Chapter 163

Especially her beautiful silver hair, which was covered in sand and dust and looked like fine snow, and her deep blue eyes, like cornflowers.

--Really?

--Really?

March 7th and Dan Heng, who rushed over and saw this scene, stood there stunned, unconsciously stopping in their tracks. Bronya and Seele, unaware of the situation, exchanged puzzled glances. Only Sampo, standing at the back of the crowd, revealed a smug smile.

The sounds around her faded into the distance, her thoughts sluggish, and shock and disbelief gradually left Xing's mind blank. She stared in astonishment at the figure that haunted her dreams, and then, as if drawn by something, Xing walked straight toward the silver-haired youth— Bai Jun.

She started running slowly, then ran faster and faster until she rushed to Bai Jun with lightning speed, pushed aside Serval who was enjoying a princess carry, and jumped into his arms instead.

All the members, including Seele and Bronya, stood frozen in place, their postures slightly awkward, while Serval was completely bewildered.

Amidst the helpless shrugs of Dan Heng and March 7th, a deafening exclamation rang out.

"Hey hey hey hey hey--!!!!"

PS:

This fever is quite severe; it's been around 38°C-39°C for three consecutive days. Medication and injections only temporarily reduce the fever, and it keeps coming back as soon as the sweating stops. I'm planning to go to the hospital for a blood test tomorrow; I suspect it's an inflammation.

Ah, Kurushi~

I hope you recover soon; I've been feeling really unwell lately.

I have a persistent high fever and need to take a few days off to rest.

I've had a persistent high fever for the past few days. I went to the hospital for an X-ray and blood test, and then had an IV drip all day. By the time I finished, my fever had spiked to 39°C again that evening. I'm so sorry everyone, I'm feeling really terrible. I need to take a few days off to rest and recover.

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Chapter 200 Bronya? The Great Silver Wolf!

The story goes back to the afternoon when Bai Jun and Serval reached a cooperation agreement, determined to jointly achieve their goal of obtaining the "Stellaron".

To achieve this goal, the two discussed the exact implementation plan and finally agreed on a strategy: to find a way to meet up with the Astral Express Crew members on the lower level. Getting their help was one aspect, but more importantly, they needed to obtain information about Cocolia from them.

"Let's not delay any longer, let's head down to the lower level tomorrow to find those Nameless!"

"So Serval, do you know how to get to the lower levels?"

Seeing Serval's hurried insistence on taking action the next morning, Bai Jun couldn't help but feel a little puzzled. To his question, Serval, her long golden hair swaying, wore a confident smile, as if she had everything under control.

"Of course! I know of a secret passage that leads to the lower level at any time."

"That's good. By the way, should we keep this from Pela?"

"Well, my idea is to keep it from that child and not let her get involved in our affairs. After all, if the matter of plotting to obtain the Stellaron is exposed, it's a crime that could easily land me in jail for more than ten years. I don't care about myself, but Pela is very dedicated to her job as an intelligence officer, and I don't want my situation to affect her."

Serval answered Bai Jun's question fluently.

After finalizing the plan to go to the lower level, Serval introduced the history and current situation of Belobog to Bai Jun, so that he could have a general understanding of the situation here.

That evening, Bai Jun declined Pela's invitation and chose to stay overnight at the Mechanical Workshop.

The next day, the two pushed through the morning mist and set off from the square of the Everwinter Monument in the Administrative District. After walking for about twenty minutes, they arrived at the edge of the Administrative District, where there was an abandoned underground station with a complex and winding structure, like a snake pit.

Led by Serval with practiced ease, the two gathered in the secret passage, bypassing the numerous Silvermane Guards, and finally arrived at a well.

There were no signs of movement near the well cover, proving that no one usually visits this area.

According to Serval's explanation yesterday afternoon, this shaft is a passage connecting the upper and lower levels. In the past, it was usually used as an emergency passage for miners, but it was abandoned along with the underground station after its closure. Now it serves as the entrance to the lower level.

However, when Serval lifted the well cover, she was instantly shocked by what she saw.

"Gray... cement?"

"Hmph, it seems your secret passage was discovered by the Silvermane Guards long ago Serval."

Serval stood there stunned, and then Bai Jun spoke up from behind her.

The exposed wellhead was filled with gray cement, roughly estimated to be three to four meters thick.

Without a doubt, the secret passage that Serval claimed to have taken had already been discovered and dealt with by the Silvermane Guards.

Unconvinced, Serval raised her guitar-shaped staff and used its tip to chisel through part of the cement, completely exposing the metal block buried beneath to the air—a metal block more than two meters wide, its pristine silver gleam tinged with a dull, leaden gray sheen.

"Wow, I didn't expect the Silvermane Guards to be serious! I thought pouring cement was bad enough, but they even laid a Refined Steel gate underneath! That damn Cocolia! I really don't know what she's thinking!"

Refined Steel, also known as Adamant Steel, is the most famous metal in Belobog.

The special metal, Refined Steel, renowned for its indestructible properties, is an indispensable material for the magnificent walls of Belobog, capable of withstanding millennia of wind and snow. This alone is enough to make it the hardest refined metal, undoubtedly the highest grade metal in the world.

The astonishing sound of the guitar pounding on the door echoed everywhere, yet the door, made of the hardest metal, remained unmoved—this was the most powerful proof.

"This won't work... I guess we'll have to give up on this place. This is really a headache. Now I'll have to think of another way to get to the lower level..."

Feeling a chill run down her spine at the sheer sturdiness of the gate Serval stopped what she was doing and tapped her shoulder with the neck of her guitar in frustration.

Just as she was about to set off to try her luck elsewhere, she suddenly noticed that Bai Jun had walked alone to the wellhead and was waving his fist at the door made of the hardest metal.

"Hey, Bai Jun, let's go. Don't waste your time there. Don't be fooled by the fact that it's covered in cement on the outside. The entire passage is probably built with this rare metal. Those high-quality Refined Steel doors are simply beyond human capabilities—"

The flying stone chips were as fierce as bullets, and the resulting gale instantly tousled her hair. The earth-shaking sound that shook her heart resounded in her ears.

With a single punch, the cement that completely encased the metal door shattered, sending the impact soaring into the sky with a powerful shockwave. The door, which was considered indestructible made of high-quality Refined Steel, developed terrifying, spiderweb-like cracks starting from the center of the punch's impact.

Faced with this inhuman and terrifying scene, the speechless Serval didn't bother to cover her aching ears or stop Bai Jun's actions. She even forgot to breathe, just staring blankly as Bai Jun once again swung his slender, white fist at the ground.

The entire ground cracked open.

The aftershocks of the destruction unleashed a Destruction wind pressure. This time, the Refined Steel gate was no longer so fortunate. As expected, it was completely shattered, reduced to pitiful fragments, and fell into the lower mining area along with the collapsed earth.

"Ugh!?"

When Serval came to her senses, she realized that she had also fallen into the lower level along with the collapsed ground. Before she could even scream, Bai Jun had already caught her in his arms and landed steadily on the rubble below, amidst the falling debris.

"You, you, you're amazing! You actually smashed through such a thick layer of ground with one punch!"

Realizing she was being carried in a princess carry, Serval didn't immediately break free. Her fair skin flushed red, and she looked at Bai Jun with a subtle mixture of curiosity and excitement in her eyes.

"Well enough..."

Bai Jun was startled when he saw that Serval's face had turned pale.

Just as he was about to put Serval down, the continuous footsteps around him seemed to be urged on by something, and the intervals quickened. As if realizing something, Bai Jun looked up and instantly collided with the gray figure rushing towards him.

Serval was forced out of Bai Jun's princess carry, and in her place, a gray raccoon (bushi) squeezed into her arms.

"Star!?"

"A-Bai! I miss you so much!"

And so, Bai Jun and the Stellaron Girl reunited.

"Uh, so in short, a new member has joined the team?"

Having finally come to understand the current situation, Seele reached this conclusion.

Her pretty face furrowed slightly. Although she considered herself not very educated and hadn't seen much of the world, she still found Bai Jun's entrance a bit hard to understand...

"Of course, you can trust A-Bai completely; he's incredibly strong!"

Starting with the gray-haired girl's inspiring and generous promise, March 7th and Dan Heng also expressed their opinions.

"Although Xing usually seems a bit unreliable, she's right about this. Bai Jun is indeed incredibly strong! He once wiped out Giant True Sting that was enormous with a single sword strike! Although I don't know why he's here, with him around, everything will be resolved!"

"That man is trustworthy."

With the approval of the three members of the Astral Express Crew, Bai Jun and Serval integrated into the team at an unimaginable speed. Of course, Bai Jun's own unknowing charm also played a role in this.

"Ahbo, Ahbo, what brings you to Belleburg? Did you miss me? I missed you so much too! And you smell so good, so warm..."

"My situation here is a bit complicated, I'll explain in detail later. Hey, stop clinging to me like that."

Xing chattered incessantly like a lively younger sister she hadn't seen in a long time, indulging in her joyful mood, a happy smile spreading across her face, ignoring the gazes of others, and leaping up to hug Bai Jun's arm.

As Bai Jun tried to pull her away, he kept sighing inwardly.

At this moment, seemingly after some internal struggle, Serval leaned closer to him, nudged Bai Jun's arm hesitantly, and then said, "Bai Jun, I remember you said before that you and the Nameless were friends, right...?"

"Yes, I'm old friends with them, so what's there to be confused about?"

"No, your relationship is clearly more than just friendship..."

Seeing Bai Jun blink in confusion, Serval helplessly placed her palm on her forehead.

Her gaze darted back and forth between Bai Jun, who looked confused, and the gray-haired girl who was hugging him. Her eyes practically screamed—Look! You two are so sweet together you're hugging in the middle of the street!

It wasn't just Serval who had this thought; Seele and Bronya, who were standing next to March 7th, pretended not to care but were actually secretly peeking with their faces covered, also had the same confusion.

After all, the gray-haired girl was usually seen as a beautiful, strong, and aloof figure in their minds. Seeing her suddenly make such a cute expression towards another man today... it has to be said that this was a huge shock to the worldview of these two innocent and beautiful girls.

"You're just overthinking it."

Bai Jun silently endured the astonished gazes of others, expressionlessly pulling away the gray-haired girl clinging to him. However, it was ultimately futile; the gray-haired girl, whom he had pulled away, quickly clung to him again like a sloth.

Only March 7th and Dan Heng were completely unsurprised by what they were seeing.

March 7th and Dan Heng exchanged a glance, shrugged helplessly, and then changed the subject to business. The two explained to Bai Jun and Serval their plan to meet with Svarog, as well as their current need to find a girl named Clara.

"I understand what you mean. The next step is to find that little girl in the mining area, right?"

Bai Jun nodded to indicate that he understood the situation, but when he looked up and his gaze swept over the others, his eyes froze when he saw Bronya for the first time.

(She looks so much like that Silver Wolf, she's basically a larger version of the Silver Wolf...)

Bai Jun's face showed disbelief at what he was seeing, as if he had encountered a supernatural phenomenon. Anyone who had ever seen the Silver Wolf's appearance would probably have this absurd thought, right?

Women are always sensitive to the gazes of those around them, let alone a young lady like Bronya from a prestigious family. The moment Bai Jun looked at her, Bronya sensed the subtle look in his eyes.

And whether it was Bronya's imagination or not, she always felt... that she didn't dislike the other person's gaze.

Bronya blushed slightly at the thought, closed one eye as if embarrassed, and awkwardly clasped her hands together in front of her, but did not seem to object.

(It really looks like it...)

A strange atmosphere filled the air between Bai Jun, who was staring intently at Bronya, who gradually lowered her head and fell silent; the two were locked in a stalemate.

The first to notice something was wrong was Seele, who was standing next to Bronya. She was like a mother hen that had smelled danger, and she immediately shielded Bronya behind her in a protective posture. At the same time, she narrowed her beautiful sapphire-colored eyes and bared her teeth at Bai Jun like an adorable kitten.

"..."

Coming to his senses, Bai Jun coughed lightly, silently averting his gaze and burying his doubts about Bronya's appearance deep in his heart. Meanwhile, the clever and quick-witted Miss March 7th seemed to see through the awkward atmosphere and took the initiative to change the subject.

"Hey, where's Sampo? He's suddenly disappeared."

Upon hearing this, Dan Heng pointed to the north side of the Great Mine, indicating that the last direction he saw the other party leave was that way.

Just as everyone looked in the direction Dan Heng pointed, wondering what Sampo was up to—

"Hey hey hey hey, there's a pervert!!!"

The girl's pitiful, tearful screams echoed all around.

The soft, gentle tone of the young girl's voice was so sweet and endearing that it evoked sympathy. It had a very distinctive quality, and anyone who heard it would never forget its owner—the lovely girl with dreamy, long, silvery-white hair, Clara.

"Hehe, don't get excited, little Clara, Uncle isn't a bad guy, okay?"

Following Clara's scream was a sly and sinister male voice. Without even seeing the person, just by hearing the voice, one could tell that the other person must have an incredibly punchable face.

"That bastard... he really is a pervert who stalks little girls."

With a gloomy expression, Seele picked up her scythe, and in a flash, she disappeared from the spot like a fluttering butterfly.

"A bastard! There's a murderer!!!"

Moments later, Sampo's scream pierced the sky.

PS:

Fully recovered and back!

Chapter 201 The Beautiful Youth Unleashes His Power

"Didn't I tell you—you're not allowed to lay a hand on young girls!"

"I'm so sorry, I'm so incredibly sorry! I promise I'll never do it again. Please, Miss Seele, have mercy and forgive me this time!"

Inside the pits of the Great Mine, Seele, wielding a giant scythe, was furious, her boyish phrasing revealing her anger. A defenseless white-haired little girl hid behind her, her pitiful ruby eyes, like a white rabbit, cautiously observing her surroundings.

Beneath Seele's feet, Sampo, bruised and battered, begged for mercy with a voice full of remorse—though such remorse sounded rather cheap coming from his lips.