BENTEN SYSTEM - What began as a routine classified ad in the APEX marketplace has spiraled into a system-wide investigation after executives at Xenos Logistics were accused of consuming poly-ethylene, a common building material used in headquarters construction.

An executive enjoying the flavor of the latest plastic used in building construction.¹

The incident started when McCowen, Chief Procurement Officer at Xenos Logistics, posted what appeared to be a standard “Want To Buy” listing for BEN (Benten System materials) for headquarters upgrades. When asked about compensation, McCowen offered “1 PE” - a standard unit of poly-ethylene construction material.

The exchange took a disturbing turn when eminence32, a Castillo-Ito Mercantile representative, suggested the poly-ethylene would be “the best PE you’ve ever tasted in your life,” triggering an immediate alert to the Bureau for the Advancement and Regulation of Food (BARF)², Castillo-Ito’s notoriously overfunded regulatory body.

“We take potential consumption of non-food items very seriously,” said Henrietta Singleberry, BARF Commissioner. “Our preliminary investigation has already cost 2.3 billion CIS, but we consider that a small price to pay for consumer safety.”

The investigation has reportedly involved over 300 BARF agents, the deployment of specialized “taste detection” drones to Xenos Logistics headquarters on Benten, and the establishment of a dedicated PE Consumption Prevention Task Force.

Witnesses report seeing The_Stinker, a known underground taste-testing operator, quietly disabling BARF monitoring equipment while continuing what appeared to be an illicit “tasting session” of various building materials.

McCowen has repeatedly attempted to clarify that the original listing was simply an effort to procure materials for headquarters upgrades, but BARF officials remain unconvinced.

“Anyone who offers a single unit of poly-ethylene as payment for an entire planetary system clearly has unusual appetites,” Singleberry added, adjusting her regulation-compliant tastebud neutralizing mask. “Our agents have orders to confiscate all PE within the Benten system until we can guarantee it won’t be used in unauthorized culinary experiments.”

Economic analysts estimate the investigation could cost Castillo-Ito upwards of 12 billion CIS before completion, and may result in a temporary PE shortage affecting construction projects throughout the system.

At press time, BARF was reportedly expanding its investigation to include all polymer-based materials after discovering a black market “flavor enhancement” operation for small plastics boards being run out of a maintenance closet in the Daikoku System.