Chapter 221

Don't worry, the Great Protector Lady is very wise; she'll surely figure it out.

Topa suddenly shifted his tone, his gaze turning icy: "What's more, if I were to directly answer your question, the answer is… 'Nothing works.' No matter what obstacles I encounter, I will definitely complete the Yarialo-VI project."

A sudden sense of pressure made March 7's heart tighten.

But soon Topa returned to a pleasant expression, advising the two not to worry about trivial matters and to enjoy the festive atmosphere. After saying that, she left the museum for work.

The two were lamenting the complexity of the situation when Herta sent Star a message saying that the underground district's geothermal fire had just clashed with company personnel, and they couldn't hold out, so they urgently contacted the two for help.

One problem after another—Star and March 7 had to rush to the lower district at full speed to meet up with Herta.

The big mining area in the lower district had been seized by company personnel, who said they were conducting an "asset assessment," and the entrance was tightly guarded by two well-equipped company security guards, leaving no room for negotiation.

The key was that these two didn't speak at all, making Herta curse them in frustration to no effect, like two lifeless pieces of wood.

Left with no choice, March 7 had to use Topa's name to intimidate them, finally getting one to speak, but his attitude remained firm: "... No! I can't step aside! The team leader said if I let anyone through, I'll lose half a year's performance bonus!"

"Well, it turns out you're not even a team leader? I overestimated you." March 7 began to mercilessly mock him.

"Shut up! I hid on a small asteroid for six or seven years to prepare for joining the company, then went through seventeen rounds of interviews before finally getting hired—you unemployed people, what right do you have to judge me?!"

—

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid

"Half a year's performance bonus!? That's definitely not something to back down from..."

Inside the apartment, Kobayashi sat cross-legged by the kotatsu, originally drunk from drinking, but upon seeing that company staff would be docked half a year's performance over this, as a fellow worker she couldn't help but press her hand to her chest: "……I understand, I totally understand, friend."

Besides, getting into Stellar Peace Company is way too brutal! You have to prepare for six or seven years and then go through seventeen interview rounds, and the interviews are even conducted by security personnel akin to bodyguards!

In this situation, losing half a year's performance is trivial; if it cost you the job, you might even feel like dying.

Kobayashi instantly felt that the workers of this universe were no different from her Japanese corporate drone self.

No…… actually, it's not as good for her; at least she has Tohru waiting for her after work at night.

Tohru beside her blinked and said, "Kobayashi, do you know him?"

"I don't know him at all! But I understand his pain! This is a heartache only workers can share……" Kobayashi slammed the table, "If half a year's performance is deducted, both rent and meals become at risk—going to a maid café or the like would just be pouring money down the drain……"

"Wait? A maid…… café?!"

As if flipping a dangerous switch, Tohru's voice suddenly dropped a few degrees, its originally soft and sweet tone instantly turning hoarse and perilous.

As if about to spew scorching dragon breath any second, Tohru roared as she approached Kobayashi, her pupils narrowing to slits, seeming to burn with fierce flames, even the apartment windows trembling with a 'crack crack' sound.

"Are you cheating?!"

Kobayashi instantly broke into a cold sweat: "No, not at all, haha…… Tohru's maid outfit is definitely the cutest in the world……"

"Then why go to another maid café?!" The sound of her teeth grinding made Kobayashi feel a sour ache in her bones.

"Uh……" Kobayashi suddenly had an idea: "B-because I want to learn! I want to see what other maids have to offer, then come back and make you even more perfect!"

Tohru blinked in surprise: "Huh?"

The fury vanished in an instant, and her vertical pupils returned to round.

"R-really? You're doing this for me……?"

Kobayashi drenched in sweat, nodding frantically like pounding garlic: "Of course! You're the best maid I've ever had! No one else even comes close!"

Tohru's face flushed "whoosh" red, and her dragon tail began thrashing wildly on the ground.

"Sob… sorry, I just got too carried away…… I only like you so much." Tohru lunged into Kobayashi's embrace, rubbing against her, "I…… I'm going to make you omelette rice now! I'll draw ten hearts! No, a hundred!"

—

"Herta has completely lost her patience and decided right then to blow up at those two."

"As soon as they started fighting, the two found them a bit tough to handle and immediately ran off…… After all, with only so many credit points a month, who would risk their lives over this?"

"After driving those two off, Star and the others decided to head to the big mining area to clean up the company personnel, finish early and return early to enjoy the festival."

"……"

"At the same time, inside the mechanical settlement."

"Topa had already taken the initiative to approach Svarog, and recognized the little girl beside it…… Clara."

"Svarog immediately recognized the Stellar Peace Company insignia on Topa's chest, identifying her as neither a guest nor a friend. Faced with such a massive robot, Topa remained quite at ease; after cutting through the formalities, she got straight to the point: 'The planet beneath your feet——it will soon become an asset of 【the Company】.'"

"No one can reverse this result. You can't, those few nameless guests can't, and no faction in the galaxy can either."

"I'm only concerned with one thing: taking responsibility for whatever passes through my hands as much as possible. I want the company's shareholders to see the value that Yali Luo VI can create."

"In the long run, this is... no, only doing this can guarantee Bei Luobo Ge's long-term interests. I need your help to achieve this."

Shiwaruo wonders how Topa will convince the company's higher-ups, but Topa calmly pulls out a core—that is the 【Source Code】, more precisely, the source code that obtains all of Bei Luobo Ge's mechanical control units.

——

Jujutsu Kaisen.

"Huh? In other words, as long as Topa is willing, she can instantly cause all the guard mechs to defect and become enemies of Bei Luobo Ge."

Hoshino Mutsuya rubbed his forehead: "How are we supposed to fight then? Though the Trailblazers and Herta are strong, facing a vast and mighty mechanical army would leave us helpless, right? If Dan Heng were here, he'd be willing to become the Dragon Sovereign... I think we could still fight."

"Hmm... what if we just go after Topa directly?" Zenin Maki suggested from the side, "This girl hasn't really made a move so far; it seems aside from her eloquence, she has no other abilities."

"It's useless; the company is a galaxy-spanning conglomerate. Although Topa is a director, to higher-level managers she's just a slightly more senior office drone."

Hoshino instantly refuted Maki's claim: "Furthermore, what makes you think the company would entrust such a huge project to a girl who completely lacks any martial means? I think this girl simply wants to avoid battle as much as possible; it doesn't mean she herself lacks combat ability."

"Ah, this situation is already completely beyond the capabilities of Little March and Star, huh..." Kinji Hakari had an idea: "Why not use that Immortal Vessel Alliance token to summon General Jingyuan for help?"

"……"

Shizuko rolled her eyes at Kinji Hakari in silence.

"If I were Jingyuan... I'd have the Divine Monarch kill you first for coming up with such a harebrained scheme."