Bronya turned her gaze to Hiko and stepped down from the platform to greet her. "You're Ms. Hiko of the Astral Express, right? A pleasure. Ah Guang ntioned you before—he said you're beautiful, gentle, generous, understanding, and soone truly reliable. If we'd known you were coming, the Architects would've surely given you a formal welco. It's just…"
Hiko smiled. "Oh? I didn't expect Ah Guang to describe so kindly. Don't worry—they told everything that's been happening here. And after hearing it all, I decided I wanted to help this city."
She glanced again at Donatan's bruised face, then turned to Bronya. "Miss Bronya, I understand your city is facing an unprecedented crisis. I assu the company told you about your outstanding debt, and now they're pushing you toward unfavorable terms.
I'm here simply to inform you of the full picture. I have so information for the Supre Guardian—ard with it, you'll be better equipped to negotiate and make a wise decision."
I have a friend who knows quite a bit about how the company operates. According to company policy, if a delay or default is caused by force majeure, the company may waive part or all of the responsibilities tied to it.
But the company also stipulates that if a party cannot fulfill a contract due to force majeure, they must promptly inform the other party to mitigate potential losses and must provide proof within a reasonable tifra."
After saying this, Hiko looked toward Donatan—and his expression changed dramatically.
That clause really did exist in company policy. But! It was nearly impossible to enforce. It's incredibly difficult to prove a planet's default was truly due to force majeure. The company's stance had always been: if you don't say anything, we'll assu nothing happened.
It was true that so planets had successfully gone through the official process and had parts of their debt forgiven because of force majeure.
But in cases like Belobog's—where no communication had been made and no formal process had been followed—the default was simply treated as a failure to repay, full stop. Under normal circumstances, there would be no evidence proving that Belobog had defaulted due to force majeure.
But if Belobog could present a Light Cone created through cooperation with the Garden of Recollection as evidence, then…
Donatan's guess was correct. Hiko looked at Bronya and continued, "Ah Guang naturally has a way to provide proof for this matter. So, Bronya, you don't need to repay that astronomical debt the company claid—you only need to repay the original principal and interest."
"Huh?"
Hiko's words made Bronya widen her eyes. She hadn't expected things to turn out like this. If they only calculated the debt over 280 years, the total would be drastically reduced.
And if they removed the cost of the combat chs and the losses caused by their failure to deploy, then the debt Belobog needed to repay would no longer be astronomical. Even without the money Pei Guang had borrowed, there was hope that Belobog could repay it.
Seeing Bronya's surprise, Hiko continued, "Also, for worlds like yours that are facing hardship, the company does offer relief policies. It's nothing like what soone claid about mandatory enforcent~"
That statent struck Donatan like a hamr to the chest—because everything Hiko was saying was indeed part of existing company policy. But like always, Belobog wouldn't have been able to provide the evidence required for those policies.
Forget Belobog, even Hiko wouldn't have been able to produce it. This wasn't the kind of thing that could just be explained verbally.
If Belobog claid they were cut off from the outside world, when exactly did that happen? Three hundred years ago? Five hundred? Seven hundred?
Without evidence, everything would be handled according to the central administrative regulations.
But now that the Garden of Recollection had stepped in, there was no need to worry about evidence. Even if the Garden were to fabricate proof—which they wouldn't—the company would have no choice but to treat it as real.
What Donatan didn't know was who had the kind of pull to get the Garden of Recollection involved, to call on a navigator of the Astral Express, and possibly more yet to co. Just who was backing this supposedly insignificant little planet?
As Donatan was caught up in thought, a familiar voice made him instinctively turn his head. "Eh? Everyone's here?"
The voice belonged to none other than Topaz, cradling her dear Numby as she arrived. Seeing the gathering before her, she felt a deep sense of relief.
Just one day ago, she had received a ssage from Asta. Just one day ago, she'd decided to co here to handle this ssy debt and help support Belobog's preservation and developnt.
And today, after receiving so internal praise and insider info from her superior Diamond, she decided to show herself.
She was grateful Asta had picked up Pei Guang's job and passed such crucial intelligence to her. Otherwise, the one standing here being embarrassed wouldn't have been her rival departnt—but hers!
With that thought in mind, Topaz took a deep breath and greeted them. "Eh? Oh, debt collection uh? Don't worry, don't worry~ that's no longer my job. I'm just here to have a chat with Miss Bronya about a potential partnership."
She then turned to Bronya and said, "Miss Bronya, Belobog truly deserves its reputation as a city that withstood erosion by the Stellaron for seven hundred years. This place has so much untapped potential.
Aside from the Aetherium Wars project, I'd like to discuss developing a few other ventures—like the Echo of War spaces, for example, and how to divide profits. I believe, with this planet's potential, it won't take long at all to repay that 280-year debt."
With that statent, Topaz effectively redefined Belobog's debt as one based on 280 years of interest.
Hearing this, Donatan—already seething—turned and glared at her. "What's that supposed to an?"
Topaz looked him straight in the eye. "Considering we're coworkers, here's my suggestion—take the win and walk away. If you back off now, I can still help you wrap up your mission. After all, you did a favor this ti. But if you keep pushing forward, I can't promise what might happen."
No matter what, Donatan and the Marketing Developnt Departnt had been the ones she'd set up—but they were all still company staff. Rivalry was one thing, but there were lines not to be crossed.
Now that she understood the full situation, and how Pei Guang had repeatedly slashed Belobog's debt, she knew that walking away now was the wisest move.
In front of everyone's eyes, Donatan forced a smile, but deep down, the fear had already taken root.
In truth, what terrified him wasn't just the reduced debt. It was the fact that Pei Guang could predict the company's actions and respond with entirely rule-abiding solutions.
When it ca to forces stronger than the company, the company would usually show respect—but it wouldn't cower. After all, they had their own Preservation Emanators and powerful fleets.
If it ca down to direct conflict, they weren't afraid.
The truly problematic ones were people like Pei Guang—soone who had both the ability to stand against the company and the cunning to operate strictly within the rules: even worse, he had enough influence to back it up, and that influence was deeply hidden!
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