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—!"
-----------------------------
"Pfft! Hahaha!"
The joyful atmosphere dispelled the heavy mood in the meeting room.
Topaz, who was initially confused, immediately locked onto her target and turned to look at the two people trying hard to stifle their laughter.
"Ahem, so… how's the discussion going?"
Himeko cleared her throat twice, trying to hide the amusement in her voice.
"It's just as you're seeing right now."
Topaz was a little frustrated. She didn't doubt what Bronya said about the Xianzhou Luofu.
After all, it was because of someone from the Luofu that they discovered Jarilo-VI's recovery before the IPC did. And the IPC isn't a charity — a planet like this, full of potential, lacking background, and without military power, is just a credit-extraction center waiting to be developed in their eyes.
"Xianzhou Luofu… whatever. Since it's related to the Xianzhou, I'll report it to my superiors."Given that this involved the Luofu, one of the major forces in the universe, Topaz believed the IPC would figure things out.
Generally speaking, the major powers in the universe tend to cooperate or at least avoid interfering in each other's domains beyond their own territories.
It's not that the Luofu openly supporting a backward civilization hasn't happened before, but it's extremely rare. And even then, the supported world usually has some entanglement with the backing force or is directly one of its branches.
Jarilo… if Jarilo really had ties to the Luofu, how could it have been troubled by a Stellaron for 700 years?
Topaz enjoyed her job, but she also understood that incomprehensible tasks were a form of torture.
Unexpected incidents beyond her duties were best avoided — so, she was checking out!
"Why is this connected to the Luofu again?" March 7th felt her head spinning. This was more confusing than just staying with Godzilla. At least people around Godzilla were calm, and she could enjoy all kinds of tasty food.
Watching Godzilla munch on gems… she still wondered what those tasted like…
"Let Miss Bronya explain it to you. I won't be staying to listen."
As Topaz spoke, she picked up her Ledger and headed toward the door. She needed to report the situation here to the IPC.
And have them reassess the cooperation with the Luofu.
She didn't really mind the IPC taking a loss here. But since the Luofu caused a disruption in operations, the IPC would surely want to make up for it somewhere else.
As soon as Topaz disappeared, Stelle and March 7th couldn't wait to rush over to Bronya, staring at her with big, sparkling eyes.
"Uh, please don't look at me like that…"
Bronya was a little flustered — she wasn't good at dealing with kids.
Himeko was just about to stop them when Cocolia suddenly said, "Actually, this matter also involves you, Himeko."
Then she explained how Yukong had used the Luofu's name in this affair.
Everyone was stunned, especially Dan Heng.
He fell into deep thought.
Wait! Could it be…!
Dan Heng's eyes narrowed slightly as he quickly arrived at a highly plausible theory — the most likely explanation at the moment.
"No matter what, Jarilo is safe for now before the people from the Xianzhou arrive. Once those unreasonable interest rates are gone, as long as the planet recovers steadily, development won't be a problem."
Like Dan Heng, Himeko had also grasped the key issue.
Especially since someone from the Xianzhou had gained Godzilla's friendship — that close contact only made her more certain of her guess.
"Um…"
Just as everyone was relaxing a bit, Topaz reappeared at the door, leaning half her body in with a small smile.
"I've been on Jarilo for so long and still haven't met its true master. Before the Xianzhou and the IPC respond, could I go meet them?"
Topaz's intention was simple — she wanted to meet this mysterious, unseen major client.
So much had happened, and yet the god of Jarilo hadn't shown up once. At first, she thought there might be something wrong with them. But from Cocolia and the others' descriptions, the god was in great health and had a hearty appetite. Plus, Himeko had just returned from being by their side.
To be able to make the Xianzhou Luofu personally intervene, that deity must be quite formidable.
Naturally, such a promising potential client must be met in person.
The rest was just her curiosity.
Unfortunately, her homeland wasn't so lucky. Topaz sighed inwardly—if only a powerful Path Strider had saved her home back then, her people wouldn't have suffered so much.
No one rejected Topaz's request.
Serval went ahead to ask Godzilla's opinion.
Even Himeko was no longer worried about the IPC noticing Godzilla's uniqueness.
If Jarilo-VI fell into the IPC's hands, then a rare behemoth like Godzilla would definitely catch their attention. They'd eventually discover the peculiarity of his cells, and that would surely bring disaster.
But with the Xianzhou Luofu standing in the way, the IPC would have to consider the implications of offending Luofu before attempting a hostile takeover of Jarilo-VI. Provoking one Luofu meant facing the other five Xianzhou ships as well—no one wanted to mess with the Xianzhou Alliance.
Because their Aeon, Lan, does respond to followers.
And given Godzilla's erratic behavior, it was only a matter of time before he got exposed.
Rather than hide and avoid trouble, better to strike hard and make a bold move!
...
In a vast, bright space, a light even more radiant and scorching than the surrounding brilliance shone on Topaz.
Huge as mountains, oppressive as the sea.
Topaz felt every cell in her body screaming at her: Run!
Numpy curled up into a ball, trembling and clinging tightly to Topaz.
That light—it was none other than Godzilla's opened eye.
As for why it was just one... because Topaz wasn't even as big as a single one of his eyes, and Godzilla couldn't be bothered to open the second.
'So it's you,' Godzilla's gaze fell on Topaz—or rather, on her Topaz cornerstone.
Its tempting fragrance seemed to lure him into committing a crime.
"Uh, your deity is really... majestic and domineering!"
Topaz voiced her honest thoughts with genuine awe.
Accompanying her were Bronya and the train crew.
Cocolia went to calm those who had heard the news, so the task of escorting the visitors to meet the deity naturally fell to the current High Guardian, Bronya.
"Everyone who meets the big guy says that," Serval chuckled, the teasing on her face plain to see.
After all, Topaz's decisive and forceful attitude earlier had left a strong impression. That aggressive aura of hers—seeing her react like this now made Serval feel balanced inside.
"Hm? What is it?" Topaz looked toward the hand patting her shoulder and saw Stelle gazing at her with confusion.
Stelle pointed at herself, then pointed at Godzilla.
"He's my big brother."
"..."
"Hey! Could you stop announcing that everywhere?!"
Snapping out of it, Topaz chuckled. This gray-haired one was pretty amusing.
Suddenly, she felt something poke her collarbone.
Looking down, she saw the front end of a long tail pressing against her topaz cornerstone.