Gepard

Sampo raised an arm, his fingertips pointing through the snowstorm at the towering wall ahead. Then he rubbed his frozen fingers, held one hand out palm up, and rubbed his thumb against his middle and index fingers.

"Honored guests, humanity's last bastion against the Eternal Freeze stands before you. I, old Sampo, have gone to a lot of trouble braving the wind and snow on this trip. All this ice and snow isn't very kind to an injured man."

Stelle stared at Sampo's gesture, somewhat puzzled, and decided to ask outright, "What's that supposed to mean? Are you planning to run off?"

Sampo waved his hands repeatedly, then brought one hand back to his chest and patted it twice, forcing an expression of profound grievance onto his face.

"My friend, you've got it all wrong. Talking about money only hurts our relationship. All I ask is that, when you honored guests meet the Supreme Guardian, you mention how old Sampo returned what he found and earned some credit for guiding you here. Then the trip will finally have been worth it. After all, old Sampo has always had a spotless reputation in Belobog."

Bai Luoming folded his arms and snorted, cutting him down.

"Too bad we're neither gold nor something you picked up. I bet that spotless reputation of yours is written all over your wanted posters."

"Ah, that's where you're wrong. Visitors from beyond the sky are as good as gold to people like us right now."

Sampo turned his head, wearing his usual shrewd smile as he corrected Bai Luoming.

Before he had finished speaking, the group had gradually drawn close to the entrance in the city wall.

Even the wind and snow seemed to have eased. Only scattered flakes were swept over the wall, drifting feebly down.

The snow underfoot had grown firm, trampled by travelers into a muddy path leading to the gate.

A short metallic whistle pierced the air from the direction of the gate.

The smile froze on Sampo's face, and he stopped telling them about Belobog. Dan Heng's expression grew grave, and he instinctively summoned Cloud-Piercer into his hand. Bai Luoming also stopped and looked toward the sound.

A sharp metallic clatter came from near the gate ahead. Several ranks of Silvermane Guards marched in step through the snow, halberds held level, their blades aimed straight at the tip of Sampo's nose. The encirclement closed swiftly, cutting off every escape route.

A tall man strode out from behind the formation. Clad in heavy armor, he carried a huge, instrument-case-shaped barrier in one hand. The snow creaked under his weight with every step.

Bai Luoming's eyes lit up. He had finally seen Gepard. Back when he pulled on the character banner, the first character he got by losing the 50/50 was Gepard, and the first Light Cone he got by losing the 50/50 was Gepard's too.

That had given him an inseparable bond with Gepard, although he had never built him after getting him.

"Sampo Koski. Suspected of illegally entering ancient ruins, moving cultural relics without authorization, and evading routine questioning." Gepard read out the charges against Sampo, his voice carrying over the storm.

Sampo took half a step back and shrank behind Dan Heng, muttering under his breath, "There's more than a little personal grudge in this welcome. Officer Gepard is as much of a spoilsport as ever."

Gepard looked past Sampo, his sharp gaze settling on the four strangers beside him. He studied the materials of their clothing and the designs of their weapons.

"Who are you? Why are you traveling with a wanted criminal, and what is your purpose in entering the snowfields?"

March 7th stepped forward and hurried to explain, trying to distance them from Sampo. "We only ran into him by chance in the snowfields. At most, he's a temporary guide and we're tourists. We only just heard his full name ourselves."

Sampo nodded along from behind Dan Heng, sticking half his head out as he tried to present himself as a legitimate worker.

"Officer, please be reasonable. Independent guiding is a legitimate profession too."

Gepard's expression remained unchanged. He slammed his shield into the snow with a deep, resounding thud.

"Your identities are unknown, your equipment is unusual, and you made it to the gate through an area overrun by Fragmentum creatures. You are clearly no ordinary people. You must be investigated. Sampo is to be taken into custody immediately. The rest of you will disarm and be taken to the detention area by the guards to establish your origins."

March 7th puffed out her cheeks and shook her head repeatedly, strongly opposed to being disarmed and detained.

"We're Nameless from the Astral Express. We came to Belobog to resolve an anomaly with the Star Rail, not as his accomplices. You can't just arrest people without getting the facts straight."

Gepard answered bluntly, not even bothering to give Sampo another look. "When criminal gangs get caught, most of them claim they barely know each other. I've heard that excuse at least a hundred times in the interrogation room."

Bai Luoming turned to look at Sampo, who was hiding behind Dan Heng, and asked in earnest, "Sampo, just how many people have you scammed before, to make an explanation like that completely unbelievable?"

Sampo raised both hands, his face full of grievance, as though he had suffered a terrible injustice.

"I've been wronged! I, old Sampo, have always treated people honestly. Today's situation is all because society is prejudiced against independent workers who protect ancient artifacts. Which of the relics I've passed on hasn't benefited the public?"

Stelle touched her forehead with one hand and said, "I don't understand, but I feel like you've got another charge on your record now. You'd be better off working a sewing machine in prison."

Dan Heng took half a step forward, standing in front of the group. He raised Cloud-Piercer and faced Gepard.

"Give us a way to verify our identities peacefully. We have no intention of fighting the guards, but we will never accept being detained without cause."

Seeing this, Bai Luoming put aside his joking mood and moved to the front and side of the group. He clenched his fists, ready to fight at any moment.

Gepard realized that the four were no ordinary travelers. The black-haired young man in particular carried no weapon, yet gave off an especially strong sense of threat.

His fingers tightened around his shield, and he ordered the guards to keep their distance and not advance rashly.

The atmosphere dropped to freezing point as the Silvermane Guards lowered their halberds in unison.

March 7th and Stelle both drew their weapons and stood ready, facing off against the Silvermane Guards.

Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, Sampo jumped out from behind Dan Heng and raised both hands, shouting:

"Stop! Don't fight, everyone! Harmony brings prosperity, harmony brings prosperity. These four are no ordinary outsiders. They're the visitors from beyond the sky that the acting Supreme Guardian has been offering a reward to find for months. I was just about to take them to Kliperburg!"

He deliberately stressed the word "reward," reminding Gepard how important the people before him were.

Gepard's expression shifted slightly, but he did not lower his weapon.

Bronya had indeed issued orders to find visitors from beyond the sky, but the notices lacked names and descriptions. Sampo could easily have made up the story on the spot to get himself off the hook. As a guard officer, Gepard dealt only in facts.

"Produce proof. Otherwise, we'll proceed as planned and take you into custody along with them."

"March 7th, show Gepard that photo you took on the train," Bai Luoming reminded her.

March 7th's eyes lit up as she remembered the photo she had taken in the train's parlor car.

She took out her camera, pulled up the photo of Jarilo she had taken aboard the train, and handed it to Gepard.

"Be careful. Don't drop it. This camera was expensive."

In the image, a planet covered in ice and snow hung in space. The space beyond the planet and the edge of the train's window were clearly visible. It was not a scene that could have been faked on Belobog's surface.

Gasps rang out all around. The Silvermane Guards spent their whole lives within the city walls, and few had ever seen the whole world beneath their feet. The tips of their halberds shifted as their bearers became distracted. Some even rubbed their eyes to make sure they were seeing clearly.

Seeing everyone staring at the photo, March 7th casually asked, a touch of pride in her voice, "Want me to send you a copy? This is an exclusive, one-of-a-kind view."

As soon as she spoke, she realized the two sides were still in a standoff. She hurried back to Bai Luoming's side and coughed twice to cover her embarrassment.

Gepard carefully checked the information in the photo, as well as the four travelers' clothing and weapons. At last, he slung his heavy shield onto his back.

"This evidence is enough to prove that you most likely came from beyond the sky. This is a matter of great importance and must be confirmed by the acting Supreme Guardian herself. I will personally escort you to Kliperburg. Do not act on your own while in the city."

Sampo immediately came forward, rubbing his hands with a broad smile. "A wise decision, officer. Since I provided a crucial lead, where can I collect the reward? Cash or transfer, either works."

Gepard's gaze turned cold. He waved for two guards to come forward and apprehend him.

"Put restraints on him first. We'll discuss the reward after we find out where the relics went."

Sampo's smile froze on his face. Covering his buttocks, he stumbled backward.

"Officer, my backside was injured on this trip, so I can't sit for long. I'd like to request some time outside the city to recuperate. I'll be sure to visit you in person another day!"

The guards continued to close in on Sampo. He turned his wrist, and a small sphere smashed to the ground at his feet.

Thick smoke billowed into the air, completely covering the gate area.

Through the smoke, Sampo's voice drifted from the distant wind and snow, growing fainter and fainter.

"Keep the reward at Kliperburg for now! I'll come back for it once things blow over! Honored guests, until we meet again!"

Listening to Sampo's limping footsteps recede with surprising speed, Bai Luoming smiled. "A person's potential really does need the right circumstances to bring it out. Look at Sampo—even with an injury there, he can run that fast. Sampo, you..."

When the smoke cleared, only two trails of messy footprints remained in the open space.

Gepard's face was ashen as he looked at the footprints Sampo had left behind.

"Hmph, he got away again? Forget it. You stay and guard the gate. The rest of you, follow his tracks, but remember, do not pursue him too far."

He left enough soldiers to guard the gate and dispatched the remaining guards to follow the footprints, issuing his orders in an orderly manner.

Dan Heng put away his spear, feeling some approval for the guard officer's orderly and measured approach.

If Gepard had been a rash man, he would probably have taken his anger out on them by now.

Stelle leaned over to Bai Luoming and remarked, "Sampo really isn't simple. He managed to get away even then."

Gepard led the four through the gate. The heavy metal doors closed behind them, shutting out the howling wind and snow.

The air that greeted them was warmer. Broad streets were lined with shops, and heating pipes crisscrossed the outside of the walls, giving off a faint orange glow. The residents passing by were neatly dressed, with no shortage of people in splendid clothes, all hurrying along.

March 7th was drawn to the prosperity amid the ice and snow. She looked around, marveling that humans could survive in such an environment.

Stelle stared at the rows of metal trash cans beside the street, an unusual light flickering in her eyes.

"Whoa, there's so much treasure here!"

"What?" Gepard, who was leading the way, was somewhat puzzled by Stelle's words. He looked around but saw nothing valuable.

Stelle paid no heed and was about to head for the trash cans, but she had barely moved the tip of her foot when Dan Heng grabbed her by the collar.

She had no choice but to obediently pull her foot back and pretend nothing had happened.

Bai Luoming swept his gaze over the crowd and noticed something odd.

Sampo had said the passage between the Upper District and the Underworld was open, but nowhere on the entire street could he find a ragged resident bearing the obvious marks of the Underworld. Everywhere he looked were the faces of Upper District residents who wanted for neither food nor clothing.

He turned to Gepard and asked, getting straight to the point, "Gepard, didn't Sampo say the passage between the Upper District and the Underworld was open? How come these people don't look much like they're from the Underworld?"

Gepard slowed his pace, glanced at Bai Luoming, and explained:

"The authorities have lifted the blockade and restored the passage of some supplies and people. But more than ten years of separation cannot be erased by a single official document."

"The people of the Underworld were abandoned for a long time. They don't trust the Silvermane Guards or the Supreme Guardian and see us as oppressors. Some people in the Upper District believe opening the passage will strain supplies and put more pressure on public security, and they are strongly opposed to it. The divide is deeply rooted in people's hearts."

He pointed toward the shops in the distance and continued, "Most people from the Underworld now come here only to buy food or medicine. They return immediately after their transactions, and apart from the children, hardly any are willing to stay longer."

Bai Luoming nodded in understanding. Bronya's early rise to power seemed to have broken the deadlock, but it had actually brought Belobog's deep-rooted problems to a head ahead of time. Caught between the conservative interest groups of the Upper District and the resentful people of the Underworld, she had to contend with pressure from both sides in every decision she made.

This was not a deadlock that one or two policies could resolve.

After passing through the bustling district, the group arrived at Kliperburg. The magnificent building stood at the city's highest point, overlooking all of Belobog.

Gepard did not linger in the hall, instead leading them straight to the Supreme Guardian's office. Portraits of past Supreme Guardians lined both sides of the corridor, their gazes commanding.

The group had barely entered the corridor when a heated argument came from behind the heavy wooden door. Two young women's voices refused to yield to each other.

The guards at the door looked embarrassed, their gazes wandering. Gepard raised a hand to signal the Astral Express Crew to stop, and he too halted outside the door.