargo, only for the return journey when loaded. Basically, you're cutting costs on protection fees."

"That's exactly right. Surviving as a small business is tough, even in the Empire. Cutting expenses is a matter of life and death."

Listening to Shinosuke and Miliena's conversation, Lina also nodded.

"That's exactly why we've requested the services of the Kashimura Consortium this time. It wasn't specifically because of the Kashiura Consortium, but rather because Shinosuke's company was the only one within the Rimelia Galaxy Empire with the proper qualifications to operate across the region and capable of deploying multiple escort vessels."

In short, it wasn't absolutely necessary to choose Shinnosuke's company—there just happened to be no one else available right away to handle this request.

"What should we do? Even though it's a designated request, we could still decline..."

Both Lina and Iris seem worried.

They'll relay the request, as it's been issued, but don't seem particularly eager.

The reward isn't much more than market rate—certainly not a particularly profitable job.

And yet, there was something that simply couldn't be ignored.

Shin nosuke struck right at the heart of it.

"Isn't it a bit late to be requesting something in print?"

Both Rina and Iris nodded deeply in response to Shin nosuke's question.

"That's exactly the point. While the union does accept written procedures, it's virtually unheard of these days to submit documents in paper form. We ourselves were completely unfamiliar with the process and struggled with the paperwork, and even the union president said he'd only seen such requests two or three times in his entire career."

Several reasons come to mind for why paper-based procedures are required, but in the case of this particular request, Shin nosuke could think of only one possibility.

Namely, confidentiality.

The database of the Free Merchant Ship Association is protected by highly advanced security, but that does not mean it is flawless.

There are always exceptions and unforeseen circumstances that can arise.

The same applies to paper documents: when using written procedures, only essential basic information is entered as data, while detailed contents are securely stored in the association's archives in written form.

Even with advanced technology, a database isn't entirely immune to external intrusion, but to verify documents stored by the union's secretary, one would need to physically break into the union, which must remain open 24 hours a day, and physically breach its robust security as well—while not impossible, this is realistically extremely difficult.

"Something confidential related to the Lemurian Galactic Empire... this might turn into a real mess?"

Markus and Milena nod in response to Shinosuke's question.

"If the Master says so, then it must be true."

"Master Shinosuke himself is the one who draws such fate toward him."

Sinosuke crosses his arms, deep in thought.

"Whether you call it a flag or destiny, it doesn't matter—but with five cargo ships and three escort vessels, that's clearly preparation for an attack."

There's no way around it; a bad feeling is unavoidable.

"What should we do? Should we decline?"

Shinnosuke gave a slight nod to Linah and Iris, who looked worried.

"We'll accept this request."