"Sorry, please don't mind them. Just come this way. They won't do anything further out of line."
The guide was already used to sights like this.
She led Ye Qiyan to a rental station for driverless hovercars.
They got in and entered the city.
Only on the way to the city's most luxurious hotel, reserved exclusively for Train Conductors, did she bring up the protesters back at the port.
"Mr. Ye, those people are all indigenous residents of this world. Because the City on the Ship allows a great deal of freedom, it treats natives like us more gently, and even our chances of becoming Train Conductors and crew members are higher than in other cities.
"That's why they dare to carry out such meaningless protests at someone else's direction."
Putting "at someone else's direction" and "meaningless" together said a great deal.
"Oh? So you seem to know who put them up to it?"
This was the first time Ye Qiyan had seen a city's native humans dare to cause trouble right where Train Conductors arrived.
After all, some Train Conductors would kill people over the slightest displeasure.
Ordinary people had absolutely no ability to resist a Train Conductor.
Were they not afraid of dying?
"Yes. The Nation on the Ship is a free nation. The captains of the four starships we live on are our highest-ranking administrators. Each has different ideals, and elections are held every three years, with votes from the city's guilds, Train Conductors, and natives choosing the new captains.
"As it happens, another round of elections is about to begin. Someone wants to win more votes from native humans like us, which is why they stirred up something like that. I'm sorry you had to witness such a disgrace.
"But our country... no, calling it a