Mob No.91: “Hey, did you know our shop also does outcalls? Would you be interested in using our services?”
Planet Negora in the Pout Space Region appears as a beautiful yellow-green planet when viewed from space.
However, its yellow-green atmosphere consists of highly concentrated chlorine, making it impossible to breathe. Without a specialized suit, death is certain.
Beyond this yellow-green atmosphere lies a vast land of silver ore, with deposits said to be inexhaustible.
As a result, several mining base colonies orbit the planet, remotely operating specialized droids for extraction.
Humans only set foot on the planet for droid maintenance or to address specific issues.
Long ago, it’s said that criminals were punished by being forced to mine silver ore wearing poorly-performing chlorine-resistant suits.
While not as valuable as gold, where there are mines, people gather, and towns form.
Given the space environment, the area resembles a slightly odd satellite or space graveyard, with mining base colonies surrounded by residential colonies, asteroid homes, old ships converted into apartments, service areas, ship repair facilities, and energy stations.
I’ve come to investigate this [mining base town] due to reported sightings of my targets: the former Countess Hotchcold, her son, and their ship.
With so many ships, colonies, and asteroid homes clustered together, it’s an ideal place to hide.
In fact, it’s one of the first places mentioned as a potential hideout for criminals.
Although I have access to a nobility directory with photos of the former Countess Hotchicold and her son, they might have altered their appearances or even their bodies. It’s best not to get my hopes up too high.
For now, I’ll head to the entertainment district colony, the largest non-mining base colony.
This entertainment district colony, primarily catering to mine workers, has a central area lined with various shops, bars, eateries, lodging for travelers, and brothels.
There’s also a downtown area where the entertainment district workers live.
An upper-class area exists with luxury hotels, boutiques, high-end beauty salons, upscale restaurants, a general hospital, and a police station.
The reason for traveler accommodations and an upper-class area in this [mining base town] is the lack of nearby gates for easy access to Planet Negora,
despite several long-distance gates in the vicinity. It takes about five days from the nearest gate.
As a result, it’s customary for travelers, including nobles, to resupply and rest here. The upper-class area was created because nobles wouldn’t stay in the central district’s accommodations.
Thinking about this, I docked my ship at the entertainment district colony’s port, refueled, and replenished water before heading to the central area.
The central area is primarily frequented by mine workers, and I expect the former Countess Hotchcold and her son, despite their noble background, to visit this area due to their current pirate lifestyle.
I could investigate the downtown area, but it’s unlikely the Hotchcold pair would settle there while actively engaged in piracy. I’ll thoroughly investigate the central area first.
I show their photos and make inquiries at shops, bars, and eateries, but gather little information.
This suggests they’ve likely altered their appearances or bodies. Changing one’s face or body after committing piracy makes it much harder to be found, significantly increasing the difficulty of my task.
However, with only photographs to work with, I have no choice but to continue my inquiries methodically.
As I consider where to go next after visiting numerous bars, I’m suddenly approached.
“Hey, mister. How about it? I’ll give you a good price.”
It’s a woman with chestnut-colored long hair tied at the nape of her neck, wearing what appears to be a suit at first glance, but with a daringly open neckline and an extremely short, tight skirt – clearly a sex worker.
I’m somewhat uncomfortable with such women due to an unpleasant experience at a similar establishment I was taken to by a now-retired, kind mercenary senior (it wasn’t his fault, but the establishment’s).
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However, this encounter is convenient, as I would have needed to approach someone like her eventually.
“Ah, maybe another time. But could you tell me if you’ve seen these people?”
“What? Are you some kind of detective, mister?”
“Something like that.”
“Hmm…”
The woman stares intently at the photos of the former Countess Hotchicold and her son that I show her.
“Ah, I’ve seen this one,”
she says, pointing to the son.
“Really?!”
When I exclaim in surprise, she holds out her palm, so I reluctantly place a 1000 credit coin in it.
“He’s been coming to the brothels around here a lot lately. He’s been to our place too.”
As she tucks the coin into her cleavage, she provides the information as promised.
Based on this information, it seems certain they’re in the mining base town.
“Do you know when he usually comes?”
“Time-wise, it should be about now… Ah, look, there he is.”
In the direction she points, I see unmistakably the former Count Hotchcold’s son entering a brothel.
This is incredibly lucky. If I follow him when he comes out, I should be able to locate their ship and his mother.
While such a convenient turn of events, almost like something out of a protagonist’s story, is frankly a bit worrying for what might come next, it’s not a bad thing for the job.
The problem now is how to keep watch without arousing suspicion. It would be ideal if there were an eatery, bar, or cafe nearby.
However, looking around, the only places with a view of the brothel are other brothels, back alleys, and cheap hotels.
A man alone in such a place, especially someone like me, would be highly suspicious. I should prepare nano-cameras for surveillance next time.
Even watching from a cheap hotel would draw attention if I enter alone.
At that moment, the woman speaks up again.
“Hey, did you know our shop also does outcalls? Would you be interested in using our services?”
In other words, this woman has figured out my purpose and is trying to take advantage of the situation.
Well, it’s better than standing out and alerting the former Count Hotchcold’s son to my presence, so I decide to accept her offer.
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