"Miss Kallen, it truly has been far too long. Your elegance is as dazzling as ever."
After Robin was finally sent off, the IPC's representative was ushered in almost immediately.
And, unsurprisingly, the person who had come was none other than Jade, the highest-ranking IPC official currently stationed in Penacony.
After all, to the IPC, the matter of "claiming" Penacony was nowhere near as important as the Emanator of Preservation sitting before them.
"Oh, so it's Madam Jade." Kallen nodded, making no move to rise. "Please, sit."
Jade's gaze lingered on Kallen for a moment, as if silently confirming something.
Then she took her seat on the sofa opposite her, her posture upright without being stiff.
The two women looked at each other for several seconds.
Kallen waited for Jade to speak first. Jade, meanwhile, was waiting for Kallen to do the same.
…
Fine. It seemed they both intended to make the other start.
In the end, Jade was the first to break the silence.
"Miss Kallen, on behalf of the Interastral Peace Corporation—and on behalf of everyone who awakened from that dream—I wish to thank you for stepping in."
Right out of the gate, Jade took the moral high ground, grandly declaring gratitude on behalf of the whole galaxy.
"On behalf of the whole galaxy?" Kallen arched a brow. "Since when did Madam Jade become so charitable? I thought the IPC only cared about its quarterly returns."
Jade did not take offense. If anything, the corner of her mouth lifted into something that could almost be called a warm smile.
"Returns matter. But if there is no stable universe in which those returns can be made, what meaning do profits have?"
"Hearing that from someone in the IPC sure feels surreal," Kallen said lazily, leaning back into the sofa. "Tell me, aren't you all curious why I stepped in to block your strike for Sunday earlier?"
Jade's smile remained perfectly composed, as if she had already anticipated the question. "Naturally, we are curious."
"Though the ending turned out well enough, if Miss Kallen is willing to tell me the truth, I would consider it an honor."
Kallen smiled faintly. "Then I'm afraid that won't do. That happens to be one of my great secrets."
Jade's expression did not change in the slightest. "What a pity."
"Still, secrets are among the most precious possessions a person can have."
"More precious than profits?" Kallen asked deliberately.
"More precious than most profits," Jade replied without missing a beat.
Kallen clicked her tongue inwardly.
As expected, this woman was operating on an entirely different level from someone like Robin.
"Then…" Jade smoothly changed the subject, her tone still mild but now edged with the sharpness of a true negotiator. "Miss Kallen, may I ask whether the agreement between you and the IPC still stands?"
Of course Kallen knew exactly what she meant.
The IPC would escort her back to Pier Point and assist her in fulfilling the so-called mission of Preservation.
"Naturally it still stands," Kallen answered without hesitation.
A flicker of surprise passed through Jade's eyes, though it was quickly buried beneath her habitual composure.
"That is wonderful news," she said.
"After all, given your exalted status, if you had formed some unfavorable impression of the Corporation because of recent events, I would have found that very troubling."
After giving Kallen another careful look and confirming that she seemed unbothered, Jade continued.
"In that case, Miss Kallen… may I ask what, exactly, the 'mission of Preservation' you mentioned entails?"
Truthfully, Jade had not wanted to ask that question.
Because whatever this "mission" was, the final decision regarding it would only be made after Kallen reached headquarters.
Strictly speaking, even someone of Jade's rank—P46—had no authority over a matter directly tied to Qlipoth. In fact, aside from the two P49s in the Corporation's entire history, no one really dared claim such authority.
Had Kallen not personally intercepted Qlipoth's hammer strike earlier, Jade never would have raised the question.
Fortunately, Kallen did not seem to mind.
"Madam Jade, you do remember what I told you before, don't you? That my existence was born from one of Qlipoth's cast-off shells—that I was created with a purpose."
Jade nodded at once, her face solemn. "Of course. I would never dare forget something like that, Miss Kallen."
"It's simply that… I'm truly curious. What exactly is this mission you speak of?"
Kallen answered calmly, "I will reclaim a portion of the Path in Qlipoth's stead."
At last, Jade's smile shifted—just slightly.
"Reclaim… a portion of the Path?"
"Miss Kallen, when you say 'reclaim,' do you mean…"
"Madam Jade." Kallen cut her off. "There are some things that do no one any good to know too much about."
Jade fell silent for a beat.
Naturally, she understood exactly what that meant. In the IPC, information was power—but too much information often became a death sentence.
"I see. Then I understand." Jade inclined her head and did not press further. "In that case, what assistance does the Corporation need to provide for your mission?"
"When I arrive at Pier Point," Kallen said, "all I need is for you not to get in my way."
Jade understood immediately.
Given the strength Kallen had displayed, barging into Pier Point by force would not actually be difficult for her.
But Pier Point was still IPC headquarters. If an unidentified individual tried to approach Qlipoth without first paying the requisite eighteen billion credits, the Corporation would obviously not sit back and ignore it.
Just as Jade was preparing to say more, another uninvited guest stepped inside.
He was the sort of man who looked false on sight.
And Jade recognized him at once.
Oswaldo Schneider—the P47 head of the Market Development Department.
And also a rival to her superior, Diamond.
"Oswaldo," Jade said coldly, "why are you here? You do realize the Penacony project is under Strategic Investment's authority, don't you?"
Oswaldo Schneider acted as if he had heard nothing. He walked straight into the reception room, his gaze passing right over Jade and landing directly on Kallen.
"So this is Miss Kallen?" he said with a smooth smile, extending a hand. "I've heard so much about you."
Kallen neither rose nor took it.
She merely leaned back against the sofa and looked him up and down.
Truthfully, she had noticed him before he ever stepped inside.
But she had not said anything.
After all, she was familiar with him. Though they had crossed paths often enough in other contexts, this was indeed the first time they were meeting under the identity of her Preservation avatar.
And what an occasion for it.
Kallen decided to give him a little slap across the face first.
"This Mr. Os-whatever," she said, "I don't recall inviting you in."
Oswaldo's hand remained suspended for a moment, but his smile never wavered.
"Miss Kallen jests. This may be Penacony, yes, but after what happened at the Charmony Festival, the nature of many things has already changed. Surely, as a representative of the IPC, I do not need anyone's permission to pay my respects to an honored Emanator of Preservation?"
"You do," Jade said at once, rising to place herself between Oswaldo and Kallen.
"Under the Corporation's project-jurisdiction protocol, all Penacony follow-up matters fall under Strategic Investment's authority. Oswaldo, your presence here is already a breach."
"A breach?" Oswaldo withdrew his hand, his tone still mild. "Jade, I merely came to greet Miss Kallen, and perhaps…"
"And perhaps to see whether the Market Development Department can attach its hooks to Strategic Investment's newest client first?" Jade's voice turned razor-sharp.
Oswaldo did not deny it. He simply smiled, walked around her, and seated himself on another sofa.
"Miss Kallen, I hear that, as a manifestation of Qlipoth, you are soon to return to Preservation's sacred body?"
This time, Kallen was genuinely a little surprised.
She was certain Oswaldo had not overheard her earlier conversation with Jade.
And aside from that, the only people who knew much about her so-called "mission" were Aventurine and Jade.
Yet here he was, somehow already aware of it.
Tch. Jade really was slipping if she couldn't keep even this much under wraps.
Then again, it didn't matter much. It wasn't as though Kallen truly had some sacred mission to hide.
So she merely said, "Well then, Mr. Os-whatever, and what lofty insight do you have to offer?"
"Lofty insight? Hardly," Oswaldo replied smoothly.
"I merely think that if Miss Kallen, as Qlipoth's incarnation, is truly about to return to Preservation's holy body to fulfill that great mission…"
He paused, his gaze drifting between Kallen and Jade.
"…then how can such a sacred moment go unwitnessed?"
Jade's brow twitched. She had already guessed exactly what he was about to propose.
"Miss Kallen is an Emanator of Preservation, not an exhibit for your Market Development Department," she said, her tone hard.
"An exhibit?" Oswaldo seemed amused by the word. "Jade, that is rather unkind. I'm helping Miss Kallen expand her influence."
"Just imagine it, Miss Kallen." He turned to her, spreading his hands in a gesture of sincerity. "If we were to broadcast this moment live to the entire galaxy, what a glorious historic image it would be."
At that, Kallen actually did think for a second.
Of course she knew exactly what Oswaldo was after.
The Market Development Department specialized in turning everything into a commodity, everything into traffic, everything into spectacle.
If this "return" were really broadcast across the galaxy, then Market Development could package Preservation itself into a galactic-scale marketing event.
By that point, Penacony's fate? Sunday's judgment? None of that would matter.
What would matter was the headline—Qlipoth's Incarnation Returns to the Sacred Body—and the label—Exclusive Live Coverage by the Market Development Department.
Her return to Preservation would become the brightest signboard in Oswaldo's hands.
"Oswaldo." Jade's voice turned icy. "Qlipoth's will is not something to be made into a show."
"A show?" Oswaldo turned to her, still smiling.
"Jade, mind your phrasing. I am spreading the faith of Preservation. If anything, your Strategic Investment people are the ones I'd assumed only cared about interest rates and returns."
That did it.
In truth, given Oswaldo's position—one rank above hers—and his being a representative of the entire Market Development Department, Jade ordinarily could not be bothered to openly argue with him.
But to bring those tacky marketing instincts to bear in front of a figure as significant as Kallen—a Preservation Emanator of that level?
Was he genuinely not afraid of offending her?
Damn it. Market Development was as intolerable as ever.
For the first time in a while, Jade sincerely regretted not having pushed harder to bring Diamond here sooner.
If Diamond were present, there would be no room for Oswaldo to posture like this.
At once, Jade turned to Kallen.
"Miss Kallen, please do not pay heed to Oswaldo's nonsense."
"And please believe me when I say: his words represent only the Market Development Department. The IPC is not made up entirely of people like him."
At that point, Jade was already doing damage control, terrified that he was about to wreck the Corporation's standing in Kallen's eyes.
But Oswaldo was not pleased.
"Nonsense?" he repeated, the smile finally leaving his face, his tone cooling. "Jade, whether I speak nonsense or not is hardly for a mere P46 to decide. As for you—rushing to make decisions on Miss Kallen's behalf—are you truly thinking of the Corporation's interests, or merely afraid that Strategic Investment might have its credit stolen by another department?"
Then, apparently deciding Jade was no longer worth addressing, Oswaldo turned back to Kallen, his smile once again becoming polished and pleasant.
"Miss Kallen, what do you think?"
"Believe me when I say this live broadcast would be historically significant. It would let the entire galaxy see that Qlipoth's will has never departed—that Preservation's strength continues to protect every corner of the universe."
Kallen answered at once.
"All right."
After all, she wanted the whole galaxy to watch.
Because it would be a devastating blow to the IPC's faith.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 155)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter200)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter110)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter230)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 200
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 180
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/5
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 230
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 220
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/30
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 120
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 135
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 110
I Can Copy Unique Skills 100
Summoning an Evil God, but the 70
Supernatural Multiverse 100
My Harem Is Indescribable 90
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 95
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 68
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 69
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 80
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 70
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 75
Checking In in Demon Slayer 80
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 85
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 70
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 65
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 70
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 70
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 65
Why did they assign me to Uma 65
MYGO Beauties 65
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 55
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 65
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 45
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 45
The Uma Musume Who Became 40
I'm Definitely Not the King of 45
After Maxing Out Every Class 45
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