Save where you could, spend where you should. What if cutting corners on training equipment ended up getting someone injured? Besides, it wasn't as though the equipment was disposable. It could be used again and again.
"Following official confirmation, Miss Zhuxing, a student of Genius Society Member #85, Mr. Lin Yi, has become an Emanator of Elation. She is now a force to be reckoned with in the great undertaking of maintaining universal peace."
Hearing a familiar name, Dongfang Qiqing instinctively looked up before returning to her paperwork.
"There's a serious problem with the Logistics Department's procurement report. Send it back. Just because Shenxiao Space City has deep pockets doesn't mean they can do whatever they please. I'm not that easy to fool."
She frowned as she examined the documents.
"What's going on with Old Mr. Kucha? The Logistics Department seems to have problems everywhere. Sigh, I suppose nepotism exists wherever you go. I'm starting to think Mr. Kucha isn't suited to this kind of position."
There was something she couldn't understand. Anyone qualified to enter Shenxiao Space City should have been comfortably wealthy already. Why would they risk everything for a few more credits?
Had Old Mr. Kucha been deceived by subordinates who concealed their misconduct from him, or was he deliberately turning a blind eye?
"Xiao Xiao, conduct a discreet investigation into the Logistics Department."
"Yes, Miss."
Managing an enormous institution like Shenxiao Space City was clearly no easy task. Its tangled web of personal connections, competing interests, and employees who had obtained their positions through connections made every problem difficult to untangle.
Kucha had originally come to Shenxiao Space City when Lin Yi went looking for Dr. Primitive to exchange the Life Equation for memetic technology. Lin Yi had brought him back alongside Rappa and Zhuxing.
He'd already picked up those two, so he figured he might as well bring Kucha along too.
When Lin Yi found the old man, Kucha had already put a bullet through his own head.
Fortunately, it was only a fatal injury. Nothing particularly serious.
Lin Yi had brought him back to life.
After arriving at Shenxiao Space City, Kucha had made it clear that he'd grown tired of research and no longer wanted to pursue it. Besides, that gunshot might genuinely have left some lingering effects.
Lin Yi had therefore arranged a relatively undemanding position for him, assigning him to the Logistics Department to oversee the movement and supply of materials.
"The renowned sanctuary of Harmony, the earthly paradise of Biyari-Scamandros in the Montor star system, has dispatched an envoy to the Planet of Peace, Kasbelinyat VIII."
Dongfang Qiqing perked up at another familiar name. She'd visited that planet only a few months ago.
Her attention, however, was quickly drawn back to the document in front of her.
"How can the Fleet Defense Division fail at something this simple? They can't even organize the handful of starships we currently have. What are they going to do when all the additional ships I've ordered arrive? Are they even capable of keeping Shenxiao Space City running safely?"
The planet-destroying warships Zhuxing had previously ordered had been arriving one after another during this period. In response, Dongfang Qiqing had established a new division under Shenxiao Space City's Security Department.
Its sole responsibility was coordinating and managing the outermost mobile defensive network formed by those warships.
"Lord Ravager Phantylia's forces have suddenly accelerated their advance. An Antimatter Legion vanguard numbering approximately six hundred million has also broken away from its previously established marching route."
"Forget it. Specialized work should be left to specialists. I'll ask the IPC to..."
Dongfang Qiqing stopped herself.
Wait. No.
Her habits had been heavily influenced by her years at the Corporation. Whenever she needed outside assistance, her first instinct was still to turn to the IPC.
"The Xianzhou are much more experienced with this sort of thing. Send someone to the Xianzhou on behalf of Shenxiao Space City and invite their specialists here. Have them provide guidance on fleet formations and train the relevant personnel in the Fleet Defense Division."
After a moment's consideration, however, she realized that wouldn't quite solve the problem either.
The Fleet Defense Division was staffed entirely by personnel temporarily reassigned from other Shenxiao Space City departments—people whose original departments had more staff than they currently needed.
But that didn't mean those employees were incompetent. Quite the opposite. Using elites like them as ordinary combat personnel would be an outrageous waste of talent.
It was another old habit of hers. Three months simply hadn't been enough to undo years of experience, and she'd instinctively treated these employees like the useless salary collectors she'd encountered at the IPC.
"Streamline the Fleet Defense Division's staffing. We still need to invite specialists from the Xianzhou, but once the division has been reorganized, have them consult with the specialists and coordinate with our other departments to develop an autonomous defense system."
Having finished another document and issued the necessary instructions, Dongfang Qiqing stretched.
She hadn't paid the slightest attention to whatever the broadcast had been saying.
After estimating how much work she had left, she decided it was almost time for afternoon tea.
"The emerging tourist destination and culinary capital, Tiramisu, is suspected to have suffered a Stellaron Disaster."
"Jarilo-VI, a frozen world that recently reestablished contact with the wider universe after more than seven hundred years of isolation, has experienced a coup. Its leader, Supreme Guardian Bronya Rand, is missing."
"Next, we bring you detailed coverage of today's headlines."
"The Universal Panacea has now achieved comprehensive distribution across markets throughout the universe. Since its introduction three months ago, the Interastral Peace Corporation has worked alongside the Genius Society and numerous other organizations to coordinate its distribution. Together, we will continue contributing to the great undertaking of creating a universe free from disease."
"A new Emanator of Elation has emerged. Following an investigation by the Interastral Peace Corporation, it has been confirmed that Zhuxing, a student of Genius Society Member #85, Mr. Lin Yi, has become an Emanator of Elation."
"Along the long road ahead, Nihility follows us like a shadow."
The announcer's voice was perfectly calm.
"But Elation is a ray of light that illuminates those shadows!"
A hint of madness crept into the voice.
"Is there any will freer than Elation itself?"
The announcer's tone turned mischievous.
"Let us celebrate that freedom of will—Aha~!"
Aha.
"This is the Interastral Peace Broadcast! This is the Interastral Peace Broadcast! We interrupt our programming with an emergency announcement. The Aeon of Elation, Aha, has just seized control of our broadcasting center and altered the contents of our program."
"...In any case, we firmly believe that Miss Zhuxing's emergence will contribute greatly to the cause of universal peace."
"The renowned sanctuary of Harmony, the earthly paradise of Biyari-Scamandros in the Montor star system, has dispatched an envoy to Kasbelinyat VIII, the Planet of Peace, where a miracle of Harmony's descent once occurred."
"The Family places great importance on this sacred site. It has formally invited the Planet of Peace to join the harmonious music, enter the Family's embrace, and welcome Harmony. The Family has also expressed its willingness to extend its protection to the planet."
"Antimatter Legion activity continues to intensify. Recently, the forces led by Lord Ravager Phantylia have displayed exceptionally high morale and significantly increased their marching speed, conquering several civilized worlds in rapid succession."
"Due to the Antimatter Legion's unusually intense assaults, the intelligent life-forms inhabiting the affected regions were unable to evacuate in time. All have perished. Let us observe a moment of silence for the victims."
"The Antimatter Legion's main marching route remains unchanged. The following civilized worlds are expected to face the advancing forces of Destruction..."
"Meanwhile, a vanguard of approximately six hundred million troops from Lord Ravager Phantylia's forces, led by a Harbinger of Calamity, has departed in an unknown direction."
"The Interastral Peace Corporation will stand alongside the civilized worlds of the universe through every hardship. We believe that all suffering will eventually pass and that, under the protection of the Amber Lord, we will surely welcome a brighter tomorrow."