"The day the Stellaron was taken, it was Gepard who went alone. Ask him."
Hearing Cocolia's words, everyone's eyes immediately turned to Gepard.
"Uh..." Gepard, faced with a pair of burning gazes, found himself struggling to handle it.
Most of them were okay, but Welt was his mentor, and he found it hard to refuse Welt's questioning.
Gepard took a moment to think back, and after being sure that Emiya hadn't asked him to keep anything secret, he finally spoke slowly.
"I'm not sure of the specifics. Before going to collect the Stellaron, Zoe made a container for me. Once I got there, I just..."
He made a motion like he was scooping water. "It was really easy to put the Stellaron in the container, and then Big Brother Emiya took the container and flew up into the sky. A few hours later, he came back."
"Why does this feel so familiar?!" March 7 pushed the silent Stelle forward and nudged him, "Isn't this just like... star... oops!"
Quick as a flash, Himeko covered March 7's mouth, pulling her and Stelle back into the room.
———
The scene shifted back to the Interastral Peace Company's side.
Even after nearly twenty minutes, the five senior executives of the company, who had traveled across countless planets, were still struggling to recover from their shock.
They repeatedly asked their subordinates, who were searching all over the universe, but the answer was always the same.
Within a week's travel from Jarilo, there was no trace of a Stellaron ever existing, and the rift reactions on Jarilo were almost undetectable.
"Isn't that incredible?" Zoe said calmly, sipping her tea.
When Topaz finally sat back down, Zoe spoke again with a hint of amusement, "I guess you're probably wondering if I hid the Stellaron in Beloberg."
"Speaking of Beloberg, how dare you occupy it? That place is the sanctuary bestowed by the Aeon for the people of Beloberg."
Though Topaz had her thoughts laid bare by Zoe's words, she seized the opportunity and planned to use Beloberg as a breakthrough to find a chance to deploy an investigation team to Beloberg.
But the next words from Zoe nearly made Topaz jump out of her seat.
"None of your business, why should I tell you?"
Her words were arrogant, and her expression even more so. Coupled with Zoe's young and innocent face, it infuriated all the employees of Interastral Peace Company present.
'Something's wrong. Usually, we're the ones being arrogant and domineering. Even if this little girl has the same intelligence as the Black Tower, she shouldn't be this cocky!'
"Miss Zoe, I'll say it again, we're here to discuss the official business of the Interastral Peace Company. Please show some respect."
Topaz's anger was rising with every second, and she was dangerously close to losing her temper.
"You guys barged into Jarilo without permission, did you respect me?" Zoe's little hand knocked on the table, her face filled with indignation.
"You scared all of Jarilo's people, making them lose sleep. Did you respect them?"
"Since you brought up the people, let me ask you. You foolishly provoke the company. Don't you fear the company's wrath that could destroy all of Jarilo?"
Topaz rubbed her aching temples, already fed up with dealing with this mess. She almost wished she could leave it to the Market Expansion Department and just flatten this broken planet.
But every time she thought about the innocent civilians on this planet, Topaz couldn't bring herself to do it.
Those people shouldn't have to die alongside this foolish child.
They deserved to live, to join the great Interastral Peace Company, to serve it for life and bring hope and prosperity to more broken planets, just like Topaz and her home planet.
"Indeed, you are the most powerful force in the universe, and we, Jarilo, are just an old, broken, crappy planet."
Zoe pursed her lips, slowly drinking a sip of her now-cold tea, as if suddenly realizing something. She looked at the Interastral Peace Company employees, and for a moment, there was even a trace of fear in her eyes.
"Now you know. We came here as representatives of the Company." Topaz sighed in relief, glad Zoe seemed to finally grasp the situation.
"The debt owed by Beloberg has been overdue for several hundred years. This has severely damaged the Company's image. Originally, the Company planned to seize Jarilo and sell all the people of Beloberg as slaves to pay off the debt."
"So they don't have to be slaves now?" Zoe's face showed a hint of happiness.
"That's right." Topaz nodded, pleased. It seemed this brat wasn't entirely beyond saving. She was likely hysterical earlier due to fear, but it seemed she was calming down now.
"I took on this debt collection task to give the people of Beloberg a chance. As long as you agree to make Jarilo a part of the Company and work for us forever, the Company will let the past go."
"What about my family? If my family leaves this planet now, will you let us go?"
Zoe blinked her big eyes at Topaz, her little hand absent-mindedly playing with her two long braids, looking just like a child who had been wronged and didn't dare face their parents.
"You can stay too. The Company treats its employees very well."
Topaz waved her cornerstone in front of Zoe.
"Look at me, my hometown was even worse than Jarilo. But under the leadership of the Company, everyone now lives a happy life. I even became one of the Ten Stonehearts, and the cornerstone is the Debt Collector Topaz."
"That sounds like a great deal, but I refuse." Zoe suddenly changed her tone.
She stood up on her chair, her gaze fearless as she met the eyes of those who seemed like they were about to devour her with their looks. Then she sneered.
"One of my favorite things to do, is to say 'NO' to those who think they're stronger than me."
"Mr. Emiya, are you really going to let this girl run wild?" Topaz's face darkened completely, and her voice turned cold, like she was speaking from an ice cavern.
Having no relatives or connections, she had worked her way up to the position of Debt Collector, overcoming challenges that would break most people.
In the Company, where people devoured others without a second thought, she had reached this level through her abilities, temperament, and self-respect.
For planets that wanted to survive, she showed the minimum amount of kindness. But for those who were determined to die, or who mocked her, she had no problem ensuring they died without a grave.
However, Emiya didn't seem to notice the murderous intent emanating from Topaz. He still wore a cheerful expression, proudly patting Zoe on the shoulder.
"Miss Topaz, please don't misunderstand. Zoe may look small and cute, but she's been alive for several hundred years. She's a proper adult."
"You!" Topaz almost choked on her words, nearly dying of frustration right there.
She glanced at the eager Market Expansion Department, imagining how the planet would become a hellish place once they took over.
Topaz ultimately couldn't bring herself to let go of the people of Beloberg. She decided to give them another chance at life.
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