Topaz's words carried weight.
The Intelligentsia Guild's task had been a commission, but as their director, what Topaz said was an order.
They had dared to pull some strings in secret.
As long as the matter never reached Topaz, it would be as though nothing had happened. But now that everything had been exposed, the only thing they could do was try to clear themselves and push all the blame onto the mastermind.
What if they could get a lighter sentence?
If it never surfaced, then it wasn't a problem.
On other planets, the IPC had done things far more serious than this.
But once it was dragged into the open,
It had to be dealt with severely.
Under Topaz's orders, the men rushed to spill everything.
Fortunately, the client had requested live subjects. And because they needed to keep the matter quiet, the IPC had no intention of leaving Belobog for now.
So the abducted people were still in the Underworld.
With Topaz's assistance—and guided by the perpetrators—they quickly found those who had gone missing during this period and sent them to Natasha's clinic.
"If necessary, I can arrange for IPC doctors to examine them and try to treat their illnesses," Topaz offered.
They were all still alive.
That sliver of fortune amid misfortune allowed Topaz to finally let out a breath.
As for those who had acted behind her back, she had already ordered them detained.
When the time came to leave, they would be transferred to a prison planet.
What awaited them would be more than a decade of incarceration.
"You expect us to believe you're being kind now?"
Seele still held no goodwill toward the IPC.
They had been the ones to seize people.
And Topaz ordering their release was only because the matter had been exposed.
So she felt no gratitude.
If not for Stelle and the others—if not for Kiana and the rest—would Topaz have acted the same way?
That question deserved a large question mark.
"Miss Seele's distrust is understandable. If you're worried, I can personally cover their future medical expenses," Topaz said.
Right now, she could only do her best to salvage the situation and minimize the damage.
If this could be resolved with credits,
That would be ideal.
"You can wait until they wake up and discuss it with them," Seele replied coldly, crossing her arms.
"Of course." Topaz nodded. "That would be my personal compensation, since this happened due to my failure. As for the company's formal compensation, I will discuss it with the others and present a satisfactory proposal."
Seele said nothing more, only hoping Topaz would keep her word. Anything beyond that was too much to expect.
Belobog was not on equal footing with the IPC.
She had heard from Stelle and the others that Belobog owed the IPC an enormous sum—so much that it would require selling the entire planet to repay.
"I'm sorry you had to witness something like this," Topaz said to the group after speaking with Seele. "But please rest assured—this will never happen again. I've been occupied with negotiations with Belobog's Architects and failed to supervise my team properly. I will report this matter and give you all a satisfactory answer."
"Including the Intelligentsia Guild?" Kiana suddenly asked. "The one who had Kado test me—that should have been a Guild scholar, right?"
"No. I've interrogated Kado. That was his personal decision," Topaz replied, relaying the latest information. "The Honkai phenomenon once appeared on Kasbelina-VII. The company grew curious and dispatched a team to investigate. Kado used that opportunity to connect with one of the scholars researching the phenomenon and joined the IPC."
"However, the Honkai phenomenon on that world lasted less than three months before it could no longer be detected."
"After it disappeared, the company withdrew its investment from that world. The employees recruited at that time were assigned to different departments. That was when Kado transferred to the Strategic Investment Department."
Once she learned he was involved, Topaz had used her resources to dig into his file while bringing them to locate the victims.
Combined with his testimony,
She had pieced together the situation.
"After coming with me to Jarilo-VI, Kado—being from Kasbelina-VII—quickly realized the phenomena here resembled what had occurred in his home world. He reported it to the scholar who had previously gone there."
"In order to curry favor with that scholar, Kado came up with the idea of smuggling people and capturing them as experimental subjects." Topaz rubbed her brow, looking exhausted. "But he overestimated himself. Those people were never going to board a starship, let alone leave."
Utter stupidity.
That was Topaz's evaluation.
Instead of focusing on doing his job well, he had been obsessed with shortcuts and currying favor.
Then again, considering he had secured his position through connections in the first place, perhaps he had tasted the sweetness of it—and decided to gamble recklessly again.
Well done.
He had successfully sent himself to prison.
"I see."
Kiana fell into thought.
Was that truly the whole story?
In truth, it didn't matter much. She had only been curious about who had tried to test her.
"That's the result of my current inquiry. The full details will require a more thorough investigation," Topaz said solemnly. "Please rest assured, I will give you an answer."
Testing someone could be minor—or serious.
But once the person involved seized upon it as leverage, a price would have to be paid.
"Alright. I trust your character," Kiana nodded. Then she glanced at the patients inside the clinic. "For now, you should focus on comforting the victims."
"Of course."
For the moment, the matter came to a close.
Kiana did not stay long.
She soon found an excuse to part ways with Stelle and the others, intending to return to her temporary residence in the Underworld.
However, on her way back,
Someone stepped in front of her.
"You must be Miss Kiana," the young woman said directly, without beating around the bush. "My name is Bronya Rand. I would like to invite you to the Supreme Guardian's office at Qlipoth Fort."
"Qlipoth Fort?" Kiana looked at the girl in mild surprise.
"Belobog's Supreme Guardian wishes to meet with you for a discussion."
"She wants to see Kiana?" Acheron frowned. "About what?"
"My mother would like to speak with Miss Kiana—about Honkai and the Stigmata," Bronya said. "You mentioned before that the Honkai energy on Jarilo-VI is connected to Miss Kiana."
"No problem. I happen to have a few things I'd like to discuss with you as well," Kiana agreed readily, though Bronya's sudden appearance caught her slightly off guard.
"Regarding Honkai and the state of this world, Mei should have already explained everything to you, right?" On the way, Kiana tried to make conversation with Bronya.
This wasn't the first time she had met Bronya Rand. When Kiana had visited before, she had seen her several times.
The Stigmata on Bronya's body had been personally given by Kiana herself. It was different from the others.
As for why?
Because she was Bronya.
"Mei? Are you referring to Miss Acheron?"
Bronya was briefly startled by the unfamiliar name, but quickly realized Kiana was talking about Acheron.
She did not probe further.
Her concern lay with what was about to happen.
"The Stigmata, the Legion, Honkai, and the Stellaron—Miss Acheron has already answered our questions. On behalf of the others, I thank you for sealing the Stellaron and preventing the Fragmentum from continuing to spread."
Looking at her, Kiana suddenly asked, "May I ask what you think about Honkai?"
"Honkai?" Bronya hesitated. "I don't have any particular opinion. To be honest, the Silvermane Guards have always been fighting against the Fragmentum. The Honkai phenomenon you speak of—I haven't truly felt it."
The situation had always been dire.
Even hopeless.
It was only after the Fragmentum stopped expanding that Belobog saw a glimmer of improvement—at least now there was hope, however faint.
As for the enemies' strength,
If one looked carefully, there hadn't been a drastic increase. They remained within a range that could be defeated.
And disasters?
There was no calamity greater than the eternal blizzard.
"I see."
"The blizzard is the greatest disaster. Compared to it..." Bronya did not continue.
Belobog's walls were protected by the power of Preservation.
The harm brought by Honkai was not fundamentally different from other dangers.
In some ways, it was even preferable.
At least they could wield that power as well.
Kiana felt a quiet sense of relief.
"The Stellaron has already been sealed. The blizzard on Jarilo-VI should gradually fade away."
"I hope your words come true."
On the street, while speaking with Himeko, Welt suddenly caught sight of three figures heading toward Qlipoth Fort.
His expression froze.
He narrowed his eyes, staring at them in disbelief for a long moment.
"It's them. Kiana's here too," Himeko followed Welt's gaze and spotted the trio as well. Somewhat surprised, she suggested, "Should we go say hello?"
Welt glanced at Himeko.
Even though he knew he was no longer on Earth and that these were merely counterparts,
He still felt an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.
Had he truly left the Solar System?
"Let's go take a look."
Thankfully, they had yet to encounter a counterpart of Theresa.
If they all gathered together, Welt would feel as though he had returned to St. Freya.
"Mr. Welt, Miss Himeko, what a surprise to see you again!" Kiana was equally surprised to see the two of them.
If Hua and Theresa showed up too, then the set would be complete.
They could practically open a school on the spot and call it St. Freya.
Come to think of it, that wasn't entirely impossible.
After all, Belobog would have to face Honkai in the future and learn how to use Honkai energy.
The more she thought about it,
The stranger it felt.
"I thought you would arrive together with Herta," Himeko said with a smile.
"Herta agreed to come?" Kiana looked toward Welt. They had met just two days ago.
"Yes. She's curious and plans to come by in the next couple of days to observe the situation."
"If Madam Herta is willing to help, that would be wonderful." Kiana nodded. She wasn't particularly close with Herta.
They had only met three or four times at most.
"And you're heading to...?" Himeko asked.
"Mother wishes to speak with Miss Kiana," Bronya answered.
"Cocolia?"
A subtle change flickered across Welt's expression.
He looked at Bronya as she spoke, then at Kiana and Acheron beside her.
Rationally, he knew that whatever Cocolia intended to do would ultimately amount to nothing.
Acheron possessed the power of an Emanator of Nihility.
Kiana was the Herrscher of Finality.
Neither was someone Cocolia could afford to provoke.
And yet,
Perhaps because of what had once happened on Earth—events that felt as though they had replayed before his eyes—
Welt still spoke up.
"No matter what you're thinking, when making a decision, please consider it carefully. Don't rush."
With Bronya standing there, he could not directly say something like be careful of Cocolia.
Nor did he have solid grounds.
Though that woman clearly had something hidden in her heart,
For now, she appeared acceptable.
"Understood, Mr. Welt."
Kiana understood what he meant.
In fact, she might understand Cocolia even better than Welt did.
Even if the changes in events meant she shouldn't judge through tinted lenses.
"When Herta arrives, she'll likely want to ask you about the situation. You won't be leaving Jarilo-VI anytime soon, will you?" Himeko suddenly asked.
"Until the Legion issue is resolved, Mei and I will remain here."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries—and mentioning that Stelle and the others were still in the Underworld helping out—Kiana continued with Bronya into Qlipoth Fort.
Although she had visited Belobog before, this was her first time entering Qlipoth Fort.
Cocolia had been waiting for some time.
"Bronya, you may go attend to your duties. I would like to speak with our two guests alone."
Though Bronya had brought them in, Cocolia did not allow her to remain and listen.
Instead, she dismissed her.
Bronya was puzzled.
But she did not question Cocolia's decision.
She turned and left, relaying Cocolia's instructions as she went.
"This is not your first visit to Belobog, and it is not our first meeting," Cocolia said without pleasantries.
Her gaze—more precisely—rested on Kiana.
"We once crossed paths at Everwinter Hill."
Kiana looked surprised. "You remember?"
"For you to have taken the Stellaron without a sound—and to have encountered me when I went to Everwinter Hill in search of it—you must know of the transaction between the Stellaron and me."
"The Stellaron... the cancer of all worlds. You truly cooperated with it?" Acheron did not possess omniscient knowledge, but she had always found the Supreme Guardian somewhat strange.
"The power of Preservation is fading, and the Fragmentum had already spread into Belobog itself. Aside from creating a new world, Belobog had no other choice."
"And now?" Kiana looked at her curiously. "The Stellaron has been sealed. The Fragmentum has stopped spreading. In a few hundred years, even the snowstorms will cease."
Cocolia let out a soft laugh.
There was mockery in it.
And self-ridicule.
"Indeed. After the Stellaron vanished and the Fragmentum ceased expanding, I felt a measure of relief. I believed Belobog had finally seen hope. Even if the power of Preservation were to disappear, we would not be completely buried beneath the snow in a few decades."
"But now, looking back, I realize I was still gravely mistaken. Belobog's calamity is far from over."
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