Chapter 167

"Miss Bronya, is something on your mind?"

"..."

Bronya did not answer. In Bai Jun's initial impression, Bronya was as kind to everyone as the rising sun, but at this moment she was like a lake under the night sky, quiet, cold, and full of loneliness.

"... I'm fine, I just... feel a little dizzy, sorry."

Bronya bit her lip as if recalling fragments of the past. After speaking, she lowered her eyes and forced a smile as she apologized.

However, that smile seemed empty, as if it might disappear at any moment.

This was obviously a perfunctory response, something even a child could tell, given the almost overflowing frustration on her face.

However, Bai Jun felt relieved upon hearing this. His intention in asking her earlier was actually to find an excuse for himself and to give her a suitable way out so that she could continue to be alone in peace.

All Bai Jun needs to do next is give the standard reply, "Then you should rest well, I won't bother you anymore," and then he can return indoors to continue enjoying the banquet.

However, Bronya's answer was beyond Bai Jun's expectations.

"Mr. Bai Jun, if you discovered that the life you have and everything you accept so readily is just a carefully crafted lie, how would you feel?"

Bronya surprisingly chose to talk to Bai Jun about her troubles, which gave Bai Jun a real headache. He clearly didn't think their relationship was that close yet... Oh well, at this point, he could only grit his teeth and continue listening.

Bronya, on the other side, was equally incredulous. She should have just brushed it off, but for some reason, she found herself confiding her troubles to the other person... Oh well, given Bai Jun's character, it should be alright, right?

"They must be feeling angry, right?"

Bai Jun looked down at the empty water glass in his hand, remained silent for a moment, and then responded.

"Anger... that's definitely an emotion."

At that moment, the gloomy smile on Bronya's face looked as if she were mocking herself.

The sky above was pitch black, with the streetlights providing a faint light source instead of the stars. Looking in that direction, a few scattered figures could be seen flickering. Under the dim light, there was a man returning from the mine, accompanied by his wife and child. The three of them were laughing and chatting happily as they walked towards their little home.

"From as far back as I can remember, my daily life has revolved around reading, etiquette, and training, all in order to inherit the position of Supreme Guardian and protect Belobog."

Those silver eyes, watching the family's intimate interaction, were filled with envy and disappointment.

Every day in the past, my mother would remind me, "Remember your identity, Bronya," "This violates the Architects' teachings, Bronya," "A lady should not utter such vulgar words, Bronya"... Perhaps subconsciously these things were tiring, but I never regretted them and took them for granted.

It has become a mini-theater for young girls to confide their troubles.

Bai Jun remained silent, consciously taking on the role of listener as he had done countless times before, quietly listening to Bronya's complaints.

"The reason I obeyed my mother's orders was simply because I admired and worshipped her as the Supreme Guardian. I thought that since my mother was the Supreme Guardian, I should follow the same path—I chose to take the Supreme Guardian as my goal purely out of this frivolous and naive idea."

I simply followed the path my mother left behind.

Bronya's dryly chuckled confession conveyed this meaning.

"Bai Jun... actually, I'm not angry at my mother; I'm really angry at myself."

Did Bronya notice the expression on her face at that moment?

"I'm angry at myself for having lived such a superficial life, drifting aimlessly until now... Only now do I realize that the lower class isn't as cold and arrogant as others describe it. Aside from the vast difference in their quality of life, there's no essential difference between the upper and lower classes."

Bronya recounted her past with heart-wrenching pain, revealing that she still suffers greatly from it.

"..."

"Whether in the upper or lower classes, everyone eats the same food, talks about the same topics, and celebrates the same holidays. There are scumbags, and there are also those who are perfectly well-placed and full of kindness... But me, I know nothing about it."

Bronya's eyes gradually welled up with tears, and she couldn't help but choke up with sobs as she spoke.

Her uncontrollable emotions were the exact opposite of what she was saying; tears welled up in her trembling silver eyes.

Clear tears slid down her cheeks from the corners of her eyes, dripping onto the back of her slender hands. Then she lowered her head, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably, her clenched fists digging deep into her flesh.

The confused and distressed girl poured out all the words that had been buried deep in her heart, and cried incessantly.

Bai Jun, who had been listening attentively, hesitated to speak, unsure of what to say. After all, he had only known Bronya for less than two days. Let alone comforting her in her sadness, Bai Jun probably knew nothing about her troubles and pain.

Bronya's silver hair and the hem of her clothes swayed as if blown by the wind. Although Bai Jun couldn't feel the cold, he could tell from common sense that the temperature was quite cold.

To keep her from getting cold, Bai Jun took off his black coat and draped the overcoat, which was too loose for the girl's petite frame, over her shoulders.

The distance maintained during this time was just right, neither appearing distant nor obsequious.

"Bronya, even if you're angry about your ignorance, will you regret choosing the path of becoming the Supreme Guardian?"

Wearing only a short-sleeved shirt, Bai Jun turned to look at the street in front of him, not glancing to the side at all, but just staring straight ahead, and then spoke his true thoughts without reservation.

He suddenly recalled the time when Jing Yuan had recklessly thrown Luofu General onto his head.

Bronya's confusion about this responsibility reminded him of his own situation; facing the burden of supporting a city, he still hadn't found his true answer.

From this perspective, Bai Jun and Bronya can be said to empathize with each other.

"..."

Bronya was completely stunned by Bai Jun's sudden question. She seemed to have never really thought about the question before and stammered, unable to open her mouth.

"In other words, what is your attitude towards Belobog, the Supreme Guardian's duties, and all the people? It's okay, there's no need to rush to answer. Think it over and ask yourself these questions before you speak."

With a voice different from before, Bai Jun slowly wove together words.

Time seemed to stand still, frozen in time. All was silent, and the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy until the sound of wind and children's cries came from afar, along with faint laughter from the restaurant behind them. Only then did Bronya break the silence.

"... I... I do not regret choosing to become the Supreme Guardian..."

The words she uttered sounded as if she had struggled for a long time before finally managing to squeeze them out of her throat, and there wasn't a trace of insincerity in them.

"That's right. Compared to those who casually walk forward, are forced to make decisions carelessly, or make choices without realizing it, those who, like Bronya, have deep self-awareness and never give up even when faced with setbacks, but instead stride straight forward, are much more admirable."

Bai Jun turned around and looked at Bronya's tear-streaked face, a faint smile spreading from the corners of his eyes.

"What I want to say is that it's perfectly normal to feel struggle and confusion. It's because you've witnessed the true face of Belobog, know the hardships of the underprivileged, and genuinely want to change the status quo that you feel such pain. This is your sense of justice and responsibility at work. So there's no need to feel confused, because your choices will truly affect everyone in Belobog."

Drip, drip, the falling water droplets made a cheerful sound. Bronya, slightly choked up, lowered her head again, then slowly looked up at Bai Jun.

"Thank you, Bai Jun..."

This time, a faint but genuine smile appeared on her face.

"If one person can't do it, then two people should share the burden. It's very painful to bear everything alone. Besides, aren't your companions always standing behind you?"

Seeing Bronya's tear-streaked face break into a smile, Bai Jun couldn't help but turn to look at the restaurant behind the glass doors. "Whether it's Seele, Natasha, or the three people from the Astral Express Crew, haven't they all always been standing behind you?"

Bronya seemed to notice Bai Jun's gaze as well, and when she turned around and saw her companions in the restaurant, a tender look appeared in her eyes.

Then she moved slightly closer to Bai Jun.

Bai Jun also adjusted his position, intending to keep his distance from her, but she gently tugged at the hem of his clothes.

She returned the coat draped over her shoulders to Bai Jun, then took a step back and softly asked him:

"I don't drink before important matters to avoid alcohol affecting my judgment... However, after I've spoken to my mother and things have gone smoothly, as a token of my gratitude, would you like to have a drink with me then?"

(Actually, I don't really like drinking alcohol, so juice is fine instead...)

But seeing the smile on Bronya's face and the nervousness she felt as she mustered her courage, Bai Jun ultimately couldn't bring himself to say those words.

Bai Jun went into the restaurant first, while Bronya stayed on the balcony for a while until the tear stains on her eyes had completely disappeared before returning to the restaurant. Facing the worried Seele, Bronya gave a dry laugh to brush her off.

No one pressed Bronya for the reason why she refused to join the banquet and preferred to stay on the balcony. Everyone understood, to some extent, the reason for her hesitation and decided to patiently wait for her to come to her senses.

As the banquet was drawing to a close, Natasha informed everyone that she would be returning to the Upper District to infiltrate the next day. Although it seemed abrupt, no one raised any objections. The specific infiltration location was Serval's Mechanical Workshop... Serval had no objections to this and even happily stated that having more family members was a good thing.

After finishing the banquet, it was almost 1 a. m. Everyone quickly returned to their rooms to rest and prepare for tomorrow's operation, while Natasha went to confirm whether the Wildfire had dug a passage that could connect to the upper level.

The next morning.

As the streetlights throughout the town gradually emitted their incandescent light, illuminating the surroundings like a morning dawn, the group arrived at the connecting passage Natasha had mentioned. Staring intently at the pit leading to the upper level, Natasha solemnly wished everyone good luck and safety.

Then the group carefully climbed up the pit, spending nearly ten minutes navigating the narrow, crowded passage before finally getting some fresh air from the upper level.

"Ugh, I'm so tired, I'm about to suffocate in there... Ugh, so dirty!"

The filthy March 7th first wiped the dust off his face, then disgustedly rubbed his hands on Dan Heng's clothes. Seeing that March 7th was still shamelessly using his clothes to wipe his hands, Dan Heng, expressionless, forcefully pulled the clothes away.

Not only on March 7th, but almost everyone present was covered in dust and dirt, looking no better than the miners. They were the same kind of people who would be lost if thrown into a pile of ore... Except for Bai Jun, no one knew how he managed to remain clean and new, and even his clothes didn't get much dirt on them.

This made March 7th so envious that her mind twisted. She was filled with rage and evil intentions. Her unclean little hand quietly approached his clothes, preparing to give him the same treatment.

Unfortunately, before her hand could even touch Bai Jun, she was struck on the head with a chop to the head.

Seeing this, the gray-haired girl, who had been itching to do something, gave up the idea.

Ignoring March 7th, who was whimpering and clutching his forehead, and the obedient gray-haired girl, Bai Jun turned his head to the right as if he had a premonition of the future. He saw Serval, who had the same idea as March 7th and was covered in dirt, opening her arms to give him a big hug.

"Stop fooling around Serval, hurry up and take us back to the Mechanical Workshop, otherwise if the citizens see you like this, it'll definitely attract the Silvermane Guards."

"Oh! That's exactly what I was thinking! Hahaha..."

Serval seemed completely unashamed of her actions, responding loudly as if nothing had happened.

Considering that everyone's current disheveled appearance would attract attention, the group, led by Serval, took a detour through the narrow path and headed towards Serval's Mechanical Workshop.

Although it seemed a bit unreliable, Serval's familiarity with the area was enough to convince everyone. Under her expert guidance, Bai Jun soon found Serval's Mechanical Workshop.

"Please wait here for a moment, I'll open the door before you come out."

Serval raised her arm to stop the others.

She then crept up to the door, carefully observing to make sure no one was around, before quickly unlocking it with her key.

The group quickly entered the Mechanical Workshop, and then Serval the door shut with a "thump!" and hung up a sign that read "Closed for Business".

"Bai Jun! Serval! Where did you two go last night? I called you, Serval, but you didn't answer. I was really worried about you... Hey?"

Before everyone could even breathe a sigh of relief after the door was closed, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from the attic of the Mechanical Workshop, followed by a melodious girl's voice.

Upon instantly recognizing Pela's voice, Serval's eyes widened, and she quickly called out to stop Pela, who was still preparing to come down from the attic. At the same time, she signaled the others to hide immediately.

"Whoa! Wait, wait, wait! Pela, weren't you supposed to be busy with your intelligence work these past few days? Why are you suddenly back?"

Pela, who was in the attic, stopped when she heard Serval's voice. She explained, puzzled:

"My boss heard about the attack I suffered in the snowfield the day before yesterday, so he gave me a few days off. I was planning to surprise you guys last night, but when I got home I found you weren't there... So where did you take Bai Jun?!"

The moment the words left her lips, Pela appeared as if in a flash at the corner of the stairs. Her wary and displeased gaze instantly fell upon the filthy Serval and the spotless Bai Jun, and... one, two, three, four!!!

Although their faces were not clearly visible, Pela could still determine that they were female based on their body shape and height.

In other words, Bai Jun brought back four girls from his trip, and why do they all look so dirty? Could it be... that this is the legendary wild...

To draw a conclusion again--

It's definitely cheating!!!

The girl with impure thoughts instantly blushed like a burning flame. Her usually aloof face, which showed no emotion, began to change expressions. Then, she subconsciously took a few steps back and raised her finger towards the crowd, trembling.

"You, you, you, all of you... how utterly shameless!!!"

Chapter 205 Supreme Commander Bronya Male Secretary

"Alright, Intelligence Officer Pela, I know you're surprised, but before that, could you let me say a few words?"

"Huh? That voice is..."

The turmoil caused by the teenage girl's infatuation ended with the appearance of Bronya. Upon hearing that kind and familiar voice, Pela, who was shocked and opened her eyes wide, finally recognized that this disheveled woman, who at first glance looked no different from a furnace worker, was actually her superior— Acting Commander Bronya.

As Pela gradually calmed down, she accepted the reality before her. Seeing this, Bronya stepped forward and personally told Pela everything she knew.

Because Bronya knew the other person's character well, she believed that the upright, serious, meticulous yet gentle girl in front of her had the ability to understand the big picture and would make the most correct choice based on the current situation.

"I roughly understand what you mean, but for the Silvermane Guards, the Guardian's orders are supreme and absolute..."

The girl's lips parted slightly, and her voice, tinged with disappointment, reached everyone's ears.

The strategy of winning them over had failed. Hearing this, everyone seemed to already see the scene of being chased by the Silvermane Guards. They were secretly shocked and began to prepare to run away.

However, the next second, Pela straightened her glasses and looked up at Bronya with a serious expression:

"But there is something else in the Silvermane Guards' oath that is just as important as her orders... and that is the people of Belobog. If everything Lady Bronya says is true, then in order to protect the people of Belobog and stop the ever-expanding disaster, so-called principles should give way to reality."

Bronya finally smiled and reached out her hand to Pela in front of her.

"Thank you for your understanding. From now on, we can call ourselves like-minded comrades."

"Then, please take care of me, Lady Bronya." Pela first glanced at Bai Jun over there, and then, as if relieved that she could stand on the same side as him, slowly placed her small hand in Bronya's hand.

"Just call me Bronya. Our relationship isn't that superficial, is it, Pela?"

"I... I understand, Miss Bronya."