Administrative District, History and Culture Museum.
March 7th and Stelle found Topaz, who was viewing the exhibition paintings.
"Paintings from six hundred years ago... temporary valuation 270,000... there are 34 such paintings, so that's 9.18 million..."
"She's already estimating the value of these ancient paintings. As expected of the [Strategic Investment Department]."
Hearing March 7th's complaint, Topaz was surprised: "...Oh my, it's you two again! What kind of divine fate is this, running into each other three times in one day!"
"Fate~ cannot be described~"
For some reason, this phrase automatically popped into Stelle's mind.
"Have you seen this painting? Although I don't know much about art appreciation, I can probably see something from the painter's brushstrokes."
Since things have come to this, let's change the subject first.
Seeing Stelle and March 7th appear here again, Topaz suspected she had a tracking device planted on her... the private contact info she added didn't have auto-reply either.
Finding her so quickly, as expected of [Trailblazing] Nameless. It would be a pity if they didn't join the Security Department's Investigation Unit.
"How should I put it? The whole picture conveys a kind of... sadness. Not the fleeting sadness when ordinary people encounter unsatisfactory things... far more prolonged and heavier than that feeling."
"That kind of sadness seems to condense history. Through their brushstrokes, the painter summarized the suffering of several generations... no, dozens of generations of Belobogians."
"I didn't expect Miss Topaz to understand art so well. I truly admire you!"
Stelle clasped her hands together, starting the mutual flattery mode.
"Not at all, not at all, just analyzing randomly. I definitely can't compare with professionals. The Astral Express has been to so many places, and [Nameless] are all knowledgeable. You must be much better than me in this regard."
"To put it more secularly, what I value is definitely not its painting technique." Topaz explained to them:
"If I value this painting at 200,000, at least 50,000 to 60,000 of it is offered because of its [Added Value]."
In the eyes of the Interastral Peace Corporation, "value" is above all else. They won't investigate in detail the historical significance contained in each collection.
Seeing the topic straying further, March 7th reminded: "Uh... I don't mean to interrupt your elegant topic, but actually we have something else to discuss with you..."
"Oh? Is that so? Please speak freely. Could it be that you two are planning to talk to me about potential business cooperation?"
"Not really, actually we..."
Topaz suddenly turned around and pointed ahead: "...Ah, how about we chat while walking? This way!"
"Most of the collections in this museum are somewhat boring. But as long as you have a pair of discerning eyes, you can definitely discover gems from the dust~"
"Miss Topaz, we have already heard from Bronya about Belobog's debt problem..."
"...Ah, she told you two everything? Your relationship is really particularly close. What's wrong? Could it be that you two want to discuss financial professional issues with me?"
Three questions in a row right off the bat, directly crashing March 7th's brain.
"We... Aiya, Stelle, help! I'm really not good at this..."
"Speak frankly." Stelle reminded first, then moistened her throat with milk tea: "We want to plead for Bronya. The Company's demands are very unreasonable!"
"Hahaha~ You speak really directly, I appreciate that!" Topaz was amused. These Nameless had quite a sense of humor; their way of speaking was soft first, then hard.
"Indeed, I understand. From your perspective, this matter must be unreasonable, right?"
"Different positions lead to different perspectives; this is normal. For me, debt collection is my job... I've seen cases more difficult than Belobog's situation."
Stelle frowned. She seemed to know what to use to refute Topaz's words.
"Most individuals or organizations that cannot repay on time have their own difficulties, but if I treat every project as a [Special Case]... the entire galaxy's economic system would probably collapse."
"Such a cold mode of thinking..."
"Hehe~ I've heard similar words many times, really. Situations where debtors cannot repay in cash are commonplace for the [Strategic Investment Department], and we provide more than one solution."
"But Jarilo-VI has delayed the debt for too long beyond the fulfillment period. Many milder solutions are probably no longer applicable."
"So, I proposed to Bronya... Oops, almost leaked a trade secret, that was close~"
Topaz stopped just in time, but when she looked up, she saw March 7th rummaging for something.
"March, don't drop the ball at the critical moment!"
"Don't rush me~ It definitely won't be lost... Ah, found it!"
In the next second, Topaz saw March 7th take out a box of...
Soap?
"Just as Miss Topaz said, different positions lead to different perspectives. Then... what if it's [Eternity]?" Stelle threw the [∞]-shaped soap on the ground, the corners of her mouth rising slightly.
...
Goethe Hotel, a Warp Trotter was lying in front of Adrian, comfortably drinking milk tea.
"Mmh..."
Adrian looked at [Numby] rolling left and right, falling into deep thought. Does HE have some constitution that attracts Warp Trotters?
Blink blink!
Freesna sat beside Adrian, elegantly drinking Goethe's classic pour-over coffee. "I stood at the boundary of the snow country at dawn, holding this pitch-black grail filled with chaotic primordial soup."
As a qualified Priestess, one must learn professional voice acting skills.
"Look! The ominous vortex surging in the cup is the seed of curse from the abyss of purgatory. After thousands of degrees of tempering in the furnace, it finally becomes this antimatter that swallows light... Pui, dark matter!"
Freesna corrected herself in time. Mentioning [Antimatter], people would first think of the [Antimatter Legion]. A cup of coffee didn't deserve to be reduced to being mentioned in the same breath as them.
After saying that, she took a fierce sip, her pupils contracting suddenly, and dark golden energy ripples visible to the naked eye erupted around her!
As a qualified Priestess, one must learn professional light pollution special effects.
"Cough cough... Drinking afternoon tea, don't be so dramatic, you'll scare others."
Adrian urged. HE hadn't expected to see Freesna in Belobog either. HE thought this girl had gone to Penacony ahead of time.
Draining the last trace of the abyss (coffee) in the cup, a brilliant light burst from Freesna's eyes! She tapped her toes lightly, her figure like a phantom tearing through the morning mist, suddenly leaping in front of Numby.
Not an ordinary squat, but like a hunter ready to strike, one knee on the ground, one hand pressing virtually on the ground, forming a perfect defensive posture.
At this moment, her gaze was no simple observation! That sharp gaze, like a tempered blade, seemed to penetrate Numby's soul!
"Ah~ Such a spirit pet, join our [Church of Eternity]! No fees charged!"
Hearing the first sentence she said, Adrian almost spit out his milk tea. Has the Church's population become so scarce that they need to recruit a Warp Trotter?!