Space Station.
Ever since Acheron and the Nameless of the Astral Express had gone to Jarilo-VI together, Kiana had been unable to stop thinking about it.
Every so often, she would contact Acheron.
Asking about the situation.
But it had already been two system hours since Acheron last replied to her message.
"Looks like they've arrived."
The previous message had been Acheron informing her that she had reached Jarilo-VI.
From that, it could be inferred that she had most likely already reached Belobog with the Nameless. Perhaps they had even entered the city by now.
"With the Stellaron gone, what comes next should..."
Kiana thought for quite a while about what Acheron and the others might encounter next, yet she still couldn't form a clear idea.
The Stellaron was already gone.
That left only the Legion as a potential threat.
She wondered whether the Antimatter Legion on that planet had begun to revive.
Thinking of this, Kiana suddenly remembered someone else. Her eyes lit up as she found Jyahnar.
She could ask Jyahnar about the current situation.
[Kiana: Jyahnar, are you there?]
The message was replied to instantly, as if the person on the other end had been staring at the chat window the whole time.
[Jyahnar: I'm here!]
[Jyahnar: Kiana, are you coming over?]
That reply was way too fast. Had she really been waiting there just for her message?
Certain images flashed through Kiana's mind.
Flustered, she hurriedly shoved those thoughts away and started typing.
[Kiana: How's Jarilo-VI been lately? The Legion hasn't fully revived, right?]
This time, Jyahnar didn't reply immediately. After a short while, a new message came through.
[Jyahnar: A few ice sculptures have revived. Not many—about one percent, I think.]
"And that's not a lot?"
Kiana's expression stiffened in surprise. One percent didn't sound like much, but how many Voidrangers were deployed in a single Legion campaign?
And what kind of strength did those Voidrangers possess?
[Jyahnar: There have also been a lot of outsiders arriving lately. Do you need me to clear them out?]
"A lot of outsiders? Does she mean Mei and the others, or... the IPC?"
[Kiana: Do you recognize those people?]
[Jyahnar: I don't.]
[Jyahnar: That woman Raiden Mei arrived today. Kiana, you're the one who asked her to come, right?]
"So Mei has indeed reached Belobog. If she's acting together with Stelle and the others, they should be at Qlipoth Fort by now."
Kiana muttered to herself, sketching out in her mind what they were probably doing.
After chatting with Jyahnar for a while, she learned more about Belobog's current situation.
The outsiders Jyahnar mentioned.
Were people from the IPC.
The IPC had arrived in Belobog before the Astral Express, though not by much.
Just a few days earlier.
Those revived Voidrangers had also begun reawakening in the past few days, roughly around the same time the IPC reached Jarilo-VI.
The good news was that their numbers were still low.
The bad news was that the Antimatter Legion would most likely revive collectively in a short time.
Kiana asked Jyahnar more about the Voidrangers—whether they had been tainted by Honkai energy, and what they had become after being infused with it.
But Jyahnar had never seen normal Voidrangers to begin with. To her, those things looked perfectly ordinary.
For that, they would have to rely on Mei's judgment.
Kiana felt an itch in her heart. She really wanted to go take a look herself, to see what the situation was like now.
Rolling over, she pondered for a long time before sitting up. Everyone else had something to do. Only she was stuck in observation mode, with nothing to do.
"No, I can't cause trouble for Ruan!"
The moment the thought of going to check surfaced, she had already sat up—yet she lay back down again.
She felt perfectly normal right now.
But since it had been Ruan and Mei's decision.
Maybe in a couple of days. If she went to meet up with Mei then, it shouldn't be a problem.
That was what Kiana told herself.
She could teleport directly to Mei's side, saving a lot of travel time and reassuring everyone else.
Returning to the space station afterward would be easy as well.
"I'll wait a little longer."
At the very least, until tomorrow.
As she continued thinking, and seeing that Acheron still hadn't replied, she knew Acheron must be busy and stopped waiting for a response.
Setting her phone aside, she stared at the ceiling in boredom. Maybe she should go find the Cat Cakes to play with again?
Belobog's situation was not optimistic.
After a round of discussion, the Nameless also learned why the IPC had appeared in this world.
She had come to collect a debt.
A debt from seven hundred years ago.
What she hadn't expected was that upon arrival, she would coincidentally run into the Antimatter Legion from seven centuries past reviving once more.
Moreover, the other party was not cooperating with Topaz's work. To be honest, after dealing with Belobog's Supreme Guardian several times, she found that she simply didn't like this Supreme Guardian named Cocolia.
It wasn't because the debt couldn't be repaid.
It was Cocolia's attitude.
Her attitude in many aspects gave Topaz the feeling that they simply couldn't see eye to eye. If not for the fact that this world seemed to be hiding some secret—and that Cocolia, on the surface, had not yet torn things apart, merely dragging things out—
Topaz might already have taken other measures.
Debts must be repaid. That was only natural.
Topaz did not believe there was anything wrong with demanding that debt from Belobog. And relying solely on Belobog's current strength, it was impossible for them to stand against a fully revived Legion.
Once the Legion revived, it would most likely attract additional forces of the Legion. It might even draw the attention of a Lord Ravager.
For now, Topaz remained here.
On one hand, she hoped to persuade Cocolia to think of the ordinary citizens and not act stubbornly.
On the other, she was observing whether the situation would deteriorate further.
Would Jarilo-VI, having just endured the long winter, be reduced to ashes by the flames of destruction?
She hoped that Belobog's Supreme Guardian would make the right choice.
"We have no intention of interfering in the debt dispute between Belobog and the IPC," Welt said after hearing the full story. "And for Jarilo-VI, the most pressing matter right now does not seem to be the debt, but the Legion that is reviving—and the enemies gathering outside."
They had only just arrived in this world. Although they did not approve of the IPC's snowballed interest accumulating over seven centuries, they currently had no standing to refute it.
"If..."
Something crossed Welt's mind, and his gaze flickered slightly, but he kept the thought to himself.
"Surely the IPC is aware of the Antimatter Legion's ways? If this matter isn't resolved quickly, once the flames of war are reignited, the rekindled conflict may attract other Legion forces—perhaps even a Lord Ravager."
"No one wishes to see the flames of destruction engulf this world again," Topaz said, looking at Cocolia. "Supreme Guardian, my offer still stands. As long as you sign the contract, the IPC will provide aid to Jarilo-VI—and that debt will be written off in full."
"You don't need to worry that we have ulterior motives. The IPC is not your enemy. I've already gone over every clause that requires attention. You should have had someone examine the contract I provided."
"There are no hidden addendums. These are the best terms I was able to secure for you."
Although Topaz disliked dealing with Cocolia, during her asset evaluation of Belobog, she had come to understand what this world had endured during the seven hundred years it had been cut off from the outside.
They had persisted until today.
There was no reason for them to fall on the eve of dawn.
Topaz genuinely admired the people of this world. And what she could do for them was to fight for slightly better terms.
That debt was an astronomical sum Belobog could never repay under any circumstances. And this world had not yet fully escaped danger. In her eyes, she was bringing hope.
This was their only choice.
They would merely lose their freedom.
They had been trapped within this city for seven hundred years. Ninety percent of its people would never leave this place in their lifetimes. After signing with the IPC, they would gain a new future.
They would no longer be confined by snow and storm. They could walk beyond the city. They would not have to fear that their lives might be threatened without warning. They could set foot among the vast stars.
Topaz truly could not understand why they would refuse.
Or rather—what right did they even have to refuse?
On their own, they could not restore this world's ecology.
On their own, they could not handle the Voidrangers that were about to revive.
"You're saying that as long as we sign this contract, the IPC will help Belobog resolve its current crisis?" Cocolia finally spoke.
Topaz nodded. "Don't think of the IPC as some villain. The IPC also reveres the Amber Lord and follows the Path of Preservation."
Her gaze shifted toward Gepard, whose surface calm barely concealed his dissatisfaction. Compared to Cocolia, she found herself with a more favorable impression of this captain.
"I know you believe that signing this contract means losing your freedom. But before pursuing freedom, one must first confront a cruel reality—survival."
If even living becomes a luxury, what right does one have to pursue freedom?
"I understand that in some people's eyes, freedom is more precious than life. But have you considered those ordinary citizens who lack the strength to protect themselves? To them, which matters more—freedom, or life?"
"Or let me put it more bluntly—have they ever truly experienced freedom at all?" Topaz looked again at Cocolia. "Trapped within this city by the eternal frost, unable to set foot among the stars for their entire lives."
Cocolia rose to her feet and descended the steps one by one. She ignored everyone else and fixed her gaze on Topaz.
"If the IPC is truly as benevolent as you claim, then why did it abandon Belobog more than seven hundred years ago?"
"You're nothing but opportunists!"
Her fists clenched tight. Beneath her composure lay anger long suppressed.
"Since you've been to the Underworld to see Svarog and visited the weapons factory, you should know that the weapons you left behind were all hidden away. They played no part in that battle."
"I will not hand this world over to the IPC."
After days of negotiation, this was the first time Cocolia had openly declared her stance.
Acheron watched her thoughtfully.
This was not her first time seeing this woman. During her previous visit to this world, while observing its changes, she had noticed Cocolia traveling alone to the Everwinter Hill several times.
If she remembered correctly, this woman had once reached some kind of agreement with the Stellaron.
"With disaster looming, you're still debating who this world belongs to?" Acheron's gaze swept over the two of them, faintly puzzled. "Are you going to wait until the situation is beyond saving before regretting that you failed to prepare earlier?"
"You misunderstand." Topaz offered an apologetic smile. "It's precisely because I know this world has not yet escaped danger that I hope the Supreme Guardian can make a decision as soon as possible."
"Only then would I have grounds to request that the IPC provide assistance to this world—and intervene in the war that is about to erupt."
"That won't be necessary," Cocolia replied coldly. "Belobog means little to the IPC. Who can guarantee that after we stake everything, the IPC will truly extend its hand?"
Topaz fell silent for a moment before answering, "I am willing to personally guarantee it."
"The members of the Astral Express can also serve as witnesses."
She had no obligation to go this far.
She simply could not bear to watch Belobog abandon what might be its final hope.
It was, after all, a deal requiring no capital from her side.
Why refuse?
"This..."
Himeko and Welt exchanged glances. They still did not fully understand this world's situation, nor were they particularly familiar with the IPC representative before them. They did not know what kind of person she truly was.
"We are here only because of the Honkai and the Legion," Acheron said. Listening to this argument gave her a headache. It was fortunate she was not of this world—otherwise she might not have had such patience.
She glanced at the Nameless who had come with her. After a moment's thought, she continued.
"The Stellaron on Jarilo-VI was sealed by Ruan Mei and me. Ruan Mei also conducted certain experiments here."
They could not be allowed to continue arguing like this.
The conversation had to be paused.
"The stigmata borne by these people were created by Ruan Mei. If the IPC intends to acquire this planet... I believe it would be necessary to consult Ruan Mei's opinion first."
Acheron's words were like a depth charge detonating beneath the surface, and shock spread across Topaz's face.
The only Ruan Mei she knew was the genius of the Genius Society—peerless in the field of life sciences.
This matter involved a Genius?
And not just any Genius—but the reclusive Ruan Mei, who had devoted herself to life sciences, rarely leaving traces of her presence?
Acheron had no intention of interfering in the dispute.
But judging by the two of them, neither would relent unless the matter was fully settled.
She could not stand watching it any longer.
Moreover, this world was far from ordinary.
"Lady Ruan Mei?"
"She is at Herta Space Station. If you truly intend to purchase this world, you may contact Herta," Acheron said. "Have Herta reach out to Ruan Mei and arrange an introduction for you."
If you can manage to meet her.
"So Lady Ruan Mei has visited this world. No wonder it feels somewhat unusual."
In that instant, Topaz's thoughts raced.
If Ruan Mei stood behind this world, then perhaps it truly did not require the IPC's assistance to survive.
Even that astronomical debt might not be a problem.
A genius like her lacked neither wealth nor influence. In fact, many high-ranking figures within the IPC would struggle to find an opportunity to offer money to a member of the Genius Society.
Especially one whose expertise lay in the study of life.