The Corporation: Indigenous Lives No Matter

The tires rolled through puddles, and the vehicle rocked gently as Rovini's streets drifted past the windows.

Jingxing had thought things in the city would be better than outside it, but once they entered, he realized he had been wrong.

There were few pedestrians on the streets, and everyone was in a hurry. Many windows were tightly boarded up, as if people cared more about the sense of security that brought them than about letting in the light.

Recruitment notices plastered the street corners, along with warnings to be on alert for air raids. Some walls bore slogans urging people to enlist, yet there were bullet holes beside them.

The only constant sound in the streets came from loudspeakers mounted high above. Rousing military music played on a loop, its drums heavy and its horns soaring, but the people in the streets kept their heads down and looked listless.

The more stirring the music became, the more it highlighted their exhaustion.

Jingxing looked away and turned to Robin beside him. She was resting with her eyes closed against the car window, her hands in her lap. Her fingertips occasionally tapped lightly, once and then again, as though keeping time.

More than ten minutes later, the military vehicle stopped in front of a gray office building.

The building bore no obvious military markings, but several guards stood at the entrance, ready for action. In front of them, a woman in a dark suit uniform paced back and forth, her face tense.

An Interastral Peace Entertainment badge hung on her chest. The moment she saw Robin, a professional smile appeared on her face, and she came forward. "Miss Robin, I'm Ofila, the P36 representative the corporation has assigned to Rovini to handle matters for you. Thank you for making the long journey."

"You're too kind." Robin put on a businesslike smile of her own. "I thought the corporation would send me straight off this planet without so much as a word."

Ofila's smile faltered. "How could we? The corporation would never do anything so forceful against your wishes."

As she spoke, she dabbed at the corner of her eye. "Ever since I arrived here, I've worried about your safety day and night. Now that I know you're safe and sound, I can finally rest easy."

From beginning to end, Ofila never once looked at Jingxing, who stood behind Robin, as though he didn't exist.

But since she hadn't immediately confronted him and demanded an explanation, Jingxing felt much more at ease.

Robin didn't beat around the bush with Ofila. Without even exchanging pleasantries, she got straight to the point. "I want to see the leader of the government forces now."

Ofila's smile stiffened slightly. "Well..."

"If it's inconvenient for you to take me, I can go on my own."

"No, how could it be inconvenient?" Ofila hastily waved her hands, her tone growing flustered. "It's just that his military duties keep him very busy. But I'm sure it would be his honor for you to grant him an audience."

Robin's tone was gentle, but she left her no room to maneuver. "Then arrange it now. Every second we wait means more innocent victims on this planet."

Ofila was silent for a few seconds. In the end, she took out her communicator, stepped aside, and spoke a few words in a low voice. When she returned, she bowed. "Miss Robin, please come with me to the hotel we've arranged for you first. The local leader will be there shortly."

"All right." Robin nodded. "Thank you."

Although the war had long since spread to Rovini, the hotel Interastral Peace Entertainment had prepared for Robin seemed completely unaffected. Inside, it was still magnificent and richly furnished.

Jingxing looked around, feeling as though he had stepped into a different world from the one outside.

Robin, meanwhile, knitted her delicate brows slightly, seeming displeased by the contrast. The kindhearted star couldn't help recalling the tragedies she had seen along the way as she took in the scene before her.

Ofila read her thoughts and dipped into a slight bow. "Miss Robin, neither the government forces nor the armed opposition would dare lay a hand on this place. After all, it's the corporation's property. They only want to become the corporation's dogs, not its enemies."

Robin gave her a polite smile. "So the corporation can protect its own property."

Ofila knew better than to respond. Otherwise, if Robin asked why the corporation didn't protect the planet, she could hardly answer that it didn't regard the planet's indigenous people as human.

That evening, after a quick wash and a little preparation, Robin, dressed in formal attire, brought Jingxing to a conference room provided by the hotel.

The leader of the government forces was already seated at the other end of the long table. He looked to be in his fifties, with graying hair and heavy bags under his eyes.

The leader's gaze moved from Robin to Jingxing. "And who is this?"

"My companion. Naturally, he has the right to sit in on this meeting too, doesn't he?" Robin asked in return.

The leader didn't press the matter. He straightened up. "Miss Robin, you came all the way to Rovini and asked me to visit. What are you planning to do?"

"I'm here to discuss a ceasefire." Seated at the head of the table, Robin unleashed her full presence in an instant, making Jingxing glance at her. It was the first time he had seen her with such a commanding presence. The bearing of someone accustomed to a lofty position reminded him that before she was the universally renowned "galactic songstress," she was also the young lady of the Family that controlled Penacony, the "Planet of Festivities."

The conference room fell silent for a moment. Then the leader gave a somewhat weary smile. "A ceasefire? Miss Robin, do you know why this war began?"

"I know a little."

"Then you should understand that I didn't want to fight this war." The leader clenched a fist. "I had already signed a mineral development agreement with the Interastral Peace Corporation. It was something that could have benefited all of Vesna IV. I also intended to distribute the profits as fairly as possible."

"But some people grew envious. They thought that by signing with the corporation on the planet's behalf, I had secured the biggest share of the benefits. So they started making trouble, taking over local governments, and attacking our troops." His smile grew increasingly bitter. "In the end, shots were fired. Everyone says greed gave birth to all of this."

He leaned forward. "Now you want a ceasefire. The first people you should be persuading aren't me, but those wolves with their wild ambitions, aren't they?"

Robin, however, didn't argue with him. "I believe you had no reason to start a war yourself."

The leader raised an eyebrow.

"But I also know that continuing to fight will do this world no good."

"So?"

Robin raised her head. "I'd like to make a deal with you."

"A deal?"

"I'm planning to hold a performance here."

The expression on the leader's face turned strange. "A performance? At a time like this? The front line is gradually approaching Rovini. I'm afraid you won't have much of an audience."

"Precisely because of the situation, I want to perform here." Robin looked at him. "And I want the government forces' broadcast system and all the public communication equipment capable of reaching the various towns to be used for my performance."