Reborn as an Evolving Space Monster: Harem Of Otherworldly Beauties-Chapter 377: To Jina, Jina, Jin!
"What are you thinking about?" Nolan, the Navigator from Jin, asked Cero who had been staring blankly.
"Nothing," the latter shrugged.
’Then leave...? It’s annoying having someone standing by while you’re working.’
"What can you tell me about what we’re doing here?"
"Huh?" Nolan raised an eyebrow. "You mean you don’t know?"
"I just go with the flow," Cero shrugged. "We’re going to Jin to meet...?"
"The Emperor." Nolan continued the sentence, dumbfounded. "The Emperor and the Empress."
"Right, right... And why do we need to do it this way?"
"This way?"
"All secretive and stealthy."
"Because there are powers on Jin that don’t like Wor or the Worka? That were pushing to deny Wor’s request to purchase a Tsero Crystal with anything other than basically servitude?"
"Hm..." Cero frowned. "Don’t get smart, I wasn’t on Wor that long, and spent the previous months in outer space."
"Pretty clear to me that people must have explained all this to you..." Nolan whispered with a sigh.
"Ugh, I wasn’t paying attention. Can’t you just be cool and tell me everything you know?"
"There really isn’t much to say." Nolan grumbled. "The Empire rules over different countries, themselves ruled by their own Kings and Queens. The Empire might welcome you, but certain Kings and Queens might have their own ideas. That’s why we can’t land at random on Jin. We need to land on the Emperor’s territory."
"Does the Emperor know we’re coming?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
"Um... Yes, but we still need to be secretive about it. Some Kings might... Reach over their borders."
"I have trouble believing we can land without being seen or detected."
"Well, we’re not exactly landing without being detected. We have the right kind of transport, and they know me."
"Who does?"
"The people who will check on us upon landing." Nolan explained. "Jin is known to be a nexus point for the intergalactic black market, but that’s mostly the reputation of Jina, the country ruled by the Emperor and Empress."
"That’s surprising, the black market being most powerful under them."
"Well... Rumors have it that the black market of Jina is controlled by the Empress, though no one knows how true or false that is, and many were imprisoned for sharing or spreading the idea."
’I guess that would make more sense,’ Cero was intrigued. "So we’re landing in Jina."
"Yes, Jina, Jina."
"Huh?"
"Jina, Jina." Nolan repeated himself with a nod.
It took Cero a moment to nod back. ’Oh, like Mexico City, Mexico. Jina, the country where the Emperor is King, has Jina as the capital city. Confusing, but also not really...’ He scratched his chin. "So you’re used to bringing stuff into Jin."
"Yeah." Nolan nodded.
"Kind of a gangster, then."
"What’s with your tone? Couldn’t tell?"
Cero scratched his cheek and tried not to laugh. Nolan was slim and pretty short with hair reaching his chin. In many ways, he reminded Cero of Kris.
’Who is a gangster now that I think about it, son of the Red Dragon...’ Cero nodded to himself. ’The resemblance checks out then.’ He thought, trying even harder not to chuckle. "So you’ll land as if bringing some foreign black market cargo."
"That’s right."
"Will the Emperor come to us?"
"Are you insane?"
"So we’ll go to him."
"Not exactly. A representative will be sent. My job is to make sure you and the representative meet. Once I have linked you with the representative, I take my leave until it’s time for you to head back to Wor. The representative of the Emperor will take you somewhere safe and private."
"He won’t take us to the Emperor?"
"I doubt you will meet with the Emperor personally."
"What about the Empress?" Cero asked.
"Uh... Same thing? You might catch a glimpse of her, though. She’s seen pretty often walking along the castle’s high walls."
"I see. Do you think I could meet her?"
Nolan couldn’t keep his face from frowning. It was insane to him that someone could even entertain the idea or possibility of meeting with the Empress.
"Well, you’re not family or a friend, so I don’t think you can."
"Hm..." Cero scratched his chin. "I’d like to ask her about this black market rumor though."
"Are you insane?! Are you insane?! Are you insane?!" Nolan repeatedly shouted. "I told you that people have been imprisoned for talking about that, and you want to ask the Empress point-blank?! Not that you even could get in her vicinity but..."
"But I’m really interested. There are a ton of things I could buy-"
"Do not fuck this up, Cero!" Nolan turned towards him and pointed, eyes burning. "This is an easy job. Get it? Easy job! Do not go and complicate it! If you somehow get to the Empress and offend her, I will definitely pay for it for having brought you to Jin! Do you understand?! Do not fuck this up!"
"Alright, alright..." Cero sighed, crossing his arms. "Calm down, will you?"
"Do not fuck this up! You’re never getting into the castle anyway! And thank god for that! Well, except if you’re stupid enough to get in trouble and get thrown into the prison beneath the castle! That’s usually how people get into the castle, so there you go! Just remember that they never make it out of the prison cells, let alone into the upper levels of said castle!"
"Prison cells under the castle, huh?" Cero scratched his chin, intrigued. "How do people usually end up there?"
"By lacking total respect for our customs and culture in close proximity to the Emperor’s castle."
"Which customs are those?"
Nolan let out a sigh.
"Clothing that’s judged too revealing or public displays of affection." The Jinx answered with a shrug. "Stupid, I know, but that’s how it is on my native Planet, Jin."
"So hugging someone would be enough to get me thrown into jail?"
"Not exactly... Except if you’re humping on each other... I guess kissing and up gets you..."
Nolan was more than happy to explain to Cero exactly how to act to avoid prison.
Cero listened intently, learning precisely how to get into the castle, even if it meant going to prison for a bit.
’I’m sure I can escape easily.’ He thought. ’In any case, I don’t know just yet if I’m actually gonna do it so...’
