After the trio had put some distance between themselves and the scene, they finally removed their masks.
March 7th sighed in relief. "That felt so good! But Ah Guang, won't that guy… try to get revenge later?"
Pei Guang: "Of course he will~ But the person who beat him up was Sampo. What's that got to do with us?"
Stelle: "Poor Sampo's taking the fall~"
Pei Guang: "I wouldn't say poor. Honestly, he's probably enjoying the hell out of this."
Though he hadn't interacted with Sampo too much, Pei Guang was certain he was the type who lived for fun—and definitely someone hiding his true strength while playing around in this city.
Based on everything he had learned about this world, Sampo was almost certainly aligned with the Path of Elation. That would explain why he agreed to this so readily.
March 7th: "Really? I mean, no matter when you see him, that guy's always smiling."
Pei Guang: "Exactly. And hey, jokes aside, we were fair from beginning to end. As for that company guy—since we've already made enemies, it's time to take things seriously."
Stelle: "Good! Though… the fact we still have to pay them back makes me so uncomfortable."
She wasn't being unreasonable. If the money could be repaid, she'd naturally want to do so. But after seeing Belobog suffer for 700 years, it just didn't sit right.
If the company's supplied mechs had actually been used back then, maybe she could accept it. But based on what she'd learned, those units were never deployed.
The people had fought with their own flesh and blood.
It wasn't so much that she didn't want to pay it back—it was that she didn't want to return the money in such a convenient, comfortable way.
Pei Guang: "Of course we won't return it that easily. The resources the company sent weren't even used back then. That means the debt shouldn't be counted as is. Like I said—if the equipment was used, fine, even a cutthroat company deserves repayment. But if their negligence led to massive casualties and ruined the war effort, then we shouldn't owe them anything."
March 7th looked worried. "But we don't have any proof…"
Pei Guang: "Actually, we might have a way… Have you two forgotten about the Garden of Recollection?"
March 7th: "Ah! But… would they really help us?"
Right after she said that, a familiar voice spoke nearby: the Messenger appeared by a glass window not far away.
"But of course~ You're some of our best clients. When you have a need, we naturally come to help. However—our assistance isn't free~ Memories must be exchanged for memories~"
Pei Guang said, "Damn, your timing's something else. We were just talking about you guys, and you show up?"
The Messenger chuckled. "Hehe~ To serve you is our honor. Besides, our exchange is a fair one. Luckily, the rift on this planet holds records of what happened in the past. I can easily retrieve the memory you want and present it in any form you need.
As payment~ once the Garden of Recollection completes the memory, we'd like to collect a copy of the new memory you create. Is that alright?"
In truth, if Pei Guang really wanted to trade, even a sliver of his memories could fetch a top-tier Light Cone—something that could sell for an astronomical price. But when have players ever cared about money?
Like he always said: if you need cash, just go grind. But if the task sucks, no matter how rewarding, he's not doing it.
So, for his own satisfaction, Pei Guang would absolutely get the critical information he wanted.
Pei Guang said, "No problem. That's a fair trade~"
The Garden of Recollection wasn't taking his memory away. In fact, even if they wanted to, no one could forcibly remove his memories. What they wanted was to copy a one-of-a-kind memory that Pei Guang willingly opened up to them.
Having long since shed their physical forms, the Messengers saw unique memories as the finest collectibles in the galaxy.
Right now, this particular Messenger was feeling quite proud. Sure, she might've groveled and knee-slid at first, but soon she would be the most unique among all Messengers, both now and in the future.
The Messenger smiled. "Alright~ I'll get you the memory you need as fast as possible. Oh, and we'll also turn this memory into a Light Cone. With it in hand, no one will doubt its authenticity."
While Pei Guang's side prepared for action, back on the other end, Donatan stood where they'd left him, clutching his bruised face and glaring at Svarog.
"Why didn't you stop them!?" he snapped.
Svarog replied calmly, "Apologies. I was created to ensure the continued survival of Belobog and protect its people. You are not one of Belobog's people. Their attack on you serves the purpose of Belobog's survival. Therefore, I could not intervene."
Donatan had already been itching to tear Svarog apart, and now, hearing that response, he wanted it even more.
"Fine! Fine!! You'll all regret this! And that damn Sampo too!"
His tone turned dark and vicious. He was done playing around—he was going to confront Bronya directly. Was she signing the contract or not? Could she pay or not? If the answer to both was no, he would skip the negotiation phase entirely and jump straight to forced execution.
Besides that, one other thing stuck in his mind: the War-Flaming Lance Stelle had pulled out. The pure power of Preservation it radiated sparked his greed.
Now, Donatan wasn't just planning to complete the company's mission: he wanted to get his hands on that "relic."
He believed that if he secured the sacred weapon filled with the Amber Lord's energy, and delivered the trash can materials too, he would skyrocket through the ranks. A promotion, a raise, even a nomination for the company's board—it all seemed within reach.
As for the people who had just beat him up? He'd make them pay, legally and severely.
Sampo!!!
He remembered that name. He swore he'd make Sampo suffer—get him back, ruin him, and shave every last hair off his head.
But what Donatan didn't know… was that before he could act, Belobog was already preparing to strike back.
He was planning to go find Bronya, but as soon as he returned to the Underworld and saw all the company employees who had been taken down by Seele and stacked together like a pile of trash, his expression changed.
"What are you doing?"