Sampo: I'm Back, Kids.

Gepard's serious, angry tone left Bronya at a loss for words. After all, one side was her mother, and the other was her comrade and colleague. Furthermore, Serval had been a very close friend of her mother's.

"I don't know why Mother issued such an order, Garrison Officer Gepard. Let's go inside Fortress City and talk," Bronya said to Gepard, feeling a bit lost. Gepard sighed and nodded, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. He was most worried about his older sister and younger sister getting into trouble. Ever since Serval stopped being a City Builder, she had opened an Everlasting Mechanical House, occasionally holding open-air concerts and helping the Iron Cavalry repair various mechanical devices.

"Creak."

Gepard pushed open the heavy, massive door, and Bronya followed him into the main hall of Fortress City.

They saw Cocolia standing with her back to them, looking out the window.

"Gepard, Bronya, you've arrived."

"Are there any of my orders that you cannot understand?" Cocolia turned around and looked at Gepard and Bronya indifferently.

"Mother / Supreme Guardian."

Bronya and Gepard habitually saluted Cocolia with Iron Cavalry etiquette. Bronya noticed Gepard's unrest, so she gestured for herself to speak first. Gepard nodded.

"Mother, yesterday, through the Iron Cavalry's surveillance, we discovered they hadn't done anything suspicious. They merely visited the Eternal Winter Monument, then went to Sister Serval's place as guests to chat until dusk, when the sun began to set. Afterward, they went to the Goethe Hotel for dinner and rest. There was nothing suspicious about their actions."

"I honestly don't understand how these actions connect to a rebellion in Belobog?" Bronya asked Cocolia, who was looking at them impassively.

"And according to your intention as Supreme Guardian, their most suspicious activity was leaving my sister Serval's mechanical house. So, may I assume, Supreme Guardian, that you believe my sister Serval incited them to rebel against Belobog?" Gepard asked Cocolia indignantly, his anger flaring.

Bronya knew Gepard was truly angry from his tone. After all, he had always been a straightforward, stubborn guy since childhood. When he got angry, he was incredibly obstinate.

"Commander Bronya, Garrison Officer Gepard, you just need to obey my orders. As for the reasons, I will explain them to you once you have apprehended the rebels," Cocolia said calmly to the anxious and confused Bronya and the furious Gepard.

"My sister Serval, what do you plan to do with her, Supreme Guardian?" Gepard stepped forward, glaring at Cocolia, trying his best to suppress his emotions. The safety of his sisters was at stake, and he was filled with fear and rage.

"She will naturally be taken care of by the Iron Cavalry to prove her innocence. Garrison Officer Gepard, there's no need for you to get agitated," Cocolia said, looking at Gepard, who was being unusually stubborn.

"Heh, I shouldn't get agitated? My family is in trouble, and I shouldn't get agitated? I'm already doing my best to suppress my emotions, Supreme Guardian!" Gepard growled, his fists clenched so tight they creaked.

"Calm down, Garrison Officer Gepard. Mother must have her reasons. Mother, please give us a reasonable explanation. This sudden accusation of rebellion in Belobog seems too frivolous," Bronya asked Cocolia, bewildered.

"Have you forgotten? When the Iron Cavalry faces the City Builders and the Supreme Guardian, there is only one thing you must do: obey."

"No matter how many questions or confusions you have, once you capture those rebelling Stellaron Hunters, will you not listen to orders?" Cocolia said coldly, staring at the two of them. As she spoke, a large group of Iron Cavalry unwillingly appeared beside Bronya and Gepard.

"Garrison Officer Gepard, Commander Bronya, don't make things difficult for the brothers," some of the Iron Cavalry said in low voices, reluctantly surrounding the two with their weapons.

"..."

Bronya looked at the unfamiliar Cocolia in disbelief. She and Gepard were actually being surrounded by the Iron Cavalry. And it was their own people pointing weapons at them. This caused a huge sense of dissonance for the young woman.

"You... Mother..." Bronya looked at the Iron Cavalry surrounding them and Cocolia looking down at them coldly, asking in confusion.

"Heh, how ironic. I never thought we'd reach a day where we'd have our own people pointing weapons at us," Gepard said, bursting into bitter laughter. He glared at Cocolia in anger. Although he was simple-minded and stubborn, he could tell something was wrong with Cocolia. He might be dense and stubborn, but he wasn't stupid.

"Garrison Officer Gepard, my mother, she seems... not herself. How about this, let's feign retreat to advance." Bronya whispered to Gepard in a very low voice. Their voices were not heard by {Cocolia} amidst the Iron Cavalry's pleas.

Gepard nodded almost imperceptibly. He knew this was definitely not the Supreme Guardian's decision. While he didn't know why Cocolia had become so strange, he needed to find Serval quickly. As for his younger sister, Ling, he didn't need to worry; she was often nowhere to be found.

"Now, tell me, do you obey the order to capture those Stellaron Hunters attempting to rebel against Belobog?" {Cocolia} asked coldly, looking down at Bronya and Gepard.

"Yes, we obey the Supreme Guardian's command!" Bronya and Gepard shouted unwillingly.

"Very good. Take the Iron Cavalry to the Goethe Hotel. They should still be resting there."

"Remember, as long as you capture them, their lives are of no consequence!" Cocolia said coldly. Bronya and Gepard exchanged glances and confirmed; this was definitely not the Cocolia they knew.

"We obey your command."*2

After performing the Iron Cavalry's courtesies once more, the two departed, leaving the relieved Iron Cavalry behind. Cocolia, now possessed by the Stellaron, let out a laugh.

"I won't give you the chance to hesitate, Cocolia. Rest peacefully. When you awaken, you will see a different Belobog. Hehehe~"

The Stellaron-possessed Cocolia sneered, gazing at the empty hall with a calm expression.

That's right, it intended to pull off something big, like summoning the Antimatter Legion to descend once more!

Meanwhile, in the place where Sampo was being held, most of the Iron Cavalry had been redeployed. He worked on the lock, then knocked out a patrolling Iron Cavalry soldier, donned his uniform, and escaped. After all, the Iron Cavalry wore masks and hats, making disguise quite convenient.

"Children, Sampo is back~"

"That Stellaron is already restless, but the actors are in place. I also need to act immediately. The play is about to begin."

Sampo muttered to himself as he jogged along. He saw the Iron Cavalry marching towards Belobog and stealthily followed behind them.

Daily teaser image. As expected of the "Stellaron Fox."