What Do You Mean I'm The Captain Of A Yandere Mercenary Company? Chapter 804: Degeneracy In Society

Within just an hour, Theresa had arranged a suitable spot for me to work in.

The station featured several mess halls, implying that certain areas received fewer visitors than the bustling ones.

Consequently, some stalls had been abandoned after proving unpopular, with owners shutting them down to cut expenses.

Fortunately, the gear in those stalls remained operational, allowing us to simply activate and utilize them right away.

She forwarded us the coordinates on a map and assured us she'd be on site to verify everything was in order, so we made our way there to link up with her.

However, she overlooked mentioning that this location sat tucked away in a remote corner of the station, drawing very little foot traffic.

And apparently, that seclusion had encouraged certain individuals to pursue particular pursuits there.

What kind of pursuits? Well... Clearly, it involved open-air intimacy...

At first, I overlooked it entirely, too intent on locating the kitchen setup Theresa had secured for me, so I stepped into the mess hall searching solely for that.

Spotting it was straightforward, as the hall was compact, boasting just two lines of serving counters, one of which stood utterly vacant...

Yet as I approached the counter designated for my use, the echoes of pleasurable cries drew my focus, prompting me to glance back and discover several pairs openly coupling in plain sight of all.

In fact, one scene featured a woman astride a man on the ground while simultaneously stroking two others nearby.

In stark opposition, another man thrust into a woman from the rear while pleasuring two more who clung to him.

Stunned, I stared briefly before shifting my eyes to my companions, noting that Ries was the sole one displaying any real shock at the display.

"Ok... I get the bathroom thing... But why the hell are they doing this out in the open?! Is this standard?"

Mara winced, "Unfortunately, yes, Captain..."

"Why?!"

Amber laughed lightly, "Ehehe~ Long explanation or short one?"

"I guess the short version will do?"

"Folks in the Inner Colonies are incredibly, incredibly bored. They pursue all sorts of distractions to pass the time, including extreme promiscuity bordering on depravity."

Oh... From that snippet alone, I could guess the depth of the extended tale Amber alluded to.

Lacking genuine dangers—save for occasional insurgents, which are likely infrequent—they exist free from hardship, surrounded by plenty.

Thus, they chase alternative thrills, and for some, that path led to unchecked sexual indulgence.

With enough adherents, this behavior infiltrated the norm, leading society to tolerate public encounters or even group sessions... Though they confine it to secluded spots away from the crowds, showing a measure of restraint.

I exhaled heavily, "So you're saying that in the Inner Colonies... Folks have no sexual boundaries whatsoever?"

Mara tittered, "Ufufu~ Phrased like that, it does come off rather harshly."

I waved toward the ongoing acts, "I mean... Look at them? They're merely quenching urges! Zero affection involved!"

"Does that mean Tera would object to us getting frisky in public?" Amber inquired, snuggling close to me.

"I'm not about to play the hypocrite after our own public escapades, but I'm absolutely against any of you with anyone else."

Amber's hand slipped behind to fondle my chest, "What about among ourselves?"

I bit back a groan just in time, "Nggh... Using... Using my member, sure..."

"Oh wow, that's super naughty, Tera~ Now I'm truly excited for it~"

With a sigh, I attempted to refocus the discussion, "Actually... Isn't this somewhat paradoxical? We spot this in the Outer Colonies too, but only in the wildest zones... So what's the distinction here?"

Lea agreed with a nod, "Paradoxical, isn't it, Mistress? Moral decay thrives in the bleakest hellholes and the plushest paradises alike. In agonizing societies, vice offers solace. In pampered ones, it provides diversion."

Well... Viewed that way, the irony hits hard... Especially hearing it from our ship's unabashed exhibitionist, who parades naked aboard and teases me by arching over to bare herself, luring me to claim her on the spot...

I sighed again, "Wonderful... So the Inner Colonies are another pit of vice, no better than the Outer ones?"

Mara snickered, "Think of it as the Inner Colonies wearing a glossy facade to appear refined. But underneath, it's identical. Recall my mention of slaves in the core Inner regions—their existence is arguably grimmer than slum dwellers in the Outer Colonies."

I suppose shock shouldn't factor in, given how things mirror my former world's underbelly...

"Does this plague only human cultures?" I wondered aloud.

My girls exchanged glances, grimaced slightly at me, then affirmed with nods.

Ries shot her hand up eagerly, "But we totally enjoy it!! Umm... It's way more fun, so everybody's cool with it!"

"I’m unsure if I should celebrate other species embracing human vice, but alright then..."

Another sigh escaped me as I scanned the area, noticing an absence.

"Ermm... Theresa mentioned she'd rendezvous here, right? I don't spot her. Are we in the correct spot?"

Pulling out my personal device, I saw a fresh notification from Theresa, timestamped recently.

Hmm... Apparently, duties delayed her, so she'd arrive shortly. She suggested we inspect the setup first and check for issues; she'd dispatch repairs promptly if needed.

Well... Since we're here, might as well proceed with that.

Tuning out the surrounding couplings, I approached the counter to assess our tools.

Hmm... Standard fare appears present... Including an auto-cooker where you load ingredients and it handles the rest.

Put simply, the contraption I'd avoid entirely.

Manual burners and ovens were available too, which I'd certainly employ.

Pondering the source of supplies, I noticed a small lift mechanism at the counter's rear, paired with an adjacent display panel.

Approaching to interact with it, a comprehensive menu of ingredients popped up, resembling an e-commerce catalog.

It dawned on me this was the method for procuring cooking materials in the stalls.

Presumably, a main storage hub dispatches requested items via the panel to each station upon selection.

I devised a menu for our group and selected the required components on the interface.

Absolutely everything was stocked, sparing me concern over missing items.

That was, until I discovered the glaring omission...

No seasonings in sight...

You've got to be kidding?! Has this reality forgotten flavor enhancers entirely?! No salt, pepper, or soy sauce?!! How could things have devolved this far?!! Must I supply my own?!!