"Uh, is it that important whether the tornado is single-target or AoE?"
Topaz didn't get it.
"It's not important to you, but it's very important to me."
Are you kidding? With the same damage multiplier, the difference between a single-target and an AoE attack could be several times over.
So you tell me, is it important?
"Alright."
Topaz didn't know what to say, so she could only comply.
"Hello, my name is Topaz."
Topaz extended her hand.
"I'm from the Interastral Peace Corporation's Strategic Investment Department, one of the Ten Stonehearts."
"Galaxy Ranger. Just call me a dreamboat."
Leon politely shook it.
"I don't need an introduction, do I?"
Boothill clicked his tongue, his eyes averting their gaze from under the brim of his hat.
"I know this is sudden, but I was wondering if you two Galaxy Rangers would be willing to form a temporary partnership with me?"
Topaz said with a nod.
"Something unexpected has happened in the Balanza system."
Topaz's expression was quite serious. "To resolve this, your power is an indispensable part of the solution!"
"That stunt our ship pulled earlier, taking off on its own... is that related to this 'unexpected event' you mentioned?"
Leon wasn't stupid; he immediately connected the dots.
"Yes. The Lord Ravager, 'Iron Tomb,' has taken control of the entire Balanza system."
Topaz confirmed his suspicion.
"That 'Enigmata Cannon' from before was fired by it."
"I'm afraid your ship was also affected by the magnetic field it's emitting, which is why you lost control and it turned on you."
Topaz explained.
"Iron Tomb?"
Boothill froze when he heard those two words.
He thought of that pompous old Intellitron.
The old geezer had a sharp tongue, but he had treated him well.
To think he'd run into the sworn enemy who wiped out its race here.
"You in?" Leon glanced at Boothill.
"Hot damn, what do you think?"
Boothill grinned.
What else was there to say? Let's do this!
If he ran into 'Iron Tomb' and didn't do anything, he wouldn't feel right—like he owed the old man something.
Even though he was always talking about being prepared for battle.
But when you actually run into trouble, if you don't act on impulse, what kind of Ranger are you?
"I hate dealing with corporate mutts, but I'll make an exception this time. Count me in for killing Iron Tomb!"
When it came to major principles, Boothill knew right from wrong.
Galaxy Rangers must not bully the weak or kill the innocent.
He knew who his enemies were—those animals in the Market Development Department were the ones he should be killing.
And even if the Market Development Department had made him see everyone in the Interastral Peace Corporation as less than human...
...he wouldn't misdirect his hatred onto others.
"Alright, let's move out!"
Hearing this, Leon nodded firmly.
"There's some bad news. It might not just be 'Iron Tomb' anymore."
Topaz decided to share the worst of the intelligence first.
"What? Is there a 'Tomb Iron' too?"
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"Have you ever heard of 'Emperor' Rupert?"
Topaz took a deep breath and asked solemnly.
"Never heard of him. Sounds like some stray dog off the street."
Leon spoke his mind freely and without reservation.
"'Emperor' Rupert? Hot damn, are you serious?"
Boothill looked incredulous, with an expression that screamed, 'You guys are playing for stakes this high?'
"'Emperor' Rupert III."
"If things have gone as expected, it should have already been catalyzed into existence with 'Iron Tomb's' help."
Topaz made it clear she wasn't joking.
"The birth of Rupert III was a complete accident."
"Just like this surprise attack from 'Iron Tomb,' no one could have predicted such a disaster was fated to happen."
Topaz sighed.
'Iron Tomb' seems to have specifically chosen its target.
No one knows how, out of all the star systems, it happened to pick Balanza—where the wreckage of the Emperor's Difference Engine lay—as its target for invasion.
"Well, I'll be. Emperor the Third... your company has really gone and caused a universe-sized disaster."
Boothill let out a whistle, showing his awe.
"Is he strong?" Leon asked, confused.
What the heck is an Emperor, and one that's inherited the title for three generations?
He'd never even heard of it, so it was hard for him not to think of it as some street mutt.
"Not strong, but the 'Anti-Organic Equation' makes it tricky."
Topaz shook her head.
Is Rupert strong? The answer is both yes and no.
Rupert is strong, but a single Emanator would be enough to handle it.
During the Emperor War, the biggest headache was the 'Anti-Organic Equation.'
That thing was on par with, if not worse than, the Swarm of The Propagation.
The most terrifying aspect of the 'Anti-Organic Equation' is that it can directly turn humanity's own weapons against them.
And we're talking about a pile of stellar-class weapons and above.
That's terrifying, bro.
"Just tell us what enemies we need to face."
Leon's attitude towards this was one of indifference.
A person truly confident in their own stats doesn't wear an expression that says, 'I should avoid a direct confrontation.'
"The entire arsenal stored on Balanza, the Antimatter Legion, and Rupert III."
Topaz laid out the three challenges they had to overcome together.
"Fortunately, at least we don't have to face a true Emanator."
If the speculation is correct, the 'Iron Tomb' that has descended here is just an equation.
It itself probably isn't very aggressive.
Although it is single-handedly responsible for all three of these problems.
But no matter what, it's still better than a true, powerful Emanator showing up.
If a real Emanator showed up, what would be the point of even trying?
We might as well just surrender and click on the lucky prize draw in the corner.
"I'll take care of Rupert III. As for the other two, I'll have to trouble you both to share the burden."
Topaz voluntarily took on the most difficult task.
With her Cornerstone, she's a demi-Emanator, stronger than the two of them, who are merely Pathstriders.
In other words, she was the strongest of the three. That being the case, who else but her could take on the task of dealing with Rupert III?
"Nope. Medium-cup, go play on the sidelines. This is a match between the large-cups."
But what Topaz didn't know was that there really was an Emanator here, ready to smash some noobs.
"You're going to kill Rupert?"
"A Galaxy Ranger stands tall when they must!"
Leon nodded.
Rupert III's current actions were clearly nothing but oppression.
Which meant it was a huge bag of EXP just waiting to be claimed! Who could resist that?
He certainly couldn't.
"That's an Emperor. Are you sure you're confident enough?"
Topaz put a hand on her hip, confirming again and again.
"Even if it's the emperor of the universe, I'll still kick its ass!"
Leon answered without a second thought.
"...Alright. I'll leave it to you."
After thinking it over, Topaz decided to entrust this heavy responsibility to him.
Compared to The Preservation, The Hunt is naturally focused on destruction, and he spoke with such confidence.
It seemed he had plenty of aces up his sleeve.
A merchant needs to be bold with their investments.
Even if the chance of not recouping the cost is high, you have to trust your instincts and act when the time is right.
"I will remember the help you two Rangers have given me today."
Topaz showed her sincerity. "The Market Development Department... I'll inform you of their whereabouts later."
Selling out her colleagues was selling out her colleagues. It wasn't as if they were good colleagues, anyway.
______
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