Astral Express Crew Wiped Out at the Start

Jiang Mo, through some channels, contacted an underground information broker with some renown in the Upper District, known as "Uncle Cold Legs."

He never asked about the origins of his clients, only cared about the money.

After paying a considerable sum of Winter City Coins, "Uncle Cold Legs" sent back a piece of information.

Near an abandoned outpost in the snowfields on the outskirts of the city, there was indeed a madman.

The man was ragged and spouted nonsense, but occasionally he would take out strange potions and exchange them with the Silvermane Guards stationed there for food and winter supplies.

In a routine meeting, Jiang Mo and Natasha arranged to meet at an inconspicuous café in the city.

This was one of the designated locations for Wildfire and Jiang Mo to connect in the Upper District.

Natasha reported on the recent situation of Wildfire and the Underworld, a hint of weariness on her face.

"Oh, right, I can tell you about your brother's whereabouts now..."

Immediately afterward, Jiang Mo revealed the intelligence he had obtained.

Natasha's heart leaped.

"Snowfields on the outskirts of the city..."

Natasha's breathing instantly became rapid, and she gripped the edge of the table tightly.

"Are you sure he's there?"

Jiang Mo didn't answer directly, but simply pushed a hand-drawn map in front of her.

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

Natasha's eyes instantly turned red, and she picked up the map with trembling hands, unable to speak for a long time.

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

That afternoon, Natasha went to the snowfields on the outskirts of the city.

In the winter snowfields, the cold wind howled and snow filled the air.

Natasha wrapped her thick coat tightly around herself, each step difficult, but the hope burning in her heart made her forget the cold and fatigue.

Near the abandoned outpost, she indeed found the man huddled in the dilapidated shelter, covered in filth.

His hair was messy, his face gaunt, and he was muttering incomprehensible sounds.

Although he was emaciated, Natasha recognized him at a glance.

It was her brother, Vahk!

"Brother!"

Natasha rushed over, tears streaming down her face, quickly freezing in the cold wind.

Vahk looked up blankly, confusion flashing in his cloudy eyes, which then turned manic.

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

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

Natasha didn't back down, she knelt in the snow, calling his name over and over again.

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

She took out the rusty iron stethoscope from her pocket, a gift that Vahk had made with his own hands many years ago.

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

Vahk's mania gradually subsided, and clarity appeared in his cloudy eyes.

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

He reached out a trembling hand and touched Natasha's cheek, tears sliding down his fingertips.

Vahk was sometimes lucid, sometimes mad, but that kinship had not been completely erased by time and suffering.

Natasha went through many hardships to finally bring Vahk back to the Underworld, settling him in her clinic for careful treatment.

Vahk's return brought Natasha great comfort, and also made her very trusting and grateful to Jiang Mo.

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

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

"From now on, whatever you need, I, Natasha... will do anything!"

Jiang Mo calmly accepted her thanks and loyalty.

"I just fulfilled the agreement." His expression was indifferent, "Being able to find him was also your luck."

He felt nothing in his heart. Helping others benefited himself, so why not?

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

Vahk's life or death was just a bargaining chip to him, nothing to care about at all.

Chapter 55: The Secret of Two People

After school this day.

As the exams approached, Jiang Mo continued to meet with Bronya in the classroom to study.

But today, Jiang Mo didn't immediately take out his textbook.

He placed his bag aside, turned his body towards Bronya, and asked casually in a seemingly idle tone:

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

Bronya's hand, which was holding a pen, unconsciously tightened its grip.

She raised her head and looked at Jiang Mo, her clear, cold eyes filled with confusion:

"Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"Nothing special. It's just because I'm from the Underworld."

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

Bronya was silent for a few seconds.

Then, she said in an almost standard answer:

"The hard work of the Underworld residents provides Belobog with the necessary minerals and energy."

"Without their efforts, the people of the Upper District would not be able to enjoy such a stable and comfortable life."

"I... we, should all be grateful for the contributions of the Underworld people."

"Grateful?"

"Then, how do you evaluate the decision made by the Supreme Guardian not long ago to completely block the exchange between the Upper and Underworld?"

This question was obviously much sharper than the previous one.

Bronya's brows furrowed slightly.

She seemed to want to defend something, but also seemed to have some concerns, organizing her words.

In the end, she still spoke:

"My moth... no, the Supreme Guardian did that because she was forced by the situation at the time."

"During that time, Stellaron activity around Belobog was unusually frequent, and according to intelligence, news of the Underworld being eroded by the Stellaron again also came."

"In order to concentrate forces to protect the safety of Belobog, she had to temporarily transfer all the Silvermane Guards stationed outside and take... some necessary measures."

The more she spoke, the lower her voice became, as if even she herself was not very convinced by this official-sounding explanation.

"I see, I understand."

Jiang Mo nodded lightly, without continuing to press the issue.

He knew very well that asking further would only yield modified official rhetoric.

He abruptly changed the subject and asked directly, "So, do you know what the Underworld is really like?"

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

Bronya was stunned.

The classroom fell into a brief silence, with only the sound of wind occasionally coming from outside the window.

After a long time, she answered in a somewhat dazed and low voice:

"The Underworld... I haven't been there."

"So, I don't know... what it's really like."

"Is that so."

Jiang Mo's reaction was calm, as if he had expected this answer long ago.

He understood in his heart.

As expected, she had no specific memories of life in the Underworld, of her own origins.

Was it completely erased by Cocolia through some means, or was it due to some influence of the Stellar Nucleus that led to the forgetting of memories?

Whichever possibility it was, it meant that Cocolia had put a lot of effort into her.

That Supreme Guardian clearly wanted to mold Bronya into a perfect successor.

A guardian successor who had nothing to do with the dirty and chaotic Underworld, pure and noble, belonging only to the Upper District.

Jiang Mo did not continue this topic.

He simply took out the history textbook and math workbook from his bag and spread them on the table.

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's review."

"Okay..."

Bronya seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, refocusing her attention on the books in front of her.

Looking at Bronya, Jiang Mo thought to himself.

Since she doesn't remember, then he'll just have to find another way.

The mid-term exams at Belobog Academy arrived as scheduled.

The day after the exams, the atmosphere within the academy noticeably relaxed.

Jiang Mo went to school as usual.

But his backpack contained a few inconspicuous little items.

A few small glass marbles, and a slightly damaged little rabbit doll woven from rough hemp thread.

These were all things Bronya had played with as a child.

During the lunch break, Jiang Mo seemingly unintentionally took these little trinkets out of his backpack, trying to attract the attention of Bronya, who sat next to him.

She occasionally glanced over, but showed no reaction.

Bronya remained the composed heiress, maintaining her ladylike demeanor at all times.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Jiang Mo was not discouraged.

The school bell rang.

Students left the classroom one after another, the noise gradually fading away.

Jiang Mo saw Bronya packing up her books and stationery; since the exams were over, she didn't plan to stay and study today.

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

Bronya paused her packing, looking puzzled.

"Is there something you need?"

"Well... there's something I wanted to ask you, it'll only take a moment."

Bronya stared at him.

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