At some point, the 'beasts' and 'avians' scattered across the planet had swarmed together, a dense, dark mass resembling an insect horde, deeply unsettling.
Standing in stark contrast was the tall, silver armor.
"...Glamoth Iron Cavalry? Survivors actually remain after the fall of the Glamoth Republic..."
The blonde woman, dressed like a corporate elite, observed [Firefly] with surprise. Her gentle, calm, yet cold voice seemed devoid of emotion.
"An unexpected harvest."
"[Firefly] replied, "Balmung does not welcome the Corporation's arrival. While I was away, you seem to have treated my companion rather rudely."
"I can only assume you did not come with good intentions."
"Leave now, or... face the consequences."
"Is that so? Yet, according to my information, it was your companion who initiated the attack on the Corporation starship." The blonde woman's tone remained calm, logical, betraying no hint of fear. "While I have little interest in advocating for the Market Development Department, Somado is, after all, a Corporation employee. To protect the interests of the Interastral Peace Corporation, I must hold you and your companion accountable for this incident."
Jiang Qiao turned to look at Silver Wolf, who had freed herself from her bonds. She simply curled her lip and huffed.
"Hmph, so what if I deliberately wrecked your ship? Take a look at what your own people were doing! And strictly speaking, I was acting in self-defense."
"You don't believe me?" [Firefly] asked, turning back to the woman.
Although unaware of the exact details, [Firefly]'s stance on this was firm, warming Ms. Silver Wolf's heart.
"I trust my companion."
He didn't even inquire about the specifics. [Firefly] had absolute faith in Silver Wolf.
"Hmph, that's more like it... Hey, you company woman over there! I've already copied all the flight logs and operational records from your crashed ship. If this data about 'the Corporation brutally cleansing a life-bearing planet' were to leak across the universe..."
"..."
The blonde woman fell silent.
She had, in fact, already received information from the crashed vessel... Even before this, during the expansion mission, the Strategic Investment Department had become aware of Osvaldo's ruthless tactics employed to secure victory and further solidify his position against Diamond in the competition for a seat on the Board of Directors.
Honestly, everyone found it repulsive.
Or rather, any being with a conscience—or even without one, simply considering it from a profit perspective—would recognize Osvaldo's actions as unequivocally horrific.
But the Corporation's departments operated independently, and Strategic Investment and Market Development were like fire and water. Even if they disliked the Market Development Department's terrorist-like methods, as long as they didn't violate company regulations, it was technically permissible.
Osvaldo had pushed the principle of 'what is not forbidden is allowed' to its absolute limit.
"What are your terms?" the woman asked.
"[Firefly] repeated, "I've already stated them. It shouldn't be difficult for you."
"...Alright."
"Wait! I haven't agreed yet!" Somado, having returned looking rather battered, interjected angrily and anxiously.
Leaving the planet was simple enough.
But leaving like this meant the mission entrusted to him by Lord Osvaldo would be declared a failure.
Unlike other departments, the Market Development Department had no room for sentimentality, especially under someone like Osvaldo. To him, failure equated to uselessness, a loss of value. This applied even to his closest confidants.
Worse still, the Strategic Investment Department and Market Development were sworn enemies, and this woman was known for her stern, meticulous nature. Given her style, she would absolutely report everything here truthfully. The only saving grace was that Somado could be sure she wouldn't embellish or add malicious details.
But this time, even a truthful report was enough to doom Somado.
Mission failure, loss of company assets, and even allowing the Corporation's dirty laundry to become leverage for others... Just thinking about the consequences if this was reported filled Somado with terror.
This incident was enough to plummet his P45 rank down to single digits instantly. It would definitely impact Osvaldo's performance in the competition for the Board seat. Furthermore, as Osvaldo's right-hand man, Somado's operating style was notoriously unscrupulous, earning him many enemies. If this led to a full reckoning, death would be the most merciful outcome... Lord Osvaldo would make him wish he were dead!
Therefore, Somado knew one thing with absolute clarity.
The Corporation has no place for failures.
As long as he could complete the mission, even if it resulted in significant losses later, the result-oriented Corporation, and even Lord Osvaldo, would likely lose face to protect him somewhat.
"You damaged Corporation assets and obstructed company business expansion... You're just a remnant Glamoth Iron Cavalry. The Corporation won't yield for a single surviving soldier."
"So what if you have numbers? I don't know how you're controlling this planet's creatures, but before the mighty power of the Amber Lord, they are nothing but a disorganized mob," Somado sneered.
As long as he completed the mission, who cared if the Corporation's scandals leaked? The company wasn't clean anyway, and the major galactic media platforms were mostly under its control.
Moreover...
"Pearl! If that information gets out, you won't escape unscathed either! So... assist me! Lock down this planet, take down this rabble!"
"..."
The blonde woman, Pearl, one of the Ten Stonehearts from the Strategic Investment Department, showed a flicker of displeasure.
These bastards from Market Development... making a mess and expecting others to clean it up...
Even as an Intellitron, and a generally mild-tempered one at that, she felt revulsion towards Somado... well, it wasn't like she had any fondness for him to begin with.
Yet, she couldn't just walk away.
Although Somado caused the problem, and he would undoubtedly bear the primary responsibility afterward, with her involvement as backup being minimal... if she was present but didn't assist, resulting in losses for the Corporation, Pearl knew the company's way. She would definitely face questioning from the higher-ups later.
Helping this guy felt disgusting, but not helping could lead to demotion and accountability later...
Thoroughly nauseated, Pearl reluctantly prepared to put on a show of minimal effort. As long as that incriminating data didn't spread across the stars, that was enough!
"[Firefly] spoke, "It seems negotiations have failed."
"Since words cannot resolve the issue, then..."
"...Mercy's Bane, it's up to you."
A cold edge laced the synthesized, emotionless tone. Before Pearl could even assume a major battle was about to erupt, or Somado could begin channeling the power of Preservation, along with [Firefly]'s words...
A searing torrent of heat struck the unprepared Somado.
BOOM!
Melting... everything began to melt. The surrounding ground rapidly vitrified.
And Somado? He let out bloodcurdling screams amidst his agony.
Then, a white-haired woman appeared beside Jiang Qiao. She respectfully presented the dull stone.
"A Cornerstone of Preservation...?"
[Firefly] glanced at it, surprised but assessing it critically, yet naturally. "I thought those were exclusive to your Strategic Investment Department head, Diamond... though such things aren't inherently strange."
"So, the source of the Preservation Emanator power within this Cornerstone... is it Taravan?"
While seeing a Cornerstone outside the Ten Stonehearts was indeed surprising, Emanators were ultimately just that. Jiang Qiao, having encountered similar powers himself, understood how these things worked. As long as there was a vessel capable of holding Emanator power, sharing that power wasn't difficult.
"Give it back...!" Somado struggled.
"Back?" [Firefly], holding the Cornerstone, shook its head. "The Cornerstone of Preservation has become so dim in your hands... What a waste."
Though shared Emanator power wasn't as potent as the original, it was undeniably power beyond the ordinary. Unfortunately, it had fallen into the hands of someone whose very being contradicted the Path.
The true power he could wield was less than a tenth... the Cornerstone was merely a 'tool' to him.
"The Cornerstone of Preservation, eh... So this is the power of Preservation?"
[Firefly] casually admired the stone. It was originally dull, but under Somado's disbelieving and Pearl's shocked gaze, it began to radiate an unparalleled brilliance. It was transparent yet refracted a dazzling rainbow of colors.
No one understood what was happening better than Pearl.
The stones held by the Ten Stonehearts were initially just 'unworked stones.' Only after being personally polished by them would the Cornerstones reveal their true luster. The differences between the stones reflected the evolution corresponding to their individual personalities and wills.
And now, Pearl witnessed another evolution firsthand.
But not of an unworked stone, but the re-polishing of a Cornerstone that already had an owner.
While not impossible—stones could change owners if the power's giver reassigned them—this individual before her... without any permission, had caused this Cornerstone of Preservation, originating from Taravan, to be re-polished and transformed into [her] image.
Furthermore, the brilliance and strangeness of this multicolored light... Pearl carefully recalled, none of the Ten Stonehearts, including herself, could compare... venturing further, Pearl had the thought that perhaps only Diamond, a true Emanator of Preservation, could achieve such a feat.
Despite being an Asset, renowned for her rationality, Pearl couldn't help but swallow nervously, even though she didn't physically need to.
This guy... could she also be an Emanator of Preservation?
Not a half-baked one like herself, but the real deal...
Pearl couldn't be sure, but looking at the white-haired woman beside [Firefly], she was certain of one thing.
This unfamiliar woman was definitely an Emanator!
She didn't know which Path the woman followed, but Pearl had luckily caught a glimpse of her movement in that split millisecond earlier. Somado... even as an unqualified pseudo-Emanator, possessing Emanator power, he hadn't even had a chance to react before being taken down.
"The power of Preservation, huh..."
Feeling the nature of this power, [Firefly] didn't have many thoughts. As a toy, it wasn't particularly impressive. He'd used Imaginary power far too much already. In terms of Path power, it wasn't fundamentally different from Elation, Propagation, or even the Hunt.
"That's mine... MINE!"
Witnessing his Cornerstone become someone else's, Somado was enraged, but his injuries made his roars sound more like pitiful wails. Without the power of Preservation, he was just a slightly stronger ordinary person, unable to suppress his pain or ward off fatigue. As Osvaldo's crony, he couldn't even be called a proper Pathstrider.
"Since you want it so badly, then you can have it back."
The cold, synthesized voice echoed from the silver armor.
To Somado's disbelief, he saw the stone offered back to him. He snatched it back like a madman.
"It's mine! MINE!"
"I! AHH!!!"
Under [Firefly]'s gaze, Somado screamed as intense flames erupted all over his body.
Pearl watched, horrified. "What did you do?"
"[Firefly] replied, "I simply returned the stone to him."
"It just seems... he couldn't handle the re-polished Cornerstone." The voice held a hint of regret.
In that instant, Pearl understood [Firefly]'s meaning.
Just as people polish unworked stones... in that process, the stones also polish the person. If the person cannot bear the power... they will be overwhelmed by the surging influx of Path power flowing back into them.
And that multicolored stone, after being re-polished, became more brilliant... but also stronger.
So strong that a despicable person like Somado could no longer bear its power. Merely touching it would cause him to be immolated.
Somado died at the hands of the Emanator power he prided himself on.
"Alright, this half-wit has been dealt with."
"Next up is you, Ms. Pearl of the Ten Stonehearts."
"What might your Cornerstone look like, I wonder?"
Feeling Jiang Qiao's intensely curious and friendly smile, even through the Firefly armor, Pearl felt a chill run down her spine. Especially since that white-haired woman was also clearly eyeing her.
Having witnessed Somado's fate, Ms. Pearl instantly understood and began sweating profusely.
Pearl, me, I am non-combustible!