"Let's see here. There's the head tax, delinquency on the Second Division's residential tax, interest on said tax, the damages caused by her parents, and the fees for her right to travel freely. That brings the total to... precisely 400,000 Vetra."
"You've got to be kidding me," Von said, eyes wide in disbelief.
The man behind the counter remained completely unfazed. He was the embodiment of bureaucratic indifference—his crisp suit, perfectly parted hair, and blank stare didn't so much as twitch at Von's reaction. Four hundred thousand Vetra. That's the equivalent of forty thousand dollars in on Earth.
How in the galaxy did some back taxes add up to that?
Von had brought Ruby to the Nexus Prime's Resident Administration Bureau, Third Division branch, to get the paperwork sorted for her to officially join his crew. But the moment her identity was confirmed, they'd slapped him with an astronomical bill for back taxes, penalties, and various fees he'd never even heard of. It felt like the whole thing was a trap. Ruby, pale and trembling, stood next to him, looking like she might faint at any second.
"I assure you, I'm completely serious," the official replied, his tone as flat as his expression. "In fact, this is rounded down. Would you like me to show you the detailed breakdown?"
Von gritted his teeth. "Yeah, sure. Let's see it."
The official handed him the data sheet. Von scanned it, but the numbers didn't change. No matter how many times he looked, it was still four hundred thousand. And what in the universe were "fees for her right to travel freely?"
"Why does that alone cost 200,000 Vetra?" Von asked, his voice sharp with disbelief. It sounded like they'd just slapped on a big number to inflate the total.
"Don't you think it's cruel to saddle a kid with unpaid debt after her parents died?" Von continued. "Isn't there any way to cancel inherited debt or file for voluntary bankruptcy?"
The official, still as unflappable as ever, responded, "There are systems in place, but the inheritor must file an appeal within three months of being notified. That window has already passed. The only exemption available now would be her staying in the Third Division. If she does, she won't have to repay the debt."
Some safety net. The bureaucrat didn't even flinch, and he seemed to think "stay in the Third Division" was some sort of gift. Sure, Ruby wouldn't owe anything if she remained here, but that was basically saying they'd given up on her.
Anyone with half a brain could see what would happen to a young girl, with no job or skills, if she was left alone in the Third Division. It wasn't a safety net—they were just tossing her aside, pretending she didn't exist. Out of sight, out of mind. Von's frustration simmered beneath the surface. How could people be so heartless?
"I hear mercenary work pays well," the official added, his voice dripping with condescension. "But 400,000 Vetra is surely beyond your means. Further discussion is pointless. Perhaps you'd be better off staying here, in the Third Division, where you might find more... suitable ways to entertain yourself. Why pretend you can live above your station?"
The smug grin on the official's face was infuriating, like he found the entire situation amusing.
Oh, so that's how we're playing this? Von thought. The man clearly had the wrong idea, assuming Von had some sort of twisted intentions for Ruby. But if this was the game he wanted to play, Von was more than willing to call his bluff.
"Alright, let's get this done. Four hundred thousand, right? I can settle that little amount right now if you want," Von declared confidently.
"Excuse me?" The official blinked rapidly, clearly surprised by Von's boldness.
Perfect. That was the reaction he was hoping to provoke.
"What's wrong?" Von asked. "I know you're a real piece of work, but can't you hear? Listen closely: I'm paying off all 400,000 Vetra right here, right now. Prepare the paperwork."
"This isn't the time for jokes," the official replied, maintaining his stoic demeanor.
"I'm not joking," Von insisted. "Hurry it up. I want that paperwork. Now." He pulled out his handheld terminal to show he was serious about making the payment.
Surprisingly, despite his unhelpful attitude, the official worked quickly once he got going. He compiled all the necessary documents with a reluctant efficiency.
After confirming the transfer of 400,000 Vetra from his account to Nexus, the official issued a certificate of debt release and a certificate granting Ruby the right to travel freely. The latter came with a hefty price tag; it constituted a significant portion of the total amount, but it was worth it to avoid future taxes as long as Ruby didn't settle down anywhere.
With the explanations, documents, and payments finally wrapped up, they hurried out of that dreary office. As soon as they stepped outside, Von's terminal pinged with a message from Mia—directions to a clothing store. Apparently, she had made good use of her time while they were stuck in the office.
"Are you alright?" Von asked Ruby as they walked.
"Y-yes, I'm fine," she replied, though she still appeared shaken from everything she had endured: the attack, being rescued, sharing her painful backstory at the café, and now confronting her debt at the government office. It was best not to press her. Von had no idea how old Ruby was, but anyone would be tense after such an ordeal. He wished he could take her to the ship for a proper rest, but if she didn't get some new clothes now, she'd have nothing to wear the next day. Her current outfit was dirty and torn from the attack, so they couldn't delay getting her something new.
"How did it go?" Mia asked as they regrouped at the clothing store.
"I hit him with a wad of cash—uh, Vetra," Von said.
"Nice! That's how mercs handle business! By the way, I picked out an outfit I thought Ruby would like." Mia handed Von a bag of clothes along with a much more reasonable bill than the one he had just settled.
"I got her some everyday clothes, underwear, and other essentials," Mia said. "It won't be nearly enough, so make sure you take her shopping again soon."
"Thanks, that's a huge help," Von replied, feeling grateful.
"You should be thankful," Mia huffed.
"Hey, I paid you a fair price. Plus, you got to kill some time, right? It's better than being cooped up in that government office, trust me."
"Honestly, it wasn't worth the trouble," Mia said, rolling her eyes. "Ugh, whatever. It did waste some time. Can I leave now? I want to get back to my ship."
"We're heading back too. Ruby needs to get some rest."