I, on the Starry Sky Railway, change everything

"Money isn't important."

"Let's go back to Kripper Castle first. Even if you hit it off immediately, you can't keep chatting in the freezing cold."

As soon as Hua Yi spoke, everyone started to move.

An automated machine had already cleared a flat, straight path through the snowfield, connecting to the gates of Beloborg.

The red carpet stretched from the city gate all the way to Cripperburg, and the Silver Mane Iron Guards dispersed the crowds and controlled the streets, adding a touch of solemnity to the bustling Beloborg.

"How solemn!"

"This is the first time Bellberg has received guests from outer space since emerging from the stellar disaster, and we hope to show the appropriate attitude as much as possible."

Bronya, slightly ahead by half a step, acted as the guide, introducing Estádio and Toppa.

"This is the administrative district, home to many landmark buildings such as the Goethe Hotel, the Golden Opera House, and the History and Culture Museum."

"It feels much warmer in the city than in the snowfield."

"Thanks to the protection of the King of Amber."

"Isn't this the effect of the geothermal heater?"

"Lord Hua Yi has conducted research and found that the heat radiation generated by all heating devices combined accounts for only one-twentieth of the back radiation."

Blind faith may be foolish, but if it can receive protection and blessings, its meaning is completely different.

Topa thoughtfully noted this down, planning to later use the company's equipment to verify the extent of the Earth's Embryo Device's impact on the climate.

Chapter 256 Peerless General Star

A banquet was prepared in a hall of Cripperburg, with various dishes laid out on the table. Although there were no delicacies, as the conditions did not allow for them, it was still the greatest sincerity that Belleberg could offer.

Formal meetings between important figures are usually focused on discussing important matters, and all the food is just an accompaniment, not for the purpose of eating one's fill.

It should be like this.

Like Lamina and other female staff members, they were extremely curious about alien cuisine. After looking at the food and thinking it looked delicious, they were tempted to eat, but what they were thinking about was where they should sit.

At banquets of this caliber, there are specific rules regarding who sits in which seats, although the nuances may vary depending on the civilization.

Hua Yi doesn't need to worry about seating arrangements, because wherever he sits is the seat of honor, and everyone else is arranged around him.

Just worry about whether everyone can have enough to eat.

At this point, a disruptor is needed to lead by example.

But it can't be Hua Yi alone, otherwise the girls might think he's starving. Even if it doesn't turn into a group feeding, there has to be something good left for the great hero.

Fortunately, I have an unparalleled general who can break this deadlock!

"Xing, eat more."

"it is good!"

Galaxy Bat Man stuffed a piece of fried meat into his mouth with a gulp. The golden, crispy shell crunched softly as he chewed, instantly relaxing the somewhat reserved girls.

"It has been over a hundred years since the meat processing plant launched its first red sausage. It has been loved by the people for a long time, and its taste has been continuously improved. It is a classic delicacy of Winter City. Please try it."

"Hmm—this is braised in soy sauce? Being able to have a bite after interstellar travel is quite a treat."

"Watch out! I remember Belloberg sausages come in strawberry flavor, that's a culinary disaster!"

Xing rashly reminded Estádio and Toppa, and Bronya's expression froze as she tried to salvage the situation.

"The dishes on the table are all popular flavors; the special edition red sausage was not served."

"Oh, all right."

"..."

"I've heard that Xing fought against the Doomsday Beasts head-on during the Antimatter Legion's attack on the Black Tower Space Station, displaying extraordinary combat prowess. He must have left behind many heroic deeds after arriving in Beloborg. Now I've finally met this legendary figure like you."

"Hmph~ Now if I were to fight the Doomsday Beast again, I could take it down by myself!"

Although Galaxy Batman wasn't humble enough and didn't pay attention to his image while speaking, with fried breadcrumbs stuck to the corners of his mouth, he perfectly fulfilled Hua Yi's expectations in terms of livening up the atmosphere.

The conversation gradually became more relaxed.

"Miss Topa looks so young, yet she has already become a senior executive at Interstellar Peace Corporation. That's really impressive."

"Hey, it's nothing special, just a stroke of luck~ Actually, it's not exactly a great job, you have to run around between different star systems and be driven by the business."

"If you remove the business aspects, it feels pretty much the same as a train crew."

Without refuting the analogy of March 7th, Toppa glanced at someone who wasn't deliberately trying to control the atmosphere at the table, but who had always been the backbone of the group.

"Originally, I thought that business couldn't be easily eliminated, and debt disputes are often a big problem. However, considering that the Star Train just departed from the Black Tower Space Station and its next stop is a world where the star core has crashed, it seems that things are not easy."

"So now is the perfect time to be a little more relaxed, isn't it?"

"indeed."

Turning a banquet into a regular meal primarily for satisfying one's appetite is relatively simple.

Because Hua Yi and Topa had met before, they had been friends for a long time and had communicated several times. Hua Yi and Topa were like an old married couple.

But once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the question of what to do next became a new problem.

The added layer of relationship won't make things simpler; on the contrary, it will add personal feelings to official business. If Toppa is treated as the host and guest, then we'll be doing Estádio a disservice.

Conversely, simply showering Estelle with concern and care is not the proper way to treat Topa, a company representative.

Hua Yi used a smart terminal to project holographic images and introduce his experiences since arriving in Belleburg. This not only met the expectations of Estádio and Lamina, but also allowed Toppa to further understand the City of Eternity.

"...That's roughly it."

"Rift, cold wave, star core, Belloborg has been able to hold out for seven hundred years with the strength of a single city. It is inseparable from the efforts of the great guardians of each generation. It is really not easy."

"The former Grand Guardian lost his sense of taste, so he can drink Himeko's coffee without batting an eye? I never thought a cup of coffee could become the key to intelligence gathering—ah, sorry, Ms. Himeko, I have no problem with your coffee. The company has always maintained a friendly policy towards the Star Train."

"While Hua Yi was introducing the product, Xing was embellishing it. The part about the coffee was all her subjective opinion. You can actually try it yourself."

Thank you very much, I'll definitely do it next time.

Belloberg, Star Train, Black Tower Space Station, and Interstellar Peace Corporation.

Now that the four forces have gathered and passed the initial stage of mutual understanding, they will no longer need to be together all the time. Otherwise, Hua Yi would have to take care of everyone as much as possible, which would be very tiring.

Estelle, thinking of her lover, offered to hand over the smart terminal she brought to Bronya and the others, and also taught them how to use its various functions. In addition, Hoshino was eager to invite the Belloberg girls into fan group 687 and urged them excitedly, so suddenly only the two of them were left at the scene.

Galaxy Baseball Man was so preoccupied with his fan base that he didn't even consider that Belloberg's side should have sent someone to receive Toppa.

Therefore, Hua Yi should take on this job.

"Shall we take a walk together?"

"Great. You've played the hero again, following the space station attack."

"Regarding the Antimatter Legion incident, I also want to thank Miss Topa for helping to clean up the mess and quell the storm."

"It's nothing. The cooperation on the sale of Caliban and the space station, as well as the high-level esoteric artifact, the Bud of Wisdom, that you created, has added a few more entries to my resume. It's a win-win situation."

Toppa and Hua Yi walked side by side, strolling through the corridors of Fort Kripper.

This castle-like building is large enough to have plenty of space.

"This time, the great hero has reached the level of a savior. You even saved Cocolia. It's truly a lifesaver for everyone. Sometimes I feel that you should be a protector rather than an intellectual or pioneer. Maybe the Interstellar Peace Corporation is more suitable for you? Didn't March 7th say before that the train crew's work is similar to the company's business?"

"But I think most people in the company are more focused on business than on practicing savings and are always being evaluated. The Star Train doesn't assess passengers' performance."

Chapter 257 Topa's Past

maybe.

At the company's headquarters in Pierpoint, I hold a cup of ten espresso cold brew coffee and gaze at the planet's dawn through the glass.

Looking down from the 5,000-square-meter office, countless employees stand on the intersecting escalators, rushing about for money, reputation, and upcoming performance reviews.

People's worries, desires, and endless days and nights of relentless effort are often far less meaningful than a string of numbers on a report.

This is a common aspect of Interstellar Peace Corporation, but it shouldn't be the only one.

“In the previous holographic projection, you showed many photos of the lower Berlöberg area, as well as paintings that are on display in the museum. The overall feeling was one of sadness. It was not the brief sadness that ordinary people experience when they encounter setbacks, but something much longer and more profound.”

To clarify your own point of view, first put yourself in the other person's shoes and try to understand them; this in itself is an expression of your own thinking.

Toppa was skilled at conversation and genuinely empathized with Belloberg's situation.

“Sadness is a product of history, encompassing the suffering of several generations of the Belloberg family… no, dozens of generations. It’s truly remarkable.”

"That's why the moment of triumph after hardship is all the more beautiful."

"It is wonderful. I thought you would describe it as rare, and then I, the debt collector of the company, would be the villain who brutally destroys what should be cherished."

It's always pleasant to talk to a smart girl.

She can keenly sense it if you just pay a little attention to your wording.

Hua Yi smiled.

“Collecting debts is your job. In the vast galaxy, there are many cases more difficult than Beloberg’s. Civilizations or forces that cannot repay on time always have various difficulties. If we consider the problem subjectively and treat each one as an exception, the economic order of the galaxy will be distorted.”

"you……"

This time, Hua Yi put himself in Topa's shoes and understood him.

In terms of communication skills, he is superior.

The director opened her mouth, and for a moment she was moved.

"Today, because Belloberg has just emerged from the Star Core crisis and wiped out previous debts, tomorrow others will use this as leverage to demand that the company do them a favor in return. This will put you in a difficult position, and the entire strategic investment department may even have its rating lowered as a result."

"Yes."

"Rules and order sometimes conflict with personal feelings, but if King Cripper of Amber instructs the company to grant preferential treatment to a certain person or civilization, the entire company will cheer for such an unofficial order, right? Only the Guardian Star God can make the company abandon its rules and regulations and become more humane, but He will not make any demands, which is fair."

"Join us, Huayi—join the Strategic Investment Department."

Toppa stopped and looked intently at the person who had turned the tide at the Black Tower Space Station and Yalilo-VI, demonstrating rational judgment without acting solely on emotion.

“You have the necessary skills, and you understand the market, the economic framework, and the boundaries between personal relationships and rules. I look forward to working with you.”

"Now it's my turn to host you on behalf of Belloberg, how did it turn into you recruiting me?"

"Hey, it doesn't conflict. Anyway, you're the second stationmaster of the Black Tower Space Station, an unnamed passenger on the Star Train, the savior in the hearts of the Beloborgs, and the apostle of the Amber King. Shouldn't you get a position in the company?"

“Even a girl as outstanding as Miss Topa only reached the position of director. Above her are ministers, directors and other high-level executives. I don’t want to be assigned work by a large group of superiors.”

While refusing, they didn't forget to praise me.

Faced with Hua Yi's attitude, Topa realized that if he continued to invite him, it would be unreasonable.

Well, taking advantage of the absence of the Cripperburg personnel to extend an olive branch on their own was already a violation of the principles of negotiation.

Besides, Hua Yi probably doesn't know anything about Interstellar Peace Company.

By continuously incorporating planets from the universe into its trade map, this behemoth is the largest buyer and seller in the market, as well as the referee and rule-maker, and is also the rule-maker itself. Such a behemoth is prone to misunderstandings.

"Would you like to hear my story?"

"want."

Hua Yi's crisp and decisive affirmative answer made Toppa curl the corners of his mouth.

I thought he was very good at talking when we communicated online before, but now that we are face to face, I realize even more clearly that it is a very easy and pleasant thing to be with Hua Yi.

Being serious when necessary and casual when appropriate, while maintaining a sense of proportion, creates a comfortable atmosphere for both parties.

"I come from an inconspicuous planet on the edge of the galaxy, whose name is almost unknown to anyone except its native inhabitants. The planet is extremely resource-poor, and in order to survive, the inhabitants have to sell large amounts of cheap labor to engage in manufacturing jobs for other civilizations, mostly in the chemical industry or heavy industry."

"Against this backdrop, the natural environment of our home planet deteriorated day by day. I don't know when it started in my childhood, but people had to wear breathing masks to walk on the streets. The coughing in my ears was heart-wrenching from morning till night."

"Soon, my hometown came to an end. The relatively wealthy chose interstellar migration and started anew; the majority who remained could only eke out a living under sewage, acid rain, and smog, waiting for despair to approach."

Recounting his past, Toppa took another step, walking side by side with Hua Yi in Cripperburg.

It's big enough here to give her a relatively private space.

The person beside her was also a perfect listener, without interrupting, asking abrupt questions, or expressing sentiments, allowing the girl to sink into her memories.