Two unfamiliar auras quietly appeared behind Topaz. At that moment, the ease in her eyes was instantly torn apart by cold terror, and disbelief was reflected deep in her pupils.
Almost instinctively, she spun around abruptly—however, all hesitation turned into cold reality.
"Hello."
A blonde man dressed in clerical robes stood quietly in front of Topaz. Beneath his meticulously groomed blonde hair was a face with clear contours.
The most striking feature was those clear and translucent emerald eyes, currently gazing at Topaz gently, with a genuine smile dyeing the tips of his brows.
He nodded slightly, his smile just right. The well-tailored black and white clerical robes added a touch of approachability beneath the solemnity of his tall and straight posture.
Topaz was all too familiar with this appearance. The leading figure of the [Church of Eternity]—Pontiff Blake.
"Good day, Ms. Topaz of the [Strategic Investment Department]. This should be our first formal meeting. I was fortunate enough to hear about you in a certain issue of the Interastral Peace Broadcast."
Opening with a classic greeting, the other party's tone seemed devoid of malice.
"No need to be nervous, we are not enemies... at least not right now." Blake's tone remained gentle. "Perhaps, you could cut the communication line to the Company leadership.
"If there isn't even the most basic trust between people, then what is the meaning of my appearance here?"
Blake boredly took out a bar of soap. Topaz couldn't help but take a step back; who knew if what he held was a planet-destroying weapon or just ordinary toiletries.
"The [Company] has no ill will..."
"Mmh~ Good, no ill will. Then we might as well speak more plainly. Ms. Topaz, as a member of the [Ten Stonehearts], should know this, right?"
"To have the right to an [Equal Dialogue] with me, at least have [Diamond] himself present."
Blake maintained his smile. The arc that might have originally symbolized kindness quickly spoiled in Topaz's eyes. Invisible pressure, like ice, seeped into her marrow, gripping her beating heart.
A wave of fear almost exploded in her heart. This was the first time Topaz had faced an [Eternity] Emanator at such close range.
"Ah~ apologies. Perhaps I was too impulsive." Blake took back the soap and apologized:
"Just as I said, the Company... no, the [Strategic Investment Department] and the [Church of Eternity] are not in a hostile relationship."
"If the one standing in front of me were those bastards from the [Marketing Development Department], then it would be hard to say... Oh right, almost forgot, their director is already paralyzed."
"Moreover, the value of Jarilo-VI isn't enough to gather three [Emanators] in one room, is it?"
The guard Topaz had just lowered was raised again. There's a hidden meaning in the Church Pontiff's words... are there more experts here?
...
Boulder Town. With the addition of Stelle and March 7th, dealing with the Company employees was a breeze.
Before formally entering the Great Mine, Stelle realized a problem: "March, when did you change your clothes?!"
"Just now, after chatting with Topaz at the museum? You didn't just notice, did you... Care more about your companions!"
"Solve the Company's problem earlier, and we can enjoy the festive atmosphere earlier!"
Seele raised her scythe. "Time to drive these [Company] guys out of the Underworld!"
After Adrian cast the [Door of Aleph], Seele bore the brunt and jumped right in.
"The miners are all gathered over there... What is this strong sense of déjà vu?"
"After all, when you first came here, the situation was pretty much the same. It's just that compared to hooligans and a few tattered robots, the opponents this time are much trickier."
"Indeed, it must be hard for Seele to imagine that they can keep Warp Trotters as pets."
Sure enough, after Stelle said this, she saw Seele cast a puzzled look. It seemed her knowledge was indeed shallow.
"Ha? That thing... isn't that a creature from the Fragmentum? It can actually be kept as a pet?!"
"People from the Company, they have a lot of advanced tech. Keeping a Trotter as a pet isn't strange. Maybe you'll even see someone releasing milk tea, hehe~"
Stelle recalled her undercover experience in the [Release Guild], wondering how Screwlloyd was doing now.
"Don't understand. These outworlders play really openly."
...
Deep in the Mine. Seeing a heavyweight Company employee, similar to an Automaton Grizzly, guarding below, Seele tightened her grip on her weapon.
"That big guy, could he be the one in charge?"
"For the operator of such a large mecha, generally speaking, they act as a [Team Leader]. If I remember correctly, the Church has similar ones."
Thanks to Deacon Screwlloyd, the Church definitely had backup hidden energy sources. As long as it involved mechanics, it could crank them out.
"Hmph! I want to see who controls whom today... Let's go!"
After speaking, Seele jumped down directly in front of Adrian and the other two, without any protection.
"Making an entrance like this?!"
March 7th and Stelle followed closely behind, while Adrian stayed above to watch the show.
"Hey, that big guy over there! Are you the one in charge here?"
"...Locals? The Company is currently conducting asset assessment work here. Local residents, please follow the staff responsible for evacuation to the safe area to rest."
"What kind of [Evacuation] is this? You clearly forcibly occupied the mine and drove the miners out of their own homes!"
Seele's attitude was equally tough, and her aggression was very strong: "I warn you, get the hell out of here immediately. Don't let me see those outfits of yours again... otherwise, don't blame this scythe for having no eyes!"
After these words, the Company Team Leader was dumbfounded. Where did she get this confidence?
"Uh... who are you, speaking so arrogantly? Have you not witnessed the power of the [Company's] weapons?"
"Did Topaz allow you to act so recklessly?"
"You actually know Director Topaz? It seems your identity is indeed not simple..."
"Uh, wait! I don't care who you are. Employees of the [Strategic Investment Department] have no obligation to explain project details to unrelated personnel."
He understood. These people were obviously dissatisfied with the Company's actions and came to pick a fight!
"In the event that the debtor fails to repay within the execution period, the Company has the right to skip the negotiation stage and directly take over their assets. Everything is done according to the rules. What are you dissatisfied with?"
"Sounds like that's the case, but aren't these miscellaneous rules all set by yourselves? This world finally came back to life with great difficulty; it can't withstand your reckless tossing about!"
"Uh, this is... this is the leadership's decision! We are only responsible for execution. It's useless for you to say this to us," the Team Leader tried to justify.
"Forget it, March. Stop reasoning with them! I didn't expect to resolve this peacefully anyway."
Seele's desire to attack had been ignited: "Didn't you say that the broken [Company] weapons are advanced? Just the right opportunity to let me see... Come on, let's exchange a few moves!"
"Tsk... didn't expect to really tear off the mask. If I knew earlier, I would have applied for overtime in advance..."