『 [ I'm just baffled. Even if it's a dangerous weapon, what the hell does it have to do with you guys? It's not even bound for the Luofu! ]
[ We'll leave as soon as we fix the ship. We won't be unloading any cargo here. ]
Skott added, looking thoroughly depressed.
[ But you'll need to stay in port for several days to repair the engine before you can set sail again. ]
[ How could we possibly allow unchecked hazardous materials to remain in the Luofu port for several days? ]
Xikui retorted.
[ I see… A safety inspection shouldn't require dismantling the cargo, right? ]
Yanqing, who had been listening for a while, inquired at this point.
[ Ordinarily, it wouldn't. ]
[ We originally only conducted some further scanning tests. ]
[ But the scan results revealed that the cargo boxes contain not just mechanical structures, but also some… features resembling biological tissue. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Biological tissue?!"
March 7th: "Huh? Could it be that this IPC transport fleet is carrying live creatures?"
Stelle: "Wait a minute!"
Stelle: "Could it be the Borisin?!"
Stelle: "Otherwise, why would it attract a Borisin attack?"
Hotaru: "But why would they be transporting Borisin?"
Lingsha: "The Borisin harbor secrets within their bodies."
Lingsha: "Perhaps the IPC wishes to obtain those secrets?"
Aventurine: "Professor, this couldn't be the work of your Intelligentsia Guild, could it?"
Aventurine: "After all, there are indeed some madmen in your Intelligentsia Guild who would be interested in this."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Hard to say. Those fools spend all day on impractical things."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "They have researched quite a few forbidden results. Once leaked, they bring disaster after disaster."
Furina de Fontaine: "So is the IPC going to be held accountable this time?"
Furina de Fontaine: "After all, if we follow this logic, they were the ones who drew the Borisin here."
Dan Heng: "We shouldn't jump to conclusions so quickly."
Dan Heng: "We need to see what these cargo items actually are before making a judgment."
Paimon: "But this Skott guy is so stubborn… He won't let anyone open the cargo for inspection at all."
Mualani: "Maybe he has a guilty conscience?"
Topaz: "That shouldn't be the case. He's just the transport supervisor. He most likely doesn't know what's actually inside."
....
『 [ Biological tissue? Are there live creatures in these boxes? ]
March 7th looked utterly astonished upon hearing this.
[ We'll probably have to wait for the Alchemy Commission to confirm the specific conclusions. ]
[ In any case, according to regulations, we must unseal one of the items for further inspection. ]
[ But this IPC specialist has repeatedly obstructed us on the grounds of patent confidentiality. ]
Kongqing from the Artisanship Commission explained.
[ The Alliance's regulations on biological products are extremely strict. ]
[ Without further inspection, the Skyfaring Commission will absolutely not allow clearance. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Guinaifen: "Holy cow, a single piece of cargo actually mobilized three departments for inspection."
Guinaifen: "It looks like there really is a major issue with this batch of cargo transported by the IPC!"
Stelle: "Is the IPC doing human experiments?"
Stelle: "I must severely condemn this!"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Such things are strictly forbidden throughout the universe."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "But… you know how it is."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "In certain unseen dark corners, such things still cannot be completely eradicated."
Boothill: "Son of a nice lady, if I met someone like that, I'd give him a piece of my muddle-fuddling mind with a bullet!"
Aventurine: "But, with all due respect, even if certain departments of the IPC have no bottom line and do such things, they would surely carry them out with extreme secrecy."
Aventurine: "There's no way they would take such a widely known major shipping route."
Aventurine: "Which means, there's a high probability this cargo isn't actually experimental lifeforms."
Aventurine: "And, I have an intuition…"
Aventurine: "This transport fleet being suddenly driven to seek refuge at the Xianzhou Luofu might not be a coincidence."
Jade: "Heh, my thoughts exactly."
Jade: "I just wonder if the person behind this is trying to drive a wedge between the Xianzhou Alliance and the IPC, or if they have other designs?"
....
『 [ Fine! Whoever wants to touch this cargo, I, Skott, will fight them to the death! ]
[ Whether what we're transporting is biological or mechanical has nothing to do with you! ]
[ I want to file a complaint against the Skyfaring Commission's procedures! ]
Skott's attitude was extremely firm. He blocked the cargo, refusing to yield an inch! Everyone frowned at the sight.
[ It seems Mr. Skott is very stubborn and won't be easily convinced. ]
[ Sigh… Yanqing really doesn't want to reach a point of falling out with the IPC… ]
Seeing Skott like this, Yanqing had a troubled expression on his face.
[ Leave it to me! I'm a negotiation expert! ]
Stelle took a step forward and claimed the task confidently.
[ I've heard about how Teacher helped Aurum Alley before. ]
[ Back then, the IPC representative was this very Mr. Skott, right? ]
[ Since you have experience dealing with him… it seems we'll have to trouble Teacher again this time. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Hu Tao: "In the end, it still takes Miss Stelle to step up!"
Hu Tao: "I wonder how Miss Stelle will deal with this, Skott?"
Stelle: "Last time, I used hard power to make him thoroughly yield."
Stelle: "This time… it won't be that easy."
Furina de Fontaine: "What do you mean by hard power?"
Paimon: "Is it a hard baseball bat?"
Stelle: "Of course… not!"
Stelle: "Last time, Sushang made a bet with Skott, saying she could definitely revitalize Aurum Alley."
Stelle: "And then she asked me to be the consultant."
Stelle: "The result, naturally, was that under the strategy of a business genius like me, the dilapidated Aurum Alley returned to prosperity!"
Stelle: "Skott lost the bet, barked like a dog in public, and then led his people out of Aurum Alley."
Stelle: Nous should already gaze on me based on my performance back then!
Madam Herta: ....
Li Sushang: "Right, right! If you hadn't helped to turn the tide, I would have been the one barking like a dog in the end!"
Li Sushang: "Come to think of it, I still feel a bit of lingering fear. Thank you so much."
Lumine: "Oh, so that's how it is."
Lumine: "I think I get it now."
Lumine: "Which means, this Mr. Skott is actually someone who accepts his losses?"
Stelle: "Yeah, although he has terrible manners and is very bizarre."
Stelle: "But he is indeed someone who plays fair."
March 7th: "Then how can we make him back down this time?"
March 7th: "Do we have to make another bet?"
Xiangling: "The question is, what should we bet on?"
Stelle: "To be honest, I don't know either."
Stelle: "Let's see what the 'me' in the video is planning to do."
....
『 [ What are you whispering over there? Hurry up and return the cargo to us! ]
Seeing Stelle and Yanqing whispering to each other, Skott immediately shouted out.
Upon seeing this, Stelle walked straight up to Skott.
She was ready for a hearty negotiation!
[ I remember this guy's personality is typical of someone who yields to force but not persuasion, though he still follows the rules to some extent. ]
[ Then I'll use his personality traits against him. ]
Stelle recalled Skott's characteristics, and a preliminary direction formed in her mind.
[ Since you brought up safety regulations, let's talk about the law. ]
[ Speaking of regulations, we have our own laws and regulations too. According to Article 4 of the 'Xianzhou Alliance-IPC Trade Consensus,' the Alliance and IPC shall never infringe on each other's intellectual property rights. ]
Just as Stelle was formulating her strategy, Skott had already spoken up to seize the initiative!
[ Oh? Trying to pressure me with the law? ]
[ Hmph, let's annoy him first. ]
Seeing that Skott had actually brought up the law, Stelle pondered for a moment and decided to annoy him thoroughly first.
So she looked up, revealing a smile that made Skott's skin crawl.
[ I didn't expect to see you again, Mr. Skott! We had such fun in Aurum Alley last time. It seems our paths are destined to cross once more. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "???"
March 7th: "Ugh~"
March 7th: "Stelle, the way you talk is so mushy!"
March 7th: "It gave me shivers!"
March 7th: "How is this a negotiation?!"
March 7th: "You're just here to gross people out, aren't you?"
Silver Wolf: "My god, I thought Hanabi was high-pitched and cutesy enough."
Silver Wolf: "I didn't expect there to be an even greater master!"
Silver Wolf: "Stelle, you really know how to torture people!"
Hanabi: "Nonsense!"
Hanabi: "I don't talk like that at all!"
Hanabi: "This is just my voice. Why would you call me cutesy?"
Hanabi: "That little Gray-Haired girl is the real deal!"
Paimon: "Pfft… I didn't expect Miss Stelle to have such a contrasting side."
Paimon: "It's so funny."
Hotaru: "Stelle still plays so unpredictably. (giggle.jpg)"
Yanqing: "Ahem… Teacher, can this really deal with Skott?"
Stelle: "Uh, about that…"
Stelle: "Calm down. I used this move just to dampen Skott's arrogance and distract him!"
Stelle: "This will help with the subsequent negotiations!"
Li Sushang: "Oh, so that's how it is!"
Li Sushang: "As expected of Skott's nemesis, so professional!"
....
『 [ ...Stop pretending we're friends! If I could actually beat you, I'd punch you in the face! So, are you guys going to resolve this problem? Or are you just going to let this clown put on a show here? ]
Skott listened with a distorted expression, clearly thoroughly grossed out.
[ Uh… Let's just pretend we don't know her, Dan Heng. ]
Beside her, March 7th saw Stelle talking like this and wished she could find a hole to crawl into out of embarrassment.
[ How dare you call me a clown? ]
[ Heh, let me introduce you all. This is my old friend, Skott. ]
[ He's very talented, especially at imitating animals. ]
Hearing Skott call her a clown, Stelle sneered, ready to poke at Skott's sore spot!
[ Shut… shut up! If we're talking business, let's talk business. What's the point of bringing up old scores? ]
Sure enough, Skott's expression changed instantly, and he immediately shouted…
[ Whoa, you're amazing! Can you teach me? Which animals can you imitate? ]
At this moment, March 7th's innocent voice chimed in from the side.
[ Stop asking, stop asking… ]
Hearing this, Skott instantly looked like a frost-bitten eggplant, lowering his proud head. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "I'm dying of laughter. March, was your innocent tone for real?"
Stelle: "That was a god-tier assist!"
March 7th: "Uh… I probably really didn't catch on."
March 7th: "I thought he really was an animal mimicry master."
Li Sushang: "Hahaha, isn't he a master?"
Li Sushang: "When he barked like a dog, it was truly lifelike and vivid!"
Hu Tao: "Oho, Miss Stelle's offensive looks highly effective!"
Hu Tao: "This Mr. Skott has already lost most of his momentum!"
Yanqing: "Yanqing gets it. This is the so-called attacking the heart first in negotiation, right?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Poor Skott, he got poked right in the sore spot."
Furina de Fontaine: "I feel like if Miss Stelle says a few more words, he's going to break down."
Stelle: "That shouldn't be the case. I remember this guy isn't that easily broken."
Stelle: "However, blindly attacking him might backfire. The me in the video should take the opportunity to talk about something serious now, right?"
....
『 [ Since you just mentioned the law, I'll follow the law too. ]
[ The Alliance can sign a non-disclosure agreement with you. That way, you won't have to worry about any infringements, right? ]
Seeing that Skott had been beaten down quite a bit, Stelle quickly brought the topic back to the main point.
[ Yes, we can sign a confidentiality agreement acceptable to both parties according to the IPC's rules. ]
Xikui added at this point.
[ That… that's easy to say, but who knows if you'll keep it! ]
[ Setting aside intellectual property confidentiality, the cost of these prototype test machines manufactured by the Intelligentsia Guild alone is higher than you can possibly imagine! ]
[ If anything goes wrong, you won't be able to pay it off even if you work for the rest of your long lives! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Oho, still being stubborn?"
Stelle: "It seems the way I treated him just now wasn't harsh enough!"
Silver Wolf: "Then you should keep pushing!"
Silver Wolf: "Beat him down hard!"
Silver Wolf: "Let him know how powerful you are."
Topaz: "So this batch of cargo really belongs to the Intelligentsia Guild?"
Topaz: "Could it really be some kind of contraband?"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Perhaps it's not that simple."
....
『 [ Evading the main point and still not agreeing? ]
[ Then don't blame me for being unreasonable and going crazy directly! ]
Seeing Skott deliberately skip the previous proposal, Stelle frowned and decided to teach Skott another good lesson.
[ By the way, I'll just smash everything with my bat, and then you can hire someone to assess the damage. That way, your cargo won't need any inspection, right? ]
As she spoke, Stelle pulled out her baseball bat!
[ Calm down, Teacher! ]
[ The General hopes to handle this matter properly. ]
Seeing this, Yanqing hurriedly stopped Stelle.
[ Is this the solution you came up with? ]
[ Fine, you might as well just step over my dead body. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Eh? What's with this air of facing death unflinchingly?"
March 7th: "Is he that tough?"
Furina de Fontaine: "He didn't show any fear even when Miss Stelle pulled out her bat!"
Furina de Fontaine: "This Mr. Skott is also a man of backbone."
Stelle: "Interesting. He actually wasn't intimidated by my threat."
Stelle: "This is the first time I've pulled out my bat and hit a wall."
Stelle: "But it's no big deal. Watch me continue to manipulate him!"
....
『 [ Fine, fine, fine. Pay you compensation? You wish! ]
[Hah! I've taken Madam Herta's curios, and even destroyed Ruan Mei's experimental subjects, but have I ever paid a penny for them? And now you think you can just come and ask me for compensation? ]
Stelle changed her strategy, planning to use her connections to bully him.
[ Listen up, brat. Don't think that your fancy connection to the Genius Society scares me. The IPC and those geniuses are working together. We're not taking orders from them. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Aww, even Madam Herta's and Lady Ruan Mei's names don't work!"
Stelle: "I couldn't even bluff a minor IPC employee?"
Madam Herta: "He's not a researcher. What's the use of bluffing him with my name and Ruan Mei's name?"
Madam Herta: "Isn't that like playing a lute to a cow?"
Madam Herta: "If you ask me, you might as well stop wasting time and just knock him out with one swing."
Stelle: "That won't do. I'm a negotiation expert!"
Stelle: "I don't use force unless absolutely necessary!"
Stelle: "Just wait. He's just a minor, Skott. I will easily handle him!"
....