Cocolia

March 7th's eyes lit up when she saw the sign for the Yongdong Mechanical Workshop. She quickened her pace, unable to hide the anticipation in her voice. "This is where Gepard said the performances were, right? I wonder what kind they are."

But when they reached the door, there were no crowds or sounds of music to be found.

It was unusually quiet outside the workshop. Apart from the Silvermane Guards standing watch in the distance, there wasn't a soul in sight.

March 7th stood at the entrance, looking around in confusion. "...Where is everyone? What about the performance?"

Bai Luoming yawned and said lazily, "You really didn't listen when Gepard said 'occasionally,' did you? All you heard was that there were performances."

"I-I'm just interested in Belobog's cultural activities! How is that a misunderstanding?"

Dan Heng was examining the repair marks on the doorframe nearby. When he heard her, he added mildly, "Judging by the result, March, you did misunderstand."

"You!" March 7th was at a loss for words.

To save face, she pointed at an oddly shaped heater outside the door and forced a change of subject. "Oh, look! Why would they put a heater outside? That's so weird!"

The tactic clearly worked. Stelle's attention was immediately drawn to it. She crouched beside the heater, which came up to about half her height, knocked on its metal casing, and seriously offered her opinion. "Maybe they concentrate the heat outside, and then everyone lines up to warm themselves? They charge per visit."

"That idea has real commercial value." Bai Luoming stroked his chin, as though he had already begun drawing up a business plan. "We could add a timer and set up QR code payments..."

Dan Heng took no part in the pointless discussion. He walked up to the workshop door and rapped on it with his knuckles.

The door gave a dull thud.

March 7th quietly warned Bai Luoming, "Be careful. Don't touch that heater! If you break it, you'll have to pay for it!"

Meanwhile, Stelle tilted her head back and stared at the enormous gear sign on the workshop roof, wondering how many steps it would take to remove it and bring it back to the Express.

Before long, a clatter of metal came from inside, and the lock clicked open.

A conspicuously dressed blonde woman stepped out. Her eyes were bright and open as she quickly surveyed the four of them, pausing briefly on the bulging cloth sack Stelle carried.

"Hello, I'm Serval, the owner of this workshop," she said, her voice a little husky. "What can I do for you?"

March 7th came to her senses and hurriedly stepped forward to explain. "Hello! We just arrived in Belobog, and Commander Gepard of the Silvermane Guards recommended we come visit."

Hearing the words "just arrived," Serval raised an eyebrow and asked with interest, "Just arrived? From where?"

March 7th was preparing to put together an introduction to the Astral Express when Stelle beat her to it. She puffed out her chest and declared proudly, "That's right. We're the visitors from beyond the stars that Acting Supreme Guardian Bronya is looking for."

Bai Luoming was somewhat speechless. You're proud of that?

Should we put you on a podium and have Little March pin a little red flower on you as a reward?

March 7th covered her face on the spot.

Couldn't this girl have eased into it first?!

Dan Heng said nothing to stop her, quietly watching Serval's reaction instead.

Serval looked at the four people before her, each reacting differently, and confirmed that they didn't seem like the impostors who came for the bounty.

In particular, their clothing and equipment weren't in Belobog's style.

She smiled and stepped aside from the doorway. "You're rare guests. Come on in."

The workshop was bigger inside than it looked from outside, and messier too. Dismantled equipment, tangled wires, and scattered gears covered the workbenches and floor. A Geomarrow heater with a damaged casing leaned against the wall.

Stelle looked around and immediately asked, "Boss, got anything to eat?"

March 7th hurried to explain for her. "She's just a little tired. Don't mind her!"

Serval laughed and waved a hand. "No proper meals, but I do have some tea I brewed myself. Give it a try if you don't mind."

She took several cups from under the counter and poured each of them a cup of strong tea.

Bai Luoming picked up his cup and took a sip. The tea was a little bitter at first, but after he swallowed, he could taste a sweetness in its aftertaste.

Whatever else could be said, the tea was quite refreshing.

"Thanks, boss. This tea's pretty refreshing," he commented.

"Glad you like it. It's the only kind of drink I have in the shop," Serval said softly, leaning against a workbench.

At that point, Stelle interrupted from the side. "Boss, how does that Geomarrow heater work? I saw one outside just now..."

"Oh, the one outside is actually broken. As for how it works, there's not much to it. It just uses Geomarrow as a power source to provide heat."

Serval then gave a brief explanation of what Geomarrow heaters did, explaining that Geomarrow was the mineral energy source Belobog depended on to survive. Everything from heating the city to running machinery relied on it.

Dan Heng followed up, "Does the transport and distribution of energy have something to do with the Upper District and the Underworld?"

"The Underworld handled the mining, and the Upper District handled distribution and use. At least, that's how it used to be." Serval's answer sounded casual, but there was a hint of heaviness in her voice. "More than a decade of isolation has caused plenty of problems with that system."

Dan Heng raised an eyebrow and was about to ask something else when someone knocked on the shop door again.

Knock, knock, knock.

A mature, gentle woman's voice came from outside. "Serval, are you there? I'm coming in."

Serval didn't get up. She simply called out, "Come in."

The door opened, and a blonde woman walked in.

She was elegantly and appropriately dressed, with a gentle, graceful air that seemed completely out of place in the messy workshop. Yet she showed no sign of distaste and was clearly very familiar with the place.

Bai Luoming looked up at the newcomer. For some reason, he thought she looked familiar, but he couldn't quite remember her, so he picked up his cup and took another sip of strong tea.

Cocolia also noticed the unfamiliar faces in the shop. She first nodded to Serval, then asked gently, "And who are they?"

"Oh, them?" Serval straightened up and turned to introduce them. "They say they're the visitors from beyond the stars Bronya's looking for."

At the name "Bronya," Cocolia's expression changed ever so slightly, so quickly it was almost impossible to catch. Then she was calm again.

Serval gestured toward Cocolia and was about to continue the introductions. "This is Cocolia..."

"Pfft—"

Bai Luoming sprayed out the tea he had just taken into his mouth.

It splattered across the table, nearly landing on the treasure Stelle had just "rescued" from a trash can.

Everyone turned to Bai Luoming, curious why he had reacted so strongly.

Even Cocolia, who had just come in, looked over in silence.

Noticing their gazes, Bai Luoming quickly pulled out a tissue and wiped his mouth. Forcing his expression under control, he explained, "Sorry, the tea was too hot. I'm really sorry."

March 7th looked at the cup of tea, which had long since stopped steaming. Her face plainly said, "Who are you trying to fool?" as she exposed Bai Luoming's lie. "You just had several sips and you were fine."

"...The aftereffect. It's the tea's aftereffect," Bai Luoming immediately amended, looking serious. "I'm still not used to Belobog's specialty drinks. It takes time."

Stelle nodded seriously beside him, saying that perhaps she had drunk hers too fast to notice any aftereffect.

Serval found it a little strange, but didn't press the matter. She started the introduction again. "Let me introduce her properly. This is Cocolia. She may not look it now, but she's the former Supreme Guardian."

At Serval's introduction, everyone turned their attention from Bai Luoming to Cocolia.

All four had heard the name from Sampo before, but actually meeting her in person had a completely different impact.

March 7th asked cautiously, "Did you... leave your position as Supreme Guardian because of your health?"

Cocolia didn't answer directly. She simply said calmly, "I'm unable to continue handling government affairs for the time being. Bronya has taken on the responsibility expected of her."

Though she spoke calmly, Serval lowered her head and began arranging the teacups on the table, avoiding the subject.

Cocolia's gaze passed over the four of them one by one before settling on Bai Luoming. Her eyes were gentle, yet seemed able to see through a person's heart.

"Your reaction just now didn't seem to be just from choking on hot tea."

Bai Luoming met her gaze and raised his teacup, speaking first. "It's just that this is my first time meeting the former Supreme Guardian I've heard so much about. I'm a little overwhelmed by the honor."

Cocolia smiled. "Is that so? Why do I get the feeling you know me?"

The moment those words fell, the atmosphere in the shop abruptly went quiet.

Sensing that something was off, Serval immediately picked up a wrench and called to everyone, "Come on, come on, don't just sit there. I'll tell you exactly how this heater broke!"

March 7th and Stelle immediately took the cue and gathered around her.