"So then..."
"What is the price, Gul'dan?"
...Wait.
Wrong franchise.
Evan narrowed his eyes slightly as he studied the woman before him.
When it came to Jade, caution was necessary.
After all, her greatest talent wasn't combat.
It was understanding people.
The human heart was difficult for anyone to decipher.
Yet somehow, in Jade's hands, it became just another ledger waiting to be balanced.
Jade.
A gemstone.
Just like her name suggested.
The woman possessed skin as flawless as polished jade itself.
Smooth.
Pale.
Almost translucent.
Beautiful enough to make one lower their guard.
Evan walked into the room.
Pulled out a chair.
And sat directly across from her.
Neither spoke.
For several seconds, silence filled the room.
A faint fragrance drifted from Jade's body.
Elegant.
Refined.
Yet compared to that subtle perfume—
The smile she wore was far more dangerous.
It carried the sensation that at any moment she might swallow someone whole.
Not because of strength.
But because of method.
If Evan remembered correctly—
Besides the power of the Bonajade Exchange...
Jade also wielded a thorn-covered whip.
A truly dangerous woman.
The atmosphere grew strange.
Then Jade broke the silence.
"I never expected that the genius sought by countless factions across the universe..."
"The eighty-fifth member of the Genius Society..."
"Would actually be a Nameless."
"And coincidentally present in Penacony."
She smiled.
"Greetings, esteemed genius."
"I am Jade."
"One of the Ten Stonehearts of the Strategic Investment Department."
Unlike Aventurine's talent for gambling...
Jade's authority was different.
She could see desire.
It was one of the powers granted by her Cornerstone.
One of the reasons she had entrusted part of her stone to Aventurine during the Penacony operation.
Through it, she could observe the desires hidden within countless dreamers.
Yet now—
For the first time in a very long time—
She was confused.
Because she couldn't see anything.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
According to Aventurine's reports—
Evan carried the attention of multiple Aeons.
The blessing of Aha.
Recognition from Nous.
Potential ties to Fuli.
Several different Paths intertwined within a single soul.
Such a being should have possessed desires beyond imagination.
Yet Jade saw none.
It made no sense.
Everyone had desires.
Even gods.
So why couldn't she find Evan's?
"Lady Jade..."
Evan smiled lightly.
"Or perhaps I should call you Lady Bonajade."
"That title carries quite the reputation across the cosmos."
He leaned back.
Crossing one leg over the other.
"But I'm curious."
"What business does Lady Bonajade have inviting me into her private chambers?"
"Interesting."
Jade's smile widened slightly.
"So you know who I am."
"It seems Jarilo-VI is not nearly as isolated as people claim."
"I've heard from little Yelena."
"Apparently it's a poor, frozen world with very little value."
"Though she also mentioned that two geniuses have been supporting it."
"And..."
Her eyes sharpened.
"One particular genius left behind a technology valuable enough to attract the IPC's full attention."
She paused.
Then asked directly.
"Mr. Evan."
"This Plasma Spark technology..."
"Oh?"
"So that's what this is about."
Evan finally understood.
Then laughed.
"There's a rumor about you, Lady Bonajade."
"You always seek to maximize profit."
"The Silverchain System."
"A once-in-several-Amber-Era ionic storm gave you the opportunity to force an unwilling star system into the Credit network."
"In the frontier regions, people tell stories."
"When someone falls into complete despair..."
"When they're willing to sacrifice everything..."
"They pray to the IPC."
"And if fortune smiles upon them..."
"A lender who never refuses will appear."
Evan looked directly into Jade's eyes.
Then slowly recited:
"Welcome to the Bonajade Exchange."
"Who are you?"
"What do you seek?"
"And then..."
"You wait."
"Waiting for the desires of the galaxy to flow into your hands."
The room fell silent.
For once—
Jade didn't know how to respond.
She simply stared at him.
Carefully.
Quietly.
Analyzing.
Every genius she had ever met possessed weaknesses.
Ruan Mei cared only about life sciences.
Herta cared only about research.
Screwllum cared about mechanical civilization.
All of them could be negotiated with.
Traded with.
Leveraged.
Yet Evan...
Was different.
After a long pause, Evan finally continued.
"As for Plasma Spark technology..."
"I have no intention of handing over the core technology to the IPC."
"The moment you acquire it, you'll industrialize it immediately."
"So the core data has already been distributed."
"Bronya has a copy."
"Herta has a copy."
"Svarog has a copy."
"The IPC is welcome to invest."
"But not own it."
Jade remained silent.
Listening.
"I assume Topaz has already submitted the feasibility report."
"So the company should understand its value."
Evan smiled.
Then casually added:
"Of course..."
"You could always try taking it by force."
"I've actually been curious."
"Just how powerful is Diamond these days?"
The moment those words fell—
A terrifying pressure filled the room.
Jade's pupils contracted.
She had met Diamond countless times.
A true Preservation Emanator.
One of the most powerful individuals within the IPC.
The reason the Ten Stonehearts existed at all.
The man striving toward the throne of the Lord of Wealth.
A position beneath the Aeons themselves.
Yet now—
The aura emanating from Evan was not weaker than Diamond's.
Not even slightly.
And most importantly—
She still couldn't see his desires.
Not even a trace.
Which meant something terrifying.
Every power she possessed to manipulate greed, ambition, temptation, and longing—
Was completely ineffective against him.
For the first time in many Amber Eras...
Jade discovered a client she could not negotiate with.
Because negotiations required desire.
And the man sitting before her...
Appeared to have none.
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