For Topaz, the Penacony project had ended before it even began.
The scramble for the Watchmaker's legacy, Aventurine's grand demise, Sunday's ambition to ascend to godhood—all these major events had passed her by.
But now, she had to step into the spotlight to negotiate with the Family's representatives.
Topaz had no complaints about this. For one, she was a professional; for another, she relished the thrill of delivering the final kick.
Taking advantage of a break before the talks began, Topaz strolled around with Numby, aiming to show off the airship's decor.
"Food in a dream… shouldn't taste bad, right?" Topaz mused, eyeing the items on the table before tossing an "oak cake roll" to Numby.
"Numby, catch!"
Numby leaped nimbly and gobbled it down in one bite. "Hmph! Hmph, hmph, hmph!"
But the next moment, after eating the "oak cake roll," Numby seemed uncomfortable.
"Hmph… whimper…"
[So why does Firefly love eating these?]
[Guess Firefly really has a thing for them. From her convo with Silver Wolf, we know Firefly's got money.]
[Did the pig nearly choke on it? What's the deal with the oak cake roll's taste?]
[In the web drama's setting, it's something rich people eat when they're bored, forcing themselves to endure the bitterness to "refine" their body and mind.]
— —
After soothing Numby a bit, Topaz spotted a Family guard.
The guard spoke in Sparkle's tone: "So many buttons… pressing them one by one, I'd be at it till the Year of the Monkey! Didn't expect those pups to be so efficient, actually collecting them all…"
Topaz leaned in to glance at the pile of buttons on the ground. "Huh? What are these?"
The Family guard quickly reacted, addressing Topaz: "Ahem, ahem! For safety's sake, you'd best keep your distance from those things."
"'For safety's sake'? Are these button-like things something incredible?"
"Not exactly… Let me put it this way: recently, some prankster's been causing chaos in the dream, handing out weird button devices to everyone they meet.
According to those who got them, the prankster said, 'Press this button, and all of Penacony will blow sky-high!'
Thankfully, no one believed it. But just to be safe, the Hound Family collected all the buttons."
Topaz shrugged, chatted briefly, and then approached a Family attendant.
After listening to a lengthy explanation, Topaz's phone rang.
"Hello?
The Talent Motivation Department again? Internal audit? Are you ever done? I'm working on a major project here; I don't have time to argue with you.
The Jarilo-VI deal? My approach was approved by the higher-ups. The project logs and call records are all there—can't you check them yourself?
I really don't get it… Why are you so obsessed with this minor case, blowing it out of proportion? What's your angle here?"
"Such tiresome conversations… Why not just hang up?"
At that moment, a mature, commanding voice came from behind Topaz.
Topaz turned slowly to find Jade standing there, having appeared unnoticed.
"In my opinion, you handled that project quite well. Trading a small ice planet for a favor from the Astral Express—a surefire win for the department."
Jade approached Topaz, her icy aura startling Numby.
But after Topaz calmed Numby down, she looked at Jade, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"It's been a while, Little Yelena." Jade's hand reached for Topaz's cheek. "I've been looking forward to working with you. Didn't expect it to come so soon. You can tell me anything, just like old times."
Topaz didn't pull away; instead, a subtle blush appeared on her cheeks.
[Look at Topaz, practically melting into a grin.]
[Poor Little Yelena, completely under Lady Topaz's spell.]
[Haha, Topaz looks so adorable.]
[Best episode ever, fam!]
— —
After some mutual business flattery with Topaz, Jade soon met with Penacony's temporary spokesperson—Old Oti.
A capital-driven conversation unfolded between Jade and Old Oti.
The IPC wanted to seize the opportunity created by Aventurine to swoop in and take Penacony, or at the very least, make the Family pay a heavy price.
After all, Sunday's fiasco could only be contained with the IPC's intervention to minimize the fallout.
But Old Oti was no pushover. He proposed that Penacony would "go public independently" across the cosmos.
It was a do-or-die stance: I'd rather let Penacony crash than hand it over to the IPC.
Jade pondered for a moment. "A crisis is also an opportunity. You've been waiting for the right moment, for Penacony to once again become the focus of everyone's attention.
If Penacony successfully navigates this crisis… by the time the IPC tries to interfere, our every move will be exposed to the gaze of trillions."
Old Oti gave a confident laugh. "Ho ho ho… Now I believe you, Miss Jade. You've indeed read my biography thoroughly. Your next move… you'd better think it over carefully."
"Such a vast amount of information does require some time to process.
Mr. Oti, I propose we pause the first half of our talks here. Please allow Topaz and me to discuss privately for a moment before responding on behalf of the IPC."
At this, Old Oti's grin became unstoppable. From his perspective, his bold, all-or-nothing plan had clearly intimidated the IPC's duo.
"Ho ho ho, of course. Ladies, please, go ahead."
[Old ginger's still the spiciest, huh?]
[Topaz looks kinda pissed.]
[Jade, come on, give us something big! Debuting in the season finale just to be brushed off in two sentences? Was Aventurine's sacrifice for nothing?]
[Keep your heart from breaking—Jade's not that simple. This is called setting the stage to build her up. If Old Oti doesn't pull some tricks, how's Lady Jade supposed to shine?]
— —
The scene shifted to the Reverie Bar.
Dan Heng furrowed his brow, asking Welt Yang, "The Alfalfa Family met with the IPC?"