File 05: Troubles Often Occur During Festivals
Shaun Lyatt
Five days after leaving the planet Orlangea.
During that time, for some reason, Miss Feena and the maid asked me to teach them cooking.
Well, it would help kill time, and it would also let me increase my prepared food stock, so I agreed. Over those five days, I was able to produce quite a lot of prepared dishes and teach them cooking.
After that, we arrived at the planet Lysio without any issues.
Even though it was still before the main event, the spaceport on Lysio was completely decked out for the festival.
Everywhere you looked there were red flags with yellow writing that get hung up during festivals. Strings with triangular flags were strung up, and for some reason, there were bright red carpets rolled out. Red and yellow were the only colors around.
Even so, the spaceport was still functional. After arriving, our luggage was immediately collected.
Once I received the proof of delivery from Mr. Karis, one of my jobs was complete.
All that was left was to go to the counter, check in, and collect my payment.
However, that’s when an incident occurred.
Not being able to foresee it was simply my own negligence.
“Shaun~♪”
“Sister Sara?”
That’s right.
For a festival on the Draconian homeworld, it only made sense the Drakken family would be there.
“I figured you’d come once word got out about the Starflight Company strike~♪ Oh, Grandpa, Maya, and Tina are here too, but they’re working right now.”
“But why are you at the cargo delivery reception?”
While I could understand her being on Lysio, I didn’t expect her to be at the cargo reception.
“I tried to go to the docking area to see you, but they told me not to come in since they were busy unloading~”
She had an unsatisfied look, but that just made her unnecessarily sexy expression frustrating.
“Well of course they wouldn’t let unrelated people into what’s practically a war zone right now. So what did you need?”
“What do you mean~? Your sister came all this way to see you~”
Sister Sara is usually so busy, so I thought something serious must have happened for her to come here. But apparently not.
“Let me finish processing this first.”
If I didn’t, I wouldn’t get paid, meager as that payment might be.
I reported the completed job at the counter and handed over the proof of delivery from the client. Only then was I finally paid.
I shouldn’t worry about getting paid more for passenger transport than cargo runs.
Furthermore, I was informed that all alternate transportation runs were complete, allowing me to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
But as I turned to head back to my ship, Sister Sara linked her arm with mine.
“This is embarrassing, cut it out.”
“What~? you get to link arms with such a beautiful sister♪”
“I’m on pins and needles.”
There are plenty of people who admire Sister Sara or want to get close to her.
Draconian men especially tend to feel that way.
So even though she’s known me since I was a baby, with me being a humanoid linking arms with her on the Draconian-populated Lysio, I was getting jealous looks.
Not caring about that at all, Sara kept her arm linked with mine.
“So what are your plans after this?”
“Since there are no more alternate cargo runs, I’ll stay a night then go to a nearby planet for work.”
“You should stick around and see the Nova Festival…..well, at least come stay at the Drakken estate tonight.”
She looked unsatisfied with my response.
“The Drakken estate, huh? Haven’t been there in five years…..Okay, I’ll impose.”
I can never thank the Drakken family enough for treating me like family despite being a different species.
“Great, it’s settled then! Grandma and the others will be delighted!”
Sister Sara broke into a brilliantly wide smile of delight.
As we headed for the orbital elevator down to the planet’s surface,
“Mr. Lyatt!”
“Ah, Miss Vrbia.”
I ran into Feena Vrbia and her group.
Well, it’s not strange to cross paths with them if they came back for the Nova Festival.
“Oh, it’s not just Feena! Karis too!”
“Miss Sara! It’s been a while!”
“Likewise…..”
But I had no idea Sara knew them.
Well, I wouldn’t discuss that with clients anyway.
Moreover, it seemed Mr. Karis wasn’t just an acquaintance of hers.
“You knew each other?”
“We were friends back in school days. But why do you know Feena and the others?”
“I just transported them here.”
It seemed they were just as surprised.
Miss Feena kept glancing at me as she asked Sara:
“You’re acquainted with Sara?”
“I’ve known Shaun since he was a child.”
“Are you part of the Drakken family?”
“I wish he would join, but he insists on staying a cargo hauler.”
“So he’s freelance.”
Then, suddenly taking my hand, she said:
“Mr. Shaun, won’t you please become the exclusive chef for the Vrbia family – no, for me personally?”
So I flatly replied:
“No thank you.”
“Refusing so quickly?”
Caught off guard by my immediate refusal,
Miss Feena was dumbfounded.
“It’s no use. We’ve been trying to recruit him for years and he always turns us down. Even the young lady from Riquiel Enterprises has tried, but he refuses her too.”
With a resigned look, Sister Sara explained to Miss Feena how I’ve been refusing recruitment offers since middle school.
“My cooking is just a hobby to kill time during voyages. cargo hauling is my profession.”
“How disappointing….to never taste that amazing omelet rice, fried eggs, or boiled eggs again…..”
“Just give up. We hardly ever get to eat it either. Though I can ask him to make it for me♪”
“I envy you……”
Ignoring my comments, the two of them just kept gushing.
Watching this scene with exasperation, I noticed Mr. Karis glaring at me.
Was he being protective of his sister, or was there something else behind that look…?
After that situation dragged on for a while, we finally parted ways.
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The Drakken estate, which could be called the clan’s headquarters, is larger than most government offices.
Yet it lacks the gaudy atmosphere that wealthy families often have, instead giving off a sturdy, fortressy vibe.
It likely does actually serve that purpose too.
As a child, I came here many times with my parents and grandfather. But I hadn’t set foot here for about five years.
“Hasn’t changed at all…..”
Feeling nostalgic seeing the familiar interior of the Drakken estate again, I noticed figures approaching.
“Good to see you, Shaun. Been a while since your granpa’s funeral, hasn’t it?”
Edgar Drakken, the current head of the Drakken Group, is a rare silver-scaled dandy among Draconians.
“We heard from our father-in-law and Sara, but I’m glad to see you’re doing well. How’s your health been? Sorry we couldn’t visit.”
And his wife, Vice-Head Richelina Drakken, has an even rarer golden scale coloring and the graceful beauty befitting the mother of those three sisters.
“Uncle Edgar, Miss Richelina. Long time no see.”
The couple are both keen business executives, and Miss Richelina is even a lieutenant and training instructor in the defense forces.
If I call her “Auntie Richelina” though, she gives me a huge smile and an “LET’S TALK” look.
To be fair, if you didn’t know better and saw her with her three daughters, you’d think they were quadruplets.
Then Sara came over, pushing a wheelchair.
The person in it said:
“Long time no see, Shaun.”
“Grandma!”
I couldn’t help but run over and hug her.
“I’m glad you’re doing well. Haven’t seen you in person since that videocall from the hospital.”
“And you seem lively too, which makes me happy♪”
Grandma Theresia Drakken has lovely yellow scales and is a graceful, age-defying elderly lady – the epitome of an elegant grandmother.
Since hurting her legs, she’s been living a life of leisure at home, though she occasionally serves as a banking and investment fund advisor.
She probably wishes she could be traveling with Grandpa instead.
“When you were hospitalized, I wanted to visit in person, but Cloyd wouldn’t let me, saying ‘If it makes your legs any worse, Shaun will be distraught.’ And this wheelchair, he insisted I use it even though I don’t need it……”
Grandmother sighed deeply, but she was still lovey-dovey with grandfather.
There, Sara quickly entered and said,
“Grandma. I heard Shaun will be treating us to dinner today.”
She casually reported her wish to her grandmother.
Upon hearing the report, Grandmother’s face lit up with a dazzling smile.
“Oh my♪ In that case, I’d like a Chinese-style omelet with crab, shrimp, meat, and vegetables… what else would be nice?”
I didn’t originally intend to make it, but since Grandmother was so delighted, even though my cooking skills were merely a hobby, I thought I’d give it a try.
That evening’s dinner was quite laborious to prepare but truly enjoyable.
For some reason, Feena, Karis (and even Mariela) joined as guests, but…
The next morning,
a shocking report came in while I was making the requested omelet right in front of Grandmother.
[Emergency! The “potluck” items have gone missing!]
[The cosmetic rice cakes from Planet Yarmado that were stored at the headquarters warehouse were completely gone when we checked this morning…]
“It couldn’t have been a mixup with the storage location, could it?”
[Yes. There’s no mistake!”]
Uncle Edgar, who received the call from the company employee via 3D video phone, looked quite flustered as he held his head in his hands.
The main purpose of the “potluck” was for each individual and family to bring various souvenirs and sample them together.
However, the true purpose was to serve the brought items as a gesture of “let’s get along well this year too.” Failing to prepare for it was tantamount to saying, “I don’t intend to get along with you!”
“In any case, search for the items. And confirm the whereabouts of all employees and gather them! But don’t let the other families catch wind of this! Explain the situation to the police as well. I’ll head over there right away.”
“Father, I’ll go too.”
After giving instructions to the employee who reported the incident, Uncle Edgar left the mansion, skipping breakfast, and Sara followed suit.
“Alright! We’ll definitely find those dirty scoundrels and tie them up!”
Tina quickly finished the rest of her breakfast, took out her multipurpose terminal, and left while making calls.
The only ones left were Grandfather, Grandmother, Richelina, Maya, and me.
To be honest, I wanted to join the investigation immediately, but finishing Grandmother’s requested omelet took priority.
“Here it is. The requested omelet.”
“Oh, it looks delicious♪”
Of course, it was a generous Draconian-sized portion.
“Shaun, dear! Make mine next!”
“No, Mom, make mine next!”
Richelina and Maya stared at the large square frying pan for omelets with sparkling eyes.
By the way, while Grandfather and Grandmother had retired from managing the company, the reason Richelina and Maya were so relaxed was that they understood their roles well.
If Uncle Edgar, Sara, and Tina were the attack squad, then Richelina and Maya were the defense squad.
They were firmly holding the fort to prevent any exploits during the chaos.
As I cracked the eggs, I called out to Grandfather.
“Say, Grandpa. It might only buy us time like before, but I can provide my pre-made ones if you’d like. I can make extra batches too.”
In fact, about six years ago, when my grandfather was still alive, I had come to witness this festival.
Back then, a similar issue had occurred.
It wasn’t theft like this time but a simple delivery delay on their end.
At that time, I offered my pre-made boiled eggs as the “potluck” item to buy time until the main item arrived.
“…Very well. I’m counting on you, Shaun.”
“Leave it to me.”
As I said that, I poured the broth into the bowl with the eggs and started whisking them.
After breakfast, it’s time to gather ingredients!
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