Ring ring ring! Ring ring ring! ...
"Hello, this is Topaz. May I speak with Miss Bronya?"
"Yes, hello, Miss Topaz. This is Bronya, currently serving as the Supreme Guardian of Jarilo-VI."
In the Supreme Guardian's residence in Belobog, Bronya had just received a call from an unfamiliar number. After a brief hesitation, she still pressed the answer button on her phone.
Immediately, a somewhat familiar voice came from the other end of the line.
"Hello, Miss Bronya. Regarding the actions those people have taken on Jarilo-VI, I've already learned about it from Stelle."
At this point, Topaz paused slightly and turned her head to look at Lady Jade beside her. After receiving an affirming nod from the other party, the girl continued.
"As for the matter of cooperation with Jarilo-VI, the company has always treated it with the utmost seriousness."
"We are already aware of the behavior displayed by certain company personnel in encroaching upon Jarilo-VI's sovereignty. Please rest assured that we will deal with these individuals with the strictest possible measures."
Listening to the voice coming from the other end of the phone, Bronya was slightly stunned. She hadn't even said anything yet, and Topaz had already stated their position so clearly. Did the Astral Express really carry that much weight?
"Additionally, another P46-level high-ranking executive from the company and I are currently en route to Jarilo-VI. Miss Bronya, I would appreciate it if you could prepare a list of the company employees who have been actively involved in this Belobog incident. We will handle them personally upon arrival."
Bronya: ...…
Bronya opened her mouth, but in the end, no words came out. Topaz's barrage of continuous statements had completely stunned her.
She had originally thought that, as a high-ranking company executive, Topaz would at least try to shift some responsibility or haggle with her a bit. But to her surprise, the other party had taken the initiative to shoulder all responsibility right from the start and had even provided corresponding solutions.
This truly left our Miss Bronya feeling somewhat overwhelmed and flattered. She still had a certain understanding of Topaz's status—the other was undeniably one of the company's true high-level decision-makers, yet she was now choosing to bow her head to Belobog...
"Miss Bronya, are you still there?"
Receiving no response from Bronya for a long while, Topaz on the other end of the line couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly. Could it be that the other party was dissatisfied with her proposed solution?
That shouldn't be the case. Although her own experience might be somewhat limited, to become one of the Ten Stonehearts at such a young age—even if there was an element of luck involved—her judgment and decision-making abilities were beyond doubt.
She believed there was nothing wrong with the proposal she had just made, so why was Bronya remaining so silent?
After a short delay, Topaz spoke again: "Miss Bronya, is there something about my proposal that you're dissatisfied with?"
"Ah? No, no, no—I'm very satisfied. It's just that the amount of information was a bit overwhelming all at once, and I couldn't react right away."
Bronya, snapping out of her daze like someone awakening from a dream, hurriedly shook her head before explaining.
"I see. That's good, then. In that case, I'll trouble Miss Bronya to prepare as quickly as possible. We should arrive on Jarilo-VI in about two days."
"Mm. We await your arrival."
After hanging up the phone, Bronya let out a long breath. Although she was deeply puzzled about why the other party was being so courteous, now didn't seem to be the time to dwell on such things.
A true high-ranking executive from the company would soon arrive in Belobog to resolve this turmoil. Her next task was to collect evidence of those people's wrongdoing as quickly as possible so that the matter could be resolved swiftly and perfectly.
...
Night fell, and the pitch-black darkness pressed down heavily over the lamp-lit main city of Belobog.
Under the sparse glow of neon lights, several drunken Interastral Peace Corporation "higher-ups" stationed in Belobog were being escorted by bodyguards as they made their way toward the company's embassy.
"Burp! Hahaha, I never expected that on a planet that's been lagging behind for so long, there would still be such delicious liquor. Hahaha!"
"Hahaha, applying to come to this planet on my own initiative was truly one of the smartest decisions I've ever made. Totally worth it!"
"..."
The several drunken louts chatted as they walked, occasionally bursting into loud laughter. From the perspective of passersby, they looked less like dignified, successful individuals in formal attire and more like a group of lavishly dressed beasts.
The group continued strolling and chatting idly about all sorts of nonsense, appearing completely carefree and at ease.
"But speaking of which, if we keep encroaching bit by bit on Jarilo-VI's authority like this, won't that Supreme Guardian come looking for trouble with us?"
Suddenly, one of the drunks stopped in his tracks and asked in a voice tinged with faint worry.
When they had first arrived in Belobog, they had collectively met with that Supreme Guardian of Belobog. In terms of temperament, appearance, and strength, she was considered top-tier in everyone's eyes.
If it weren't for the fact that the Supreme Guardian had recently left for an inspection on the Xianzhou and then suddenly announced she was going into seclusion, they probably wouldn't have dared to erode Belobog's authority so blatantly.
"Hahaha, don't worry. So what if that Supreme Guardian is strong? By the time she comes out of seclusion, I'm afraid the whole of Jarilo-VI will already be our territory. What can her strength do then?"
"Hahaha…!"
Arrogant laughter echoed through the night. Hearing it, passing pedestrians couldn't help but turn their heads, casting strange looks at those "higher-ups" from the company.
After laughing for quite a while, the group finally quieted down a bit.
"Hehe, once this place becomes our territory, that Supreme Guardian lady, and the leader of the Underworld's Wildfire…"
The few exchanged glances, each seeing a lewd glint in the others' eyes.
"Hm?"
Just as the group of company "executives" continued forward, the one walking at the very front suddenly stopped. The person behind him didn't brake in time and crashed straight into the back of the one ahead with a thud.
"Hey! What's wrong with this guy? Why'd he stop all of a sudden!"
The latter rubbed his somewhat sore nose in dissatisfaction and grumbled. However, the one in front seemed not to have heard him at all and remained standing there in a daze. Seeing this, the others grew curious and followed his gaze.
Under the simple streetlamp stood a girl dressed in a JK uniform, wearing black-framed glasses, her entire presence radiating a literary aura as she quietly waited there.
The girl's nails were painted red, and she carried a blue handbag in her hand. A handsome golden mecha badge was pinned to her chest, gleaming with exquisite metallic luster under the light.
From time to time, the girl would lower her head to glance at the watch on her wrist, her face showing a mix of confusion and disappointment—as though she were waiting for someone who had yet to appear.