Jarilo-VI — Belobog
A world of ice and snow.
The successful ignition of the Plasma Spark System had immediately caught the attention of the IPC representatives.
After all—
That thing…
Was incredibly useful.
Inside Qlipoth Fort — Administrative Hall—
Bronya sat upright behind her desk, her expression serious.
Across from her—
Sat a woman who clearly didn't come with friendly intentions.
Topaz.
A member of the IPC's Strategic Investment Department.
A specialist in non-performing asset liquidation.
One of the Ten Stonehearts.
"Supreme Guardian."
"I believe I've already made my position quite clear."
Topaz folded her arms, her tone calm but firm.
"I fully understand your planet's hardships."
"My own homeworld once faced similar disasters."
She had been in Belobog for several days now.
Aside from attending the Plasma Spark ignition ceremony—
She had spent the rest of her time deploying IPC personnel across the region.
The snowfields.
Everwinter Hill.
The Overworld.
The Underworld mines.
Rivet Town.
The Robot Settlement.
Every area—
Surveyed.
Calculated.
Like a company doing end-of-month asset evaluation.
And naturally—
The locals noticed.
Especially in the Underworld—
Where IPC employees had acted arrogantly.
Even Natasha's Wildfire struggled to keep things under control.
In just two days—
Complaints had already reached Bronya's desk.
And Topaz?
She knew.
Which was why—
The people of Belobog didn't exactly welcome the IPC.
"…Miss Topaz."
"I understand your position."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Topaz smiled faintly.
"Belobog's current financial strain is not your fault."
"Nor is it the fault of your people."
"But objectively speaking—"
"As long as Belobog exists as an independent polity…"
"This debt cannot simply be written off."
Bronya frowned.
She knew—
Topaz wasn't wrong.
Seven hundred years ago—
Belobog had taken a loan from the IPC.
And in many ways—
That loan had allowed the city to survive.
In truth—
The IPC didn't need to collect it.
If Evan hadn't appeared—
Topaz's arrival might even have been seen as help.
After all—
Even with the Stellaron crisis resolved—
Jarilo-VI was far from recovered.
Resources were still scarce.
Expansion would take time.
And for seven hundred years—
The IPC had never stopped monitoring the planet.
Even when it had been buried in ice.
Even when it had lost all value as a tourist world.
Fifty-six employees—
Rotating shifts.
Each one—
Spending an average of 12.5 years sending messages—
To a planet that never responded.
From an outsider's perspective—
Jarilo-VI had no value.
But to the IPC?
A planet that worshipped the Amber Lord Qlipoth—
And survived seven centuries of catastrophe?
That was a perfect case study.
A model world.
Which was why—
Topaz had come.
Bronya clenched her fists silently.
Seele leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed—
But her eyes were sharp.
Half an hour ago—
She had already contacted Evan.
But received no reply.
The room fell into silence.
Then—
The doors opened.
A girl walked in.
"Yo~ little Topaz."
"Long time no see."
"Did Diamond not come?"
Herta.
Topaz's eyes sharpened instantly.
If Herta was here—
Then Jade's intel was correct.
Jarilo-VI didn't just have debt—
It had a genius.
And if she could win that genius over—
Seven hundred years of bad debt—
Would mean nothing.
Bronya was momentarily stunned—
But Herta's arrival eased some of the pressure.
After all—
She had been invited here by Evan.
Though eccentric—
She was currently overseeing the Academy's operations.
Still—
Bronya knew one thing.
Belobog could not afford to owe a favor—
To someone like her.
"Miss Herta."
Topaz greeted politely.
"My apologies—Mr. Diamond was unaware you were here."
"Otherwise, he would have come in person."
"Oh please."
Herta waved it off.
"Diamond's not worth the trouble."
She glanced around.
"So?"
"Talking business?"
"…It's nearly concluded."
Topaz replied with a smile.
Her gaze shifted back to Bronya.
"Supreme Guardian."
"If Jarilo-VI wishes to reconnect with the galaxy…"
"Your credit standing with the IPC will be critical."
Bronya looked down at the contract.
Silent.
Then—
Topaz spoke again.
"Now that official matters are settled—"
"I have one more question."
"Do you know someone named Evan?"
"…Of course."
Bronya nodded.
Topaz glanced around.
No one here matched the profile.
So she asked directly.
"That genius…"
"Is he from Belobog?"
She paused briefly.
"…Apologies. I got ahead of myself."
"In addition to resolving this debt—"
"I was also entrusted by Mr. Diamond…"
"To discuss a potential collaboration with Mr. Evan."
"If he's here—"
"Would it be possible to meet him?"
Silence.
Herta's expression turned strange.
So did Bronya's.
And Seele's.
All of them looked at Topaz—
Like she had just missed something obvious.
"…Huh?"
"Kid, you're late."
Herta said casually.
"He already left."
"If I'm not mistaken—"
"He should've just left the Xianzhou by now."
She waved her phone lazily.
Not showing the messages—
But making the point clear.
"…He left?"
Topaz froze for a moment—
But quickly recovered.
"Right."
Herta added casually.
"You're here to collect debt, right?"
"You seemed pretty interested in that Plasma Spark System earlier."
"That thing?"
"She left it behind."
"For these girls."
"…What?"
Topaz blinked.
That device—
Was from Evan?
Herta.
A member of the Genius Society.
An Emanator of Erudition.
Even Diamond respected her.
If she said it—
Then it was true.
"…I see."
"Alright, I won't interrupt."
Herta turned to leave.
"Your business is your own problem now."
She waved her hand.
And walked out—
Toward the research institute.
Topaz stood there for a moment—
Then smiled.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
She turned back to Bronya.
"I didn't expect Mr. Evan to take such interest in this planet."
"In that case…"
"Our agreement—"
"Needs to be revised."
Her eyes gleamed.
Belobog—
Had just become far more valuable.
If she could secure it—
The returns would be enormous.
Which meant—
The plan to acquire Belobog using its 700-year debt—
Would need adjusting.
Inside the administrative hall—
Bronya's expression eased slightly.
But she knew—
This just got more complicated.
This negotiation—
Was no longer just about debt.
It was about—
Evan's leverage.
He had already prepared everything.
The question now—
Was how to maximize value—
Secure IPC support—
And still—
Protect Belobog's sovereignty.
Bronya pressed her temple lightly.
Her head was starting to hurt again.
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