Cocolia's confusion, Bronya's bewilderment

A detachment of Silvermane Guards quickly arrived to meet Bronya.

Their discipline was strict and their steps fell in unison, like a moving wall of steel amid the wind and snow.

The guards greeted Bronya, but their gazes were drawn to Lin Hai at her side.

No one knew where Lin Hai had come from, but everyone knew he had provided a great deal of relief supplies.

That uncertainty, coupled with the fact that Bronya was personally accompanying him, kept all the Silvermane Guards in a restrained silence.

No one questioned him, much less dared to provoke him.

Bronya led Lin Hai across a broad square covered in frost and snow, finally arriving at Qlipoth Fort.

It was the Supreme Guardian's residence, and a symbol of Belobog's seat of power.

Unlike the Underworld's rugged, plain architecture, the buildings here appeared more stately.

Icicles hung from pointed arches, while massive stone walls and exquisite reliefs loomed in and out of view through the snowstorm.

They silently spoke of the city's former glory!

Bronya asked Lin Hai to wait outside the grand hall's doors while she entered the inner court first.

She faced Cocolia Rand, who sat upon the Guardian's seat.

Bronya gave a clear report of what she had seen in the Underworld.

The extraordinary amount of material aid Lin Hai had brought, and his willingness to offer it without asking for anything in return...

After listening, Cocolia tapped her fingertips lightly against the armrest, a hint of suspicion and scrutiny in her eyes.

"You mean to say that this gentleman of unknown origin came of his own accord to our supply-starved Underworld, generously provided a great deal of aid, and yet claimed he wanted nothing?"

"Although it does sound incredible," Bronya replied confidently, "from what I've observed so far, that is indeed the case."

"Nothing?" Cocolia leaned forward slightly. "There are no truly free gifts in this world. He must have some purpose, or be seeking some kind of... return that we haven't yet noticed."

"He's waiting outside Qlipoth Fort right now," Bronya added. "I can bring him in whenever you're ready."

Cocolia pondered for a moment before her strong sense of caution prevailed.

"Bring him in. I do need to meet this... mysterious guest myself."

Before long, Lin Hai entered the inner court.

He showed no sign of nervousness or awe, simply meeting Cocolia's scrutinizing gaze calmly.

They dispensed with unnecessary pleasantries and went straight to the heart of the matter.

"I am Cocolia Rand, the Guardian of Belobog."

She spoke first. "We are indeed facing a severe shortage of supplies and urgently need aid."

Lin Hai replied, "I can provide support, and in large quantities on an ongoing basis."

"Large quantities?" Cocolia pressed. "How much exactly do you mean?"

"Enough that everyone in both the Upper District and the Underworld will no longer have to worry about getting enough to eat."

"That is no easy feat."

"If I dare to promise it, I'm naturally confident I can deliver."

Finally, Cocolia asked the crucial question. "Then what do you want in return?"

"As for a return, I haven't decided yet."

"We urgently need supplies, and we're well aware of the value of this aid. If you're willing, Belobog will prepare a residence exclusively for you and provide the necessary staff to ensure that all your needs are met during your stay. This is how we wish to express our gratitude and sincerity."

"Agreed." Lin Hai readily accepted.

The meeting ended, and the two reached a preliminary understanding.

At its core was one word: cooperation.

As for Lin Hai's origins, his true purpose, and what he really thought...

Cocolia set all those doubts aside for the time being.

There was no other reason: Belobog's desperate need for the supplies necessary to survive outweighed everything else!

Even though she suspected Lin Hai might harbor ill intentions, Cocolia, as the Supreme Guardian, had no other choice at the moment.

The city could no longer afford to wait!

Lin Hai turned and left Qlipoth Fort's inner court, with Bronya close behind.

Bronya efficiently fulfilled the promise, quickly arranging a spacious, conveniently located residence for Lin Hai and carefully selecting more than ten reliable members of the Silvermane Guards.

Their stated duties were to ensure Lin Hai's safety and help coordinate daily affairs.

In truth, the arrangement killed two birds with one stone.

It expressed the Upper District's courtesy and sincerity while also allowing them to keep track of Lin Hai's whereabouts and movements.

Lin Hai was well aware that the seemingly thoughtful arrangement was actually meant to keep him under watch, but he chose not to expose it and instead tacitly accepted it.

Lin Hai had enough trump cards to deal with the changes before him.

Even if he couldn't win a fight and had zero combat experience, he could still make a quick retreat and escape without a problem!

Inside Qlipoth Fort, Cocolia sat alone in the Guardian's seat.

Every detail of the earlier conversation replayed in her mind.

Lin Hai's excessively calm gaze, his candid yet flawless answers, and the confidence with which he had promised to feed and clothe the entire city...

None of it would leave Cocolia's mind.

What troubled her most was that she had tried to sense him using the Guardian's power, yet she had been completely unable to see through the nature of Lin Hai's power.

He was like a walking enigma, surrounded by so many unknowns that she was almost certain:

This man was unfathomable!

Before long, Bronya returned to the inner court to report after finishing the arrangements.

"Mother, he's settled in," Bronya reported.

A brief silence fell over the spacious hall.

The two women, both intelligent and burdened with great responsibilities, exchanged a glance. Without needing to say more, each knew what the other was thinking.

"Bronya," Cocolia said, her voice especially clear in the spacious hall, "what do you think of this Mr. Lin Hai?"

Bronya lowered her head slightly. After pondering for a moment, she raised her eyes.

"Mother, I think Lin Hai is... unfathomable."

Cocolia's gaze remained unchanged as she asked, "Do you know which planet he comes from?"

Bronya shook her head gently, her hair shifting slightly with the movement.

"I can't be certain, but there may be a lead if we want to find out the truth. A girl in the Underworld might know the answer."

"Who?" Cocolia pressed.

"Seele."

"Her? How would she know?"

"From what I observed, there's something unusual about her relationship with Lin Hai. They interact closely and trust each other a great deal... That kind of rapport and closeness is more like how a couple would behave."

"A couple..." Cocolia seized upon the opportunity and gave a decisive order. "In that case, start with Seele. And one more thing..."

"What is it?"

"Don't get into a direct confrontation, and you must not allow one to happen."

"Yes!"

Seele was currently the most likely key to unraveling the mystery of Lin Hai's identity.

Bronya nodded, accepting the order. "I'll get on it at once!"

She turned and left Qlipoth Fort's inner court, stepping once more into the unceasing wind and snow of Belobog's Upper District.

The cold air seemed to clear her thoughts, and she found herself involuntarily recalling every detail of her encounters with Lin Hai.

A strange feeling grew more distinct at that moment.

Bronya couldn't shake the feeling that she had known Lin Hai somewhere before.

A sense of familiarity with no apparent cause lingered in her heart, as though he were an old acquaintance forgotten in some corner of her memory.

Yet no matter how she searched her memories, she couldn't find a single clue that matched.

"Was it an illusion?" Bronya frowned slightly, attributing the inexplicable stirring to the pressure and exhaustion of the past few days. "Perhaps... I'm just overthinking it."

She shook her head, casting those distracting thoughts aside. Her gaze grew resolute once more, and she stepped into the vast wind and snow ahead.