"Dear Ms. Bronya, on behalf of the Interastral Peace Corporation, I extend my most sincere greetings. As of today, the debt owed by Jarilo-VI to the Interastral Peace Corporation is cleared in full. As one of the few planets to have fully repaid its debts, the Interastral Peace Corporation has raised your credit rating within the universe to the highest level. Should you require it, all of the Interastral Peace Corporation's commercial channels will be open to you.
—Interastral Peace Corporation, Topaz."
After receiving the message from Topaz, Bronya sank into her chair as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She had been under immense pressure during this time, but that was all in the past. Belobog had finally ushered in an era of true peace, stability, and development. Although they still owed an astronomical sum, it was no longer a heavy stone crushing the hearts of the people as it had been before.
"miHoYo Interstellar Inc., is it? Every citizen of Belobog will never forget your kindness."
Bronya's gray eyes stared blankly at the ceiling of Qlipoth Fort as she murmured to herself.
At this moment, Qlipoth Fort was quieter than it had been in a very long time…
---o---
"I truly never expected our business to expand so suddenly and so broadly…"
On the second floor of the miHoYo Building, Himeko sat in an executive chair, her face filled with reflective amazement.
The once-empty second floor had been completely transformed by Wende into the External Investment Department, and Himeko herself had been appointed as its head.
There was a simple reason for this. On one hand, external investment required considering whether the other party could "handle" the investment. On the other, it depended on the "connections" of the investor. And who on the entire Express had more connections than Himeko?
Because miHoYo Interstellar Inc. had suddenly appeared on the Interastral Peace Corporation's radar, the IPC had chosen a path of continued, mutually beneficial cooperation. They had even specifically dispatched field personnel to liaise with miHoYo Interstellar Inc. on various projects. And the liaison, of course… was none other than Miss Topaz, who had the most dealings with the Astral Express.
"Miss Himeko, it is a pleasure to be working with you. Although I believe I said the same thing back on Punklorde, this collaboration marks a truly long-term partnership between the Interastral Peace Corporation and miHoYo Interstellar Inc. Therefore, if you have any questions regarding our joint business in the future, or any ventures you wish to cooperate on with the IPC, please feel free to contact me directly."
Topaz smiled and extended her hand to Himeko.
Himeko returned the gesture with an elegant smile of her own, and their hands clasped together, accompanied by the sound of a camera shutter.
Click!
The Astral Express's official photographer, March 7th, had captured this historic moment! Subsequently, this photo was eagerly reported by all major media outlets under the Interastral Peace Corporation's banner, instantly landing on the front pages of major news sites and drawing widespread attention from across the entire universe.
Countless people were abuzz with discussion, wondering why the Interastral Peace Corporation would partner with such a small, unknown company, and why they would go to such lengths to publicize it.
It was only when the public discovered that this company was not only affiliated with the Astral Express of the Path of Trailblaze, but was also the publisher of the universe-sweeping hit game, Honkai Impact 3rd, that the suspicions finally ceased.
After all, the reputation of the Astral Express was already significant across the universe, and the game they published, Honkai Impact 3rd, was even more famous than the Express itself! It was no wonder the Corporation would promote it with such fanfare.
What was even more unexpected was that the Corporation personally drummed up business for "miHoYo Interstellar Inc." Their "miHoYo Angel Plan" was a godsend for countless planets in desperate need of development! Although the application requirements were extremely stringent and the aid was provided as a loan, what did the "minuscule" interest rate even matter?
It was far better than having the Corporation foreclose on your entire planet, right?
In an instant, the name of miHoYo Interstellar Inc. echoed throughout the universe. Almost simultaneously, the Xianzhou Alliance announced its own partnership with miHoYo Interstellar Inc., synchronizing their credit systems.
This meant that any planet, organization, or even individual that offended miHoYo Interstellar Inc. would be blacklisted by three major powers at once: the Xianzhou Alliance, the Interastral Peace Corporation, and miHoYo Interstellar Inc. They would also be directly "cut off from the net."
Don't ask why, because Punklorde had also suddenly announced its cooperation with miHoYo Interstellar Inc.
When Himeko took office as the "Head of miHoYo's External Investment Department," Veyl from Punklorde had specifically contacted her. She stated her intention to apply for a loan from the "miHoYo Angel Plan" to rebuild the currently dilapidated Punklorde.
Himeko naturally agreed, and a very grateful Veyl expressed that Punklorde now stood on the same front as the Astral Express and miHoYo Interstellar Inc.
Wende no longer had to worry about what to plant on miHoYo Planet. With miHoYo Interstellar Inc.'s sudden emergence in the public eye, and his current lack of intention to move the planet from the Jarilo-VI system, miHoYo Planet was now much livelier than before.
Xianzhou merchant fleets, IPC courier departments, Punklorde cybersecurity task forces, and even technical exchange personnel from the Herta Space Station—whom Asta had generously lent to Himeko after hearing the new company was a bit short-staffed—were all present.
And so, everyone also learned that miHoYo Interstellar Inc. had connections with the Herta Space Station as well.
As for Belobog, Bronya sent her thanks and apologies to the crew via a holographic projection, explaining that she couldn't come to miHoYo Planet to thank them in person.
After Belobog's crisis was resolved, Svarog, who had been quiet all this time, had unexpectedly revealed some things to them. As a result, the people of Belobog were now frantically excavating things from their past. The recent period was no less hectic than the last, but since it was all for the future of Belobog, everyone was willing and full of fighting spirit.
Right now, Belobog, from the Overworld to the Underworld, was bustling with energy.
---o---
miHoYo Planet, in the temporary encampment of the Punklorde Cybersecurity Task Force.
Silver Wolf, disguised as a cybersecurity specialist, sat on a black crate, dangling her legs in boredom. She was still playing Honkai Impact 3rd, her "One-Punch Haxxor Bunny" skills were simply divine, and in a matter of minutes, she had added another three points to her Abyss ranking.
She then returned to the main screen, changed her Captain ID, and renamed herself: "Just 3 points short, not gonna grind?"
"So, we came all the way here just to sell ourselves out? Is that really what Elio told you?"
Silver Wolf put down her phone. Chewing on a piece of gum, she looked at Kafka beside her with an expression of disbelief.
"No, he didn't say that exactly. But this course of action did have his approval."
Kafka shook her head.
Even she hadn't expected this absurd plan to align with Elio's script. The Stellaron Hunters allying with the Astral Express… wasn't that a bit ridiculous?
"Sigh, I don't get you guys."
Silver Wolf lay down flat on the crate, completely giving in to her slacker attitude.