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At this mont, Sol looked at Jade and Topaz, sensing their sincerity and intelligence. He smiled and said, "I can tell that you're being sincere, and I truly don't have any urgent personal desires right now."
"If I had simply picked up these two cornerstones by chance, I wouldn't mind returning them to you."
"But they originated from a conspiracy. I can't make a hasty decision."
When mistakes are made, a price must be paid.
The strong can use various thods to evade responsibility, but when two forces of equal standing clash, that is not an option.
Right now, he wasn't rely speaking with Jade and Topaz—he was negotiating wills with the Interastral Peace Corporation, a colossal entity in its own right.
"Once again, please accept our apologies," Jade said, lowering her head with a trace of bitterness. "We understand your approach. This is indeed our fault."
"It's just that the cornerstones are of critical importance, tied to the course of our future lives," Topaz said as she looked at Sol, her voice sincere. "That's why we shalessly co to you, hoping you'll grant us a lenient resolution."
If the cornerstones were lost under their watch, their fate would be grim.
They were vital corporate assets. Jade and Topaz rely held and wielded them on the IPC's behalf.
Even if Director Diamond said nothing, plenty of other factions would seize the opportunity to attack them—and by extension, the entire Strategic Investnt Departnt.
"Then let us set a contract," Sol said calmly, a smile appearing on his face. "I admire both your talents and your beauty, and I don't wish to see you severely punished over this matter. But the IPC—and the two of you—must still pay a price for your mistake."
"First: the IPC will spin off all departnts under your command and place them under my authority."
"Second: compensation in the form of funding as my service fee. I don't want credit points—I want research resources of equivalent value. This part will be handed over to Herta Space Station, with Genius Herta sending representatives to negotiate with the IPC."
"Third: under the premise that the IPC does not station itself in Penacony, you will sign an unconditional support agreent as compensation for your influence here. This part will be discussed between you and Robin; the specifics will depend on the situation."
"Once these three conditions are fulfilled, the two cornerstones in my possession will be returned to the IPC."
"These three clauses are binding in substance, not in na. You're free to assign whatever titles or explanations you wish."
Sol did not possess an in-depth understanding of this universe. He only knew that the Interastral Peace Corporation spanned the cosmos—imnse, powerful, and extraordinarily wealthy.
As for which technologies or resources were truly valuable, or how much they were worth, he had no clear idea.
So, he simply left the compensation to those who understood such matters best.
With Asta—the corporation's own heiress—serving as station master under Herta, they would certainly strike hard enough.
And on Robin's side, Penacony had its own professionals—more than capable of carving out a satisfying share.
What Sol himself gained were Jade, Topaz, and their subordinates—people who could handle all kinds of affairs on his behalf.
As two of the Ten Stonehearts, Jade and Topaz were unquestionable corporate elites, second only to a handful of Preservation Emanators. The personnel under their command were nurous and capable—enough to handle the vast majority of matters across the universe with finesse.
Herta had Asta, the corporate heiress, as her station master.
And Sol would have two Stonehearts managing affairs for him.
That was symtry.
Now, it all depended on whether these three conditions could be accepted.
If stated plainly, they would certainly be unacceptable.
But the key lay in the final line: binding in substance, not in na.
That ant enormous room for maneuver. Sol was almost certain that the Strategic Investnt Departnt would agree.
Investors were opportunists by nature, masters of reframing narratives.
A routed retreat could be called a strategic redeploynt.
A failed investnt could be frad as experience gained.
A small loss becos a small win.
A big loss becos a big win.
Win, win, win—win until it hurts.
Sol even helped the Interastral Peace Corporation co up with explanations.
Ceding a critical departnt—or a key portion of it—could be labeled as deep cooperation with an Erudition Emanator, with joint parallel leadership over the departnt.
Redirecting the compensation to Herta Space Station could be presented as the IPC's forward-looking vision, showing respect for the collaboration between two Erudition Emanators by providing massive, no-strings-attached resources.
As for the compensation agreent with Penacony, that could be frad as humanitarian post-disaster reconstruction aid.
With a bit of narrative maneuvering, a crushing defeat could easily beco a great victory.
Jade and Topaz grew solemn, apologizing once more. "Please allow us so ti to consider these conditions."
"Take all the ti you need," Sol replied casually.
He was in no hurry.
Robin naturally stepped forward and began gently massaging Sol's shoulders, her movents soft and attentive.
The third clause—the support for Penacony—was of imnse importance to her.
Although all conspiracies at the Charmony Festival had been thwarted, and hope had risen here—offsetting the effects of Sunday's attempt to revive Order—Penacony had not suffered severe damage.
Still, for Penacony to move forward, it could not do without contact with the outside world. And the strongest potential partner was none other than the Interastral Peace Corporation.
So long as the IPC did not pursue annexation or plunder, it would be the best possible collaborator.
By imposing the condition that the IPC could not station itself here, Sol had cut off that possibility entirely. And if Penacony could also obtain unconditional compensation, it would surely enter a new era of prosperity.
How could she not be moved by such consideration for her sake?
"Thank you," Jade and Topaz said with a nod, then fell into contemplation.
The first condition essentially ant that the two of them—and their entire teams—would be transferred under Sol's command.
Seen this way, he truly did admire them, even making their recruitnt one of the terms.
That left them unsure whether to feel troubled… or honored.
To be valued so highly by such a special Emanator was undeniable proof of their worth.
Yet it also made them uneasy—would Director Diamond agree? And if he did, what would that an for them?
The second and third conditions were secondary—re resource expenditures.
They had already prepared for that, though not on the scale Sol demanded.
But if refrad as investnts and cooperation, Diamond likely wouldn't refuse.
After all, this incident was extrely serious—a catastrophic strategic failure, compounded by conflict with an Erudition Emanator who might even be a throne-level existence.
Handling it internally within the Strategic Investnt Departnt was the only way to minimize the damage.
This matter had already drawn the attention of two of the corporation's founders. It was extraordinarily grave.
If Jade and Topaz failed to resolve it, and it was escalated further, the losses suffered by the Strategic Investnt Departnt would be far greater.
Jade and Topaz exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison.
"Mr. Sol," they said, "we will need to submit your proposal to Director Diamond for discussion."
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