Why am I the one being won over?

Pela, seemingly embarrassed as she twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, finally couldn't resist adding the title. In short, Pela chose to understand the group's plan, and even without participating in the actual actions, her understanding still brought great convenience.

After all, when they first saw Pela, March 7th and the others were already ready to run away at any moment, Seele was even prepared to knock her unconscious and imprison her.

Thanks to Bronya's authority, unnecessary conflict was avoided, and the immediate crisis was resolved smoothly. The group, without even having time to wash themselves, sat down on the sofa to discuss their next move.

The core issue is that Natasha only told everyone about the mission to infiltrate and gather intelligence at the upper levels, but she didn't give them any specific direction on how to do it. As a result, the group had a heated discussion about their next move.

Serval, Bai Jun, and Pela didn't participate in the conversation. Instead, they sat on the other side chatting. The conversation mainly consisted of Pela's complaints about the two of them leaving without saying goodbye, Serval's apology, and Bai Jun's smirk.

"Is there even a question? Investigate the troop deployment and allocation in the Upper District. When the Upper District and Underworld clash, we'll have an advantage!"

"Our ultimate goal is to avoid conflict! You idiot Seele!"

With her legs crossed and her right hand resting on the sofa armrest, Seele spoke instinctively. As a result, she received a stern rebuke from Bronya beside her. Unable to refute, Seele could only bow her head and apologize, saying, "Uh, I'm sorry..."

What should we eat tonight?

The gray-haired girl's question was completely ignored.

"Can I take a shower quickly? I feel so uncomfortable all dirty..."

The pink-haired girl's complaints were completely ignored.

Sighing repeatedly, Dan Heng rubbed his temples, adding with a helpless and weary tone the most crucial point, "Don't forget why we came to the upper levels in the first place. Our top priority should be confirming the location of the Stellaron. If we don't even know where the Stellaron is, then talking about anything else is pointless."

"Wow, Dan Heng so smart! Does anyone know the location of the Stellaron?"

"If I had known, I wouldn't be sitting here."

Let's have barbecue tonight!

"Ugh~ I got a scolding from Bronya..."

March 7th, who was the first to react, clapped and celebrated with admiration. Then, she looked blankly at Dan Heng, who had a black line on his face, the gray-haired girl who was confused, and Seele, who was immersed in the disappointment of being scolded.

"I'm sorry, my mother never revealed any information about the Stellaron to me."

Even Bronya, the heir to the "Supreme Guardian," could only shake her head in reluctance.

Just as the discussion about the Stellaron reached a dead end, one of the three people chatting animatedly nearby suddenly turned around and said to the others, "The location of the Stellaron? I know it."

Serval's calm tone made it seem as if she were talking about something trivial, yet her words drew everyone's attention to her.

"Ms. Serval, how did you know...?"

Serval sat up straight and answered Bronya's question with a smile:

"Even without seeing it with my own eyes, I used to be an observer specializing in Stellaron. Using simulation experiments and overseas reconnaissance, I can arrive at a rough location. Based on my judgment, the 'Stellaron' is probably located north of Belobog —somewhere in the vast snowfields."

"North of Belobog, a vast snowfield... Ah, could it be that northern snowfield that requires passing through the Silvermane Guards's front-line restricted area and then traversing a large Fragmentum to reach?"

Bronya murmured the two place names softly, and combined with her knowledge of the various regions of Belobog, she quickly realized exactly where in Belobog the place Serval was referring to was.

"Absolutely correct. As expected of the successor to the 'Supreme Guardian,' he knows that desolate place like the back of his hand."

"No, I've never been to that place either. I've only heard about it from Captain Gepard at the front..."

"Ah, you silly brother... Come to think of it, the area he's in charge of is that snowfield, which is troublesome..."

Serval's expression suddenly became somewhat complicated; rather than dislike, this emotion should be described as distress.

"So, in order to find the Stellaron, we must find a way to get past the Silvermane Guards' defenses and the Fragmentum?"

Dan Heng calmly analyzed the intelligence and efficiently and swiftly summarized his viewpoints.

"Huh? That Captain Gepard is actually Serval's brother! I've never heard of him before, but it does seem like it... You two both have the surname Landau, blond hair, blue eyes, and you look quite alike. Hmm, if you look closely, you do have many similarities."

Her surprised tone revealed March 7th's current mood. Lying prostrate on the back of the sofa, she seemed to have caught a whiff of gossip, suddenly propped herself up, and then belatedly nodded.

"Haha, you're only realizing it now? No, you're completely focusing on the wrong thing, Little March."

Sitting at the counter Mechanical Workshop Serval broke into a smile, resting her right hand on the back of the chair, her slender palm gently touching her cheek, and teased, "Besides, you've never asked me about this before. I can't exactly tell everyone I meet that stubborn, idiotic younger brother is my family, can I?"

"Hmm, is there any possibility that we can win him over? After all, you're his older sister Serval."

"Unfortunately, Little March, your plan is doomed to fail. That idiot brother is an upright man, but he's also notoriously stubborn. That idiot brother always values orders above all else. Even if you slap the facts in his face, he won't budge... Sigh, should I call it blind loyalty?"

Little March's not-so-bright mind came up with a seemingly reliable answer, but it was still met with a merciless rebuke from Serval.

"Regardless of my relationship with that idiot, based on my understanding of his personality, I can imagine that if we accidentally run into him, we'll most likely become his targets for arrest as well."

"Sacrificing family for the greater good! "Serval sighed, yet she concluded with unwavering conviction.

Pela, standing to the side, did not deny it at all, which suggests that Gepard's personality was indeed as exaggerated as Serval had described.

Not only was the plan to win him over doomed to fail, but it was also imperative to avoid Gepard at all costs.

Although Serval also wants to help the members of Wildfire obtain the Stellaron to resolve her long-standing confusion, this does not mean that she wants to see siblings turn against each other and stage a scene of fratricide... In fact, to put it more dramatically, Serval does not want to fight against any of the Silvermane Guards.

She knew better than anyone what kind of fools the Silvermane Guards on the front lines were, and she respected these nameless heroes who were willing to sacrifice themselves for Belobog more than anyone else. From any perspective, it would be the worst thing to clash with them.

"But don't we have Bronya? If the heir to the 'Supreme Guardian' and the commander of the Silvermane Guards personally persuades us to surrender, I believe even the most upright and stubborn Gepard won't say much."

"Right, we have Bronya as our backer! Isn't this exactly what they mean by 'holding the emperor hostage to command the nobles'?" Everyone suddenly felt enlightened. Bai Jun, who said this, curled his lip, thinking that the others must have had their heads clogged with dust from climbing the tunnel, making it impossible for them to understand such a simple concept.

"No... I'm afraid I won't be able to travel with you all for the next period of time."

Bronya seemed to have thought about it for a long time, and with a gloomy expression, she shook her head and rejected Bai Jun's suggestion.

Everyone immediately showed expressions of astonishment, too shocked to speak, especially Seele, who grabbed Bronya's shoulders in disbelief and said, "W-why... Bronya, what do you want to do?"

"I don't want to be a traitor, Seele, everyone, there's no need to rush."

Bronya gently removed Seele's hands, which were tightly gripping her shoulders, and explained the reason to everyone.

"I am the successor to the title of 'Supreme Guardian' of Belobog, and also the acting commander of the Silvermane Guards..."

Hearing this, Serval had been resting her right hand on the back of the chair, smiled bitterly and pursed her lips. She had more or less guessed what Bronya was thinking. This was only natural, after all, it was Cocolia who had raised her to adulthood, and she could never repay Bronya's kindness in this lifetime.

"I know that Lady Cocolia, my mother, has recently made some decisions that puzzle me, but I still can't shake off all the wonderful Remembrance associated with her. She is my mother, and also the Supreme Guardian of Belobog, so I must stand before her and ask her for clarification—this is my wish as her daughter, and also my inescapable responsibility as Silvermane Guards."

The girl named Bronya was afraid of facing strong opposition from her companions and shaking her hard-won determination, so she never told anyone. But now, she suddenly realized that she should follow her deepest feelings and firmly convey her determination to everyone.

As she said, she had to shoulder her responsibilities, whether as a daughter, Silvermane Guards, or a companion. Therefore, lies and deception were absolutely unacceptable.

"That's good. I thought... I thought... no, it's nothing."

Seele seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, gently patting her chest. Just now, she really thought Bronya was going to abandon everyone and become a traitor to the Wildfire, which made her so nervous that she couldn't breathe and her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

"I knew it! You're just like a young Cocolia in that respect."

Serval shrugged, laughing out loud with a mixture of helplessness and relief.

Everyone understood Bronya's concerns as a daughter and respected her choice, so no one opposed her determination. However, after careful consideration and discussion, they ultimately offered Bronya a suggestion.

"I feel it's still too dangerous. Putting aside Cocolia will become enraged and imprison you, even if she hasn't done anything, your questioning, Bronya, will inevitably arouse her vigilance, and then all the plans will probably be much more difficult."

"I think Ms. Serval has a point, but the key to everything lies in your safety, Miss Bronya. If you are safe and sound, we can work together from the inside and outside; but if something happens to you, the situation will become extremely complicated."

Serval and Dan Heng's speeches were met with nods of approval from the others. Just then, the gray-haired girl, who had been quietly joining in the fun, suddenly spoke up, "In that case, how about sending one more person to protect Bronya?"

It has to be said that it's simple and crude, but surprisingly reasonable.

Everyone had to reconsider the suggestion made by the gray-haired girl. Arranging a partner for Bronya would undoubtedly help Bronya in many ways and avoid many unexpected events. The key was who should be that partner.

"Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! I can do it! I can do it!"

Seele volunteered, raising her hand with a cheerful expression, like a puppy begging for a bone.

"""Veto!"""

Serval, Dan Heng, and even Bronya herself all rejected her.

The reason is too simple. Even if Bronya could fabricate an administrative position for her partner, Seele's temperament was simply too dazzling to be concealed. To put it bluntly, her flamboyant street thug aura was too conspicuous and would be too out of place among a group of cultured people.

Ignoring Seele's grief and heartbreak, which turned into a pile of snowflakes, the group considered other candidates. The three members of the Astral Express Crew were wanted and could be eliminated immediately, as could Serval, who was a well-known figure. Pela could be completely ignored.

So it seems there's only one candidate left...

All eyes turned to Bai Jun, marveling as if he were an exquisite commodity. Wasn't this the perfect candidate?

Elegant, gentle, unassuming... almost every word used to describe a noble young man can be used to praise Bai Jun. Placing him next to Bronya is simply perfect, no, it can even be said to be a match made in heaven!

"It's you I choose! Bronya's personal male secretary!"

The decisive decision instantly triggered Seele's heart-wrenching sobs, Pela's devastating whimpers, Bai Jun's bewildered tilt of his head, and Bronya's flushed face...

Chapter 206 Gepard: What the heck is this brother-in-law who fell from the sky?

"W-what personal male secretary?... He's just a partner. Please, Miss Serval, be more serious."

"Serval, stop talking nonsense!"

Bronya, blushing, quickly denied and corrected the statement. Upon hearing the word "secretary," Pera, who seemed to be conjuring up some scenarios in her mind, Pela gloomy and pouted angrily.

"That's right, that's right, I, being a girl myself, am more suitable..."

Seeing Seele baring her teeth and bristling at her, and the gray-haired girl beside her constantly making "roaring noises" as if her territory had been invaded, the innocent target of everyone's anger Serval wisely raised her hands in surrender and looked at Bai Jun to the side to change the subject.

"Aha, sorry, sorry, I misspoke. So, what does Bai Jun think of this suggestion?"

"... Okay, I understand."

Bai Jun didn't complain or ask any irrelevant questions. His quick and generous acceptance of the situation deeply pleased Serval. "Waaah, Bai Jun, you really are an angel."

"If you keep saying that, I'm going to refuse."

"Terribly sorry!"

In short, it was decided that Bai Jun would serve as Bronya's partner and bodyguard.

The people in the hall then discussed the follow-up plan, which was that Bronya would use her position to fabricate an administrative civilian identity for Bai Jun, and the two of them would go to Kliperburg, the political center of Belobog, while keeping their communication devices open at all times, and try to get information about the Stellaron from Cocolia indirectly.

The others went ahead to the snowy plains in the north to investigate the situation and wait quietly for Bronya's news.

After agreeing on their next move, the shadow of the massive city wall to the north covered a corner of the street where the Mechanical Workshop was located, and the hands of the clock were about to reach the moment when the sun was high in the sky.

After arriving at the upper level, the group finally had a brief respite. Covered in dust and grime, they were led by Pela to the attic bathroom to wash themselves and change into new clothes.

"Yay! Time to take a shower!"

"Great! I'm going crazy if I don't take a shower soon!"

"Xing, March 7th, you two, don't jump around like that when you go up the stairs..."

Dan Heng frowned as he lectured the cheerful gray-haired girl and March 7th, but the two remained immersed in the joy of washing away their filth, laughing and skipping as they went upstairs together. Girls are, after all, clean, Dan Heng, suddenly understanding this, sighed and said no more.

"Bronya, why don't you reconsider me? I really can help you!"

"Mr. Bai Jun can help me too, Seele, so don't worry. More importantly, your hair is covered in stone dust, go wash it off quickly."

Bronya urged Seele to hurry upstairs, cleverly avoiding the topic of their partner.

Thus, only Bai Jun and Serval remained in the lobby on the first floor of the Mechanical Workshop.

As everyone stood up and followed Pela up the stairs, amidst the clamor of footsteps, Bai Jun weaved through the obstructing mechanical structures in the hall, curiously approached Serval's side, and casually pulled out a chair to sit down.

Aren't you going to wash yourself?

"I'll pass for now. There's still so much work to do there. Even if I clean it up now, it'll just make a mess again. Rather than go through all that trouble, I'd rather finish this quickly, then take a nice shower and have a good beer."

Because Bai Jun wasn't covered in dust and was clean, he didn't need to take a shower. In stark contrast, Serval, with her dirty face, sat at her workbench, imagining the joy of finishing her work, and couldn't help but smile broadly.

Although her smile looked somewhat awkward at the moment, her genuine feelings could still be felt.

"Oh, right, Bai Jun, I overheard you and Clara discussing mechanical repairs in the Underworld earlier. If it's convenient, could you help me out? I've got so much work lately..."

Serval, wobbling, carried a large pile of parts that needed repair and placed them on the workbench. Then, she winked at Bai Jun beside her, striking a pitiful and delicate pose... provided one could ignore her disheveled, dusty appearance.

"Sure, I don't have anything else to do right now anyway."

Without hesitation, Bai Jun agreed and took some of the parts for her. He then used his own judgment to check the faulty parts and skillfully took out screwdrivers and other tools to make simple repairs. During this time, Serval stared at him intently, her eyes widening as if she were very surprised.

Why are you staring at me like that?

"No, no, it's nothing... I was just surprised at how skilled you are at repairing mechanical parts."

Although Bai Jun was focused on the parts in his hands the whole time, he still noticed Serval's blatant gaze. Caught red-handed peeping at someone, Serval chuckled awkwardly a few times and then picked up the parts to start working as well.

In the lobby, where only the ticking of clocks and the clatter of rotating parts could be heard, the two remained silent, temporarily immersing themselves in their focused work.

Suddenly, Serval was turning a screw with her head down, spoke up, "Bai Jun, what do you think of Bronya, that child?"

What aspect are you referring to?

"Hmm... I can't really put my finger on ideals or beliefs, but I'm a little worried about that child."