"Finally, huh? I know I shouldn't expect much from these rural hinterlands, but still… The equipment here is rougher than what I'm used to," Milanor sighed as the bandwidth of the QTC (Quantum-entanglement Tele-Communicator) finally freed up. He'd been intending to connect his comm device to this network and use it to get in touch with an old acquaintance, but the data traffic was so congested he had to wait for a while before he could even connect.
Milanor already had apprehensions about going to Qwattor ever since yesterday. He had never been there before, but he know how rough and dangerous the kind of undeveloped place like that planet could be, due to his experiences freelancing. The neighborhood, especially.
He needed to make some… insurance before he could travel there with ease of mind. Being that Fianna was together with him this time, Milanor couldn't afford to be negligent.
He manipulated his PAW device to bring up the contact details. "…Monoceros. When was the last time I contacted him directly…?" It was probably right after those two joined. Milanor was sure 'he' was the one who called him, although he brushed him off back then.
If it wasn't obvious, Helios did indeed have the equipment for FTL communication. But if Milanor use that one, Miledi (and by extension, Fianna) could easily find out that he was corresponding with his old contacts. He wanted to avoid it as much as possible.
This shopping chore brought the perfect chance, so he had to make use of it. Sitting in a relatively empty corner of a rest area, he called the address.
'Connection Secured,' the words on the hologram said. "This is PMC Group Monoceros, how can I help you?" a woman's voice came from the speaker. This QTC Milanor was using wasn't capable of transmitting holographic projection, unlike the one on the ship. He had to make do with just audio.
"Hmm… Haven't heard that voice before. New hire? Can you tell your bosses that Milanor wants to chat?"
"Eh? Umm… Who is this?" Her reaction told him that she wasn't an android at least.
"Old acquaintance," Milanor answered concisely. He still had to buy a bunch of ingredients after this so he wanted to make it quick.
After some back and forth due to the woman not accepting his request, she finally relented with quite a few pleadings.
"Thanks, gal. Appreciate it. Is the boss busy?"
"N-No, I don't think… I-I don't want to get in trouble, okay? What if he chews me out?"
"No worries, no worries. He and I go way back. I'll back you up, of course."
"I-I'll take your word, got it? Promise me?"
"Absolutely. You sound awfully nervous, Miss. You're new, aren't you? That geezer sure likes some pretty faces, so I wouldn't be surprised if the company's full of women at this point."
"P-Pretty!? What are you saying all of a sudden!?"
"Oh, just some reminiscence is all. What if I tell you I know one of your contractors? How's Miss Sil nowadays?"
"Lady Sil!? You know her?"
"I sure do. We took several expeditions together, do you know? Pretty fun being with her."
"Really!? W-What were you up to…? Wait, what are you to her!?"
"Haha, just coincidental comrades. I take it she's still doing great, ya? Still badass as ever?"
"Oh, she is! You better believe it! Just a few days ago she and her crews did a massive cleanup job for the Riviera government, it was amazing! There are rumors the president going to reward her with a medal, you know!?" the woman began gushing about Sil's accomplishment like a fangirl.
"Woah, calm down Miss. I think I saw some news like that too. She's amazing, isn't she? You respect her a lot?"
"Yes! I applied for this company because of her! I admired her since early in her career!"
"That's some dedication, alright. And I'm sure you'll be as great as Miss Sil, right?"
"Oh, no, what are you talking about…? I'm just a new hire in charge of the desk and administrative work. I don't think I'm cut out for the field."
"Now that's not true. We're all got to start somewhere, yeah? Just have to train hard. Oh damn, I never catch your name."
"W-Why would you wanna know…? …It's Viera," she said eventually after a pause. This impromptu chat of theirs had gotten unexpectedly smooth. She seemed like a reserved, shy person that could easily get carried away by the flow of things if her conversation partner took a great job leading her. It wasn't his intention to brag, but Milanor was pretty proud of his diplomatic skills.
He peeked at the clock displayed in the corner of the hologram. He still had a few more minutes on his hand and could technically keep this up a while longer. Plus, he was still waiting for the Boss' response as well.
"Hehehe… Is that so, Mister Miles? I never knew Lady Sil is capable of that…" They had been chatting for quite a while now, mostly about Silurian, a captain in her company. Milanor had asked her to call him by his given name, but she was uncomfortable with that. She settled on his other popular nickname instead.
"Oh, I doubt most people would believe it. Her public and private images can be surprisingly contrasting, you know?"
"Uhh, huh…? How can you be so sure of that? I knew it, you must have some special relationship with the captain, right? What is it, tell me!"
"A-Ahaha… Nothing much, really… Well, it's been quite a while, hasn't it? Is the boss available?"
"Oh, I'm sorry! I was sent a confirmation a while ago but I forgot about it! Talking with you has been… Oh, for shame, me! How unprofessional!"
"It's fine, it's fine."
"Please wait for a bit, I'll notify the Gen—Wait, General!?" she suddenly shouted so loud Milanor could feel it from the tiny speaker.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Hmph, I can't believe you grew into such an audacious man as to flirt with my employee during her working hour. It's only been what, one year? Two? Must be your father's blood surfacing in you," a low, mighty voice came from the communicator. A voice the captain would recognize anywhere.
It was a voice that belonged to the leader of the Monoceros mercenary outfit, Einzel Horn.
Milanor immediately imagined that burly mountain of pure muscle as he recalled him from memory. A giant of 2 meters, a fierce warrior who fought in hundreds of battles for numerous contractors. One of the most successful contemporary merc-slash-privateer in the known galaxy.
It seemed that Milanor finally reached the person he was aiming for.
"W-What are you do—since when!? I-I-I am terribly sorry!"
"Forget it, Miss. I am sure it's the fault of that outrageous boy you had been talking to. Seriously, causing trouble as always…"
"Old man, that's definitely you, yeah? You've been listening to?"
"Hm, for quite a while. Since this poor lady you have been harassing listened to your glorified stories of Silurian," he said. "…I'm sorry miss, but you are…?"
"M-My name is Viera, Sir!"
"Sorry that you have to be subjected to that harassment."
"Don't call it harassment… I'm just trying to be friendly here."
"Try that again when you become half the man like your father."
'Tch,' Milanor clicked his tongue silently. This former boss of his had brought up his dad twice this early in the conversation. He really didn't like that.
"I don't want to hear that from you, old man… You don't even know the name of your receptionist?"
"She is a new hire. Either way, we've been expanding our members in sizeable amounts since I last heard anything from you. Isn't that right, Miss Viera?"
"Y-Yes, General! I do not mind, sir!"
"You still ordered them to call you General, huh?"
"We are running a serious business here. A bit of discipline can benefit us way more than you might think," he paused. "So? What is the esteemed freelancer Minor Streak could want by calling for me? I doubt it is just for old times' sake."
"What, you're not going to ask what I've been up to this past year?"
"No need, I had already guessed. You've been keeping low and there was no news of any of your antics lately. I'm not Silurian, I don't care about what you're doing with your life."
"'That so? I was sure you would rupture my ear off after I abruptly cut off contact the last time."
"What will I gain for that? I know that you already decided your own path in the cosmos a year ago."
'What, just like my father?' He felt like that was what he intended to say.
"Don't get philosophical on me, old man… I'm not looking for trouble, never been. That's just your unsolicited assumption," Milanor grumpily responded. "You can't decide being followed by troubles as being the same as chasing them."
"What bull… Even now, you're still causing problems for me. Calling me after all this time… And Silurian as well," the General said the latter part in a different, gruffer tone.
"What? What does she have anything to do with this?" Milanor was surprised at her name being brought up again. He knew for a fact that this man didn't like associating her with him.
"You don't need to know, so I take that back. Now tell me, what do you want? You want to come back and rejoin us?"
"Ha, no, thanks," he scoffed. "…Well, that's what my reaction is deep down, but I suppose I couldn't just act like that to you this time. Look, I know that I owe a lot to you, but you also owe some things to me, so I'll cut to the chase."
"Hmph, go on," the General said, not hiding his displeasure.
"I have a favor to ask," Milanor spoke out, finally getting to the point of why he got in contact with him again.