Whoosh—
A few days later.
Before the expedition team from the Strategic Investment Department could even reach the Solar System, they were intercepted and dragged back to Pier Point by the Starsea Fleet.
In just a short time, the entire planet had already been completely transformed.
Angeloids and Bulins were carrying out sweeping planetary reconstruction.
All symbols related to the IPC had been erased. Everywhere, the banners of the Starsea Empire fluttered in the wind.
"Yo."
Grey greeted the fleet that had just landed.
After defeating the IPC, taking over its operations was itself a massive undertaking.
The diplomatic corps alone was far too short on manpower, so additional reinforcements had been dispatched from the Starsea Empire's homeland.
A glance revealed two major fleets—the Ironblood Fleet and the Sakura Fleet—bringing with them even more Bulins and Angeloids.
Harbor Princess, Central Princess, and Airfield Princess jumped down from the ship, holding Northern Princess by the hand, curiously surveying this unfamiliar world.
"The Northern family wanted to come out and have a look too, so the Commander sent them over. Mm... how you arrange things is up to you."
Bismarck shrugged.
"...Alright."
Grey felt that the Fortress Princesses would be well suited to garrison certain star regions.
Not far away.
Corporate vessels from various star sectors were landing one after another.
All mid-level and above employees of the IPC had been assembled at Pier Point, awaiting the Starsea Empire's judgment.
Every face carried a trace of anxiety.
They were the defeated side. Their future now lay entirely in the hands of the victors.
"Director Topaz! You're here too?"
Someone noticed Topaz and her group who had just disembarked.
By sheer coincidence, the expedition team sent out on assignment had ended up being the most intact remaining department within the IPC.
"Uh... you probably shouldn't call me Director anymore."
Topaz looked awkward.
Compared to ordinary people, she and Jade weren't in much better shape.
To put it bluntly, they were war prisoners of the Starsea Empire.
She looked up. Inside corporate headquarters, Angeloids moved about everywhere.
Before long.
An Angeloid began calling out names.
"Topaz, Jade, Pearl... follow me."
The remaining senior management trembled as they followed the Angeloid into the corporate building.
In the main conference hall, a considerable number of shipgirls had gathered, discussing the follow-up takeover of the Interastral Peace Corporation. As the defeated party, they could only sit farther away and listen in.
"The gray-haired one is an officer of the Starsea Empire. The others are all at least Emanator-level in strength."
A few of them huddled together, whispering.
Being surrounded by so many beings at Emanator-level was suffocating.
Especially when they thought about the hundreds of additional shipgirls transferred from the Solar System—it made them even more uneasy, and they instinctively sat up straighter.
Topaz noticed that the main seat at the head of the table was empty.
Grey was seated to the side.
Swish—
Setsuna's holographic projection appeared. Everyone stood to greet him.
"Commander."
"You've worked hard. Sit."
He swept his gaze across the room.
Dealing with an enemy on the level of the Interastral Peace Corporation hadn't required him to personally take the field.
But the aftermath still needed his arrangements.
"We have fully taken over the Interastral Peace Corporation, though some matters remain undecided."
Grey reported.
"Should we streamline or merge the IPC's departments and business divisions? And how should we handle the original trade system?"
The IPC had seven major departments: the Marketing Development Department, the Business Consolidation Department, the Strategic Investment Department, the Building Material Logistics Department, the Technology Department, the Traditional Projects Department, and the Talent Incentive Department.
Each oversaw its own sectors—market expansion, technological research, supplying construction materials to the Amber Lord, and so on.
In addition, the economic system of this universe had been built upon the IPC's credit points.
The IPC effectively controlled currency issuance, allowing it to harvest other civilizations at will through the credit system.
"Mm..."
Setsuna pondered for a moment and discussed briefly with the others.
"For now, the Interastral Peace Corporation will be placed under Sophon's temporary administration, becoming a subordinate institution of the Starsea Empire in this universe."
"The Marketing Development Department, Building Material Logistics Department, and Talent Incentive Department will be dissolved entirely. The Technology Department will be directly taken over by the Research Division."
"The Business Consolidation Department, Traditional Projects Department, and Strategic Investment Department will be integrated, responsible for the existing operations of Interastral Peace Bank, Interastral Peace Trade, Interastral Peace Media, and related sectors."
The Starsea Empire had no need to annex others through economic means, nor did it require market expansion or profit-making. It held no faith in the Amber Lord.
Thus departments like Marketing Development and Construction Logistics were meaningless.
However, the IPC's existing trade, manufacturing, industry, and financial operations could be absorbed and rebuilt under the Starsea Empire's framework.
"Understood."
Everyone nodded.
"As for credit points, since they function as a special currency in this world, once we reclaim the issuance authority, we'll continue using them."
The Starsea Empire's homeland did not use currency, but it had no objection to subordinate universes or factions using their own.
A universal currency circulating across the cosmos would, objectively, facilitate exchanges between civilizations.
"Got it~"
Grey nodded in acknowledgment.
"As for the IPC's employees..."
Setsuna glanced at the statistical report.
"After review, basic-level employees will return to their original positions, with business scopes adjusted by Sophon. Departments may be dissolved or newly established as necessary."
"As for management ranked P36 and above..."
His gaze fell upon Topaz and the others.
Even as a holographic projection, facing the supreme ruler of the Starsea Empire made them shiver involuntarily.
"You'll report to the Traditional Projects Department and temporarily oversee routine operations and transitional handover. If you encounter issues, consult Akashi."
"Eh? Me?!"
Topaz jolted, pointing at herself.
She had originally assumed that as a former executive, she would suffer some punishment—perhaps even end up hanging from a lamppost.
But it sounded like she was simply being reassigned?
"Is there a problem? I hope you can demonstrate your capabilities."
"Of course, you'll need to study the Starsea Empire's rules. Our style and principles differ from the IPC's."
Setsuna smiled.
"This was a conflict with the Interastral Peace Corporation, not with any of you individually. I have no intention of making things difficult for you."
"Or would you prefer not to continue working?"
"... "
Topaz realized something subtle.
If I think about it differently, the war between the Interastral Peace Corporation and the Starsea Empire was just me changing bosses.
The IPC's ultimate controller had shifted from Louis Fleming to the Commander of the Starsea Empire. The board of directors had simply been replaced wholesale.
Swish—
Many corporate employees shot her envious looks. To maintain one's status under such circumstances was an extraordinary stroke of luck.
"I... uh, thank you, Boss—no, thank you, Sacrosanct."
Topaz flustered, bowing hastily.
She wasn't sure how to address Setsuna, so she borrowed the Xianzhou term Sacrosanct.
"But... why choose me?"
The girl was puzzled.
"No particular reason. I like you."
Setsuna smiled.
"There's nothing complicated about it. I decided this simply because I like you."
...
Under Setsuna's orders.
The IPC's various operations were taken over in an orderly manner.
Angeloids and Sophon handled every task with remarkable efficiency. After a brief period of confusion, most projects resumed operation.
"Comrades, you will now begin learning the rules and etiquette of the Starsea Empire!"
At Pier Point, Northern Union shipgirls, together with Sophon, conducted training sessions for Topaz, Jade, and the others.
These former senior executives of the IPC had now become students of the Starsea Empire, learning to re-understand the world from scratch.
"... "
Looking at the Northern Union's hammer-and-sickle flag, Topaz couldn't shake the feeling that it possessed some mysterious power.
The corporate executives found themselves trembling unconsciously whenever they stared at it.
"Ahem. The Commander wants us to reform you into reliable comrades. In any case, let's start with what you'll be doing from now on."
A Northern Union shipgirl cleared her throat.
"First of all, under our administration, the Interastral Peace Corporation's primary purpose will be to maintain this universe's economic system."
"All your previous strange businesses are hereby terminated. The Starsea Empire has no interest in lending, debt collection, or other tedious financial tricks."
Avrora explained carefully.
"Eh? If that's the case, what about profits?"
Topaz asked. She realized that the Starsea Empire had absolutely no intention of using the IPC to generate revenue.
Her former expertise in debt collection would likely be useless now.
"Correct your thinking, comrade. The Starsea Empire has no need to use such low-level methods to plunder resources from other civilizations."
"We possess countless universes to develop. Schemes and economic annexation of a nation or a planet are meaningless to us."
"Set your sights farther. We are an interstellar empire, not a profit-driven enterprise. In the Starsea Empire, money is the least important thing."
She transmitted several documents about the Starsea Empire to the trainees.
"Take a look. You need a foundational understanding of what the Starsea Empire truly is."
"The Starsea Empire doesn't care about money at all?"
On the first day of lessons, Topaz and Jade already felt their life philosophies being challenged.
With doubt, Topaz carefully read through the materials—and nearly slammed the table.
"Who said the Starsea Empire only has one star system?!"
"Ah???"
At that moment, a long-standing question within the Interastral Peace Corporation was finally answered.
Their opponent had never been a backward civilization huddled in some remote corner of the Milky Way.
It was an interdimensional leviathan spanning countless dimensions.
The IPC had only glimpsed the tip of the iceberg, yet out of habit and arrogance had dared to challenge such a colossal existence.
The result was being crushed without mercy.
Unfortunately, Oswaldo and the others would never learn this truth.
The two sides had never been on the same scale.
Even as the dominant civilization of the universe, ruling dozens of galaxies, the IPC was still a mere speck before the Starsea Empire.
Countless universes provided the Empire with inexhaustible resources. Their war against the Interastral Peace Corporation had nothing to do with market competition or profit.
It had simply been a matter of punishing a provocation.
"Hiss—"
Soft gasps echoed around the room.
They marveled at the existence of such an astonishing civilization beyond their world.
As for conditions in the Imperial capital, in Topaz's view, they were almost dreamlike.
"In the Starsea Empire's homeland, you don't need to pay for food, clothing, housing, or transportation...?"
"Of course."
Tashkent nodded.
"If I want a starship, I don't have to pay either?"
"Mm-hm. For something like your ecological vessel, a Bulin could whip one up for you anytime."
The shipgirl spread her hands.
"Then... what if someone doesn't work or do anything?"
"There isn't that much work to begin with. Nyarlathotep and the others just stay home playing games all day. As long as you're useful when needed, that's enough."
Tashkent answered matter-of-factly.
"Do whatever you like. If you're happy, you could even spend years traveling other worlds."
"Ah!"
Topaz felt her worldview shake.
A high-level corporate wage earner serving interstellar capital had just experienced a small dose of utopian shock.
"Of course, only a select few are invited into the Starsea Empire's homeland."
Avrora smiled.
"If you perform well, you may one day accompany us to the Starsea Empire and have an audience with the Commander."
"Oh..."
Topaz fell into thought.
There was still a long road ahead before she could truly understand this unfamiliar empire.
But no matter what.
Her current situation was already far better than she had imagined.
"Alright then."
The former Director Topaz began learning the principles of another world.
...
Elsewhere.
Beyond the distant starfields.
Within a space station orbiting a blue planet.
A beautiful girl with brown hair and purple eyes, dressed in a frilled dress and wearing a beret, was performing calculations inside the station's laboratory.
From time to time, she lifted her head to glance toward the far side of the stars.
Through observation equipment, one could clearly see that in the distant starry sky stretched a colossal two-dimensional painting spanning thousands of light-years.
Countless stars lay flattened across a plane. Beside them were even more planets and asteroids, arranged in grotesque geometric patterns within the two-dimensional world.
If the observer zoomed in further, the Interastral Peace Corporation's fleet could be seen.
They were imprinted along the edge of a planet, permanently fixed within the two-dimensional space.
"Interesting."
Herta nodded, watching the massive two-dimensional painting while continuing her calculations.
The Interastral Peace Corporation's invitation to observe the Dual-Vector Foil remotely had not been a waste after all.
She knew of some Curios involving dimensions, but a weapon designed for interstellar warfare like this was a first.
The design philosophy was completely different. Curios were "curious" precisely because they defied conventional rules.
But a weapon meant for interstellar warfare possessed a brutal aesthetic.
"The initial expansion speed of the Dual-Vector Foil was quite slow. In the first thirty seconds, it only spread from Jupiter's sixth orbit to the position of the star..."
"But once it crossed the critical threshold, dimensional reduction became superluminal. In an instant it spanned hundreds of light-years. And the range of the dimensional strike is controllable. Mm... the one who created it is a genius."
After running more calculations, Herta nodded again.
"I want to visit the spiral arm that underwent dimensional reduction."
"Ah?"
Beside her, a pink-haired, blue-eyed girl in an elegant silk uniform jumped in alarm.
"But... Miss Herta, wouldn't that be dangerous? What if you turn into part of the painting too?"
Asta sat beside the massive astronomical telescope, looking up at the patch of two-dimensional space.
"I won't enter the two-dimensional region directly. Observing from the edge will suffice. That area has stabilized and won't expand further."
Herta glanced at her calculations.
"Mm... but I'll need to bring some detection equipment. I want to study the effects of dimensional reduction on different materials. I wonder if they'll allow me in?"
"Also, the Intelligentsia Guild says the Starsea Empire has over thirty Emanator-level individuals. I'd like to meet them as well. Though... that request probably won't be approved."
She wasn't particularly interested in the war itself. Her focus remained on the Dual-Vector Foil and the Starsea Empire.
A civilization capable of creating dimensional weapons would naturally possess countless unimaginable technologies.
"Mm..."
Asta thought for a moment.
As the nominal station master, she too was intensely curious about the Starsea Empire.
"Then should we prepare research equipment in advance? Do we need a new spacecraft?"
"Correct."
Herta listed out a requisition sheet.
Without hesitation, Asta was about to contact others to place purchase orders when she suddenly froze.
"Eh? Eh eh eh eh eh?!"
She had just received communication from her family.
The message was simple: the Starsea Empire had fully taken over the Interastral Peace Corporation and carried out a comprehensive restructuring.
Though her family had fortunately avoided dimensional reduction and Photoid strikes, their industries and shares within the Interastral Peace Corporation had all been affected.
Under the Starsea Empire's reorganization, the IPC had transformed from a profit-driven institution into a subordinate trade department of the Empire.
The days of lying back and earning money through internal corporate connections and capital were gone.
"Uh..."
Asta stood there blankly for a long moment until Herta found her behavior strange and poked her.
"What's wrong?"
"... "
Asta looked at the long list of expensive equipment she had just ordered.
"Ah... the space station might be going bankrupt."