Faced with Xingxiao's pressure, Jade's body went completely rigid.
As a P46 executive of the IPC, she naturally knew full well how terrifying a Lord Ravager could be.
But as one of the Ten Stonehearts, Jade could appreciate even more clearly just how powerful Xingxiao truly was.
It felt as though her heart had already been seized in the other woman's grasp, liable to be crushed at any moment.
Even if Diamond himself, her direct superior, were standing here, he would not have given her this kind of feeling.
"You dog of Preservation, your words have been rather presumptuous. Even if my lady does not care, that is no excuse for your provocation."
Xingxiao's voice rang out once more.
Having chosen to devote herself to Kiana for the rest of her life, Xingxiao had naturally taken the initiative to learn about Kiana's past.
As such, when it came to the Preservation Emanator who had forced her lady into slumber, Xingxiao longed to tear that person apart—along with the IPC that worshipped Preservation.
And yet she had not even gone to settle accounts herself, and now the IPC actually dared ask her lady to help them find that person?
This was blatant provocation.
If her lady gave the order, Xingxiao would not hesitate in the slightest to crush Jade's throat on the spot.
"Xingxiao, don't frighten our guest."
At that moment, Kiana's voice rang out, calm and unhurried.
Xingxiao's aura vanished instantly.
"Yes, my lady."
Jade suddenly felt the immense pressure vanish, and she nearly failed to keep herself seated upright.
For that brief instant just now, she had genuinely felt death breathing down her neck.
And this newly emerged Lord Ravager, with just one casual sentence from Kiana, had obediently withdrawn her hand.
Jade abruptly realized that the company's evaluation of Kiana might need to be completely rewritten from the ground up.
"Are you all right, Miss Jade?" Kiana looked at her with a smile, not the slightest hint of apology in her eyes.
After all, Jade had just been spreading rumors about her true identity.
Even so, Jade did not dare show even the slightest dissatisfaction. "You're too kind, Miss Kiana. I was the one who failed to think things through. My words were offensive. Xingxiao's reaction... is understandable."
Xingxiao stood behind Kiana expressionlessly, too disdainful to spare Jade even a glance.
Kiana merely smiled and did not expose Jade's little thoughts.
"So, your company wants me to help find that Preservation Emanator?"
"Yes." Jade nodded.
"You should know that the Path of Preservation has always been deeply tied to the IPC. For the company's Preservation blueprint, a Preservation Emanator would be both an opportunity and an unknown variable."
"If possible, we would still like to find them."
"Of course, the company would not ask Miss Kiana to work for nothing. So long as you are willing to provide clues, or assist us in locating that Emanator, you may name your terms."
"Name my terms?" Kiana raised a brow.
"As far as I know, the Ten Stonehearts are supposed to follow a principle of equivalent exchange. Does Miss Jade really have the authority to make a promise like that on the company's behalf?"
Jade's smile stiffened slightly.
This Miss Kiana really did know the company's business well.
Looks like Madam Herta had taught her rather a lot over this stretch of time.
"That is true. With my current authority, I cannot make an unlimited promise. But if Miss Kiana is willing to cooperate, I can guarantee on Diamond's behalf that our Strategic Investment Department will do everything in its power to satisfy your requests."
In truth, Jade had her own little scheme in making this offer.
After all, she had never explicitly said that if the company found that Preservation Emanator, it would definitely try to recruit them.
If this Miss Kiana wished to find that person for revenge, she might be even more inclined to agree.
Because among all the powers in the galaxy, none possessed influence as vast and far-reaching as the IPC.
And by that point, the best-case scenario would be Strategic Investment successfully recruiting that Preservation Emanator—or at least acquiring crucial information about them—thus earning Diamond yet another piece of leverage in his struggle against Oswaldo.
And the worst-case scenario?
They would still be able to use this cooperation as a way to secure a preliminary friendship with the Lord Ravager Kiana.
No matter how you looked at it, there was no loss.
Of course, all of that depended on Kiana accepting Jade's proposal and not asking for something outrageous.
But this time, Kiana did not answer immediately.
She was thinking.
As for that so-called Preservation Emanator, she obviously knew exactly who it was.
Because that person was her own alter ego.
The problem was how she ought to make use of this opportunity.
Since Jade had already delivered a perfect opening for her to fabricate history, how could Kiana possibly waste it?
Perhaps she could take this chance to develop multiple threads at once and pull out several more personas.
After all, with Xingxiao now helping her, bringing Kiana's current identity to full power was only a matter of time.
And she had already spent a fair while out in the world using Kiana's identity. It was about time to switch things up a little.
As for how the Preservation Emanator identity should be used—
Kiana certainly was not going to carelessly tie that persona to the IPC, especially not to Strategic Investment.
Because her true self was still developing within the company itself.
As the saying went: an employee who does not want to become the boss is not a good employee.
While the one who had truly formed a grudge with Strategic Investment was Oswaldo, and Kiana herself was not especially close to him, she had already embarked on the path of fabricating history.
And if that was the case, then the position at the top of Strategic Investment was one she could claim as well.
When that day came, perhaps it would be she and Diamond fighting over the promotion.
For that reason, Kiana had already decided to revise the characterization of this Preservation persona—and then stab the company in the back when the time was right.
"All right. I agree to cooperate with your company."
But before Jade could be pleased, Kiana added,
"However, Miss Jade, there's one thing I should make clear."
"I don't actually have any special means of locating people, and I may not know all that much about that woman either. So if you're hoping to use me to obtain her whereabouts, I may not be able to provide you with much."
Jade immediately nodded. "That is only natural. The fact that Miss Kiana is willing to cooperate at all is already an enormous honor for the company. As for how much information you can provide, we will not press the matter."
"Of course, if there is anything you need the company's help with, please feel free to tell us."
Kiana neither agreed nor disagreed. "Fine. Since Miss Jade is being so sincere, I won't stand on ceremony."
"I'd like the company to help me find someone."
"Find someone?" Jade blinked.
"That's right. Someone named Durandal."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 175)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 126)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter105)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter100)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter134)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 87
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 79
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 64
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 73
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 45
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 49
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 45
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 45
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 31
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 27
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 26
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