142nd Chapter <>
Pirate base <>.
A habitable artificial satellite, fixed in orbital coordinates between Earth's orbital zone and <>, seized by pirates to form their base.
The satellite originally had residential and production zones, but those areas have all been transformed into a pleasure district.
Attached to the satellite are two spherical facilities. These were constructed and modified repeatedly using captured ships as material, serving as pirate infrastructure.
Dawson and his pirate fleet arrived at the spherical facilities.
Around <>, numerous vessels had already gathered, creating a display of naval presence rivaling that of the SU Space Force's fleet review.
With so many ships, it is impossible to accommodate all of them within the spherical facilities.
Only the representatives' ships or their captains were permitted entry.
"Then I'm off."
"Securing the pirate fleet is my responsibility."
Dawson, wearing a white-and-black mask, boarded a short-range space vessel designed for few passengers, departing from the Big Cock, accompanied by Oine.
The short-range vessel circumnavigated nearby pirate ships, collecting each captain before entering the spherical facility of the Big Cock.
Inside, Dawson observed the scene and noted the disorder.
The floors and corridors, constructed from ship materials, were uneven. Arrows on signs marked complex, convoluted passageways throughout. Small stickers on the signs indicated locations of small shops and informal trading points.
Dawson felt the place was cluttered, like a gathering spot for outlaws, when a small spatial display monitor appeared beside his face.
The navigation app seemed to have activated. His current position and a nearby map were projected onto the screen.
Tapping the screen allowed zooming. Spreading the fingers apart on the display expanded it further. Location searches appeared to use voice recognition.
Other pirates who had boarded the same short-range vessel as Dawson were operating monitors in the same manner.
As they practiced using the navigation app, a sudden message appeared on the screen demanding presentation of a privateering license.
Dawson hesitated. The license had few linked functions. He touched the monitor as if displaying the license.
The navigation app then automatically set coordinates and began indicating the route Dawson should take.
"Go here, is that it?"
Dawson muttered to himself, glancing briefly at the screens of the other pirates.
The other pirates were also setting destinations, but only a small number had the same location as Dawson. The rest were headed to another identical location.
A pattern in destination selection was likely, but Dawson decided to proceed to the assigned location for now.
He followed the winding path, bypassed obstacles, and finally arrived at the location indicated by the navigation app.
The place was a restaurant with a collapsed gate, red-painted interior, circular tables, and circular chairs arranged inside. Seeing yellow letters reading 'Lai Lai' and 'Zhao Lai', Dawson deduced it was a Chinese restaurant.
Inside the eatery, several pirates already sat at tables. They appeared to be occupying themselves as they pleased—drinking from small vessels, spearing food from steamer trays with forks.
Dawson checked the navigation app screen again. The app specified which seat he should occupy at the establishment.
He sat at the designated seat. A small hovering terminal, shaped like a drone, flew in and began emitting audio.
"Your order will be accepted."
"What is the menu?"
"Please view the screen. Tap the dish when you have decided."
The navigation app screen changed. Dishes available at the establishment appeared.
Each dish displayed a name and price. All price entries were crossed out, replaced with the text "Special measure: free (free of charge)."
Dawson tapped the dishes he assumed to be 'Five-Item Fried Rice & Chinese Soup,' 'Assorted Grilled Pork,' and 'Aromatic Vegetables Stir-Fry,' based on the Amato Imperial Japan menu.
"Is that all? Any drinks, such as alcohol?"
"No. And for now, that is sufficient."
"If you wish to add more, please follow the same procedure."
The small drone detached from Dawson and flew toward another pirate.
Dawson's designated seat was in the center of the left wall corner of the establishment. A quick glance revealed a position with full visibility of the interior.
He took advantage of this to confirm the presence of the other pirates.
Only captains and above should be present in the spherical facility of the *Big Cock*, given the limited number of ships permitted to enter the harbor.
Given that most pirates accompanying Dawson on the short-range vessel were assigned to other locations, those present at the establishment were individuals who held the rank of Captain or met additional criteria.
Even among such individuals, some appeared to have positioned familiar pirates nearby. At tables where people gathered, groups were seen engaging in relaxed conversation.
Others, like Dawson, were alone. Each carried an aura of solitary vigilance. Yet they were still regarded with deference by other pirates, and some approached to exchange greetings.
"Probably not a place a second-year pirate like me should be in."
Dawson muttered quietly into his mask, ensuring the sound did not carry beyond his immediate vicinity. He then retrieved the meal from the wagon-style food transport robot and arranged it on the table.
The scent rising from the dishes was not comparable to the eateries of the Amato Imperial Japan—instead, it matched the quality of those restaurants, known for meticulous chefs and well-balanced flavors. Though the food was synthetic, produced within the artificial satellite, it smelled remarkably authentic.
Dawson unfolded the mask over his mouth and quickly brought the meal to his lips.
The five-ingredient fried rice had rice with a nutty aroma, each grain separate, and the ingredients tasted fresh. The Chinese soup carried a faint gamey note, but this was balanced by the chopped aromatic vegetables. The roasted pork offered both tightly packed meat and fatty sections, creating a pleasant contrast in texture and taste. The stir-fried aromatic vegetables had a glossy sheen from oil, yet they tasted light and clean, making it difficult to stop eating.
The first high-quality meal Dawson had encountered since entering the Orion Arm.
Dawson exercised caution to keep his hands from reaching too eagerly toward the meal, and chose to eat slowly. After finishing a slice of grilled pork and a single serving of Chinese soup, he flipped through the menu, considering ordering something unusual and a drink next.
Black egg or agar? Oolong tea or vanilla tea? As hesitation settled in, the murmur within the shop suddenly intensified.
Dawson looked up from tapping the black egg and vanilla tea to see a flamboyant man entering the shop, accompanied by two nude women.
The man wears a red formal robe with gold thread patterns, adorned heavily with gold decorations on his fingers and neck. The two half-naked women accompanying him have natural, finely proportioned torsos, but their limbs are mechanized—cybernetic—with illuminated lines running along the joints.
An unusual pair of man and woman, but their identities became clear from the surrounding pirates' conversation.
"That is the boss of the Big Cock and his mistress."
"It's rare to see Lord Ron (Talen) coming from the pleasure district (over there) to the sphere (this side)."
The man in question appeared to be the local pirate base's commander.
Dawson took the black egg and vanilla tea offered to him, brought both to his mouth, and mentally remarked that the combination was, once again, correct.