["Long-term development philosophy… transcending time, transcending life. That Lady Rand truly was a great person." Topaz couldn't help but sincerely exclaim. "And the 'Rand' standing before me right now… is no less impressive."]
["Thank you for the recognition, but I really haven't done much." Bronya smiled bashfully. "I simply gathered the people of Belobog together and told them that the hard-won freedom we have is once again facing a massive threat."]
["If we want to preserve this freedom, we must take action—to prove to those doubting eyes that we have both the will and the ability to control our own destiny."]
["The results of the mobilization—you've seen them yourself. The children of Belobog have made their decision. They want to [Preserve] this homeland with their own hands."]
[Topaz lowered her gaze slightly: "Such a huge surprise—something I could never have anticipated no matter what."]
[She lowered her head in silent thought for a moment. Looking at Numby approaching her feet, a trace of melancholy flashed through Topaz's eyes. But in the end, she still made her decision. She raised her head to look at Bronya: "…I will fight for this chance for you. I conflated your situation with my own childhood experiences—that was a grave mistake."]
[A hint of regret appeared on Topaz's face. Her homeworld had never produced a leader as resolute as Bronya.]
[Seeing Topaz's hardened attitude soften, Bronya quickly asked: "Does that mean you're willing to retract your previous decision? As for that debt, we will definitely find a way to repay it slowly. It will just take time…"]
["…Unfortunately, the annexation of Jarilo-VI is a strategic decision that has already received approval from Company upper management. Even if I wanted to overturn it, convincing those above would be extremely difficult. Unless…"]
[At this point, both of their gazes turned toward Himeko in unison.]
[Himeko gave a slight smile and stepped forward: "Don't worry, Miss Topaz. I am willing to represent the Astral Express and stake the honor of all Nameless to guarantee this world."]
——
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
"Being willing to make that kind of guarantee—looks like the Astral Express not only has excellent credibility, but also quite a deep foundation!"
Hestia propped her cheeks on her hands as she lay across the tavern counter, staring intently at the three from the Express crew: "They don't seem to have regular jobs—where do their credits come from?"
"Eh? Probably some secret way of making money?" Bell, who was wiping his weapon, looked up. "I've seen March 7th's room decoration—it's pretty luxurious. The Express's income should be decent. But they don't seem too attached to money, so probably not to the point of being able to spend freely."
"Then Bell-kun, do you think they could use this kind of method to make money?"
"Hm? What method?"
Hestia narrowed her eyes and pretended to think, resting her hand on her chin: "Aren't they quite familiar with Kafka and Blade from the Stellaron Hunters? Couldn't the Express crew hand Blade over to the Company in exchange for that 8.13 billion credit bounty… then turn around and have SAM and Silver Wolf rescue him?"
"Back during the Xianzhou incident, Kafka said Silver Wolf and SAM could bust them out of the Shackling Prison. The Company should be able to do the same, right? Then split the bounty fifty-fifty with the Stellaron Hunters!"
"The key is—this trick can be reused endlessly! It promotes the Astral Express's strength in front of the Company, and there's no worry about Blade actually dying! If Blade really does die, then at least he got what he wanted. How about it, how about it? Bell-kun, isn't this method perfect?"
"Uh…"
"Hm? Bell-kun, do you think this method isn't reliable?" Hestia immediately leaned close to Bell, blinking her lake-blue eyes.
"Lady Goddess, it's not that it's unreliable… it's just… uh, if Blade found out that part of the bounty earned with his life was going to Dan Heng, he'd probably get so angry he'd trigger Mara-Struck on the spot, right?"
——
["That's great! This should work. As for the follow-up reporting process and any potential subsequent accountability…" Topaz quickly recovered from her dejection and gave a slight smile: "…I'll take care of that myself."]
[Stelle was actually a bit worried that Topaz would get her salary docked over this, but the person in question looked completely indifferent: "Dock it if they want~ Anyway, I've long since passed the stage where I work purely for money."]
[With matters finally settled, Stelle planned to head back to Goethe Hotel for a good night's sleep. But thinking about how she hadn't properly experienced the Solwarm Festival yet, she felt a little regretful.]
[Meanwhile, on the snowfields in another part of Belobog, Topaz was conversing with someone over her earpiece.]
[Mysterious person: "In summary, Topaz, the department will impose the following disciplinary actions on you—"]
["Demotion in rank: from P45 down to P44, with corresponding adjustment to base salary; cancellation of all reward plans you are participating in for one cycle, including stock options and performance bonuses."]
["Regarding this incident, you are required to submit an additional report to [Diamond]. If you have any objections, you may also file a written appeal."]
——
Zenless Zone Zero.
"I remember in that Company promotional ad, P47 seemed to be the highest position an ordinary person could reach, right?" Asaba Harumasa recalled. "So looking at it this way, Miss Topaz's rank within the Company is actually extremely high."
Although the squad leader had called Topaz "Director," Harumasa hadn't expected it to be such a high position—no wonder she said she had already achieved financial freedom and no longer needed to work for money.
"As followers of Qlipoth and the largest commercial force in the entire galaxy, the Company must surely have Emanators of [Preservation] internally. I wonder if P46 or P47 could produce a Preservation Emanator."
"P46 is impossible—P47 should have a chance…"
Tsukishiro Yanagi thought for a moment. "Emanators are extremely rare existences. Even across the entire Xianzhou Alliance, there are only seven—including the six Generals and the Marshal. Let's think from another angle: if you yourself were a Preservation Emanator, Harumasa, what position do you think would be reasonable for the Company to place you in?"
"Hm… at least P47… P46 is only one step away from the highest ordinary position in the Company, but you'd still be suppressed by P47. Honestly, it's hard for me to imagine a Preservation Emanator being outranked inside the Company—unless the one above them is also a Preservation Emanator. Otherwise it feels a bit… upside-down."
"Mm." Tsukishiro Yanagi nodded. "Above P47 is the Company's board of directors… that position should be where a Preservation Emanator exists."