Chapter 213: Future Markets 『 Part Two 』
〜Genshin Impact World〜
Teyvat—
Northland Bank, within the VIP Lounge.
The heavy, ornately carved wooden doors sealed shut with a soundless finality, leaving the room bathed in the dark, gilded luxury of the wall sconces. Seven or eight Fatui Pyro Agents knelt on one knee, left hands pressed tight against their chests. As they bowed their heads, the shadows cast by their masks could not conceal the veins bulging on their necks from sheer tension.
"Lord Harbinger, may I ask… is this…"
The voice was raspy, like charred charcoal, laced with a tremor of panic and confusion.
"Don't be nervous. Heads up. Take a good look."
Tartaglia lounged obliquely upon a chair of pear wood. He snapped his fingers—a crisp sound that acted like a signal, causing the taut bodies of the Agents to instantly relax, if only slightly.
"To borrow a phrase from the Interastral Peace Corporation… consider this, perhaps, 'employee training'?"
Tartaglia offered a self-deprecating smirk. He was, for the most part, a martial artist at heart; patiently tutoring subordinates had never been his style. Yet, out of loyalty to Her Majesty the Tsaritsa and the gravity of affairs in Liyue, he found it necessary to elevate the competence and caliber of his men.
Besides, the light screen happened to be displaying a young woman who was, nominally, a fellow "debt collector."
"Violence is indeed a highly efficient method for solving problems, and I have never doubted your martial prowess. But even I… must admit that violence cannot solve every problem."
Tartaglia cleared his throat, his gaze turning stern as he swept his eyes over the group. "Therefore, you must master methods beyond mere brute force."
"Uh… then, Lord Harbinger, what exactly should we be learning?"
"Negotiation,"
Tartaglia replied without hesitation.
"Violence is the final resort, never the only one."
"This Miss Topaz is about to head to Belobog to collect on a debt that is seven hundred years overdue. That job is far more difficult than your daily errands. So, drop the tasks in your hands for a moment… watch closely, and learn well."
—
「 March 7th looked the young woman up and down—someone who appeared to be around her own age—and couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration. "By the way, Miss Topaz, you look so young, yet you're already a high-ranking executive in the Corporation. It's really enviable…"
"Ha, nothing to be envious of. I just caught a wave of good luck, that's all~ Besides, it's hardly a cushy gig. I'm just getting pushed around by business, running from one star system to another."
"I can't believe Jarilo-VI managed to establish contact with the IPC so quickly, and you're already discussing cooperation—that was fast! As expected of Bronya!" Seeing people from the Corporation on this barren land, March 7th couldn't help but feel happy for Bronya.
However, she failed to notice that when the word "cooperation" was mentioned, a flicker of reluctance flashed through Topaz's eyes.
"The content of the cooperation might be a little different from what you're imagining… but I agree with the second half. That Supreme Guardian really has a way with governing the city. My main goal this time is just to meet with her."
Realizing she had delayed March 7th and her companion for too long, Topaz exchanged contact information with them, and they agreed to meet again shortly within the city of Belobog.
The two entered the city. Belobog, in the midst of festival preparations, was a cauldron of voices and activity. March and Stelle wandered the plaza for a few rounds, meeting successively with Pela, Gepard, and Serval, before remembering they needed to see Bronya—after all, she was the one who had sent the invitation.
Yet, the moment they arrived at Qlipoth Fort, standing separated by the great doors, Stelle could hear the conversation between Topaz and Bronya from within.
Topaz: "…I fully understand your planet's difficulties, Madame Supreme Guardian. Belobog's current fiscal tightness is not caused by you—nor, of course, by any single person in this city."
"But to speak strictly of the matter at hand: since Belobog has survived to this day as an independent political entity, this debt cannot simply be written off as a bad loan." 」
「 .....」
〜Naruto World, Future Timeline〜
In the Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto lay reclined on a tree branch, watching Topaz's calm and unhurried expression on the light screen. He let out a long sigh.
"I don't know… watching this feels kinda uncomfortable. I thought Miss Topaz was coming on behalf of the Company to help revitalize Jarilo-VI."
"Bronya and the others just barely survived a disaster, and now they're being forced to pay money?"
"It can't be helped. That's reality, Naruto. A debt is a debt; it doesn't vanish just because the debtor is 'pitiful'."
Shikamaru glanced at the screen in the sky, watching Bronya massaging her temples with a furrowed brow. He, too, felt a sense of helplessness.
"But isn't this too heartless? If Konoha were in this situation, would they force us to pay up too?"
Naruto clenched his fist.
"If it were us… We'd probably negotiate first, ask for an extension, or pay off the debt with missions. After all, Konoha isn't a commercial organization like a company; it's a place for people to live happily. There are ways to balance human sentiment and interest."
Shikamaru rubbed his temples, wearing his signature 'what a drag' expression.
"If that really didn't work… we could employ some 'ninja-style' methods."
"You mean Genjutsu?"
Disguising blank paper as money with Genjutsu?It wasn't impossible, but over time, such a cheap trick would easily be seen through by the opposing side's ninjas, right?
"…No."
Shikamaru shook his head.
"I mean, we could send Sasuke to try and 'persuade' them."
—
「 By the time the two arrived, the discussion on cooperation was nearly over. Just before leaving, Topaz urged Bronya to consider her proposal, noting that it involved Jarilo-VI's connection and credit rating with the galactic systems.
With that, Topaz departed, no longer disturbing their reunion.
Even March could tell the atmosphere was off. Bronya frankly admitted that after the conversation with Topaz, she had absolutely no energy left to think about the Solwarm Festival.
Seven hundred years ago, after the Stellaron descended upon this land, the off-worlders stationed here foresaw the crisis and chose to flee. But before they left, they lent the Architects a massive sum of money to build the high walls, facilitate emergency evasion, and preserve civilization.
"I can't believe something like that happened! So… the 'business' Topaz mentioned is coming to Belobog to collect a debt?" March 7th's eyes went wide with shock.
"Mm… I'm afraid so." Bronya nodded with a pained expression.
The repayment term was 280 years. However, less than a century after the loan was issued, Belobog was engulfed in blizzards, severing all contact with the galaxy. The IPC believed Jarilo-VI had suffered a destruction-level strike and that its civilization had ceased to exist, so the investment was written off as a bad debt.
After the Stellaron crisis was resolved and Belobog was rediscovered by the Corporation, they sent personnel to collect, demanding both principal and interest.
The string of numbers was astronomical… Bronya didn't even know how to accurately pronounce the figure. 」
「 .....」