Pier Point, Interastral Peace Corporation Headquarters.
Topaz stepped out of the elevator and entered Jade's private office. Aventurine had already arrived ahead of her, seated by the tea table and enjoying fine wine brought back from Penacony.
Jade stood behind the wide office desk, gazing outward. The massive floor-to-ceiling window before her was like an invisible barrier.
Topaz looked at Jade's back and the reflection on the glass, then spoke softly. "Did you call us here because the company has made some important decision? Or is there a new market waiting to be developed?"
Hearing her voice, Jade turned around. The wide black hat on her head only made her smile seem more mysterious.
"Seems like little Jelena is in high spirits. Now sit." Jade returned to her chair, her hands draped in gauze resting together on the desk, her expression utterly relaxed.
Aventurine shook his head. "Why bother asking? Didn't we just marvel, during that influencer's livestream, at the Curio capable of bending time itself, and at that fleeting Aeon's gaze?"
He crossed his legs, stretching one arm casually across the backrest of the sofa. Taking a sip of his wine, Aventurine knew well—if something required members of the Ten Stonehearts to work overtime, there was absolutely nothing else in the universe it could be.
Topaz wasn't surprised either. What she had said before was merely polite small talk.
She voiced her thoughts. "The company made a decision this quickly? Trying to draw that shop owner into the corporation, on Xianzhou territory no less, won't be any easier than snatching food from a tiger's jaws."
"Indeed, the Xianzhou Alliance is without question one of the universe's greatest powers." Jade chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "But the board has no intention of going to war with Xianzhou. Our corporation has always abided by cosmic law. Xianzhou has no grounds to stop us from engaging in legitimate business with a shop, wouldn't you agree?"
Topaz nodded. As one of the corporation's most vital departments, the Strategic Investment Department prided itself on being second to none in financial maneuvering—no one dared to claim first place.
And then there was Jade, the boss of Bonajade Pawnshop.
To reap profit from human desire, ultimately gaining control over the person—no one understood this art better than her.
"But if that's the case, why summon the two of us here? Aren't you already the best candidate for this job?" Aventurine set down his glass, raising the question.
This was unlike Penacony. Back then, in order for the company's fleet to forcefully intervene, Aventurine had risked much to cooperate with the other two.
But if only business tactics were needed, then surely there was no need for all three of them to move together.
Jade shook her head.
"This deal is different from the rest. From the perspective of commercial warfare, our target is hardly formidable. Yet the strength of his Curios has made the higher-ups wary. To seize this opportunity, the company has chosen a two-pronged strategy. If we can control that shop owner, all the better. If not, then we must establish a long-term partnership, to ensure the Xianzhou Alliance doesn't monopolize him."
Topaz and Aventurine nodded together—this was exactly their concern. In the history of the Strategic Investment Department, there had never been a target this small. Just a single shop, yet it required three Ten Stonehearts to handle. And yet, it felt anything but excessive.
"Heh, don't be so tense. After all, our opponent is just one man. Especially with you, Aventurine—luck has always been your strongest weapon. Who knows, maybe we'll even roll a Curio that shakes the entire cosmos?"
Aventurine nodded, confident. Luck was indeed the one thing he trusted above all. "I'm very much looking forward to it."
"And for now? We're taking no action?" Topaz asked. After all, in just a single day, Xianzhou had already acquired such a powerful Curio—something that could traverse time and rewrite history!
By the time they reached Xianzhou, who could say what other treasures might already have been claimed? The shop might even be sold out.
Jade nodded. "That's why we must act quickly. The Xianzhou branch has already begun their plan: buy out every single Curio Trash Can in one sweep."
"I recall there's a purchase limit there, no?" Aventurine asked.
"Of course." Jade gave a straightforward answer, then smiled faintly, lips curving into a sly arc. "Each person is limited to ten. Troublesome, yes—but don't we have plenty of employees stationed in Xianzhou? The company has decided: every branch employee will be issued a ten-million Credit low-interest loan, earmarked solely for this purpose."
"In two system hours, the Credits will hit their accounts. A hundred company employees will flood into that little shop and buy out every Curio Trash Can. Afterwards, the loans will be repaid—in Curios, naturally."
Topaz and Aventurine's eyes widened. Such a method?
Yet, indeed, it was a brilliant one.
They knew General Jing Yuan was away on business, which would inevitably slow Xianzhou Luofu's administrative efficiency. Taking advantage of this moment to sweep up all the Trash Cans on their turf would leave Xianzhou humiliated in their own domain.
As the saying went, this strike would be swift, ruthless, and unstoppable.
And it just so happened to exploit the loophole left by Jing Yuan's absence. Even if Master Diviner of the Divination Commission schemed tirelessly, juggling both the Divination Commission and the Seat of Divine Foresight, she was surely already stretched to her limits.
When timing aligns with heaven and earth, even fortune itself lends strength. One side scheming with full intent, the other in disarray—perhaps just this single move would be enough to bring Xianzhou to its knees, deciding the victory in this Curio struggle outright!
If they obtained even a few Curios like [Zafkiel's Sixth Bullet - Vav], from that day on the Xianzhou Alliance would have no choice but to bow before the Interastral Peace Corporation. From there, they could press the advantage and seize control of Xianzhou's economy.
If they failed, Xianzhou would still suffer heavy losses.
And if they succeeded—the company would truly become the greatest power in the cosmos!
The three exchanged glances. This might well be the smallest, yet also the greatest venture in the history of the Strategic Investment Department.
Should they succeed, their names would be carved into the strongest pillars of Central Starskiff Haven, celebrated by the entire world.
They cared little for fame—but such an ambitious scheme stirred storms of passion deep within their hearts.
Meanwhile, in far-off Xianzhou Luofu, Fu Xuan, Feixiao, and Jing Yuan remained wholly unaware of the crashing tide the company was already sending against their starship sailing through the vast cosmos.
…
At the Seat of Divine Foresight.
"How can this be? Something man-made, reaching the level of an Aeon?" Feixiao's eyes were full of disbelief.
Though young, she had always fought on the front lines, facing countless enemies and witnessing abilities beyond number.
But never had she heard of anything that could nullify any Path's power without exception.
The Paths were the foundation of cultivation for all beings in the universe. If such an ability truly existed, would that not make its wielder unmatched beneath the Aeons?
What was worse—it could only be destroyed by the conceptual strike of an Aeon.
This had already surpassed the realm of the Paths, becoming a unique power with no definition yet possible.
Humble as ever, Feixiao styled herself the 'Lacking General' of which "lacking in worries, regrets, and rivals". Yet even she would not claim victory against one wielding such a Curio.
Jing Yuan gave no comment, but his gaze betrayed doubt.
"Once refined, it does negate all Path powers—but the user themselves can never again tread upon a Path," Fu Xuan continued. "The young man named Sylvester once said that the essence of this Curio is the power of denial. There will always be those who descend into obsession, clinging so tightly to ideals that they themselves draw calamity, even threatening the safety of the cosmos itself. This Curio was born to correct such flaws. In other words—it is the will of the universe itself that forged it!"
"There shouldn't be such a thing…"
This time, even Jing Yuan found himself astonished.
Feixiao glanced at him, her expression turning solemn.
An ideal twisted into obsession…
How could she not think of the Calamity of Abundance, of the Abhorrent Abundance Dragon birthed by forbidden arts? If such a Curio had existed then, would that monstrosity have been slain at the very moment of its birth? Would Yingxing and the Reignbow Arbiter…
No—even earlier. If someone had wielded this Curio during the Borisin Invasion, Xianzhou would surely have claimed a resounding victory, celebrated across the stars.
Baiheng would not have perished. The High-Cloud Quintet would still be the most dazzling force in Luofu, not a tragic tale of sacrifice.
Feixiao exhaled softly, realizing her own path was no less tinged with madness.
Moon Rage was like a curse, haunting her since birth. Only by abandoning the will to kill could she keep it somewhat in check. Yet her hatred for the Borisin remained unavenged. Until every Borisin was slain, she would never lay down her blade.
Perhaps the Quintet's past would one day become her future.
She lowered her gaze to the Curio on the table—[Imagine Breaker]. For the first time, she felt a strange sense of kinship with it.
Maybe… if her Moon Rage truly had no cure, then someday, this object might be the one to save her.
Fu Xuan could see the general had already grasped the weight of [Imagine Breaker]. She pressed her advantage.
"General Jing Yuan, General Feixiao—we must act quickly. If that shop produces another Curio of this level, Xianzhou will face pressure from the entire cosmos. They will not stand by and let us monopolize such power."
"Incredible." Even the famously shrewd General of the Seat of Divine Foresight, Jing Yuan, could only let out such a sigh.
He harbored deep suspicion—that perhaps this Curio was nothing but a hollow trinket, a fabrication by the shop owner to achieve some hidden aim.
He wanted to say so, but knew it was all but impossible.
[Zafkiel's Sixth Bullet - Vav] was real. Why would [Imagine Breaker] be fake? Just because it was stronger?
Absurd. Neither was something any ordinary being could produce.
"Hmm…" Jing Yuan exhaled slowly. Fu Xuan had done the right thing. Thankfully, she had not made this Curio public.
Otherwise, Luofu would have become the target of the entire universe.
And that shop owner—just what sort of extraordinary being was he?
To possess Curios that only Aeons could destroy—could he truly be an Aeon incarnate, descending to walk among mortals?
But what Aeon would be so bored? Surely it would not be Aha THEMSELVES…