{Was this the first time Sampo got caught in a Star Rail fanfic?}
"We're not accomplices! Why are you—ow!"
March 7th shouted indignantly. She truly couldn't understand it. Every time they started trailblazing, they were either misunderstood or punished. She was seriously numb to it by now.
"I'll say it again: hand over the main culprit and explain who you are!"
Gepard glared at the group as he shouted.
"Dan Heng, should we tell the truth, or knock them all down?"
Theresa asked Dan Heng quietly.
"..."
"Forget it. Let's tell the truth. We need to get in touch with their higher-ups anyway. Only they know about the Stellar Core."
Dan Heng spoke to Theresa helplessly. He was tired too.
"We met this blue-haired man along the way. And you may not believe this, but we came from beyond this world. We are Stellaron Hunters from the Astral Express."
Theresa stepped forward and looked at Gepard as she spoke. Her cute, beautiful face and gorgeous formal dress left the Silvermane Guards a little flustered. After all, it was their first time seeing a girl as adorable as Theresa.
As for Bronya, their leader, they could only keep such thoughts to themselves.
"She's so beautiful and cute!"
"Ah, I'm dead~"
Some of the Silvermane Guards cried out excitedly.
"Ahem. Have some decorum in front of outsiders! When we get back, twenty sets of strength training!"
Gepard coughed awkwardly, then somewhat embarrassedly glared at the guards as he shouted.
"..."
Gepard then looked somewhat awkwardly at the utterly adorable Theresa. After receiving the blessing of the Undying and being baptized by Elation, Theresa had only become more beautiful.
"Hehe, stunned speechless, huh? Isn't Theresa adorable!"
March 7th laughed excitedly as she hugged Theresa. Stelle also nodded enthusiastically with her hands on her hips, while Dan Heng remained silently helpless before stepping forward.
"We are Stellaron Hunters from the Astral Express, from beyond this planet. Interference from certain causes forced us to land and seek help."
Dan Heng did not mention the Stellar Core directly. It was better to discuss that with their leader.
"How am I supposed to believe you? Because Sampo was tied up by this beautiful young lady?"
Gepard asked Theresa with a faint blush on his face. It was not that his resolve was weak; the guards were all rough men, after all. How could they not be affected upon seeing such a beautiful girl? As for Bronya, Gepard regarded her as the next Supreme Guardian.
"Do our clothes look anything like yours? Would anyone really run around dressed this lightly in this frozen wasteland?"
Theresa looked at Gepard helplessly.
Gepard looked at the group's light clothing and Theresa's elaborate attire, then immediately nodded.
They were dressed so lightly and beautifully, yet did not seem to be shivering from the cold at all. It was as though they were not standing amid ice and snow.
"March, didn't you take a picture? Show it to them."
Dan Heng reminded March 7th. She hurriedly nodded and, under the wary gazes of the guards, pulled a photograph from her little bag.
"Here, take a look. This is a picture I took of the planet you call Jarilo-VI."
March 7th slowly stepped forward and handed the photograph to the cautious Gepard. He took it warily and examined it with the other guards.
Gepard stared silently at the clear image of the ice-covered planet, frowning.
"You've got to be kidding. This is what the place we live in looks like?"
"You're saying this white ball is the planet we live on? That's just... hard to accept."
The guards shouted in disbelief.
Gepard sighed. With the proof provided by the photograph, he and the guards had largely come to believe the Stellaron Hunters.
"I've heard that long ago, visitors from beyond the heavens often came here... But after the Great Cold began, no one could pass through the curtain of snow and reach Belobog."
Gepard spoke helplessly. He already understood that this was no longer something he had the authority to decide.
"Captain, what do we do?"
The guards looked to Gepard and awaited his orders. To be honest, they did not want to fight cute girls either.
And seeing Sampo lying miserably in the snow with a long face made them feel that they were no match for this group anyway.
"This is not something I can decide. If what they say is true, then only the Supreme Guardian can make the judgment."
"Could you release him? We'll escort him and keep a close watch on him."
Gepard looked at the group as he asked. Hearing this, Theresa smiled at the miserable-looking Sampo, put away Judas, and, before Gepard and the others' astonished eyes, Oath of Judah transformed into a necklace around her snow-white neck.
"I never thought I'd be the joke..."
Sampo muttered as he tried to crawl to his feet, only to be immediately pinned down by the rushing guards.
"Finally caught you! You really can run!"
A guard held Sampo down and laughed excitedly.
"Got nowhere to run now, huh? Enjoy prison!"
The guards excitedly hauled Sampo behind Gepard. Gepard thought for a moment.
"You should come with us as well. I'll take you to Belobog, where you will need to meet the Supreme Guardian. Only the Supreme Guardian can determine your identities."
"This way."
Once Sampo had been captured by the guards, Gepard's stern expression eased considerably, and he became much more polite toward everyone.
"Let's go!"
March 7th shouted happily. The group began following Gepard and the guards. On the way back, the guards encountered Abyss Monsters and prepared to fight.
"Form ranks! Engage the monsters!"
Gepard shouted instinctively. Just as the guards were about to form up, Colored Flame suddenly ignited across the monsters' bodies, and they howled as they turned to ash.
"!!!"
Gepard warily glanced at Theresa, who blew the Colored Flame from her fingertip.
"That was so cool, Theresa!"
March 7th shouted excitedly.
"Cool!"
Stelle shouted excitedly as well.
"It was nothing, just a small matter. They were only minor fodder. Shall we continue, Garrison Officer Gepard?"
Theresa said with a sweet smile. Her beautiful, adorable expression left the guards following the silent Gepard wordless as they began moving again.
"Welcome to Belobog, the City of Preservation," Gepard said proudly. The guards also held their heads high with pride.
"Whoa, it's so spectacular!"
Stelle cried out in surprise.
"Indeed. It has a kind of steampunk feel to it."
Dan Heng said calmly. Gepard did not understand what they meant. From beginning to end, he had remained wary of Dan Heng and Theresa. As for March 7th and Stelle, he was not paying them much attention for the time being.
"That is our pride. It is precisely because of this City of Preservation that we have preserved the Flame of Life and kept it from being buried beneath the endless wind and snow."
"You could say that without Belobog, we would not exist."
Gepard spoke reverently. He then led everyone through the enormous alloy gates. After an inspection, he brought the Stellaron Hunters, watched by some of the citizens, into Belobog.
Today's beautiful image. Truly: Samsara twin?
Before you continue