Topaz sought out Svarog with her own plans in mind.
"You bear the company's insignia on your chest. You are from the Interastral Peace Corporation."
"Why are you here?"
The mechanical voice echoed coldly.
Topaz smiled.
"Interesting. Talking to you saves a lot of unnecessary formalities."
"Jarilo-VI—the planet beneath your feet—will soon become company property."
"No one can change that outcome."
"Not you. Not the Supreme Guardian. Not any force in the galaxy."
She turned, gazing into the distance as if already admiring her future asset.
"But right now, I need to consider something important."
"I'm responsible for this project. I need the board to see Jarilo-VI's long-term value."
"Only if they recognize its potential will they invest more resources."
"That's how Belobog secures a future."
"And, of course, it improves my performance as well."
"In this matter, we're all on the same ship."
"So I need your cooperation."
Svarog processed her words.
The conclusion: mutual benefit.
Topaz wanted long-term development for Jarilo-VI—
And in return, she gained career advancement.
But the key condition was proving the planet's value to the IPC.
"How do you intend to persuade the leadership?" Svarog asked.
Topaz spread her hands confidently.
"I hold the source code that can grant full control over all of Belobog's mechanical systems."
"And you should know this—"
"There's a massive weapons factory in the Underworld."
"It contains enough dormant war machines to crush an entire vanguard army."
"I need you to help me locate it."
"The manufacturing capability will be my bargaining chip."
"Enough about those machines!"
A voice cut in sharply.
Seele stormed in, furious.
"Seven hundred years ago, the IPC left behind machines and blueprints—then just left!"
"They never taught anyone how to use them!"
"Not a single one was used in battle!"
"It was the Architects—their flesh, their will, and their wisdom—that fought the enemies!"
Topaz blinked in surprise.
"You're saying none of them were used against the Antimatter Legion?"
Svarog confirmed calmly:
"That is correct."
Seele crossed her arms.
"Bronya sent you messages. You didn't respond."
"So I came to get you myself."
Topaz checked her device—
Ten unread messages.
"…She made a decision already?"
That was fast.
"Come to Qlipoth Fort," Seele said confidently. "She's waiting."
Topaz narrowed her eyes.
Something felt… off.
That confidence—
It didn't look like someone about to surrender their future.
"Did Bronya find a way to repay the debt?"
"…Impossible."
Still—
She followed.
Qlipoth Fort
The moment Topaz entered the hall—
She froze.
There were only three people.
Bronya.
Seele.
And—
A man sitting in the Supreme Guardian's seat.
Topaz immediately understood.
This wasn't Bronya calling her.
It was him.
"Supreme Guardian… who is this?"
She remained composed.
After all—
The IPC's name carried weight across the universe.
Few dared oppose it.
And as one of the Ten Stonehearts, Topaz held significant authority.
On underdeveloped worlds—
People like her were practically seen as saviors.
Chat — IPC Side
Topaz shivered.
"…This mindset is dangerous."
"Do you think future me might try to leverage the company's authority and offend him?"
Aventurine chuckled.
"I doubt you'd lose your composure like that."
Jade sighed.
"We know how terrifying he is."
"But future us doesn't."
"I understand your fear… but you'll probably stick to negotiation."
Back to the Hall
"Miss Topaz, this is Aerin," Bronya introduced politely.
"He's from a planet called Teyvat."
"He asked me to invite you here to discuss Belobog's debt."
"Teyvat?"
Topaz frowned.
No record.
Not in news. Not in archives. Nowhere.
"…Never heard of it."
Aerin leaned back lazily.
"The universe is vast."
"Beyond galaxies lie countless star clusters."
"To it, planets are just grains of sand."
"It's normal that you don't know."
Topaz's expression sharpened.
"You're saying… you're not from this galaxy?"
Aerin didn't answer directly.
"That's irrelevant."
"I'll be direct."
"I've purchased Jarilo-VI."
"From now on, everything here belongs to me."
"I called you here for one reason—"
"To settle the debt with the IPC."
"…Repay the debt?"
Topaz stared at him.
"You bought the planet… and you're paying everything off?"
"Of course," Aerin said lightly.
"A debt must be repaid."
"Every last Credit."
"Wait."
Topaz raised a hand.
"Let me process this."
"That's an astronomical number."
"Are you sure you can afford it?"
She didn't believe him.
She had seen too many worlds destroyed by Stellarons.
Even if the crisis was resolved—
Most still fell eventually.
Jarilo-VI was no exception.
Without external help—
Its fate was destruction.
"I don't really understand money," Aerin said casually.
"But I will pay everything."
"Principal and interest."
He stood and walked toward her.
"As for Jarilo-VI's future—"
"That's no longer your concern."
Topaz fell silent.
Then smiled again.
"If you can truly repay it…"
"The IPC will withdraw."
"That's all I'm here for."
Aerin tossed her a card.
She caught it instinctively.
"What is this?"
"It contains enough Credits."
"Transfer it yourself."
"…You're serious?"
Bronya and Seele stared at the card.
"Does it really hold that much…?" Bronya whispered.
Topaz hesitated.
"…The problem is…"
"She doesn't have equipment capable of processing that amount," Aerin said calmly.
"No one expected Belobog to repay the debt."
"And a transaction of that scale…"
"Most devices can't handle it."
Topaz's face flushed red.
Seele suddenly realized.
"No wonder she was so confident earlier."
"She never expected us to repay it at all."
"…Because we couldn't," Bronya sighed.
The IPC never wanted money.
They wanted Belobog's future.
"Then that's your problem now," Seele said bluntly.
"Go back and bring proper equipment."
But Aerin stopped her.
"No need."
"Too troublesome."
"Rumors might spread."
"Let's settle it cleanly."
He took out three bracelets.
Handed one to each of them.
"You travel the universe often…"
"But you're still just ordinary humans."
"You can't survive in space without equipment."
"Put these on."
"I'll take you somewhere."
They exchanged glances.
Ordinary humans?
Then what was he?
Cyborg? Enhanced human?
Topaz asked carefully:
"…Where are we going?"
"To get something."
"Credits are too troublesome."
The next moment—
The world flickered.
And they appeared in space.
Before them—
Jarilo-VI.
A massive white planet.
"…That's… Jarilo-VI?" Topaz whispered.
"Our… planet?" Bronya and Seele were stunned.
It was their first time seeing it like this.
Then realization hit—
"We're… in space?!"
Fear surged.
Both of them instinctively grabbed Aerin's arm.
"What… are you?" Topaz trembled.
Aerin raised his hand—
And pointed into the distance.
"Gold is still a universal hard currency."
"That planet over there—"
"A golden one."
"It's made entirely of pure gold."
"I'll take you there to verify it."
"It has no magnetic field, no gravity—just a massive sphere of gold."
"If there's no issue…"
"I'll use it to repay the debt."
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito