Chapter 85

Listening to the familiar muttering of the IPC employees,

March 7th recognized this group of people immediately.

[Attention all guests: The Interastral Peace Corporation will be conducting special operations in the hotel. Please follow the evacuation staff to the designated safe area, or mandatory measures will be taken!]

The IPC team leader began broadcasting the notice.

[—"Please" your big head!]

[You bunch of gluttons who never learn, I told you not to drink randomly during work hours!]

[You few, drag him away quickly and send him back to his guest room—]

[—I'll hold a meeting later to properly review how to write the incident report!]

At this moment, Topaz arrived in front of this group of IPC employees in a towering rage,

and after a fierce, head-on scolding,

she sent them all packing.

[...Miss Topaz!]

[I didn't expect to meet you in Penacony.]

Seeing this, the Astral Express crew walked up,

and March 7th couldn't help but be the first to greet Topaz.

[Long time no see, everyone from the Astral Express. I've heard about your affairs from Aventurine... Hmm?]

Topaz smiled and responded to the three,

but at this moment, a message came through her communication earpiece.

[...It's fine, just do as they ask, and try to avoid conflict with the Family...]

[Report to me before taking any action.]

[Mm. Mm, okay.]

[Sigh... As you can see, the IPC isn't very welcome in Penacony.]

[The Family's hospitality is only superficial. This former frontier prison is now turning the tables to put shackles on IPC staff.]

[Only Aventurine, who carries an invitation, is allowed to attend the grand event. We, the accompanying staff...]

0 Begging for flowers 0

[don't even have the qualifications to enter the dream, and can only stay in the real-world hotel.]

After Topaz hung up the communication,

she explained a few things to Himeko and the others with a bitter smile.

[No wonder Aventurine is looking for partners everywhere; it turns out he can't get support from the IPC in the dreamscape.]

After hearing Topaz's explanation,

Himeko was somewhat enlightened.

[I heard his situation isn't very optimistic. You are helping to investigate some... things unfavorable to the Family, right?]

[If there's anything you need outside the dreamscape, let me know anytime. The IPC never treats its partners poorly.]

Topaz said sincerely to the three.

[Thank you, Miss Topaz.]

[We were just about to ask the Bloodhounds about the case. Perhaps you have already dealt with them?]

Himeko asked Topaz about the whereabouts of the Bloodhounds.

[Look, they're following right behind. Just go find them...]

[It's perfect, help me divert their attention. Being watched all the time is too uncomfortable.]

Topaz pointed subtly to a spot not far behind her,

where two members of the Bloodhound Family were tailing them.

[By the way, Stelle.]

[How does it feel to do business with Aventurine? You must not be used to it, right?]

[That person's style is just like that. "All or nothing" is his old catchphrase.]

[He is always cozying up to people while pushing his clients to take risks with him...]

[To each their own; I won't comment further.]

[However, Aventurine's luck is indeed very good. Most of the cases he handles end successfully; he basically never loses a bet.]

[So, regarding the recovery of Penacony... I'll wait and see.]

Topaz looked at Stelle,

and suddenly started chatting about Aventurine.

[Provided the interests align.]

Stelle replied.

[Of course.]

[In a deal, what matters is which side of the table you're sitting on.]

[As for the two cases... sorry, I don't have much information on hand either.]

[I'll have to leave the details to you all to continue investigating.]

Stelle: "Sad, I can't find any traces of Firefly in reality."

March 7th: "Uh... it's normal not to find any, right?"

March 7th: "After all, Miss Firefly looks very mysterious."

Stelle: "My precious Firefly, how exactly did you enter the dreamscape?"

Firefly: "This... I..."

Silver Wolf: "Hehehe, that's obviously because we, the Stellaron Hunters, kidnapped her and forced her in!"

Stelle: "Oh, I don't believe it."

Silver Wolf: "Eh? Why don't you believe it!"

Stelle: "If you hadn't said it like that, I might have believed it, but since you said it on purpose, I don't believe it."

Silver Wolf: "Damn, what a hellish contrarian psychology!"

March 7th: "Speaking of which, Miss Topaz, so you're in Penacony too."

March 7th: "But why are those employees of yours still so silly?"

Stelle: "Could it be that they were knocked silly by my baseball bat back in Belobog?"

Stelle: "I'm not taking responsibility for that!"

Topaz: "Cough, cough... Sorry."

Topaz: "These employees of mine are truly too stupid."

Topaz: "I'll give them a super-long training session later to ensure they get a fresh start!"

March 7th: "A fresh start? Sounds like those employees are going to be miserable again."

Furina: "Are IPC employees always like this?"

Furina: "The equipment they're wearing looks quite impressive!"

Hu Tao: "To be fully armed just to go out on a mission!"

Hu Tao: "Is their casualty rate very high? I feel like these are all potential clients for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"

Hu Tao: "When the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor expands into the universe, perhaps I can offer some customized packages for IPC employees?"

Hu Tao: "For example, 50% off for a group of a hundred, plus a luxury funeral service?"

Lumine: "..."

Paimon: "Hu Tao... maybe you shouldn't say that..."

Topaz: "This Miss Hu Tao... what you're saying... IPC employees probably don't need it yet..."

Topaz: "However... the universe is so big, there's always a need for it. This is indeed a business opportunity."

Topaz: "If you're interested, you can come find me. I'll help you research how to promote your Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's business into the universe."

Hu Tao: "Oh my, that's great! Then thank you, Miss Topaz!"

Topaz: "Miss Hu Tao, don't mention it. It's just a small favor, let's consider it making a friend."

Xingqiu: "Good heavens... with Miss Topaz's help, won't Hall Master Hu's Wangsheng Funeral Parlor really be able to flourish in the universe?"

Lumine: "Too weird, it's just too weird!"

Venti: "Ehe, if it really happens, wouldn't Consultant Zhongli also become wealthy?"