Chapter 46 : Chapter 46 The management gives the order; the Black Tower's big hand has arrived!
[Strategic Investment Department · Topaz]: I'd like to know more about the specific features and content of this game. I mean, it would make our investigation easier.
[I understand, you two. In fact, our department doesn't have much information either. All we know is that this game is a role-playing game themed around the Astral Express.]
[Strategic Investment Department · Aventurine]: "The Astral Express?"
[I recall you two seem to have had dealings with the Astral Express before. Any candidates come to mind?]
Over the call, both Aventurine and Topaz fell silent simultaneously.
After a moment, Topaz was the first to speak.
[Strategic Investment Department · Topaz]: "None."
[Strategic Investment Department · Topaz]: "After my last contact with them, they should have already departed for their next stop. Even if they knew about this, they likely wouldn't have the time to handle it."
[Strategic Investment Department · Aventurine]: "Let's talk more about the game content. Role-playing... as in, we play as Trailblazers exploring planets?"
[Yes, exactly...]
Thus, the Game Department staff summarized the game's content.
This included the currently available content, the plot, and that planet named Amphoreus.
After listening, Aventurine became quite intrigued.
[Strategic Investment Department · Aventurine]: "Oh? Amphoreus... In the IPC's archival records, there isn't even a single backup related to this planet."
[Strategic Investment Department · Aventurine]: "But the game itself is actually quite good. If I weren't busy with work, I'd actually like to experience the life of a Trailblazer."
[You must be joking.]
[Strategic Investment Department · Aventurine]: "I'm not exactly joking."
With just a little information, he immediately grasped the key point of the game.
That planet named Amphoreus.
The Interstellar Peace Corporation has partnerships with countless planets in the galaxy; planets that remain undiscovered are few and far between.
That was where the problem lay.
But why?
The other party could breach the IPC firewall without leaving any clues. Someone with such overwhelming ability made even Aventurine and the others feel it was a thorny issue.
So, what was the motive?
As a high-ranking executive of the Strategic Investment Department and one of the Stonehearts, Aventurine knew very well that everything boiled down to profit and meaning.
Would someone hack the IPC and misappropriate Ms. Herta's portrait and reputation rights, taking such a massive risk just to earn some credits?
Unless they were a follower of Aha.
Therefore, this was definitely not a simple case of infringement; the problem likely lay with this planet!
Aventurine and Topaz quickly exchanged views, emphasizing that if an investigation were to occur, they must first try to find this planet in reality.
[Strategic Investment Department · Topaz]: "This analysis makes sense, but we still don't know their purpose."
[Strategic Investment Department · Aventurine]: "That's not important. As long as we can actually find the planet they described, everything will be solved."
[Strategic Investment Department · Topaz]: "How about this: I'll first try to contact the Astral Express to see if they know about this planet, and you..."
[Ding-dong!]
Suddenly.
A message dropped in.
[Strategic Investment Department · Jade]: "Children, there is an urgent situation I need to notify you about. If you see this message, remember to come find me."
[...]
Just as the two were about to finalize their work assignments, Jade suddenly sent a message?
In front of their screens, both Aventurine and Topaz hesitated for a moment.
However, they soon put down their current work and contacted Jade one after another.
Instantly.
As the communication devices reacted, although they were not in the same location, Jade's holographic image appeared before both of them.
"Ms. Jade."
Upon seeing her, a hint of a smile appeared on Topaz's lips:
"I'm here. The important notice you mentioned in your message..."
Jade wore her signature smile: "It's regarding the new job you two took on, investigating that game."
"You don't need to do it anymore."
Topaz was slightly dazed and spread her hands slightly: "What happened, Ms. Jade? Was there some complication, or has someone else taken over?"
"No."
Her voice was calm, as if she were relaying a trivial matter: "It has simply been terminated."
"There is no need for you to investigate further. This is an order from management."
As soon as these words were spoken.
Not just Topaz, but Aventurine, who also received Jade's message, was stunned.
It's terminated just like that?
"And it's an order from management?"
...
At the same time, news was being received in various places.
Game Production Department chat group.
[IPC management has already taken notice. This matter has become huge. Obviously, we don't need to worry; it will come to a natural end.]
[Even the IPC's P45s have been mobilized? After all, the game infringes on many parties and went through the IPC platform. Theoretically, this should be the stance taken.]
[...]
Someone in the group had inside information, so they quickly learned that the high-level executives had been mobilized and began sharing the news.
But precisely because of this.
[Something's happened, everyone!]
[Over at the IPC...]
A moment later, the order issued from the IPC management quickly spread to the group chat.
This caused the already lively group to reach a boiling point.
[Is the situation you're describing true?]
[It absolutely cannot be fake, and the order came directly from management! So the investigation into this game has almost completely stopped. It's like...]
[Old Oti: Like someone gave it the green light?]
[This is ridiculous. Getting management to personally issue an order? What's the background of the developer behind this? His one game infringed on so many people, is the IPC going to take the fall for him?!]
[Incredible. Other non-directly profitable characters aside, but on Ms. Herta's side... unless there's one other possibility.]
Just as this message appeared, Old Oti received first-hand information.
Penacony, on a spacecraft.
He sat leisurely on a sofa. At this time, a subordinate beside him approached tremblingly and whispered a few words in his ear.
It was no one else.
The only one who could talk directly to management was that Genius.
"Ho ho ho ho ho~"
Old Oti's laughter was hearty: "Interesting, interesting. I haven't encountered something this interesting in a long time."
"Could this... be more than just a game?"
Just as had been speculated in the group chat earlier.
The various interstellar manufacturers didn't think such a thing could prompt Ms. Herta to make an appearance, because it was just a game—a minor matter among minor matters.
For the IPC to handle it, they only needed to show a certain stance; dispatching P45-level figures was already unexpected enough.
But at this moment.
Ms. Herta had appeared. What was even more surprising was that her appearance wasn't to hold the game or the person behind it accountable.
Quite the opposite.
She actually appeared to protect this game?!
For a time, as the news spread internally, everyone was discussing the relationship between this game and Ms. Herta, or rather, the relationship between the person behind it and Ms. Herta.
But externally, everyone remained silent, because this was no longer something they could get involved in.
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