Chapter 473

【The negotiation venue is right here in the hotel lobby.】

【Everyone, follow me.】

General Jing Yuan began leading the way,

heading toward the hotel lobby.

A moment later.....

【Mr. Aventurine and Young Lady Topaz have both arrived..... And, who is that over there?】

From a great distance,

Himeko had already spotted the company's trio in the distance.

【Professor Ladiao of the Boshixue Society certainly makes quite an entrance.】

Welt answered Himeko's question,

unable to hold back a sigh of emotion.

【It has been too long, everyone from the Astral Express.】

【I also extend my sincere gratitude to you, General of Luo Fu.】

【With all of you present to bear witness, I am certain this negotiation will conclude successfully with a result that satisfies every party.】

Seeing the group arrive,

Aventurine immediately greeted them warmly.

Stelle: "I say, friend — how is it that one slash didn't do you any real harm?"

Stelle: "How can you be standing here completely unscathed?"

March 7th: "Look at him — he looks like nothing happened at all...."

March 7th: "Is Preservation really that tough?"

March 7th: "Even Nihility can't cut through it?"

Aventurine: "By my own assessment of myself, I definitely should not be unscathed."

Aventurine: "Otherwise I wouldn't have needed to be rescued by that noble Mr. Knight."

Furina: "Could it be that Aventurine is deliberately pushing through his injuries to attend the meeting?"

Furina: "That really is dedication...."

The video continued.

【Oh? It seems everyone already has some expectations.】

【Why not share them?】

General Jing Yuan looked at Aventurine's expression,

and immediately understood they had already made their choice.

【Of course.】

【You go ahead, Topaz?】

Aventurine tossed the question to Topaz to answer.

【Mm, leave it to me.】

【In summary, it is good news — after review and vote at the Strategic Investment Department's Major Affairs Group meeting, the following resolution was passed with an absolute majority of members in agreement:】

【Based on long-term considerations for interstellar peace, and authorized by the Pier Point headquarters, the Strategic Investment Department will, on behalf of the company, permanently renounce its claim to sovereignty over Penacony, and will unconditionally support the Family's reconstruction efforts in Penacony.】

Stelle: "...."

Stelle: "Oh no, I'm starting to think something's off too."

Paimon: "Huh??"

Paimon: "Why?"

Paimon: "Isn't this a very, very good outcome?"

March 7th: "Exactly because it's too good — so good it's not even real!"

March 7th: "I could believe Young Lady Topaz and Aventurine being willing to let Penacony off the hook."

March 7th: "But those two can't make decisions on behalf of the company."

March 7th: "And how could the company possibly be so generous — giving up such a fat piece of meat, and even supporting its old rival for free?"

Boothill: "Exactly — there's no way in hell this is something the company would do!"

Jade: "To be frank, the company was determined to have Penacony."

Jade: "In other words, this scene would never have occurred."

Furina: "Ah, this..."

Furina: "Then what on earth is going on?"

Aventurine: "Heh, this does confirm my guess..."

Aventurine: "I told you — how could I possibly have lost?"

Aventurine: "After all, my gamble has never relied on luck!"

Zhong Li: "Is it merely a fleeting illusion?"

The video continued.

【This...】

Himeko finished listening to Topaz's words,

and for the moment didn't know what to say.

【Heh, now this is interesting.】

General Jing Yuan chuckled lightly,

She found the company's decision quite interesting.

【Doesn't that mean Aventurine got stabbed for nothing?】

Stelle looked at Aventurine with considerable sympathy.

【Haha, if it could bring peace to the entire universe, then it would be worth it.】

Aventurine smiled,

and said casually.

Guinaifen: "Mr. Aventurine's vision suddenly became very grand."

Guinaifen: "So grand it feels strange."

Hu Tao: "Huh? The fact that Miss Xing asked this means she hasn't forgotten Miss Huang Quan."

Hu Tao: "And it seems Aventurine hasn't forgotten either."

Boothill: "Then that's strange—why is it only Brother Dan Heng and I who forgot?"

Miss Qingque: "Didn't Miss Black Swan also forget?"

March 7th: "Maybe Miss Black Swan was just pretending?"

The video continued.

After chatting with Topaz and Aventurine for a while,

Stelle and Welt began to seek out Dr. Ratio nearby for a talk.

【Finished discussing the company's opinion?】

【Then it's our turn.】

【The Society and the Genius Society are equally paying close attention to Penacony's current disaster.】

【In the end, both sides decided to reach a comprehensive cooperation, providing technical support for Penacony's reconstruction....】

【... As for the specifics, let's hear what this genius has to say.】

【It's your turn, Mr. Screwllum.】

As Dr. Ratio finished speaking,

the projection of Screwllum beside him began to appear.

【Organic life's unremitting exploration of the inner spiritual world both impresses and envious me.】

【087 Inorganic life does not have the function of dreaming.】

【But when the intelligence pulse activates and the inspiration circuit begins to operate, I enter a state defined as imagination.】

【Each time, within that imagination, a ball of fire rises from the darkness.】

【It is warm and radiant.】

【I often ponder that the flame may well be the essence of intelligence—a cluster of inspiration ignited by high temperature.】