「血肉孱弱，而我心堅如輝石。若非如此，則『存護』之道無以立足。」
一「鑽石」，星際和平公司·戰略投資部部門主管，P47級
公司部門山頭林立，而「戰略投資部」在其中負責眼界，他們的投資從不拘泥於短期回報，往往以數十甚至數百琥珀紀為周期，以完全的星系掌控為結果。儘管在納努克與星核的連番打擊下，部門的多筆投資淪為壞賬，但現任主管「鑽石」上台後，戰略投資部卻達成了諸多令星海矚目的業績——
消除伽倫德星區的蟲災，完成新生態圈的商業化運行；
在星核事件後，對戈爾康達礦業世界聯合體注資，為公司的築材運輸貿易帶來新礦源；
重新回收失聯世界雅利洛-VI，並注資其復興工程；
與流光憶庭達成合作，進行對死滅世界憶質的打撈計劃；
......
所有這些事件的背後，名為「石心十人」的團隊異常活躍。這一崗位在公司內的正式名稱是「不良資產清算專家」，是一支直屬「鑽石」的精英團隊。其成員出身各異，職責也各不相同，甚至有多人輪替的記錄。唯一的共性是他們均受「鑽石」本人拔擢，並被授予了名為「基石」的身份憑證。
一些可信度較高的信息源顯示，「石心十人」曾在某些場合展現過不可思議的「存護」偉力。儘管無法求證這種力量是來源於成員本人，還是他們持有的基石，但「鑽石」作為公司少數被證實的「存護」令使，其能力很有可能與之相關。
「戰略投資部」與「市場開拓部」的糾葛往事在公司內部早已不是秘密，人們稱「石心十人」實為鑽石的私兵，但也有人稱他們只是純粹的「存護」信徒，甚至認為他們「挖走自己的心，換上了克里珀的石頭」。「石心十人」究竟效忠於誰？這暫時是個無法回答的問題。
Ten Stonehearts — Preservation
"Mortal flesh is fragile, yet my heart is unyielding like the monolith. For without this resolve, the Way of Preservation would fade into oblivion."
— Diamond, Rank P47, Director of the Strategic Investment Department, Interastral Peace Corporation
Among the myriad IPC departments, the Strategic Investment Department is responsible for being visionaries. Their investments are never obsessed with short-term returns — They often operate investment rounds stretching across dozens or even hundreds of Amber Eras per round, and their goal is nothing less than total control of an entire star system. Though many investments made by the department were turned into bad debts due to the continuous setbacks caused by Nanook and Stellarons, the Strategic Investment Department have attained multiple stunning achievements ever since the current director "Diamond" took over —
Eradicating the Swarm infestation in the Gallante sector and completing the commercialization of the new ecosphere.
Conducting capital injection to the Golcondar Mining World Consortium following the Stellaron incident, securing fresh sources of minerals for IPC's construction materials logistics trade.
Reclaiming the lost world Jarilo-VI and investing in its revitalization project.
Cooperating with the Garden of Recollection to salvage the memoria in deadworlds.
...
Behind all these events, the team named "The Ten Stonhearts" played a prominent role. Officially known as Non-Performing Asset Liquidation Specialists in the IPC, they are an elite team under Diamond's direct management. Its ever-changing list of members comes from a diverse range of backgrounds and holds a wide variety of responsibilities. The only thing they have in common is how they were all personally promoted to the role by Diamond and were granted a credential of their identity, known as the Cornerstone.
Some credible sources suggest that the Ten Stonehearts have demonstrated unbelievable might be related to Preservation on certain occasions. Whether this power originates from the members themselves or the Cornerstones they possess remains uncertain. However, since Diamond is one of the few confirmed Emanators of Preservation within the IPC, this power is likely related to that fact.
The troubled past between the Strategic Investment Department and the Marketing Development Department has long ceased to be a secret within the IPC. Some claim that the Ten Stonehearts are actually Diamond's private soldiers, while others believe they are purely followers of Preservation, even going so far as to say "they have carved out their own hearts and replaced it with Qlipoth's stone." The true allegiance of the Ten Stonehearts remains a mystery for now.
