: So ruthless! Damn, this old woman!
: It's over; the market will be completely under her control!
------------------------------------
: Only a small shift in perspective, and Jade's impression changed completely!
: So far, Jade has only appeared for a short while, yet she left such a deep impression.
: So warm to her own people, yet extremely ruthless to outsiders, hiss, her character is so well fleshed out!
: I just hope she doesn't bully Firefly! If you bully Firefly, she'll set the ocean ablaze, you know.
...
These three scenes firmly established Jade's methods.
Not only did the audience understand the meaning behind Jade's "pawnshop."
Firefly also understood it completely.
But at this moment,
"Sometimes, pawning something can bring immediate profit."
"And patience happens to be one of my greatest strengths. So now, do you understand what you must give up, Miss Samuel? Or should I address you as..."
Jade, as if she had known everything from the start, slowly said: "AR-26710, a remnant of Glamoth's Iron Cavalry?"
Firefly's expression remained unchanged, instead letting out a relieved smile: "…I'm not surprised."
"You are much calmer than I expected. Entropy Loss Syndrome... truly an unjust misfortune, isn't it?"
Jade feigned a sigh, then revealed the information she had on hand.
And the audience also learned the true crisis Firefly was facing.
"The higher-ups in Glamoth implemented such a "fail-safe" within the genes of their warriors, just to make sure the Republic's most powerful weapons wouldn't fall into the wrong hands."
"As for the price... Heh. Those Iron Cavalries weren't seen as independent "humans," so there wasn't really a price to be paid."
"However, you are different. You're now a Stellaron Hunter, a living being named Firefly. Naturally, you want to continue your existence,"
"But with the Firmament Front gone, the people who know the secret and can cure the
disease are nowhere to be found."
After Jade finished speaking, Firefly raised her head, her gaze calm as she asked: "Are you suggesting that the IPC has a remedy?"
"It's not entirely hopeless."
Jade nodded slightly: "I can only say so much."
"I see…"
Firefly instantly understood, and said with some dejection: "I see. It's no wonder you said I can't provide anything of equal value, because nothing I own holds any meaning..."
...
: So that's how it is, as expected! Those strange markings on SAM's face must be symptoms of Entropy Loss Syndrome!
: Glamoth really treats people like trash!
: Firefly and the others were completely treated as tools, their very genes poisoned!
: Even Elio can't solve this genetic issue?
: Damn! I really feel sorry for Firefly! That stupid country deserved to be destroyed!
: So that's why Jade said Firefly had no qualifications for an equal exchange, because for Firefly, staying alive already means everything…
: Elio, where's the "hope for life" you wrote into the script?! This is it? Just the IPC bastards giving false promises?
: I get it now, Firefly will burn her life in the final battle, then,
: Shut up with the spoilers already!
...
The audience was outraged.
The negotiation continued.
Firefly seemed to have realized what Jade wanted.
"So, you're going to ask me to personally restrain my partners to ensure my own survival."
Firefly spoke with a trace of danger in her eyes.
After thinking it over, in her position, the only bargaining chip she had of equal value…
Might be betraying the Stellaron Hunters, bringing value to the IPC.
But Jade ignored Firefly's gaze and shook her head: "Unfortunately, that's not quite the case."
Then she suddenly changed the topic strangely to the Stellaron Hunters.
"Partners... a nice way to put it. Now, I'm even more curious about the Stellaron Hunters. Each of you has your own identity and a special bond with each other. It's strong and intimate, and yet it allows for independence."
"Just as the Ten Stonehearts follow Diamond, you follow your own leader. I wonder what they are like, and if all Stellaron Hunters are like you..."
"Traveling on the Path of Finality but struggling against your destiny, attempting to move in the opposite direction?"
Finally, Jade confirmed the Path of Finality with her own words.
From pawnshop dealings to this sudden topic, the audience widened their eyes, afraid to miss a single detail.
Jade then extended an invitation: "I really hope that one day, all of you will come and visit my pawnshop. I'll be waiting patiently for that day."
Firefly reacted quickly.
She narrowed her eyes slightly and asked in return: "Can I see this as an invitation from Diamond to the Stellaron Hunters while keeping the IPC in the dark?"
The development suddenly became strange.
The quick-thinking audience had already figured it out by now.
From the very start, the Stellaron Hunters and Jade almost seemed to be… on the same side.
"Consider it more of a personal offer from myself. It doesn't represent the IPC or the Strategic Investment Department."
Her words were subtle, but Firefly understood instantly.
She even had a sudden realization, why her script had described this encounter so vaguely.
"The Stellaron Hunters have interacted with the IPC, but not the Ten Stonehearts... Our paths have never crossed. As for your offer, I can pass it along to my partners, but I have a question..."
Firefly crossed her arms and said bluntly: "You know who I am, and you must know that my partner (Silver Wolf) is keeping an eye on this room. If she wanted to, she could let the entirety of Pier Point know about it within a few mere seconds."
By "deal with," she did not mean normal dealings.
The Stellaron Hunters were universally wanted, and The IPC had played a big part in that.
The two sides were in open hostility, that much was clear.
Jade also knew this.
Firefly's words were not a threat, but a statement of fact. That genius hacker capable of altering reality itself might already have recorded everything that had just happened.
Once played at Pier Point, she, Jade, who came by herself, would be sure to be under fire by almost all the other departments.
"What drives you to take such a risk and extend this invitation on behalf of Diamond, even if it could lead to your downfall?"
Firefly asked after finishing.
The barrage had already started to go crazy with discussions.
...
: Finally figured out the cause and effect! Turns out this is Elio and Diamond's long-distance connection.
: I knew it, no wonder both of them had such clear goals for coming here, looks like an open secret.
: Firefly's performance was beyond my expectations, it seems all our previous worries about Firefly were unnecessary!
: After all, she's an old veteran of Glamoth. She understood all the implications behind Jade's words and immediately identified that the mastermind behind Jade's negotiations was Diamond!
: Firefly is so smart!
: So Jade and the Strategic Investment Department are risking their entire future just to contact the Stellaron Hunters. There must be a huge conspiracy!
: It depends on whether Jade is willing to reveal that reason.
...
The meaning of this inexplicable pawnshop scene was now crystal clear.
Jade knew she would meet Stellaron Hunter Firefly here and used the excuse of the pawnshop to contact her.
Firefly, on the other hand, based on what was described in her script, came to find the pawnshop, and thus naturally, they met.
Behind these two people, one was the big shot of the Strategic Investment Department, Diamond.
The other was the mastermind of the Stellaron Hunters, Elio.
Is Preservation trying to hook up with Finality?
It was hard for the audience to imagine.
For a IPC executive, what could possibly require such a move?
"Simply put... you and I are the 'same.'"
Jade spoke deeply meaningful words, then continued: "However, unlike you Stellaron Hunters or the Astral Express, we band together... merely to obtain what we want."
At the same time as she spoke, nine silhouettes appeared behind Jade, displayed like murals on the screen.
Apart from Jade, only Topaz and Aventurine's silhouettes were recognizable.
"Each of us has our own past and destined ends. And on this journey, we have been invited by Diamond to join him."
"And on a part of that road, we received an invitation from 'Diamond' to travel with him."
"This journey could be either brief or long, as each of us carries a void (ambition) in our hearts that can only be filled from the outside."
"So, Diamond made us a promise. To divide the power of the Emanator of Preservation into ten pieces and give each of us a 'Cornerstone' to fill that void."
"Mortal flesh is fragile, yet my heart is unyielding like the monolith. For without this resolve, the way of Preservation would fade into oblivion."
Jade still spreading her arms, smiled: "So, you understand? This pledge goes beyond a mere oath. It's our collateral in exchange for opportunities, wealth, survival, and a future..."
"And whatever we gain from it will fortify the Stonehearts in return, allowing us to achieve the great cause of the Preservation (Diamond) when the war among the Aeons eventually comes."
This short speech contained an overwhelming amount of information.
The War of Aeons.
This was the audience's first formal introduction to this term.
Previously, it had only been vaguely mentioned.
Elio, Sam, and the Disaster swarm…
Everyone seemed to be preparing for something.
Just as everyone was thrilled beyond measure, eager for more information, Firefly simply nodded: "...I understand."
"Take your time, child. You don't need to give me an immediate answer. Like I said, patience is one of my greatest strengths."
Jade smiled as she bid Firefly farewell.
"If fate turns that page, our paths will cross again."
"It's a shame, though, that this pawnshop can't give me what I desire. My last attempt in Penacony... Well, it ends with 'hope.'"
Firefly shook her head in disappointment, then, with the understanding of everything, left the place.
But the audience was already going crazy!
...
: What! Firefly, what do you understand? Speak up!! Why are you starting to act like Elio, speaking in riddles!
: This, this is Firefly inheriting Kafka's riddle-solver habits.
: Can only say, Firefly has her reasons for joining the Stellaron Hunters…
: Firefly: "I understand." (tactical nod) Us: ????
: Riddle people, get out of Penacony!
...
After complaining about the riddles, the frantic audience had no choice but to use their own little brains to figure out the meaning of this highly informative dialogue.
...
: So, from the start, the pawnshop was just a front? Diamond used this opportunity to send a message to Elio?
: No, it's more like a two-way initiative; Elio even mentioned it briefly in Firefly's script.
: Looks like Diamond's way of investing really matches his identity, investing in the Ten Stonehearts, then expecting a huge return from the Stone Heart's industrial output.
: From a certain angle, this approach is quite similar to Jade's pawnshop trick.
: The so-called War of Aeons… maybe the big shots know something, and perhaps the situation doesn't look good for Diamond? That's why he wants to negotiate with the Stellaron Hunters?
: The IPC is a giant now. What kind of situation could possibly worry Diamond? I don't think it's that bad.
: But the thing is, no matter how this War of Aeons plays out, camps can be divided directly because the Aeons follow their Paths.
: From what it looks like now, one of the villains is definitely Destruction. There are so many Aeons in the universe; wouldn't it be easy to just fight against destruction?
: Don't say that, really, don't say that…
: With the current buildup, I feel like the next big plot might be quite extraordinary?
: With such an explosive epilogue, can it even be called an epilogue? The hidden period feels so full of special emotions!
...
The news of the War of the Gods.
The live chat was boiling with heated discussions.
On screen.
The storyline about Jade was finally concluded.
After a long stretch of dense information and tense, piercing drama.
Things finally became much more relaxed.
The perspective shifted to the Trailblazer.
After learning about becoming a shareholder of Penacony, Stelle stood in front of the Reverie Hotel's main lobby.
She fully showcased her street-smart personality.
In one phrase: listening, feeling, thinking, fishing, playing cards, and bird-watching.
In the meantime, many ridiculous yet hilarious events occurred.
For example, Stelle accidentally wandered into Jade's pawnshop.
With her unruly personality, the moment she opened her mouth, it was something unusual.
"I want to make Nanook bow down to me!"
Stelle put her hands on her hips and loudly declared her wish.
Hearing this sentence.
The viewers, who were drinking water and resting, immediately spat it out with a "pfft."
And Ms. Jade had a very dark sense of humor.
Without even blinking, she named the price Stelle had to pay.
She wanted the tail of a certain creature.
A creature that stood on two legs, with black fur, a round head, long ears, omnivorous, emotionally unstable, and able to speak human language.
Who else could it be?
Naturally, it was Pom-Pom.
Clearly, Jade knew Stelle's identity from the start.
After that humorous exchange, Stelle left awkwardly.
Later, she encountered Argenti and Boothill as well.
After a series of lighthearted and funny moments, the epilogue finally came to an end.