"Hmm... Although this isn't my first time here, using this ID card to teleport directly to this... miHoYo Planet? It's quite a novel feeling."
Dan Heng remarked with some emotion as he took in the scenery of miHoYo Planet.
"Seriously, who came up with the name miHoYo Planet? It sounds so awful..."
March complained with a complicated expression. The name was just so dumb... Look at the Interastral Peace Corporation, she thought. Their main building is called the Megastructure, and their planet is called Pier Point. It all sounds so official!
Now look at Wende's company... miHoYo Interstellar Inc., located in the miHoYo Building on miHoYo Planet... If they said "miHoYo" one more time, people would forget how to even read the word!
"I did. Is there a problem?"
Wende stood with his arms crossed, smiling gently and kindly at Little March.
"Er... no... nothing! I just think the name miHoYo sounds kinda nice..."
March instantly performed the classic art of face-changing, her expression of doubt instantaneously morphing into one of approval and praise.
"So, what are we doing here? Are we just testing out if the teleportation works?"
After some bickering and joking, March raised the most crucial question of their trip. Why were they here?
"Well... of course we're here to renovate the place. After all, this might become our other home in the future."
Wende gazed at the distant miHoYo Building, a smile playing on his lips.
---o---
"Um... Director Topaz, our destination is Jarilo-VI, but... which one is the target planet?"
Aboard the IPC ship, the pilot stared at the two planets displayed on the navigator and scratched his head in confusion.
Why did both of these planets show signs of life? Wasn't this supposed to be a barren star system?
"Huh? Isn't there only one target planet? Of course we're landing on that one."
Topaz, who had just returned from a business trip on Punklorde only to be immediately sent to work overtime on Belobog, put down her financial report and looked at the pilot with a puzzled expression.
"Er... Director Topaz, I think you'd better come and see for yourself..."
The employee scratched his head, ultimately deciding to let Topaz handle it. As a pilot who had been temporarily assigned to this mission, he didn't know much about the trip. The ship's automatic navigation system had always been reliable... except, of course, for this time.
"What's going on?"
Putting down the report, Topaz frowned and walked over to the main console. She looked at the projected star chart, and her own brows furrowed in confusion.
"When did another planet appear here? This... does this mean the previous star charts were wrong?"
Topaz stared at the two planets before her, completely baffled. One was covered in ice and snow, while the other looked like a perfect, habitable world, with an ideal distribution of land and ocean, an atmosphere, and even a satellite...
The ice-covered planet was clearly the Jarilo-VI mentioned in the mission briefing. But the other one...
"Looks like some business just fell into our laps. Once we've settled things on Belobog, we can lend the Market Development Department a hand. After all... this counts as an 'investment' too!"
---o---
"Supreme Guardian, here are this month's accounts. Since the Star Rail was connected, our trade with the outside world has become more frequent. The quality of life in both the Overworld and the Underworld has improved."
Pela gently placed a series of ledgers on Bronya Rand's desk, reporting to the exhausted-looking Supreme Guardian.
"Thank you, Pela, you've worked hard. Go and rest. You've been under a lot of strain lately."
Bronya nodded at Pela. It was true that Pela had had very little rest recently, but... it couldn't be helped.
Ever since the IPC had sent notice regarding the debt Belobog had incurred six hundred years ago, a sense of panic had gripped the city's entire upper echelon.
Although they weren't sure when the envoy would arrive, to prevent Belobog from becoming a vassal of the IPC, everyone in the city had been working tirelessly. After connecting to the star-rail network, many citizens of Belobog had even started online sales, all in an effort to increase the city's income...
But compared to the astronomical debt, this income was just a drop in the bucket.
"Supreme Guardian, please take care of yourself..."
Looking at the weary Bronya behind the desk, Pela could only offer these words.
These past days, Bronya, as the Supreme Guardian, had been doing everything in her power to resolve the situation. Endless meetings, countless proposals and suggestions, and the palpable panic everywhere...
In some circles within Belobog, there were even people trying to flee the planet with off-world merchant caravans, but they were all eventually captured by the Silvermane Guards.
Belobog's situation was dire. All she could do now... was wait.
Wait for the impending arrival of the envoy, who would pass final judgment on this planet... its final end, or perhaps, its "rebirth."
Beneath the massive pile of documents and ledgers, an observation report from the machine workshop was pressed at the very bottom, seemingly left there for a long time... and apparently, it had never been opened.
---o---
"Sis, here's the photo of the starry sky you wanted. I took it for you specially while I was out exploring. I even managed to catch an aurora."
Lynx rummaged through her backpack, pulled out a small tin box, and opened it. The contents were numerous but neatly arranged. Lynx took the photo on top and handed it to Serval.
"Thanks, you've worked hard too. Get a good rest tonight. Want to join your big sis for a dip in the hot springs~?"
Serval carefully took the photo and placed it in a prepared frame. Then, with her hands on her hips, she smiled at Lynx.
"Er... no, that's okay. I've already made plans with Pela for a sleepover at her place tonight... By the way, has something been going on in Belobog lately? Everyone seems so tired. Even my brother gives off a really stressed vibe."
Lynx looked at Serval, her eyes full of confusion.
"Isn't he always like that? Don't mind him. Make sure you have fun with Pela tonight. You two haven't seen each other in a long time. Pela is always talking about you whenever she comes by."
Serval skillfully deflected Lynx's question, smiling at her gently.
"Our little Lynx is as lovable as ever. When you see Pela later, remember to give this to her. It's a little gadget she asked me to make a while ago."
Serval handed a small, tightly wrapped box to Lynx.
"Oh, okay! I'll go find Pela now, then. Bye, sis!"
Placing the small box in her backpack, Lynx said her goodbyes to Serval.
"Mmm... goodbye."
Watching Lynx's departing figure, the smile on Serval's lips finally faded, replaced by a look of helplessness.