Stelle rubbed her head, staring at the dazzling array of balloons, sinking into deep thought. "One, two, three, four, five—Dan Heng smacks the Void Pawn."
Dan Heng froze for two seconds. "Don't just change the words like that."
[Hahaha.]
[Stelle's mental state is as captivating as ever.]
[Pretty catchy rhyme, though.]
[Stelle's absurdity just hit a new peak.]
[Fits my stereotypical image of Stelle perfectly.]
Firefly wanted to step forward but felt the timing wasn't right, so she continued wandering around the airship.
During her stroll, she encountered three groups of people whose lives had been transformed because of Jade.
As Firefly walked, she reached the bow of the ship, where she saw a familiar figure doing something eye-catching.
A curious woman said to her companion, "Hey, did you see that? The gray-haired person outside…"
Her Pepeshi companion quickly shushed her. "Don't stare! Drink your drink! That person doesn't seem mentally stable…"
Firefly looked out the window toward the deck. "That's… her?"
At that moment, Stelle was at the bow, completely ignoring the onlookers' gazes.
She was frantically raising her eyebrows at an origami bird. "Chirp chirp, chirp chirp… Origami bird… little chirpy…"
[Hahahahaha.]
[The Trailblazer's mental state is just too stable.]
[Isn't Aha giving Stelle a glance for this?]
[Stelle's delivering consistently as always.]
[Stelle's already invincible.]
[A tree without bark is doomed to die; a person without shame is unmatched under the sky!]
— —
March 7th was sweating bullets. "Hey, you! Get down from there—everyone's watching!"
Firefly still felt the timing wasn't right for a chat.
The barrage of comments, however, was in full agreement—definitely not the moment for a reunion, or she'd risk being labeled as unhinged too!
…
Firefly witnessed firsthand how the pawnshop's customers had their wishes granted.
But she still didn't grasp the essence of "pawning" or understand the true cost people paid to achieve their desires.
She had to return to Lady Jade, hoping she could explain the meaning behind it all.
…
"You're back, Miss Sam." Jade's expression showed that Firefly's return was entirely expected.
Firefly nodded. "Yes, I found the people you mentioned. After visiting the 'Jadeite Pawnshop,' their wishes did come true.
But I still don't know what you want me to see. They all seem so… fulfilled."
"No rush. This step was just to make you believe the 'Jadeite Pawnshop' is the real deal. Next, I'll naturally tell you the price they paid."
Jade then revealed the costs for the three groups:
A lover who lost all material possessions, a gambler who lost their family, and a police officer who sacrificed their memories and was willing to give everything to catch criminals.
Each word pierced the heart!
[Holy crap! This is straight-up soul-crushing!]
[No, this is the pawnshop. You think you're winning, but capital never loses.]
[Everything comes at a price.]
"A fascinating phenomenon, isn't it? I fulfill some people's desires, granting them favors. And those favors soon return to me, accompanied by even greater desires.
When people see others' wishes being fulfilled, they develop the same cravings, endlessly spiraling. In the end, I can pluck what I want from this vortex.
And what I'm best at just happens to be waiting. So, Miss Sam, do you now understand what you need to offer? Or perhaps I should call you…"
Jade's gaze turned serious. "The last remnant of the Glamoth Iron Cavalry—'AR-26710'?"
[WTF, she's got the intel!]
[Jade even knows her code? She's got some serious pull!]
[From this moment, the conversation's tone shifted.]
— —
Firefly's eyes widened, but her shock was fleeting, and she quickly regained her composure. "Not surprising."
"You're much calmer than I expected. Entropy Loss Syndrome… quite the unprovoked calamity, isn't it?
To prevent the Republic's most powerful weapons from falling into enemy hands, the Glamoth engineered a 'safeguard' into the warriors' genetic code.
And the cost… since these Iron Cavalry were never seen as individual 'people,' there was no cost to speak of.
But you're different. Now, you're a Stellaron Hunter, 'Firefly,' a living, breathing person. Of course you want to live, but the old Skyfront Line has collapsed, and those who knew the secret and could cure it are long gone."
"Are you saying the IPC has a way?"
"There's not no hope, but that's all I'll say for now."
"I see. No wonder you said I couldn't offer an equivalent pawn—because 'everything I have' is meaningless…
What you want is for me to chain my own companions in exchange for my survival."
"Sadly, that's not it either. 'Companions'—a nice way to put it. It makes me even more curious about the Stellaron Hunters. Each of you has a unique identity, and your bonds are intriguing—tight and strong, yet you maintain individual independence.
Like the Ten Stonehearts following 'Diamond,' you must have a leader too. I'm curious about what kind of person they are, and whether every Stellaron Hunter is like you…
Walking the Path of 'Finality,' yet striving to move against the current of fate?"
Jade laid out her terms, hoping to collaborate with the Stellaron Hunters for mutual benefit.
She explained her reasoning: she had been invited by Diamond, the Emanator of Preservation, to walk this path together.
And Diamond was truly generous, splitting their Emanator authority into ten parts to form the Ten Stonehearts.
This was why Jade wanted to bring the Stellaron Hunters into the fold, to achieve the grand work of 'Preservation' in the coming "War of the Aeons."
Even if the IPC and the Stellaron Hunters were openly at odds.
Firefly pondered for a moment, understanding everything.
"I understand."
"Go, child. You don't need to answer right away. As I said, I'm best at waiting."
"If fate does turn to that page, we'll naturally meet again.
But I regret to say, this pawnshop can't give me what I want. My final attempt in Penacony… can only end in 'hope.'"
As Firefly left the room, Walker entered.
"Lady Jade, I've come to deliver the pawn as promised."