[Navia: I... what did I hear? Belobog actually has a debt that has been owed for seven hundred years!? Is this debt not a bad debt?]
[Zhongli: Takagi mentioned earlier that this debt is still within the tracing period, so it should not be considered a bad debt.]
[Uncle Tian: There must be long-lived species in the universe, and the IPC is a company that spans many centuries. It's probably normal for the timeframe of a debt to be very long.]
[Kaeya: Even if it's a debt of one Mora, if seven hundred years have passed, repaying it with principal and interest will be an astronomical figure, right?]
[Pantalone: Since the resources the IPC lent to the first Supreme Guardian could be used to establish Belobog, it must be a significant figure. Now that seven hundred years have passed, this figure is likely as Takagi said—an astronomical sum that Belobog simply cannot repay.]
[Xinyan: Is there a possibility that this debt actually has no interest, and as long as Belobog overcomes the Stellaron difficulty, they can repay it relatively easily?]
[Xingqiu: Since the IPC is a business, it probably wouldn't be without interest.]
"So that's how the establishment of Belobog came about!"
"Takagi, will the IPC definitely collect every debt?" Natasha asked with a frown.
"Unless it becomes a bad debt... in other words, the world that owes the debt is destroyed. Otherwise, they will definitely come to collect," Takagi shook his head.
"Then, given Belobog's current situation, can it afford this debt? I mean, after solving the Stellaron problem and after we stabilize?" Natasha asked.
"Unfortunately, this debt has been around for seven hundred years. Calculating with interest, this debt is already something Belobog cannot repay. Even if all the resources on this entire planet are emptied, and even if the current people of Belobog are sold, it still wouldn't be enough to repay," Takagi said regretfully.
If the debt problem could be solved simply by selling Yarilo-VI's existing resources and relocating the population to other planets as laborers, then Topaz wouldn't have needed to include Yarilo-VI's future population in the agreement. Natasha's expression immediately became extremely conflicted upon hearing Takagi's words.
[Zhongli: So that's how it is. Even putting up resources and the population isn't enough to pay off the debt. What a heavy contract.]
[Ningguang: For the people of Belobog right now, this kind of debt is like a disaster from the heavens. However, from the IPC's perspective, demanding the debt back is only natural.]
[Yoimiya: But Belobog simply doesn't have enough money! The IPC can't possibly really sell Belobog's population, can they? They wouldn't make the people of Belobog become slaves, would they?]
[Dehya: That's right. Since both Belobog and the IPC believe in the Aeon of Preservation, they should be able to sit down and talk it out properly. It shouldn't be taken to such extremes.]
[Bennett: And judging from the recruitment advertisement Takagi showed earlier, the IPC seems quite decent. After seeing Belobog's current situation, they would surely be willing to understand. Perhaps they might even be willing to cancel this debt. After all, they share a common belief.]
[Pantalone: Too naive! For the IPC to develop into a massive organization in the universe, it would never be an organization that only uses appeasement. To deal with the countless crises in the business world, they must also have corresponding violent organs.]
[Pantalone: If Belobog cannot pay back the debt with interest, the IPC's violent organs will likely be dispatched. Perhaps they really will take the people of Belobog and sell them. As for both believing in the Aeon of Preservation... Heh, Liyue businessmen, even if they all believe in Rex Lapis, will still compete and fight tooth and nail, won't they?]
[Ningguang: Pantalone is right. And since Takagi mentioned the IPC in this manner, the company is likely not a gentle organization. It's just unclear what kind of debt collection plan they will propose.]
"We already owe the IPC a debt that can never be repaid? Takagi, you're not serious, are you!" Seele took a deep breath and asked with hopeful eyes.
"Considering Belobog's current situation, I also wish this wasn't true. But unfortunately, it is the truth, Seele. If you don't believe me, perhaps you can ask Svarog later. He still has the relevant information," Takagi said regretfully.
"H-how could this happen? If we can't pay the debt, the IPC wouldn't just directly eliminate us, would they?" Serval asked worriedly.
"The IPC is an organization that believes in the Aeon of Preservation, after all. They wouldn't go so far as to eliminate everyone. Moreover, eliminating Belobog wouldn't allow them to collect the debt, would it? Doing something that doesn't benefit them doesn't fit the company's style," Takagi shook his head.
"So, there's still a solution?" Serval asked excitedly.
Takagi: "There is a solution, but it might not be what you hope for."
Serval: "At this point, please tell us the possible plan the company might offer."
Takagi nodded and said: "Based on my understanding of the IPC, they should send an executive from the Strategic Investment Department to Belobog to negotiate. Perhaps they will demand that this planet become the company's property. From now on, both the people currently living in Belobog and those born in the future will be directly tied to the company, becoming its employees. And this executive might promise to help Belobog connect with the outside world, using outside technology to help the people live better lives as quickly as possible?"
[Bennett: How could this be? Isn't the IPC supposed to be good people? Why do they have to force Belobog to make such a difficult choice?]
[Yoimiya: They're actually going to sell off all of Belobog? Not just the people currently alive, but all the children born in the future too!]
[Pantalone: I told you, for the IPC to grow into a universe-level organization, it can never be an organization of purely good people.]
[Dehya: On one side is a life where you're well-fed but have no dreams. On the other side is a life with dreams but not necessarily enough to eat... I have no idea how to choose.]
Barbara: "This... isn't this just selling off Yarilo-VI? And not just selling off the current world, but the future too!"
Paimon: "But this seems pretty good too! At least everyone can live good lives quickly."
Lumine: "Paimon, this is Belobog's matter. Let them think about it." As a traveler, she knew deeply that such a major decision concerning the future of a planet must be made by the local people.
Serval blinked and said: "Betting all of Yarilo-VI's future possibilities? Although the conditions are harsh, and I don't like it, it doesn't seem that bad either. If it can allow everyone in Belobog to live normal lives sooner, I think it's quite good."
Natasha, however, shook her head and said: "Agreeing to such conditions would stifle the children's dreams. Not everyone will be willing to become an employee of the company. And Takagi mentioned earlier that becoming an employee doesn't necessarily guarantee happiness."
Serval: "But if we can't even survive, what's the use of talking about dreams?"
Natasha: "As long as everyone works hard enough, they will definitely find a way to survive."
Seele watched Serval and Natasha staring intently at each other, then turned to look at Takagi, who was walking ahead. "Hey, why don't you try to persuade them? They seem like they're about to argue!"
Takagi shrugged: "There's no harm in arguing a bit now. It's better than arguing after the IPC's debt collectors actually arrive, right?"
Seele: "Then, from your perspective, how do you think we should choose?"
Upon hearing this, Natasha and Serval both turned their gazes towards Takagi. Through their time together, Natasha had developed deep trust in him and felt an inexplicable desire to rely on him. Although Serval hadn't known Takagi for long, since he was the one who revealed this, she instinctively wanted a hint.
"This is Belobog's matter. I will not make the decision for Belobog. However, I can tell you some things I know about the debt collectors."
Takagi continued speaking under the nervous gaze of Serval and the others: "The Stellaron has changed the ecosystem of Yarilo-VI, causing Fragmentums to appear everywhere. Even if the Stellaron disappears, the Fragmentums won't vanish immediately, and the ecosystem will remain in this state for hundreds or thousands of years. The IPC definitely won't choose to wait. They will likely implement a plan to rebuild the planet's ecosystem."
Seele frowned: "Rebuild the planet's ecosystem?"
Takagi nodded slightly: "Rebuilding a planet's ecosystem is an extremely massive project. Since it's massive, it's normal for it to come with risks. There are other planets that chose the IPC's ecosystem reconstruction. It's just that not all planets made it through."
Serval swallowed: "C-could it be that some planets were destroyed because of the reconstruction?"
"Precisely." Takagi nodded and continued: "Up to now, only sixty-three planets have truly been reborn under the company's technology."
Barbara: "Y-you mean, the remaining thirty-seven worlds were destroyed?"
"That's right, Barbara." Takagi looked at her. "So, if Teyvat is ever trapped by the Abyss and reaches the brink of destruction, and if the IPC happens to arrive and offers advice on rebuilding the ecosystem, you Teyvat people must consider it carefully."
Hearing Takagi's words, the Teyvat people were stunned.
[Albert: We were talking about Belobog just fine, how did it get dragged to Teyvat?]
[Dainsleif: After all, the problem of the Abyss does exist.]
[Uncle Tian: This old man is getting on in years; I don't want to experience something so stimulating.]
[Ningguang: While that's true, it's hard not to see Teyvat from Belobog's perspective after hearing this.]
[Xingqiu: Even without looking in a mirror, I know my face is very pale right now.]
[Dottore: Actually, a 60% chance isn't low. If Teyvat really encounters such a situation, choosing the IPC plan might be an option to try.]
[Chef Mao: That's too big of a gamble. Unless Rex Lapis approves of the contract, I wouldn't dare to gamble.]
[Zhongli: Even Rex Lapis would surely be quite cautious when facing this matter.]
[Venti: Yeah, I think even Mondstadt's Anemo Archon wouldn't be so relaxed in the face of something like this.]
Zhongli and Venti, who had witnessed the Khaenri'ah war and the Abyss, sighed simultaneously. Teyvat has always been troubled by the Abyss. Although it doesn't currently have the potential to destroy the world, there's no guarantee it won't in the future.
"Everyone, someone is coming." Suddenly, Takagi's voice brought Serval and the others back. Everyone followed Takagi's gaze and saw a small girl with glasses and beautiful dark blue hair.
"Pela, what are you doing here?" Serval asked, looking slightly surprised.
"I couldn't find you anywhere, so I knew you might have come to the Edge of Passage again to look for parts. I've told you many times that coming here is forbidden and dangerous!" Pela walked up with her hands on her hips. She looked at Takagi and the others: "Who are these people?"
"They are my friends." Serval forced a smile. "This is Pela, she's my good friend."
Pela frowned: "So, this time you brought friends here to look for parts? Serval, you're getting more and more reckless. Aren't you worried about what Gepard will say?"
Serval sighed: "Let him scold me; I don't care."
Pela: "Huh?! What's wrong with you? This isn't like you."
Serval: "I just learned something quite upsetting." She turned and glanced at Takagi.
"Don't look at me like that; you were the one who asked me to speak," Takagi said.
Pela looked at him strangely. "So, what exactly did you learn, Serval?"
Serval: "You wouldn't want to know, Pela."
Pela: "How would you know if I don't want to know if you don't tell me?"
Serval raised her hand to her forehead. If possible, she didn't wish for Pela to face the same troubles.
"What's there to hide? Anyway, when the company people arrive, she'll know anyway," Seele said.
Pela: "Serval, what happened?"
Serval sighed, finally unable to resist Pela's persistence. "Alright, I'll tell you. You're smart; maybe you can think of a way to deal with it."
Pela listened silently as Serval recounted the debt issue. However, the more she listened, the stranger Pela's expression became. After Serval finished, Pela immediately grabbed her hand and moved several meters away from Takagi and the others.
"Pela, what are you doing?" Serval looked confused. Pela had summoned four small hovering drones and aimed them at Takagi.
"Serval, be careful of these people." Pela pushed up her glasses and looked at Takagi vigilantly: "Tell me, why are you deceiving Serval with lies? What is your purpose?"