Chapter 223: Future Market (Six)

The squad leader's mech arms unfolded, revealing a dense honeycomb of launch ports, and in an instant poured countless micro‑missiles forward. Yet when the smoke cleared, Xing, wielding a flame gun, walked out of the explosion completely unharmed.

The sight terrified the squad leader, who took several incredulous steps back: "Uh… who, what are you guys? You can't even suppress the company's mechs…"

San Yueqi said smugly, "Apocalypse Beast, Star Core, Phantom Haze—what strong enemy haven't we seen? With just those two tricks, you think you can stop us?"

The squad leader realized the situation was a hard nut, and while unsure what to do, Topa suddenly sent him a message stating that if they disrupted local residents' daily order during the asset assessment, a penalty of 60% of the year‑end bonus would be deducted.

"60%?! It's… it's over!"

His voice trembling, the squad leader hurriedly called out to the crew in the Great Mine Area: "All staff, heed my command—evacuate the Great Mine Area immediately, evacuate! Leave no trace of any project team!"

With that, the group vanished in a flash.

The Great Mine Area issue was at least settled, and while Xier was still bewildered, Bronya sent a message to the two, asking them to come to Klipper Fortress; the situation had changed again, and she needed their advice.

……

Meanwhile, in Maoding Town, Jiepad was leading a squad of silver‑mane iron guards and mech troops, blocking Topa and Swarro's advance.

"By the Great Guardian's decree—please halt here, Miss Topa."

Topa sighed regretfully; she hadn't wanted the matter to come to violence, but if a full‑scale clash were inevitable…

She smiled confidently, projected a violet screen from her right hand, tapped it lightly, and the mech troops surrounding Jiepad all turned their spears inward, encircling Jiepad and his men.

"…No wonder people always say, in these times, the one in debt is the real master?"

——

overlord.

(Using Source Code, did you instantly gain control of all the mech troops present?)

(These mech troops, placed on this continent, could easily raze a small town; their combat power might even surpass the Soul‑Devouring Demon… Indeed, the power of technology is terrifying, but unfortunately this continent lacks any deep research into it.)

Anzi watched Topa's casual maneuver; seizing control of the mech troops was as easy as drinking water.

The thought that the Interstellar Peace Corporation's Market Expansion Division might one day arrive on this continent and bring swarms of such monsters made Anzi's skin crawl.

"Dimiu Gous, can you understand what Topa just did?"

Anzi posed the question to the demon standing respectfully beside him; although he didn't expect Dimiu Gous to answer perfectly, he still wanted to hear his view.

"Hmm… Lord Anzi, in my humble opinion, she likely activated the item called 'Source Code', casting a magic akin to 'mind control', right?"

"Magic…?"

Even without expectation, hearing Dimiu Gous's reply left Anzi somewhat regretful.

Sensing his master's displeasure, Dimiu Gous's face unusually showed anxiety, and he immediately knelt on one knee: "Lord Anzi, please forgive my foolishness…"

"No… you needn't apologize, Dimiu Gous."

The guardians within the Great Tomb are powerful, many wield high‑level magic, but expecting them to grasp "technology" is perhaps too far‑fetched.

Even he himself—who commands potent trans‑dimensional magic, some of which can instantly snatch the life of creatures within range—remains helpless against technology. After all, confronting lifeless, painless machines is far easier than the undead monsters he summons.

If we could purchase a few from the Interstellar Peace Corporation, we might conquer the entire continent without ever leaving home.

"Dimiu Gous."

Anzi changed the question: "If the Interstellar Peace Corporation someday expands into this world and is willing to trade with our Nasalik Underground Great Tomb… what items should we sell?"

"Oh oh, truly worthy of Lord Anzi, you've already thought of this."

Dimiu Gous admired sincerely, hesitated briefly, then gave a answer he was very satisfied with: "Lord Anzi, we can sell them scrolls that contain low‑level healing magic."

"Low‑level scrolls? Would the company even be interested?"

"Of course!" Dimiu Gous's tone was unusually cheerful. "I've found that not everyone can walk the prosperous destiny; we can claim that purchasing the scroll grants one a prosperous fate, becoming a destiny‑walker with healing abilities."

"The key point is that each scroll is made from beast hide, very aesthetic; even without learning the magic, they make fine collectibles." Speaking of his cruel hobby, Dimiu Gous sounded extremely excited.

"…Beast? Isn't that just human skin that's been stripped off?"

"Exactly! Lord Anzi."

"Uh…"

…Selling this to the company—are we sure their annihilation starship won't wipe out both people and the planet…?

——

Xing and San Yueqi arrived at Klipper Fortress and met the exhausted, frail Bronya, who hadn't rested in ages.

Bronya urgently asked the two to come because Topa had sent her a contract and a handwritten letter; the contract is tied to the entire future of the Beloberg people, while the letter recounts her own story.

She was born on an obscure planet at the edge of the galaxy, where resources are scarce, forcing them to sell massive labor, engage in chemical or heavy industry.

Over time, her homeworld's natural environment deteriorated; streets filled with sewage and smog, and people could only eke out a miserable existence in despair, awaiting further ruin.

Soon the corporation arrived on her homeworld, offering a brand‑new environmental overhaul, but in exchange the company demanded every resident sign a contract to become employees of the Interstellar Peace Corporation.

After the contract was signed, the corporation's renovations were immediate; in five years the entire planet was renewed, and it was then that Topa reached the appropriate age and joined the company's Strategic Investment Division. Having witnessed her home's transformation, she resolved to bring the same change to the backward, barren worlds across the galaxy.

"Miss Bronya, 'freedom' is a precious treasure to people; but when faced with real‑world choices, something………"