"So what if I told you..."
Diamond leaned back lazily against the sofa, a hint of disdain in his voice.
"...that this Genius isn't merely a Genius?"
"He's also an Emanator of multiple Paths."
The upper ranks of the IPC had never been a united front.
Every one of them coveted the throne of the King of Wealth.
Every one of them wanted to become the corporation's ultimate authority.
Diamond was no exception.
"An Emanator?"
Oswaldo Schneider scoffed.
"In this universe, who here isn't an Emanator?"
"Oswaldo Schneider."
A calm voice interrupted him.
"Mind your tone."
"If he truly is an Emanator..."
"Then his status is equal to mine."
"He isn't someone you can casually provoke."
Oswaldo fell silent for a brief moment.
Only briefly.
With his personality...
There was no chance he'd simply let the matter go.
An Emanator?
So what?
The Marketing Development Department had countless ways of dealing with people like that.
Killing an Emanator was nearly impossible.
Ruining their reputation...
It was an entirely different matter.
Before Oswaldo could continue, Diamond spoke again.
"My people have already completed a preliminary investigation."
"This Genius named Evan has attracted Nous' attention."
"He also possesses the power of Remembrance..."
"And has received the blessing of Elation."
"We have sufficient evidence to conclude..."
"That he is very likely an Emanator of multiple Paths."
"There is one more thing."
"He's also Nameless."
"He has inherited the Will of Trailblaze."
"As for what other abilities he possesses..."
"We still have no reliable information."
"The Masked Fools merely want to enjoy the spectacle."
"Their intelligence isn't trustworthy."
"Oh?"
"A Genius Scholar..."
"And an Emanator of multiple Paths?"
Oswaldo leaned back, crossing one leg over the other.
"That should interest the Technology Development Department."
"What do you think..."
"Apoor?"
His gaze shifted toward another director seated nearby.
Although officially called the Technology Development Department, it focused less on invention...
And more on application.
Working closely with the Intelligentsia Guild, it transformed academic research into profitable commercial projects.
The IPC understood one thing very well.
Experts should be managed by experts.
The corporation believed Apoor possessed both scientific insight...
And an exceptional business instinct.
After all...
Research always required funding.
The Intelligentsia Guild was no exception.
The IPC had poured enormous amounts of capital into the Guild...
Allowing it to influence the direction of its research.
Famous technologies such as the Synesthesia Beacon and superluminal remote communication had all been reconstructed from the research notes left behind by members of the Genius Society.
Even so...
Only three Geniuses had willingly cooperated with the IPC.
Well...
Four, if one counted the unfortunate Genius who had been persecuted two Amber Eras ago.
At the mention of Evan's name...
Apoor's eyes lit up with genuine curiosity.
"Looks like you're interested too."
Oswaldo smiled.
"How about cooperating with the Marketing Development Department?"
"We could secure his research before anyone else."
"I've heard..."
"There's a project underway on Jarilo-VI."
"A project involving..."
"Unlimited energy."
Apoor didn't even bother acknowledging him.
Nearly everyone in the Marketing Development Department was a fanatic.
Oswaldo...
Was the worst among them.
A man willing to sacrifice absolutely anything to achieve his objectives.
That was a philosophy Apoor could never accept.
"Oswaldo."
"That approach doesn't work on me."
He replied flatly.
"The only one here who shares your interests..."
"...is Madame Scarred-Eye."
Oswaldo merely shrugged.
He couldn't care less about the jab.
The only thing occupying his thoughts...
Was Evan.
"Diamond."
"Why don't you hand everything regarding this Genius over to me?"
"I'll overlook the fact that you stole the Penacony project."
"After all..."
"Everything is for the Amber Lord."
Diamond rolled his eyes.
"If you don't mind making enemies..."
"Go ahead."
"Jarilo-VI may look insignificant."
"But publicly..."
"It's now protected by two Geniuses."
"And two Emanators."
"The technology you're after has already been entrusted to the planet's new leadership."
"If you're not afraid of retaliation..."
"I certainly won't stop you."
Oswaldo simply smiled.
The other directors quietly watched the exchange.
None of them particularly approved of his methods.
Strictly speaking...
What Oswaldo practiced could hardly be called Preservation anymore.
Yet...
Could anyone truly define a Path so simply?
Relentless expansion...
Could itself become another expression of Preservation.
The more territory one controlled...
The more lives one could sustain.
Wasn't that Preservation as well?
The conference room fell silent.
Everyone watched Diamond and Oswaldo trade barbs.
At the end of the day...
Such arguments had become commonplace within the IPC.
At least until the two lifetime directors personally intervened.
Finally—
Bang.
A hand struck the conference table.
The soft sound instantly silenced the room.
"Enough."
"If this individual truly is an Emanator of multiple Paths..."
"Then he is someone worth befriending."
"A Genius alone is valuable."
"But a Genius who is also an Emanator..."
"That changes everything."
"Apoor."
"You'll work together with Diamond."
"Come up with an offer substantial enough to move him."
Then the speaker looked toward Oswaldo.
"As for you..."
"You should learn to temper your temperament."
"Otherwise..."
"One day you'll suffer because of it."
Oswaldo snorted.
"And I haven't even brought up the little arrangement between you and Diamond yet, Taravan Keane."
"My affairs..."
"...aren't yours to interfere with."
He slowly stood.
"The Genius you're all so interested in..."
"If I recruit him before any of you..."
"I'd love to see the expressions on your faces."
Diamond smiled faintly.
"You?"
"Oswaldo?"
Oswaldo spread his hands.
"Not just me."
"The entire Marketing Development Department."
With that...
His hologram vanished.
None of the directors present had appeared in person.
These were merely projections.
Someone of their status never casually exposed themselves.
Moments later...
Diamond's projection disappeared as well.
He had never liked Oswaldo.
Today, that opinion hasn't improved.
"Those two..."
Taravan Keane sighed before turning toward Apoor.
"Oh, right. Apoor—"
Before he could finish...
Apoor's projection had already vanished.
Taravan could only shake his head helplessly.
"What a troublesome bunch..."
Strategic Investment Department
IPC Headquarters
Beneath the great scales...
Aventurine's judgment continued.
Countless chips floated before him.
Without hesitation...
He tossed his damaged Cornerstone onto one side of the scales.
"We all swore..."
"To cherish our Cornerstones as we cherish our own lives."
"But..."
"Aventurine's death..."
"...was an indispensable part of the plan."
At an extravagant banquet...
A man calmly sliced into a steak.
A violet gemstone spun effortlessly between his fingers.
A Sugilite Cornerstone.
His face remained hidden.
He was one of Diamond's Ten Stonehearts.
Sugilite.
"Death?"
A voice immediately countered.
"That unnecessary display..."
"Was only for your own satisfaction."
"Sugilite."
"Don't ignore the facts simply because you've already made up your mind."
Topaz spoke without hesitation.
"Thanks to the recovery of Penacony..."
"The Strategic Investment Department gained another vote on the Board."
"The Ten Stonehearts have always judged by results."
"Today..."
"Should be no different."
Jade silently placed her Jade Cornerstone onto the opposite side of the scales.
"But some people still value our oath more than results."
"Carnelian..."
"I vote in favor of punishment."
Pearl followed.
Flames flickered across the scales as another vote was cast.
The judgment continued.
"And Agate's vote as well~"
A lazy, enchanting voice echoed through the chamber.
A beautiful young woman reclined in a crimson bath.
Gracefully...
She tossed another Cornerstone into the scales.
"The owner's probably dead already."
"So I'll deliver the vote on their behalf."
"If you ask me..."
"This operation lacked courage."
"If it were me..."
"I would've made things much more..."
She smiled seductively.
"...bloody."
"Amber maintains a neutral position."
"That vote represents her decision."
"And as a machine lifeform..."
"I believe your life deserves greater fairness."
"Only one vote left."
"As expected..."
"In the end..."
"It still comes down to him."
Excluding Aventurine...
Whose own Cornerstone was damaged...
Eight Stonehearts had already cast their votes.
Amber.
Agate.
Topaz.
Sugilite.
Pearl.
Carnelian.
Jade.
Dragonite.
Four votes.
Against four votes.
"A four-four split..."
"A perfectly predictable outcome."
A childish voice suddenly rang out.
A young boy dressed in an elegant suit stepped into view.
A gentleman's top hat rested atop his head.
Like everyone else...
He appeared only as a projection.
Yet unlike the others...
He occupied the highest seat in the chamber.
One of the Ten Stonehearts.
Opal.
"The people gathered in this room..."
"We've always been so united."
He smiled.
"We're all the same."
"We came together..."
"Simply because each of us wanted something."
"So..."
"Why not make this exploitation last just a little longer?"
At that moment...
The Authority flowing from Diamond's Cornerstone quietly manifested.
The cracks covering Aventurine's Cornerstone slowly began repairing themselves.
Opal casually tossed the restored gemstone back.
Aventurine caught it firmly.
"Come back."
"It's not your time yet."
"This..."
"...is also Diamond's decision."
He slowly stood.
"For the coming war between the Aeons..."
"We have every reason to risk everything."
"The hammer has already fallen."
"No one can remain outside this conflict."
"If you bear the heart of a Stoneheart..."
"Then resolve yourself to be shattered if necessary."
"Carry Preservation to its very end."
"Everything..."
"...for the Amber Lord."
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