"Here's my contact information. I usually don't respond to messages during work hours, but if you want to chat, we can talk more after I'm off work~"
"If our fate is deep enough, we might even meet at the festival later. Well then everyone, I have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave. Have fun, see you later."
Topaz smiled and waved, then left the room with Numby.
"Wow... am I dreaming?!" In the room, watching Topaz's departing figure, March 7th examined the black card in her hand in disbelief.
They had effortlessly obtained a company executive's number and directly became IPC Diamond VIPs!
Was this because they had experienced so many hardships lately that they finally triggered the pity system? Their luck was finally turning around!
"March, we're rich!" Stelle looked at the small card in her hand and gave March 7th an enthusiastic high-five.
"Right, right! Our next stop is the Star of Festivities [Penacony], we'll have to really enjoy ourselves there."
"Heh~, you two... should I say as expected of young people? Such energy." Looking somewhat nostalgically at the two celebrating, Welt didn't intend to dampen their spirits.
Since they had already signed the contract, he naturally wouldn't restrict everyone.
"Alright, alright, don't forget what we came here for. Before the banquet starts, let's visit Bronya first."
Speaking this familiar name again, Welt couldn't help feeling a bit dazed.
Although he knew this Bronya wasn't his former student, seeing her guarding this lonely city alone still made him feel somewhat emotional.
'Even in this world, you still tried your best to do everything perfectly, Bronya.'
Welt smiled somewhat sadly, hearing an old friend's name made him think of the past.
He wondered how Tesla and Joyce were doing now. Having left on his own for so long, he hoped they wouldn't beat him up when he returned...
After tidying up a bit, the train crew headed toward Belobog.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
"Sorry, Miss High Leader, I had a slight unexpected situation on my end, making you wait."
Inside the Belobog fortress, Bronya looked at the newly arrived Topaz and inwardly sighed.
So it had come to this after all...
"It's alright, Ms. Topaz." She shook her head somewhat tiredly, slowly standing up from her desk.
"I know why you've come to our planet... but we really can't come up with that much money."
Since receiving the news some time ago, Bronya had been unable to sleep for nights on end.
Their Belobog had just barely recovered from the apocalyptic crisis, and now they were suddenly supposed to shoulder such a huge debt.
She truly didn't know what to do...
"Miss Bronya is so direct? In that case, let's dispense with unnecessary pleasantries."
Looking somewhat admiringly at the young woman before her, Topaz silently gave her points in her mind.
Without doubt, this young woman's will had surpassed the vast majority of leaders she had encountered on the planets she'd visited, which made Topaz feel somewhat gratified.
But work was work, and personal feelings were personal feelings. As a member of the [Ten Stone Hearts], Topaz understood these principles very well.
"I completely understand your planet's difficulties, Miss High Leader." After fully entering work mode, Topaz showed her professional smile again.
"Belobog's current financial difficulties aren't because of you, of course, nor are they due to any fault of anyone in this city. I deeply regret this."
"But objectively speaking, since Belobog continues to exist as an independent political entity, this debt cannot be written off as bad debt."
"Miss High Leader, please seriously consider my proposal. If Jarilo-VI still wants to rebuild connections with the universe's many star systems in the future," she paused, then emphasized, "your credit record with the company will be extremely important."
"Bronya, we're here... Ms. Topaz?"
Just then, a group unexpected by both parties entered through the main door, instantly turning the previously oppressive debt collection scene into silence.
However, Topaz was after all a professional. After slightly adjusting her emotions and state, she returned to her friendly demeanor when facing the train crew.
"Oh~, it seems important visitors have arrived."
"Bronya and Ms. Topaz? Can Jarilo-VI establish connections with the company so quickly, even starting to discuss cooperation already?"
Looking at the two people before her whose atmospheres completely clashed, March 7th, still immersed in joy, didn't notice anything wrong and commented admiringly.
"Such quick action, as expected of Bronya!"
"..."
Silence. In the vast office, only silence remained for a moment.
"March, that atmosphere before we came in, it didn't look right at all!" Beside her, Stelle nudged March 7th's elbow, quietly critiquing in her ear.
Welt also seemed somewhat unprepared for this situation. He helplessly held his forehead, then walked to the front of everyone, "Sorry, you two, important matters first. Please continue your discussion, we can come back later."
"It's fine, we were about finished anyway, just wrapping up." Hearing this, Topaz raised her hand to stop them from leaving, refusing.
Then, she looked toward Bronya.
"Miss High Leader, your answer?"
"...I understand, Ms. Topaz. I will... I need time to consider, after all, this concerns all of Belobog's fate." After speaking, Bronya's entire demeanor became much more dejected, looking extremely lost.
"Of course." Topaz crossed her arms, speaking in a notification-like calm tone: "However, while you're considering, my colleagues need to carry out some necessary work in Belobog... I hope the people of both upper and lower districts can cooperate."
She seemed unconcerned with the attitudes of Belobog's people, or rather, she didn't need to care about such things.
As she demonstrated, this exchange was never an equal dialogue from the beginning, but rather an ordinary notification.
"I'm sorry to have interrupted your reunion with old friends because of my business. The official matters are finished now, so you all can catch up slowly. I'll take my leave first, see you~"
Her attitude softened again, of course, this was still only toward the Astral Express crew.
The vast gap was thus blatantly displayed before Bronya, making her feel somewhat sick.
But there was no help for it - the other party was a massive organization spanning the cosmos, while Belobog was just a frontier planet that had barely struggled out of its frozen crisis...
What should she do...