[On the Dawnstone Airship]
"You're here, Director Topaz! The family representative is still preparing inside, and the big boss hasn't arrived yet either. It'll probably be a while before the meeting starts," said an old man named Thomas.
"Whoa, what a setup. The family really went all out with the appearances," Topaz said as she looked at the decorations and furnishings aboard the airship.
"I thought they'd pick somewhere more low-key and formal to discuss things. I didn't expect them to find a luxury airship..."
"Um... Director, I asked around earlier. I heard that this Dawnstone belongs to the Alfalfa Family," Thomas said.
"The company and the family's meeting this time will directly affect Penacony's future development. In theory, something this important should be discussed in a... in a... Oh, right, a secret meeting at the Moment of the Morning Dew. But looking at the atmosphere right now... tsk, no matter how I look at it, it doesn't seem serious enough."
"Oh..." Topaz showed a look of understanding. "Looks like this meeting is probably just an appetizer. Whoever arranged this meeting, whoever they are, probably just wants to test the company's position in advance."
"This big shot either has ambitions of their own and wants to reach some kind of understanding with us ahead of time, or they're planning to give us a show of force and make us back down."
"Oh, as expected of Director Topaz. You really see things clearly! When the big boss arrives, you should remind her to be more careful too, in case the other side sets a trap..."
"Hahaha, thanks for the kind warning, but I don't think that's necessary. When sitting across the negotiation table from that lady, the ones who should always be worried are the others~ Just tell everyone in the team to stay at their posts. There's no need to worry about the negotiations."
"Oh... Understood. I'll pass it on right away."
"Ah, right, there's one more thing." Topaz called out to Thomas, who was about to leave. "Don't call her 'the big boss' in front of Lady Jade. Someone will die~ I'm not joking."
"Y-yes, I understand! Thank you for the warning, Director!"
Thomas left in a nervous state, while Topaz took the elevator to the VIP guest rooms on Deck -1.
Since not everyone who needed to attend the meeting had arrived yet, Topaz first looked around the Dawnstone, and while she was at it, fed Numby some food from the Dreamscape.
Afterward, she learned more about the luxury airship from one of the family's attendants.
The ship had been built an Amber Era ago, and had already spent an entire Amber Era traveling around the Twelve Hours of the Dreamscape. Its owner was the legendary business magnate, Oti Alfalfa.
After the end of the Dream of Ena and the sealing of the Stellaron, with the Charmony Festival having to be postponed, Old Oti proposed holding the Charmony Festival aboard the Dawnstone.
In Topaz's eyes, this move solved the family's immediate crisis while also building momentum for himself. It served two purposes at once.
After that, Topaz also ran into a family guard. The guard was fiddling with many strange buttons that all looked like the same model, with red as their main color.
"So many buttons... If I press them one by one, I'll be busy until who knows when." Looking at the buttons on the ground, Sparkle sighed and muttered under her breath, "I didn't expect those little puppies to be so capable. They actually managed to collect all of them."
"What are these?" Topaz asked curiously from the side.
Sparkle stood up and said, "For safety's sake, you'd better stay away from those things."
This time, Sparkle's voice had already changed into a man's voice, matching the appearance of the family guard she had transformed into.
"For safety's sake?" Topaz became even more curious. "Are these button-like things really something important?"
"Not exactly... Let me put it this way. Recently, some troublemaker has been running around causing trouble in the Dreamscape, handing strange button devices to anyone they meet."
Sparkle explained without the slightest burden, "According to the people involved, this prankster said something like this, 'As long as you press this button, all of Penacony will be blown into the sky!'
"Luckily, nobody believed him. But just to be safe, the Hound Family still collected all these buttons."
"What exactly happens after you press it? Has nobody really tried it?" Topaz asked.
"Hmph... You probably don't understand Penacony well enough yet, do you? All the guests who come here have one thing in common, they're especially protective of their lives. Anyway, the family will deal with these things as soon as possible, so please keep your distance."
Afterward, Topaz wandered around here for a while longer, until Numby suddenly let out a cry, whining as it hid behind her and began trembling somewhat fearfully.
Topaz looked up and saw a tall woman walking over. She spoke softly, "It's been a long time, little Yelena. I've always been looking forward to working with you. I didn't expect that day to come so soon."
"Lady Jade, it's been a long time. It's an honor to have the opportunity to work with you." Topaz suddenly became rather restrained.
Jade smiled lightly. "You're still so reserved. Put aside those superior-subordinate relationships and just treat me as your equal. You can leave out unnecessary forms of address, like 'Lady' and 'you.'"
"I'm sorry. It's still hard to get used to so quickly. After all, you... you're my senior."
"But now, we are both members of the Ten Stonehearts. Topaz, all I need from you is to be in your best state. After all, the negotiations ahead cannot afford to fail. You're perceptive. You must have already seen through the real purpose of this meeting."
"I suppose Old Oti took matters into his own hands because he wanted to test the waters before the company and Penacony formally began negotiations."
"Exactly, and that makes things even better." Jade smiled. "Do you know why?"
"If we can reach some kind of understanding with Old Oti ahead of time and figure out the other side's bottom line, the negotiations in the future will go much more smoothly. That's the obvious layer," Topaz said.
"Exactly." Jade nodded. "And the layer that cannot be spoken of is... Through the head of the Alfalfa Family's actions, we've been able to capture a signal, the Five Families may not be as united as the Charmony sings them to be.
"As long as the influence of Harmony hasn't penetrated to the marrow, personal desires can always occupy a place. We're lucky. At least in Penacony, there isn't yet a big shot whose tonal level is so high that they've completely lost their personal desires.
"Just like the open and hidden struggles within the company, the so-called unity of the Five Families... with the Dreammaster having lost his position, it's now nothing more than a slogan."
"After the Oak Family fell, Old Oti's side became the biggest force in Penacony. Even if we only go by the order of succession, he has been in office the longest and has the deepest seniority among all the current heads of the families."
"Mm. So in the negotiations that follow, we must proceed according to the strategy we agreed on. Like playing a game of chess, we have to consider the situation before making every move," Jade said.
"Of course. The three steps of negotiation, listen first, probe second, and reveal the edge of the blade last. You taught me that," Topaz said.
"Sorry to interrupt the two of you." A family attendant interrupted Topaz and Jade's conversation. "The family head is ready to meet with the representative from the Strategic Investment Department."
"Work time. Get yourself together and go meet that high-ranking supporting character." Jade said to Topaz. "Remember our goal, create an opportunity for the company to establish itself in Penacony."
The two then followed the family attendant to the meeting room. As soon as they entered, they saw a peculiar-looking old man sitting on the sofa.
The man was not tall and was somewhat plump. He wore green clothes, had white hair and beard, dark skin, pointed ears, and round sunglasses. The shape of his head looked like a gourd.
As soon as they entered, they heard him let out a strange laugh, "Ho ho ho ho ho! Two clever and beautiful ladies, welcome aboard my Dawnstone! Come, come, have a seat! We've got to have a good chat!"
After Jade and Topaz took their seats, Old Oti once again let out his peculiar laugh,
"Ho ho ho ho! Welcome, welcome aboard, ladies! It's my fault for not taking proper care of you and making you wait outside for so long, isn't it?"
"Not at all, Mr. Oti. It's our honor to meet you." Jade spoke generously. "You may not know this, but The Life of Oti Alfalfa is required reading for employees of the Strategic Investment Department after they join."
"After all, in the eyes of many people, you're the legendary figure who single-handedly propped up Penacony's economic system." Topaz smiled as well.
Both sides displayed the conversational skills of adults, and afterward, they began negotiations over the matter of Penacony.
With the company watching them like a tiger watching its prey, Old Oti decided to open Penacony and publicly offer shares to the entire universe.
———
[Dreamscape Bar]
"The Alfalfa Family met with the company?" Dan Heng revealed a thoughtful expression as he listened to the news they had just received.
"The Nero just sent the news. He said Aventurine told him about it." Welt said, "It's not difficult to understand this situation. Today's Penacony is just like the frontier prison of the past."
"Outside, the public and the forces of the galaxy are watching covetously, while inside, the shadows of Order are surging beneath the surface."
"Rather than fall into a situation where they're attacked from both sides, it's better to take a step back and invite the company to the negotiating table. On the surface, it's cooperation, but in reality, they're trying to gain more opportunities to survive."
Listening to Welt's analysis, Dan Heng thoughtfully said, "No wonder they invited the Astral Express to mediate. In your opinion, which side should we stand on?"
"I don't think Harmony is completely a victim." Welt said, "Whatever their reason, they also have a very strong desire to settle the matter peacefully, and the reason behind it inevitably invites speculation."
"If either the family or the company were to completely control Penacony, I'm afraid this place would once again become a false dream of pleasure and indulgence, and the efforts of the old Nameless... would once again come to nothing."
"No one can completely control Penacony. How about giving part of the authority to the Factory?" Nero's voice suddenly rang out. "I've wanted to add an anti-addiction system to the Dreamscape for a long time!"
Welt and Dan Heng turned their heads at the sound of the voice and saw a somewhat gritted-teeth expression on the boy's face... It seemed that this child had suffered quite a lot from the anti-addiction system whenever he played games.