Chapter 48

Following your suggestion, I changed the name of the terrorist.

As the cherry blossom petals danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

In order to avoid any trouble from the people who had canceled the request to capture the beautiful pirate sisters, I was really lucky to be able to return to Itz quickly. I had thought that those bishop ranks might resent me for not being able to enjoy the beautiful pirate sisters and might even attack me, but that didn't happen.

Feeling relieved about that, I docked the ship at the mooring and headed to the reception. However, I couldn't help but worry if those people were lurking around.

"Hey."

"Hey, I heard the request failed."

When I greeted him, the old man at Loan's grinned and turned to me.

"It wasn't a failure, it was invalid. I just happened to catch them, even though I didn't take the request. I did report it, though."

"Just kidding. But why didn't you say it was your catch?"

"It was before it was confirmed, and they were a troublesome bunch."

"That's just like you."

The old man at Loan's grinned, showing his teeth.

By the way, I had already reported that I received the reward, so I had nothing to feel guilty about.

Just as I was about to pick a random job, a figure appeared.

"Oh, Uzus, you're just the person I wanted to see!"

"Uh..."

The person who appeared was Alphonse Zeistal, the super beautiful girl-boy receptionist.

"What is it? Is there something on my face?"

"There's nothing."

Please, don't talk to me.

It's not that 'he' did anything. As I mentioned earlier, because 'he' is a super beautiful girl-boy receptionist, just talking about work with 'him' makes people around us send jealous and murderous glares.

Seemingly sensing this, the old man at Loan's spoke to Mr. Zeistal.

"By the way, do you need something from him?"

"Yes. Not just for Uzus, but a request just came in."

Mr. Zeistal showed me a video document.

"What's this... 'Request for additional anti-terrorist forces for planetary combat in the Icorai Earl's territory on the planet Teura'? This is a top-priority case!"

"It's a request for combat on the planet's surface. The Earl of Icorai, who is currently on the Emperor's side, has been maintaining a peaceful life for the citizens.

However, suddenly, a group calling themselves 'The Righteous' appeared, and they are anti-Emperor resistance fighters who have occupied energy plants and industrial zones."

The content was typical of a mercenary job, involving participation in combat. However, it wasn't that simple to take it at face value.

"Isn't the Earl secretly doing something bad? And his son too?"

There are plenty of nobles who pretend to be good on the surface.

"There are no bad rumors about either of them. They seem to be rather eccentric, though."

Does that eccentricity contain the biggest problem, or is it just my imagination?

"Besides, wouldn't the military usually handle something like this? This is one of the most important energy supply points for the Empire."

"It seems they did request the military, but they want a quick response because the anti-Emperor faction might interfere."

"Sounds like a bad deal..."

Why is this request being treated with such importance?

As mentioned earlier, it's because the planet Teura is one of the most important energy supply points for the Empire.

Before it became part of the Empire, the planet Teura was considered worthless during the Nekirelma Star Kingdom era and was not developed at all. When the Empire invaded, the then-ruler abandoned the planet, even allowing the residents to be killed without defending them.

The Icorai family, who were barons at the time, received the planet as a grant from the Emperor 100 years ago, four generations ago. They have been developing it ever since, improving the lives of the residents, and planetary surveys began 40 years ago.

After a five-year survey, the discovery of the energy mineral Trydam, which is famous and even mentioned in the Empire's history textbooks, was made.

Trydam ore, when dissolved and refined to remove impurities, turns into a beautiful orange crystal. Further dissolution of this crystal produces the energy fuel necessary for maintaining urban functions and powering transportation.

According to the survey, the planet Teura has enough Trydam ore to supply the entire Great Galactic Empire for about 10,000 years.

It's a major issue that this has been targeted by terrorists. Once the information is organized and verified, it should be reported immediately.

"There will be no support for the terrorist side. Of course not. What do you think? Want to take it?"

The old man at Loan's handed me the video document.

I do have some experience with combat in the atmosphere, but not much, so I'm not very confident. Besides, I have a bad feeling that this might involve some noble factional disputes.

However, it would be easier psychologically not to fight other mercenaries. Moreover, since it affects our future lives, we can't afford not to take it.

But my way is to investigate before taking it.

"Let me think about it a bit more. The application period is still open, right?"

Saying that, I left the reception.

After leaving the guild, I headed to Patterson's Pharmacy to gather information. The black market shopping district had its usual atmosphere, and it seemed that the butcher hadn't released any new items this time.

When I arrived at Patterson's Pharmacy, there was a 'Temporarily Closed' sign on the door. No one answered when I rang the doorbell at the store or the intercom at the house in the back, so I called on my wrist terminal.

"Hey, it's rare for you to call."

He answered the phone looking a bit tired.

"I'm in front of your store now. What's with the temporary closure?"

Did something happen to his body?

"It's a pharmacists' guild meeting. It's my turn to be the chair. I want to skip it, but they say I might lose my license if I refuse."

He complained with a very unhappy face, as if begging for help.

He usually acts cool, but he's surprisingly weak in adversity.

I can't help him, though.

I can handle combat, but not professional obligations. I'm completely unrelated to him.

"That's tough..."

"And there's this old man who keeps touching my butt while saying, 'Maybe I'll make you my exclusive chair next time.'"

"That's really tough..."

If you know the inside story, it's one thing, but to the outside world, Gonzalez is a very beautiful woman with glasses. She became a pharmacist after an accident in college.

Usually, a full-body prosthetic is made to look like the person before they died. Even if the appearance is changed, the gender is usually not changed.

So to those old men, Gonzalez is a naturally born beautiful woman with glasses who is a pharmacist.

If he says he's a man, he might avoid the exclusive chair job, but he could lose his pharmacist's license.

"So, you can ask the fortune-telling grandma for information."

"Got it. Good luck."

"Ugh, I don't want to..."

Gonzalez ended the call, muttering unhappily.

Maybe I'll treat him to some merchandise next time we meet...

The protagonist gets into trouble, but I'm just caught up in the protagonist's trouble!

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