A short while later—
"Quite an experience, huh? You actually took down a Critical-class enemy."
"It wasn't easy. I've got to praise you guys for that."
The Great King of Hyperion, Fuli, having returned to his territory, sat in his command chair. He made no mention of the fact that he was the one who secretly dealt the finishing blow to Yan Shiluo.
When subordinates achieve merit, they must be praised; this is the only way to better build their self-confidence.
Privately, however, he couldn't help but grumble internally. If the Hyperion had been there to support them during the Fog Capital trip from the start, a single blast from Genesis would have had ten Ash Dalls (i forgot his name again) kneeling on the ground singing Conquest.
Bronya and Arlan were placed in different medical pods by Mei, who had also returned. Healing potions were only a temporary fix, after all; it was better to undergo thorough treatment after the battle ended.
Since Bronya's injuries were lighter, she would likely be up and jumping about in a little while.
"Yeah, yeah, but we got so many Crystals in return, so the trip wasn't in vain!"
The only one with nothing to do, Kiana, lay sprawled on the table, sighing with emotion. "Compared to Asta, our wealth is simply entrusting Fuli to the heavens and earth, a mere drop in the ocean."
"It's entrusting a mayfly (Fuyou)!"
The Fuli who had been "entrusted" by her rapped her on the head, earning a feigned shy protest and a slap from the white-haired Tuna.
Her lotus-root-like arm raised occasionally to cover part of her small face, yet it couldn't hide Kiana's exquisitely beautiful, pure features.
Her moon-white hair cascaded like a waterfall, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her delicate, small nose held a healthy flush. Accompanied by the increasingly rapid breathing from their horseplay, wisps of mist escaped from her soft, cherry-red lips.
With a beauty and fine wine crashing into his vision, the 'drunk' Fuli inevitably moved half a beat slower.
"Haha! Witness this young lady's technique: Angry Crow Takes Flight!"
Seizing the opportunity, Kiana relied on her monstrous strength to pin the distracted boy directly onto the chair. Her pair of long, white, beautiful legs clamped tightly around his body, holding on as if she never planned to let go for the rest of her life.
Controlled by her, Fuli swatted away her small hands that were messing with his face and let out a feigned, sinister cackle. "Kehehe! Then I, the Great Lord, shall show you—a busty but brainless girl—the power of the Fragment of Finality! Take this! Ah Wei's Eighteen Techniques: The Thigh-Grabbing Grapple!"
Thanks to their ancestral Gun Kata, the lower body—even without holding a weapon—was a crucial offensive asset for the Kaslana clan.
Thus, Kiana's leg shape was perfect even without specific maintenance. Having just showered, she was wearing shorts, exposing those icy-smooth, tender jade legs directly to the air.
Combining these factors... despite his resolve to resist "Emperor Kiana's tyranny," the moment Fuli's sinful hands—imbued with the Authority of Finality's stagnation—pressed against the girl's athletic, heron-like legs, the exquisite sensation made him involuntarily sink into it.
"Ah-Li, mmn, you..."
Under the influence of the skills Fuli had learned from the Cecilia clones' day-and-night "hands-on" tutoring, Kiana's voice grew increasingly sugary and cloying.
She bit her lip, her flushed cheeks revealing an expression both delicate and alluring. Her heterochromatic eyes, gold and azure, were dyed with a bewildered enchantment by the rapidly swelling anticipation in her heart. Seeing that they were sympathizing with each other, she was on the verge of losing control.
Cough, cough!
A light cough came from the side. The boy and girl, waking as if from a dream, sprang apart like startled cats.
They instinctively looked up at each other, only to look away the moment their eyes met. Tapping their toes on the ground and forcing themselves to look calm, they looked exactly like large dogs caught destroying the furniture.
"Heh."
Asta, who had been sitting on the guest sofa the whole time, felt the corner of her mouth twitch. She wondered if she shouldn't have made a sound just now.
The young miss of the Corporation had also freshened up and changed clothes after arriving on the Hyperion. Compared to the dusty, unlucky girl on the cruise ship, she now wore a silk V-neck sleeveless French top paired with a light red skirt. Her pure and pitiful aura easily reminded one of the class beauty or school idol from their student days.
For example, back in middle school, there was a pretty girl with tassel-like gray hair in Fuli's class. Many boys in the school liked her and often organized gang fights for her sake—twenty or thirty people at a time—because she said she would be the girlfriend of whoever could beat everyone else.
Fuli disliked her very much at the time; he felt it was meaningless for so many people to get hurt over such a trivial matter.
The problem was that those adolescent boys wouldn't listen to reason. Helpless, he first single-handedly beat up all the boys, and after winning, he also beat up the gray-haired girl who approached him with sparkling eyes asking to date. He warned her never to do that again and then swaggered off.
Woo-hoo! If violence isn't used to stop war, then it is meaningless!
...
Asta felt that the gaze of the boy opposite her, who called himself the Great King of Hyperion, was a bit off. It was as if he was scrutinizing her to decide where the best spot to punch her would be. It made her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.
Pressing her straight, jade-white legs together, the young miss rallied her spirits and proactively extended her hand to Fuli across from her. "Thank you to the Hyperion for your righteous assistance. The 1.2 billion Crystals will be transferred to your accounts very shortly."
"Don't take the 1.2 billion to heart."
Fuli shook her hand politely, then patted Bronya's little head as she leaned in to claim credit. "Since we agreed on two hundred million at the start of the transaction, then it remains two hundred million. The Hyperion has no principle of taking advantage of others' precarious situations."
The Duck, who had rushed over the moment she recovered: Hmph, being generous at Bronya's expense. Bro, bad!
Asta's smile grew even sweeter. "Then please, you must let me cover the costs of the Hyperion's rescue operation this time."
Even with her family background, one billion Crystals was by no means a simple number.
She had already prepared herself to live frugally for a year or so, so her favorability toward the boy in front of her immediately rose a notch.
"That, we can accept."
Fuli raised both hands in approval. "Also, regarding the matter of killing Yan Shiluo, I hope we can be kept out of it as much as possible."
"That won't be a problem."
Asta was decisive. "After this, I will attend the press conference organized by the Corporation's news department and frame this crisis as a conflict between the Kheshig Army and Yan Shiluo's faction."
With that maneuver, the board faction she belonged to could sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.
That was easy to say, but if it were anyone else, there was a high probability they would use this opportunity to drag the Hyperion into the mess, using them as a surprise weapon.
The energy behind these second-generation heirs was immense, and they could certainly produce unexpected results at critical moments.
It could only be said that Asta was still young, and her heart hadn't become dirty enough for that yet.
"Much obliged."
Fuli nodded. Just as he was about to say something else—
"Yuan, come here for a second."
Mei, appearing out of nowhere, took his hand and led him off the bridge like the wind, stopping only when they reached a corner.
The girl's upper body today featured a white lab coat that fit the stereotype of a researcher, with a striped short-sleeved shirt underneath. The collar of the shirt was stretched tight by her prodigious talents, the poor buttons looking like they might pop off at any moment.
On any other day, Mei would probably be secretly delighted by her boyfriend checking out her figure.
This time, however, her expression was slightly dark. "That one billion just now—why didn't you take it?"
"Why? Raising the price halfway leaves a bad impression."
Retracting his gaze, Fuli spoke truthfully. "That is the Young Miss of the Interastral Peace Corporation, a strong candidate for the next directorship. Compared to taking advantage of the danger to make a harsh one-time profit, I think a steady, long-term model suits us better."
He voiced his perspective: "The Hyperion's current situation is that we have good stuff but can't sell it. Theresa, that black-hearted shorty, always takes stock at near-cost prices. And as for Tribios's side... given that financial situation and the extent to which they're being cannibalized—expecting them to bypass the arms deals of Schicksal and Anti-Entropy to spare a share for Hyperion? I'd rather fantasize that my Cousin Hua is actually the Celestial Immortal Phoenix who ascended five hundred years ago."
Towards the end, Fuli spread his hands. "If our finances were truly unable to turn over, I wouldn't mind doing a one-off deal. But since we still have some spare cash on hand, there's no need to be so eager for quick success."
Mei blinked her elegant eyes, her fair, pretty face full of confusion. "Spare cash on hand? Who said that?"
"Didn't we just conclude a deal with Tribios earlier? Putting that large-scale Bubble Universe under my name?"
Fuli crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, looking at the girl with amusement. "Since I've lent out my name, they have to give us some benefits, right?"
"Yes, yes!"
Speaking of this, Mei was no longer sleepy.
She chattered excitedly about how she had exchanged for the Stigmata Gene Decryption Manual, Advanced Divine Steel Synthesis Method, Short-Range Warp Engine Construction Summary, and a huge pile of incredibly precious scientific research technologies from Her Highness the Princess.
The contrast in the usually cold and peerless girl was maxed out. Her head-shaking, bobbing appearance was explosively cute, and her happy expression as she waved her arms up and down ↖（≧▽≦）↗ almost killed Fuli with cuteness right there on the spot.
The only tiny problem was: having exchanged for a pile of research tech, then—where was the most important thing, the money?
Presumably realizing why she had rushed to ask Fuli about giving up the one billion Crystals earlier, Miss Mei, who had just been full of excitement, quickly wilted like a frosted eggplant.
Even her dignified high ponytail tied behind her head drooped listlessly. Her shrinking posture, afraid to meet his eyes, was like a purple kitten fearing abandonment by its owner.
This version of the Lightning Empress truly made Fuli's appetite surge. Especially when he recalled that the reason the girl had negotiated alone with Tribios that night was mainly because he and Theresa were in the hot springs at the time...
"In short, I bear half the responsibility for this matter."
The Great King of Hyperion first criticized himself, then said gravely, "Since that's the case, we absolutely cannot give up on the corporate trade route represented by Asta."
It was true that Raiden Ryoma had promised aid, but he needed funds to expand his territory in South America as well.
His willingness to help was out of kindness, but as adults (?), they had to be self-reliant within their capabilities.
Anyone who has graduated from university knows that only financial freedom allows you to stand tall in front of your parents. Otherwise, in their eyes, you are just a child.
And children can be bossed around.
Soon, the two returned to the bridge with their arduous mission.
Their tragic aura of facing death immediately alerted the gag-cracking Kiana and Bronya that something was wrong.
"Miss Asta, are you thirsty? I have some freshly brewed sleeping—ptui! High-quality Longjing tea here!"
Under the girls' gaze, the dignified Reincarnator approached the sofa opposite Asta with a face full of enthusiasm.
Seeing that her sleeveless top exposed her smooth, tender shoulders, he immediately grabbed a jacket to drape over her. "You should cover up a bit after a shower; catching a cold would be bad. Kallen! Remember to adjust the temperature constantly!"
He who bears the humiliation of the country is called the lord of the altar of soil and grain; he who bears the country's misfortune is called the king of the world!
Next up was the moment to sell his dignity for the livelihood of the Hyperion and his family!
Fuli's Household Affairs, activate!
"Yes—! Adjusting the temperature—!"
The Saintess, hiding who-knows-where, dragged out her voice to express her dissatisfaction.
She had naturally spied on her little brother's fireside chat with Mei and knew he was doing this to pave the way for future trade.
But seeing her little brother being so attentive to a girl other than herself, the unhappiness in her heart bubbled up rapidly.
Asta was a shrewd person; she also quickly realized Fuli's abnormality.
Under the intense gaze from across the table, the girl lifted the teacup and took a small sip. The fragrance overflowing between her lips and teeth made her squint her eyes in happiness.
She could confirm: the brewing technique was trash, carried entirely by the quality of the ingredients.
And that was exactly the case. Asking Fuli to mix a sparkling water or something was fine, but something easy to learn yet hard to master like tea brewing was truly beyond him.
He could only take tea leaves that had been soaked for a long time in the high-concentration water of the Fuli Well and add them in.
Even Himeko, that alcoholic, would take a big bag of this stuff every time she came to visit. Not only did it slowly increase mental strength, but it also nourished the body's deficits. Key point: the taste was in a league of its own.
Asta, having enjoyed the hospitality, licked her delicate, petite lips and probed tentatively, "How about... I add that one billion back for you guys?"
In the corner, Mei, who was educating the Tuna and the Duck on the grim current situation, lit up.
"That won't be necessary."
Fuli scratched his cheek. "Mainly, I have some goods here I'd like you to take a look at."
"Establishing a trade channel, I see."
The pink-haired Young Miss understood. She had encountered many small organizations with potential like this. They would excitedly set up production lines, only to fail to sell their goods due to a lack of reputation, unable to recoup costs. Eventually, due to poor cash flow, they would lose their initial entrepreneurial passion and disband.
This was also why many powerful individuals chose to join organizations; warriors only needed to fight on the front lines, while logistics required considering so much more.
"No problem."
Putting down the half-full teacup, the girl agreed decisively. "Everyone on the Hyperion is a lifesaver to Arlan and me. I will definitely help with this favor."
"Lifesavers and all that... didn't you already pay two hundred million Crystals..."
Kiana muttered.
Asta spoke seriously, her collagen-rich face shining with persistence. "The two cannot be conflated. Just as people shouldn't think it's right for firefighters to risk their lives to save them just because they draw a salary."
"Of course, it still depends on the quality of the Boss's goods."
She changed the subject, winking playfully at the boy. "If there's really no profit to be made, then I can only promise to do my best."
"You can rest assured on that."
Fuli gave a thumbs up. "Honest prices for young and old, excellent quality and reasonable price, and after-sales service is definitely in place. We absolutely won't be like some unscrupulous merchants who handle the killing but not the burying."
"Hehehe~"
"Hehehe~"
"Hey, Bronya."
In the corner, the Tuna nudged the Duck with her elbow, frowning. "The expressions on those two's faces suddenly became so weird. This young lady isn't quite used to it."
"Did you see a Jew—I mean, a goblin holding gold coins and counting money behind each of them?"
Bronya rolled her eyes. "Actually, me too."
She stepped forward lightly, her thin lips moving close to the ear of the humming Fuli. "Bro, to construct the Superstring Space a while back, we just sold off a huge batch of goods to St. Freya. We don't have many finished products left on hand."
The Hyperion's finances were now managed by Bronya, so she naturally knew these things by heart.
The laughing boy froze, but quickly made up his mind.
"Go to Massive Electric. Bring over those few Light Cones I made earlier."
He didn't hide these words from Asta. His confident demeanor made the girl, who was sipping her black tea, look forward to it eagerly.
Moments later, Bronya returned and placed several cards of unknown texture on the coffee table between the two.
"This is?"
"A Light Cone."
Fuli was concise. "Plug and play."
"...Plug?"
Asta pointed at herself. "Me?"
"That's right, that's right."
The boy reached over the coffee table, snatched the Light Cone she was holding in her hand, and thrust it into her chest.
The girl didn't panic in the slightest. If the person opposite her wanted to kill her, there was no need to make it so complicated. She guessed this was probably the activation condition for the Light Cone—quite unique.
Her pale hand caressed her chest where Fuli had inserted the object. Asta closed her eyes, perceiving the changes in her body.
Immediately, a look of shock appeared on her face.
...