pertwk Chapter 55 Toppa's Arrival, Thoughts Clear
Chapter 55 Toppa's Arrival, Thoughts Clear
Chapter 55 Toppa's Arrival, Thoughts Clear
Chen Feng calmed the agitated Bronya down, gently patting her back to signal her to calm down.
Bronya realized she had been somewhat out of line, blushed, and took two steps back, but still looked at him with a gaze full of gratitude and concern.
Cocolia and Silva were both deeply shocked by Chen Feng's decision to shoulder the astronomical debt alone. This kindness was so heavy that they didn't know how to express their gratitude.
"Mr. Chen Feng—" Cocolia struggled to sit up, her voice weak but filled with utmost solemnity, "Belloberg will never forget this kindness. However, the price is truly—"
"Stop." Chen Feng waved his hand, his face regaining its usual nonchalant smile, instantly dispelling the heavy atmosphere in the room.
"Cocolia, what you need right now is rest. Don't think about these things. As for the cost?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three of them, his tone becoming serious and low: "The price is that this matter ends here."
Aside from the four of us and the necessary people at the company, I don't want a fifth person to know that the debt has been transferred to my name.
"Why?" Bronya blurted out, then immediately understood, a flicker of understanding and heartache crossing her eyes. "You don't want us to bear the pressure? You don't want the public to know they almost fell into another abyss? Or—"
"Both are important, but stability is even more crucial," Chen Feng replied, his voice clear and calm.
"Belberg has just emerged from the shadow of the star core and centuries of snow and ice. The upper and lower city areas have reached a preliminary reconciliation, the nobles have been temporarily subdued, everything is in ruins and needs to be rebuilt, and people's hearts are yearning for stability but are also extremely fragile."
He walked to the window and looked at the city skyline slowly recovering under the sunlight.
"Imagine if, at this moment, representatives of the Interstellar Peace Corporation—a behemoth of unimaginable size—arrived in a starship and publicly announced that they were there to collect a debt owed hundreds of years ago, with interest compounding to an astronomical figure—what would the outcome be?"
The room was silent. Bronya, Cocolia, and Hilva all looked slightly pale.
They knew all too well what this meant.
Panic can spread like a plague.
The nascent hope can be extinguished in an instant by overwhelming despair.
Hopes for the future can be crushed by heavy debt.
The nobles would seize the opportunity to incite discontent, question Bronya's leadership abilities, and could even trigger new unrest.
The fragile trust that has just been established in the lower district could collapse in an instant.
The cohesion that Belleburg had managed to build up with such difficulty would crumble in an instant.
"That would be devastating." Bronya's voice trembled with lingering fear.
"That's right." Chen Feng turned around, his eyes sharply fixed on the three of them.
"Therefore, when Topa—the company's representative sent to handle this matter—arrives, she must not appear as a debt collector, and she must not let anyone know about the debt, especially the public."
"Then in what capacity should she come?" Shiluwa asked, puzzled.
"Aid," Chen Feng said decisively. "Interstellar Peace Corporation, as a friendly partner with a history of cooperation with Yalilo VI, has provided assistance after detecting the restoration of planetary signals and the resolution of the crisis."
"In the spirit of humanitarianism and the principle of maintaining the commercial reputation of the universe, we have specially dispatched Ms. Topa, a senior executive, to conduct a post-disaster reconstruction inspection and explore possible aid and cooperation projects."
"She came as a 'friend' with goodwill and resources, not as a 'creditor' with bills and legal troubles."
"This—" Cocolia hesitated, "Will the company agree? After all, they are—"
"They will agree." Chen Feng's lips curled into a confident smile, and a hint of unquestionable authority, belonging to an envoy, flashed in his eyes.
"I am now the principal in charge of the debt, so I have the final say on how to handle it. What they want is a stable, promising Yalilo VI that can generate more commercial value in the future."
"Instead of a mess that's overwhelmed by debt, in chaos, and might even go out of touch again."
"Besides, they've made a huge profit by exchanging a bad debt for this favor. As for the reputation on the surface? Giving them a decent way out is something they'd be more than happy to do."
He looked at Bronya: "Duck, when Toppa arrives, you, as the acting Grand Guardian, will warmly welcome Miss Toppa, who represents 'Company Aid'."
"Introduce her to the situation in Belleburg, take her to see the reconstruction work, especially the cooperation between the downtown area and Schwarzlo. Make sure to show your gratitude for the company's timely assistance."
"As for the debt, don't mention it at all; just pretend it never existed."
Bronya took a deep breath, her eyes hardening. "I understand, sir. I will handle it well and ensure that no one notices anything amiss."
She knew that Chen Feng was protecting Belloberg in another way, silently shouldering the greatest pressure.
"As for me," Chen Feng shrugged, his tone returning to ease, "I'll keep my achievements hidden. I'll discuss the issue of my personal debts with this Miss Topa privately at the appropriate time. You all just go about your business and ignore me."
A few days later, a small shuttle with sleek lines and the logo of the Interstellar Peace Corporation quietly landed on a temporarily cleared area outside the city of Belloborg, without attracting a large crowd.
The hatch opened, and a tall, capable-looking woman with orange hair stepped out.
She was wearing her company uniform, with a lazy, pig-like pet named "Zhangzhang" perched on her shoulder, and a professional, just-right smile on her face.
She is Toppa.
After completing most of the procedures, the residents of Belleburg were overjoyed, as the company's assistance was like a timely gift to every household in Belleburg.
The cost is nothing more than a person's debt and the requirements of an identity.
"Is it really worth it for Mr. Chen Feng to do all this?" In the conference room, Toppa stroked the tent and looked at Chen Feng, who was smiling slightly across from him.
On either side of Chen Feng were only Cocolia and Bronya. Hilva couldn't be present due to her status, so the three of them were currently the highest-ranking people in Belloborg.
"What's the point of whether it's worth it or not? As a guardian, I've seen the suffering this planet is facing, and I want to solve the problems, whether they're internal or external. That's what I should do as a guardian."
At this point, Chen Feng suddenly laughed and said, "Isn't there a saying on the Immortal Ship, 'Thoughts should be clear'? If I don't do it, my thoughts won't be clear."
(Belloberg wrote too much; he'll change the map the day after tomorrow.)