Daziel's calm gaze met Jade's, which was as sharp as a sword, his tone detached.
"Oh? Is Miss Jade looking to pawn something with me?"
The curve of Jade's red lips deepened, a playful glint seeming to flash in her eyes, which were veiled by the shadow of her hat.
"What I need is your favor, Mr. Daziel." Her voice remained clear, yet it carried an unquestionable certainty.
Daziel's eyebrow raised slightly as he repeated, "A favor?"
"That's right, a favor." Jade gave a slight nod, leaning back in her chair. Her posture was elegant, yet it exuded a formless pressure. She began to speak slowly, her voice echoing in the silent VIP room.
"I'm sure Mr. Daziel is aware that the Interstellar Peace Corporation has always held a strong interest in this 'Land of Dreams,' Penacony." She paused, as if observing Daziel's reaction. Seeing that his expression remained neutral, she continued.
"In order to break into the Penacony market, the Corporation specifically dispatched our colleague, Aventurine. He was not only willing to use three of his family's treasured Cornerstones as collateral but was also prepared to lay down his own life should the plan fail." Jade's tone betrayed little emotion, as if she were stating a fact that had nothing to do with her. "Such a grand gesture, such a meticulous plan, yet it still met with an unforeseen variable."
She picked up the ruby-colored liquid from the table and took a light sip, her movements unhurried.
"The head of the Iris Family, Oti Alfalfa, that shrewd old fox, had long anticipated the Corporation's intentions." Jade set down her glass, the base clicking softly against the obsidian tabletop.
"He has other plans. He intends to bypass the Corporation and make a public offering to the entire universe, allowing Penacony to go public independently! If that happens, all of the Corporation's prior investments and infiltration plans will be for naught. And that is a result our Corporation is unwilling to see."
Daziel listened quietly, his fingers drumming unconsciously on the table. What Jade said corresponded perfectly with Topaz's earlier warnings and his own deductions. As he had surmised from the original plot, Aventurine had intended to use his own "death" in the dreamscape to secure the IPC's right to enter Penacony.
But in this timeline, Aventurine's gambit was seen through by Sunday, who used his Harmony to control him, foiling his plan to be sent to his death by Acheron. This had severely weakened the IPC's negotiating power with old Oti.
Jade's voice now carried a hint of helplessness, a subtle, persuasive undertone. "Mr. Daziel, as the great benefactor who saved Penacony, the Five Great Families are immensely grateful to you.
From what I know, they intend to gift you this very ship, the 'Radiant Feldspar,' as well as shares in some of Penacony's industries, as a token of their gratitude. This means that in the matter of Penacony's 'independent public offering,' you, Mr. Daziel, will have a decisive say."
"Therefore," Jade leaned forward slightly, her gaze burning from beneath the brim of her hat, "I hope that Mr. Daziel will pawn this 'favor' to me, to the IPC."
The strange fragrance in the air seemed to grow thicker, carrying a hint of a bewitching scent. Jade's purpose was now crystal clear.
Daziel mulled it over for a moment before finally speaking, his voice calm. "Then, Miss Jade, what can you offer me?"
Hearing this, Jade let out a soft chuckle, a sound like the tinkling of ice, pleasant but cold. "Mr. Daziel, according to the intelligence gathered by the Corporation, you seem to lack for nothing."
She said slowly, her tone laced with a knowingness, "Wealth is at your fingertips; you don't seem keen on power; as for beauty…" She deliberately paused, her gaze flowing over Daziel as if appraising a precious collectible.
"The lovely ladies by your side must number more than a dozen by now, each with her own unique charms. But I happen to think that when it comes to beauty, you, Mr. Daziel, will perhaps never refuse."
Her voice dropped lower, carrying a hint of a breathy whisper, like a feather lightly stroking one's heart. The air seemed to solidify, transformed by her words into countless tiny, invisible tentacles, gently caressing one's soul.
Her posture had shifted subtly. She leaned back, the shadow of her hat perfectly concealing half of her face but exposing the other half to the soft light, making her skin appear even more delicate and radiant.
Her red lips, having just touched the wine glass, held a moist sheen, curved into a perfect arc. She was like a dangerous woman, as Topaz had said. A normal person would not be able to resist this temptation. One misstep, and you could be tainted by her poison.
Daziel's gaze shifted from Jade's face to the untouched, ruby-colored liquid on the table, his voice still calm but with an unmistakable distance.
"Miss Jade, I believe you've misunderstood." He looked up, meeting her probing and alluring eyes directly. "I, Daziel, do not claim to be a saint who is unmoved by beauty, but I am by no means someone who thinks with his lower half, easily swayed by lust."
"The matter of Penacony concerns the interests of countless people and the future of the Interstellar Peace Corporation. This 'favor,' this 'say,' carries too much weight." His gaze was clear and firm. "I will not make such a momentous decision because of any personal feelings, or, shall we say… carnal desires."
The implication was a refusal. And a righteous one at that.
The smile on Jade's face did not fade but deepened. The mist in her eyes seemed to grow thicker. She let out a soft, lazy hum. She picked up her glass again, but this time she did not drink, only swirling the ruby liquid, watching it form a small vortex. Her tone regained some of its earlier coolness, but the seductive undercurrent had not completely vanished, instead seeming to infuse her every word, every syllable.
"The Corporation is determined to have Penacony; that much is certain. Although Mr. Aventurine's plan has suffered a setback, the Corporation's resolve will not waver." She looked up, her gaze meeting Daziel's once more.
"The head of the Oti family wants to 'go public independently,' bypassing the Corporation. This is tantamount to rendering all our previous efforts useless. We, or rather, I, cannot accept such a result."
She put down the glass, her voice becoming more direct. "Mr. Daziel, your 'say' is crucial to breaking this stalemate. Whatever conditions you propose, as long as they are within the Corporation's ability to bear, I can represent the IPC and agree to them."
Jade leaned forward slightly. The shadow of her hat moved, revealing her full face. It was a face of aggressive beauty, her features so exquisite they seemed like a masterfully carved work of art, yet their combination held a heart-stopping allure.
She lowered her voice again, a sound like a lover's whisper, yet carrying the cold core of a business negotiation. "What kind of 'sincerity' do you need the Corporation to show to make you change your mind?"
Daziel's finger stopped tapping the table. He looked at Jade, his expression deep in thought.
Just then, the door to the VIP room was gently knocked upon.
The door opened, and a familiar figure walked in. It was Topaz. She seemed to be in a hurry, with a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead and a slight flush on her cheeks. It was obvious she had been eavesdropping and was eager to come in.
Topaz first gave a slight nod to Jade, then turned her gaze to Daziel, her eyes filled with an obvious anxiety and earnestness. Her voice trembled slightly as she took a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm herself. "I know what Director Jade is discussing with you. It is a matter of great importance. Logically, I shouldn't interfere with our private relationship."
Her gaze swept between Jade and Daziel before finally settling on Daziel, her beautiful eyes full of pleading. "Regarding Penacony's affairs, regarding the company's investment here… our Strategic Investment Department… has already invested a great deal, and placed a significant wager."
Topaz bit her lower lip, as if finding it difficult to say, but she said it anyway. "This turn of events is unexpected for the company, and for me, for Aventurine, for Jade—for all three of us. If… if we cannot turn the situation around, the Corporation's investment in Penacony will be a total loss…"
She didn't continue, but the worry and gravity in her unfinished sentence were clearly conveyed.
Topaz took a step forward, her tone exceptionally sincere. "I know you are a pure and rational person, and I know you have your considerations. However, I… on behalf of the Strategic Investment Department, on behalf of the many colleagues who have worked tirelessly for the company's interests in Penacony, I implore you to help the company this one time."
She bowed slightly, her posture very low.
"As long as you are willing to lend a hand, whatever price the company needs to pay, we will do our best to meet it. Please… reconsider, won't you? I… I'm begging you, even though I have nothing left to give you…"
Daziel quietly looked at Topaz, at the anxiety and sincerity in her eyes. Only he could understand her underlying meaning—she was already his, with no standing to negotiate with him. But even so, she was begging him to help her this one time.
He had rejected Jade because he didn't want to mix such a major decision with personal desire. But Topaz's appearance, and her words, forced him to reconsider. Topaz was, after all, a woman with whom he had been intimate.
If he were to refuse her now, after she had pleaded like this, it would be somewhat heartless. This was not just a request from Jade, but from the IPC, from Topaz, from many people.
The VIP room fell silent for a moment. Jade said nothing, only observing Daziel, a flicker of unreadable light in her sharp eyes.
Finally, Daziel spoke slowly, breaking the silence. His gaze shifted from Topaz back to Jade, his tone laced with a hint of helplessness, and a hint of decision.
"Alright."
Just two simple words.
But they made the tense light in Jade's sharp eyes seem to relax in an instant. Her slightly forward, pressuring posture also subtly eased back, as if a heavy, invisible burden had been lifted.
Topaz let out a long sigh of relief, her clenched fists uncurling. She looked at Daziel with an expression of profound gratitude, her eyes even welling up slightly.
"Thank you so much! Really, thank you so much!" She took another half step forward, the flush on her cheeks from her urgency now tinged with shyness. "Once… once things here in Penacony have settled down, I… I will come find you on the Express."
After saying this, her cheeks grew even redder, and she lowered her head slightly, as if not daring to look Daziel in the eye.
Daziel's gaze softened as he looked at Topaz and gave a gentle nod. A simple affirmation, but it set Topaz's heart at ease. She looked up, her eyes shining, and nodded vigorously.
"A wise decision, Mr. Daziel," Jade's voice returned to its usual coolness, but one could detect a faint note of relief. While Daziel and Topaz were speaking, Jade had already risen gracefully and retrieved a new stemmed glass from the wine cabinet. She returned to the table and poured herself a glass of the ruby liquid, then gently pushed it in front of Daziel. "I hope our cooperation is a pleasant one."
Daziel picked up the glass before him. The ruby-like wine refracted the light beautifully. He lightly clinked his glass against Jade's in mid-air.
He then put down the glass, his gaze once again on Jade, his tone calm but with an undeniable weight.
"Don't break your 'Flower-Pawning' rules, Miss Jade."
Jade, who was about to say something polite, paused.
Daziel continued, his voice steady and deep. "Since I have already pawned my favor, I hope that after this is all over, you will not forget what you promised… an item of equal value. I hope… it is you."
The air seemed to freeze in that instant.
Topaz looked at Daziel, then at Jade. As smart as she was, she vaguely understood, and her face couldn't help but flush a deeper shade of red. She quietly took half a step back, wishing she could disappear on the spot.
The shadow under Jade's hat seemed to deepen, obscuring her expression. But her slightly parted red lips, and the faint blush that crept up from the roots of her ears, betrayed the turmoil within.
She was silent for a few seconds. Her eyes, which were always sharp and calculating, now seemed to be veiled in a thin layer of mist, hazy and alluring.
Finally, she let out a soft "mhm," a sound so low it was almost inaudible, yet it clearly reached Daziel's ears.
That sound was no longer the cold decisiveness of the negotiating table, nor the deliberate, seductive whisper from before. It was tinged with an imperceptible shyness and… resignation.
She slowly raised her head. Under the soft light, the face beneath the hat seemed even paler, the blush spreading from her ears to her cheeks, lending a rare softness to her aggressively beautiful features.
"I will remember."
Jade's voice was still very soft, but her tone carried a strange firmness, as if confirming a promise that was equally important to herself. She looked at Daziel, her deep eyes no longer holding just pure business calculations, but something more complex and unreadable.
She nodded slightly, her movement a bit stiff, yet filled with a do-or-die resolve.
"The Corporation… will not treat any of its partners poorly. Especially… you, Mr. Daziel."
This sentence seemed to be for Daziel, but also for herself.
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Unfortunately, two of our stories were removed... so I created a new account to post them: MikuDayo.
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