Chapter 230

"The concept of long-term development... transcends time, and also transcends life. Ms. Rand is truly a great person." Topa couldn't help but sincerely praise, "And this 'Rand' before me... is no less."

"Thank you for your agreement, but I actually didn't do anything." Bronya smiled embarrassedly. "I just gathered the people of Belobog together and told them that our hard-won freedom is once again facing a great threat."

"To preserve this freedom, we must take action to prove to those doubtful eyes that we have the will and the ability to control our own destiny."

"The result of the mobilization, you've seen it. The children of Belobog have made a decision; they want to preserve this homeland with their own hands."

Topa lowered her gaze slightly: "Such a big surprise is truly unexpected no matter what."

She lowered her head, silent in thought for a moment, watching the little thing approach her feet; Topa's eyes flickered with a hint of regret. But she finally made up her mind, looked up at Bronya: "... I will fight for this opportunity for you. I mixed your situation with my own childhood experiences, which was a major mistake."

A hint of regret appeared on Topa's face; her homeland had never produced a leader as resolute as Bronya.

Seeing her stiff attitude soften, Bronya quickly asked: "So, are you willing to withdraw your previous decision? As for that debt, we will definitely find a way to repay it gradually. It just takes time..."

"... It's a pity that acquiring and merging Elysia-VI is a strategic decision approved by the company's upper management. Even if I wanted to overturn this decision, convincing the higher-ups would be extremely difficult. Unless..."

As the conversation reached this point, both of their gazes inadvertently turned toward Kiana.

Kiana pursed her lips and smiled, stepping forward: "Don't worry, Ms. Topa. I am willing to represent the Astral Express and stake the honor of all the Nameless as a guarantee for this world."

——

What exactly went wrong with seeking encounters in the dungeon?

"Daring to make such a guarantee, it seems the Astral Express not only has excellent reputation but also deep pockets!"

Hestia rested her chin on her hands, leaning on the bar of the tavern, her eyes fixed on the three from the train crew: "They usually don't seem to have jobs, so where do their credits come from?"

"Huh? Probably some secret money-making method?" Bel, who was wiping his weapon, raised his head: "I think March 7's room decor is quite luxurious, so the train's income must be decent. But they aren't too obsessed with money, so they probably haven't reached the point of being able to splurge freely."

"Then, Bel, do you think they could make money using this method?"

"Huh? Which method?"

Hestia narrowed her eyes, pretending to ponder with her hand on her chin: "Aren't they acquainted with Kafka and Blade from the Stellar Hunters? Could the train crew hand Blade over to the company in exchange for that bounty worth 8,130,000,000... and then have Sam and Silver Wolf rescue him?"

"Back when we were on the Xianzhou, Kafka said Silver Wolf and Sam could rescue them from the Xianzhou's Prison of Depths; the company should be able to do the same, right? Then the bounty we earn... would be split fifty-fifty with the Stellar Hunters!"

"The key is this trick can be recycled! It promotes the Astral Express's strength before the company, and we don't have to worry about Blade dying! Even if Blade really dies, he'd have gotten what he wanted. How about it, how about it? Bel, isn't this method perfect?"

"Um..."

"Huh? Bel, do you think this method is unreliable?" Hestia leaned over to Bel, blinking her lake-blue eyes.

"Your Highness, it's not that it's unreliable... it's just... uh, if Blade knew that part of the bounty earned by trading his life would go to Dan Heng, he'd probably burst into angry demonic form on the spot."

——

"Great! This should work. The subsequent reporting process, and possible future accountability..." Topa quickly recovered from her disappointment, smiling slightly: "... I'll take responsibility for it."

"Star was still worried that Topa would have her wages deducted for this, but the person involved was completely nonchalant: 'Just deduct it~ Anyway, I've long passed the stage of working purely for money.'"

"At last the matter settled, Star also planned to return to the Goethe Hotel for a good night's sleep, but thinking that she hadn't properly experienced the Sunshine Festival, she felt a bit of regret."

"Meanwhile, in the snowy plains on the other side of Belobog, Topa was communicating with the person in the earpiece."

"Mysterious Person: 'In summary, Topa, the department will impose the following penalties on you——'"

"'Demotion in rank, from P45 down to P44, with base salary adjusted accordingly; all reward plans you participated in within a cycle will be canceled, including stock options and performance bonuses.'"

"'Regarding this incident, you need to submit an additional report to 【Diamond】. If you have objections, you may also file an appeal in writing.'"

——

Absolute Zero.

"I recall that in the company's promotional ad, P47 seemed to be the highest position an ordinary person could hold, right?" Asuka Yuuma recalled, "So it seems Ms. Topa's rank within the company is quite high."

"Although Topa was called 'Director' by her team leader, Yuuma didn't expect it to be such a high rank, and it's no wonder she said she had achieved financial freedom and no longer needed to work for money."

"As a faction following Ke Li Po, and also the largest commercial power in the galaxy, the company surely has a Preservation Envoy; I don't know if P46 and P47 can produce a Preservation Envoy."

"P46 is impossible, P47 should have a chance......"

"Tsukishiro Ryu pondered a moment: 'Envoys are extremely rare existences; even if we look across the whole Xianzhou Alliance, there are only seven Envoys, including the six generals and marshals. Let's think from another angle: if you, Yuuma, were a Preservation Envoy, what position do you think the company should place you in to be reasonable?'"

"Well, at least P47…… P46 is only one step away from the highest position an ordinary person can hold in the company, but it would still be overshadowed by P47. Frankly, I can hardly imagine a Preservation Envoy being overshadowed in the company unless the other party is also a Preservation Envoy; otherwise it feels a bit… upside-down."

"Hmm." Tsukishiro Ryu nodded. "Above P47 is the company's board of directors…… that position should indeed have a Preservation Envoy."