"My secret's out?"
"What did I even do for it to count as being exposed?"
Wen Liang raised an eyebrow, but there was not the slightest trace of panic on his face.
He did not even need to think about it. He already knew Topaz was talking nonsense again.
If Jade were really that capable—if she could actually unmask one of his alter egos—then there would be no reason for her to stay a P46. She might as well overthrow her boss and take the top seat herself.
Still, Wen Liang picked up the file with a look of mild interest and began flipping through it.
The contents were simple enough: a brief report on Jade's trip to Herta Space Station.
"So what exactly has been exposed, for you to come running to me in such a hurry?" Wen Liang asked again.
"You withheld information, Wen Liang."
"I knew it. With your personality, there's no way you'd put that much time and effort into investing in Jarilo-VI, let alone invite a genius like Herta there in person."
"You must have known something about that Lord Ravager long ago, didn't you?"
Wen Liang remained thoroughly unconcerned.
At this level, withholding a little information was hardly something the higher-ups would bother pursuing.
After all, departments fought each other all the time. Keeping some cards close to one's chest and sitting on a few scraps of intel was perfectly normal.
For all he knew, Jade was probably still quite pleased with herself right now, thinking she had cut him off at the pass.
"So your side doesn't intend to launch a crusade against that Lord Ravager?" Wen Liang asked.
"A crusade?" Topaz gave a light laugh and shook her head.
"Wen Liang, have you spent so long lying around in your office that you've stopped paying attention to news from outside?"
She tapped a few lines in the report with her finger.
"That Kiana has apparently subdued even Celenova. Do you really think the Company would go out of its way to offend someone like that when there's no direct conflict of interest?"
And that, indeed, was exactly how the IPC operated.
Though they claimed to be the orthodox inheritors of Preservation, if their own interests or status were not under threat, they had no intention of going out of their way to provoke the galaxy's most troublesome figures.
Besides, that Lord Ravager was Herta's problem now. If one day she snapped and caused a catastrophe, Herta would be the one left holding the bag. What would any of that have to do with the Company?
Wen Liang's expression did not change. "So?"
"You came all the way here just to tell me that Jade visited Herta Space Station and came back with information I already knew?"
Topaz's smile faded a little. She stared at him for a moment, then suddenly asked:
"Tell me honestly, Wen Liang. When you decided to invest in Jarilo-VI back then, was it really just to meet your quota?"
The question was abrupt, but Wen Liang had long since prepared for it.
"What else would it have been?" He shrugged.
"You know better than anyone how hard it is to meet the Market Development Department's targets. Jarilo-VI may have been a dead world, but it still had potential to be mined."
"As for everything that happened afterward…"
He spread his hands.
"Pure coincidence."
Topaz fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the truth of his answer.
"Fine. Whether it was really an accident or whether you had some ulterior motive, I don't really care. But Wen Liang, as a friend, let me give you a piece of advice."
"You'd better stop slacking off when it comes to the upcoming Penacony trip."
Wen Liang put on a look of surprise. "Oh? And why would that be?"
Topaz pressed a hand to her forehead in exasperation. "Did you not read the file properly just now either?"
She pointed to a particular section.
"It says it right here. That supposed Preservation Emanator—the so-called Saint—may come from the Asdana star system. And Penacony is in the Asdana system."
"That's why the entire Company is taking this Penacony invitation extremely seriously. Don't you want to come along and have a look?"
"After all, you've never exactly liked your department head, have you? If you make a major contribution this time, maybe you could even take his seat."
Wen Liang could not help laughing.
"Topaz, the way you say it makes it sound like I'm terribly eager for Oswaldo's position."
"I'm not interested in that seat. Besides, Penacony is the sort of place with dreams and the Family tangled all over it. Sounds like a complete hassle. For a lazy man like me, staying at headquarters and loafing around is much more suitable."
Topaz watched him for a few seconds, then let out a sigh.
"Fine. Do whatever you want. I've already warned you."
She stood and made for the door, but paused before leaving and glanced back over her shoulder.
"Oh, right. Jade also brought back an interesting bit of information."
"Oh?"
"That Miss Kiana seems to be looking for someone. A Trailblaze Emanator named Bianka Durandal Ataegina."
"They say she's Akivili's child."
Wen Liang's expression did not change in the slightest. He merely raised an eyebrow.
"Akivili's child? Interesting."
"That's all the reaction you've got?" Topaz looked a little surprised.
"What else should I say?" Wen Liang spread his hands. "I'm just a minor director in Market Development. How could I possibly know a figure like that?"
Topaz gave him a suspicious look, but in the end only shook her head and left, pushing the door open as she went.
Once the door closed behind her, the lazy ease on Wen Liang's face gradually faded.
He did not believe for a second that Topaz had come out of pure kindness to warn him.
Their private relationship might indeed be fairly good, but when it came to business, Topaz had always kept things very clear.
Could this have been Diamond's idea?
After all, everyone knew about the rivalry between Diamond and Oswaldo. Though Wen Liang belonged to the Market Development Department, his relationship with Oswaldo was hardly a good one.
As for Penacony?
Wen Liang was absolutely going.
No matter what, he intended to wade into those troubled waters.
Too many Paths were entangled there, and even Aeons might step onto the stage. If he missed a spectacle like that, who knew when he would next find a stage so perfectly suited for fabricating history?
Still, before that, he had something else to deal with.
He pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and stopped on one name:
Pink-Haired Shorty
Then he sent a video call request.
Ding—
A few moments later, the call connected.
A pink-haired figure instantly appeared on his screen.
"Fu Taibu, long time no see. I trust you've been well?"
That was right—the person Wen Liang had called was none other than the Luofu's Master Diviner, Fu Xuan.
The two had first met through a trade matter. Because of the occasional cooperation between the Company and the Xianzhou, they currently counted as ordinary online acquaintances.
The Fu Xuan on the other end, however, already looked a little impatient.
"Wen Liang? Why are you calling me at a time like this?"
"If you have something to say, say it quickly. I'm very busy right now."
Wen Liang smiled faintly.
"Fu Taibu, I'm here specifically to bring you some good news."
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 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter108)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
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 99
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 95
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 99
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 92
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 47
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 44
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 43
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 26
My patreon : patreon.com/queen_sin