And it just had to be Jarilo—where Godzilla and her friends were. Standing by and doing nothing? She couldn't accept that.
Jing Yuan pondered for a moment. "Yukong, have them use our name for now, try to stall for time. Miss Tingyun, the situation is urgent. I have to trouble you to make another trip. Yanqing, you go with her."
Without hesitation, Jing Yuan packed Yanqing off as well.
An opportunity to build rapport like this couldn't be missed.
...
In the middle of the heated debate, Bronya suddenly heard a "ding" from her pocket.
-------------------------------------
"Belobog's recovery is going well, wouldn't you say, Numpy?"
"Hmph~" Numpy energetically waved its little legs in response.
Topaz chuckled, patted Numpy, and her gaze gradually lifted.
A massive, mountain-like Engine of Creation stood imposingly on the ground, and even just getting close to it brought a palpable sense of pressure.
Topaz had read the files—this steel giant called the Engine of Creation was once built when Jarilo was known as a famous place for tourism and retirement in the universe. It was used for tilling wastelands.
Nowadays, this might be the only one left.
"Well, well, well, look who I've found. Director Topaz of the Interastral Peace Corporation. You're pretty well-informed, huh? Planning to retire early here?"
That flippant voice didn't even need to be seen to know it belonged to a face begging for a punch.
"And I was wondering who it was—turns out to be you, Sampo. Still alive and kicking, huh?"
Topaz froze mid-hair flip, falling silent as she looked at what was in front of her.
An old-fashioned TV, showing the image of a man named Sampo Koski, striking all sorts of bizarre poses on screen.
"Hehe, it's truly an honor to have Director Topaz visit Jarilo-VI. As the best guide here, Sampo has carefully picked out the most comfortable tour route for you. Enjoy your trip."
The voice cut off abruptly, replaced by a map pointing to a certain location.
"This guy... Looks like he's figured out my path. But what's this place he's pointing to?"
Unprovoked kindness always hides ulterior motives—Topaz wouldn't be fooled by Sampo's superficial smile.
That blue-haired guy had more tricks up his sleeve than anyone else.
"Come to think of it, there is a restricted area there."
Topaz slightly raised her head, her gaze cutting through the noisy crowd, landing on an open space guarded by the Silvermane Guards.
According to Sampo's mark, she should go underground?
As she was thinking, she suddenly noticed several Silvermane Guards walking toward her. Leading them was that young man she remembered—Gepard.
"Miss Topaz, by order of the Supreme Guardian, we are here to invite you to a meeting at Qlipoth Fort. Please come with us."
"Settled things this fast?" Topaz let out a light laugh. If things went how she hoped, that would be great. But such speed... they were probably just making one last desperate struggle.
Topaz didn't know that at the exact moment she left, Godzilla, who had been fast asleep, suddenly opened his eyes and looked upward in confusion.
"Strange... more food delivered? Gone again? Same type as the Stellaron essence?"
Meanwhile, after seeing Topaz leave with Gepard's group, a tuft of blue hair lifted the lid of a trash can in the corner, curiously watching them go.
"Strange... what's going on?"
...
At the same time, Himeko and the others called back March 7th and Stelle, who were still enjoying life, to inform them of the crisis Jarilo was facing.
"Ah! Doesn't that mean Belobog is in danger?!"
After hearing Himeko's explanation, March 7th instinctively worried for Belobog.
Seven hundred years of interest—that would be a fortune heavy enough to crush anyone.
"Even selling Pom-Pom wouldn't be enough to cover that. What are Bronya and the others planning to do?"
"Hey! I'm telling the Conductor you said that." March 7th said exasperatedly, then nervously looked at Himeko. "Himeko... you're not thinking of paying it back for Jarilo, are you?"
"I don't have that kind of money," Himeko laughed helplessly.
She looked at Stelle, who was still wrestling with the computer, trying to calculate exactly how much debt Jarilo owed. "Stelle, how's your big brother doing lately? Any interest in coming out to play?"
Hearing Himeko mention Godzilla, Star thought for a moment.
"Big bro's living it up—eating and drinking well. Probably no interest in coming out. That kind of life is hard to leave behind."
"..." Himeko was speechless, but at least the news was good.
"Do your best. Try to keep him from leaving during this time." That enormous beast would be incredibly conspicuous the moment it moved. If there was any chance to reduce the risk of being discovered, they had to take it.
Stelle didn't respond. She looked at her own thin arms and legs, then pointed at herself.
Me? Block him?
Suddenly, Himeko's phone vibrated. She opened it and looked, "Hm? Cocolia wants us to come over."
Could there be another problem with Topaz?
Although she didn't understand, Himeko didn't dare delay. She said a few words to the others and went over together.
...
While the express crew was racking their brains to avoid Godzilla being exposed, Topaz was about to enter the meeting room.
At this moment, there were only a few people in the meeting room. All the useless ones had been driven out.
"Is this really going to work? I still think letting the big guy have a go is simpler and more convenient."
Serval expressed doubt about Cocolia's method.
"This was something Yukong told me. It should work. Besides, she said they're on their way back. Using the tiger's skin to bluff for a while shouldn't be a problem."
Cocolia also felt uneasy inside, but she couldn't show it at this moment.
At the same time, she was also puzzled by the message from Yukong.
What could have caused Yukong to send that message?
Although Yukong was a high-ranking official of the Xianzhou Luofu, it was obvious she couldn't use the name of the Luofu on her own.
Which meant her superiors also agreed with what she said.
But Jarilo was just a backward planet. In the eyes of those from a highly developed civilization, people like them probably didn't even count as primitives.
Was it just because they had helped Tingyun before?
"No point thinking too much. We'll deal with whatever comes. Since Yukong said it, we'll go with it!"
At the critical moment, Bronya made the final decision.
Right now, she was the Supreme Guardian, and she should be the one in control of the situation!
As long as it was something beneficial to Belobog, she would take responsibility even if problems arose later!
Besides, she believed Yukong wouldn't set her up.
Just then, the invited Topaz slowly walked into the meeting room and sat down without the slightest sign of stage fright.
"Has Jarilo made up its mind? Repay the debt, or sign a contract with the IPC?"
After confirming with Cocolia and Serval, Bronya took a deep breath, stepped forward, and slowly spoke.
"Miss Topaz, it is only right to repay debts. We have no objections to that."
Topaz nodded slightly and chuckled, "So Jarilo intends to repay the debt? Let me calculate…"
"But our friends from the Xianzhou Luofu think the terms given by the IPC are problematic."
"Eh?"
Topaz, who had just opened her screen and was ready to give them a thorough math lesson, froze on the spot. Even the two short-legged Numpy who was going about her legs froze too.
After a moment, Topaz said a bit helplessly, "Miss Bronya, this matter is between the IPC and Jarilo."
"The Luofu thinks it's unreasonable."
"The IPC…"
"The Luofu says they'll help us recalculate."
"But this is—"
"We believe the Xianzhou Luofu wouldn't deceive Jarilo."
"I—!"