"These are our terms, Miss Topaz. Please take a look."
Julian handed over a digital document. It was a list that he and Colorful Star had refined until the last possible second.
Interstellar Peace Corporation (Strategic Investment Department) shall provide full cooperation for the promotion of Arceus Studio products throughout the galaxy and resolve any interference or obstruction from other IPC departments.The IPC shall provide specific technical support (as detailed in the appendix) and facilitate the acquisition of one Emperor's Scepter.The Strategic Investment Department may purchase 20 percent of Arceus Studio shares for a fixed price of 10 trillion credits.The IPC shall not interfere with Arceus Studio's operational decisions. Arceus Studio retains the right of first refusal on any future share sales.During the initial development phase (up to ten years), profit distribution shall be minimized to prioritize infrastructure and technology reinvestment.
"Mr. Julian, you certainly aren't afraid to ask for an exorbitant price," Topaz remarked, her eyes scanning the text. She looked troubled, though not for the reason Julian expected.
"The majority of these conditions are acceptable. However," she paused, tapping the second point, "we cannot simply give you an Emperor's Scepter. The Intelligentsia Guild is currently fighting tooth and nail over the remaining computing power of those relics. Even if my department head went personally, he couldn't just walk out with one."
Julian remained calm on the surface, but internally he was reeling. He had aimed high on the third point—expecting to negotiate down to six trillion credits. To his shock, Topaz hadn't even blinked at the 10 trillion credit price tag.
Damn it... I should have asked for more, he thought bitterly.
"Perhaps I should clarify," Julian said, shifting gears. "I don't want a functional scepter currently in use by the Guild. I want the 'scrap'—the units the Intelligentsia Guild has discarded as trash."
Topaz was taken aback. She wasn't an expert on the Guild's salvage operations, but she knew those "stubborn old scholars" didn't throw things away unless they were truly beyond repair. She pulled up her terminal and did a quick search of the IPC's internal salvage logs.
The discarded units were either "burned out" (their logic circuits fried by centuries of overclocking) or were the specialized "Annihilator" models—scepters designed for planetary destruction whose computing power was locked behind military encryption.
"Mr. Julian, your company doesn't need a star-annihilating weapon, surely?" Topaz asked, her suspicion returning. "And even if we gave you one, the Xianzhou Cloud Knights would never let a weapon of that magnitude enter the Luofu's airspace."
"I am a man of peace, Miss Topaz. My games reflect that. I have the Xianzhou to protect me; I have no need for weapons." Julian smiled. "However, my lead technician is confident he can bypass the 'Annihilator' protocols and convert the hardware into a dedicated server. I only want the processing power."
"How is that possible? Even the experts at the Intelligentsia Guild..." Topaz trailed off. She suddenly realized something. The Intelligentsia Guild is the peak of ordinary science. But above them... is the Genius Society.
She looked at Julian with a new intensity. Who is his partner? Herta? Screwllum? Ruan Mei? If a member of the Genius Society was involved, then a "dead" scepter was just a puzzle waiting to be solved.
"I can't give it to you for free," Topaz decided. "But I can give you the right to purchase a decommissioned unit. For a 'Genius Society discount,' we can let it go for five billion credits. Furthermore... if you were to introduce us to this 'partner,' we might even waive the fee entirely."
Julian winced. A bridge to a Genius Society member was worth more to the IPC than a mountain of scepters. But Stephen Lloyd was so socially anxious he'd likely faint if he saw a "Senior Manager" badge. Julian wouldn't betray that friendship for five billion credits.
"My partner has a... unique personality," Julian said, choosing his words carefully. "He prefers the shadows. I cannot make that introduction."
Topaz, an expert in reading people, saw the genuine conflict in Julian's eyes. She nodded, feeling a twinge of regret. "Very well. Then I wish us a pleasant cooperation."
She extended her hand. The deal was struck.
"It's a pleasure, Miss Topaz. But before we move forward, there is the matter of the Xianzhou Alliance's approval."
"Don't worry," Topaz said with a confident smile. "I'll handle the diplomats. If I didn't already have a plan to keep the Alliance happy, I wouldn't be sitting here."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Julian's terminal flared red. A holographic projection of Colorful Star appeared, her expression urgent.
"Boss! We have a situation. The IPC's Traditional Gaming Department just launched a 'Pokémon-like' title simultaneously with our Johto update!"
Julian turned his gaze to Topaz, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. If they hadn't just shaken hands, he would have thought this was her way of forcing his hand.
Topaz looked equally surprised. Her brow furrowed as she looked at the news ticker on her own device. "The Traditional Department... they really are determined to dig their own graves."
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