At this moment, Bronya stood in the spacious council chamber.
Her arms were crossed, one hand supporting her chin as she stood before the conference table.
Stacks of documents filled the hall. Thick files were piled on both sides of the room and even along the corridors of the second floor.
With the help of the Nameless from the Astral Express, Belobog had finally welcomed a new beginning.
Bronya had only just assumed the position of Supreme Guardian. She hadn't even had time to mourn Cocolia before throwing herself fully into the work of rebuilding Belobog.
Unfortunately, the arrival of the gray-haired girl standing a few steps below the council table instantly dragged Bronya's hopeful mood back into harsh reality.
"First of all, Supreme Guardian, I understand the predicament your planet is in."
Topaz was merely carrying out the company's orders to collect an old debt.
Her tone remained fair and professional as she explained her position.
"Belobog's current financial situation is not your fault. In fact, none of Belobog's people are responsible for it."
"But objectively speaking, since Belobog continues to exist today as an independent government, the debt cannot simply be written off."
"So I hope you will carefully consider my proposal."
"If Jarilo-VI wishes to reconnect with the galaxy in the future, your credit record with the company will be extremely important."
Bronya maintained a composed expression, but the weakness in her voice betrayed the heavy burden she carried.
"I understand, Miss Topaz. Please allow me some time to consider."
Topaz nodded slightly.
"Then I won't disturb you for now. However, while you are considering it, my colleagues will conduct several investigations within Belobog."
"I hope both the Upper and Lower districts will cooperate."
She gave Bronya a polite smile before turning and leaving.
Only after Topaz's figure completely disappeared did Bronya take a deep breath and collapse into her chair.
This was a debt buried beneath snowstorms for centuries.
Yet it was undeniably a debt once owed by Belobog's people.
Bronya had once imagined a hopeful future for Belobog's rebirth.
But this astronomical debt crushed those dreams completely.
Seven hundred years of compounded interest.
It was a number so large she could barely even read it aloud.
"Is the only choice… to follow Topaz's proposal?"
"To sell the freedom and dreams of all Belobog's citizens… and have everyone sign contracts to become employees of the Interastral Peace Corporation?"
Bronya stared lifelessly at the ceiling.
In such circumstances, she didn't even know how to explain the situation to her people.
"Making every single citizen of Belobog sign a labor contract?"
Cocolia clenched her fists angrily before slowly releasing them.
"That's nothing but robbery."
From adults to the elderly—even children or newborns who would grow up in the coming years—everyone would eventually become employees of the Interastral Peace Corporation once they reached working age.
For a planet, the most valuable things were civilization and mineral resources.
But above all—
The most important resource was intelligent life capable of building that civilization.
The corporation's proposal to buy out Belobog's future was essentially turning Jarilo-VI into a private asset.
Bronya's eyes tightened.
Even through the light screen, she could feel the helplessness and despair of her future self.
For a moment, she didn't know what emotion she should feel toward such a future.
Forget someone like Aerin.
Bronya felt she couldn't even get past Topaz.
Chat Group
Jean: "Bronya really has it tough. Topaz casually starts asset evaluations and she can't even stop them."
Keqing: "A number so large she can't even read it properly? That must be an astronomical sum."
Ningguang: "I suspect the Interastral Peace Corporation already knows Belobog cannot repay the debt. What they truly want are Jarilo-VI's manpower and resources."
Tartaglia: "Signing a lifetime work contract with the company? That's basically selling yourself. Though… maybe the company's待遇 is good?"
Rosalyne: "Don't joke. Working across the universe like that—without special abilities you'd probably lose your life."
Seele: "Our new beginning has only just started. Everyone wants to build Belobog's future, and now the company…"
Seele: "How despicable."
Bronya: "Please don't say that, Seele. We… really do owe them money…"
Furina: "I don't quite understand what they mean by reconnecting with the galaxy. Our world only has one planet. We interact with our own nations."
Navia: "Exactly! If we don't contact other planets, then we simply don't."
Cocolia: "It's not that simple. Relations between planets are like relations between nations. If we refuse to repay the debt and reject the company's proposal, the corporation may retaliate."
Pela: "…Sigh."
Keqing: "So the real issue is that Belobog is too weak. Power is the foundation of everything."
Bronya had never longed for power before.
She always believed that humanity's effort could create everything.
But after witnessing Bella's actions, her worldview had been shaken.
Bella dared to seize Stellarons and even throw the Interastral Peace Corporation's starships around like toys.
The root cause was simple—
Her overwhelming strength.
The same reason why everyone feared Aerin once they understood his true power.
Everything ultimately came down to strength.
"Mother… the only one who might save Belobog now is that great figure."
"If I must choose between signing the company's contract…"
Bronya lowered her gaze.
"I would rather become Aerin's slave, just like Miss Skirk suggested."
Cocolia froze.
It was hard to imagine the once-innocent Bronya saying such words.
"…Yes."
Cocolia nodded slowly.
But deep down, she lacked confidence.
"Would someone like him really need people like us?"
Belobog – Underworld
Near the mines, shouting and occasional gunfire echoed.
Employees of the Interastral Peace Corporation had occupied the main mining area, forcing miners away from their work.
"Damn it!"
"The weapons they have—and those automatons—are far stronger than ours!"
Seele, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion, glared fiercely at the company guards standing at the mine entrance.
"You bully people just because your equipment is better! Who do you think you are?!"
The guards ignored her completely.
Seele's temper flared.
"Can't you even speak?!"
Still no response.
Finally she sighed in frustration.
"So annoying…"
Not far away, Aerin—who had been wandering around the Underworld—noticed her shouting.
He glanced at the IPC guards at the mine entrance.
Then narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…So it was Bella who threw them here."
"I was wondering why these people appeared at this time."
Originally, Aerin thought Bella would ambush him the moment he arrived on Jarilo.
In a frozen world like this, she could at least send out some giant ice monsters to greet him.
Instead—
She had thrown Topaz here to collect debts.
With a sigh, Aerin walked toward Seele.
"These people are from the Interastral Peace Corporation."
"They possess extremely advanced technology. Losing to them when they're fully armed isn't surprising."
Seele blinked.
"You know who they are?"
Aerin wasn't surprised by her ignorance.
Growing up in the Underworld meant she had never received much formal education.
Even many things from Belobog's Upper District exceeded her knowledge.
Still—
Her moral character was sound.
"The Interastral Peace Corporation is one of the largest forces in the cosmos."
"The weapons those employees carry are only the tip of the iceberg."
"They once developed something called an Imaginary Pulse Cannon."
"One shot can destroy more than twenty satellites—and even a planet with a D-class civilization."
"What?!"
Seele's pupils trembled.
She might not know much about the universe, but she understood what it meant to destroy a planet.
She looked again at the guards occupying the mine.
"They're that powerful?"
"Yes," Aerin said calmly.
"So provoking them isn't wise. It could even bring catastrophic disaster."
Only then did Seele look closely at him.
"Then who exactly are you?"
"I've never seen you in the Underworld. How do you know all this?"
"Me?"
Aerin smiled.
"I'm a merchant traveling through the cosmos."
"A merchant?"
Seele stared suspiciously.
"Wait… so you're like March, Dan Heng, and Stelle? Someone from outside Jarilo?"
"Pretty smart," Aerin nodded.
He pointed at the IPC guards.
"The reason they keep talking about asset evaluations is because their boss is negotiating with Belobog's Supreme Guardian."
"Seven hundred years ago, Belobog borrowed a huge amount of credit from the company."
"And now the Interastral Peace Corporation has come to collect."
"Collecting debts? Belobog owes them money?!"
Seele stared in disbelief.
After Aerin explained the negotiations between Topaz and Bronya—
Seele's anger slowly faded.
"If it really came from Bronya negotiating with their boss… I can understand."
"After all, debts must be repaid."
"But even if we owe money, they shouldn't be this domineering and occupy the mines!"
Aerin shrugged.
"But this debt… even if you mortgaged your entire planet, you still couldn't repay it."
"What?!"
Seele stared at him in shock.
"We owe that much?"
Aerin briefly explained Topaz's proposal.
Seele couldn't believe what she heard.
If everyone signed the contract—
Belobog would lose its freedom forever.
Refuse to sign?
The corporation would never let them go.
Either path led to ruin.
"I need to talk to Bronya!"
Seele immediately rushed toward Qlipoth Fort.
When she arrived, she saw Bronya rubbing her temples in exhaustion.
"Bronya!"
Bronya jumped.
"Seele? What are you doing here?"
"I heard you were negotiating with the Interastral Peace Corporation…"
Bronya frowned.
"Where did you hear that?"
Then she noticed someone standing behind Seele.
Her gaze shifted toward Aerin.
Seele turned as well and jumped.
"Whoa! When did you get behind me?!"
"Bronya, he told me everything!"
"Is it true? Did we really—"
Seele's hopeful expression slowly faded.
Bronya avoided her eyes.
"…Yes."
"We owe them an astronomical debt."
Belobog had just been reborn.
Yet now it faced an even greater disaster.
"If we really sign that contract…"
Seele clenched her fists.
"Then everything we fought for… what was the point?"
They had opposed Cocolia's rule.
They defeated her, causing the Stellaron's power to spiral out of control, and Cocolia died before Bronya.
The Stellaron was sealed.
They thought Belobog had gained a new life.
But instead—
They had fallen into an even worse catastrophe.
Their victory would merely become a wedding dress for the Interastral Peace Corporation.
"Seele… please don't spread this news yet."
"I'm still considering Topaz's proposal."
Then Bronya looked at Aerin.
"Sir, since you know about my negotiations with Director Topaz… I assume you must be a high-ranking member of the Interastral Peace Corporation?"
Aerin waved his hand.
"I'm just a merchant."
"I came here because someone said Jarilo-VI had prepared a surprise for me."
"But after arriving, I found there was neither surprise nor joy."
"However…"
He looked around Belobog thoughtfully.
"The people here have strong survival instincts and admirable willpower."
"So to avoid wasting my trip—and to help solve your debt problem…"
"I do have a suggestion."
The moment she heard that Belobog's debt could be solved—
Bronya suddenly rushed forward and grabbed Aerin's hand.
"Sir! What method can save Belobog?!"
Seele stepped back, startled.
Negotiations weren't her specialty, so she stayed silent.
Aerin gently lowered Bronya's hands.
"It's simple."
"If you agree to sell Jarilo-VI to me…"
"I will take responsibility for Belobog's debt."
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
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NOTE: SORRY FOR THE DELAY. I WAS NOT FEELING WELL MENTALLY FROM FEW WEEKS I COULDN'T UPLOAD LAST 2 DAYS. I WILL TRY TO UPLOAD EVERYDAY PROPERLY FROM NOW ON AND THANKYOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. HAPPY READING😊😊😊