You'd Better Come Shopping With Me
The heavy office doors closed behind them, shutting out all sound.
March 7th glanced back instinctively and remarked quietly, "The acting Supreme Guardian was surprisingly easy to talk to."
She had expected the meeting to involve questioning and scrutiny at the very least, and possibly even restrictions on their movements by the Silvermane Guards. Instead, the acting Supreme Guardian had believed everything and even arranged accommodations and allowed them to move about freely.
Dan Heng said nothing. He lowered his eyes and quickly recorded something on his terminal.
The group walked out of Kliperburg's main building, where an icy wind rushed into their faces. Gepard stood alone at the foot of the steps, watching the doors as he waited for them.
When he saw all four emerge safely, his tense body visibly relaxed, and the last of his doubts about their identities vanished.
"Hey, Brother Gepard, you're still waiting for us." Bai Luoming raised a hand in greeting.
Gepard paused, but didn't correct the form of address. He simply stepped forward and said solemnly, "I have something to say to all of you."
He gave the four a slight nod and a Belobog military salute before continuing, "I apologize for my forceful attitude earlier."
"Belobog has long faced threats from the Fragmentum and the outside world, and Sampo has a history of evading questioning. You were traveling with him and refused to surrender your weapons, so I could only act according to Silvermane Guard regulations. Even so, it was discourteous of me to call for guests to be detained before confirming their identities."
March 7th hadn't taken the little conflict to heart in the first place, so his formal apology left her feeling a little embarrassed.
Dan Heng accepted the apology. "You were carrying out the duties of your position. You didn't really do anything wrong."
"It's fine. This was all Sampo's fault." Stelle pinned every problem on Sampo.
Bai Luoming walked forward with a smile and patted Gepard's shoulder armor, producing a dull thump.
"If I were guarding the city gates and ran into four armed people with unknown identities hanging around a wanted criminal, I'd have cuffed them first too. You were already very polite, Brother Gepard."
He withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened, privately marveling at how hard the Silvermane Guards' standard armor really was.
Gepard's expression softened, and for the first time, he gave Bai Luoming a less serious look.
With the misunderstanding cleared up, the atmosphere grew much more relaxed. March 7th took out her terminal. "Where should we go next? By the way, Brother Gepard, do you know how to get to the Goethe Hotel?"
"The hotel is in the Administrative District," Gepard said, pointing them in the right direction. "The front desk has already been notified by Kliperburg. You only need to give them your identities to check in. This is a temporary travel permit issued by the acting Supreme Guardian. If the Guards stop you for questioning, just show them this."
Bai Luoming accepted the thin card and took the opportunity to ask, "It's our first time here. Are there any sights in Belobog worth checking out? Preferably free ones."
Stelle's ears twitched at the word "free," and she raised her head to listen to their conversation.
March 7th immediately agreed. She had just finished taking sweeping exterior shots of the frozen planet and needed some photos from inside the city to add to her collection.
Gepard thought carefully for a moment and offered three suggestions.
"The Golden Opera House is an important cultural landmark in Belobog. Even if there are no formal performances in the near future, the building itself gives you a sense of the artistic style this city has preserved."
March 7th immediately noted down the location, already planning how to frame her shots.
"Next is the Everwinter Monument." Gepard's tone grew much more solemn. "It records the history of Belobog's resistance against the Eternal Freeze, and many citizens go there to remember their forebears. You may take photos nearby, but please don't disturb those who come to mourn."
March 7th put aside her joking manner and nodded seriously.
"Last is the Perpetual Motion Mechanical House." Gepard was noticeably more careful with his words here. "If you like music, you can go take a look. The performers... well, you'll see for yourselves."
Having finished his introductions, Gepard glanced at the time and took his leave.
"Everyone, I still have to deal with the aftermath of Sampo's escape and arrange the city gate defenses. I can't accompany you any longer."
He saluted them once more. "The Silvermane Guards will provide whatever assistance you need."
With that, he turned and strode away.
"He's a good person. He just has too much work," Stelle remarked, watching him leave.
"True, but that's what makes Brother Gepard reassuring," Bai Luoming said.
Once Gepard disappeared around the corner, March 7th finally asked the question she had been holding back in the office for so long.
"Why did all of you object when I suggested contacting Himeko and Uncle Yang just now? Wouldn't it be safer to bring the Astral Express Crew together to deal with the Stellaron?"
Bai Luoming didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked back at the towering Kliperburg. "Don't you think everything has gone a little too smoothly?"
"What's wrong with things going smoothly?" March 7th shot back. "Does every Trailblaze have to involve fighting for our lives, getting wanted by the whole city, and then going on the run before it's considered normal?"
She paused after saying that, feeling that the scenario didn't sound very auspicious.
Dan Heng agreed with Bai Luoming's assessment. "It has gone a little too smoothly. Ever since we landed, it feels like everything has been arranged for us."
He added calmly, "Of course, things going smoothly isn't a bad thing. But it's equally possible that we'll check into the Goethe Hotel today and wake up tomorrow morning to find our own wanted posters."
March 7th was taken aback. She looked back at Kliperburg again. "No way, right? She seemed pretty friendly to me..."
"Stellarons can influence people's minds," Bai Luoming reminded her. "We've only just arrived and know nothing about this city. It's better to be careful."
He then softened his tone and continued, "Of course, if things really can keep going this smoothly, that would be ideal."
Stelle didn't respond. Her attention had been completely captured by a silver-gray trash can on the side of Kliperburg.
She wondered whether a trash can near the highest administrative office might have a higher "drop rate" and yield more good things.
At the thought, her hands itched, and she couldn't wait to go over and open it up for a look.
March 7th pouted but accepted what Bai Luoming and Dan Heng had said.
Her enthusiasm soon returned, however, and she waved the terminal in her hand. "Then shall we go see the sights Brother Gepard recommended first?"
Dan Heng shook his head. "I'm planning to visit Belobog's library or a bookstore to look up some information and prepare for our next moves."
"All right." March 7th was a little disappointed, but she respected his decision. "If anything happens, make sure you contact us right away."
She turned to ask the other two what they thought, only to find that Stelle's eyes had been completely drawn to the trash can. March 7th walked up to her and waved a hand in front of her. Stelle came back to her senses and declared with a perfectly serious expression that she had something very important to do and couldn't go with them.
March 7th followed her earlier gaze and immediately understood what the so-called "important thing" was. She gave up on persuading her.
At last, she looked at Bai Luoming, a nearly imperceptible hint of expectation in her eyes.
Bai Luoming pretended not to understand her hint. He yawned, looking sleepy. "Then I'll head back to my room and take a nap..."
Before he could finish, March 7th puffed out her cheeks, grabbed his wrist, and dragged him forward.
"Sleeping is such a lame excuse! You're coming shopping with me instead!"
Bai Luoming stumbled as she pulled him down the steps, barely managing to wave at Dan Heng and Stelle.