The Secret Between the Two

Jiang Mo used a few channels to get in touch with an underground intelligence broker with some reputation in the Upper District, known as "Uncle Cold Legs."

He never asked about a client's background. He only cared about money.

After paying a hefty sum of Winter City Coins, "Uncle Cold Legs" sent over some information.

Near an abandoned outpost on the snowfields outside the city, there really was a deranged man.

The man was dressed in rags and muttered nonsense, but every now and then, he took out strange potions to trade with the Silvermane Guards stationed there for food and cold-weather supplies.

During one routine meeting, Jiang Mo arranged to meet Natasha at an inconspicuous café in the city.

This was one of the designated contact points between Wildfire and Jiang Mo in the Upper District.

After Natasha finished reporting on Wildfire's recent situation and the conditions in the Underworld, a trace of exhaustion showed on her face.

"By the way, I can tell you about your brother's whereabouts now..."

Jiang Mo then told her everything he had learned.

Natasha's heart suddenly lurched.

"The snowfields outside the city..."

Natasha's breathing immediately quickened, and she gripped the edge of the table tightly.

"Are you sure he's there?"

Jiang Mo did not answer directly. He merely pushed a simply hand-drawn map toward her.

"I'm sure. You'll know once you go and see for yourself."

Natasha's eyes instantly reddened. Trembling, she picked up the map and remained speechless for a long while.

Her gaze settled on Jiang Mo's calm face, and she understood that this child never made promises lightly.

That afternoon, Natasha headed for the snowfields outside the city.

The winter snowfields were filled with howling winds and swirling snow.

Natasha wrapped her thick coat tighter around herself. Every step was difficult, but the hope burning within her made her forget the cold and exhaustion.

Near the abandoned outpost, she indeed found a man curled up inside a ruined shelter, covered in grime.

His hair was a tangled mess, his face gaunt, and meaningless mutters escaped his mouth.

Though he was haggard beyond recognition, Natasha recognized him at a glance.

That was her brother, Vahk!

"Brother!"

Natasha rushed over, tears spilling from her eyes and quickly freezing in the cold wind.

Vahk raised his head blankly. Confusion flashed through his cloudy eyes before they turned frantic again.

"Don't come closer! You... you monsters!"

He flailed his arms, trying to drive away anyone who approached.

Natasha did not retreat. She dropped to her knees in the snow and called his name again and again.

"Brother Vahk! It's me, Natasha! Your sister!"

She pulled a rusty iron stethoscope from her clothes. It was a gift Vahk had made for her with his own hands many years ago.

"Look at this! You gave it to me!" She held the stethoscope up before his eyes.

Vahk's agitation gradually faded, and clarity emerged in his cloudy eyes.

"Na... Natasha? My... sister?"

He reached out a trembling hand and touched Natasha's cheek. Tears slid down along his fingertips.

Vahk was lucid at times and deranged at others, but their familial bond had ultimately not been completely worn away by time and suffering.

After great hardship, Natasha finally brought Vahk back to the Underworld and carefully treated him in her clinic.

Vahk's return brought Natasha enormous comfort and made her deeply trust and appreciate Jiang Mo.

At their next meeting, Natasha bowed deeply to Jiang Mo.

"Jiang Mo, thank you." She choked up. "Really... thank you for keeping your word."

"From now on, no matter what you need, I, Natasha... will not hesitate even if it costs me my life!"

Jiang Mo calmly accepted her gratitude and loyalty.

"I merely fulfilled our agreement." His expression remained indifferent. "Finding him was also your good fortune."

There was little emotion in his heart. Helping others while benefiting himself—why not?

The higher Natasha's loyalty, the more beneficial it would be for his control over Wildfire and for building his own power in the Upper District in the future.

To him, Vahk's life or death was merely a bargaining chip. He simply did not care.

The Secret Between the Two

After school that day.

With exams approaching, Jiang Mo continued studying with Bronya in the classroom.

But today, Jiang Mo did not immediately take out his textbooks.

He set his schoolbag aside, turned toward Bronya, and casually asked in a tone that sounded like idle conversation:

"Bronya, what... do you think of the Underworld?"

Bronya's fingers tightened unconsciously around her fountain pen.

She raised her head and looked at Jiang Mo, confusion surfacing in her cool eyes.

"Why are you suddenly asking that?"

"It's nothing special. It's just that I came from the Underworld."

"So I've always been curious about how you, who live beneath the sun, see the place where I grew up."

Bronya fell silent for several seconds.

Then, she gave an answer that was practically textbook-perfect.

"The hard work of the Underworld's residents provides all of Belobog with essential minerals and energy."

"Without their contributions, the people of the Upper District could not possibly enjoy such stable and prosperous lives."

"I... we should all be grateful for the sacrifices made by the people of the Underworld."

"Grateful?"

"Then how would you evaluate the Great Guardian's decision, not long ago, to completely seal off travel between the Upper and Lower Districts?"

That question was clearly far sharper than the previous one.

Bronya's brows drew together slightly.

She seemed to want to defend something, yet also seemed restrained by some concern as she searched for the right words.

In the end, she still spoke.

"My moth... no, the Great Guardian did that because circumstances forced her hand."

"At that time, Fragmentum activity around Belobog had become unusually frequent. According to intelligence reports, the Underworld had also suffered another incursion by the Fragmentum."

"In order to focus all available strength on protecting Belobog, she had no choice but to temporarily withdraw all Silvermane Guards stationed outside and take... certain necessary measures."

The further she went on, the lower her voice became, as though even she herself was not entirely convinced by that official-sounding explanation.

"I see. I understand."

Jiang Mo nodded lightly and did not press her further.

He knew very well that continuing to ask would only get him polished official rhetoric.

His tone abruptly shifted as he asked directly, "So, do you know what the Underworld is actually like?"

"Or rather, have you ever been to the Underworld?"

Bronya froze.

A brief silence fell over the classroom, broken only by the occasional sound of wind outside the window.

After a long time, she finally answered softly, somewhat lost.

"The Underworld... I've never been there."

"So I don't know... what it is actually like."

"Is that so?"

Jiang Mo's reaction was calm, as though he had expected that answer all along.

He understood now.

Sure enough, she no longer had any concrete memories of life in the Underworld, or of her own origins.

Had Cocolia completely erased them by some means, or had some influence from the Stellaron caused her memories to fade?

Either possibility meant that Cocolia had invested enormous effort into her.

That Great Guardian clearly wanted to shape Bronya into a perfect successor.

A successor to the Guardian who had no connection whatsoever to the filthy, chaotic Underworld, pure and noble, belonging only to the Upper District.

Jiang Mo did not continue the topic.

He merely took out a history textbook and a math workbook from his schoolbag and spread them across the desk.

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Let's review."

"Mm..."

Bronya seemed to let out a breath of relief and returned her attention to the books before her.

Looking at Bronya, Jiang Mo thought to himself.

Since she doesn't remember, I'll have to find another way.

Belobog Academy's midterm exams arrived as scheduled.

The day after the exams ended, the atmosphere around the academy noticeably relaxed.

Jiang Mo still went to school as usual.

But there were now several inconspicuous little items in his schoolbag.

A few small glass marbles, along with a somewhat damaged rabbit doll woven from coarse hemp string.

All of them were things Bronya had played with as a child.

During lunch break, Jiang Mo casually took those little trinkets out of his schoolbag, trying to draw Bronya's attention from the neighboring seat.

She occasionally glanced at them, but showed no reaction.

Bronya remained the same poised heir, always maintaining the bearing of a proper young lady.

After several fruitless attempts, Jiang Mo did not lose heart.

The dismissal bell rang.

The students gradually left the classroom, and the clamor faded into the distance.

Jiang Mo saw Bronya packing up her books and stationery. Since she had just finished her exams, she did not plan to stay behind and study today.

He walked over to her desk and said, "Bronya, could you... wait for me a moment?"

Bronya paused while organizing her schoolbag and asked in confusion:

"What is it?"

"Um... there's something I need to do. Just for a little while."

Bronya gazed at him.

Given her usual way of doing things, she would normally refuse such a request without a clear reason.