["I have no objections."]
["Received. Then… does anyone else have anything to say?" There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Seeing no one willing to offer an opinion, the mysterious person promptly announced the meeting adjourned.]
[But within just a few seconds, the mysterious person's voice came through the earpiece again, this time carrying a hint of teasing: "Yo, lucky you, huh? Botching a project this big and only getting demoted one rank—looks like the old folks up top are really looking out for you. Oh, they're all offline now, right? Then—I'll just turn off this trash effect device."]
[The sound effect in the earpiece quickly shifted to a low, devilishly charming male voice.]
["Aventurine? You're still here?" Topaz sounded somewhat surprised.]
["What kind of question is that? Can't I be?"]
[Aventurine's tone was very relaxed. After a brief exchange of pleasantries with Topaz, he got to the point: "While you were playing friendship games on Jarilo-VI, [Diamond] sealed the deal with the big shot from the Construction Materials Logistics Department. That's why he was absent from today's roundtable meeting."]
["Taravan?"]
["Exactly—the legendary Taravan, one of the seven members of the board! His vote is going to us now, got it? Us—not the Market Development Department. This time, Oswaldo is finally going to stop laughing!"]
["But… Topaz, [Diamond] is basically a benefactor to both of us. On such an important day, pulling a stunt like this… it's going to be a little hard for Strategic Investment to explain, don't you think?"]
["..."]
[Topaz crossed her arms and let out a soft hum.]
["Since you understand, let's get to business: I'm in Pier Point right now. There's a major deal involving the entire department, and this trip I'm short one reliable project manager—friend, it has to be you."]
["Interesting. What kind of case would make even you learn to cooperate?"]
["What else? Penacony, obviously."]
["What? Diamond ultimately chose you? I thought it would be [Opal]… or maybe [Obsidian]… A deal like that—at the very least needs someone P46 or higher to handle it."]
["Who knows. The people in the [Family] aren't exactly right in the head. Trying to do legitimate business with them? No chance. But the Company's methods have never been limited to just trading—this is exactly when people like me come into play."]
——
Runeterra.
"So even inside the Company, it's all infighting and scheming." Jinx sprawled over the back of her chair, lazily swinging her braids. "I thought since everyone believes in [Preservation], they'd be a united front~"
Silco stood in the shadows, hands clasped behind his back. His one good eye narrowed slightly as he watched Topaz's faintly shocked expression on the screen: "My girl, faith is only a banner. The Interastral Peace Corporation is like a machine—people are just the gears inside it. It looks perfectly meshed, but every gear has its own direction."
"These lofty interstellar aristocrats, fighting over power and status—they're no different from the rats tearing at each other in Zaun… Oh, wait—no, they probably tear at each other more elegantly."
"Of course, we should still remember some key information from the Company. It might come in useful someday."
"Key information?" Jinx looked puzzled.
Silco let out a rare sigh. He leaned down to meet Jinx's eyes, staring straight into hers with his good one: "Jinx, from what Aventurine said—what did you pick up?"
"…I heard a bunch of complicated names, and Penacony."
"Mm. But there are some even more important things." Silco slowly straightened up and adjusted his collar. "Market Development Department and Strategic Investment Department don't get along, and Construction Materials Logistics just sided with [Diamond] from Strategic Investment in this clash—tilting the balance."
"So what use is that intel?" Jinx spread her hands.
"For now, none. But if one day the Interastral Peace Corporation expands to Runeterra, and Zaun has to interact with them—these details could help you in the future."
"Not everyone gets to eavesdrop on a Company roundtable meeting at P45 level and above. For certain people in the Company looking to climb higher, every word in that conversation could be worth a fortune—if the opportunity arises, we should make good use of this intelligence, Jinx."
——
[Back on the Express, Stelle was idly scrolling on her phone when suddenly a third-rate Xianzhou female streamer named "Guinaifen" sent her a live-stream link.]
[The link's title read:]
[#Ghosts Spotted#! Young maiden accidentally enters abandoned garden—wandering spirits and wild ghosts appear, danger everywhere!]
[(Live Broadcast) Real Record of the Supernatural and Mysterious! Two girls stray into ruined garden—threatened by ferocious ghosts! One loses all color in her face, the other fainted and still unconscious! Not suitable for viewers under 200 years old!]
[It even came with a screenshot, but when Stelle zoomed in and looked carefully, she still couldn't spot the ghost she was so eager to see.]
[Stelle: Urgent urgent urgent—so where exactly can I watch it?]
[Guinaifen replied that if Stelle was really interested, she could come to Aurum Alley to find her—she could show her the freshly edited full supernatural video.]
[Stelle figured that since there was still time before heading to Penacony, and she'd barely scratched the surface of Belobog's snowy sights, she might as well go alone to the Xianzhou for a stroll and meet this little streamer in person.]
[Soon after, Stelle found Guinaifen. Unlike most Xianzhou natives, she had rare and beautiful red hair—she was unmistakably a short-life species outsider.]
[Before playing the video for Stelle, Guinaifen deliberately lowered her voice in a mysterious tone.]
["Before we watch the video, I want to ask you one question, family: do you believe in the existence of ghosts and spirits?"]
——
Teyvat, Liyue.
Hu Tao had originally been lounging with her legs propped up on a grand master's chair, idly spinning a Mora between her fingers. But the moment she heard Guinaifen's question, she sprang up excitedly from the chair and slammed her hand on the table.
"Guest! Guest! Come look quick! This girl named Guinaifen just asked a great question!"
Zhongli was holding his teacup. At her words he merely lifted his golden eyes and spoke unhurriedly: "Director, what has you so worked up?"
"Of course it's the ghosts and spirits on the Xianzhou! I've wanted to know about this for ages! Speaking of which, Xianzhou culture has quite a few similarities with our Liyue—do you think their world actually has ghosts?"
Zhongli took a slow sip of tea before gently shaking his head: "The Xianzhou people have extremely long lifespans, and at the end of life comes Mara-Struck. Their departed souls may differ from our understanding."
"In Liyue, the souls of the dead pass on—there is no returning to life or possession. But on the Xianzhou it is different—that Miss Xueyi from the Ten-Lords Commission, her physical body has already perished, and what she uses now is a mechanical frame. From this perspective, even after death, Xianzhou souls can attach to objects and continue their duties."
"Wow… they have to keep working even after they die?" Hu Tao suddenly felt a little sorry for the Xianzhou people.