Shaun Lyatt
The Galactic Republic capital planet Voldar.
The center of the multi-trillion populated Galactic Republic, hosting the government, military, embassies of the Galactic Empire and Star Domain Federation, and various international organizations. Not to mention branch offices and HQs of major corporations, a hub for business, entertainment, and more.
In orbit above it is our destination – the Republic National Multipurpose Exhibition Colony, also known as the Hexagram Garden, venue for this used and new spaceship sales exhibition.
Six ultra-gigantic cylindrical colonies, each 30 kilometers in diameter and 160 kilometers long, are linked together by massive ring gears to generate artificial gravity.
There is a direct shuttle from the spaceport, and shuttles from dedicated orbital elevators from the planet. It’s also a massive facility that can quickly convert into an evacuation shelter in emergencies.
There is also a spacecraft sales exhibition happening, using three of the six colonies.
The other three colonies are hosting a “Galaxy Comic Festival” which appears to be some kind of dōjinshi (self-published works) fair.
While a spacecraft sales exhibition is understandable, it’s hard to believe that three massive colonies could be filled just for a dōjinshi fair.
But well, if they are actually filled up, it must have become a huge market.
I took the direct shuttle from the spaceport to the hexagonal gardens.
The shuttle was filled with people like me going to the spacecraft sales, and attendees of the Galaxy Comic Festival – the difference in their attire and atmosphere was stark.
When I got off the shuttle, there was a helpful information board showing the Galaxy Comic Festival to the right, and the spacecraft sales to the left.
Of course, I went left.
The venue was divided into three booths in each colony:
Small ships – specialized work ships
Medium ships – including escape pods and micro ships
Large ships – super large ships and an area to browse catalog data for interior ship equipment and facilities – the main exhibition headquarters
There were rest areas set up in each booth area.
Of course, I headed to the small ships – specialized work ships booth.
Moving around inside the colony without using the free rental moving platform is impossible if you want to get around everywhere.
What I’m looking for is a type called a “lower cargo bay transport freighter”, which is rarer than the rear cargo bay type. And the freighter type that can also serve as a living space is even rarer.
If I can’t find one here, I’ll have to compromise and get a rear cargo bay type freighter instead, without changing the freighter spec.
After that, it’s about price and quality.
Even for new, used or very used spaceships, costing hundreds of millions is normal.
Too expensive and I can’t afford it, too cheap and I’ll worry about the quality and condition.
So I have to scrutinize that aspect carefully when choosing which ship to purchase.
A few hours into wandering the venue,
I was grateful that there were quite a few sellers offering lower cargo bay transport freighters.
I didn’t know this, but it seems some new models had also just been released.
I was impressed at the capital’s advanced status.
Among them, I found one I liked, so I immediately contracted for it, paid what I could upfront, and took out a loan for the rest.
Since the exhibition lasts six galactic standard days, the shipping/delivery of purchased goods will happen afterwards.
With my objective achieved, I decided to check out the ship interior equipment data browsing area while I was here.
Since I can reuse the furniture and installed equipment from my previous ship, I can save money there, but it wouldn’t hurt to look around either.
On my way to that browsing booth, I unexpectedly ran into Leanna Rioearth.
“I figured you’d be here ♪”
I was planning to ignore her, but she grabbed my arm, which was uncalled for.
“Weren’t you supposed to be heading to school?”
“School doesn’t start until next week.”
As the girl grinned smugly in front of me, I sighed, when suddenly another figure approached us.
“Long time no see, Shaun Lyatt.”
The one addressing me was Leanna’s father and the CEO of Riquiel Enterprises,
Galius Rioearth.
Mr. Rioearth extended his right hand to me, so I put out my right hand to shake his.
“It has been a while.”
“I heard you happened to be on the same transport as my daughter.”
“Yeah, that company’s dealings seem rather shady.”
“Ah yes…for those of us in the same industry, it’s a nuisance but also an opportunity. A troubling situation.”
Rioearth sighed with a troubled look on his face.
He must have certainly passed 40 years old, but looks much younger.
With his well-sculpted features, he must have been quite the ladies’ man in his youth – even now as a married man, women probably can’t leave him alone.
His daughter had mentioned resembling her mother, so I can’t see any similarities with Leanna.
“Did you manage to find the ship you were looking for?”
“Yes, I found a good one.”
“Hm, it seems the encounter brought you good fortune. Enough to want to share it with my wife…”
“Yeah, I wonder when Mother will return from her ruin excavation survey…”
Mr. Rioearth’s wife Sherna is a renowned archaeologist, historian, and also a professor at the National Voldar University,
known for making various discoveries while doting on her husband and daughter but also passionately pursuing excavations.
“There were even rumors that we divorced, leading to more advances from other women…”
“They’re clearly just after your money, Father. Please be careful not to let those kinds of women get too close.”
“I know. The woman I truly love is just your mother Sherna and you, Leanna.”
Looking at the current situation, it’s just a case of the working couple having a hard time meeting due to their respective jobs. But being the top executive of one of the Republic’s leading corporations must be quite demanding.
And it seems that no matter one’s social standing or wealth, fathers are no match for their daughters.
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After parting ways with the Rioaces, I spent a good amount of time browsing the ship interior equipment catalog data.
Since the new ship is larger than my previous one with more spacious cabins, I could add various new facilities.
After thoroughly looking through catalogs and taking ones for items I liked to review later at the hotel, I was about to leave the venue. But then, someone suddenly grabbed the thigh area of my pants.
“Papa!”
It was a young girl younger than Leanna, flashing me a brilliant smile.
The first thought was that it must be a case of mistaken identity.
More than anything, I’m single and have no recollection of ever impregnating or fathering a child.
“Sorry, but I’m not your papa.”
As I told the girl this while prying her hands off me,
she stubbornly insisted:
“You are Papa! I’m positive! You came back♪”
The girl was quite persistent.
But then, a savior appeared.
“Yuka!”
“Mama! It’s Papa! Papa’s here!”
“No, Yuka. That person isn’t Papa…eh!?”
But even the mother who came to the rescue was stunned looking at my face.
She quickly regained her composure and politely apologized.
“I’m so sorry. This child’s father, my husband, was a ship crewman who passed away in an accident last year. But he looked exactly like you, sir…”
Then Yuka tugged at my pants.
“Hey? Are you really not Papa?”
“Sorry, I’m not your father.”
“is that so..”
I bluntly stated I wasn’t her father, thinking giving her false hope would be crueler.
Yuka looked down dejectedly, but she’ll come to understand eventually.
Then her mother spoke up.
“Um…if you would permit it, could you spend a little time with us?”
“…Alright.”
Having lost both my parents at a young age, I understand that loneliness, so I accepted the mother’s plea.
“Thank you so much!”
“Yay!”
After that, Yuka said she wanted to see the ships.
Does she just have her sights set on fancy ones, unable to appreciate more modest things?
It’s something I can’t really comprehend.
What I thought would be “a little time” ended up being until nearly the very end of the remaining exhibition hours as they led me around extensively.
I was exasperated at being too nice.
Furthermore,
“Hey, let’s go look around together again tomorrow?”
Yuka requested.
“No Yuka, you’re being selfish.”
“No! I want to be together more!”
“This child, honestly… I apologize. You hear that, she’s being told no!”
The mother finally scolded her.
Well, it would be going too far to make such demands of someone you just met that day.
“Then we’ll excuse ourselves now. By the way, where are you staying tonight?”
“The Valse Veeran on the planet.”
“Oh! The Valse Veeran!?”
“It’s all I could get…”
The Valse Veeran is a rather high-end hotel.
I had actually planned to stay at a capsule hotel in the spaceport, making the reservation after boarding the ship. But all the hotels in the spaceport were fully booked.
When I was wondering what to do, I happened to run into Leanna, and we got to talking about hotels.
That’s when she suggested:
“I may be able to arrange something.”
The place she recommended was the Valse Veeran, a hotel under Riquiel Enterprises.
Upon hearing I was staying at the Valse Veeran, the mother’s expression changed as she tried to grab my hand, looking at me intently with flustered breathing.
“Excuse me! If it’s alright with you, could you allow us to join you again tomorrow? We’ll come to the hotel!”
Sniffling, she grabbed my hand, looked me in the eye, and came at me.
“Mom…”
Yuka looked dumbfounded at her mother’s transformation, while I recoiled and declined.
After finally parting ways with that mother and daughter, I boarded a shuttle to the orbital elevator headed for the planet Voldar.
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