"Stop trying to make yourself look good! If the Preservation Aeon had believers like you, they'd be embarrassed to death!"
Before James could even finish speaking, Zoe spat right at him, on live television, in front of the Interastral Peace Corporation and the Astral Express crew, without a shred of politeness.
"The Antimatter Legion was heavily damaged by the cold wave brought down by the Stellaron! The walls were built by the Creation Engine! Even the miracles of the Preservation Aeon were rewards for those heroes who dared to die fighting!"
"And your company? Who the hell do you think you are? The second things started looking bad, you ran faster than rabbits!"
"A bunch of cowards who only dared to come back to suck people's blood once Belobog was rebuilt! Why don't you just rename yourselves the Interastral Colonization Company already?"
"Little girl, that's the second time you've gotten our company's name wrong. I can't pretend I didn't hear it this time."
Howard's face split into a dazzling smile. If her previous insults had still been within tolerable limits, insulting the company's name was a major offense, one serious enough for him to mobilize the military for retaliation.
"Oh, sorry! My tongue slipped, I said the wrong word! Please don't take it to heart, I'm just a little girl after all!" Zoe stuck out her tongue playfully.
"You... you little...!" Howard's teeth ground together audibly; he almost burst into curses, and in his mind, he'd already sworn at himself a thousand times.
'Damn it! Didn't I already know not to call her 'little girl'? Why do I keep making such stupid mistakes?!'
Angry as he was, it was too late to back down. Whether the person in front of him was an old witch or an actual child, Howard had no choice but to grit his teeth and press the attack.
"Zoe, since you hold the position of ruler of Jarilo-VI and are representing the planet in this discussion, you'd better take responsibility for your words and actions!"
"So serious? Then how about I make it up to you with a meat bun? My Emiya made it himself, you can't get these anywhere else!"
Zoe pursed her lips, clearly reluctant, and pushed two meat-filled buns toward Howard. They were her precious snacks, something she'd been saving for later.
But what Zoe treasured dearly, Howard saw as nothing more than charity for beggars.
It was the final straw that broke the camel's back. The anger that had been building inside him finally exploded. Howard completely lost it.
"Eat... Eat... go eat shit instead!"
His face twisted hideously, like a demon emerging from the abyss. With one furious slap, he knocked the buns to the ground, picked up Belobog's account book again, and threw it down at Zoe's feet.
"Repay every debt immediately! Then go home, wash your neck, and wait for execution!"
"Debts unpaid, slandering the company's name, murdering members of our vanguard, and insulting senior company staff, stacked together, those charges are more than enough! You've already missed your last chance to beg for mercy!"
"My meat buns… wuwuwu…"
Zoe didn't even hear Howard's tirade. Her teary eyes shimmered as her tears spilled uncontrollably, like a broken dam.
Her body trembled; her white teeth bit tightly into her lip as she stared silently at the buns on the ground and the shredded meat scattered everywhere.
"Hey, don't cry. Let's finish up here quickly, once we're home, I'll make you a few big pots of it, enough to fill you up." Emiya sighed. He knew this was all part of the act, but he couldn't help feeling sorry for her.
He crouched down, wiped the tears off Zoe's cheeks with his sleeve, then crawled under the table, picked up the buns, brushed off the grass, and promptly ate them both in a few bites, looking entirely satisfied.
"Zoe, remember this, those people aren't human. They're parasites who suck blood. Their mouths are full of rot, they'll never understand how good real food tastes."
"Shut up!"
All the plans and calculations vanished from Howard's mind. Consumed by fury, he slammed his palm onto the meeting table, shattering it instantly. Then he drew back both fists, gathered power, and launched a punch through the air straight toward Zoe.
Riiip!
The force of the punch carried a colorless power so immense it tore through the air. Lightning burst forth, dazzlingly bright, and the ground along its path was gouged into a deep, endless trench.
Emiya didn't dare underestimate it. He filled his right fist with magic and met the blow head-on, deflecting the colorless energy to the side.
BOOM!
The energy streaked across the ground before smashing into a cliff wall. A thunderous explosion followed, the shockwave sending rocks flying in all directions.
When the dust settled, the towering mountain that had once stood there was gone, only a bottomless crater remained. The strength of a high-ranking IPC officer was truly terrifying.
"What's wrong? Not hiding behind your puppet anymore?" Howard's vicious sneer faded, replaced by that same polished, gentlemanly smile.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Emiya flexed his aching hand; a flash of killing intent flickered in his eyes.
"I'll warn you one last time. If you want to talk, state your real name and face me properly. Don't send out some clown of a puppet."
Howard pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up his nose, grinning wide enough to nearly split his face.
"If you keep pretending, don't blame the company for treating you as nameless vermin, and erasing you along with all of Jarilo-VI!"
"You're insane." Emiya gave him a look like he was an idiot, then turned away, calling to Huohuo and Vera. Taking Zoe by the hand, he started walking toward the Astral Express.
Not long after, Bronya came running with a crate of nutrient drinks and set it down on the remains of the meeting table.
Then, under the stunned gazes of all the Interastral Peace Corporation staff, she took out a black loudspeaker, steeled herself, and shouted, "The meeting table's destroyed, so we'll take a break to eat! Everyone, eat as much as you want, there's plenty of nutrient drink for everyone!"
As soon as she finished, Bronya's face burned red with embarrassment. She didn't dare look at the furious, soot-dark faces of the IPC members. Head down, she turned to run.
"Woman, do you really think the company wouldn't dare bomb you all right now?" Howard hissed through gritted teeth.
"I'm sorry! I'm just the messenger, I don't know anything, I'm sorry!!"
Bronya bowed deeply to Howard, feeling his murderous glare stab into her like real knives. She couldn't stand it anymore, she shut her eyes and bolted back to the Astral Express.
"Damn filthy peasants!!!"
A long moment later, Howard's thunderous roar, brimming with rage, echoed across the grasslands.
Inside the Astral Express, the culprit himself, Emiya, was calmly washing ingredients, preparing to cook a lavish meal. The passengers bustled around, happily helping him.
Even the conductor, Pom-Pom, had tied on a little apron and joined the vegetable-washing crew with full focus.
In the past few days, Emiya's cooking had completely won everyone over. Finally getting to eat one of his freshly made feasts, everyone on the Express was thrilled. The IPC people? They could wait their turn.
Among the three natives of Jarilo-VI, two were helping the chef as well, only Bronya's face was still pale as snow.
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