Reborn as a Space Mercenary: From Salaryman to Galactic Legend

The wind bit at Ethan's face as he stepped out of the Guild Hall into the dusty streets of Valeris City. A month had passed since he signed up as a mercenary with the guild, and though he had completed several F-rank missions, they'd all been mundane. Supply runs to Ridgefall Outpost, simple patrols within Valeris City, none of it had been particularly dangerous or exciting. But that was about to change.

Earlier that day, a message had come through on his information tablet from Kael, the guild's ever-efficient secretary. There was a mission on the table, one that would test him. It involved traveling further out, beyond the relatively safe bounds of Ridgefall, where bandits had begun to harass settlements. The guild saw it as an opportunity for him to rise in rank, and if he succeeded, he'd be one step closer to leaving the F-rank behind and moving up to E-rank.

Ethan had been quick to accept. The credits would help, though they still wouldn't be enough to cover the full repairs his ship desperately needed. His goal felt distant, but this mission was a step in the right direction. It would also be his first true test as a mercenary.

He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets as he wandered the streets, lost in thought. The edges of the city had a rough, almost feral feel to them. Valeris City was one of the few places on Kynara where civilization thrived, but even here, the veneer of order was thin.

Over the past few weeks, he had started to notice signs of something darker lurking beneath the surface. Graffiti in the shape of a black sun. an unmistakable mark, had begun appearing more frequently in certain districts. It was the calling card of the Black Sun Syndicate, the most powerful crime organization in the city. Though he hadn't crossed paths with them yet, he'd seen the shadows they cast over the streets. The Black Sun controlled a vast swath of Valeris City's underworld, and everyone seemed to know it.

The presence of the syndicate reminded him once more of the organized crime rings back on Earth like the Mafia, the Yakuza, the cartels. Ruthless, methodical, and embedded into the very fabric of society. He couldn't help but feel a nagging suspicion that sooner or later, his path would collide with theirs. But for now, his focus remained on the bandits at the outskirts.

After a long day of preparation, Ethan found himself standing in front of a familiar establishment, Nara's Nest. This was the cantina where he'd started to form a connection with the fiery old woman who owned the place. Nara was something of a local legend in Ridgefall Outpost, a widow who ran the cantina with both grit and warmth, earning respect from everyone who walked through her door.

Pushing open the door, Ethan was greeted by the familiar hum of quiet conversations and the scent of cheap ale. He approached the bar, where Nara stood, wiping a glass with a rag that had seen better days.

"Look who's back," she said, her sharp eyes landing on him. "What'll it be today? Planning to blow all your credits here, are you?"

Ethan smirked. "Just a cheap drink. Got a big mission tomorrow, so I'm celebrating early."

Nara chuckled, pouring him a glass of something that smelled faintly of berries. "Big mission, huh? Heading out past Ridgefall, I hear."

Word traveled fast around here. He nodded. "Yeah. Bandit trouble. Could be my shot at moving up in rank."

She set the glass in front of him and leaned on the bar. "Those bandits aren't your only problem. You've seen the marks, haven't you? The Black Sun's been sniffing around the outskirts more and more. They've got their fingers in everything, and that includes the bandit groups. If you're not careful, you might end up dealing with more than you bargained for."

Ethan sipped his drink, the bitter taste a welcome distraction. "I've seen the marks. I'm keeping an eye out, but for now, they haven't come my way."

"Yet," Nara corrected, her tone grim. "Trust me, kid. The Black Sun doesn't like anyone messing with their operations, even out in the sticks. Just… watch your back."

He nodded, appreciating her concern. Over the past month, he'd grown to respect Nara. She had an undeniable strength, both physical and emotional, that commanded the room. The cantina wouldn't have survived as long as it had without her, and Ethan sensed she could be a valuable ally if things in the city ever went sideways.

As he finished his drink, another news broadcast flickered to life on the holoscreen in the corner of the cantina. Ethan glanced at it idly, only half-listening, but certain phrases caught his ear. Something about territorial disputes within the Orion Federation, heightened tensions between rival factions, and talk of political unrest on the outer planets.

The Federation's reach was vast, and its power undeniable, but it seemed even the mighty were not immune to internal strife. Kynara might have felt isolated from these galactic-scale issues, but Ethan knew better. Ripples in the galaxy had a way of reaching even the most remote corners.

Nara followed his gaze, scoffing. "Politics. All that talk and not an ounce of it matters out here. The Federation's got their hands full with their own problems. Meanwhile, we're stuck dealing with bandits and syndicates."

"Still," Ethan said thoughtfully, "doesn't hurt to know what's going on. The more chaos out there, the more chances for people like us to make a living."

Nara snorted. "That's one way to look at it."

With a small smile, Ethan rose from his seat. "Thanks for the drink, Nara. I'll see you when I get back."

"You better," she said, confirming the credits transfer from his tablet into hers. "And don't go getting yourself killed, kid. I'd hate to lose a regular."

Ethan nodded and turned to leave, his thoughts drifting back to the mission ahead. The Black Sun's presence weighed on him, as did Nara's warning, but he pushed those concerns aside for now. He had a job to do, one that could finally push him up to the next level.

As he stepped out into the night, the looming challenge felt real. His journey as a mercenary was only just beginning, and the bandits would be his first real trial. Whatever lay beyond Ridgefall, Ethan was ready to face it head-on