Chapter 161

Pela's expression turned to surprise. Ignoring her own rudeness, she instinctively covered her mouth. "You! You mean that great hero, the legendary warrior of Belobog — Igor Haftar?!"

Well, judging from Pela's performance, Bai Jun can be certain that Igor Haftar is indeed quite famous in Belobog.

"Does Pela know if that Igor Haftar has any descendants?"

"I'm sorry, but according to records, Igor Haftar never married and dedicated his life to fighting the invasion of the Antimatter Legion. There's no record of him leaving any descendants until his complete sacrifice on the battlefield."

"Pela, you're too nervous. There's no need for you to apologize to me for everything."

"I... I understand, I'm so sorry!"

The two walked side by side on this snow-covered road that had never melted in thousands of years, chatting and warming up the atmosphere. Bai Jun's previous guilt was relieved, but Pela's tension did not seem to have improved at all.

As we continued along the snow-covered path, a passage leading to Belobog came into view, and just then... Pela suddenly screamed from the side.

What happened?

Bai Jun immediately shielded her behind him, and at the same time, his gaze followed the direction Pela was facing—on the vast, snow-covered plain where nothing could be seen except for the white snow, a black and white creature resembling a small hill had plunged into the snow, its short, exposed Tail trembling.

Seemingly sensing Bai Jun and Pela's gaze, the little creature immediately jumped out of the snow. Bai Jun recognized it as a wild Warp Trotter, carrying a mechanical part in its mouth as it fled in the opposite direction from Bai Jun.

Pela's gaze was naturally fixed on the mechanical part Trotter by the piggy bank. "Shall I go and get it back for you?" Bai Jun moved to grab the Warp Trotter, but a small hand trembled and grabbed Bai Jun's clothes, stopping him.

"No need, Mr. Bai Jun. I appreciate your kindness, but Warp Trotter are too difficult to catch. I ended up in that situation just now because I was chasing Warp Trotter. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, please don't chase after it."

Pela stood there, clenching her small fists in frustration, but she still earnestly stopped Bai Jun.

(She's such a good girl.) This time, it was Bai Jun's turn to think this of Pela.

"I understand. Then let's hurry and enter the city of Belobog."

Bai Jun nodded in agreement. He silently walked behind Pela, out of her sight, and chatted with her.

Whether it was her imagination or not, Pela felt a gust of wind behind her. "Bai Jun, let's quicken our pace. The weather outside Belobog is changing incredibly fast. I've already felt a slight change; otherwise, snowfall would be terrible..."

There was no response from Bai Jun behind him.

"Mr. Bai Jun?"

Pela turned around in confusion, but Bai Jun was standing right behind her, as if nothing had happened.

"Sorry, I was just lost in thought about this scenery. What did you say, Pela?"

Bai Jun tidied his hair, which had been completely messed up by the wind and snow, while stuffing something into his pants pocket.

"... It's nothing! We'll be in Belobog soon."

Pela suppressed her doubts, her face regaining its gentle smile, and pointed to the majestic white city wall behind the snow-covered curtain in the distance – that was Belobog.

Outside the city gate stood two rows of soldiers resembling gatekeepers, their armor a striking silver-blue stripe, with fluffy fur draped over their shoulders, identical masks, and spears for defense. The man standing in the center of the two rows wore even more imposing armor and carried a large shield in one hand; he was presumably the leader.

"Welcome back, Intelligence Officer Pela."

Hello, Lieutenant Gray.

The team leader clearly recognized Pela and was genuinely happy for her return. When his gaze fell on Bai Jun, after a brief silence, he asked with obvious confusion:

"What an unfamiliar face. A handsome gentleman like you should have a strong impression of me, shouldn't I?"

"He's my assistant, and today is his first day on the job. I took him outside the city to familiarize him with the surveying process."

"I see, haha, it must have been tough on your first day out of the city, right? But a real man has to keep honing his skills. Keep it up, young man! You need to study hard so you'll be able to protect Intelligence Officer Pela when you go out in the future!"

Before Bai Jun could speak, Pela delivered the story he had prepared on the way. Faced with Pela's assurance, Lieutenant Gray naturally didn't say anything more. He gave a hearty laugh, patted Bai Jun on the shoulder amicably, and ordered the other soldiers to open the city gate.

As Bai Jun followed Pela into the city of Belobog, he instantly felt a comfort and warmth that was completely opposite to that outside the city—it was as warm as going from the freezing outdoors to an air-conditioned indoor space. Bai Jun even saw that many people on the street were wearing summer clothes.

The road radiates outwards from the central area, dividing the area into several sections. Among the many beautiful buildings, all in blue and white, one can see numerous white stone buildings with blue roofs, as well as churches that are so beautifully symmetrical, like works of art.

"Isn't it incredible? By deploying heaters throughout the city, powered by the Geomarrow, it's possible to provide the entire upper Administrative District with a temperature of up to 23 degrees Celsius. After all, with such severe snowstorms outside, without a reliable heating system, Belobog would have long since become a ghost town."

Pela noticed Bai Jun's confusion, and she almost instinctively carried out her duty as a guide.

She smiled sincerely, which showed that Pela really enjoyed her job as a guide.

So Bai Jun didn't interrupt her introduction, but silently followed behind her, strolling with the girl's cheerful figure through the various attractions of Belobog, constantly looking around to admire the scenery. Although it wasn't as futuristic as Luofu, this retro city was still worthy of Bai Jun's praise. Passing through the shopping street, following the scent of spark plugs, Bai Jun followed Pela to a Mechanical Workshop called "Neverwinter".

She pulled a key from the tattered pocket of her uniform, expertly opened the door to the Mechanical Workshop, and called out as she pushed it open:

"I'm home! Serval, are you home?"

The only response was the clanging and banging of the Mechanical Workshop, sparks flying, and the clattering of metal drowning out all other sounds.

A beautiful blonde figure stood at the workbench beside the counter, wearing welding glasses, skillfully manipulating and assembling metal parts with the fluidity of a master craftsman.

"Shi--Lu--Va--I'm back!!!"

Pela called her name again.

At that moment, the blonde woman, who had been engrossed in her work, finally heard Pela's call and looked up with a big smile.

"Oh, Pela, you're back... ah?"

Serval's smile froze. Her gaze first fell on Pela's tattered uniform, skirt, and oversized coat. Then it immediately fell on the owner of the oversized coat—the handsome man who looked like he had stepped out of a fairy tale.

Thoughts are in disarray, consciousness is in a frenzy, intuition is roaring— Pela is there, the answer is obvious!

"Oh my god--!!! My little Pela has finally figured it out and found a boyfriend!!!"

"No, no, that's not true at all!!!"

Pela blushed and retorted in a voice no less loud than Serval's.

PS:

Ever since I started writing novels, my physical condition has been getting worse and worse. I had a physical test last Friday, and the result was as bad as expected.

Sometimes it's not that authors are making excuses for being lazy, but rather that their bodies simply can't withstand the intensity of sitting at a computer desk typing for seven or eight hours a day.

For example, I spent Sunday writing in a daze, and I felt something was off. Not only was my efficiency terrible, but my neck and arms were also very sore. I thought it was a muscle strain from the physical test a couple of days ago, so I didn't pay much attention to it.

I finally finished typing and planned to rest early at 10 pm so I could recover tomorrow. But I felt really unwell in the early hours of the morning. I took my temperature and it was 38.6°C, almost 39°C. I know the reason myself: I probably took off my clothes and got chilled by the wind when I ran the 1000-meter test.

Can you imagine the agony of being woken up at 1 a. m. with a high fever? Then you can't fall back asleep, and you can't even type...

What can I say?

Chapter 198 Wow, there are even cows to watch here!

"Waaaaaah!!! Serval, you're not allowed to talk nonsense!!!"

Pela, her face flushed red, was unlike her usual calm self. The girl, now like a steam engine, first glanced at Bai Jun's expression, then ran to Serval, shaking her arm vigorously and frantically trying to clarify her relationship with Bai Jun.

While Pela was talking to the woman named Serval, Bai Jun finally had a chance to observe her appearance.

She has a devilishly hot figure, wearing a black and white top that reveals her perfectly slender abdomen, and long, shapely thighs covered in black pantyhose. Her long hair, which shimmers like gold, is studded with a few strands of lake blue. Her mature and confident face is always adorned with a carefree smile.

"Oh, I see... Oh, what a pity, I thought little Pela had finally figured it out~"

"Honestly, Serval, you should at least show some remorse!"

Slightly dizzy from being shaken, Serval smiled and waved her hand. Pela adjusted her glasses with one hand, trying to hide her burning cheeks, while introducing Serval to Bai Jun's name, background, the accident she had encountered in the snowfield, and the reason why she was saved by Bai Jun himself.

Pela's emphasis on efficiency and clear thinking may be her personal philosophy as an intelligence officer.

In contrast, when Serval heard about Pela's ordeal, her smile gradually faded. "I understand!" With that, Serval stepped out of her workbench and approached Bai Jun. Her flowing blonde hair arced through the air as she bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, her hands pressed against her thighs, earnestly expressing her gratitude to Bai Jun.

"My name is Serval Landau. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bai Jun, traveler from outer space, the great hero who saved Pela! Please allow me to express my sincerest gratitude to you. If you hadn't saved Pela, I might have lost my lovely little sister."

Upon hearing these words, Bai Jun blinked repeatedly.

The blonde, mature woman, who exuded an air of authority, spoke in a low voice, her eyes glistening with tears, and her fair, smooth shoulders trembling slightly. She was probably truly heartbroken and terrified at losing Pela, a girl who was like a younger sister to her.

"No, it was really just a small favor. Your overly formal attitude only makes me feel awkward. Please treat me like a normal friend. Don't you agree, Ms. Serval?"

Bai Jun extended his hand to Serval with a calm smile.

"Of course, welcome to Belobog, Mr. Bai Jun!"

Serval wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and smiled broadly, gripping Bai Jun's hand tightly.

Pela, standing to the side, stared intently at Bai Jun and Serval's tightly clasped hands, her eyes filled with a subtle emotion that words could not express.

Seemingly sensing the resentful look in someone's eyes, Serval released Bai Jun's hand, then opened her arms wide and hugged Pela tightly, who exclaimed, "Huh? W-what's wrong!?"

"You idiot, Pela, you're absolutely forbidden from doing anything so reckless again, or I'll be heartbroken..."

Serval's arms were slender and supple, yet very strong.

A familiar, nostalgic scent, slightly tinged with shampoo, wafted over.

Serval buried her face in her shoulder and took a deep breath, deeply moved.

"I... I know... I didn't expect Serval to care about me so much."

Pela, unusually, did not resist Serval's embrace. While feeling the other's care, she buried her face in Hiluva's clothes and whispered.

"Hehe, of course! Pela is cute, she can play drums, grow flowers, and write reports. Is there any better girl in the world than Pela? In my heart, Pela is no less important than Lynx and my silly little brother! I really love Pela!"

"Serval, you're always so irresponsible!"

It would be a lie to say she wasn't happy—the smile on her delicate face, which she couldn't hide even if she tried to keep a straight face, was proof enough.

While admiring the two girls' affectionate display, Bai Jun chose to remain silent and began to observe the structure of the Mechanical Workshop. Before he could finish his observation, the two girls' affectionate display ended with Pela's shy voice saying, "Alright, Mr. Bai Jun is still watching over there."

At that moment, Pela, who had looked up from under Serval's clothes, noticed something.

That was Serval's white clothes were stained with a large stain, and unfortunately, the stain happened right where Pela's cheek was pressed against.

Pela, sensing something was wrong, widened her eyes and quickly ran to the mirror near the workbench to confirm her guess.

Having just escaped across the snowy plains, Pela in the mirror now looked extremely disheveled, with messy hair, a tattered dress and black tights, half of her round-framed glasses broken, and her face filthy, resembling a downtrodden little kitten.

Of course, even so, Pela's personal style remained completely intact.

That being said, after Pela saw her current appearance in the mirror, although she remained outwardly calm, the little Pela inside her was already burying her head in her hands and giving up on herself. Whenever she thought about how she had spoken to Mr. Bai Jun in such an rude manner and walked side by side with him on the snowfield, she wished she could just smash her head against the mirror and die.

"Excuse me, please allow me to tidy up my makeup! Serval, is there hot water at home?"

"Yes, you can just use them. Lynx's clothes for a change of clothes; she's been busy with camping lately."

Before Serval could finish speaking, the embarrassed Pela had already disappeared like a gust of wind. With a series of thumping footsteps, she ran up to the second floor of the Mechanical Workshop, leaving only Bai Jun and Serval in the lobby on the first floor.

Two lines of sight met as they looked down from the ceiling, which was bathed in soft light.

No one broke the silence. Serval gazed thoughtfully into Bai Jun's eyes, while Bai Jun was completely at a loss for words to start a conversation.

Just as their conversation stalled and the atmosphere froze briefly, Serval broke the silence first.

"Mr. Bai Jun, please find a seat. I'll make you a hot coffee!"

Serval smiled first, then turned and went to the counter to prepare coffee.

Bai Jun slowly sat down on the sofa. A moment later, Serval came over with two cups of coffee. "Be careful, it's hot." She handed Bai Jun a cup of coffee and then sat down next to him without any airs.

"Brother Bai Jun, I'm very grateful that you saved Pela. But let's put it another way. You must have heard from Pela about the recent crackdown on outsiders by the Supreme Guardian, right? You might be able to get away with it using Pela as cover, but if you keep appearing in public, I don't think those Silvermane Guards are pushovers. What I mean is—what are your plans next?"

Serval took an elegant sip of coffee and, without any beating around the bush, discussed the matter directly with Bai Jun.

Originally Serval didn't intend to cause herself any more trouble, but considering that he had saved Pela's life and that she felt a strange affinity for him, she didn't mind taking in one more traveler. However, the final decision rested with Bai Jun; she was merely raising the question.

However, before that, Serval felt it was necessary to have a frank and open conversation with the other party.

"Honestly, did Brother Bai Jun really come to Belobog just to deliver a message? I hope you can answer that question frankly, because I can see from your eyes that your intentions are definitely not just as simple as delivering a message."

Serval indeed very good at socializing, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say she is an expert in communication skills.

Based on her rich past experience and knowledge, she could sense a slight "strangeness" in Bai Jun's eyes. With her unfailing sixth sense, Serval could feel that Bai Jun's intentions were definitely not simple, so she hoped that the other party's attitude could be more sincere.

After all, she preferred an honest and straightforward man to a hypocrite.

If the other party is lying... then I'm sorry, even if she and he are very compatible, and even if Pela admires this man so much, Serval will not be able to continue to associate with him, and may even kick him out of the Mechanical Workshop.

As for this matter, Bai Jun had actually prepared a plan long ago.

"Ms. Serval, you should have dealt with the Nameless who caused trouble in the Upper District a while ago, right?"

Bai Jun posed a question to the stunned Serval. After a moment of thought, she smiled gently, making it impossible to guess her true thoughts.

"That's true... I don't know what they did wrong, but they're being searched all over the city, causing panic throughout the Upper District. I met them a few times before, and I actually found them quite interesting. Why did you bring this up, Brother Bai Jun?"

"I'm guessing there's a girl with long gray hair, a pink-haired girl, and a quiet, reserved black-haired boy among them?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Those three look just like you... wait?"

Upon hearing that the Nameless described by the other party was exactly the same as his own impression, Serval's first reaction was that Pela had told him about this, but Serval immediately denied it, because if that were really the case, there would be no point in Bai Jun saying it.