247: Simultaneous meetings 3

Crossbell, Imperial Safe House.

Prime Minister Osborne sat on a leather sofa, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.

The clock's hands were nearing eight, and the appointed time was almost upon them.

The safe house was silent, save for the occasional soft crackle of the fire in the fireplace and the faint din from the casino downstairs.

Lechter stood by the window, his gaze sweeping the street outside through a gap in the curtains.

"Thirty seconds left." Osborne's voice was deep and calm, but anyone familiar with him could detect the suppressed impatience within.

Lechter didn't turn around, but his tone was respectful and calm: "She will be on time."

As soon as he finished speaking, the clock's hands pointed precisely to eight o'clock.

"Thump, thump, thump."

Three soft knocks, not a fraction of a second off.

Osborne's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Lechter turned and walked towards the door. As he opened it, his body tensed slightly. No one was outside.

"Oh, is the special agent looking for me?"

A cheerful female voice came from behind him. Lechter spun around sharply, only to see Topaz standing in the center of the room, just three steps from Osborne, having appeared at some unknown point.

Her silver hair shimmered in the firelight from the fireplace, and she gazed calmly at the iron blood Prime Minister.

Osborne's pupils constricted slightly.

He had not noticed how the woman in front of him had entered.

"Interstellar Peace Corporation, Strategic Investment Department Director, Topaz." She gave a slight nod, her voice calm and composed, "It's an honor to meet you, iron blood Prime Minister, Mr. Osborne."

Osborne forced himself to relax. Years of political life quickly restored his outward composure: "Director Topaz's entrance is truly impressive."

His gaze was as sharp as a knife, trying to find any flaw or weakness in this woman. But to his shock, his vaunted insight failed him for the first time.

He couldn't see through the woman in front of him; he saw nothing.

"Please sit." Osborne suppressed the discomfort in his heart and gestured, signaling Lechter to close the door.

Topaz gracefully sat opposite him, her hands clasped in her lap: "Thank you, Your Excellency, for making time to meet."

After brief pleasantries, Osborne decided to get straight to the point: "Director Topaz, what exactly does the Interstellar Peace Corporation want?"

Topaz's lips curved slightly: "It's simple, a complete Crossbell."

The air in the room instantly solidified.

Lechter's fingers unconsciously touched the pistol at his waist, then returned to their original position.

Although Osborne's expression hadn't changed, the chill in his eyes was enough to freeze fire.

"A complete Crossbell?" Osborne's voice was terrifyingly low, "Is Your Excellency joking?"

Topaz's expression remained unchanged: "The Corporation never jokes."

Her voice was as calm as if she were discussing what to drink for afternoon tea: "What we want is all authority over Crossbell. Simply put, Crossbell will become an exclusive investment of the Corporation."

Osborne's fists audibly clenched in his sleeves.

It wasn't the 'market' mentioned in earlier reports, nor was it the transaction he had anticipated. What they wanted was the Empire's territory!

This was no longer a negotiation; it was a naked humiliation of the Empire.

Crossbell was a strategic location that the Empire and the Republic had contended for decades, and this woman was casually claiming ownership?

"Your Excellency seems to have forgotten," Osborne's voice carried suppressed fury, "Crossbell is an autonomous state, not ownerless land."

Topaz gently shook her head: "As for the Republic, we have our own arrangements."

"As for the Empire..." Her gaze met Osborne's: "You just need to cooperate."

This statement completely ignited Osborne's rage. He abruptly stood up, looking down at Topaz: "Is the Interstellar Peace Corporation declaring war on the Empire?"

Lechter had already drawn his pistol. Although the muzzle wasn't raised, he was ready to fire at any moment.

Topaz remained seated as before, not even a flicker of her eyelashes: "Your Excellency misunderstands."

She slowly rose, calmly tidying her clothes: "The Corporation never humiliates or discriminates against a legitimate regime with a long history, nor does it start wars without cause."

"I am merely, as one of Ten Stonehearts, representing the Amber King, to deliver a notification."

"Nothing more."

Osborne's face instantly turned ashen. How many years had it been since anyone dared to speak to him in such a tone?

"Lechter!" he roared.

But unexpectedly, Lechter did not subdue Topaz as he expected, but instead quickly moved to block him, vigilantly staring at the door.

Even more shocking, the Imperial Guards and Ironbloods who should have rushed in immediately from outside the door were completely silent.

The safe house was dead silent.

Topaz ignored all of this, walking directly towards the door: "If there are no other questions, I will take my leave."

Osborne suppressed his anger, his voice hoarse: "Do you think you can leave today?"

Topaz stopped at the door, turning to glance at him. Her eyes were terrifyingly calm, like she was looking at an ignorant child: "Your Excellency, you have made a mistake."

"I believe Mr. Lechter has already reported the power the Corporation has demonstrated, but you seem not to have treated the Corporation with reverence."

"I know what you're thinking. You believe individual martial prowess is meaningless in the face of an organized army. Not even Arios could single-handedly take on the Imperial Guards and Ironbloods you painstakingly cultivated."

"However, you seem to have forgotten one thing." Her lips curved slightly: "Throughout history, there are always one or two people who can break that common sense."

With that, she pushed open the door and left without looking back.

Osborne stood rooted to the spot, for a moment not ordering a pursuit. Only when Topaz's footsteps had completely faded did he abruptly turn to Lechter: "Go quickly and see what's going on?!"

Just as Lechter was about to go out, a pale-faced guard burst in: "Sir, our men..."

His voice trembled slightly: "They're all dead."

"What?!" Osborne's voice suddenly rose.

The guard took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down: "The perimeter security team is alive, but the Imperial Guards inside the safe house and the three Ironbloods..."

"All killed with a single sword stroke."

"And, the time of death..."

He swallowed with difficulty: "It was the moment you gave the order, the very instant I came in to relieve them..."

Osborne's body swayed slightly, and he had to lean on the sofa to steady himself.

Lechter's previous report flashed through his mind: 'That young swordsman named Yanqing, his strength is probably beyond the Sword Saint of Wind.'

But now, it seemed he had severely underestimated the opponent's strength.

To be able to instantly kill all the ambushed Imperial Guards and Ironbloods without him noticing, such strength was beyond his comprehension.

The Saintess of the Gun!

That legendary name suddenly flashed through Osborne's mind. In the Empire's history, that legendary Valkyrie had also changed the tide of battle with her power alone.

He knew that such a person had truly existed. But he never expected to encounter such a figure himself.

"Contact the military immediately." Osborne's voice regained its calm, but the shock in his eyes had not completely faded, "Have the border armies prepare for battle, awaiting my command."

Lechter nodded quickly: "Understood."

He hesitated, then added: "Prime Minister, regarding the conditions Topaz proposed..."

A look of solemnity appeared in Osborne's eyes, then a sharp glint: "Ignore them."

"The Empire's territory is not to be ceded, and the Empire's dignity is not to be trampled upon."

Although he said this, he knew very well in his heart. There would likely be uncontrollable variables at this trade conference.

Osborne closed his eyes in thought, muttering to himself in a voice only he could hear: "War Fiend, don't disappoint me..."