Chapter 226: with translation of chapter title

"Ji Zi! It's really Ji Zi! It should, it should be the real person, right? Not a hologram, or something else..." Upon seeing Ji Zi, San Yueqi was overjoyed and immediately went over.

Ji Zi smiled slightly: "Don't worry, little San Yueqi, it's really me, the real deal."

After meeting Bronya, Ji Zi also honestly told the true purpose of her visit—she wanted to inform Bronya of the full situation, so that Bronya could make a decision.

"I happen to know a friend who understands Topa's background. Indeed, because of what happened to her homeland, in her view, being annexed by the company is probably the only way for this civilization of Belobog to survive."

"But there's something she deliberately didn't mention: not all worlds that accepted the company's terms were saved."

"What do you mean...?"

"Rebuilding a planet's ecosystem... a project of this scale inevitably carries risks." Ji Zi paused, then continued: "I obtained some data from my friend; the number of planets that can truly recover under the company's technology accounts for 63% of the total projects."

"Of course, this is averaging the data. The projects personally handled by Topa have an overall success rate of eighty percent or higher. Her business ability is undoubtedly top-notch."

——

Blessings upon a beautiful world.

Fraud! This is absolutely fraud!

Aqua slammed her hands on the table and stood up, her water-blue eyes blazing with fury: "That woman called Topa actually dares to deceive Bronya with such despicable means! What's the difference between her and those cultists who trick people into buying fake holy water?!"

Kazuma rubbed his ears, which had gone numb from Aqua's shock, and muttered: "Hey, hey, could you lower your voice? Everyone in the tavern is staring at us."

He looked at Bronya's shocked expression on the light curtain, then scratched his head: "To be honest, a success rate of sixty to eighty percent for such a big project isn't bad. If Topa told me the transformation would be 100% successful, I'd actually suspect something fishy."

"Kazuma! How can you speak up for that bad woman?" Aqua stepped up to Kazuma, crossed her arms in a big "X" in front of her chest, and said, "Doing that will just get you tricked by that bad woman!"

"Obviously, you're the one who's more easily fooled, you idiot goddess!" Kazuma said irritably.

"But if the success rate isn't 100%, but eighty percent, then there's a certain gambling element involved." Youyou looked worriedly at Bronya: "Putting the future of all citizens on the line to gamble on an eighty percent chance... probably... isn't worth it."

At this moment, the previously silent Youyou suddenly spoke up: "Moreover, I think Topa is hiding a point... namely, the standard for 'reconstruction success.' Just how restored does Yarilo-VI need to be to count as the company's 'transformation success'?"

"Does it mean merely stopping the ravages of wind and snow, or restoring it to its state a thousand years ago, or... helping Belobog become a fully competitive interstellar civilization, so that everyone, upper and lower classes, can prosper?"

"If merely improving the planet's environment is taken as the standard for reconstruction success, then I think Bronya still needs to consider it more carefully."

——

"What I want to convey is just these numbers, these 【probabilities】. I think only by making all the information fully public and transparent can it be fair to you."

"After conveying all the information I wanted to share, the final decision still rests in Bronya's hands."

"I see... thank you, Ms. Ji Zi. Your information has let me see the essence of this matter." Bronya lowered her gaze at the contract sent by Topa: "No matter how wonderful the other party's promises are, this contract represents a gamble. As a leader, I absolutely cannot, just because I believe in fortune, sign a contract of servitude on behalf of all the city's residents."

Bronya lifted her head and looked around at the young and old city-building ministers with their firm gazes, and she finally confirmed the answer in her heart.

Ji Zi also dropped the act, nodding at her: "Since you've already made up your mind, I won't pretend to be neutral anymore. I think your choice is correct, Bronya."

Having decided on her idea, Bronya planned to spend some time mobilizing all the residents of the city, then meet Topa again.

Before that, she hoped a few members of the train team would help find her and stop the company's people from continuing to seize Belobog's assets.

Bronya sincerely looked at the few members of the train crew; after a long time of weariness on her face, a bright smile finally appeared: "Belobog will not sell out its future. What we should forever remember is only you friends who repeatedly reach out a helping hand in times of crisis."

Soon, Gepard sent a message to several people, indicating that Topa possesses some technology to control the puppet soldiers, and for now she and Svarog are roughly located in Rivet Town.

——

Crimson Red Eyes.

"Phew... good thing Ji Zi arrived in time."

Seeing Bronya change her mind, May also finally breathed a sigh of relief. Moreover, this time with Ji Zi providing protection, her sense of safety was completely maxed out.

"Even though Ji Zi is stepping in, if Topa insists on completing this project, things will still be difficult."

Natlan lit a cigarette and said meaningfully: "The train crew's resistance is not just against a single Topa, but against the entire galactic-spanning commercial conglomerate behind her. Although the train crew is well-known across the galaxy, opposing the company is certainly not a wise move."

"But the train crew still has the support of the Luofu Astral Express behind them; the company should probably have some misgivings, right?"

Natlan spread her hands and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke: "It's hard to say; although the train crew is on good terms with the Luofu Astral Express, it doesn't mean that when Ji Zi and the others handle affairs on other planets, Luofu must intervene—that would be inappropriate."

"Moreover, the train crew relies on the Luofu Astral Express alone, not the whole Astral Express Alliance; even if the Alliance wanted to back the train crew, the company would probably not have many scruples either."

"... Huh? Wait! Is that really what you're focused on?" Laboke nearby suddenly realized and gave everyone a puzzled look.

"Oh? Then what is your focus?" Natlan smiled.

"Of course it's Gepard! He alone took down that whole group of puppet soldiers with just his fists! Is he even human?! If he's from the Astral Express, that wouldn't surprise me at all, but the problem is, the humans of Belobog are pretty much like us, right?"

"Cut it out, she's a bona fide Preservation Pathfinder."

May wore a mischievous grin: "Who knows? Maybe starting today you'll believe in the Preservation Star God, and someday you'll be able to step onto the Preservation Path. By then, no Imperial Arm wielder could break your defense, and taking down Esdeath would be a piece of cake. How about it? Want to give it a try?"