After hearing Aerin's "brilliant idea"—
Bronya and Seele both froze.
They had expected the man in front of them to come up with some clever solution.
Instead…
It sounded exactly like what the Interastral Peace Corporation wanted.
"You… want to buy Jarilo-VI… the entire planet?"
Bronya felt her legs go weak.
There were merchants in both the Upper and Lower Districts of Belobog.
As the Supreme Guardian's successor, she was no stranger to commerce.
But—
Someone casually saying they wanted to buy an entire planet?
That was beyond absurd.
"Mm."
Aerin nodded lightly, completely unfazed by their shock.
He walked over to Bronya's desk—
And casually sat down in her seat.
That immediately irritated Seele.
"That's where the Supreme Guardian sits."
"Not for long," Aerin replied calmly, folding his hands on the table.
"As far as I know, even after the Stellaron's influence is removed from Jarilo-VI…"
"For the ice and snow to truly recede, for the planet to become suitable for development again…"
"It will take at least three or four generations."
"That's another hundred years, at minimum."
"If you can't quickly establish a stable source of Credit income…"
"You'll never repay the debt."
"And as ordinary humans…"
"You won't live long enough to see the day the ice finally disappears."
"No one doubts Bronya's determination to protect and rebuild Belobog."
"But the next generation—or the one after that—may not have the same resolve."
"Even if the IPC gives you time…"
"You still won't be able to repay it."
"In the end, Belobog will still fall into the hands of the Interastral Peace Corporation."
"And your descendants…"
"Will still end up as their labor force."
Time and space meant nothing to Aerin.
If he wished, he could trace everything and see the natural course of Belobog's future.
If Bella hadn't interfered—
If Topaz had arrived at the "correct" time—
Then things would have gone very differently.
The Nameless of the Astral Express, led by Himeko, would have become Belobog's turning point.
The Astral Express would have forced the IPC to reconsider.
After all—
A debt already classified as bad debt…
A frozen, underdeveloped planet that would take generations to recover…
It wasn't worth as much as a favor from the Astral Express.
And Belobog's people themselves were remarkable.
The massive Engine of Creation—
Was built entirely through their own wisdom.
Even the automatons left behind by the IPC couldn't be activated.
The Architects of Belobog had recreated everything from blueprints alone.
Because of this—
The IPC would have given Belobog breathing room.
But in reality—
What they truly valued was the favor owed by the Astral Express.
Chat Group
Ningguang: "Belobog's people do have admirable willpower… but the ultimate beneficiary is still the Interastral Peace Corporation."
Yae Miko: "They're just giving Belobog time to breathe while securing a favor from the Astral Express. In the meantime, Belobog will still repay the debt through development. The IPC leadership is truly something."
Raiden Ei: "Miko, what do you mean?"
Raiden Makoto: "They gave Belobog time, yes—but during development, the IPC will still extract value. It's just a different form of repayment."
Paimon: "Wow… so Belobog still ends up working for them, and they even gain a favor? That's ruthless."
Bronya: "What choice would I have? Compared to signing everything away immediately… that outcome would already be the best."
Seele: "Sigh… so this is how survival works in the universe. Traps everywhere."
Topaz: "..."
Aventurine: "It's called strategic investment. No stealing—everything follows the rules."
Boothill: "Rules my ass. I'd love to shoot you for that."
Arataki Itto: "Hahaha! You're hilarious!"
Astral Express
Stelle and March 7th stared at Himeko with admiration.
"Wow, Himeko… your reputation is that powerful?" March said.
"I want to be like you someday," Stelle added enviously. "Someone everyone respects."
Himeko crossed her legs and set down her cup elegantly.
"It's just a favor. Nothing worth bragging about."
"When you become as strong as Teyvat's Valkyries—"
"And have the power to flip the table whenever you want—"
"Even if you default on the IPC's debt…"
"They wouldn't dare do anything."
March blinked.
"But… they don't seem like the type to default."
Welt adjusted his glasses and sighed.
"For someone like him… avoiding debt isn't about ability."
"It's about dignity."
Back in Belobog—
"You don't have a choice."
Aerin didn't mention Bella.
There was no point.
He simply forced Bronya to face reality.
"So what are your conditions?" Bronya asked.
"If you buy Jarilo-VI… what happens next?"
"We can't guarantee you won't harm Belobog's people."
"If that's the case…"
"We would rather cooperate with the IPC."
"At least Director Topaz told me about her homeworld."
Topaz's planet had once suffered severe environmental collapse.
The wealthy fled.
The poor remained, enduring acid rain.
Until the IPC arrived—
And gave them a chance at survival.
That was why Topaz believed her proposal was the best option.
Give up freedom… in exchange for survival.
"At least if we cooperate with the IPC, they will help Belobog develop."
Bronya wasn't worried about Aerin's wealth.
She was worried about what kind of ruler he would be.
Aerin looked at her with interest.
Then smiled.
"From a management perspective…"
"I only need to control the leadership."
"They handle everything else."
"So compared to Belobog's citizens…"
"I don't need their contracts."
"But you—"
"As the Supreme Guardian—must sign one."
"And her."
He glanced at Seele.
"Since she's heard everything."
"And by the way…"
"The IPC's World Reconstruction Project only succeeds about sixty percent of the time."
"There are countless failed planets."
"If it fails…"
"Belobog loses both its people and its home."
"But the contract still stands."
"You'll still be working for them."
"A complete loss."
Bronya's face turned pale.
Aerin's knowledge—and confidence—shook her deeply.
She even began to suspect—
Was he the chairman of the IPC?
"…No way. He's too young."
She shook her head internally.
"If it's just the two of us signing…"
Bronya looked at Seele.
Seele's expression changed instantly.
"Bronya, what do you take me for?"
"If the two of us can save Belobog—"
"I'll go with you without hesitation."
"I have no objections."
"Give me the contract. I'll sign it right now."
Aerin burst out laughing.
"Such impatience."
"A proper transaction is payment first, then goods."
"I haven't even paid yet, and you're already trying to sell yourself?"
"Are you missing a screw in your head?"
"You—!"
Even Seele was left blushing from being shut down.
"…Fine. Fair enough."
"You do follow the rules."
Bronya, however, looked at Aerin in surprise.
He was willing to pay first?
"…He's actually reliable."
"You name the price," Aerin said casually.
"I'll pay the Credits first. Then you sign."
"Don't forget to include Belobog's debt."
Bronya and Seele exchanged a glance.
How much was a planet worth?
They had no idea.
Finally, Bronya said:
"You don't need to pay for Jarilo-VI itself."
"If you can settle Belobog's debt…"
"We'll sign the contract."
"But we want one condition—"
"You must not deliberately harm Belobog's people."
Seele nodded vigorously.
Bronya had truly grown.
"…It's just…"
Bronya picked up the debt document, staring at the endless string of numbers.
"I can barely even read this number…"
"Can you really…"
"Mm. To me, it's just a number," Aerin said lightly.
Then he interrupted her reading.
"Forget it. You can't even read it properly."
"Call Topaz."
"I'll negotiate with her directly."
"Credits are too troublesome."
"I've never used them, and I'm not interested."
"Just bring Topaz here."
Interastral Peace Corporation – Strategic Investment Department
Topaz suddenly shivered.
"Why does that terrifying being want to meet me?"
"He's not going to kill me… right?"
"Or wipe out the entire company in one thought… solving Belobog's debt instantly…"
Aventurine trembled slightly.
"You mean… erase the IPC with a single thought?"
Topaz swallowed.
"Solving the problem by eliminating the one who raised it…"
"…That's definitely the fastest way."
After all—
Bella had said it herself.
If Topaz was lucky, she might stall Aerin.
If not—
She would simply be erased.
Even Jade could only sigh.
"What else can we do?"
"To him…"
"We're no different from how Bronya sees us."
"Whether we live or die…"
"Depends entirely on his mood."
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