Oink.
Numby, thinking it was being praised, squealed happily.
"Call it whatever you want," Topaz said with a sigh.
It's not like it's short on nicknames when we're out on assignment anyway.
Whether it's Tornado or Shockwave, I don't care anymore.
...
...
Balanza.
"We're off."
Topaz arranged a ship for the two, and they didn't dare linger.
After all, one of them was a wanted criminal, and it was best to avoid a potential fight.
Of course, it would be the Corporation that would be completely wiped out.
"I can't give you a precise answer on Oswaldo's whereabouts."
"It's no joke that rank crushes those below it in the Corporation. Even someone at my level has no authority to know his specific location."
Before they parted, Topaz delivered what she had promised.
"However, I've heard he often appears near the 'Subspace Wall,' seemingly to observe the Amber Lord forging the wall from time to time."
"That place is a critical IPC location, so a direct breach is not ideal. In other words, your only chance is when he's on his way back."
"My personal advice, if you want to cause trouble for him..."
"...you'd better make sure you have an Emanator-level power at your side, otherwise I'm afraid it will be very difficult to deal with him."
"That's all I can say."
Topaz said no more.
Saying any more would be impolite.
Just these few sentences getting out would be enough to land her in hot water. If she were to leak more internal corporate secrets...
Wow, exiled to the frontier tomorrow for stepping into the office with my left foot first.
"Alright."
The ship Topaz provided was a two-seater, one in front of the other. Leon sat in the back.
"In the future, Tornado should focus more on area-of-effect, you know? Don't always be thinking about single-target attacks. It's not good for your future development."
Before leaving, Leon spoke with the earnestness of a nagging grandmother.
"...I'll be sure to remember that."
Topaz thought he was quite fond of Numby.
She was wondering whether she should tell him where Warp Trotters were most likely to appear, so he could go catch one for himself and stop coveting her baby.
"Corporate dog, I'll count this as a favor I owe you."
Boothill tipped the brim of his hat low, speaking reluctantly from the pilot's seat.
If Topaz hadn't stopped him, he would have pointed his gun at his brother.
Just the thought of it was hard to bear.
"Mutual assistance. It's only right."
Topaz nodded and didn't say much.
In truth, neither owed the other.
Boothill was just a bystander from start to finish.
In other words, the person she was dealing with from the beginning was the other Ranger. He quelled the chaos on Balanza for the Corporation, and she kept the rampaging Boothill in check for him.
Fair and square.
With the roar of the engines igniting...
...the trio's conversation came to an end. The two Galaxy Rangers quickly took off in their ship and were gone.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
A ringing only she could hear came from the communicator in her left ear.
"This is she."
Topaz raised a finger and pressed the communicator to answer.
"[Little Yelina, according to the report, you encountered two Galaxy Rangers?]"
The voice on the other end was Jade's.
"Yes, Lady Jade."
Topaz was a little puzzled.
Shouldn't the Corporation be more focused on the rebellion caused by Emperor the Third?
Two Galaxy Rangers were certainly important, but how could they compare to the Corporation's own interests?
It was strange.
Topaz couldn't figure it out.
"One is a wanted criminal on the Corporation's blacklist."
"I don't know the other Galaxy Ranger. He's skilled with a bow. Do you have any intelligence, Lady Jade?"
But since her superior was asking, Topaz took the opportunity to inquire about his background.
"[Little Yelina, if it were you, how much confidence would you have in accomplishing what he did, as detailed in the report?]"
"45%, I'd say."
Topaz hummed thoughtfully for a moment before answering.
Balanza possessed a significant number of high-tech weapons.
Mythus Cannons, Imaginary Annihilation Cannon, Positron Cannons.
These are all potent weapons the corporate fleet uses when encountering the Celenova Legion. In other words, they possess significant killing power even against those at the half-Emanator level.
"On top of that, having to fight the Antimatter Legion... a 45% chance of victory is already an overestimation."
"[I can tell you explicitly, if any other member of the Ten Stonehearts were sent, that probability would not exceed 60%.]"
Jade's words were stunning.
"Are you saying...?"
The word "Emanator" had already surfaced in Topaz's mind.
"[That man is no Galaxy Ranger. He is a Heavenly General of the Xianzhou.]"
Jade's tone was one of 'That's right, it's exactly what you're thinking.'
"A Xianzhou Heavenly General? The legendary eighth one?"
Topaz exclaimed, surprised that her vague suspicion had been correct.
No wonder they weren't concerned about Rupert III; they were fully aware of Leon's identity.
With an Emanator as a backstop, there was indeed nothing to fear.
'Wait, they're not going to attack the IPC headquarters directly, are they...'
Topaz suddenly recalled the words she had just spoken.
Now he has an Emanator accompanying him.
She felt the probability of the two going directly after Oswaldo was small, but not zero.
"[Little Yelina, do you know why I'm contacting you?]"
"Please, tell me," Topaz said, snapping back to attention.
"[I believe you also suspected his identity, but ultimately dropped it because his appearance was too abrupt.]"
Jade knew that Topaz was different from her.
She herself dared to be certain of his identity because of the existence of the Reignbow's Inquiry, but Topaz needed to consider various factors before making such a judgment.
"[I'm contacting you to ask one thing: what was his purpose in coming to Balanza?]"
Jade asked in a solemn tone.
This Heavenly General had just left one place and immediately arrived at Balanza, a key IPC site.
It's impossible that he had no purpose. The only question now is, what does he want?
"His purpose?"
Topaz recalled carefully. She remembered they had discussed this topic.
"They seemed to be looking for something called a Heliobus. It was as if they followed some kind of tracking device and stumbled upon Balanza by accident."
Topaz was fairly confident in her memory.
If she recalled correctly, that was it.
"[A Heliobus?]"
Jade sounded puzzled, then her brow furrowed instinctively.
She knew about Heliobi—incorporeal creatures formed from energy aggregation.
But how could there be a Heliobus on Balanza?
The vast majority of that species are on the Xianzhou...
Jade felt that something was being overlooked.
What was it...
Her brow tightened further. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't find a clue.
Just as she was stuck, the corner of Jade's eye suddenly caught the words "Antimatter Legion" on the report.
In that brief glance, she finally realized what was wrong.
"[Are you certain the Lord Ravager who descended this time was Iron Tomb?]"
A strong sense of unease rose in Jade's heart. This matter was likely far from over.
"Yes."
Topaz didn't understand the question.
"[Little Yelina, are you sure this Antimatter Legion was brought by Iron Tomb?]"
"It should be?" Topaz was confused.
Every time a Lord Ravager descends, they appear with the Antimatter Legion. Isn't that common knowledge?
"[But according to the Corporation's records on Iron Tomb's appearances—]"
"[This particular Lord Ravager has always descended alone. The Antimatter Legion has never once accompanied it.]"
Jade's voice was grave.
"...What?"
______
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