On the top floor of the Radiant Feldspar, in the conference hall.
Outside the giant reinforced glass windows, the neon light ribbons of Penacony twisted and flickered like massive, dying serpents. They silently watched the formless confrontation unfolding within the room, cold and indifferent.
In the air, the burnt fragrance of expensive, extinguished cigars and the sharp, clean scent of medical disinfectant intertwined strangely, creating a unique atmosphere of luxury and ruthlessness that tensed the nerves.
At the center of the hall was a long, obsidian conference table, its surface polished to a mirror shine, cold and hard, clearly reflecting the elongated shadows of the few figures in the room.
A short, stout Pepeshi merchant with sparse, messy, graying hair was already seated firmly at one end of the long table. This was the current helmsman of the Iris Family, Oti Alfalfa. His small, corpulent body was nearly swallowed by the large chair, making him look slightly comical.
Daziel occupied the other end of the long table.
Jade stood gracefully to Daziel's left rear, a blue and white long dress outlining her wonderful curves, her posture elegant and composed. Her exquisitely lipsticked lips parted gently, her voice crisp and pleasant.
"Apologies for the wait, Mr. Oti. I believe our meeting can now continue."
A series of low, guttural chuckles rumbled in old Oti's throat. The sound was dry and coarse, like two old pieces of sandpaper rubbing against each other, grating on the ears.
"Oh? Have you devised a strategy to deal with this old man so quickly, Miss Jade?" Old Oti's eyes sized up Daziel. "This must be our family's great benefactor, Mr. Daziel, yes? Is he the powerful external support your Interstellar Peace Corporation has invited?"
A perfect, commercial smile curved Jade's lips. "Mr. Oti, you misunderstand. I have merely had the honor of inviting another of Penacony's very influential future shareholders to participate in this important conversation about the planet's future."
She turned slightly, her gaze falling on Daziel. "And Mr. Daziel absolutely has the qualification to sit here."
Daziel's calm gaze slowly swept over the fat face piled with a false, shrewd smile across the table. Robin's clear and slightly worried evaluation echoed in his mind like a memory from yesterday.
"Mr. Oti Alfalfa is an extremely formidable businessman. His nose for opportunity and his methods are unmatched in the business world, but… in other aspects, forgive my bluntness, he is rather… difficult to praise."
Even Robin's assessment of old Oti was full of disdain and vigilance. One could imagine the depth of this old fox's cunning, and the greed that was an inseparable part of his nature.
Daziel already had a complete plan in mind. This negotiation was not just about fulfilling Topaz's request. It also directly affected whether he could later rescue Robin's brother, Sunday, from the family's heavy-handed control.
Just then, a faint, elusive fragrance wafted over. Jade's slender, pale fingers, soft and cool, gently rested on Daziel's shoulder. Her warm breath brushed past his ear.
"I'm counting on you, Mr. Daziel… This time, we… must succeed." Jade's voice was very low, as faint as a thread of silk, yet it clearly reached Daziel's ear, laced with a tremor she was trying desperately to hide.
"I'll do my best." Daziel gently patted the back of Jade's delicate hand on his shoulder, signaling for her to relax. Then, he slowly turned his gaze to old Oti.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Oti," Daziel said, giving a slight nod in greeting.
Old Oti grinned, revealing a set of teeth stained yellow by cheap cigars and time, his smile greasy and false. "Hello, Mr. Daziel. Speaking of which, all of us great families of Penacony really ought to thank you properly. After all, it was you who turned the tide and saved all of Penacony. The Family is about to grant you corresponding shares to show our gratitude."
Old Oti's tone shifted, carrying a hint of probing and condescension. "You could just sit back and comfortably collect your money. Why must you insist on wading into these muddy waters between myself and the Interstellar Peace Corporation?"
Daziel leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting naturally on the obsidian tabletop. "Mr. Oti, that's not quite right.
Since this matter concerns my future personal interests, a decision as momentous as Penacony's public offering… I think I should at least have the right to be consulted, don't you?" Daziel's tone was still level, yet it carried an irrefutable pressure.
The smile on old Oti's face deepened, his fat fingers tapping a rhythm on the table. "Well said, Mr. Future Shareholder. You do indeed have that right. Well then, come, this old man is all ears. Let's hear your brilliant ideas. Let me see what earth-shattering thoughts this newly-promoted shareholder has." Old Oti leaned back, his posture relaxed.
Daziel's fingertip tapped lightly on the table, creating a crisp click that perfectly broke the brief silence and drew everyone's attention.
"Frankly, I am not well-versed in the profound and complex field of universal market economics. However, I do know one thing clearly: in the past ten Amber Eras, you, Mr. Oti, are likely not the only merchant who has personally witnessed the changing tides of the cosmic commercial market."
Hearing this, old Oti's previously narrowed eyes suddenly widened, a sharp glint flashing within them before he burst into even louder laughter. "Interesting… hehehe, now this is interesting! Well then, why don't you just show me your hand? Let this old man see which direction you plan to move your piece." Old Oti leaned forward slightly, his eyes glittering with anticipation and scrutiny.
The faintest of arcs curved Daziel's lips. "Very unfortunate, Mr. Oti. My style has always been to first declare 'checkmate,' and only then leisurely place my pieces."
"So, let's cut straight to the chase and talk about my conclusions. First, I personally believe that your grand plan to bypass the Interstellar Peace Corporation and have Penacony go public independently is fundamentally impossible.
This pearl, Penacony, under the current cosmic structure, has absolutely no chance of successfully 'going public' without the Corporation's oversight and channels." His tone was firm, every word like a hammer blow.
"Second, even if you were to mobilize all the power of the Iris Family, you would be completely unable to stop the Interstellar Peace Corporation from eventually establishing a foothold in Penacony. You are an old fox who has navigated the seas of commerce for many years, that is beyond doubt.
But don't forget, the Interstellar Peace Corporation is a collective of interests formed by an even larger, even more relentless pack of 'foxes.' What they lack least is patience and an endless supply of methods."
"It wouldn't take long before the entire Asdana star system once again recalls the all-pervasive business tactics of the Interstellar Peace Corporation. I trust that with your insight, you understand that every word I have spoken today is the cold, cruel truth."
Hearing Daziel's merciless, direct analysis, Jade, standing behind him, couldn't help but tremble slightly. The expression on her exquisite face became somewhat unnatural, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
Although every word he spoke accurately hit the nail on the head, hearing them so bluntly from Daziel's mouth still made her, a high-ranking executive of the Corporation, feel a hint of discomfort. But Jade merely took a deep breath, quickly adjusted her emotions, and wisely chose to remain silent.
The layered smile on old Oti's face gradually receded like a fading tide. The room instantly fell into a suffocating, oppressive silence.
Old Oti's eyes, which were squeezed into slits by his fat, were now completely narrowed. He was sizing up Daziel with a new, scrutinizing gaze.
"Mr. Oti, as your future 'colleague' on the board of Penacony," Daziel's voice continued without a ripple, applying more pressure, "to preserve the last shred of dignity for you within the Family and all of Penacony, and to prevent you from becoming the target of all factions in the formal talks to come… I sincerely advise you to voluntarily give up that beautiful-sounding, but ultimately fantastical, plan for an independent public offering."
"Hahahahahaha!" Old Oti suddenly burst into hysterical laughter, as if he'd heard the world's greatest joke. He slammed his palm hard on the obsidian table, creating a dull thud that made the water glasses tremble.
"Kid! What bewitching words did that silver-tongued, snake-hearted painted-skin woman behind you whisper to you? How dare you speak such arrogant nonsense in front of this old man!" Old Oti's bloodshot eyes glared venomously at Jade before turning back to Daziel, his voice hoarse with rage. "Even if you are the family's benefactor, aren't you being a bit too presumptuous?!"
Daziel's expression remained calm, as if he hadn't noticed old Oti's explosive fury, nor was he provoked by his crude words.
"Mr. Oti, I must remind you, the Interstellar Peace Corporation controls the largest and most extensive propaganda platform in the entire universe. Of all the news and information networks currently in operation, at least half are mouthpieces they can manipulate at will."
Every word from Daziel was like a carefully polished, cold stone, dropped one by one into the already turbulent lake of old Oti's heart, sending out chilling ripples.
"You can imagine, the second you disseminate the news of Penacony's independent public offering through your channels… trillions of intelligent life forms across the universe will almost simultaneously receive a 'friendly reminder' on their personal terminals, pushed through the IPC's official channels:
'The Family's dreamscape protective barrier for planet Penacony has suffered a critical and irreversible failure. All travelers and potential investors are warned that any accident occurring within Penacony's dreamscape has an extremely high probability of directly leading to permanent, irreversible brain death.'"
Daziel's voice remained strangely level, without any inflection, yet it carried a terrifying power that chilled one to the soul.
"At that time, I will also, in the name of the Astral Express, provide a guarantee and proof of this message's authenticity."
"So, Mr. Oti, why don't you take a guess?"
"With just this one seemingly simple piece of news, can the Interstellar Peace Corporation, within a mere twenty-four standard system hours…"
"...turn your Oti Credits into a pile of worthless, unwanted paper?"
Old Oti's face, which had been red with anger, instantly turned a deathly pale. His breathing became abnormally heavy, his chest heaving violently.
"You… you would really… really go that far… for the Corporation?" Old Oti's voice was hoarse and dry, every word thick with disbelief and a hint of despair. He had never imagined that Daziel, who had just saved Penacony from a great crisis, would turn his spear against him.
Daziel just gave a slight nod, as if he had already foreseen the outcome.
"Therefore, Mr. Oti, from the standpoint of a future 'colleague,' I will offer you one last sincere piece of advice. Voluntarily give up that unrealistic plan to bypass the Interstellar Peace Corporation. After all, the tenet of 'Harmony' is inclusion and coexistence. The universe is large enough to accommodate the Corporation, which represents the ideal of 'Preservation.' In this complex market, creating such a powerful and troublesome opponent for yourself is by no means a wise move."
At that moment, Jade, who had been silent, interjected at the perfect time, her voice having returned to its usual cool professionalism.
"Mr. Oti, in this emerging commercial frontier of the Asdana star system, the Interstellar Peace Corporation also needs powerful and far-sighted local allies to jointly develop the future. If you just nod, the Corporation can immediately activate special funds to help Penacony with efficient post-disaster financing and assist in the planet's reconstruction and development—"
Jade paused here, the corners of her exquisitely lipsticked lips curving into a flawless, impeccable arc, full of the aura of a business elite.
"As for the specific mode of cooperation, we can start by discussing the Interstellar Peace Corporation purchasing a thirty percent stake in Penacony at a reasonable price."
"Please believe me, once our Corporation's substantial funds flow in smoothly, stabilizing Penacony's social order and completing the post-disaster reconstruction will be but a small project, completed in a single night."
As Jade's words fell, the room descended into an even deeper silence.
Old Oti Alfalfa's body sank deep into the large chair. His small eyes were fixed on a point on the table, lost in long and painful contemplation, weighing a foregone conclusion. The struggle and unwillingness in his eyes flickered like a dying flame. He took a deep breath that seemed to drain all his strength, then slowly exhaled, his voice raspy with resignation.
"Thirty percent." Old Oti's voice was low, as if squeezed from the depths of his throat. "Interstellar Peace Corporation… you win."
He looked up, his small eyes bloodshot, but the earlier rage was gone, replaced by a deep exhaustion and understanding. He looked at Daziel, his tone holding an unyielding insistence.
"Of this thirty percent, five percent must be registered under your name, Mr. Daziel. This is Penacony's reward to you. The Family will not provide any separate compensation."
This sudden proposal made Jade's eyes flash. She looked at Daziel and saw that his expression was unchanged, as if he wasn't surprised. She then smiled and nodded at old Oti. "The Corporation will remember Mr. Oti's generosity. This five percent stake is, naturally, not a problem."
Old Oti let out a long sigh, a sigh that seemed to exhaust the last of his energy. He struggled to push himself up from the large chair, his expression complex as he glanced at Daziel and Jade.
"The new generation surpasses the old." He shook his head in self-deprecation. "Mr. Daziel, Miss Jade, it seems we will be dealing with each other quite a bit in the future."
He turned and walked towards the door, his entourage scrambling to follow. The door closed with a thud, leaving only Daziel and Jade in the room.
The oppressive atmosphere instantly lifted. The professional smile on Jade's face melted away, replaced by a genuine sense of relief. She turned to look at the ever-calm Daziel, her eyes shining brightly.
"Mr. Daziel, thank you so much this time," Jade's voice was tinged with a noticeable lightness. "If not for your words just now, I'm afraid old Oti would not have relented so easily. Rest assured, I will report the details of this cooperation, and the key role you played, to the company's upper management without omission."
Daziel's calm gaze rested on Jade, his tone indifferent. "You're too kind, Miss Jade." He paused. "However, don't forget the deal we made."
Daziel was, of course, referring to his hope of using Jade's influence in the IPC to rescue the imprisoned Sunday, to fulfill his promise to Robin.
However, hearing the word "deal," Jade's expression changed slightly. A strange light flashed in her previously cool eyes, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks, as if she had thought of something else entirely.
Jade lowered her eyes slightly, her previously straight back seeming to soften, carrying a hint of shyness and awkwardness that would never normally appear on her.
"I… I remember, of course." Jade's voice was much softer than before, even carrying a slight tremor.
She raised a hand and, with some hesitation, gently removed the wide-brimmed hat from her head, revealing her meticulously styled, soft hair. Then, under Daziel's scrutinizing gaze, Jade's fingers lightly touched the first button of her well-fitted blouse. Her fingertips trembled slightly, as if she had finally made some kind of decision.
Then, slowly, she undid it…
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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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