Chapter 215: Future Markets 『 Part Four 』
「 "Rest assured, the Supreme Guardian is a woman of great wisdom. I'm certain she'll figure it out."
Topaz suddenly shifted her tone, her gaze turning piercingly cold. "Furthermore, if you want a direct answer to your question, it is… 'Nothing you do will matter.' No matter what obstacles arise, I will complete the Jarilo-VI project."
A sudden wave of oppressive pressure made March 7th's heart tighten.
But just as quickly, Topaz reverted to her pleasant expression. She advised the two not to worry about trivialities and to simply enjoy the festival atmosphere. With that, she left the museum on official business.
Just as the two were lamenting the complexity of the situation, Seele suddenly messaged Stelle. She reported that Wildfire in the Underworld had just clashed with IPC personnel, and they were overwhelmed, forcing them to contact the pair for help.
It was truly one crisis after another. Stelle and March had no choice but to rush to the Underworld at full speed to rendezvous with Seele.
The Great Mine in the Underworld had already been seized by IPC agents claiming to be conducting an "asset assessment." The entrance was strictly guarded by two well-equipped IPC security officers who showed no intention of stepping aside.
The problem was that these two remained completely silent. Even when Seele screamed insults at them in a rage, they remained indifferent, standing there like two lifeless logs.
Out of options, March 7th resorted to using Topaz's name to scare them. She finally got one of them to speak, though his attitude remained resolute: "…No! I cannot step aside! The team leader said if I let anyone slip through, they'll dock six months of my performance bonus!"
"Oh, come on, you're not even a team leader? I really overestimated you," March 7th began to mock ruthlessly.
"Sh-shut up! To get into the IPC, I spent six or seven years prepping on a desolate asteroid, then survived seventeen rounds of interviews to finally get hired—what right do you unemployed vagrants have to judge me?!" 」
「 .....」
〜Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid World〜
"Six months of performance bonuses?! Yeah, I wouldn't budge even if it killed me…"
Inside the apartment, Kobayashi sat cross-legged by the kotatsu. She had been tipsy from drinking, but seeing a corporate employee facing a six-month bonus deduction sobered her up. As a fellow wage slave, she slowly clutched her chest:
"…I understand. I understand too well, my friend."
Also, isn't the IPC hiring process a bit too brutal?!Six or seven years of prep and seventeen rounds of interviews? And that's just for a security guard position similar to a bouncer!
Under those circumstances, losing six months of bonuses is a minor issue; if he lost his job over this, he'd probably want to die.
Kobayashi suddenly felt that the wage slaves of the universe weren't all that different from a Japanese corporate drone like herself.
Wait… actually, they have it worse. At least she has Tohru waiting for her when she gets off work at night.
Beside her, Tohru blinked.
"Kobayashi, do you know him?"
"I don't know him at all! But I understand his pain! This is a bitterness only fellow wage slaves can understand…"
Kobayashi slammed the table.
"If six months of bonuses are gone, rent and food money are in danger! And going to maid cafes would be completely out of the question…"
"Wait? Maid… cafes?!"
It was as if a dangerous switch had been flipped. Tohru's voice suddenly dropped several octaves, her originally sweet tone turning raspy and dangerous.
As if about to spew scorching dragon breath, the next second, Tohru roared as she closed in on Kobayashi. Her pupils constricted into thin slits, burning with raging fire, causing the apartment windows to rattle ominously.
"ARE. YOU. CHEATING. ON. ME?!"
Kobayashi broke into a cold sweat instantly.
"No, no, haha… Tohru's maid outfit is obviously the cutest in the world…"
"Then why go to other maid cafes?!"
The sound of grinding teeth made Kobayashi's bones ache.
"Uh…" Kobayashi had a sudden stroke of brilliance.
"B-because I wanted to study! I wanted to see what strong points other maids have, so I can come back and help you become even more perfect!"
Tohru froze.
"Eh?"
The aura of rage retracted instantly, and her vertical pupils returned to their round shape.
"R-really? Kobayashi did it for me…?"
Sweating profusely, Kobayashi nodded frantically like a pecking chicken.
"Of course! You are the best maid I have! The others can't even compare!"
Tohru's face flushed red instantly, her dragon tail slapping the floor wildly.
"Woo… I'm sorry, I got too excited just now… I just love Kobayashi so much."
Tohru threw herself into Kobayashi's arms, nuzzling her.
"I… I'll go make omurice for Kobayashi right now! I'll draw ten hearts! No, a hundred!"
—
「 Seele had completely lost her patience and decided right then and there to throw down with these two.
However, shortly after the fight began, the two realized their opponents were a bit too thorny to handle and vanished without a trace… After all, for that monthly salary of credits, why risk their lives?
Having chased off those two clowns, Stelle and the others decided to head into the Great Mine to properly sort out the IPC personnel, hoping to wrap things up quickly and return to enjoy the festival.
.....
Meanwhile, in the Robot Settlement.
Topaz had already taken the initiative to find Svarog and recognized the little girl beside him… Clara.
Svarog instantly recognized the Interastral Peace Corporation insignia on Topaz's chest, determining that this person was neither a guest nor a friend. Faced with such a massive robot, Topaz appeared relaxed. Dropping all pleasantries, she cut straight to the chase: "The planet beneath your feet—it will soon become an asset belonging to the IPC."
"No one can reverse this outcome. Not you, not those Nameless, and not any faction in the galaxy."
"I am only considering one thing right now: to be as responsible as possible for the projects that pass through my hands. I want the IPC's shareholders to see the value that Jarilo-VI can create."
"In the long run, this is a… step. Only by doing this can we guarantee Belobog's long-term interests. I need your assistance to achieve this goal."
Svarog was curious how Topaz intended to persuade the IPC higher-ups, but Topaz simply and calmly produced a core—it was the Source Code. To be precise, it was the source code that granted control over every mechanical unit in Belobog. 」
「 .....」
〜Jujutsu Kaisen World〜
"Hah? You mean to say that if Topaz wanted to, she could instantly make all the Automaton Guards defect and become enemies of Belobog?"
Atsuya Kusakabe rubbed his forehead.
"Then how are we supposed to fight? Although the Trailblazer and Seele are strong, they'd be helpless against a massive mechanical army, right? If Dan Heng were here, and if he were willing to transform into the High Elder… then I think we might stand a chance."
"Hmm… what if we go directly for Topaz?"
Maki Zen'in suggested from the side.
"That girl hasn't actually made a move yet. It seems she has no abilities other than her eloquence."
"Useless. The IPC is a conglomerate spanning the galaxy. Topaz might be a Director, but in the eyes of higher-level management, she's just a slightly higher-ranking corporate slave."
Kusakabe immediately rejected Maki's theory.
"Besides, what makes you think the IPC would entrust such a massive project to a girl with absolutely no martial means? I actually think she's just trying her best to avoid a 'combat' outcome. That doesn't mean she lacks combat power herself."
"Ah, then this situation is completely beyond Little March and Stelle's capabilities. How about…"
Kinji Hakari had a bright idea from the sidelines.
"How about using that token from the Xianzhou Alliance and calling General Jing Yuan over to help handle this?"
"…"
Shoko rolled her eyes at Kinji Hakari in speechless exasperation.
"If I were Jing Yuan… I'd have the Lightning-Lord strike down a guy with terrible ideas like you first."
—