Job hunting

Sol set his drink down and leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the counter. The old man had been watching him closely ever since he mentioned the Archive, and Sol figured he might as well make use of that attention. He had questions—many questions, in fact—and there was no one better to ask than someone who had spent years on this ship.

"So," Sol started, swirling his drink absentmindedly, "what's the best way to make money around here?"

The old man chuckled, rubbing the side of his nose as he leaned against the bar. "Ah, the age-old question. Credits make the universe go round, traveler. You planning to settle in and start a business, or are you looking for something quick and easy?"

Sol smirked. "Quick and easy sounds nice."

The raccoon girl, who had been eavesdropping from across the counter, snorted. "That usually means dangerous."

The old man nodded. "She's right, you know. The safest way to make money here is to work the bars, clean up the districts, or run deliveries. But those won't get you rich. If you want real credits, you're looking at trade, gambling, or taking on jobs that require a bit more… finesse."

Sol arched a brow. "Define finesse."

"Could be anything, really. Smuggling, bounty hunting, information brokering. Hell, even arena fights, if you've got the stomach for it. The more risk, the higher the reward. But this city-ship, it runs on a hundred different economies. What matters is what you have to offer."

Sol leaned back in his seat, considering his words. He wasn't opposed to risk—he had spent most of his life navigating danger in the slums of Galvaris Prime. But he wasn't reckless, either. "What's the most reliable option? Something that pays well but won't get me killed within the week?"

The old man tapped his fingers on the counter. "Trading knowledge. People will pay good credits for the right piece of information. That includes the latest rumors, rare locations, or even unique tech schematics. The Luminara District has plenty of brokers looking for someone who knows things others don't."

Sol mulled that over. It wasn't a bad idea—he already had access to information that most people didn't. The Archive alone was a goldmine of secrets. But that was something he needed to be careful with. "What about odd jobs? Something flexible?"

The raccoon girl tilted her head. "Depends. Some places pay for security, others need runners for deliveries between districts. Then there's the weird stuff—assisting eccentric scientists, hunting for rare artifacts, or even guiding newcomers around the ship."

Sol nodded, absorbing all of it. The sheer number of opportunities was staggering, but he needed to find something that worked for him. "And what about the ship itself? Any places I should check out?" he asked, shifting gears.

The old man smirked. "Curious, are you? You've already seen the Luminara District, but this city-ship has far more to offer. The Market Veil is a good place to start—anything you could ever want is sold there, legally or otherwise. If you're after entertainment, the Colosseum never disappoints. The underbelly of this ship is where things get dicey, though. Plenty of hidden districts, black markets, and places that most people don't even know exist."

Sol's interest piqued. "Hidden districts?"

The old man's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh, there's a whole world beneath the surface of this ship. Places that shift, locations that don't show up on maps. You might stumble across something if you explore enough, but most of it is invitation-only."

That was something to keep in mind. "Anything I should avoid?"

"Plenty," the old man said with a chuckle. "The Crimson Syndicate, for starters. They run a lot of the black market dealings, but they don't take kindly to outsiders poking around. There are also the automated security zones—wander in uninvited, and you might not make it out. And, of course, there are places that even I don't know much about. This ship's been flying for generations. Who knows what's buried deep in its core?"

The old man grinned. "Welcome to the city, traveler. You're just getting started."

Sol exhaled. There was a lot to take in, but it gave him something to work with. He leaned back, considering everything carefully. Truth be told, he wasn't in a hurry. He still had over 80,000 credits, which would last him a good while. Trading information and odd jobs seemed interesting enough—less risk, steady income.

Then a thought struck him. Why not take an easier route? His eyes twinkled with mischief as he turned to the old man, his expression shifting into a perfectly crafted mix of innocence and charm. His eyes widened slightly, lips curving into an almost-too-perfect smile.

"You wouldn't happen to be hiring right now, would you?"

The old man blinked. The raccoon girl, who had been casually listening in, choked on her drink.

For a moment, absolute silence hung in the air.

Then the old man burst into laughter, nearly doubling over. "You little bastard! You've got some nerve, I'll give you that!"

The raccoon girl, still stunned, wiped her mouth and gave Sol a long, incredulous look. "You—are you actually trying to work here? After all that talk about money and jobs, you're just gonna bat your eyes and hope for a shortcut?"

Sol leaned on the counter, still smiling. "Hey, I'm a fast learner, I look good behind a bar, and I'm great with people. What more could you ask for?"

The old man shook his head, rubbing his temples. "Damn kid, I haven't been this entertained in years."

The old man stroked his beard, deep in thought. Sol's sudden proposition had caught him off guard, and the fact that he was actually considering it was even more surprising. He tapped his fingers against the counter, weighing the idea.

The raccoon girl, watching closely, narrowed her eyes. Then, unable to hold back, she blurted, "No way. There's no way a money pincher like you would cough up credits willingly."

The old man chuckled but didn't deny it. Instead, he turned his gaze back to Sol. "The bar doesn't need more workers, unfortunately."

Sol let out an exaggerated sigh, slumping dramatically in his seat. "That's a shame. I would've made an excellent bartender."

The old man smirked. "But," he continued, making Sol perk up again, "I do need a delivery boy. If you're interested."

Sol's wariness immediately kicked in, his shoulders stiffening slightly. "Delivery?" he asked cautiously, memories of his time running dangerous jobs in the slums surfacing in his mind. "What exactly am I delivering?"

The old man let out a hearty laugh. "Relax, kid. Nothing illegal. Just supplies for the bar—food, drinks, ingredients, that kind of thing. The Luminara District doesn't have everything, so we need to get stuff from the main districts. Normally, she handles it." He gestured toward the raccoon girl, who huffed and crossed her arms. "But she's clumsy and always messes things up."

"Hey!" she shot back, offended. "That's slander!"

"That's the truth," the old man corrected with a grin before turning back to Sol. "So, you interested?"

Sol's face split into a wide grin. "Pleased to be working for you, boss."

The old man and the raccoon girl both stared at him, momentarily stunned by how fast the kid's mood had flipped. The old man let out a snort and shook his head. "You're a damn peculiar one, kid. Alright, I'll set you up with your first run soon. Try not to get yourself into trouble."

Sol saluted playfully. "No promises."

Then, without missing a beat, he leaned forward with a grin. "So, since I'm now an important member of this fine establishment... my meals are free, right?"

The raccoon girl choked on air, staring at him in sheer disbelief. The old man, however, simply raised a brow before bursting into laughter, shaking his head. "Kid, you've got guts, I'll give you that. But no, your meals aren't free."

Sol clutched his chest dramatically. "Boss, how could you? After all we've been through?"

The old man snorted. "What we've been through? You just got hired ten seconds ago."

The raccoon girl cackled, slamming a hand on the counter. "This is the most shameless thing I've ever seen."

Sol just grinned. "Had to try."