Chapter 220: Future Market (Three)

Ne Zha's Devil Child descends into the world.

"Pay back, pay back, pay back! Pay back my ass!"

Looking at Bronya's tightly furrowed brows, Ne Zha jumped up in anger from the futon, he kicked over the stone table in front of him laden with tea and fruit platters, the bright red fruits rolling and bouncing on the ground.

"That woman named Topa is completely taking advantage of our vulnerability! Belobog just escaped the star core crisis, and she comes now? She couldn't wait a few decades? What a bastard!"

Ao Bing lightly waved his hand, a stream of water conjured from thin air steadily caught the falling platform. He lifted his eyes to look at the raging Ne Zha, his voice like a clear spring flowing over pebbles: "Ne Zha, stay calm. Many things are not necessarily as they appear."

"Stay calm? How do you expect me to stay calm?!"

Ne Zha turned and glared at Ao Bing, then angrily sat back on the futon: "You see that woman named Topa? She's completely smiling while hiding a knife! Every word from her mouth is 'debt,' 'contract,' just like those heavenly court lackeys! Belobog just caught its breath from that damned cold snap, and she's already demanding repayment!"

Ao Bing shook his head calmly: "But the Interstellar Peace Company did indeed provide reconstruction funds, in accordance with the spirit of the contract——"

"Bullshit spirit!" Ne Zha punched the stone pillar beside him, cracks spreading like a spiderweb: "Belobog barely escaped a life-or-death juncture, and the company is now pushing people back into that life-or-death juncture—better to fight to the death than surrender."

"Ne Zha!" Ao Bing's voice suddenly rose, a flash of pain crossing his eyes.

Inside the stone cave a moment of silence fell, only Ne Zha's ragged breathing audible. From outside came the clear cry of an immortal crane, a ray of sunset light poured in, stretching their shadows long.

Ao Bing lowered his eyes slightly, after a long sigh he broke the silence first: "I know you're resentful, but we can't go fish-dead-net-breaking on everything. This debt concerns all of Belobog's residents; it's no small matter. Though the Interstellar Peace Company's methods are harsh, they are not baseless demands. According to Bronya's account, this debt was also voluntarily signed by the city's founders."

"Voluntary?" Ne Zha snorted, "A starving person seeing a steamed bun doesn't care whether there's poison inside—did the original contract possibly lack any fine print?"

Ao Bing shook his head: "That's not how to put it—without these funds, Belobog's people would have died in that blizzard long ago, and there would be no story today. Moreover, Director Topa also offered alternative solutions."

"My master always says, 'Misfortune is what fortune leans upon; fortune is what misfortune hides.' Rather than despair, let's see if within this great calamity there lies a sliver of hope."

——

""Before you even came in, Topa had already warned me… if the debt is overdue too long, the company has given her the authority to take 'hard measures.'"

"Bronya also knows the Interstellar Peace Company is a massive organization spanning the galaxy; with its scale, suppressing Belobog would be as easy as flipping a palm. So she wanted to turn to the train for rescue, having the train crew try to persuade Topa."

"The two of them certainly felt duty-bound; after obtaining Topa's schedule through her number, Xing quickly went to Belobog's museum to find Topa."

"March 7 had originally intended to act a bit more imposing, but upon facing Topa's smile, the prepared speech choked in his throat, and he could only anxiously seek help from Xing beside him: 'We… uh, Xing, help me out! I really am not good at this…'"

""I think the company's demands are unreasonable," Xing said bluntly, getting straight to the point."

""Indeed, I understand. From your perspective, this certainly doesn't make sense, right?" Topa gave a faint smile, "Different positions lead to different perspectives—that's normal. Debt collection is my job—I've seen cases tougher than Belobog's."

""Most individuals or organizations that can't pay on time have their own difficulties. But if I treated every item as a 【special case】… the entire star system's economic system would likely collapse."

"She has long been accustomed to debtors unable to repay; for this reason she also offers multiple solutions."

"However, since Belobog has far exceeded the deadline, gentle solutions no longer apply; only drastic measures can be taken. As for the specifics…… she keeps her lips sealed, kicking the ball back to Bronya."

"But thinking of Bronya's troubled expression, March 7 still couldn't bear to watch, and pleaded: 'Um, Miss Topa, what exactly must be done for the company to show mercy to Belobog?'"

"She couldn't bear to see the world Bronya had worked so hard to change be snatched away by the company in an instant—that's too cruel."

"Topa gave a slight smile: 'What do you think the company is, March? Don't forget. We, like the city's founders here, are practitioners of preservation.'"

""No matter what, our proposed plan will definitely take Belobog's people's welfare into account. If we can't even do that, wouldn't the Strategic Investment Department just be another unreasonable gang like the legion?"

——

Death God.

The night sky over Empty Seat Town sparkled with stars; inside the clinic, Heiqi Yihu and Jing Shang Zhi Ji were together watching the heavens. Although Topa's arrival made this newlywed couple tense up simultaneously, hearing that her plan would consider Belobog's people's welfare, Heiqi Yihu's tightly furrowed brow also relaxed a bit.

"Topa hasn't gone into detail about her radical plan, but I guess… it's probably similar to debt restructuring."

"Debt restructuring?"

"Well, it means reaching a new agreement with the company over Belobog's outstanding debt." Heiqi Yihu took a sip of tea, set down his medical journal, "If Belobog can't repay in money, it could use labor, land, etc. to compensate. Of course…… I don't know exactly what plan Miss Topa has proposed."

Jing Shang Zhi Ji looked at Heiqi Yihu: "In my view, Miss Topa isn't overbearing; she's far better than that… whatever… Si Ke Te. Talking with her, there should still be room for compromise, right?"

"I'm afraid that'll disappoint you; in my view, Xing and his lot have no wiggle room." Heiqi Yihu gave a wry smile, "Often those with little strength shout the loudest before a fight, puffing up their presence to overwhelm the opponent, trying to avoid trouble at minimal cost."

"But those truly capable of handling trouble usually don't resort to shouting——Miss Topa is clearly the latter. Moreover, her standing in the company…… I have a feeling it should be far higher than Si Ke Te's."