As the overlord spanning the universe, the words of the Interastral Peace Corporation are practically iron law. If you dare not to listen, if you dare to embarrass them, then they have a hundred million ways to make you self-destruct.
However, as fellow devout believers of the Preservation Aeon, the corporation would generously give Belobog one chance to choose.
The Interastral Peace Corporation stated that they could forgo Belobog repaying the debt, and would even specially allocate resources to transform Belobog into a habitable city. It could even prosper again and reconnect with the universe in just a matter of days.
The cost was simple, just transfer Jarilo under the corporation's control, and the people of Jarilo would work for the corporation for generations to come.
Of course, the corporation would not have everyone work for nothing. They would pay wages to all workers according to the highest standard in the universe, guaranteeing that everyone's lives would be hundreds and thousands of times better than now.
"This is impossible, you're asking us to be traitors who sell out our nation!" The Landau family were the first to stand up and fiercely oppose.
The crowd was roused, spitting as they shouted, putting on a show as if they were ready to live and die with Belobog at any moment, swearing to defend Belobog's sovereignty to the death.
But anyone familiar with the Landaus knew, they were only fierce with words. From the fact that they hadn't attacked Sampo immediately, it was clear they just wanted to negotiate better terms.
"Belobog was built by the Preservation, and the Interastral Peace Corporation is also under the banner of the Preservation Aeon. How could that count as betraying the nation?"
As the saying goes, "You finish your act, I come on stage." Seeing the Landaus start first, the Builders then voiced their opposition, getting into a heated argument with them.
While the younger generation noisily declared loyalty, the Builder representative and the Landau patriarch exchanged looks, their eyes carrying waves of silent conversation.
Once they had fully confirmed each other's intent, they finally began to get to the real topic.
"Sampo, we've only heard that the corporation helped the Builders, but we don't know exactly how much."
The Builder representative pursed his lips, hesitated for a long while, then continued, "It seems you have a good relationship with the corporation. We were wondering if you could discuss with them… maybe let us pay the debt back slowly?"
"Pfft, what do you think that number is? Even if you dragged every one of you paupers out and sold you off a thousand times, you probably couldn't even cover the interest!"
Sampo curled his lip in disdain. He suddenly felt a bit annoyed, watching these decayed parasites perform was like eating fast food. Sure, it gave a quick thrill, but it didn't last.
So he decided to throw out the final conclusion and end this farce directly.
"The Interastral Peace Corporation has said that, in honor of your ancestors who shed blood for Belobog's survival, as long as you cooperate actively, they will grant you true noble status. You won't have to work together with those lowly commoners."
"Is that true?!" At those words, not only the younger ones, but even the Landau family and the Builder representatives all had their eyes light up.
The Interastral Peace Corporation was a ship that would never sink. If they could really become nobles recognized by the corporation, their situation would be more than a thousand times better than now.
"Mr. Sampo, could you let us speak directly with the corporation, to negotiate… negotiate the details?"
Happiness had come too suddenly, and they still couldn't believe it. They wanted to hear the promise directly from the corporation's mouth, or even have it signed on paper, to be enshrined in the ancestral hall for hundreds of years.
'As if the Interastral Peace Corporation would ever value trash like you. You should take a piss and look at your reflection, you're even lower than the commoners!'
Sampo almost laughed himself silly at their stupidity. Sure enough, when it came to dealing with them, there wasn't even any need for basic logic, just a random lie was enough.
But no matter what he thought inside, Sampo's face always stayed calm and easygoing. His next plan still needed these clowns, so he couldn't kill their mood.
"You can't speak with the corporation for now. And when the corporation's advance team arrives, you can't bring this up with them either."
Sampo raised a finger to his lips and made a shushing gesture, showing what he thought was a flawless smile, then said softly, "This is a privilege privately allowed to you by a friend of mine in the corporation. After the corporation wipes out those invaders, you'll naturally get it."
"Really? Then we must thank you in advance, Mr. Sampo!"
"Yes, yes, quick, bring out the finest wine we've been saving!"
"Fude, those eighteen girls you caught yesterday, still unused, right? Call them in to properly serve Mr. Sampo!"
"No, no, I kept them saved just for Mr. Sampo!"
Quietly watching the people in front of him bowing and scraping, mouths full of flattering words, yet their eyes brimming with vigilance and hostility, Sampo couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Human nature, after all, is only interesting when it's varied. If the world had only light, or only darkness, that would be the true apocalypse.
Even the same person, in different environments, in different positions, would show completely different attitudes and choices.
That's exactly why the Masked Fools never tire, never grow bored.
"Mr. Sampo, what is it, did you find something funny?" The Landau patriarch's voice floated over.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking about those swaggering invaders finally about to face the hammer of justice, and felt happy for you."
"Mm. That family is extremely cunning. Outside, no one knows how many traitors have already been blinded by them."
Here, the Landau patriarch paused for a long while. "Before the corporation's people arrive, please don't wander around. If something were to happen to you, we wouldn't be able to explain it."
"But of course, everything will go according to your arrangements, Patriarch, hahaha!"
———
Time flew quickly. The ice-frosted trees around the edge of the Silvermane Guards' restricted zone had all been cut down.
Robots made using Stellaron energy surged out of the underground in great numbers, spreading across the wider snowfields, planting saplings that enclosed an area of eighty thousand square kilometers.
This was to serve as the foundation of the Mechanical Empire's first city. Its name, Utopia.
Because of the ice-frosted trees' nature, in their early stage they strongly attracted Fragmentum monsters. With such large-scale planting, nearly all the nearby monsters were drawn in.
The job of Silvermane Guard, once extremely dangerous, had now become completely safe and easy. They only needed to cheerfully go stand guard every day, then happily go home after work.
Not only that, thanks to the various crops maturing in the Underworld, the Silvermane Guards no longer had to beg the useless Belobog leadership for those disgusting canned goods and bread.
The Emiya family's blessings now covered almost all the people of Belobog.
The nine Silvermane Guards who had first come into contact with the Emiya family also rose like phoenixes.
They not only received rich rewards and promotions, but also became figures admired by all the Guards. Each day, all they had to do was clock in, and countless others would rush to do their work for them.
If not for the Mechanical Empire's promised pensions, they could have gone straight back to the city to happily enjoy their retirement.
Nalan, the only woman among the nine, received even more favorable treatment than the other eight. She didn't even have to clock in herself.
All she needed was to visit the Underworld often, acting as the Guards' representative, building a good relationship with the Emiya family.
Over time, Nalan simply moved down to the Underworld to live. She even joined the Underworld's neighborhood office, mainly responsible for delivering documents to Zoe. Her salary was still paid according to the same standard as veteran staff.
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