---o---
"Your four hot chocolates."
"Thank you."
Fu Zhu took a small tray from the server, carrying the four cups of hot chocolate back to the round table outside the shop where the three young women were waiting. He distributed the drinks to each of them.
"Have something sweet. Relax a little, Bronya."
"Thank you, Fu Zhu." Bronya accepted the hot chocolate, but she only cradled the cup in her hands without drinking.
Seeing her looking so weighed down by her troubles, Fu Zhu casually drained his own cup. "So, what are your thoughts, Bronya?"
"Me?" Bronya's grip on the cup tightened. "I don't want to leave. I know Mother is doing this for my own good, but I have to stay and face this with everyone else. I shouldn't be the only one to be saved."
Xing and March 7th, sitting beside her, also looked distressed. The former turned her head decisively toward Fu Zhu.
"Big Bro..."
Fu Zhu raised a hand to stop her from saying more, cutting straight to the point. "I know what you want to ask. Coincidentally, I've already thought of an upper, a middle, and a lower strategy that can help Belobog."
At his words, Xing and March 7th's eyes lit up. Just as they were about to urge Fu Zhu to elaborate on these strategies, Bronya shot up from her seat, her expression becoming agitated.
"No, Fu Zhu! We can't burden you and the Astral Express any further! On this point, I agree with my mother's perspective!"
After her outburst, Bronya seemed to realize she had overreacted. Her eyes dimmed, and she apologized to the three of them. "I'm sorry, I got too emotional. Let's go, I'll take you to the Goethe Grand Hotel to see your rooms."
Fu Zhu, Xing, and March 7th exchanged helpless glances. Since Bronya didn't want to hear it, they had no choice but to respect her wishes. They stood up and followed her toward the hotel.
A short while later, Bronya led them to the Goethe Grand Hotel. As soon as they stepped inside, they saw Topaz from a distance, inspecting the layout of the lobby with Numby.
Just then, Topaz happened to turn her head and spotted the four of them. A smile immediately appeared on her face as she walked over.
"Mr. Fu Zhu, and you three ladies, we really are fated to meet, aren't we? Or perhaps you're here to see me for some other reason?"
As she spoke the last part of her sentence, her gaze lingered on Bronya for a moment.
Bronya knew exactly what she was implying and immediately retorted, "No. It's just that Mr. Fu Zhu and the others have also been assigned rooms in this hotel. That is all. Fu Zhu, let's go."
Bronya seemed to have no desire to speak with Topaz any further. She simply led the others to the front desk to pick up their room keys, while Topaz followed them with that same faint smile, staying close by their side.
This continued until Bronya had handed the keys to Fu Zhu and the others. Topaz was still there. Although Bronya felt that the woman had some ulterior motive, she couldn't just shoo her away given her status and the fact that she hadn't shown any hostility. She could only give Fu Zhu's group a word of caution.
"I'm sorry, Fu Zhu, it seems I can't join you for dinner. I need to go back and discuss some things with the Great Guardian. And as for this lady... you'd best be careful."
"Mm."
After bidding them farewell, Bronya left in a hurry.
Topaz watched Bronya go before turning to Fu Zhu and the others with an invitation.
"Mr. Fu Zhu, would you have a moment to chat?"
Fu Zhu glanced at Topaz and nodded. "Alright."
"This way, please."
Topaz led the three of them to an empty table in the lobby and sat down, signaling a waiter to bring them several cups of hot tea.
Once the tea was served, Topaz went straight to the point.
"Mr. Fu Zhu, I don't like to beat around the bush, so I'll be direct. I wonder if you would be willing to transfer the rights to the Redstone technology you possess?"
Xing took a sip of her tea. Bronya had left in such a hurry earlier that she hadn't even had a chance to finish her hot chocolate.
"You really don't like beating around the bush, do you? Getting straight to the point like that? Not even a little preamble?"
"I am a businesswoman, after all. Is it so wrong to value efficiency?" After answering Xing's question, Topaz turned her gaze back to Fu Zhu, her eyes filled with anticipation. "So? What do you say, Mr. Fu Zhu? The Corporation is willing to offer a high price for your Redstone technology."
Fu Zhu didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked with great interest, "How does the Corporation know about Redstone technology? It's not exactly widely known."
"That would be thanks to the Corporation's information network." At this, a hint of pride touched Topaz's face. "The Corporation's people are spread across the entire cosmos. We managed to pick up some traces of information regarding Redstone technology elsewhere, and the higher-ups are very interested. So, Mr. Fu Zhu, are you interested in making a deal with us?"
"Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I'm not short on money."
Fu Zhu directly rejected Topaz's offer. While Redstone technology wasn't particularly rare to him, its potential applications were far too numerous. Furthermore, the Corporation's reputation was... mixed, to say the least.
Fu Zhu had no intention of handing his technology over to a group of people he couldn't trust.
Topaz didn't seem surprised by his refusal; she had clearly anticipated it. Still, a flicker of disappointment crossed her face.
"Very well, then. Allow me to rephrase this in a way that you, Mr. Fu Zhu, might find... somewhat less comfortable. Please forgive me in advance. After all, I am here on a mission. This is not my personal wish.
"I wonder if the three of you are aware of the problem Belobog is currently facing? For example, its lingering historical debt?"
Fu Zhu and the others exchanged a look, a faint sense of unease creeping into their hearts.
Topaz's next words confirmed their ominous feeling.
"Belobog owes the Corporation an astronomical sum. However, if you, Mr. Fu Zhu, are willing to trade your Redstone technology, I can guarantee you that the Corporation will be lenient regarding the debt. We might even waive the vast majority of it.
"You are all friends of Belobog, are you not? Surely you wouldn't want to see it fall back into the abyss because of this debt, would you?"
Bang!
Xing slammed her hand on the table in a fury, glaring at Topaz. "That's despicable!"
Xing rarely got angry, but Topaz's words had truly infuriated her. Even March 7th was staring daggers at her from the side.
Topaz explained with a hint of helplessness, "Please don't get angry, you two. As I said before, this is not my wish. I personally don't like doing business this way. It rarely succeeds and often results in losing a potential client."
Fu Zhu, who had been sitting quietly to the side, narrowed his eyes. He had originally intended to let Belobog make its own choice, as it was their affair.
But now... he was getting annoyed.
"Ms. Topaz, do you really think, under these circumstances, that Belobog can't repay its debt?"