Chapter 193: Topaz: A Demotion, You Say?
Meanwhile, at Pier Point, the grand headquarters of the Interstellar Peace Corporation, an emergency meeting was underway. The crisis? A video game.
The attendees were all top executives, the heads of the IPC's various sprawling departments, their expressions grim.
"I assume everyone has heard about the public relations firestorm ignited by Honkai: Star Rail," Schneider, head of the Market Development Department, began. His voice was steady, yet it dripped with his usual, oppressive weight. "A line from the character Cocolia—'When has Preservation ever looked humans in the eye?'—has already gone viral across the mainstream social platforms of multiple star systems."
He let the words hang in the air, a evident accusation. "We need to assess the extent of the long-term damage this will cause to the Corporation's image as the 'Orthodox of Preservation'."
Schneider paused, his gaze sweeping across the long table before landing on the man at the other end. He posed the next question with a casual air that fooled no one. "The Belobog project... who was originally responsible for handling it?"
The question, asked despite him already knowing the answer, laid his intentions bare. He was applying pressure, turning the screw. Schneider cared little for the actual 'business' of Belobog; he was far more interested in using this crisis to suppress his old rival, Diamond, the formidable leader of the Strategic Investment Department.
The power struggle between their two departments was an open secret within the IPC.
"It is a project managed by my department," Diamond's voice cut through the silence, betraying no emotion yet carrying an unquestionable authority. "I can provide a full explanation regarding the relevant circumstances and background."
A silent war of words unfolded across the polished surface of the conference table. The other executives remained quiet, their eyes lowered, content to watch the titans clash.
On the Interstellar Peace Network, the forums were a different kind of battlefield.
Topics regarding Honkai: Star Rail had exploded across the entire web, forcing moderators to open a dedicated section just to contain the deluge of player discussions.
"This is the first time I've realized the Path of Trailblaze could be so soul-stirring! The story of the Trailblazers is absolutely incredible!"
"Right? I never really had a concept of what the Trailblaze was all about before, but this game has completely changed my perspective."
"It's not just the plot! The presentation of the final battle was sublime—when the music swelled during Cocolia's transformation, I got goosebumps all over!"
"Is it really that exaggerated? Isn't it all just following a script?"
"You two aren't playing the same game, are you? One of you brought Leon into the plot, and the other didn't, right?"
"Newbie, huh? This game has tons of hidden side quests and 'IF' routes. Different choices lead to completely different plot developments."
"So the 'true' version of events is the route where Leon intervened?"
"Correct."
Discussions about Star Rail and Jarilo-VI had rapidly climbed the charts to become one of the hottest topics on the net. This once-forgotten frozen planet, a mere footnote in the IPC's ledgers, was now being written into a tragic and heroic epic under the watchful eyes of hundreds of millions of players.
Topaz set down her coffee cup with a soft clink.
She had just finished experiencing the game's main storyline herself.
"Mr. Leon really... gave me quite a difficult problem," she muttered, rubbing her brow in helpless frustration.
In the game's plot, Cocolia's damning line, 'When has Preservation ever looked humans in the eye,' was presented without any filter or alteration. This would undoubtedly create a public relations nightmare for the IPC. If she wasn't mistaken, inquiries—and even calls for accountability—from corporate headquarters would follow shortly.
Worse, it might even jeopardize the IPC's existing policies and investments regarding Belobog. As a high-ranking member of the Corporation, she knew the ruthless ways of her colleagues in the Market Development Department all too well.
Leon could have easily blurred this part of the story, softened the blow, but he had chosen the most blunt and provocative path.
'He must have a deeper meaning, right?' she thought, trying to find a silver lining.
But regardless of his intentions, trouble had now come knocking at her door.
Numby, her loyal warp trotter, seemed to sense its master's troubled mood. It gently rubbed its round body against Topaz's wrist, letting out a comforting "puru puru" sound.
"You think things have gotten tricky too, don't you?" Topaz murmured, stroking the little creature's head.
She closed the game interface and pulled up the IPC's internal communication channel. Sure enough, the work group chat had already exploded. The unread message counter glowed with a bright red "99+". A quick scan confirmed her fears: the discussion was almost entirely centered on Cocolia's controversial line.
A headache began to throb at her temples.
Almost simultaneously, an encrypted communication request chimed—the emergency conference call was starting.
The meeting began as quickly as it ended.
"..., Topaz, the IPC's disciplinary decision for you is as follows: your rank is demoted from P45 to P44, with a corresponding adjustment to your base salary," a cold, synthesized voice announced, processed through a voice changer to ensure anonymity.
"All award programs you were shortlisted for in this cycle, including stock options and performance bonuses, are canceled., you are required to submit a detailed report regarding this incident to Director Diamond."
"If you have any objections to the punishment, you may appeal in writing."
"I have no objections," Topaz replied, her lips pressed into a thin line.
She had wanted to ask about the IPC's subsequent plans for Belobog, but the meeting had already moved to replace the project lead, requiring her to hand over all duties. Asking now would be inappropriate and futile. It would be better to wait and ask Madam Jade privately after the dust settled.
"Understood. Then... does anyone else have anything to add?"
Silence.
"If not, this meeting is adjourned."
In the communication channel, the glowing icons representing the attendees dimmed one by one, winking out of existence.
Just as Topaz was about to disconnect, a voice spoke up, no longer distorted.
"Yo, quite lucky, aren't you? Screwing up such an important project and only getting demoted by one level... The old men upstairs must be quite fond of you."
The voice was now smooth, familiar, and laced with a playful cynicism.
"Oh, they're all offline? Perfect. Then I'll turn off this unpleasant voice changer."
The voice in the communication channel transformed, shedding its robotic shell to reveal Aventurine's signature, mocking tone.
"Aventurine? Why are you still here?" Topaz asked, her voice tight.
"Look at you. Why shouldn't I be here? Don't be so dismissive; it's not like I'm your boss right now." He paused for dramatic effect. "—Oh, wait. Now, it seems I actually am?"
"Pardon me," Aventurine chuckled, the amusement in his voice sharp and cutting. "I haven't gotten used to this new status yet."
Aventurine was originally a P45, same as Topaz. With her demotion to P44, he now technically outranked her. His claim of being her 'boss' wasn't entirely wrong, and he was clearly relishing it.
"If you have something to say, just say it," Topaz sighed, the sound heavy with exhaustion.
"Hey, it's nothing big. Just checking in on you," he said, his tone softening slightly. "No one expected that a prize like Jarilo-VI would suddenly go sideways because of a single line in a game."
Aventurine let out a rare sigh of his own, a hint of genuine sentiment coloring his words. As fellow members of the Ten Stonehearts, he and Topaz shared a relationship that was, at least, functional.
"Is there anything else? I'm hanging up," Topaz said, her patience worn thin. She was in no mood to deal with his games right now.
"Hey, don't hang up, don't hang up! Fine, I can see you're really not in the mood for small talk."
"Then I'll tell you something you'll definitely care about—the person preparing to take over your operations on Belobog is from the Market Development Department."
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