44: Tritycam Factory

"Shortly, this vessel will arrive at Tritycam Factory. Please make sure you don't forget anything..."

"Here we go, then."

"Yep."

"Indeed."

The next day.

We boarded a scheduled ferry operated by Tritycam Factory from the port located in the middle layer of the First Prime Colony, heading toward the corporate colony managed by Tritycam Factory.

This scheduled shuttle runs about five times a day, reaching its destination in roughly one hour each way.

It's only slightly smaller than the 'Tsumebakei,' but almost all of its space is dedicated to passengers, with virtually no room for cargo.

Truly a scheduled shuttle.

"Hmm. No major disturbances seem to be happening, then."

"Thank you for confirming. Sata."

"Having Sata-sama's main body available at times like these is certainly convenient."

The Tricity Factory's corporate colony is a slightly smaller, perfect square pillar compared to the First Prime Colony.

Inside, most of the space is occupied by Tricity Factory's processing plants, warehouses, and research facilities, with the remainder dedicated to life-support systems, employee residential quarters, or offices for administrative work.

"The other passengers who were on the regular shuttle have apparently already disembarked. Let's get off too, Memo."

"That's right. Let's head over."

"Understood. I'll go ahead."

Though a facility the size of an entire colony might seem unbelievable at first glance... considering that it processes the vast majority of wheat harvested from the planet Glorgrobeta One, it's actually quite small.

And while we're talking about processing, it's not just one type—wheat is turned into flour, cereals, beer, and many other products.

Considering that each type of processing requires specialized equipment—essentially making it like having multiple factories within a single colony—it's probably just about the right size for one colony.

"Hmm, surprisingly, there seem to be more workers than customers."

"That's naturally the case for an industrial colony. The productivity comes precisely from leaving leisure activities to primal colonies, dedicated leisure colonies, or touring performance ships. Speaking of which, the Seiryō Corporation's colony—"

"Our company was full of so-called research obsessives. This should cover it roughly."

"Yeah, well, that's just part of being a researcher. There were quite a few professors like that at the Vanillasid Imperial University too."

After stepping off the regular shuttle, you arrive at the entrance to the Tricityam Factory.

Only after undergoing various checks—name, hazardous materials, purpose of entry—can you enter, and then you'll proceed according to your designated purpose.

As a result, in front of us, families or individuals who've spent their vacation at the First Prime Colony are entering, while people in suits are undergoing checks before beginning to move along a different route from others.

As for the conversation between me and Viridiana... well, you know, it's just the usual researcher stuff.

There are certainly people who could be described as workaholics, or who start another research project just to take a break from their current one.

Likely, there are also such individuals within the research department at Tricity Factory...

Incidentally, while starting a different research project just to take a break might be acceptable, anyone who plunges into another project so intensely that they don’t properly rest would be removed from their research role at Seiryō Corporation.

Resting is part of the job, after all.

"Hmm? Ah, right—the grocery supplies come from this port, and the wheat from another... No, wait, they separate the ports used for Tricity Factory's operations from those used for other purposes?"

"Probably, it's operating much like the first primal colony. There, various materials are processed within the colony, but here it seems to be limited specifically to wheat."

Even as I waited to enter, I continued my checks and eventually identified two other ports distinct from the one we were currently at.

It seems to be as Memoqui said—unloading wheat from Planet Glogrobeta 1 at one port, and shipping out the processed goods from the other.

The destination... well, there's no way you could possibly know that.

From the port where we are, what we've glimpsed being transported into the colony appears to be ordinary daily necessities such as vegetables and clothing.

These aren't produced within the colony, and since it's too far to go back to the First Prime Colony every time, they must rely on imports.

Well, it's much like the tourist-related goods, really.

"Welcome to the Tricatum Factory Colony. Please state your name and present your identification."

"Understood. Yes, I will."

With that, Vilijanira announced her name first, then presented her adult certification as identification.

Also, although she announced herself as Viscount (Visca) when stating her name... the receptionist's smile subtly twitched the moment they saw Vilijanira's face, and stiffened noticeably upon hearing the title of Viscount.

Well, I'd already said in advance that no special treatment was necessary, but still, it's understandable that a commoner would feel nervous dealing with a noble—so this was unavoidable.

From Triticum Factory's standpoint, they might have preferred someone more experienced at the reception desk, but given yesterday's events, it was probably too late to arrange that.

No worries, relax—Vilijanira isn't the type to make unreasonable demands.

"A factory tour, then. Please, enter through passage three."

"Understood. Thank you."

Let's proceed carefully, keeping our focus on the way ahead.

There shouldn't be any issues with the Tritycamm Factory itself, but the Vilijanira's eyes seem to suggest that this is the best direction to head toward.

Following the instructions, we entered the colony through passage three.