Chapter 224: Future Market (VII)

Only relying on the hands of the Beloberg people, how many generations must you span to return to the embrace of the stars? Who can guarantee that every future guardian will be as prudent and enlightened as you? Who can declare that a disaster like the star core will not happen again?

I have already secured the best plan for you. As long as you sign this contract, all of Beloberg's debts can be written off in one stroke. Moreover, the company will set up a special team to support the reconstruction work of Yaliro-VI.

Topa understands how difficult Bronya's choice is, but she still hopes the other party will make the decision that best guarantees the people's interests.

——

Rune Continent.

Inside a certain laboratory of Piiertewofu.

Victor's fingers lightly tapped the tabletop, reflecting the contract's pattern in his eyes.

"Jes." His voice low and steady, "The general content of this contract……has considerable reference value. Technical assistance, environmental transformation, reintegrating the Zaun people into Piiertewofu. If……we can convince the council to implement a similar plan for Zaun——"

Jes looked away from the sky canopy, his brows slightly furrowed, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the densely covered calculation sheets on the table.

"Zaun is not Beloberg, Victor." Jes let out a light sigh, "Its geographical environment, people, and even……leader are completely different."

Victor's weary eyes rarely showed a glimmer of light; he struggled to straighten his body and walked toward Jes, the 'thud-thud' sound of his cane striking the floor tiles especially clear in the laboratory.

"The environment can be remade; what the Zaun people need is opportunity. As for the leader……"

"——You mean Silco?" Jes waved his hand, although he didn't want to dampen his close friend's enthusiasm, but the fact is indisputable, "A poison baron who controls the underclass with faint light? Or those alchemist barons who shout they will blast through Piiertewofu?"

Victor fell silent for a moment; the laboratory light cast two cold, hard shadows on his sunken cheeks.

"I am also a child of Zaun, Jes." His voice was very soft, soft as a low sigh: "I know better than anyone that the people there are not born mad, but driven to madness."

Facing his old friend's persistence, Jes was also utterly helpless: 'Listen, Victor, I understand your idea. But Zaun's problem cannot be solved by a single contract——they resist order, they resist progress……Besides the two words "independence," they will resist anything.'

"Moreover, to sign a contract, at least both sides need to be rational. But facing the Zaun problem, whether it's the council or Silco……they lack precisely rationality."

——

"The tone in Topa's letter feels quite sincere… Xing, what do you think?"

"She is very skilled at the art of communication." Xing nodded.

Bronya clearly understands the difficulty of this choice; the fate of this planet, the civilization it bears, and everything that has happened in the past and future…now all hang suspended at her fingertips.

"This must not——nor should it——be her decision alone."

"So she wants to entrust the two of you to go to the upper and lower districts to listen to the people's voices, gather public opinion, and she wants to know what choice the people will make at this very moment."

"After taking on this task, Xing and San Yue first went to the upper district, found Pela in the square, and after fully informing her of the circumstances, Pela quickly calmed down from her panic."

"After a brief consideration, she indicated that she might agree to the company's plan."

"As for the reason, as an intelligence officer of the Silvermane Iron Guard, she has observed the rate at which the cold tide recedes; under the condition of no accidents, this planet still needs at least three or four generations for the wind and snow to cease."

"Compared to a future I cannot personally witness… I care more about the present, and I am more concerned about the people around me." Pela said sincerely, "If the company's plan can truly take effect immediately, paying such a price is worthwhile in my view."

"Using hands to forge foundations for future generations——sounds especially great, right? But for those personally involved in this project, how much enjoyment can there really be?"

"After recording Pela's opinion, Xing and her group then found Sihluwa; after informing her of the crisis currently facing Beloberg, her reaction and decision were exactly the same as Pela's."

"……This actually came as a great surprise to San Yue Qi."

"Hehe, the reason is simple. Signing this contract means we no longer have to worry about 'surviving.' For the majority of residents here——especially those in the lower district——this alone is enough to convince them."

"As for working for the company——well, people have to work wherever; it's all the same. If the company's people dare to bully us, we can always rise up in resistance later!"

——

Attack on Titan.

"Resistance?"

"Eren couldn't help but snort, "Will we really still be able to resist then? If we become company employees, handing our fate over to others and giving up freedom, they might give you a loaf of bread today, but tomorrow they could threaten you with hunger."

"Eren, not everyone can fight like we do." Armin shook his head, "Most people in Beloberg are ordinary; even if they wanted to resist, they are no match for the company. Haven't you seen? Topa only needs to move a finger……the mechanized troops beside Jepard can be used for her."

"The so-called choice is merely to give Bronya a semblance of dignity……she never had a choice from the start. Moreover, given Topa's experience, I believe the company will honor the agreement——"

"Eren looked at him sharply: "Agreement? Armin, even if Topa is telling the truth, we cannot believe that company lot will actually keep it——in the face of absolute power disparity, there has never been any fairness; the company only complies when it needs to."

"Have you seen those company employees? They rely on advanced equipment to run rampant unchecked in the great mining area, that arrogant and overbearing attitude……if it weren't for Xing and San Yue stepping in to block them, under mechs and missiles, who would dare to reason with them or talk about fairness?"

"The atmosphere suddenly turned tense; Armin fell silent for a moment, then sighed: '……Perhaps you are right, Eren. But if it were me, I would still choose to sign the contract. Not everyone can be like you, sacrificing everything for freedom."

"Like Hu Ke, Clara and the others……I still hope that one day they will see the cold tide retreat and a lush, green spring."