{Cocolia's showdown is coming soon. Please don't stockpile chapters, dear readers—your continued reading is very important to me. The author will be changing shifts in a few days, so there will be much more time to update then.}
Theresa let out a sigh of relief after putting away the fighter jet. This way, even if a fight broke out, she would not be at a disadvantage.
I have already stated why the members of Underworld Fire came here. Your conflict with the Silvermane Guard has nothing to do with us.
Svarog looked at Seele and spoke slowly.
"The reason we came this time is simple. They cannot leave this planet because of the Stellar Core, so we need information about it. And it is said that, as a remnant from seven hundred years ago, Svarog, you should have preserved records concerning the Stellar Core."
Bronya looked at Svarog and spoke seriously.
But when Svarog heard the words "Stellar Core," the camera serving as his eye began flashing with an intense red light.
Sensitive information detected. You are judged to threaten classified core secrets. Extermination mode activated!
To Clara and everyone else's astonishment, Svarog suddenly fired a barrage of missiles at them.
"Everyone, watch out!"
Dan Heng hurried forward and shouted. Seele grabbed Bronya and quickly moved away, while Theresa raised the Oath of Judah and deployed it.
"Crash!"
The launched Soul Steel spears blasted apart the incoming missiles, after which Soul Steel chains bound Svarog tightly.
"You think you're the only one who can fight back?"
Theresa smiled knowingly as she watched Svarog struggle fiercely against the Soul Steel chains. Clara stood nearby, at a complete loss as she watched him.
"Beautiful big sisters, Mr. Svarog didn't mean to hurt everyone. Could you please let Mr. Svarog go?"
Clara looked anxiously at Svarog, who was still struggling, and cried out.
"Hmph, he suddenly attacked us! If Theresa hadn't been here, we'd probably have been blasted into pieces!"
"This is what you call refusing a toast only to drink cooking wine!"
March 7th laughed cheerfully.
"It is refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit, Little March."
Dan Heng looked at the smug March 7th and corrected her.
"Oh, they're basically the same. So, Big Robot, tell me—do you admit defeat or not?"
March 7th grinned at the still-struggling Svarog and teased him.
Material analysis failed. Judged to be high-strength material. Probability of victory reduced to 0.8%. Attack measures not recommended.
Svarog used his camera to analyze the chains from the Oath of Judah binding him.
"Mr. Svarog, don't resist anymore! Clara only has you left as family!"
Clara threw herself beside Svarog and cried out. The girl's sorrowful voice made Svarog stare fixedly at her, his camera flickering.
Clara is Svarog's most important family. Svarog will listen to Clara. I will adopt the surrender plan.
Svarog looked at Theresa as he spoke. Theresa looked at the others; Dan Heng nodded. Seeing that everyone was still wary, Theresa immediately retracted the Soul Steel chains into the Oath of Judah.
Svarog stood up and moved his body. After looking at everyone for several seconds, the bright red glow of his eye dimmed.
You wish to learn about the Stellar Core, correct? This is not an appropriate place to disclose classified core secrets. Follow us to the Mechanical Tribe.
As he spoke, Svarog picked Clara up and placed her on his shoulder. Without waiting for a response, he headed toward the Mechanical Tribe.
"Let's follow him. Theresa really came through for us—she spared us a pointless fight."
Seele smiled and patted Theresa on the head. Theresa glared at her and puffed out her cheeks, while Seele happily poked her puffed-up little face.
"Pfft!"
March 7th and the others held back their laughter. Seele had instinctively treated Theresa like a little girl again.
"Let's go, to the Mechanical Tribe!"
Theresa put away the Oath of Judah and shouted. Everyone followed Svarog toward the Mechanical Tribe. He led them along a shortcut, taking them from the Great Mine Area to the snow-covered Mechanical Tribe.
After passing the gatekeeper robots' verification, Svarog brought everyone into the luxurious cabin he shared with Clara. Clara poured warm water for everyone, while Svarog sat on the sofa and watched them.
You wish to know the classified secrets concerning the Stellar Core, correct? Then I will agree to your request. In exchange, the Mechanical Tribe must remain neutral. I do not wish for Clara to be harmed again.
Svarog stated his conditions. In essence, he would provide information about the Stellar Core, but once they received it, they could not return to the Mechanical Tribe and bring conflict with them.
After giving it some thought, everyone found the terms acceptable. The conflict between Underworld Fire and the Silvermane Guard had already lasted a long time, and they often had to battle Abyss Monsters. They simply lacked the strength to deal with another Mechanical Tribe.
Thus, Seele agreed to Svarog's request on behalf of Underworld Fire, and Svarog nodded. He then retrieved the classified information and projected the recorded footage concerning the Stellar Core.
From the Stellar Core records Svarog projected, as well as the intelligence gathered by successive Supreme Guardians, everyone gained a general understanding of the Stellar Core's origins.
The Stellar Core had arrived on Jarilo-VI seven hundred years ago, when the planet was still lush, green, and full of life. The highly developed Jarilo-VI had frequent exchanges with extraterrestrial civilizations, and everything had been flourishing.
Unfortunately, all of that suffered a devastating blow after the Stellar Core descended. First, many people fled in terror from the Antimatter Legion brought by the Stellar Core. Then the City Builders erected walls to resist the Antimatter Legion, while the Antimatter Legion set the entire planet ablaze. After that came the Great Cold, turning ninety percent of the world into a frozen wasteland, while the remaining ten percent struggled to survive in scattered pockets.
With no other choice, the City Builders borrowed a loan from the Interastral Peace Corporation in an attempt to turn things around. Naturally, they failed, and after seven hundred years, that debt was written off by the Interastral Peace Corporation as bad debt.
Now, Belobog was the only remaining inhabited region, barely surviving on the Geodough excavated from the Lower City.
Everyone gained a rough understanding of Belobog's history. They also learned that this Stellar Core possessed an ice attribute, and that every generation of Supreme Guardians had fought against it. Until Cocolia's generation, when no hope of defeating the Stellar Core could be seen, she was bewitched by it. It had now even taken Cocolia's place in issuing a warrant for the Stellaron Hunters.
Projection complete. The matters that follow have nothing to do with the Mechanical Tribe. If you can truly deal with the Stellar Core, then once the Mechanical Tribe sees hope, we will cooperate with you.
Now then, everyone, please leave.
Everyone understood Svarog's meaning. Clara was very reluctant to see them go, especially since Stelle and March 7th had been very friendly with her.
After watching everyone leave, Svarog began checking whether any of his stored data had been lost.
Self-check in progress. Classified core secrets... intact.
Record of Clara making a tool for the first time... intact.
Record of Clara talking in her sleep for the first time... intact.
"Eh? Mr. Svarog, can you delete that one?"
Clara blushed as she begged Svarog to erase her embarrassing history.
Request denied. All records involving Clara are my most precious records. They have already been backed up multiple times.
Svarog's voice made Clara blush so hard she practically turned into a steam engine. Svarog looked at the girl fondly, then raised his head toward the direction everyone had left in. If he were alone, then what would be wrong with accompanying them?
But he already had someone he cared about. He could not bear to leave Clara.
Daily image post. A new Honkai: Star Rail character~
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