NABC Page 475
Page 475
Seven hundred years ago, after the star core landed in Lyalilo, all the outsiders who had stayed there left.
Among them were a group of investors from the Interstellar Peace Corporation who, before leaving, approached the builders who insisted on staying to protect their homeland and provided them with a large sum of money for disaster mitigation.
"It was thanks to that funding that Belloberg was able to build such a tall city wall, and even the research and development funds for the first batch of automated soldiers came from that money."
"I can't believe such a thing exists!"
The little duckling and the monstrous rabbit exchanged a glance.
March 7th, pulling at his hair, asked, "So, Toppa came to Belloberg to collect a debt?"
"Yes."
Bronya nodded.
"This is outrageous! It's been so long! Why didn't they come back to collect their debts when the star core was still there? This is clearly bullying!"
Xiao Sanyue was filled with righteous indignation.
How many do they want?
The little duckling asked.
Holding the documents, Pera pursed her lips: "Based on the changes in the company's benchmark interest rate over the past 700 years, my calculations are the same as theirs: Yalilo needs to repay a total of 648 trillion credit points of debt..."
"puff!"
It sprayed directly on March 7th.
"Duo, Duo Shao!?"
Having already been shocked by the rich woman, Haitu was once again stunned by this number.
Bai hope's face was pale.
"648 trillion credits, I can't even imagine that number. Even if we paid off all of Belloberg's debts, we still wouldn't be able to get that much money... Qiong, what should we do?"
Bronya held Sora's hand tightly; Sora, her fiancé, was the only person she could rely on now.
“I know you’re in a hurry, but don’t be. If you’re in a hurry, you’ll become the King of Haste, and then I’m not the Queen of Haste, nor can I be the Queen of Haste, because the Queen isn’t in a hurry.”
Qiong placed her palm on Bronya's delicate hand to comfort her.
"Is that how you comfort someone?"
"What kind of time is this to still be joking?"
March 7th shook the neck of the sky.
"I'm not joking. If the company really wants to collect the debt like this, then this is a fantastic opportunity!"
Qiong slapped the table and said.
"what?"
"Good thing?"
These words completely baffled March 7. How could it be a good thing to repay money, especially in such an unreasonable way?
"I'd better confirm with Topa first."
Qiong dialed Topa's number.
We have to consider Estelle's feelings, after all.
"Mr. Qiong, is there something you need that you contacted me so quickly?"
Toppa’s warm and polite voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Just call me Sora. Miss Topa is Estella's friend, so she's my friend too."
Qiong said with a smile.
"Haha, well, we're all friends, you can just call me Topa."
Topa's tone became more friendly.
The fact that Sora brought up Estella indicates that Estella had contacted her.
"Topa, could you tell me about the sources of Belloberg's debt and the specific amount owed?"
Qiong's words left Little Duck, Pera, March 7 and the others looking at each other in bewilderment. Hadn't Bronya just told them that story?
"Perhaps you want to discuss financial matters with me? Sure."
Her voice remained warm, but Toppa's heart stirred; she could vaguely guess the underlying meaning behind Qiong's question.
So Toppa repeated the reasons and amounts from the company documents.
What's your opinion on this?
Toppa was still cheerful when he heard Qiong's voice.
“From Belloberg’s perspective, this is illogical. Different positions lead to different perspectives. For me, debt collection is a job.”
"I understand, I understand. So, what are your plans for the next phase of the work?"
Qiong's tone was reasonable, as if she were talking to a friend about something unrelated to herself.
"What do you think?"
"I suggest you report this to the company and have someone else come to collect the debt."
Qiong's tone changed, becoming quite deep, before abruptly turning cheerful.
Topa inexplicably felt a sense of déjà vu, as if she were facing a group of masked fools causing trouble all over the galaxy. She shook her head.
It's an illusion. No matter what, Qiong shouldn't be the Masked Fool.
"Otherwise, it would be bad if it reduced the success rate of debt collection on your resume."
I will seriously consider your suggestion.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Toppa hung up the phone and stared at his phone, lost in thought.
Toppa doesn't know Sora as well as Estar, but since both Estar and Sora have sent her signals, she certainly won't be stubborn.
She wasn't afraid of company punishment. Originally, everyone in the company thought the Yalilo Planet incident was a mess, and even if she failed, at most she would just have her salary deducted or be demoted.
Moreover, the punishment given for messing things up is completely different in severity from the punishment given for voluntarily abandoning the task before the project officially begins.
It's not enough to be demoted just because someone voluntarily gives up a task once.
Actually, one of the main reasons she got involved was that she couldn't bear to see the descendants of the Yalilo civilization being exploited as resources by certain departments within the company.
Since Qiong is confident in withstanding the company's pressure, she can completely withdraw from this quagmire.
With this thought in mind, Topa initiated a communication.
"...I request to abandon the debt collection mission on Planet Yalilo. Yalilo's situation is special, and I suggest transferring the project to the Market Development Department."
PS:
Topa.jpg.
Chapter 451 Qiong: Are you going to take care of me too?
The headquarters of Interplanetary Peace Corporation is located in Pierpoint.
In the commercial building, the offices of executives at level P47 and above are all located on the 990th floor or above, which is the most authoritative pinnacle of Interstellar Peace Corporation and even the entire galaxy.
Inside the room, a bench was facing away from the door, and a figure sitting on it had an expression of great interest on his face.
"Topa, are you sure you want to abandon this mission?"
"I'm sure."
Upon hearing Toppa's resolute reply, there was a brief moment of silence in the conference channel, and the colleagues in the strategic investment department were clearly surprised.
Toppa actually gave up this job on his own initiative?
The ten members of Stoneheart had worked together for a long time and knew each other's ways of doing things well. Toppa, despite being in a high position, had a kindness that was not appropriate for his class.
She knew perfectly well what would happen if Yalilo had handed this task over to someone else or another department. Compared to Toppa personally undertaking the project, the result could only be described as cruel.
Especially those guys in the market development department; even the ten core members of the strategic investment department felt that those guys were a bit too inhuman.
But Toppa suggested transferring the project to the market development department, ha!
Those who can sit in this position are the most shrewd of the shrewd, and they can deduce a great deal of information from just a few words from Toppa.
The Yalilo project is a mess; Berlberg, isolated from interstellar civilizations for seven hundred years, can't squeeze much profit out of it.
Demanding repayment was just a pretext; everyone knew that Belloberg was incapable of repaying his debts.
The company's true purpose is the planet Yalilo itself, which contains a large amount of terrestrial minerals. These crystal-clear minerals contain the lifeblood that drives industry, and that is the radiance of preservation!
They're all being used as ash-removing materials for the Amber King!
Save!!! Protect!!!
Whether from an economic or political perspective, the value of geomancy is considerable.
Aside from the Earth Marrow, the only two things that the Interstellar Peace Corporation values in Yalilo are the current and future population of the Beloberg civilization—the biological resources of a planet, who could be cogs in the company's assembly line.
The head of the strategic investment department, Diamond, chuckled lightly:
"Okay, I will transfer this project to the Market Development Department. You voluntarily gave up the project, wasting company resources and manpower. Your quarterly bonus will be reduced by 50%, but your department's performance points will be increased by one. The subsequent performance of the project will belong to the Market Development Department. Any questions?"
Hearing her boss's reply, Toppa breathed a sigh of relief: "No!"
The deduction of bonuses was expected by Toppa. As for why internal departmental performance points were rewarded instead?
The company is not a monolithic entity; it is rife with factions, and departmental struggles are commonplace. The market development department is too powerful, which creates considerable conflict with the strategic investment department.
There is an irreconcilable conflict of interest between Oswaldo Schneider, the head of diamond and market development.
The new board members of the company will be chosen from among Diamond and Oswaldo. Whoever becomes a board member will be promoted to P48 level, which is the highest level of power that Interstellar Peace Corporation can theoretically reach at present.
In this situation, a diamond would certainly not miss any opportunity to annoy the other party, no matter how small.
"Then, the next thing..."
The focus of the discussion shifted within the channel, the meeting lasted for an hour, and afterwards, someone contacted Topa.
"Private gold?"
"Wow, you're in luck! You voluntarily gave up the project and were only fined a little bonus, and even had your department's performance points increased."
A slightly flippant voice rang out: "I'm a little curious, who's standing behind Ariello? Are you sure things won't backfire?"
Diamond's approach to Topa was lenient; the penalty points and the bonus were barely a scratch for her, and the increased departmental performance points could easily make up for it.
Moreover, GPA represents more than just money; performance is even more important.
In the long run, Toppa actually made a profit this time.
The premise is that the market development department suffers a loss due to Yalilo's situation.
"Hmm~"
Toppa thought for a moment, then chuckled and replied, "You could say I'm a new friend."
"Oh, a new friend."
Sand Gold spoke with a rather meaningful tone, then laughed:
"What are your plans next? Will you stay in Arillow-VI and continue playing your friend games after abandoning the project?"
Still speaking in a flippant tone, upon hearing Sand Gold's words, Toppa rested his chin on his hand, narrowing his eyes in slight thought:
"I remember the venue for that company project hasn't been chosen yet?"
"You mean Etherfront?"
Sand Gold wasn't particularly interested in games, but this three-way joint project was no small matter, and as a senior executive in the company, he was certainly aware of it.
“I think we can add Ariello to the main planetary setting.”
"Then have fun."
It's unclear whether "gold dust" refers to the Ether Front or a game between friends.
After a brief chat with Sand Gold, she hung up the phone, gathered her thoughts, found Qiong's number, and dialed it.