Chapter 2:- Arrival at Tarmein Prime
The three pirate ships I'd already taken down carried a total of 19,000 Ener worth of goods. I was able to salvage the cargo, plus a few still-intact data caches. If I was lucky, the caches would contain the coordinates of the pirates' home base—something I could sell to the Imperial Army.
19,000 Ener wasn't enough to buy a ship, but it would cover refueling the Krishna, stocking up on ammo, and running some maintenance.
"Might as well go to the trading colony," I muttered.
I set my sights on the largest trading colony in the star system. According to my information, the colony also hosted the army headquarters. Convenient. I could receive my bounty and sell the stolen data in one stop.
I adjusted the main generator to cruise output and nudged Krishna's throttle. The faster-than-light drive engaged with a roar. Stars streaked past the windows as space warped around me.
I didn't know the theory behind FTL, but the sensation was exhilarating. My ship was moving insanely fast. Debris pinged against the hull, harmlessly absorbed by the shields. I made a mental note: I needed more energy packs.
The Krishna also had a hyperdrive system for interstellar travel. Wormholes were an option too, though heavily regulated by galactic nobles. As a lone mercenary, I wasn't likely to get lucky with one.
Even so, I stole a moment to admire a passing gas giant. Its enormity made me want to kill the FTL drive and just stare—but I had a job to do. Pirates weren't finished, and I needed to refuel before hiring a crew to chase the One Piece.
"Approaching destination," Krishna's AI announced.
I braced as the Krishna slowed from FTL.
Dropping from maximum velocity to zero wasn't gentle, even for a ship like this. The shields absorbed most of the force, but I still felt a sharp tug. I'd exited FTL a short distance from the colony—FTL travel was strictly banned near populated areas.
On the horizon, a tiny red sun hung low in the void, barely brighter than a lantern. Its warmth was soft, almost lazy, and the light stretched long, crimson shadows across the darkness.
It didn't scorch or blaze—it simply lingered, a quiet, steady guardian in the black of space. Nearby lay my destination: the only colony in this mining system, surrounded by asteroid belts and gas giants, part of the Grakkan Empire's industrial network.
A few minutes of thruster travel later, I arrived. I tapped the cockpit pad.
"Control of Tarmein Prime, this is Captain Monkey D. Luffy of the SS Krishna. Requesting permission to dock, over."
"Port Authority of Tarmein Prime here. Permission granted. Docking bay 3, over."
"Message received. Thank you, Control."
My journey as a mercenary had officially begun.
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The Port Authority workers wasted no time interrogating me, they dragged me off into a questioning room and left me there, an hour later my questioner finally showed himself.
"And where did you obtain all of this rare metal in your cargo?"
"I got it from defeating and looting space pirates," I replied casually. "Any other problems?"
He looked suspicious but didn't press the matter further. Alcohol wasn't contraband here, so I got lucky.
I was an unaffiliated mercenary with no reputation. If I acted uncertain, he'd likely assume I was guilty. Fake it till you make it.
"And you absolutely cannot tell me where you got it?" he pressed.
"I've already told you—pirates. This questioning is getting tedious."
He blinked, waiting. Was he hoping I'd offer a bribe? I ignored him.
Before I could continue, a woman barged into the room. Young, striking, with blonde hair, red eyes, and a white uniform with a red mantle. Heroic, knightly—she looked like she belonged on the battlefield.
The Port Authority worker froze.
"O-oh, Lieutenant Serena! What brings you here?"
"I noticed an unfamiliar ship in the hangar. I presume this is the owner?" she asked, eyes locking on me.
"Y-yes, ma'am," he stammered, handing over the docking manifest.
Serena skimmed the tablet, then turned her gaze toward me.
"That's quite a quantity of rare metal. I trust it wasn't obtained through unsavory means?"
"Swear on my life," I said.
"Hmm… A single mercenary capable of defeating space pirates? And you've recently registered with the International Mercenary Guild… Anything else to report?"
"There were data caches on the ships pointing to their base. I wanted to hand it over for a bounty, but got delayed," I shrugged.
She studied me, every move radiating authority. I decided to play cooperative—it might help my friend and speed things along.
"You have no proof this cargo is stolen, correct?"
"Y-yes," the Port Authority worker squeaked.
"Then I see no issue. Will he sell his cargo to the colony? We need rare metal."
"B-but—"
"But what? That a Port Authority worker is extorting bribes?" Serena's grin was sharp.
The poor man shrank under it.
"I-I would never do such a thing!"
I smirked internally. Serves him right.
"Here's what will happen. We will buy the rare metal at a fair price. This mercenary gets Ener for defeating pirates. He can spend it in our colony. Everybody wins."
"Y-yes, ma'am!" The worker scrambled away like a leaf in a storm.
Alone with Serena, she addressed me.
"Sometimes he takes his duties too seriously."
"I understand, and thank you," I said.
I could have made a scene if I wanted but I didn't want to get into trouble this soon into my journey, as I moved to leave, she stopped me.
"Say hello to your grandfather for me."
I froze.
"I… I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, is that so?" she said, amused. Her eyes mocked me.
"Then I guess you're not Monkey D. Luffy, grandson of General Monkey D. Garp… I'm sorry, adopted grandson I mean."
I sighed and dropped the pretense.
"Okay, okay. You got me. But how did you know?"
"Simple. As a noble, I have access to restricted military directives."
"So, you just met, when could you have had the time to search me up, and I'm pretty sure gramps hid my connection to him real deep?"
"Okay you got me, he told me you would be passing by here, and to look out for you, so I've been on the lookout for a strange ship as he said plus I wanted to meet the grandson of one of the men I admire, "
"Also take this" She handed me a terminal.
"What's this?"I asked.
"My contact info, and I would like yours if you trust me enough"
I touched mine to hers. A new contact was added: Serena Holz.
ROB, that annoying voice in my head, hummed 'I smell a love story, my viewers are gonna love this' in amusement.
"Wait, you trust me?, I know it's weird to say but you trust easily"she commented.
"It's nothing like that, gramps has a lot of enemies out there, which is one of the reasons he his my connection to him"
"So if he trusts you enough to tell you about me, then you're a friend" at my words she laughed.
"Hahaha, that's gold, I don't know what else I expected from Garp's grandson."She whizzed out.
The Port Authority worker returned, still as pale as a ghost.
"In exchange for your rare metal, we will pay 2,500,000 Ener. Acceptable?"
"Sure." I checked my terminal. 2,500,000 Ener had been deposited.
"Pleasure doing business. Need anything else?"
"Not today. Off to the Army HQ for my bounty, a nap, and some food."
I left the Port Authority behind, Ener secured, and contacts made.
My mercenary life was off to a solid start.
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