Sisters Sharing a Single Bat

A figure approached from the distance, slender and graceful, with silver hair and clad in a sharp red-and-white professional outfit.

This was none other than Topaz—the sow thoroughly broken in by Daziel!

"Making trouble everywhere again! After what happened last time, didn't I order this pathetic fan club of yours to disband? And now you're telling me you have something good? The 'good thing' you're talking about... is that the Trotter in Mr. Daziel's hands?"

Topaz's voice suddenly shot up, laced with obvious anger. Her usually exquisite makeup seemed slightly distorted by her fury. The shrewd, capable aura she typically projected now erupted like a volcano.

She had been meek and subservient before Daziel for so long that even Daziel himself had nearly forgotten she possessed this powerful businesswoman side. Only at times like these would Daziel recall the woman who had applied to her superiors to launch an all-out assault on the Astral Express.

Topaz strode quickly towards the two company employees, hands on her hips, looking utterly exasperated. All because these two useless fools had run off to her master and embarrassed her again.

The previously aggressive company employees were startled by Topaz's intimidating presence. Their expressions changed instantly, becoming obsequious and meek.

One stammered an explanation, "B-But... Director Topaz, don't you just adore fluffy little animals? We thought... we thought we'd catch that Trotter for you... to, uh... appreciate and play with, just to make you happy."

The other formerly fierce employee put on a fawning expression and chimed in, "Yeah, yeah! That Trotter's got its butt sticking way up high, you'll definitely love it!"

As he spoke, he even used his hands to illustrate the Trotter's size and shape, seemingly trying to prove its "value."

"Pfft—"

Daziel couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

March 7th was practically doubled over, shaking with laughter as she pointed at the two employees. "You... you guys are just... too much! Letting Topaz 'play with it herself'? Hahahaha..."

Daziel crossed his arms, watching the unfolding farce with keen interest, a playful smirk on his face. He was quite curious to see how the usually high-and-mighty Topaz would handle these two idiots.

These two probably never dreamed that the Trotter they described as having its "butt sticking way up high" was standing right before them – their goddess-like Director Topaz herself!

Hearing her master and March 7th laughing, Topaz's face, already flushed with anger, turned an even deeper shade of red, looking as if it might start bleeding. Mortified and furious, she glared at the two employees who were still trying to sell their idea, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.

"You two... utterly disgraceful embarrassments! I order you to get lost, immediately!" Topaz hissed through gritted teeth, each word seeming forced out.

The meek employee and the fawning employee flinched violently at Topaz's sudden outburst. They had initially wanted to argue or perhaps continue their flattery, but when they met Topaz's gaze, which looked ready to shoot flames, they froze like ducks with their necks wrung, utterly silent, not daring to utter another syllable.

The meek employee looked utterly devastated, face crumpling. ".................. Director Topaz! We're sorry!"

The fawning employee trembled as he added, "We know we were wrong!"

Topaz took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the rage churning within her chest. Her voice turned ice-cold, devoid of any emotion. "If apologies were useful, what would the company need the 'Talent Motivation Department' for? I've already received detailed reports on the stupid things you've done—"

"I will seriously consider incorporating the findings of these reports into your performance evaluations for this year. Now, get lost immediately. Don't let me see you again!"

Hearing the words "performance evaluation," both men's faces turned deathly pale, as if all their strength had been instantly drained. They didn't dare say another word, replying in unison, "We'll get lost right now!"

With that, they scrambled away like stray dogs with their tails between their legs, stumbling as they ran into the distance, terrified of being too slow.

Daziel watched the pair of clowns flee in disarray, a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips.

He turned his gaze back to Topaz, who was still simmering with anger, and teased her with a half-smile, "Director Topaz, weren't you promoting me quite vigorously within the company? Even selling my contact information? How come these two didn't recognize me?"

Topaz's expression instantly became awkward. Her eyes darted away, unable to meet Daziel's gaze directly, as she stammered an explanation, "S-Sorry, Master... they... their rank is too low. Information of this level... wouldn't have reached them."

Daziel raised an eyebrow, clearly unsatisfied with this explanation.

He took a step forward, closing the distance between them, exuding a playful yet oppressive pressure. "Oh? Is that so? Then what about your subordinates offending me? What do you have to say?"

Topaz trembled slightly. She could feel the aura emanating from Daziel, making it hard for her to resist. Deep within, an indescribable, peculiar sensation surged.

It was the pink marking on her lower abdomen acting up!

She took another deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and managed to lift her head, mustering the courage to meet Daziel's eyes.

Topaz's voice was barely a whisper, tinged with an almost imperceptible tremor.

"Wh-Whatever you say tonight, Master. You can play however you want. But... but before that, I... I have something more urgent to report to you."

Her voice was soft, carrying hints of grievance, submission, and an unexplainable anticipation.

She was like a completely different person compared to when she faced her subordinates moments ago.

If those two sycophantic employees had seen their idolized Topaz acting like this, their entire worldview would likely shatter. The goddess they had painstakingly fawned over for so long wouldn't even give them a pleasant look, yet here she was before Daziel, as obedient and docile as a sow.

Seeing Topaz in this state, Daziel's lips curved upwards slightly into a meaningful smile.

He didn't answer her immediately but turned his gaze towards the distance, seemingly pondering something.

After a moment of silence, Daziel finally spoke, his voice low and magnetic, "Then speak. I'm listening. I hope what you have to say satisfies me."

Topaz let out a quiet breath as if a heavy weight had been lifted. Her tense body relaxed slightly. She quickly gathered her scattered thoughts and began her report.

"Just this morning... I... I am no longer the champion. The one who defeated me was... a woman, a Masked Fool. She called herself..."

"She called herself Sparkle, right?" Daziel interrupted Topaz flatly, as if he had already anticipated this outcome, his tone betraying no surprise.

Topaz's beautiful eyes widened in astonishment. "You... How did you know?" she blurted out incredulously. "Did... did you fight her too?"

Daziel didn't answer her question, instead asking, "How would you rate her strength?"

Recalling her battle with Sparkle, a flicker of fear inevitably crossed Topaz's eyes. Her tone grew heavy. "Very strong... but strange. Her Aether Spirit..."

"Her Aether Spirit data is incorrect; it's clearly been modified. I fought her when she took my Qualification Badge."

Just then, a cool, detached voice interjected, cutting Topaz off.

Herta stood with her arms crossed, watching Topaz impassively.

Hearing Herta's words, Topaz's expression instantly became incredibly grave. She gasped, exclaiming in shock.

"What?! Such a thing happened... How could our company's game have such a malicious problem? This is simply... simply unforgivable!"

She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force, righteous fury blazing in her eyes.

As a senior manager of the Interastral Peace Corporation, she would absolutely not permit anyone to damage the company's reputation or the game's fairness in any way.

Herta looked at Topaz and stated calmly, "So, I asked your company to investigate that sponsor of yours. What's the status?"

Topaz took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and forced herself to remain calm. She replied in a low voice, "To be honest, I came to the Great Mine today precisely to investigate Mr. Giovanni. If he truly is involved, if he dared to violate the company's rules and bottom line, our company will definitely give you the most satisfactory answer."

She paused, then added, "Our company absolutely forbids anyone from using our game for any form of cheating or engaging in activities outside the agreed protocols. Once discovered, there will be zero tolerance! Even if it's one of our company's sponsors!"

Topaz's tone was resolute and firm, demonstrating the decisiveness and boldness expected of her high-level position.

After all, inviting the renowned Ms. Herta to serve as a Champion Candidate and help promote the game, only for something like this to happen, meant the Interastral Peace Corporation owed her an explanation, no matter what.

Even though they might be sisters in Daziel's service, when it came to matters of principle, public and private affairs had to be kept separate.

Herta nodded, saying nothing more.

The group continued walking without pause, heading deeper into the Duel Paradise within the Great Mine.

The mine tunnel grew increasingly narrow and cramped, feeling as though it might swallow them whole.

Scattered geomarrow fragments embedded in the walls on either side glittered with dim light, like countless spying eyes.

Finally, the view opened up before them. They had arrived at a newly constructed stage, a structure that hadn't existed in the Great Mine before.

The stage was made of a dark metal, riveted together, the metal plates emitting a faint, eerie glow.

In the center of the stage, a figure stood silently, seemingly having waited for a long time.

It was a man dressed in an exquisite tailcoat, every detail impeccably pressed. He wore a refined mask that concealed the upper half of his face, revealing only a strong jawline and thin lips pressed into a straight line. The man stood tall and straight like a pine tree, resembling an ancient tree with gnarled roots growing in darkness, radiating an aura of steadiness and overwhelming pressure.

"Haha... I knew I wasn't mistaken! You two have indeed fulfilled my expectations, making your way here... right before me!"

His voice was deep and magnetic, amplified by some device, echoing throughout the space with an undeniable authority.

March 7th stared at Giovanni, her eyes wide with surprise. She took a step forward, pointing at him on the stage, and cried out.

"How can it be you?! — Mr. Giovanni!"

Hearing this, Giovanni's lips curled slightly, a playful smile showing from behind the mask.

"Did I surprise you, Miss March 7th?"

He gave an elegant half-bow and continued, "As the sole sponsor of this festival and the Champion Candidate of this Victory Zone, witnessing you overcome all obstacles to reach this point truly gratifies me!"

As he spoke, Giovanni slowly spread his arms in a slightly exaggerated gesture, as if embracing the entire world, or perhaps proudly displaying his own formidable power.

Daziel stood with his arms crossed, his expression calm, looking as if he had seen through everything long ago.

"Little March, shouldn't you have had a feeling already? Who else could the final Champion Candidate of this Victory Zone be, if not Mr. Giovanni?"

March 7th turned to Daziel, her face filled with confusion. "Why? We saw Mr. Giovanni at every other Victory Zone, I thought..."

She trailed off, seemingly trying to quickly organize her thoughts.

Daziel stated calmly, "Take a look at the Champion Candidate chat group Mr. Giovanni pulled us into. How many people are in it?"

March 7th immediately opened her phone, pulled up the chat group, and started counting: "Serval, Pela, Mr. Gongshu, Ms. Herta, Mr. Giovanni, you, me... a total of seven people."

Daziel continued guiding her, "So, the remaining Champion Candidate presiding over the Great Mine... if it wasn't Mr. Giovanni, and it wasn't me, could it possibly have been you?"

Realization dawned on March 7th, and she slapped her forehead.

"You have a point there, Daziel!"

Giovanni watched March 7th's reaction and let out a hearty laugh, his voice clear and resonant, carrying a peculiar infectious quality.

"Hahaha, my apologies, Miss March 7th. I never explicitly stated it."

Topaz's expression had now become extremely serious.

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and addressed Giovanni, "Mr. Giovanni, representing the company, I have some questions I'd like to ask you..."

As she spoke, her gaze remained fixed intently on Giovanni, filled with suspicion and wariness.

Giovanni waved his hand, cutting Topaz off.

"Certainly, Director Topaz. I know very well what you wish to ask..."

He paused, his tone becoming meaningful. "However, before you ask, perhaps it would be best for you to return to Mr. Daziel's Aether Coin first."

"If I fail to make Mr. Daziel use his full strength, I would feel quite regretful indeed."

Hearing Giovanni's words, Daziel's gaze instantly turned ice-cold, like the frost carried on Belobog's wind, sharp and threatening.

He stared intently at Giovanni, his voice low and dangerous. "How do you even know about my Aether Coin? What else do you know?"

Faced with Daziel's oppressive questioning, Giovanni showed no sign of panic. Instead, he threw his head back and laughed loudly, the sound echoing across the empty stage, sounding particularly eerie.

"Hahahaha! It seems you all have many questions. Don't be impatient; we must follow the proper procedures first."

He composed himself, his tone growing profound. "Do you know... why the Aetherium Wars Competitive Association set Qualification Badges as the threshold for the championship?"

March 7th blurted out instinctively, "Why?"

Giovanni surveyed the group, his gaze lingering on each person for a moment, then spoke slowly, "The answer is actually quite simple: To win the title of 'Supreme Champion,' one must demonstrate the necessary 'Strength' and 'Determination' to others..."

Giovanni suddenly raised his voice, his tone becoming impassioned, as if igniting the atmosphere on stage.

Even though there were no spectators besides them for this duel.

"...And 'Questioning' is the same—"

He took a sudden step forward, his aura surging dramatically, like an impending volcanic eruption.

"If you truly wish to question 'Fate' and receive the 'Answers' you seek, then defeat me in this duel! Prove your 'Determination' to me!"

As Giovanni's words fell, the lights on the entire stage abruptly extinguished, plunging everything into darkness. Only a single spotlight shone precisely on him, making his figure seem even taller and more mysterious.

An almost suffocating tension instantly filled the air, like the calm before a storm, heralding the imminent outbreak of a world-shaking battle.

Daziel looked at Giovanni, a spark of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes. He knew this duel would be the key to everything.

Topaz clenched her fists tightly, her heart filled with anger and indignation. She had to uncover the truth and protect the company's interests.

March 7th wore a nervous expression, already eager to see the outcome of this confrontation.

Herta remained impassive as always, like a detached observer, merely watching everything unfold silently.

Giovanni stood proudly at the center of the stage, bathed in the solitary beam of light, his figure appearing exceptionally imposing in the interplay of light and shadow.

Behind the mask, his confident smile grew more pronounced, as if everything was under his control.

"Come!" Giovanni's voice rang out again. "Show me your determination!"

Daziel's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, responding in a deep voice, "That suits me fine! As you wish!"

The moment his words landed, the entire stage began to vibrate violently, as if some colossal entity was about to burst forth from the depths below.

Dazzling beams of light erupted from cracks in the ground, weaving together into a gigantic net of light that instantly enveloped the entire stage.

A monumental duel was about to begin!

_____

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