["Just relying on the hands of Belobog's people—how many generations would it take for you to return to the embrace of the stars? Who can guarantee that every future Great Guardian will be as prudent and enlightened as you? Who can assert that a disaster like the Stellaron won't descend again?"]
["I have already fought for the best possible plan for you. As long as you sign this contract, all of Belobog's outstanding debts can be written off in one stroke. Moreover, the Company will establish a dedicated task force to support the reconstruction efforts on Jarilo-VI."]
[Topaz understood how difficult a choice this was for Bronya, but she still hoped the other would make the decision that best safeguarded the interests of her people.]
——
Runeterra.
In a certain laboratory in Piltover.
Viktor's fingers lightly tapped the desktop, the outline of the contract reflected in his eyes.
"Jayce." His voice was low and steady. "The general contents of this contract… are highly worth referencing. Technological assistance, environmental restoration, reintegrating the Zaunites into Piltover. If… we can convince the Council to implement a similar plan for Zaun—"
Jayce shifted his gaze away from the projection screen, brows slightly furrowed, fingertips unconsciously rubbing the densely packed calculation sheets on the table.
"Zaun isn't Belobog, Viktor." Jayce let out a soft sigh. "The geography, the people, even… the leaders there are completely different."
A rare glimmer appeared in Viktor's weary eyes. He forced himself to stand straighter and walked toward Jayce, the "tap tap" of his cane against the tiles echoing especially clearly in the laboratory.
"The environment can be transformed. What the Zaunites need is opportunity. As for the leaders…"
"—You mean Silco?" Jayce waved his hand. Though he didn't want to dampen his close friend's enthusiasm, the facts were undeniable. "A drug lord who controls the undercity with Shimmer? Or those alchemical barons who collectively shout about blowing Piltover to pieces?"
Viktor was silent for a moment. The laboratory lights cast two cold, hard shadows across his sunken cheeks.
"I am also a child of Zaun, Jayce." His voice was very soft, almost like a low sigh. "I understand better than anyone that the people there aren't born mad—they are driven to madness."
Faced with his old friend's persistence, Jayce felt deeply helpless. "Listen, Viktor, I understand what you're thinking. But Zaun's problems can't be solved with a single contract—they resist order, resist progress… I'm afraid the only thing they won't resist is the word 'independence.'"
"Moreover, to sign a contract, both sides need to be rational at the very least. But when it comes to the Zaun issue, neither the Council nor Silco… possesses the rationality they most desperately lack."
——
["The tone in Topaz's letter feels quite sincere… Stelle, what do you think?"]
["She's very skilled in the art of communication." Stelle nodded.]
[Bronya was well aware of how difficult this choice was. The fate of this planet—the civilization it carried, its past and future—everything now hovered at her fingertips.]
[This could never—and should never—be a decision made by her alone.]
[So she wanted to ask the two of them to go to the upper and lower districts, listen to the voices of the people, and collect public opinion. She wanted to know what choice the people would make at this very moment.]
[After accepting the task, Stelle and March first went to the upper district and found Pela in the plaza. After explaining the full sequence of events, Pela quickly calmed down from her initial panic.]
[After a brief moment of thought, she said she would probably agree to the Company's proposal.]
[As for the reason—as an intelligence officer of the Silvermane Guards, she had observed the rate at which the Eternal Freeze was receding. In the absence of any unexpected incidents, this planet would still need at least three or four generations before the wind and snow finally ceased.]
["Compared to a future I might never personally witness… I care more about the present and the people around me." Pela said earnestly. "If the Company's plan can truly take effect immediately, then in my view, the price is worth paying."]
["Using our own hands to lay the foundation for future generations—it sounds especially noble, doesn't it? But for the people actually participating in this project, how much joy is really in it?"]
[After recording Pela's opinion, Stelle and the others went to find Serval. After informing her of the crisis Belobog now faced, her reaction and decision were exactly the same as Pela's.]
["...This actually surprised March 7th greatly."]
["Heh, the reason is very simple. Signing this contract means we no longer have to worry about 'surviving.' For most residents here—especially those in the Underworld—that single point is enough to convince them."]
["As for working for the Company—well, people have to work anyway. Isn't it all the same wherever you do it? If the Company people dare to bully us, we can just rise up and resist when the time comes!"]
——
Attack on Titan.
"Resist?"
Eren couldn't help but let out a cold snort. "Will we really be able to resist by then? If we become Company employees, hand our fates over to others, and give up our freedom—they can give you a piece of bread today and threaten you with starvation tomorrow."
"Eren, not everyone can fight like we do." Armin shook his head. "Most people in Belobog are ordinary. Even if they wanted to resist, they wouldn't be a match for the Company. Haven't you seen it? Topaz only needs to move her finger… and the automatons beside Gepard become hers to command."
"The so-called choice is just giving Bronya a face… She never really had a choice from the beginning. And with Topaz's own experience, I believe the Company will honor the agreement—"
Eren looked at him sharply. "Agreement? Armin, even if what Topaz says is true, you can't trust that those Company people will actually honor it—in the face of absolute power disparity, there has never been any fairness. The Company will only honor agreements when it suits them."
"Have you seen those Company employees? Relying on their advanced equipment, they ran rampant in the large mining area with that arrogant attitude… If Stelle and March hadn't stepped in to stop them, who would dare reason with them or talk about fairness under mechs and missiles?"
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense. Armin was silent for a moment before finally sighing. "…Maybe you're right, Eren. But if it were me, I would still choose to sign the contract. Not everyone can abandon everything for freedom like you."
"Like Hook, Clara, and the others… I still hope that one day, they can see the green, verdant spring after the Eternal Freeze fades away."