"Neutron Purge(Neutron Sweep Stellaris)"—this was a new planetary surface-clearing weapon developed by the Technology Development Department. As the Corporation often encountered stubborn and uncooperative parties during market expansion, this weapon, previously just a concept, was brought into reality.
Of course, due to the nature of the Interastral Peace Corporation and to avoid provoking backlash and anger from other factions, even after its development, no department was eager to use it.
Specifically, Diamond, the head of the Strategic Investment Department, condemned the technology as "barbaric and insane."
As an embodiment of capital, the Corporation heavily prioritized return on investment. Consequently, the Neutron Purge, difficult to implement practically, had generated almost no tangible value since its creation. According to company policy, such technology would typically be shelved or even scrapped. The individuals who proposed the project would also have to justify spending vast resources on such a wasteful endeavor to upper management.
But... just as this technology neared obsolescence, Osvaldo Schneider, head of the Market Development Department, took an interest.
In his view, a weapon that completely eliminated intelligent life while preserving inorganic matter was practically tailor-made for the Corporation. After all, such a weapon was both economical and efficient.
And so, this starship dispatched by the Market Development Department had a dual purpose: besides searching for the 'remaining assets' Osvaldo had learned about from captured Glamoth Republic council members, it was also tasked with testing and refining this weapon while surveying and 'cleansing' untouched planets within the former Glamoth Republic's territory.
While this approach might incur some losses, the Market Development Department wasn't alone in this mission to expand the Corporation's territory. The Strategic Investment Department, perpetually at odds with them, was also involved.
Therefore, deploying highly efficient weapons like the Neutron Purge to seize control of these planets in the shortest time possible was deemed necessary to win this internal competition.
Negotiations were simply too troublesome. If you just turned a planet into an uninhabited one, wasn't the only remaining step planting the Corporation's flag?
The approach towards Balmung was naturally the same. Since the planet harbored so many hostile life forms, achieving maximum work efficiency necessitated employing the most 'efficient' method. After all, the Market Development Department employees had no interest in simultaneously clearing dangerous attacking creatures while conducting search and exploration missions.
"Fire!"
At the command of the IPC team leader, the employees hesitated slightly, but motivated by performance points, they proficiently completed the targeting sequence and initiated the launch procedure.
However...
The next moment, the virtual control screen dissolved into garbled code. Simultaneously, one chibi Silver Wolf avatar after another popped up, flooding the display.
"What's going on?"
"Unknown hacker intrusion!"
"Damn it, counter-attack!"
"It's no use, the opponent is too strong! We can't resist at all... They've shut down the ship's power systems! Oh no, the ship is going down!"
In less than a minute, the company starship, which had returned to orbit to carry out its 'cleansing' mission, found itself plummeting back to the surface.
The previous landing had been smooth. This time, however...
"Hope these company guys built their ship tough enough."
Undoubtedly, this was Silver Wolf's handiwork. She watched with a hint of smug satisfaction as the company starship fell from the sky, becoming a fiery meteor in the distance.
Hmph, amateurs.
Although I, Ms. Silver Wolf, might have lost to Screwllum, dealing with you company goons is still a piece of cake!
"Oops, sorry, beat you to it~"
Noticing the firefly guard beside her powering up, Ms. Silver Wolf grinned instantly, transforming into a smug brat: "You're a bit too slow~"
Being an insect, even one evolved by [Mercy's Bane] to possess near-human intelligence, it was still a bit slow on the uptake. By the time it prepared to use the [Mercy's Bane] Swarm's unique 'thermal discharge' ability on the clearly dangerous tin can, Silver Wolf had already taken it down effortlessly.
Normally, the firefly wouldn't have cared. As long as the enemy was eliminated, who got the kill didn't matter.
But being taunted by Silver Wolf like this, the firefly instantly flared up.
It wanted to retort, but suddenly seemed to sense something.
"Enemy... not eliminated." Its monotonous mental voice was now laced with a hint of mockery, mirroring Silver Wolf's earlier tone. It was as if saying, If it were me, they'd be dead already. Look at your work, they're still alive!
"Huh?" Silver Wolf was annoyed, but also curious.
Were those company guys really that tough? They survived a fall from orbit?
Puzzled, she glanced at her Aether Editing interface... A strong power reading... approaching fast!
CLANG!
A sharp sound of metal colliding rang next to Silver Wolf's ear, followed by a blast of air.
The firefly guard had intercepted the attack, putting itself in front.
Now Silver Wolf finally got a clear look at the entity behind the rapidly approaching energy signature.
It was the company team leader she'd seen while spying earlier. He looked somewhat disheveled but seemed largely unharmed.
"So it was you two causing trouble?" The man in the company uniform fixed his eagle-like gaze on them. "A hacker from Punklorde... and a... Swarm King's Guard?"
Silver Wolf's mind instantly pulled up the man's internal company file.
Somado Skumar, Senior Cadre P45, Market Development Department. One of supervisor Osvaldo's confidants.
"I didn't expect a living Swarm King's Guard to still exist, and a type I've never seen before... Quite an unexpected harvest."
"But, since you dared to attack a Corporation starship, I presume you're prepared to face the consequences of making an enemy of the Corporation?"
"Tch, what are you gonna do, start a fight?" Silver Wolf sneered dismissively.
When it came to antagonizing the Corporation, Ms. Silver Wolf showed absolutely no fear. People from Punklorde were naturally rebellious. Back on Punklorde, she dared to mess with the central administration's weaklings; the Corporation was no different! If she were afraid of the IPC, she wouldn't have casually browsed their internal databases! Especially not some mere cadre.
Now, if it were that Diamond person, that would be different. Dealing with an Emanator was indeed troublesome.
But a senior cadre... You think you're tough?
"Precisely my intention. For damaging Corporation property and obstructing a Corporation mission, I will apprehend you both."
"Next stop for you two: a nice cell in Pier Point."
Silver Wolf was about to retort.
But Somado had already taken out a dull stone.
And this was the reason he had survived the powerless fall from space.
The Cornerstone of Preservation.
To those in the know, this was a symbol of... an 'Emanator.'
Somado was undoubtedly an Emanator. Not one directly blessed by an Aeon, of course—being Osvaldo's confidant was proof enough that Somado's will was far removed from Preservation.
Like the Stonehearts of the Strategic Investment Department, the source of this Emanator power came from another Emanator of Preservation. Not Diamond; the rivalry between the Market Development and Strategic Investment departments was common knowledge within the Corporation.
The source of this Preservation power... was the Corporation's other confirmed Emanator of Preservation.
Taravan Keane.
Using Cornerstones of Preservation to carry and share Emanator power wasn't Diamond's exclusive patent; it was a 'result' derived from the Corporation's long exploration of Emanator powers.
If Diamond could do it, Taravan, also an Emanator of Preservation, naturally could too.
Although Taravan wasn't particularly fond of Osvaldo's methods either.
But adhering to the principle of 'balance'... if only the Strategic Investment Department possessed Emanator-level power internally, the competition between the two departments would become unbalanced.
Therefore, the Market Development Department inevitably had to possess Emanator-level power as well.
"Damn, damn, damn!"
Sensing trouble, Silver Wolf instantly regretted her big mouth, feeling like she'd jinxed herself.
Seriously? This guy really is an Emanator of Preservation?
Although, as the strongest hacker, she wasn't completely defenseless even against an Emanator, if she wanted to win...
She glanced at the Swarm King's Guard, the firefly, beside her.
Let's jump him together!
Okay!
The girl and the bug miraculously reached an understanding.
This instantly made Silver Wolf feel the problem wasn't so big anymore.
After all, according to Intelligentsia Guild records, Swarm King's Guards were incredibly strong.
In that case, one Swarm King's Guard plus the strongest hacker herself should be enough to take down this company dog!
Yeah! We'll win!
CLANG!
After a crisp clash of metal, the firefly guard was sent flying backward, crashing into a wall.
Silver Wolf, who had been about to provide support, was left utterly dumbfounded, her face a mask of astonishment.
"You..."
Wait, aren't Swarm King's Guards supposed to be super strong?
How did this guy get one-shotted by that dude?!
The firefly guard propped itself up, looking rather aggrieved.
Putting aside the fact that it was a Swarm King's Guard from the [Mercy's Bane] lineage, a non-combat specialization... there was a more practical matter.
It was, in fact, a newborn Swarm King's Guard.
After the consecutive beatdowns from Lan and Zephyro, Mercy's Bane Swarm King's previous brood had been completely wiped out. The current Swarm underlings were all created after Mercy's Bane arrived on this planet.
Calculated in human years, it was barely a month old!
Receiving this information mentally, Silver Wolf was dumbstruck.
"...I should never have trusted you, you lousy teammate!" she ground out, glaring fiercely, before sighing. "No choice, guess I have to rely on myself."
The entire future of Planet Balmung rests on the shoulders of the great Silver Wolf!
So what if he's an Emanator? Whatever! Ms. Silver Wolf will handle it!
Try this on for size!
CLANG!
A crisp hammering sound successfully shattered Ms. Silver Wolf's Aether Editing attempt.
Against an Emanator of Preservation, Ms. Silver Wolf suffered a grand failure!
Well, technically, it wasn't just hammered apart.
It was...
"Who is it?"
Highly sensitive to data manipulation, Ms. Silver Wolf instantly realized someone was attacking her backdoor... no, wait, exposing her vulnerabilities... hmm, her database. Her Aether Editing's computing power was visibly draining.
She didn't even need to think to know this opponent was incredibly powerful in terms of computing ability, likely almost on par with her own skills in the network realm, if not quite her equal.
"Alright, it's handled."
A gentle, somewhat cold voice sounded beside her.
It was a virtual projection of a blonde woman in somewhat futuristic attire.
"Hmph." Somado didn't give the newcomer a warm welcome, just snorted coldly.
"You actually called for backup!" Silver Wolf accused.
"Hmph, I wasn't exactly thrilled about asking someone from Strategic Investment, but unfortunately, she was the closest personnel," Somado scoffed, showing some distaste, then added coldly, "I'm good at fighting, but dealing with a hacker requires a specialist."
"Did you really think I'd do nothing and just rush in foolishly?"
No one who climbed to P45 in a place like the Corporation was an idiot, especially not one of Osvaldo's confidants. Who would entrust significant responsibility to a fool?
"..."
Ms. Silver Wolf suddenly had the feeling that she was the idiot.
Nah, it must be an illusion... I must have caught the stupidity from being around that dumb bug!
"Alright now. I'm quite interested in why a hacker from Punklorde appeared in the capital of the Glamoth Republic. Next, I'll pry the information I want from your lips."
"Ah... kinda scary..." Silver Wolf, bound by chains forged from Preservation's power, shrank back slightly, then said defiantly: "But, if you can call for backup, then so can I, right?"
"?"
"What did she do?" Realizing something, Somado abruptly turned to the backup he'd summoned.
"...She broke through the block just now and sent a message... Strange, the IP address is on this planet..."
As the projection expressed confusion, the next moment...
BOOM!
A silver flash appeared at terrifying speed, and then...
The unprepared Somado was sent flying.
In his place stood a silvery-white figure.
Surrounded by dark, oppressive beast shadows that had gathered unnoticed.
A cold voice echoed across the landscape.
"One Emanator of Preservation, one projection... Leave now, and no one gets hurt."
"Otherwise, you will all die."