“Hmm, March probably has a good appetite. Does Mr. Jiang Lin like March too?”
Topaz asked, a little curious, after all, if a pet owner's pet is liked by others, the pet owner usually feels happy.
Jiang Lin, holding March, sat back in his original position. For some reason, March showed no dissatisfaction; instead, it seemed quite content.
“I heard it can also find treasure?”
Topaz nodded, “It can, but at most, it can only find a few Stellar Jades.”
Jiang Lin thought for a moment, “Hmm, I have a friend who might really want to raise one.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
Topaz replied with a smile, then hesitated before asking, “I wonder where these…” She pointed to the three Cornerstones on the table, “Mr. Jiang Lin got them from?”
“Oh, you mean these? I made a small deal with the Family, and these are their chips to me,” Jiang Lin said calmly, stroking March in his arms.
Topaz was not surprised by the answer to this question; the appearance of the Cornerstones here already explained a lot.
But the Family had confiscated the Cornerstones Aventurine carried under the pretense of safekeeping, and now they had just given them away?
From this incident alone, Topaz thought of many things. Although the other two Cornerstones entered Penacony through smuggling, the Family did not publicize it after discovering them.
This was very abnormal. Logically speaking, this reason would have been enough for the Family to pin the label of plotting against Penacony on Aventurine. Immediately after, the Family could use this reason to kick the Company out of the game.
But they didn't. This meant they had a deeper plan.
What were they planning? What trump card did they have that allowed them to be so fearless in the face of the Company's fleet?
These two questions echoed in Topaz's mind, and she couldn't get an answer for now.
But she knew what was most urgent now—the Cornerstones. She had to find a way to return this broken Aventurine Stone to Aventurine.
Otherwise, not only would the Company's plan be ruined, but Aventurine would likely meet a tragic end.
With these thoughts, Topaz no longer held back and went straight to the main topic.
“Mr. Jiang Lin, please name your price for these Cornerstones…”
However, before Topaz could finish, Jiang Lin interrupted, “The Cornerstones are equally indispensable to me…”
Topaz frowned slightly; the complexity of the situation was somewhat beyond her expectations.
At this moment, Jiang Lin seemed to be inducing or tentatively asking, “Unfortunately, for an ownered Cornerstone, it's a bit troublesome to deal with the traces left by its owner…”
As a high-ranking member of the Company, Topaz understood what Jiang Lin wanted to express after a little thought:
“You want an unowned Cornerstone?”
Jiang Lin smiled slightly, “Ms. Topaz is indeed clever. However, if the quality of that Cornerstone isn't good enough… one might not be enough.”
Jiang Lin said, picking up the three Cornerstones, “And my chips are these.”
“This…”
Topaz was a bit troubled. After all, it concerned the Cornerstones, and even her level of authority was somewhat insufficient.
Moreover, they had just started negotiating, and she was already going to cause the Company to lose at least one Cornerstone?
She had never negotiated such a huge loss in her life. If Ms. Emerald found out, she would surely be promoted by her.
But she couldn't just snatch them, could she? Without the Cornerstones, they couldn't win, right?
And strictly speaking, if the Cornerstones were lost, the Company should first look for the Family, not Jiang Lin, as the Family was the primary responsible party for the Cornerstones.
Even if Jiang Lin had the Cornerstones, it was through a deal with the Family. To get them without paying anything would undoubtedly be a pipe dream.
Topaz thought for a moment and felt that the most urgent task was still to send the Cornerstones to Aventurine. So she took a deep breath and said seriously:
“Mr. Jiang Lin, what you want, I cannot decide for now, but please believe me, I will do my best to secure it for you.
Before that, could you please return one of the Cornerstones to the Company? The one that looks cheapest, the worst one will do.”
Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow, “You want to get it for free?”
Topaz quickly explained:
“Not at all. I can additionally promise you one condition, as long as I can fulfill it.”
At this moment, Topaz secretly felt bitter. To meet Jiang Lin, she had paid an extra condition, and now, for the Cornerstones, she had paid another extra condition.
They hadn't even started deep discussions on cooperation, and it had already developed into this. Wuwuwu, she really wanted to cry loudly in Ms. Emerald's broad embrace (╥╯﹏╰╥).
Although Topaz had a lot going on in her mind, on the surface, she looked at Jiang Lin with sincerity.
Jiang Lin thought for a moment, then said:
“Oh~ You already owe me two conditions. I'll state one of them first: I want ownership of an entire habitable planet.”
Topaz froze for a moment, then asked hesitantly:
“It's possible, but what about the indigenous people on it…?”
“I don't need them; move them all out.”
Jiang Lin replied directly. After all, even if he really wanted to find people to work for him, the Company couldn't be involved in this process. Who knows how many spies there might be?
Although he could solve it, it was troublesome.
Moreover, not everyone was qualified to work for him.
Topaz sighed, “This isn't difficult, but it also requires time. I wonder if you could please give the Cornerstone to Aventurine first?”
Jiang Lin shook his head, directly refusing.
This made Topaz a little anxious.
“Don't you trust me? I'm willing to guarantee it with the Company's reputation.”
Jiang Lin still shook his head, “I think the Company's reputation is not as useful as yours.”
Topaz gave an awkward laugh, then tried to argue further:
“Then why?”
Jiang Lin thought for a moment:
“I usually prefer to exchange money for goods.”
Well, except when the other party pays first. After all, the Stellaron Seed Jiang Lin promised Herta and them was still overdue.
Topaz felt she couldn't continue the negotiation, so she thought for a moment and decided to end this negotiation quickly:
“Mr. Jiang Lin, I understand your request. I'd like to step out and report it.”
Jiang Lin nodded, casually putting down March in his arms.
After Topaz left, Jiang Lin glanced at the live stream. Hmm, the 'Lao Gong' video was over, but… there seemed to be a follow-up?
Back in her room, Topaz, after carefully checking to ensure there were no Family spies, directly contacted Emerald and briefly informed her of the negotiation's content.
Emerald replied after a moment of silence:
「Emerald: I've roughly understood the situation. You were a bit too eager in this negotiation, Xiao Yelina.」
「Topaz: I… I apologize, Ms. Emerald.」
「Emerald: The condition he has already proposed, we can agree to it. Consider it payment for him agreeing to meet you. This should, and must, be done.」
「Topaz: But what about the other condition?」
「Emerald: Hehe, the other condition? No need to bother with it.」