Chapter 225: Future Markets 『 Part Fourteen 』
「 "I have no objections."
"Received. Then… does anyone else wish to add anything?" A brief silence settled over the line. Seeing that no one was willing to offer an opinion, the mysterious figure promptly declared the meeting adjourned.
Yet, mere seconds later, the mysterious voice returned through the headset, this time laced with a teasing lilt. "My, my, aren't you lucky? You botched a project of that magnitude, yet your rank only dropped by a single level. It seems the old guard up top really does look out for you. Oh, they've all logged off, haven't they? Then—I'll just turn off this trashy voice modulator."
The synthesized effect in the earpiece swiftly dissolved, replaced by a low, charmingly wicked male voice.
"Aventurine? Why are you still here?" Topaz was somewhat taken aback.
"Look at you, asking that. Can't I be here?"
Aventurine's tone was breezy. After exchanging a few simple pleasantries with Topaz, he cut to the chase. "While you were playing house on Jarilo-VI, Diamond managed to sort out the bigwigs over in the Building Material Logistics Department. That's the reason for his absence from today's roundtable."
"Taravan?"
"Correct. The illustrious Taravan Keane, a member of the board of seven! He's casting his vote for us now. Do you understand? For us, not the Marketing Development Department. Oswaldo isn't going to be smiling this time!"
"However… Topaz, Diamond is a benefactor to us both. For you to pull a stunt like this on such a crucial day… it makes things a little difficult for the Strategic Investment Department to explain, doesn't it?"
"..." Topaz crossed her arms and let out a soft hmph.
"Since you understand, let's get down to business. I'm currently in Pier Point. There's a massive deal on the horizon involving the entire department, and I'm short a reliable project manager for this trip—friend, it has to be you."
"Interesting. What kind of case actually made you learn the word 'cooperation'?"
"What else could it be? Penacony."
"What? Diamond actually chose you? I thought it would be [Opal]… or [Obsidian]… That sort of business usually requires someone at least P 46 or higher to show their face."
"Who knows. The people of [The Family] aren't exactly right in the head. Trying to do normal business with them is a dead end. But the IPC has never been limited to just trading. Moments like this call for someone like me." 」
「 .....」
〜Runeterra World〜
"Even inside this company, it's nothing but infighting,"
Jinx said, draped over the back of her chair, boredly swinging her braids.
"I thought everyone who followed the 「Preservation」 would be a solid block of iron or something~"
Silco stood in the shadows, hands clasped behind his back. His good eye narrowed slightly as he studied Topaz's shocked expression on the light screen.
"My girl, faith is merely a banner. The Interastral Peace Corporation is like a machine; people are just the gears within it. It may look seamless, but every gear turns in its own direction. These high-and-mighty interstellar aristocrats fighting for power and status are no different from the rats in Zaun tearing at each other's throats—oh, wait, perhaps they tear at each other a bit more politely."
"Regardless, we need to remember some key information from within the company. It might be useful later."
"Key information?"
Jinx shot him a puzzled look.
Silco sighed, a rare occurrence. He leaned down to meet Jinx's gaze, looking directly at her with his good eye.
"Jinx, what did you hear in Aventurine's words?"
"…I heard a bunch of complicated names, and Penacony."
"Yes, but there are more important things."
Silco stood up slowly, adjusting his collar.
"The Marketing Development Department and the Strategic Investment Department are at odds. In this exchange, the Building Material Logistics Department has sided with Diamond of the Strategic Investment Department, breaking the balance of the scales."
"So, what's the use of this intel?"
Jinx spread her hands.
"Useless for now. But if the day comes when the Interastral Peace Corporation expands to Runeterra, and your Zaun is forced to interact with them, this intelligence will aid you."
"Not everyone gets to audit an IPC roundtable meeting for rank P 45 and above. For those within the company seeking promotion, every word of this conversation could be worth a thousand gold. If the opportunity arises, we must make good use of this intelligence, Jinx."
—
「 Back on the Astral Express, Stelle was boredly scrolling through her phone when a third-rate female streamer from Xianzhou named "Guinaifen" suddenly sent her a stream link.
The link read: #GhostSighting! Young maiden strays into abandoned garden, narrowly escapes wandering spirits and wild ghosts!
(Live Stream) Occult Mystery Record! Two girls mistakenly enter a ruined garden and are assaulted by malevolent spirits! One is pale with fright, the other remains unconscious! Viewers under 200 years old strictly prohibited!
Attached was a screenshot. Stelle zoomed in and squinted at the image, but failed to see the ghost she was so hoping for.
/Stelle: Urgent, urgent, urgent! Where can I see it?
Guinaifen replied that if Stelle was truly interested, she could come find her at Aurum Alley, where she would show her the freshly edited cut of the supernatural video.
Stelle figured that since getting to Penacony would take time, and she hadn't had nearly enough fun trudging through the snow in Belobog, she might as well take a solo trip to Xianzhou to look around and "stream snipe" this little influencer in real life.
Soon enough, Stelle located Guinaifen. Unlike the average Xianzhou native, she had rare, beautiful red hair—an out-and-out short-life species outworlder.
Before playing the video for Stelle, Guinaifen lowered her voice in a display of mock mystery.
"Before you watch the video, fam, I gotta ask you a question: Do you believe in ghosts and spirits?" 」
「 .....」
〜Genshin Impact World〜
Teyvat, Liyue—
Hu Tao had been sitting with her legs crossed on a grand master's chair, idly toying with a Mora coin in her hand. But upon hearing Guinaifen's question, she instantly sprang up from the chair in excitement and slammed her hand onto the table.
"Consultant! Consultant! Come look at this! This little girl named Guinaifen asked a great question!"
Zhongli, who was holding a teacup, merely raised his golden eyes and spoke unhurriedly.
"Director, what has got you so agitated?"
"The ghosts and spirits on the Xianzhou, of course! I've wanted to know about this for ages! Speaking of which, the culture of Xianzhou is quite similar to our Liyue. Do you think ghosts actually exist in their world?"
Zhongli took a sip of tea, then slowly shook his head.
"The people of the Xianzhou possess long lifespans, and at the end of their lives, there is the Mara-Struck condition. Their departed souls may differ from what we understand."
"In Liyue, when one passes, the soul departs; there is no logic for resurrection or possession. But on Xianzhou, it is different—that Miss Xueyi of the Ten-Lords Commission, her physical body has long since perished, and she now utilizes a puppet body. Seen in this light, even if a Xianzhou native dies, their soul can inhabit an object and continue to work."
"Wah… they have to work even after death?"
Hu Tao suddenly felt that the people of the Xianzhou were rather pitiable.
—
( Translator-kun: Of course, this one is also included. )