Chapter 166
The crowd surrounded Bai Jun as if he were a triumphant hero. No one paid attention to Svarog, who was lying on the ground. Only Clara ran to his side.
"Mr. Svarog said you'd grant me every wish, right? Clara's biggest wish right now is for everyone to come together, like... like family."
Clara gently placed her small hand on the dark, cold body. Her cheerful expression had vanished, and she appeared dejected and lost, yet her will was stronger than ever before.
Listening to the determined tone of the young girl's voice, Svarog remained silent, while Clara stayed by his side, whispering to him, as if she were trying to prove her resolve to Svarog in this way.
"Over this period of time, Clara has learned one thing—the results obtained through 'calculation' don't necessarily bring happiness. Even knowing that the world outside the cage isn't all that wonderful... people still want to stick their heads out and take a look."
This is the conclusion Clara has drawn from her long experience with homeless people, displaced orphans, and Shard families.
Svarog, who had remained silent, recovered from his paralysis and stood up again, supporting himself on the ground.
Noticing that Svarog had recovered, Seele nudged Bai Jun's shoulder and tilted her head slightly, saying, "Bai Jun, Svarog seems to be alright now. Go find him and ask for the information. If he goes back on his word and doesn't keep his promise, give him another good beating!"
"Gathering intelligence should be your job; I'm not very clear on the details of this matter."
Bai Jun saw Svarog, who had turned his back to the pool with his arms crossed, standing there with his expression unchanged and without saying a word, so he shrugged.
As soon as she said that, Seele retorted, making a big X with her hands in front of her chest, and said emphatically, "But you're the winner! Didn't Svarog say you needed to prove yourself? Now that you've succeeded, isn't it only right that you ask the loser for the spoils?"
Actually, that's not the case. The main reason is that Svarog looks very intimidating right now, and going over to talk to him would inevitably lead to a fight. It's unlikely that anyone in the world would want to go looking for trouble with Svarog, so this difficult task ultimately fell to Bai Jun, who has the strength to suppress him.
Urged on by everyone's gazes, Bai Jun stepped forward with a pout and got to the point.
"Have you calmed down? Let's get back to our previous topic, Stellaron— "
Upon hearing the question, Svarog, who had his back to Bai Jun, moved his arm, interrupting Bai Jun's words.
Immediately afterwards, Svarog turned around and looked down at Bai Jun in front of him.
Bai Jun remained expressionless as he endured Svarog's gaze as he looked down at him, while Svarog peered into his deep blue eyes—observing the calm, emotionless depths of his clear, blooming cornflower-like eyes.
"... Evaluation system restarting... Restart successful. Variable transformation in progress... Considering Clara's request, access to information related to the 'Stellaron' is permitted."
A moment later, Svarog closed his crimson mechanical eye and slowly revealed the truth that had been sealed in the database for a hundred years.
Ignore those fragmented details...
The conclusion is that the world's high-ranking officials, and even the Guardians themselves, all knew all along that the "Stellaron" was the source of the disaster. However, for the sake of the city's stability, they chose to conceal the truth, and their secret research into destroying the Stellaron ended in failure.
"Really... It seems the truth is far more dramatic than we imagined..."
The location is "Natasha's Clinic" in Boulder Town.
The group bid farewell to Clara and Svarog and returned to Boulder Town. Natasha, having learned the truth from everyone, didn't know how to react and could only force a smile despite her exhaustion.
Oleg, known in the lower world as a tough and resolute man, leaned against the corner of the wall, closing his eyes as if he had lost all his strength.
Bai Jun wasn't particularly interested in the history of Belobog, so he only understood a fraction of what was said and barely managed to avoid yawning. As for Seele, March 7th, and Dan Heng, their expressions could only be described as shock. Ever since they learned of this news, they had been talking about it nonstop on their way back to Boulder Town.
Even Serval, who had expected it, was initially speechless, but among everyone, Bronya's expression was the most complicated.
The time for complaining and blaming others is over.
Pain and tears solve nothing. Regardless of the truth, there is no reason for the Wildfire to stagnate. From the moment the Underworld were completely abandoned, the struggle will not end until the conflict is resolved.
They couldn't afford to hesitate for even a second and began to confirm the information.
"Although we now have Svarog's support and they've stopped sealing off the furnace core, we still can't allow people from underground to rush into the Upper District."
Natasha emphasized this point first, precisely to dispel the restless desires of some people.
"That cold-blooded Supreme Guardian uses lies and manipulation to separate the upper and lower levels. If she discovers the changes underground, who knows what she might do... As for 'Wildfire,' we need more time to recuperate."
"So when should we take action?"
Seele pressed for details, her excitement barely contained when the topic of the lower-level counterattack came up.
"In short, not now, but after careful consideration, we have already planned out the next course of action for you."
What is that?
Natasha and Oleg exchanged a glance, then answered Seele's question in unison, "Go to the upper levels and infiltrate, waiting for the right opportunity."
Seele made a confused "Huh?" sound, seemingly not understanding what they meant. But it didn't matter; Natasha and Oleg hadn't expected to explain it clearly in a short time anyway. They simply instructed Seele to obey orders, so even if Seele was confused, she wouldn't say anything more.
As time passed and they finished discussing their countermeasures, night quietly crept into the Underworld.
The incandescent lights of the Geomarrow illuminate the entire sunless underground town, taking on the role of the Sun and shining during the daytime, much like the scenery of the upper sky. As time passes, the incandescent light changes color, and at night the town is bathed in a warm orange glow.
The simple stone-paved road reflects the light from the streetlights powered by the Geomarrow energy source, and the dim yellow night view of Boulder Town can be seen in the field of vision.
The sounds of ore-laden carts gliding along and the footsteps of pedestrians filled the town with a bustling energy, a stark contrast to the morning farewells.
Tonight, "Natasha's Clinic" hung up a sign saying it was temporarily closed early on.
"Health is the foundation of everything; you can't afford to lose it. You've all worked so hard today; you should all get some rest." Natasha kept everyone there and took out some precious wines and food from the storage room, filling the table with them.
This dinner would be considered a standard meal for an ordinary family in the Upper District, but in the extremely scarce lower world, it was a rare delicacy. Especially the alcohol; Natasha usually used it with extreme caution, like a disinfectant, let alone drinking it openly.
However, seeing the table full of delicious food, Seele swallowed hard but hesitated to pick up her chopsticks, nervously glancing at Natasha.
"Um, Nat... this meal isn't going to be our last meal before we're executed, is it?"
"Pfft—Don't worry, it's just a reward for your hard work these past few days. Enjoy the food without worry. This is just part of it. After you return victorious from the Upper District, I'll throw a super-lively banquet. We've made a promise!"
Seeing Seele's timid and adorable expression, Natasha smiled and explained the situation to Seele, finally putting her mind at ease.
"Hahaha, what are you all standing there for? The food's going to get cold if you don't eat soon!"
With beer and juice slung over his shoulder, Oleg saw that the food on the table hadn't been eaten yet, so he laughed and shouted for everyone to hurry up and eat. As if this was a signal, the hungry crowd pounced on the table like hungry tigers and began to eat heartily.
This was the most sumptuous dinner the Astral Express Crew had eaten since arriving on the lower level. Seele said she hadn't had such a feast in years, and Serval, who had just joined the group, was completely at ease and happily joined in.
"To the tomorrow that everyone has been waiting for, may it arrive as promised! Cheers!!!"
The clashing glasses splashed out a lot of white foam.
Everyone clinked their glasses together, tilting their heads back to drink or sipping their full glasses of wine or juice, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
"Goo-hoo! The drinks in the Underworld are even better than I expected! It's just that there wasn't enough; these two glasses are all gone... Bai Jun, you should be able to hold your liquor, why don't you try some? It would be such a waste."
"Sorry, I have terrible taste in alcoholic beverages. It would be a waste for me to drink them; juice is much more refreshing."
"What a pity! I'll just drink it myself then?"
Serval hooked her slender arm around Bai Jun's neck, and after speaking in a drunken, hazy voice, a malty smell of alcohol wafted over, not unpleasant at all. On the contrary, a faint body fragrance mixed with the scent of shampoo kept Bai Jun's senses.
With her face flushed, Serval grabbed him with one hand, raised the wine glass in her right hand high, and then tilted her head back to gulp it down.
Because he drank too fast, the wine that spilled from the corners of his mouth gathered into small streams and dripped down his smooth neck, then flowed down his pert chest, and even spilled quite a bit onto Bai Jun's clothes.
If any other drunk man dared to do this, Bai Jun would have kicked him all the way upstairs. But considering that Serval's drinking manners weren't too bad and she was a decent person, Bai Jun didn't say anything and let her do whatever she wanted.
"Excuse me, Mr. Bai Jun, may I have a moment of your time?"
Bai Jun felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Natasha with a gentle smile on her face. She took two steps back, indicating that she could speak to him privately.
Bai Jun did not refuse. He stood up from the crowd and followed Natasha through the long corridor of the living room, pushed open the door, and stepped onto the open-air balcony on the second floor. The biting cold evening wind dispelled the warmth from his body, bringing a refreshing clarity.
"You must be very troubled. Don't worry, I just wanted to thank you."
Natasha walked over to him, held out a glass of hot water to Bai Jun, and expressed her gratitude.
She learned from Seele about the origins of this stranger and the help he had provided on this trip. As the actual leader of the Wildfire, she felt it was necessary to convey her gratitude to Bai Jun.
"Don't be so formal, Ms. Natasha. Just treat me like one of the Astral Express Crew, just like you would treat them."
"But I'm also very grateful to those three people on the Astral Express Crew."
Bai Jun reached out and took the hot water Natasha handed him. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Natasha seemed to be in a very good mood, left the balcony first. Bai Jun finished the glass of water that had cooled down and also prepared to leave the balcony.
At that moment, Bai Jun suddenly noticed an elegant and dignified figure on the balcony next door in the distance.
She possessed dignified and delicate features, a small and straight nose, and the air of a well-educated aristocratic young lady.
The young girl, in the prime of her youth, wore a blue and white uniform in the style of the Silvermane Guards. Far from overshadowing her radiance, it accentuated her unique military bearing, setting her apart from other girls. This complemented her pure and lovely appearance perfectly.
The other person's arm rested lightly on the railing, her beautiful silver eyes filled with sorrow, and her spiral twin ponytails, reaching her slender waist, swayed gently in the evening breeze.
Bai Jun remembered that her name should be Bronya Rand.
However, Bai Jun had no intention of speaking to the other person and was just about to turn and leave—
Suddenly, a point of light fell from the sky like a shooting star, and a crystal-clear water droplet, like a touching tear, caught Bai Jun's attention.
Just then, Bronya noticed Bai Jun nearby. "Who... who is it!?" His trembling voice sounded pitiful. Bronya hurriedly wiped her eyes with her sleeve and, with the help of the dim light, made out the face on the other side.
"Mr. Bai Jun..."
(What a hassle, I should have just left...)
After hearing Bronya's question, which sounded so delicate it seemed it might vanish with the evening breeze, Bai Jun reluctantly agreed.
Clang--
Suddenly, Seele in the restaurant next door shivered, her empty wine glass clattering violently against the table.
Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety... An indescribable sense of unease washed over her. Seele couldn't explain what this inexplicable feeling was, but there was a painful feeling that something precious was about to be taken away. Based on this emotion, she was about to get up to check, but was suddenly pressed down by Serval next to her.
"Don't go, little Seele, there's still plenty of wine here. It's such a shame to meet such a nice kid like you and not have a few more drinks!"
With a slightly seductive smile, Serval handed Seele a large glass of ice-cold beer.
Staring at the cold, orange-yellow liquid in her hand, and smelling the familiar scent of malt, Seele swallowed hard; desire had ultimately triumphed over reason.
Let's drink and be merry while we can, and worry about everything else later!
Chapter 204 Cheating is absolutely unacceptable!
"The world's high-ranking officials, and even the Guardian himself—they all knew long ago that the Stellaron was the source of the disaster. But for the sake of the city's stability, they chose to conceal the truth, and their secret research to destroy the Stellaron ended in failure."
I still remember the truth that Svarog revealed very clearly.
That sentence lingered in Bronya's ears like a persistent, agonizing white noise.
After learning everything about the Stellaron from Svarog's materials, she was deeply shocked.
The beliefs and values that had sustained Bronya until now, the very reasons that made her the successor, along with her boring and pathetic self-esteem, seemed to be utterly shattered, trampled, and withered into dust by cruel reality in an instant.
Even after returning to Boulder Town and being surrounded by the warm and comfortable feeling of home, that feeling still didn't improve.
At the celebratory banquet, Bronya had no appetite for the food like Seele. The restless, cloud-like negative emotions that made her anxious had somehow transformed into something as sticky as silt and instantly amplified their presence in her heart.
Feeling restless and unable to fit in, she eventually got up quietly and left the table.
Once on the deserted balcony, she leaned forward against the cold railing, feeling the biting night wind. Her previously muddy thoughts suddenly became clear and distinct, like spring water, desperately fighting against the "emotions" that were entrenched in her heart.
The truth about the planet is becoming clear: this massive catastrophe that swept across the planet originated in its Stellaron.
Successive guardians were fully aware of this but were powerless to do anything about it, so they could only continue to weave lies to allow the city and its people to eke out a living in this false moment of peace—but this did not solve the problem completely.
Bronya knew very well that only by destroying the Stellaron could the planet and Belobog return to normal.
But the problem lies with his own mother, Cocolia, who is revered by the world and known as the Supreme Guardian. Why did she choose to hide the reality of the Stellaron from him, and why did she instill the erroneous views of the lower classes in him for so many years?
If it were just her mother's disapproval, even if her efforts were in vain, Bronya would only experience disappointment.
But what if everything before us is just a carefully crafted lie?
If the happiness Belobog currently enjoys is merely a carefully orchestrated performance by conspirators seeking to rob Belobog freedom, then what is the true purpose of Bronya's existence as the heir to the Supreme Guardian?
The answer is already obvious—that is, to become an accomplice of conspirators, and to become a scoundrel who deceives and fools the world.
The sense of justice instilled in her from childhood still expresses resistance, but undeniably, the facts before her make her feel deeply that her existence is both empty and pathetic.
Anger, confusion, bewilderment, pain, guilt, and remorse swirled through her soul like a whirlpool.
Bronya looked up at the top of Boulder Town, but the cold, dark cave offered her no response.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
Bronya murmured her apologies, perhaps to the suffering people in the Underworld, or perhaps to all the residents of the Upper District who had been fooled by lies. In truth, she didn't know who she was apologizing to; it was purely out of instinctive guilt.
A tear also welled up in her eye as she struggled and agonized.
Just then, she realized with a start that there were other people nearby on the balcony. "Who is it?" With her exclamation, the figure hidden on the next balcony stepped out of the shadows, and the white hair, as white as fine snow, slowly emerged in the dim light.
"Mr. Bai Jun..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stand there."
"It's alright, Mr. Bai Jun did nothing wrong. It's my fault."
Forcing a response, Bai Jun approached the adjacent balcony and stood beside Bronya at a proper distance. The girl wiped away her tears with her sleeve, and after a while, she looked up, revealing a slightly forlorn smile.