One system-hour later, the starship touched down on a vast open expanse just outside Belobog's newly expanded districts.
After Topaz had proposed the Aether Front project, Bronya had immediately issued a written decree, fencing off a stretch of land to serve as a starport — a future berth for the starships that would ferry in game players.
Of course, Bryce had no idea of this. The employee piloting the vessel had simply spotted that the ship could dock here, that it was the closest spot to the city districts, and so had flown straight over.
"Boss, we've arrived."
"Mm."
Bryce turned and strode forward. "That little girl from the Strategic Investment Department is as naïve as ever. Heh — let me see for myself just what's so special about this planet."
Standing on the extending automatic elevator, Bryce could see the local civilization's soldiers below, arrayed in full battle readiness.
Leading them was a blond young man clad in silver armor, dignified in bearing and impeccably composed.
"Greetings. My name is Gepard Landau, Captain of Belobog's Silvermane Guards. I must ask you all to state your identities and your purpose here."
Gepard introduced himself first, then began the exchange according to the protocol for dealing with outsiders — neither servile nor arrogant, with a wariness held in reserve.
Bryce maintained the cultured, businesslike smile he wore at work, his matter-of-fact tone unable to mask his haughtiness:
"I'm Bryce, of the IPC's Market Development Department. I'm taking over from my colleague in the Strategic Investment Department to handle the Jarilo-VI debt project. You've dealt with her, I presume?"
"The Market Development Department..."
Gepard had attended the banquet welcoming Star Rail back the previous night, though because the celebration was drawing near and order had to be maintained, he'd stayed only half an hour in the villa's courtyard before leaving to return to duty.
After the banquet ended, the Grand Guardian had informed him that senior officers from other departments of the IPC might be visiting in the coming days. Gepard had some mental preparation for this, yet his expression still turned grave.
Indeed, when Topaz first arrived at Belobog, it had also been Gepard who received her.
But the two had utterly different styles.
Topaz had parked her starship far from the city districts, approached Belobog by vehicle, and walked into the city through the main gate.
This Mr. Bryce before him, however, had bluntly flown his vessel straight into the outer districts still under construction. Had there been a suitable docking area in the inner districts, Gepard suspected the man might well have flown straight in there.
Though outwardly courteous, his conduct made no effort to conceal its overbearing, domineering arrogance.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bryce. I'll need to report to the Grand Guardian before I can escort you into Belobog."
Gepard cast a glance at the fully armed escort guard standing behind the silver-clad, silver-haired man, and his brow furrowed slightly.
"No need to trouble yourself with that. This will prove my identity — an identity credential that an ordinary person could never possibly forge."
Bryce's tone remained mild as he pointed to the medal hanging at his chest.
It was both an honor and proof of senior officer status in the Market Development Department — a fact known to all throughout the interastral community.
"My apologies."
Gepard shook his head. Belobog had not yet reconnected with the interastral community; it lacked the 'common knowledge' of the Galaxy, and so carried out its work strictly by the book.
"Those people from the Strategic Investment Department should already have briefed the leaders here. And yet they actually send someone who looks like a small-time flunky to receive you."
One of the team-leader-rank employees behind Bryce spoke up in irritation.
"These natives are utterly clueless. The boss comes in person, and this lot put on their high-and-mighty airs without showing the boss the slightest respect. Shall we teach them a little lesson?"
Max, leader of Team B, simultaneously kicked into bootlicking mode, staring at the mud-caked boots of Belobog's soldiers with utter contempt in his eyes.
They were the Market Development Department — and behind them stood a colossus like the IPC. A civilization that couldn't even punch its way out of its own atmosphere, and they dared to strike such a posture?
Of course, he had other thoughts as well. He'd worked so hard to land this chance to accompany the boss on a business trip — how could he not put on a good show of himself? If he could win a year-end recommendation for promotion, perhaps the fifty-some years left on his mortgage could be whittled down to under thirty. Even just a raise — if his year-end bonus could cover two more months of mortgage payments, that would be something too.
"Shut up."
Bryce neither agreed nor refused; he simply spoke the words lightly.
The two team leaders instantly fell silent. Then they watched as Gepard pulled out a phone and contacted the Grand Guardian.
At the sight, the two team leaders' eyes flickered, betraying a touch of surprise and confusion. They exchanged a look, then turned in unison toward their boss.
What astonished them was the phone Gepard was using — it was the IPC's latest model, and the top-spec edition at that!
It counted as a luxury item; most ordinary people across the interastral civilizations wouldn't buy it, and couldn't even get their hands on this newest model at all. How could a military officer here possibly have one?
Bryce's expression did not change as he watched the young officer.
Gepard's report took little time:
"Honored guests, please follow me. The Grand Guardian is already waiting for you all at Goethe Manor."
Having received approval, Gepard made a gesture of invitation, and Bryce smiled and nodded.
As a Market Development Department executive, Bryce had dealt with all manner of people in his work, and could see through Gepard's character almost at a glance.
And so, rather than beating around the bush, he asked his question very directly — about the latest-model phone.
"The phone? A friend gave it to me. He is a hero of Belobog, and also the fiancé of our Grand Guardian."
"A Nameless from the Astral Express?"
"Yes."
Gepard nodded in affirmation.
These were all things known to everyone; there was no need to hide them. Given the Astral Express's renown in Belobog, even a child could say the words 'Astral Express.'
"I see."
Gepard's answer came as no surprise to Bryce.
Jarilo-VI had been plagued by a Stellaron for seven hundred years, and had only escaped extinction thanks to the intervention of the Trailblaze forces. It was perfectly natural that they would give their friend here a phone as a gift.
Under Gepard's guidance, Bryce and his party arrived at the administrative district.
Domineering was one thing, but before negotiations had begun, the most basic courtesies still had to be observed.
Bryce left his armed escort guard outside and, taking only his two trusted subordinates, followed the Grand Guardian's secretary Pela into the fortress named for the Aeon of Preservation — the bastion symbolizing the supreme ruler of Belobog.
Gepard, meanwhile, would host (that is, keep watch over) the armed escort guard.
"Please follow me, everyone."
Round-faced little Pela wore a businesslike smile, polite yet without losing her gravity.
The two team-leader-rank employees and Bryce followed the little secretary into the Grand Guardian's palace — though calling it a palace, it was more like an administrative hall.
Bookshelves embedded into the walls lined the space all around, dotted with potted greenery. On a semicircular raised platform stood a broad desk, atop which sat a great many terminal devices and paper documents.
As the workplace of a nation's supreme ruler, it was almost excessively plain.
Such was Bryce's inward assessment.
The layout and décor here weren't even half as luxurious as his own office. But for a civilization that had endured seven hundred years of wind and snow, that was only to be expected.
"Honored Grand Guardian, this is Mr. Bryce, an officer of the IPC's Market Development Department."
Pela took the initiative to introduce him.
"Hello, Mr. Bryce. I am Bronya Rand, Grand Guardian of Belobog. I am here to hear all of your purposes."
"Hello, Miss Bronya..."
Bryce smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with the beautiful, sternly dignified Grand Guardian before him, then looked toward the several figures off to the side.
A pink-haired girl with lively eyes who looked very spirited; a gray-haired figure of indeterminate relation to her — sibling, perhaps; and a silver-gray curly-haired beauty whose appearance was identical to the Grand Guardian's — surely the Grand Guardian's twin.
"And these would be the Nameless who saved Jarilo-VI? I've long heard of the Astral Express's great name. To have the honor of meeting you all here today is truly a privilege."
Bryce was rather courteous toward the Nameless. His superior, Oswaldo, had once been a Nameless himself, and the dignity of the Trailblaze forces had to be respected.
"An honor, an honor."
Caelus grinned cheekily, as though not feeling the gravity of the atmosphere in the slightest, and traded a few polite words with Bryce.
"Today I'm here purely in a personal capacity — as Bronya's fiancé. I don't represent the Express crew."
"Oh? Is that so."
A flicker of surprise crossed Bryce's narrowed eyes.
Did this Mr. Caelus mean that the Astral Express had no intention of meddling in Jarilo-VI's affairs?
A very wise choice!
Bryce was rather pleased.
In that case, what room did Belobog have left to resist?
With those gunpowder weapons that the IPC's few mechs could resolve entirely on their own? Or with this so-called fiancé of the Grand Guardian?
Judging from that dim-witted gray-haired girl sitting on the trash bin swinging her legs, and the way this 'Grand Guardian's fiancé' was fighting with her over the garbage, the two of them must have something seriously wrong with their heads.
"Miss Bronya is busy with affairs of state, so I'll get straight to the reason for my visit."
The pleasantries over, Bryce went straight to the point. He opened the terminal he carried with him, and a holographic display unfolded in the middle of the hall:
"This is the IPC's loan record. It is documented that 725 years ago, the IPC's representative stationed on Jarilo-VI left behind a large sum of funds before evacuating. The total amount of those funds comes to..."
The holographic display showed seven centuries of video footage and audio records, combined with the corresponding entries found in Belobog's own historical chronicles — more than enough to prove the authenticity of the debt.
Of course, collecting the debt was not the main objective, since the other party could never possibly repay it.
In truth, it was to annex Belobog — to take the entire planet.
"Since Belobog has survived to the present day as an independent polity, this debt cannot be written off as a bad loan."
"If Jarilo-VI ever hopes to rebuild ties with the stars of the Galaxy in the future, your credit record here with the IPC will be of incomparable importance."
Having learned that the Astral Express would not interfere, Bryce's attitude grew even harder. But soon, something strange crept into that hardness.
Because the gray-haired one seated beside the Grand Guardian was nodding right along with his account, wearing an expression of 'mm-hmm, mm-hmm, yes, yes, you're absolutely right.'
"Is Mr. Caelus prepared to help Belobog repay this 700-year-old debt?"
Bryce couldn't help but ask.
"Of course not. I'm just a kept boy-toy supported by a rich woman — where would I get that kind of money?"
Caelus waved his hand amid the envious, jealous gazes of Bryce's two attendants.
"Besides, walking the path of Trailblazing, we've always been fair and selfless, open and aboveboard. Debts must be repaid — that's only right and proper!"
Caelus slapped the desk until it rang.
March 7th rolled her eyes like a dead fish. Open and aboveboard? And who was it that sold his own mother on the Luofu?
"...?"
Bryce was baffled, and put out a question mark.
You actually want to pay it back?
And you caved this easily?
There must be something wrong with this gray-haired one's head!
"Since the two of you acknowledge the debt in this case, then please sign this debt confirmation document."
Bryce pressed down his confusion for the moment and, with a wave of his hand, sent an electronic projection of a confirmation document flying before Bronya.
He didn't care whether Caelus was having some kind of fit, nor did he care how Belobog would repay. So long as the signature was given, his objective was achieved.
Whether they repaid in money or settled the debt with the planet, the IPC couldn't lose.
Five minutes later, seeing that Bronya had still made no move to sign but was instead scrutinizing the contents of the confirmation document, Bryce asked:
"Is there something Miss Bronya doesn't understand? If so, I'd be happy to explain it to you."
"The clauses in the confirmation document are very clear and reasonable; I can understand them all."
Bronya shook her head and said, "It's just that Mr. Bryce seems to have forgotten to include in it the matter of your company repaying the fees owed to Belobog?"
"Hm?"
Bryce's brow twitched. "The fees owed to Belobog?"
"That's right~!"
Caelus snapped his fingers and called out to the little secretary, "Sister Pela~ Pelaaa~"
That childish way of calling her 'sister' made the bristling, tension-charged atmosphere turn slightly odd, and Pela, addressed so by Caelus, flushed with embarrassment. But given that serious business was underway, she had no way to scold him.
Pela handed the terminal in her hands to Caelus.
"Mr. Bryce, from beginning to end, the evidence you've provided never once mentions that this money was a loan from the IPC to the city's builders. Of course — don't be hasty; this doesn't mean Belobog needn't repay the money."
"More than a loan, the IPC's behavior looks more like an investment, in the hope that Jarilo-VI's economy could grow to its fullest extent. Mr. Bryce is one of the IPC's elites — surely you can understand what I'm saying."
Caelus opened Pela's terminal and displayed the documents within:
"Back then, Belobog received this money, and the builders invested it into Belobog's construction, erecting part of the defensive fortresses and a great many city walls. Those documents — they're all certificates of ownership for the walls, and the owner is the IPC."
The smile on Bryce's face had already vanished.
"Factually speaking, Belobog has, over the past seven hundred years, helped the IPC safeguard and maintain its assets. According to galactic law, the IPC owes Belobog a tiny bit of safekeeping and maintenance fees — here are the annual maintenance costs, and finally the comprehensive total."
As Caelus spoke, Bryce went utterly expressionless. The two employees behind him, seeing the holographic screen Caelus pushed toward them, couldn't help but cry out in shock:
"Maintenance fees: 17,931.4 trillion credits!!!?"
The method of calculation was the same as the IPC's debt — compound interest — and the maintenance cost was greater than the IPC's applied interest rate.
"Mm-hmm."
Caelus nodded breezily. "After deducting Belobog's debt, the IPC need only repay Belobog 11,451.4 trillion credits. In consideration of the IPC's original goodwill in investing, we can waive the odd remainder."
This was a trick Caelus had picked up before his transmigration, listening to a finance-industry creator explain things on a certain pink app.
"Since Mr. Bryce is a senior officer of the Market Development Department, there's no need for me to explain the relevant laws, is there?"
None of that had ever been the point.
"So, Mr. Bryce, please report this to IPC headquarters."
Grinning, Caelus slapped the holographic projection of the confirmation document over to him: "Pay up!"
Bryce gazed at the holographic projection before him with its noted maintenance costs, his eyes deep and ice-cold.
He understood perfectly, of course, that the other party's maneuver was legally sound — but how dare you?
This debt wasn't entirely reasonable to begin with; the IPC had calculated it with compound interest, and the true target of the collection was the planet Jarilo-VI itself.
In essence, it was simply bullying you because your fist was bigger!
And yet now you actually dare to turn the tables and bite back!?
"I'm sorry, Mr. Caelus, but this does not comply with IPC regulations."
Bryce said coldly.
"Oh? So the IPC intends to welch on its debt?"
Caelus was still smiling away.
____
Gift for Everyone: Once we hit 30 Powerstones, I'll release +1 bonus chapter
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on (P). with 50 advanced chapters available on (P)
👻 Join the crew by searching Leanzin on (P). You know the spot! 😉