Yaboli: Your P45 Rank Gives You No Authority Over Me

Jingxing answered first, "Yes, I've embarked on my Path."

Zhenzhu paused, her fingertips lightly stroking the rim of the cup. "When?"

"Not long ago, after I graduated from the Academy."

Which path of Path?

Jingxing shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I promise it won't be Destruction, but I'm also sorry it won't be Preservation."

"Alright." Zhenzhu picked up her glass. "I believe you won't embark on Path of Destruction."

"Thank you." Thank you for your trust, thank you for not asking further questions.

Zhenzhu's gaze passed over him and landed outside the window. "Pathstrider don't need to sign or register with the company, but we welcome anyone willing to contribute to Amber Lord's great cause. If Jingxing ever wants to help me, come here."

Jingxing twitched the corner of his mouth. The Interastral Peace Corporation loved classifying, registering, and valuing everything in the galaxy—but the Pathstrider were precisely the most difficult category to file. Besides, he had no intention of selling himself—otherwise, he would have already found a way to Robin's money, wouldn't he?

"But seeing you embark on this Path, I'm truly happy for you." Zhenzhu looked at him again. "At least you have the ability to protect yourself."

Jingxing also thought of his parents in this life. If they had also been Pathstrider back then, it would have been easy for them to survive being surrounded by a small group of Antimatter Legions... But this thought only flashed through his mind for a moment before he quickly suppressed it.

"Ms. Zhenzhu, I have another question I'd like to ask. I originally planned to go to the Galactic Library Ismael following the directions of Mr. Screwllum from Genius Society #76, but after consulting with a few friends along the way, they suggested I come here instead. So I'd like to know if there's a problem with Ismael?"

"Ismael?" Zhenzhu's eyes widened in surprise, but she immediately realized that Jingxing had given up on that option and breathed a sigh of relief. "Luckily, you didn't go there."

Jingxing leaned forward slightly. "So I wanted to ask you—what exactly is Ismael's problem?"

Zhenzhu didn't answer immediately. She stood up, turned her back to Jingxing, and walked to the French windows.

"Because Yaboli's gaze is over there," she said, "So that place is indeed not suitable for you."

"Yaboli?"

Zhenzhu turned around. The slight smile on her face faded, "She is the head of the company's Technical Research and Development Department, and also the actual controller of the Genius Society."

"Even so, as a high-ranking member of the company, would she do anything that goes against the Path of Preservation?"

"The company isn't a monolithic entity." Zhenzhu sat down again in front of Jingxing. "Our Strategic Investment Department is naturally willing to dedicate everything to Amber Lord, but the other departments—ah—"

She paused, then continued, "According to our intelligence, Yaboli is researching 'what is the end of life.' For this research, the Technical Research and Development Department is discreetly collecting various items and people. Ismael, as the Galactic Library, is naturally a key focus for them. The protests of that year left many members of the Genius Society stranded in Ismael, and the results of their interactions provide excellent experimental material for Yaboli."

Jingxing's heart sank. "If I go in, will she have her people watching me?"

"If you were an ordinary artist, perhaps not," Zhenzhu looked at him, "But haven't you already embarked on this Path? Then there's a chance you'll be targeted and taken away by the Technical Research and Development Department."

Jingxing bit his lip. His eyes, his Path, that painting that could contain Imaginary Energy and was collected by the Herta... any one of these things would be enough for Yaboli to send him to the operating table.

The office quieted down. Jingxing slowly leaned back into the sofa. He suddenly understood why Kafka had personally stopped his ship, and why Sunday, after hearing what had happened, had almost without hesitation ask the Robin to persuade him to change course.

"Why did Mr. Screwllum recommend that I go to Ismael?"

Upon hearing the name, Zhenzhu's lips curled into a slight smile. "Because he's Screwllum."

Is this the answer?

"Of course it counts." She looked at him. "Geniuses see things differently than we do. To him, Ismael is first and foremost a library, a place where you can access the crystallization of galactic civilization. As for the dangers within—they're not a concern for him."

"He truly is a genius..." Jingxing couldn't help but exclaim.

"Of course, it's not just geniuses who can think like that," Zhenzhu said bluntly. "If you were a renowned Emanator in the galaxy, you could certainly go to Ismael. No matter what, Yaboli wouldn't dare to lay a hand on an Emanator."

This time, Jingxing understood. Ultimately, it was because he lacked fame and strength within the galaxy. "So, switching to the Dual-Phase Paradise was the right thing to do."

"At least for you right now, that's certainly true."

Jingxing noted down this sentence: "There's one more question."

"Ask away."

"With such a large company like this, shouldn't the seven-member board of directors Yaboli of these things?"

Zhenzhu didn't answer immediately. Her gaze was somewhat unfocused, and after a long while, she finally spoke, "Does Jingxing think the company is a unified entity?"

"Certainly."

Zhenzhu nodded slightly. "To the outside world, the company is naturally a brand, but internally, apart from our unwavering loyalty to Amber Lord, we're not all of one mind. The Strategic Investment Department wants long-term value, the Technical Research and Development Department wants research results, and the Building Materials Logistics Department wants trade and resources. We're all working for the company, but what we want isn't aligned."

Jingxing pondered for a moment, "Therefore, as long as Yaboli's banner does not violate the will of the Preservation, no one within the company can interfere with her."

"That's right." Zhenzhu smiled helplessly. "Besides, in terms of employee rank, there aren't many people above Yaboli. If those two P49s don't speak up, why would anyone else interfere with Yaboli's business?"

"However, Dual-Phase Paradise is my territory." Zhenzhu looked at him and made a promise, "I know everything her people do here. So you can rest assured here, no one can hurt you."

Jingxing realized that all the polite words he had prepared along the way had not been uttered at this point.

Thank you, thank you for all these years, I've always remembered you, I haven't forgotten you... I want to say every single word, but when it comes to my lips, they come out so softly.

Before he could speak, Zhenzhu stood up and said, "Alright. Now that we're at Dual-Phase Paradise, let's not keep talking about such depressing things."

She walked to the window and pointed to the World-Painting Academy: "You're a painter; that's where you should spend your time."

Jingxing nodded; this was the very reason he came to Dual-Phase Paradise: "Is there anyone who can show me around the World-Painting Academy?"

"Yes." Zhenzhu picked up the terminal and pulled up some information. "We happen to have a cartoonist who's been complaining about not having any inspiration lately. I'll have her show you around."

A name appeared on the screen.

Jingxing glanced down and asked, "Xuzhao?"