Leon listened to the broadcast, showing no reaction.
The Corporation was starting to mend the pen after the sheep were lost; this was to be expected.
The executive who died held far too high a position.
If it were only starship losses, or if some ordinary employees had died, it wouldn't have mattered.
After all, it wasn't the first time Boothill had done something like this, and everyone was used to it.
The problem was that this time, it was two Emanators of The Preservation, two P47s, and one P48—basically, three members of the Corporation's top brass had died together.
Not individually, but together.
If they had managed to suppress it, it would have been fine; no matter how big the uproar, they could have just swallowed the silent loss.
But the problem was, they couldn't suppress it!
If Herta hadn't interfered and released that short film, there might still have been room to salvage the situation.
But because of her, the Corporation's situation completely blew up.
Their headquarters was breached, and their secrets were exposed.
The damage to the Interastral Peace Corporation's reputation was simply too great.
As the leaders of The Preservation, what exactly had they preserved?
What was even more infuriating was that not only had they failed to protect anything...
But they couldn't afford to provoke either Leon or Herta.
If the situation escalated too much, to the point where they had to respond to their actions head-on, it could easily turn into an all-out declaration of war by the Corporation against the Xianzhou Alliance and the Genius Society.
Isn't that ridiculous?
And there was still a Lord Ravager of The Destruction stirring restlessly in the shadows.
If they went to war now, who could guarantee the Antimatter Legion wouldn't take advantage of the chaos and jump in?
Facing three forces at once.
Don't be ridiculous. One misstep in a real fight and the Corporation could be wiped out.
So, to avoid this, the Interastral Peace Corporation had to swallow its pride and keep quiet.
And while swallowing their pride, their main objective now was to salvage the Corporation's reputation as much as possible and quickly erase the impact Herta had caused.
They might not win a fight, but as an entity that monopolized the entire galaxy with its credit system...
Suppressing public opinion was still a piece of cake.
[Please distinguish carefully between real and fake news.]
[Next, we invite the Head of the Strategic Investment Department of the Interastral Peace Corporation, Diamond, to speak and offer some comments on this malicious incident.]
This broadcast wasn't for major factions like the Xianzhou or the Family.
Herta had already announced her own name.
Any faction with a name knew that no one would dare to casually impersonate a Genius.
These factions knew full well that everything in the previous short film was true.
But the Corporation's prestige was still there.
Even knowing they had lost two Preservation Emanators, no one dared to get any funny ideas, nor was anyone idle enough to expose the facade of this broadcast.
What the Corporation needed to do now was to stabilize the planets within its credit system.
Not everyone in this world knows about the Genius Society or the Xianzhou Alliance.
There are still many planets living in the information cocoon prepared for them by the Corporation.
These people, due to their limited perspective, didn't recognize Herta and were half-believing, half-doubting the news of the Corporation's misfortune.
At this point, a high-intensity flood of information proclaiming that the Corporation was fine could easily solve the problem.
Positions of P40 and above symbolized supreme power and profit.
If these workhorses found out that the Corporation couldn't even protect its own top brass...
Not only would the stock price plummet, but it would likely be difficult to trick these workhorses into striving to climb the ladder with a P40+ position as their goal in the future.
This broadcast by the Corporation was intended to stop the bleeding and maintain their status.
[Hello everyone, I am Diamond, Head of Strategic Investment at the Interastral Peace Corporation. I believe many of you have heard my name, and I am grateful for your support.]
Leon heard a rather familiar voice.
This was a video broadcast.
Because the Express wasn't equipped with the corresponding device, only the sound came through.
If nothing unexpected happened...
Right now, many people should be seeing the deceased Diamond appearing before their eyes.
[Honestly, I was out busy with business when someone suddenly told me I was already dead. What can I say? Isn't that a bit too disrespectful to the Corporation?]
Diamond's tone was one of helplessness.
Leon just listened to the resurrected Diamond speak, without much of a reaction.
Diamond couldn't possibly be alive; he was absolutely confident about that.
This could only be an imposter.
But it didn't matter to Leon. If the Corporation wanted to deceive itself, let it.
No matter how they disguised it, the losses couldn't be hidden.
[I can tell you all very clearly.]
Diamond's voice was normal at first.
[Diamond, Tarachu, Osvaldo—]
But after reciting the three names, the originally steady male voice suddenly changed.
[All these people are dead!]
A cheerful, girlish voice, with a tone that clearly reveled in the chaos, shouted loudly.
[Heehee, that's right, it's true, everything in that short film was real! The fact that Lady Sparkle is here now is the best proof~!]
[Perhaps the film was a bit subtle, so let Lady Sparkle reveal what really happened!]
Her voice started to become staticky; it was obvious the Corporation was trying to cut her transmission.
[A Galaxy Ranger, David Pier Point.]
But given the precautions this Masked Fool had prepared in advance, it seemed it wasn't an easy task. At least, they couldn't stop the broadcast immediately.
[He cut down three executives, two Emanators, and ten top-tier starships. Not only did he escape unscathed, but he even accomplished these feats under the gaze of the Amber Lord.]
[Lady Sparkle is not joking, there is not a single shred of fiction in the words above.]
[Heehee, this Galaxy Ranger is no ordinary Galaxy Ranger. I believe his true identity will give you all a big shock~!]
The broadcast's sound became intermittent, and Sparkle's voice fluctuated in volume.
Clearly, it was only a matter of seconds before this broadcast's transmission would be cut off.
[I know you're listening too, brave Ranger.]
[Your Memokeeper friend has run into some trouble recently. If you want to know more, then come find me. Lady Sparkle will be waiting for you at Pier Point~!]
[You'd better come quickly.]
[After all, how can a delicate girl like me stand against the Corporation? If you're late, you might just have to piece together Sparkle's corpse yourself!]
With that sentence, the broadcast was artificially terminated.
This Masked Fool named Sparkle had thrown herself into the game, casting her life aside to find the 'Elation' that brought her immense satisfaction.
But the consequences of her daring actions were also clear.
Not everyone was named Leon, capable of walking away from the Corporation's headquarters completely unharmed.
No matter how fallen the Corporation was, it wasn't something a mere 'Pathstrider' could provoke.
If Leon didn't go, Sparkle would undoubtedly face certain death.
To disregard everything about oneself just to enact one's ideals—this only ranked in the lower tier among us extreme Path followers.
The Corporation's face must be green with rage right now.
They specially invited a Fool, who not only didn't help extinguish the fire but added more fuel to it.
Making the fire burn even brighter!
Without a doubt, Sparkle's actions had utterly disgraced the Corporation.
The kind of disgrace that could never be repaired, no matter how much they tried to patch things up later.
The Corporation brought her in to cover up the fact that three executives had died, and now she had directly exposed herself, the very fig leaf the Corporation was using.
Now that everyone knows, how can they play this game?
Herta's short film was at least metaphorical. Sparkle, on the other hand, just spelled out all of the Corporation's losses in plain language.
Especially that line:
"Escaped unscathed under the gaze of the Amber Lord."
It directly pushed the Corporation into a corner with no retreat.
Being raided by a Galaxy Ranger and being raided by a Galaxy Ranger under the gaze of the Amber Lord.
It might seem like just one extra detail, but they are completely different in nature.
The latter is far more severe than the former.
If the severity index of the former is 100%, then the latter's index is off the charts!
Everyone knows the Corporation is the Amber Lord's support team.
Not only was the Corporation raided right in front of its idol, but it didn't dare to deal with the raider, and the idol didn't care. Do you know how serious it is when news like this gets out?
The stock drop would be terrifying enough to kill a man. I'm afraid more ill-fated people will be on the rooftops tonight.
Even if Sparkle exposed them, as long as that line about the Amber Lord wasn't there...
Then even with today's incident, the Corporation could still play dead and ignore Leon.
They went to so much trouble just to avoid one big problem. If it wasn't for that, they would have admitted it openly and responded head-on long ago.
They would have declared war on Leon directly.
Now, not only was all their effort for nothing, but they've also blocked their own path.
The level of humor is no less than trying to bite a lighter, not earning a single cent, and getting your account banned with a fine of over seven hundred.
After that one sentence, even if the Corporation didn't want to declare war on Leon, they had to.
The Amber Lord's nature with respect to the Corporation is what it is.
As the big brother of The Preservation, they were slapped around in front of the Amber Lord.
If word of this gets out.
The Corporation must regain some face. A fight to the death between the two has likely become a foregone conclusion.
Given the nature of these fun-loving Fools, this is probably exactly what Sparkle wanted to see.
She wasn't just seeking 'Elation' from the Corporation, but also from Leon.
Damn 'Elation' brat, I'll get you!
"Memokeeper friend?"
She used a title instead of a name, so for a moment, Leon couldn't remember who she was talking about.
Only after carefully recalling did he realize it was Black Swan.
"What, did something happen?"
He mulled over Sparkle's words.
Her tone, no matter how you heard it, sounded like Black Swan was in trouble, and if he wanted to know what kind of trouble, he had to go find her.
Black Swan was in danger.
For some reason, Leon suddenly remembered the Immaculatus that Evernight had just mentioned not long ago.
His intuition was always sharp.
If he remembered correctly, Black Swan was from the Garden of Recollection. Before she left, she said she was taking the memory bubble back to the Garden to study for a while, and then there was no news.
Leon felt it was all connected.
In the future Elio had shown him...
The Garden of Recollection wasn't a bunch of good guys either.
Pursuing the memory of a god's fall, they didn't care if the world was destroyed to achieve it.
A bloodthirsty organization.
Combined with what Evernight said, that every Immaculatus wants to kill another Immaculatus.
Amphoreus was likely their target as well.
Black Swan's trouble this time was very likely related to Amphoreus.
At least, from his time spent with her...
Black Swan's extremism didn't even rank in the lower tier; it was completely off the charts.
In other words, it was unlikely she would agree with the Garden of Recollection's plan for Amphoreus.
The point of conflict that would cause trouble likely lay right there.
"Conductor."
Leon decided to join the fun. If Sparkle was calling him, he would definitely go and see.
He had to save Amphoreus, and anyone who stood in his way was an obstacle.
Not to mention Black Swan was his friend, and the Garden of Recollection was a potential future enemy for March 7th.
Emotionally and logically, there was no reason not to go.
"This Navigator you mentioned, can they pilot the Express?"
Leon asked Pom-Pom.
"Of course, Passenger Leon."
Pom-Pom didn't know why he was asking, but it nodded anyway.
"But if you have somewhere you want to go, Passenger Leon, just tell the Conductor. I will definitely get you all to your destination safely, pa!"
Pom-Pom patted its chest, assuring him.
"No, Conductor, you don't understand. Some things, you have to experience firsthand to get the feel for it."
Leon said meaningfully.
"Then I'll leave it up to you, Passenger Leon. I'll follow you wherever you go."
Pom-Pom scratched its head, not understanding what he meant, and could only reply like this.
Leon didn't say anything more.
He knew that after he solved Black Swan's problem...
Barring any surprises, his next destination would be Amphoreus.
...
Pier Point.
Just as Leon's side decided on their course of action, the Corporation's side had just made theirs.
"Sigh, honestly, I don't get it."
A man with short golden hair, dressed in a flashy suit that made him look like a total peacock, said as he sat down in front of Sparkle.
"Why does everyone, one after another, want to provoke the Corporation?"
Aventurine sighed, completely unable to understand them.
"Well now, little peacock, you have a pair of pretty eyes. Are you from Tzigane?"
Sparkle's hands were in shackles, which showed she was already a prisoner of the Corporation.
"Want a further hint? For example, I'm an Avgin."
Aventurine didn't mind answering the question.
"Hmm~ Diamond is gone. Can you Ten Stonehearts still keep your seats warm?"
Sparkle was still smiling cheekily, her face wearing an expression that said, 'I'm happy, what can you do about it?'
"The Corporation's affairs are no concern for a Fool."
Aventurine said so, but in his heart, he was having a massive headache over it.
With their core, Diamond, gone, the Ten Stonehearts department already existed in name only.
The power and profit he had worked so hard to obtain had plummeted to rock bottom in an instant.
Who could stand that?
If it weren't for the Corporation deciding to preserve the Ten Stonehearts position as a memorial, out of respect for Diamond's extraordinary merits—the position itself didn't change, they just changed the department head to Jade.
Aventurine himself would be depressed right now.
"Oh my, no concern for a Fool?"
Sparkle laughed at this, deliberately speaking in a singsong voice.
"Then who was it that invited this Fool here to impersonate Diamond and try to calm things down?"
This was undoubtedly a naked taunt.
If the Corporation truly didn't need her concern, then why would they have specially invited her over?
"What, Fool, do you really think the Corporation doesn't dare to kill you?"
Aventurine looked at her, his words harsh.
____
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