So what exactly have we been doing for the past half month?
Obviously we were playing— I mean, working.
Wait… Dan Heng, are you saying we haven't even started the real job yet?
March 7th looked stunned.
Dan Heng replied seriously:
Not everyone spent the whole time having fun and forgetting why we came to Tykon.
March 7th: What do you mean?
Dan Heng: It means the important work has already been completed. These days of leisure didn't come out of nowhere.
The fact that you smashed through the stadium roof was an accident, but strictly speaking… there were other circumstances involved.
March 7th: Other circumstances? I knew it! Someone must have tampered with the snowmobile. There's no way my driving skills are that bad.
Dan Heng: No. That was simply because your skills are bad.
The other circumstances refer to the fact that Tykon's stadium construction used serious cost-cutting.
After the roof was smashed the previous time, the repairs supposedly included strict anti-fall reinforcement. In theory it should easily withstand tens of thousands of tons falling from outer space.
March immediately went into complaint mode.
Tens of thousands of tons?! From outer space?! That's not anti-fall protection — that's basically protection against the Astral Express crashing down!
Finally, someone was doing the comedic commentary.
Dan Heng:
Whatever its original purpose was, it couldn't even stop the snowmobile you were driving.
March 7th:
Wait! You're right! I got scammed! Come on, Dan Heng, let's go demand compensation!
March angrily pulled out her bow and tried to drag Dan Heng inside.
Dan Heng sighed helplessly and gently pulled her back, causing her to spin in place.
Hey—hey—slow down, Dan Heng!
She ended up falling into Himeko's arms.
March put her hands on her hips.
Dan Heng, why are you stopping me?
Himeko: March, think carefully. What exactly did they scam you out of?
March (confidently):
They used a poorly constructed project to frame me and forced me to work for half a month!
And Uncle Yang, Sister Himeko, and you had to suffer with me.
Dan Heng: Then what exactly was the work?
March took a deep breath and began listing them.
I was responsible for food tasting, plush toy testing, and trying out various entertainment facilities.
Uncle Yang assembled and piloted a giant robot to repair the stadium roof.
Sister Himeko went around tasting coffee varieties from across the universe to select the best drink.
And you, Dan Heng, were guarding a library that didn't even need guarding…
Her voice gradually became quieter.
Wait… something feels wrong.
Are they idiots?
Sure, we had to submit reports, but the reports were just bought online for 50 credits each, full of mistakes, and they never even questioned them.
And the work content… this doesn't look like punishment labor at all.
Finally figured it out.
Dan Heng smiled in relief.
March suddenly looked up and saw Dan Heng smiling, while Welt was also watching her with a look that seemed to say: Don't worry, we're here for you.
Uncle Yang! Do you think I'm stupid?
Cough… no.
Welt awkwardly adjusted his glasses.
Dan Heng explained:
Tykon, the Arena Planet, is a publicly listed world. Its financial accounts being chaotic and its financial reports falsified are well-known throughout the universe.
The Tykon Arena Committee has always wanted to clean up the corruption, but…
When chaos reaches a certain scale, the resistance to reform becomes enormous.
Even the Interastral Peace Corporation may secretly interfere.
March 7th:
Huh? The IPC? Why? Doesn't the IPC own shares of Tykon?
For something like Tykon, which is a cash cow, the IPC wouldn't mind increasing its control and gaining more profit. Obviously that conflicts with Tykon's own interests.
Before joining the Astral Express crew, Dan Heng had once worked at the IPC, so he knew something about their methods.
Fortunately, the department interested this time was the Traditional Projects Department, which was relatively conservative and stable compared to the aggressive Market Development Department.
Dan Heng continued:
Tykon's chaotic financial records could become a key weakness that allows the IPC to break through Tykon's defensive barriers.
But the Arena Committee had no solution to this long-standing problem.
March 7th:
I get it! Clean the house before inviting guests.
Dan Heng:
And the arrival of the Astral Express gave them an opportunity.
An opportunity to quietly resolve the issue and fill the financial holes without causing conflict.
And when you smashed the stadium roof, that opportunity became reality.
The moment you broke the roof, the Arena Committee's envoy had already come to negotiate with the Astral Express crew.
The rest is better explained by Himeko, since she handled the negotiations.
Himeko smiled and continued:
Alright, since Dan Heng is tired, I'll take over.
March, try to use that brain of yours.
March: I'm trying really hard already…
Himeko:
Tykon, the Arena Planet, is a famous travel destination across the universe.
It benefited from its unique operating model and years of reputation as an industry leader.
It never lacked visitors.
Even when corruption and financial chaos existed internally, the constant inflow of money from travelers kept its financial reports looking good.
But in the last few hundred years…
The emergence of Penacony — the Planet of Festivities has shaken its position.
If you're talking about excitement, dreams can offer even greater thrills without danger.
So Tykon's main remaining attraction is sports and competitions.
And new tourist destinations like Tiramisu — the City of Cuisine have also drawn visitors away.
This hasn't been good for Tykon.
In the past, they accepted the chaos and simply enjoyed the profits, riding the wave of interstellar tourism while massive cash flow hid internal problems.
But now… Tykon must change.
So after you smashed the stadium roof, the Arena Committee came to me with a proposal.
They wanted to use the reputation of the Astral Express to smooth over their chaotic accounts.
They would personally cover the credit cost needed to balance the books.
Tykon never lacked money.
They only wanted a reasonable and publicly acceptable explanation to fill the financial hole.
That way everything could be resolved quietly.
No internal opposition.
And spending a bit of credits for them is just a small price.