"[Elation]? [Destruction]?"
"Mask of Fools? Annihilation Gang?"
It was unimaginable that Afrit would dare to publicly fabricate and frame Adrian for assassinating the Company's director in his declaration against [Eternity].
This wasn't just framing—it was an attempt to nail the [Eternity Church] to the pillar of shame across the cosmos!
Faced with such blatant provocation, other factions might simply ignore it, but the Church was different, friend—ever heard of the title "Best Ally of the Xianzhou Alliance"?
Ah, might as well use that alliance jade talisman they gave us... Let Afrit die with some dignity.
Topaz was still trying to calm the two of them down, but before she could speak, Blake replied, "I'm terrifyingly calm right now, Lady Topaz."
He still wore a smile, but no matter how she looked at it, that smile carried a hint of horror.
A mere declaration of war from the [Annihilation Gang] alone wouldn't enrage the two [Emanators of Eternity]—but... but every time, the [Mask of Fools] had to stick their noses in!
Blake could understand seeking amusement; he did it often himself, like periodically shipping Church-specialty soaps to the [Tavern].
But... these Masked Fools couldn't take their fun to Adrian's head, could they? That was crossing a line!
"What are the embers of Netherfire... that they dare touch [Eternity]?"
Freesna's voice was flat and even, her pointed ears on either side vibrating at high frequency, her originally emerald, gem-like pupils turning pitch black.
"In three days, the vermin shall know—" She suddenly yanked out a lock of silver hair, and with it, the last trace of green vanished from her eyes.
"What a true... [Eternal Funeral Rite] is."
When [Eternity] no longer sang of long, magnificent cycles, but became a countdown to annihilation... Who would've thought? This was Freesna's true terror, unmasked and unleashed!
"Hey, you—don't go full edgelord right now."
An untimely voice interrupted Freesna, and her lips visibly drooped.
Blake held up a bar of soap. If she was getting riled up over an ant's antics, then maybe someone else should take her place as Church priest.
The most bewildered had to be Topaz. At this moment, she finally understood why everyone said the thought processes of [Emanators of Eternity] were so hard to fathom—this was beyond anyone's grasp.
"The plan is clear: You head to the [Annihilation Gang] and give that fire ant a lesson... I'll go deliver some specialties to the [Tavern]."
And so, the two [Emanators of Eternity] embarked on a spur-of-the-moment trip.
...
After Blake and Freesna left, Topaz received a call from her Stoneheart colleague—Aventurine.
"Yo, lucky you—botching a project like that and your rank doesn't budge. Looks like the old folks upstairs are taking good care of you..."
As expected of the Company; internal news spread like wildfire.
"This time, it had nothing to do with the higher-ups. The incident involves classified matters—Jarilo-VI has been unilaterally contracted by the [Eternity Church]."
Aventurine had figured Topaz's position would drop at least a grade, but now it involved the Eternity Church...
Mm, looks like the Jarilo-VI debt was more exciting than he'd imagined.
"The Eternity Church? Ah... Running into the second-craziest faction in the cosmos—I'm almost feeling sorry for you."
Even the [Genius Society] might not match the [Eternity Church]'s madness. Those priests would do anything to enact the purest eternity in their hearts.
As for the craziest? That had to be the [Antimatter Legion], of course.
"I told you early on, the Jarilo-VI case screamed trouble from a mile away, and it wouldn't squeeze out much profit anyway. Why get involved?"
"In our line of work, you can't be too kind-hearted, or the path ahead will only narrow..."
Topaz's mouth twitched. Should've just handed this task off to him. "...Anything else? I'm hanging up."
"Whoa, don't hang! You're really not in the mood for chit-chat, huh? Fine, then let's talk something you'll actually be interested in. While you were playing friends on Jarilo-VI, [Diamond] locked in the bigwig from the Construction Materials Logistics Department."
"That's why they skipped today's roundtable."
"Taylor Vahn?"
There was a hint of delight in Aventurine's voice as he replied:
"Yeah, the renowned Taylor Vahn—one of the Seven Board Directors! His vote's finally coming our way—get it? Ours... not the Market Development Department. This time, Oswaldo's got nothing to laugh about!"
"Oh, almost forgot... He's still not awake. What's there to laugh or not?"
"But... Topaz, [Diamond]'s a benefactor to both of us. On such an important day, pulling a stunt like this leaves the Strategic Investment Department in a bit of an awkward spot, doesn't it?"
"Since you get that, let's cut to the chase: I'm in Pier Point right now, with a massive deal on the table for the whole department. This trip's missing a reliable project manager... Friend, it has to be you!"
"Interesting—what case has you learning the word [cooperation]?" Topaz stroked Numby's head, genuinely surprised.
"What else? Penacony, obviously."
Topaz's mind cleared in an instant. "...What?"
"Yep~ That's the reaction I like."
"[Diamond] picked you in the end? I thought it'd be [Oberon]... or [Draconite]... That deal needs at least a P46 to handle."
"Who knows? The Family's folks all have heads that aren't quite right. Doing business with them? Fat chance."
"But the Company's got more than just [transactions] in its toolkit. That's when types like me step up, right? So, how about it—a once-in-a-lifetime shot. Consider it; might even redeem that slip-up of yours."
...
Cough cough cough!
In the Goethe Hotel, a fit of violent coughing echoed. Adrian patted Silver Wolf's back.
"How do you even choke on a sip of water?"
Adrian handed her a cup of milk tea. "Here, have some milk tea to soothe it."
"You're serious????" Silver Wolf stared in utter disbelief, but the point wasn't the choking or the milk tea!
"Hey, look at this!" Silver Wolf shoved her phone in Adrian's face. "When did you go to Pier Point? And beat up their director!"
Adrian: ...
"Miss Silver Wolf, am I that kind of person in your eyes?"
She didn't even question if it was real or fake—straight-up assuming it was him!
"Come on... You're an [Emanator of Eternity]! In this day and age, is there anything an Emanator can't do?"
For certain reasons, Silver Wolf had always viewed [Emanators of Eternity] through rose-tinted glasses, all thanks to the shock Blake had given her.
The Church played for keeps—when they said they'd act, they really did!
Sigh~ These days, the quality of [Emanators of Eternity] was abysmal. Setting aside her own plan to graffiti punk-load patterns on Ite's statue, wasn't Blake at fault too?
All things considered, it wasn't strange at all for Silver Wolf to peg Adrian as the culprit behind the assault on Oswaldo Schneider! After all, [Eternity] was all about action.
No matter what, if the Church was gearing up to fight the Annihilation Gang, Silver Wolf was 100% rooting for the latter! Fight, fight—she wanted to see rivers of blood!