Chapter 29

After the meeting with the mercenaries alone, there is a meeting with the client.

In this meeting, a guild staff member is always present.

Furthermore, unless requested by the client, only the leader of the escort team is supposed to attend as a rule.

This is because in the past, mercenaries have threatened clients to demand unfair compensation, and as a countermeasure, it was decided that only the leader would meet face-to-face, and a guild staff member would be present.

The meeting with the mercenaries alone is to make the report at this time easier.

However, this time, the client requested that everyone attend.

To be honest, it's a hassle, but it's something we should do.

So, we headed to the meeting room where the client was to have the meeting with the client.

In the meeting room, there was a guild staff member and a woman who looked like a new career woman, dressed sharply in a suit.

When she saw us, she stood up quickly and said,

"Nice to meet you! I am Rone Nostu from the Sales Department of the Neima Chamber of Commerce.

Normally, the department head would come, but due to a previously scheduled meeting with a board member, the head, who was not supposed to attend, was suddenly called in as a substitute.

Therefore, I, the deputy head, have come as a substitute."

She apologized with a look of regret.

Nostu-san is probably in her mid-20s, a lively and beautiful woman with short hair and a neat appearance.

"Nice to meet you. I will be the leader of the escort team.

My name is Arthur Linguard."

Arthur, as expected, offered his hand for a handshake with a refreshing smile.

After exchanging handshakes, the five of us introduced ourselves, and the meeting began immediately.

However, since our side's strategy was already decided in the previous discussion, the main participants in the discussion were the staff member, Nostu-san, and Arthur.

We would silently observe them.

Among them, we all thought that Seira would be grinding her teeth and giving the client, Nostu-san, a death stare, but she didn't do that at all. Instead, she listened to the conversation between the client and Arthur with a serious expression.

By the way, the content of this request is:

Transportation of new products to be exhibited at a new product launch event on the planet Galif.

Job details: Escort of one large transport ship of the Neima Chamber of Commerce.

Job period: Approximately 48 hours from the handover on planet Its to the completion of the handover on planet Galif.

Job environment: Fuel supply for the spaceship. Gate usage fees are covered by the client.

Job conditions: Ownership of a spaceship.

If the spaceship is damaged, repair costs are at your own expense.

Reward: 1.3 million credits per person, payment upon arrival. If combat occurs, danger pay is provided per occurrence.

That's the gist of it.

The discussion went smoothly,

"Then, everyone, please take care of us for the next two days!"

And the meeting for today was over.

By the way, after leaving the meeting room, Morise-san said to Seira,

"Given your nature, I thought you'd be grinding your teeth and giving that client a death stare, but you did a good job holding back!"

And dropped a bomb with a laugh,

"Probably, she was worried that I might flirt with Arthur-sama and neglect the job, but in private or among mercenaries, that might be fine, but during work, if I flirt with my lover and neglect the job, or if I glare at or intimidate someone just because I'm talking to Arthur-sama, it would damage Arthur-sama's reputation too!"

She replied calmly.

Still, when she called out during the exploration distance, she glared at us with a terrifying expression.

Well, maybe it's better not to worry about that too much.

Anyway, since the meeting with the client was over, we decided to head to Patterson's Pharmacy in the black market shopping district.

The purpose is obvious.

For some reason, I saw Levin, the middle-schooler, also heading to the black market shopping district.

Well, it's not strange for an obvious middle-schooler to come to the black market shopping district.

Rather, he blends in too well.

Still, this place is suspicious no matter when you come.

Even the benches for rest are suspicious.

Oh, that butcher shop still has the sign for 'Spicy Dark Gold Born from Boiling Oil Mud' = 'Spicy Curry Croquettes with Squid Ink Dough'.

I tried it the other day, and it was quite delicious despite being spicy, so it must have become a popular item.

After passing the butcher shop, a group of women who also seemed to have middle-schooler syndrome were gathered in front of a store.

It seems that a food stall was set up in front of the store.

And the sign read, 'Blessing of the Sea with Rainbow Intestines that Harbor the Life of Trees.'

Another incomprehensible thing... This is it.

It's a taiyaki filled with fruit-flavored bean paste and fruit sauce.

The words were confusing, but the illustration made it clear.

And it was a very fancy illustration.

Is it okay to have such a fancy illustration in the black market shopping district?

Anyway, the taiyaki had seven types of bean paste: strawberry, banana, tangerine, grape, peach, melon, and mango.

There were also other options like black bean paste, white bean paste, matcha bean paste, chocolate, custard, and caramel cream.

I was interested, but I couldn't join the group of girls to shop, so I passed by.

There was also a bookstore with a sign that read 'New Prohibited Books Arrived.'

A hardware store with a sign that read 'Magic Swords, Demon Blades, and Demon Sealing Chains on Sale at 50% Off.'

And a clothing store with a sign that read 'Dark Cloth in Stock.'

I passed by these and arrived at Patterson's Pharmacy, where, for some reason, Levin, the middle-schooler, was also there.

He didn't seem surprised and asked,

"Are you also here for information?"

It seems he is also a client of the information broker.

I just answered, "Yeah," and opened the door to go inside.

"Welcome... An unexpected combination..."

From Gonzales' tone, I could tell that Levin was a regular customer.

Levin put the cash on the counter and said,

"I want information on the Neima Chamber of Commerce and a former police officer named Bernard Zag."

Straightforwardly requesting the information.

"Got it. And you?"

"I want the same. I accepted the same job."

"Got it. About an hour. You can hang around if you want."

Gonzales put down the newspaper, collected the cash, brought the hair tied around his neck to the front, exposed the back of his neck, opened the connector on his nape, and pulled out the cable connected to the PC.

"Got it. I'll go do some gun maintenance."

Levin said and went outside.

"Was he a regular customer before?"

After Levin's figure disappeared, I asked while handing over the cash.

"Recently. He heard about it from the candy store owner. They're selling fruit taiyaki now."

"I thought he'd fit better in the butcher shop."

Levin seems to have a sweet tooth.

He might have gone to buy those fruit taiyaki while doing gun maintenance.

Well, it's time for my usual reading.

Exactly one hour later.

The information broker's friend had gathered the information as promised.

By the way, Levin had apparently bought fruit taiyaki from the group of women.

"The Neima Chamber of Commerce doesn't have any particularly notable issues. They are a legitimate electronics manufacturer that produces and sells a wide range of home appliances, including audio equipment. This request is definitely for the transportation of new products to be exhibited at a new product launch event on the planet Galif. I think you were already explained this when you accepted the job."

Gonzales put away the cable and drank some mineral water.

"Next, the former police officer, Bernard Zag. According to official records, he was dismissed for misconduct. It seems he was blamed for a mistake made by a career officer."

"Career... So, a noble, then."

"Some colleagues, juniors, and some superiors who had helped him protested that it was unfounded, but it wasn't accepted. He seems to be quite disliked within the police force."

"Of course. So, his resentment is directed at them, then."

If that's the case, he won't attack us, so we should be fine.

Anyway, it's reassuring to know that this is a safe job.

All we need to do is perform well on the day.

The only thing that slightly bothered me was that Levin's gaze kept turning towards the information broker's friend.

'New Prohibited Books Arrived' = 'New Books Arrived'

'Magic Swords, Demon Blades, and Demon Sealing Chains on Sale at 50% Off' = 'Japanese and Western Knives and Locking Chains on Sale at 50% Off'

'Dark Cloth in Stock' = 'Black Cloth in Stock'

Thank you for your comments, opinions, and any corrections.