At Pier Point, inside the Interastral Peace Corporation headquarters, in the top-floor grand office.
This was the highest point in the entire city district. The layout was luxurious and spacious, with priceless decorations displayed everywhere throughout the room.
In the past, only members of the board of directors and department heads were allowed to enter. Now, Grey and a group of shipgirls sat in the seats that once belonged to the board, handling various affairs.
"Mm, we've taken over the businesses very smoothly, nya~"
Akashi was quite satisfied with the results of their work over this period.
The Interastral Peace Corporation was enormous, spanning finance, manufacturing, trade, and numerous other sectors. Bringing each one under control had been no small trouble.
Fortunately, Sophon and the Angeloids were efficient enough. After this stretch of effort, the regular businesses had all been incorporated under the Starsea Empire's control.
Swish—
She opened the statistical report and glanced at it.
"Hmm... looking at it this way, we basically control more than half of the cosmos' trade?"
"Not only do we monopolize 90% of the media industry, 66% of mining, and 97% of finance, even the entire cosmos' currency issuance is in our hands, nya!"
Only after reclaiming the Interastral Peace Corporation's industries could one truly feel its monopolistic position in this universe.
Most people's daily lives in the universe were inseparable from the IPC's products.
For a trade organization to hold the authority to issue currency was something extremely terrifying. As long as the IPC ramped up the printing of credit points, it could recklessly harvest every nation within this trade system.
It was like the old dollar hegemony of Earth—only even more excessive.
"Whoa..."
Kiana, Bronya, and the others were wandering around, looking at the place.
They hadn't had room to intervene during the interstellar war, but now that the IPC had surrendered, they could take the opportunity to visit the headquarters.
After staying on the Xianzhou for so long, Pier Point gave them a completely different feeling.
"Mm... since the Interastral Peace Corporation and Interastral Peace Bank are under our control from now on, does that mean we won't ever lack money in this universe?"
The white-haired girl poked her head forward curiously.
"Of course."
Grey tossed them a holographic interface.
"Here. Himeko, Bronya, Kiana... these are your interstellar bank accounts. Enter however many credit points you want."
"That way, when you're on the Xianzhou or traveling elsewhere in the future, you won't need to exchange physical goods for currency."
"Waaah!!—"
It was Kiana's first time hearing that she could customize her own bank balance. She frantically tapped zeros onto the holographic interface.
"Ten thousand, a million, ten million, a hundred million... ah, forget it! However many zeros I can press is how many I'll add!"
Although it could only be used in this universe, the feeling was inexplicably satisfying.
"..."
"You caused a data overflow, Kiana."
Bronya sighed and only adjusted her balance to a reasonable figure by billionaire standards.
"Oh right, when we first arrived on the Xianzhou, it was Tingyun who hosted us. We should repay the favor."
"Mm... the Commander likes her too, so let's give her a bit more! Make it a surprise!!"
The white-haired girl had a sudden flash of inspiration.
Far away, Tingyun had just boarded a ship back to the Xianzhou and was about to report the situation.
Suddenly.
Ding—
A notification from Interastral Peace Bank popped up. She opened her phone to check.
You have received a transfer of 7.6 billion credit points from Kiana.
Note: Thanks, Sister Tingyun! If it's not enough, come find me—I'll adjust your bank balance for you.
At the end was one of Kiana's emojis.
"Huh?!"
"Aaaahhhhhh?!"
Tingyun was so startled she nearly dropped her phone, her tail almost bristling upright.
"Benefactor, I cannot possibly accept this!!!"
...
On the other side.
Unlike the white-haired girl, who had become so wealthy that money was just a number.
At Herta Space Station, Asta had been calculating on the holographic interface for quite a while. After glancing at her bank balance, she discovered something deeply saddening.
"Miss Herta, after purchasing this batch of spacecraft and equipment for researching the two-dimensional world, the station's remaining funds will only last about three months."
"Mm... considering I also have some things I want to buy, plus your experimental plans and pre-ordered equipment for next month, we can probably only pay the staff for one more month."
"Ah, it seems we'll have to do our best to keep everyone from going hungry."
"What?"
Herta had never imagined that one day the space station would face something as absurd as an economic crisis.
"Wait, I still have several projects that haven't even started. What's going on?!"
"The Interastral Peace Corporation's assets have been frozen and restructured. And, um, something happened on my side as well..."
On the holographic interface, Asta opened several pieces of information.
Her family had a complex network of ties within the Interastral Peace Corporation, along with numerous trusts, funds, and shares.
In the past, to avoid the hassle of inheriting the family business and to pursue her astronomical dreams, she had been fortunate enough to be selected by Herta and come to the space station.
As a result, when the Interastral Peace Corporation fought a war with the Starsea Empire and its upper management was purged—
For Asta, there was one piece of good news and one piece of bad news.
The good news was that no one would ever urge her to return and inherit the family business again.
The bad news was that the family business had effectively collapsed.
Trusts, funds, shares, internal corporate connections, owned industries... with the collapse of the IPC's upper ranks and the Starsea Empire's industrial restructuring, aside from the portions that had been frozen, almost nothing remained.
The little that was left—though enough to maintain a normal life—was clearly insufficient for someone accustomed to high spending and scientific research.
Not to mention the entire family eyeing what remained.
"Uh..."
"Then what about the IPC's sponsorship of the space station?"
Herta trailed off halfway and froze.
As a member of the Genius Society, the IPC had once practically worshiped her. Whenever they asked her for help, they were unfailingly respectful.
A few casual manuscripts from her could be exchanged for a huge sum of money. She could have whatever she wanted.
Now that the Interastral Peace Corporation had been annexed, the Space Station had lost its largest sponsor.
Expecting to rely on status to get expenses approved by flashing her reputation in the Starsea Empire seemed unlikely.
Which meant that the two biggest benefactors of Herta Space Station—the Interastral Peace Corporation and Asta—had both shut down.
Perhaps some minor forces might sponsor Herta for the sake of her fame, but given the scale of her research consumption, only an entity on the level of the IPC could satisfy it.
"Ah, troublesome."
"Two cosmic powers fought a war, and it caused an economic crisis at this space station. Mm, quite the classic butterfly effect."
Herta sighed.
She had no interest in odd luxuries of daily life, but being unable to conduct experiments or purchase equipment was absolutely intolerable.
After gazing at the distant stars and thinking for a while.
"Prepare a spacecraft. We're going to the Starsea Empire."
"Eh?"
Asta froze, unable to keep up with Herta's train of thought.
"From the information transmitted earlier, the Starsea Empire is a civilization of highly intelligent humans—or humanoids. That means they can be communicated with."
Herta rapidly organized her logic.
"I want to research that two-dimensional region, as well as certain aspects of the Starsea Empire. You need to deal with your family's trusts and assets."
"So, going to the Starsea Empire is only logical. What's the problem?"
...
Buzz—
Two days later.
A small spacecraft landed at Pier Point.
Asta jumped down from the hatch, her eyes carrying a trace of amazement as she looked around.
The scene at the corporate headquarters was vastly different from what she remembered. The countless corporate employees of the past had now mostly been replaced by Bulins and Angeloids.
Construction was still in full swing across the planet, buildings being redesigned and reconstructed in the style of the Starsea Empire.
"A civilization built on artificial intelligence?"
Herta tilted her head up, watching the angels moving back and forth.
"Smart. They're efficient and come with far fewer complications. Mm... if possible, I think having artificial intelligences serve as researchers at the space station would make management easier."
"Provided they possess sufficiently high intelligence—and... are safe enough."
The two of them briefly surveyed the situation at Pier Point.
Under the guidance of an Angeloid, they soon arrived before Grey.
"Mm..."
Faced with a cosmic empire, Asta felt somewhat uneasy.
She was a wealthy young lady who loved research, while this nanomachine being carried an aura that was sharp and dangerous.
"Your purpose has already been conveyed to me by Sophon."
Grey glanced through the documents they had submitted.
"First, Miss Asta. Your family did indeed hold a large number of shares and trust funds within the Interastral Peace Corporation."
"The IPC has been completely reorganized. Most of the industries your family was involved in have been dissolved or frozen, and the remainder has largely been divided among others."
"As for the portion still under your name, if necessary, I can arrange for the Angeloids to convert it into credit points for you."
"Ah..."
Asta looked at the holographic interface and sighed softly.
With the family assets having shrunk so drastically, what remained in her name was nowhere near enough to sustain the space station.
From now on, there would only be expenditures and no income. It would not last long.
"I see... mm..."
As she lowered her head to calculate, Grey suddenly changed the subject.
"However, we are willing to sponsor your research—and that of Herta Space Station as well."
"Eh?!"
The girl was startled.
"If you enjoy observing the stars, the Commander can provide you with the most advanced research starship available."
"Its sensors can observe, in real time, a butterfly flapping its wings on a planet thousands of light-years away. Its jump engine can take you to every galaxy you see. Every star in the sky—you can personally visit and uncover its mysteries."
"Of course, the Starsea Empire can cover all research expenses and equipment for the space station. As long as you can imagine it and design it, no matter how incredible or complex the device, we can make it a reality."
"Our achievements in astronomy and cosmology surpass those of the IPC by hundreds or thousands of times. You could even learn knowledge from other worlds."
Swish—
On the holographic interface, Grey painted Asta a dazzling vision of the future.
Indeed, the Starsea Empire's technological level far exceeded that of the IPC, especially in the field of cosmic science.
"Ah..."
Asta was so overwhelmed by the generous conditions that she stood there in a daze.
Even in the past, the IPC had never offered her something this outrageous—and that had still required frequent negotiations with corporate staff.
After a long pause, she shook her head, pulling herself out of the beautiful illusion the nanomachine had described.
"This... isn't free, is it?"
"What are your conditions?"
"Herta Space Station joins the Starsea Empire."
Grey answered concisely.
"We hope to use the space station as a scientific outpost in this universe, researching local technologies."
"The outstanding members of the station—oh no, outstanding young ladies—will also have the opportunity to visit the Starsea Empire's homeland. There, you will witness the convergence of technology and magic from countless worlds."
"Mm..."
Asta was taken aback by the blunt request.
"Join the Starsea Empire? B-But I still don't know enough about you!"
"Wait, I... I just want to stay at the space station and quietly conduct research..."
Swish—
Grey projected a brilliant star map and handed her a tablet.
"Everything you want to know is in there."
"Rest assured. In the Starsea Empire, no one will force you to inherit a family business. You can freely pursue whatever you like."
As she spoke, she gestured for Asta to lean closer.
Like whispering a secret, she added softly:
"If the space station can no longer operate, I imagine you'll have no choice but to return to your family and manage what remains of their assets. Mm... and then you'll likely never step into the stars again."
"Miss Asta, you don't want the space station to shut down because of you, do you?"
"???"
"Huh?!"
The nanomachine's villain-like remark made Asta jolt.
And she suddenly remembered an even more troublesome reality.
Indeed, aside from the space station, her only fallback was to return to her family and inherit what little remained of the business.
For the rest of her life, she would likely never again have such freedom to research and explore the mysteries of the stars.
"I'm sorry, this is too sudden..."
"I... I need time to think."
Asta lowered her head and rubbed her temples.
"Besides, the owner of the space station is Miss Herta. I'm... only the nominal station master..."
"That's fine. This is a personal invitation. The Commander wants you all. You can take your time. We'll be stationed at Pier Point for the foreseeable future."
Grey was in no hurry. She transmitted the materials to Asta.
To show sincerity, she also transferred a sum of credit points to her account.
After finishing her attempt to recruit Asta, she turned to the Herta puppet.
"What do you want?"
"..."
Herta stared at the nanomachine for a long time.
"Can you come to my place today and do research together? I'll research you."
She felt that Grey was not a "person" in the traditional sense.
"...Actually, I want to research you as well."
Grey rested her chin on her hand, looking at Herta.
"That's just a puppet. There's nothing interesting about it."
"I'm talking about your true body. Oh, if we're going to research each other, I can give you a part of myself—though I don't think you'll be able to comprehend its existence."
Shh—
Grey's body was enveloped in a gray nanocloud and began to shift.
Her hair changed from gray to brown. A beret condensed atop her head. Her height shrank slightly.
In the end, an identical puppet stood before Herta, the two facing each other.
She had the same appearance, the same clothes. Even the joints at the connection points were simulated flawlessly.
"Hello!"
Grey's voice had become exactly the same as Herta's.
Asta rubbed her eyes, nearly unable to tell which one was the real Herta.
"What is this???"
"Wait, you are—?!..."
Herta suddenly developed an intense interest in the being before her.
"Want to know? Want to conduct some interesting research?"
Grey cleared her throat.
She understood these genius scientists all too well.
They did not care about worldly fame or wealth. The only thing that interested them was exploring and researching the unknown.
"I extend to you the same invitation as Asta: join the Starsea Empire together with your space station."
"I know that when the IPC encountered the Dual-Vector Foil, you provided them with remote technical support... you're very interested in that thing, aren't you? I have plenty."
"In addition, we can provide you with equipment and resources. The Imperial Grand Library stores materials from dozens of worlds. You may consult them freely."
"Given your personal capabilities, I can directly approve your entry into the Research Division and allow you to lead a research team."
"Mm..."
Herta paused and flipped through several pages of the materials Grey handed over.
They contained countless things she had never heard of or seen before.
Not only technologies related to Imaginary energy and scientific systems, but also magic and sorcery—entirely different frameworks of knowledge.
She fell into deep thought.
In the past, Herta only pursued research that interested her. She had never planned to join any particular force, nor did she feel any sense of belonging toward them.
But the conditions offered were undeniably tempting.
"Are you trying to hire me to conduct research for you?"
"...If you insist on understanding it that way, that's fine."
Grey spread her hands. Communicating with purely rational geniuses was far more straightforward than with ordinary people.
"Five Amber Eras. I'll accept a five–Amber Era agreement. I'll trade my knowledge for yours."
Herta considered for a moment.
"Ten. For ten, I can take you to visit the Underworld and help you resolve the issues here—including the Lord of Silence you're concerned about. I'm quite interested in her as well."
"..."
Herta did not know how Grey knew so much. She stared at her for a long while.
"Fine. Once I finish the remaining research at the space station, I'll go."
"No problem."
Communication between genius scientists was astonishingly concise. An agreement was quickly reached.
"Very well. Pier Point welcomes you both at any time. Feel free to look around."
Grey casually sent Setsuna a message.
"Commander, I just helped you recruit a couple of girls."
"But there are quite a few in the Genius Society who lack humanity. You've got a few hundred years to instill some into her—find a way to make her yours~"
"?"
Setsuna had not expected these two to be settled first.
"When you say 'instill humanity'... are we talking about something proper?"