Chapter 169

Serval seemed deeply worried and distressed about her former best friend's adopted daughter.

While she spoke of ideals and beliefs, in reality, Serval simply didn't want Bronya to follow in Cocolia's footsteps, fearing that Bronya would change her true thoughts under Cocolia's authority. However, she didn't know how to express these feelings in words.

The reason why Bronya was previously refused permission to return to Kliperburg alone was also based on this consideration.

Bai Jun placed the repaired parts on the table, as if reading through Serval's thoughts, and spoke the words she kept hidden in her heart, "She is far more courageous than others imagine. Believe in her; she can overcome that hurdle on her own."

"Since you've said that, I can finally relax. Speaking of which, I actually noticed it back in the Underworld. Bai Jun, you're incredibly good at helping people resolve their inner conflicts. Was your previous job related to this?"

Serval raised her delicate eyebrows slightly, and a smile returned to her face.

Bai Jun looked away and gave an awkward laugh. He couldn't very well say that he used to frequently charm girls, so he gave a vague answer, "Probably, I have some experience in that area. Serval, even though you said you broke off your friendship with Cocolia, you're still thinking about her, aren't you?"

"Of course, she's Cocolia..."

She didn't deny it; her slightly pursed lips and downcast eyes revealed the complex emotions of reminiscing.

Those lake-blue eyes held a longing for a dear friend from the past.

This emotion lasted for less than ten seconds before Serval stopped dwelling on the past. The friendship was real, the longing was real, and the parting of ways was real; now Serval was no longer a stranger to that person.

"Sorry for letting you hear some useless things. Let's finish this work quickly, it's getting late. Let's have lunch together afterwards!"

"Oh, right, someone's here outside."

"Huh? Who is that?"

As the two chatted, Bai Jun's gaze drifted toward the door. Serval followed suit and looked up at the door, but nothing happened. Just as she was feeling confused, about ten seconds later, the locked door of the Mechanical Workshop was opened.

"Sis, I'm back. Why is the Mechanical Workshop closed today? -- Wait, who is he?"

"Ouch!?"

Suddenly, a deep voice called out Serval's name from the gate not far away, startling her.

With his neat short blond hair, lake-blue eyes similar to Serval's, and the white military uniform of the Silvermane Guards that made his strong and tall figure appear even more upright, the handsome blond youth knocked on the door and walked straight in. When he saw Bai Jun sitting next to Serval, the other person's eyes widened in surprise.

"Jay, Gepard —what brings you here!?"

"What are you talking about, sis? Didn't you promise me a couple of days ago to fix the 'Bulwark' device that the engineers in the military couldn't figure out how to fix... And who exactly is this gentleman? Isn't there a 'Closed for Business' sign hanging at the door?"

Gepard sensed something was off. Serval was calling him by his full name today, which was unusual for her, his gaze had been fixed on Bai Jun ever since he entered the room.

Who exactly is that man?

Gepard knew perfectly well that his older sister had a habit of not liking anyone around her while she was working, but that person was sitting so close to her while she was working, which couldn't be explained by the customer's explanation.

Gepard knew his older sister's personality better than anyone else; despite her seemingly warm and carefree nature, she was actually far more unapproachable than anyone imagined.

Moreover, she is not someone who enjoys making friends to relieve her troubles. She would rather practice playing rock music alone and swallow her loneliness and sadness than easily share her troubles with others. Her social circle is basically limited to her comrades in the Silvermane Guards.

In other words, the relationship between this man and my older sister is definitely not ordinary!

(Oh no! I forgot my brother said he'd be coming today...)

An ominous memory suddenly surfaced in her mind. Remembering the promise she had made to her younger brother a few days ago, Serval realized that today was the agreed-upon day.

"He... he is... he is..."

Seeing the suspicion on her foolish younger brother's face, Serval frantically racked her brains, trying to come up with a seemingly reasonable explanation. However, due to the suddenness of the incident and her panic, Serval's thoughts were in complete disarray, and she had no idea what to say.

"Could it be... that this person is..."

Seeing this, Gepard narrowed his eyes, exuding an aura of questioning.

Bai Jun was about to brush it off by saying he was just an ordinary clerk in the Kliperburg administration, but just then, Serval her hand on the table and said in a fit of despair, "Sigh, I knew I couldn't hide it from you. Yes, it's exactly what you think."

Serval knew her brother's capabilities. Since he had already gone this far, lying would be pointless. It was better to just confront him directly.

His guess was confirmed, and Gepard, visibly shocked, couldn't hide the change in his expression. "It... it really is like that... Sis, you... you actually have a boyfriend?"

"Well, since you've already guessed it, there's nothing I can do about it—"

"Sister, when did this happen?! As your younger brother, I had absolutely no idea!"

"Wait, boyfriend... what did you say?!?!"

"Huh? Isn't that right?"

Just as Serval nodded generously, she suddenly raised her hands high in a rage, her feint attack startling Gepard.

"Uh, oh no, you're right, he really is my boyfriend..."

"I never expected you to find a boyfriend, sis. I thought someone with your personality would be destined to be single forever."

Coming to her senses, Serval realized this was a golden opportunity. She quickly raised her arms and waved them wildly, her ample breasts swaying with each movement. Gepard rubbed his eyes, a look of appreciative satisfaction on his face, despite being the younger brother.

"Huh? What are you talking about, you idiot brother? What kind of image does your older sister have in your eyes?"

"It's the image of Serval."

The somewhat silly argument between Serval and Gepard caused Bai Jun's face to twitch.

They could have gotten away with fabricating an identity as planned, but things have turned out differently than they expected. These two are truly siblings; their thought processes are practically identical.

"Sister, when did you meet this gentleman? I don't think I've ever seen him before."

Gepard was momentarily at a loss for words to address Bai Jun, and simply scratched his cheek with an awkward smile.

Serval blushed slightly, a hint of shyness in her eyes, as if she had mustered the courage to smile at Gepard.

"Of course! You rarely come back, and even when you do, you just say hello and leave in a hurry. We met last March 7th. He's a regular office worker in the Kliperburg administration, and we've known each other for over a year now... I was planning to tell you this later, but you found out today."

As she said this, Serval smiled sweetly and hugged Bai Jun's arm affectionately, as if she were with her closest lover. She tilted her head and gently rested it against his shoulder.

Seeing the woman's endearing appearance, Bai Jun's urge to make sarcastic remarks was about to reach its limit.

He gazed silently at the smiling woman with his all-seeing, deep blue eyes.

This guy is so dirty... Bai Jun swallowed his urge to complain, forced a smile, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and gently wiped the dust off Serval's cheeks.

Serval's heart fluttered at Bai Jun's elegant and gentle movements. She subconsciously avoided Bai Jun's gaze and looked down at her clothes.

"I... I won't bother you any longer, sister... The 'Bulwark' device is right by the door. I have official business to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

Seeing the shy and delicate look on his older sister's face, which he had never seen before, Gepard was so shocked that his mouth was agape as if he could fit several eggs in it. While wondering who this woman was, he quickly got up to say goodbye.

Not wanting to be a third wheel, Gepard placed the device he brought from the military camp on the floor by the door and strode out of the Mechanical Workshop.

"I never expected my sister to have a boyfriend..."

He breathed a sigh of relief as he reached the bustling street, whispering to himself as he looked down at the stone pavement.

The other person was a handsome man that even he had to praise. His graceful and elegant demeanor, gentle yet indifferent eyes, and his handsome appearance that perfectly matched his maturity and youthful innocence... Now that he thought about it, it seemed that the other person's appearance and height were exactly what Serval preferred.

Although he still found it hard to believe that his older sister had found a boyfriend, reality forced him to accept it.

"I think I forgot to ask my older sister's boyfriend's name."

Well, his first instinct told him that the other person wasn't a cunning person at all; on the contrary, he was a calm and approachable young man. Besides, Serval wasn't stupid; if the other person had ulterior motives, he believed she could figure it out herself.

Is it a clerical position in the administrative unit of Kliperburg...? I'll look into it when I have some free time. Oh, and I should also ask Lynx knows anything about this today.

As the surging crowd passed by, Gepard turned his gaze toward the clear sky.

Even now, Serval still has no idea how much trouble her impulsive and nonsensical remarks will cause for her future.

Chapter 207 Bewitchment, Hypnosis, Reversal, and Frustration

Ten minutes after Gepard knocked on the door and left, footsteps came from the attic.

"Thank you for providing the bathroom and clothes, Miss Serval."

Bronya descended the wooden stairs alone, witnessing the state of the Underworld along the way with the Wildfire. Already filled with confusion and resentment, she was eager to return home and desperately wanted an explanation from her mother Cocolia. After cleaning herself and putting on the clothes that Serval had prepared for them, she was the first to emerge from the bathroom.

She was wearing women's clothes that were clearly a size too big; the loose shirt hung precariously on her shoulders, and thanks to this, her flawless white skin was fully exposed to Bai Jun.

This posture was somewhat impactful, and Bai Jun coughed and silently looked away.

However, Bronya, seemingly oblivious to this, rushed down the stairs, grabbed Bai Jun's sleeve, and pleaded as if trying to draw his attention back, "Bai Jun, are you free right now? Let's go back to Kliperburg immediately!"

The clearly visible outline of her collarbone seemed to be deliberately displayed to Bai Jun.

Bai Jun spoke through action, draping his coat over Bronya's shoulders.

It was only then that Bronya belatedly realized her posture. Although she had pressed it down with her hands, her forward-leaning position caused her already loose shirt to fall even further, leaving a gap in front of her chest.

"Oh dear! I'm so sorry, Bai Jun!"

Bronya, her face flushed, quickly stepped back and put on Bai Jun's coat.

However, the fact that Bronya could wear Bai Jun's coat without any hesitation can probably be seen as a sign that she trusts Bai Jun.

"Are you going back now? It's lunchtime, why don't you have lunch first and then make your plans?"

Serval wanted to persuade Bronya to act calmly, but she had no appetite. "Let's postpone the banquet invitation until everything is over," Bronya declined Serval's invitation to have lunch before taking action, anxious to return to Kliperburg.

"Looks like I'll be able to enjoy lunch in Kliperburg."

Bai Jun noticed Bronya's anxiety, his tone softened, and he looked around, half-jokingly saying...

With a wry smile, Serval understood Bai Jun's meaning. Since that was the case, she simply stopped trying to keep him, said goodbye, and watched Bronya, wearing Bai Jun's oversized coat, and Bai Jun, wearing only a shirt, leave the Mechanical Workshop.

Located in the central area of the upper Administrative District of Belobog, Kliperburg magnificent gray-white buildings, which appear to be at least fifty meters high, are located on a wide and grand staircase made of numerous white stone slabs and buildings.

In terms of area alone, the surrounding region is so vast that it is almost a third the size of Boulder Town.

However, the most breathtaking sight is undoubtedly the spire that stands prominently in the center. It is a colossal tower that must be looked up to be seen clearly. This white tower, which shares the same blue roof as the surrounding buildings, seems more worthy of being described as magnificent than majestic.

The two of them rushed off to Kliperburg without even having lunch, and thanks to their excellent walking speed, the journey time was reduced from twenty minutes to five minutes.

Bronya, upon arriving at Kliperburg, did not relax for a moment. Passing through the respectfully bowing guards, Bai Jun followed her as she quickly climbed hundreds of steps and entered the ten-meter-high main gate.

The first thing that catches the eye is the midday sun illuminating a vast white corridor that is indistinguishable from a road.

Walking down the unassuming corridor overlooking the outside world, Bronya was surrounded by clerical staff in silver-white uniforms carrying documents of all sizes, who all cast curious glances at her.

Faced with Miss Bronya, who had disappeared for nearly a week, causing the Supreme Guardian to lose sleep and become restless, despite everyone's confusion and concern, no one dared to approach her to inquire, watching with awe as she walked towards the Supreme Guardian's office.

"Wait a minute, Bronya."

As he turned the corner once more, Bai Jun had a premonition that he was about to reach the Supreme Guardian's office, and called out to the figure ahead of him.

The figure who had stopped paused briefly, then turned around, puzzled. "What's wrong Bai Jun? Did you find something?"

Bai Jun hesitated, scanning Bronya up and down, then silently pointed to her coat. Considering the difference in height and build between Bai Jun and Bronya, the long coat hung down like a dress, just covering half of Bronya's fair, smooth thighs, which were clad in black pantyhose yet still had a certain elasticity.

"Wouldn't it be somewhat inappropriate to meet the Supreme Guardian in this outfit?" Bai Jun was about to ask when Bronya cut him off with a curt "I don't care!"

As if unable to bear the time wasted changing clothes in her own room, she walked straight to the end of the corridor—a door with a gold frame and decorations that were clearly different from the other rooms.

"Bai Jun, please wait outside for a moment. If anyone asks about your identity, just say you are Bronya's assistant."

After giving Bai Jun brief instructions on the next steps, Bronya took a deep breath and knocked on the office door. "Come in, it's okay—" Hearing a tired female voice from inside, she pushed open the door and strode in.

"Mother, I'm back."

Cocolia's office was impeccably clean, with only a huge desk on the luxurious carpeted floor, next to which sat what appeared to be an expensive quill pen. The chair behind the desk was positioned with its back against the spotless windowpane. Bronya, who was blinded by the bright light as soon as she entered the room, greeted her.

Cocolia, who was buried in a mountain of documents, trembled when she heard the voice that haunted her dreams. She raised her bloodshot eyes, which were filled with exhaustion, and looked at the girl she had been longing for day and night.

"Bronya! I thought... I thought I was going to lose you. Where did you go? Are you hurt? I'll get the butler right away--"

She abruptly stood up and ran to Bronya. Her eyes, brimming with tears that seemed ready to burst forth at any moment, were filled with longing for her daughter; the emotions hidden deep within her heart could not be faked. Bronya's eyes trembled, and she swallowed her grievances, her lips pressed into a straight line.

"No, no need! I don't really want to see Sebas right now. I'm sorry, Mother..."

"What exactly happened these past few days? Why did you disappear for so long after you went to hunt down that gang of thugs? I've sent out several waves of intelligence officers, but we still couldn't find you... Could it be that you fell into their trap?"

"I'm fine, really fine. I ran around the Underworld and went through a few battles, but overall I managed."

"The Underworld? Ah... I see."

The moment Bronya uttered those words, Cocolia's expression changed.

The mother's gentle gaze vanished, replaced by the Supreme Guardian's cold and somber stare.

She immediately turned and returned to her seat, continuing to read the documents without looking at Bronya, and asked in a completely emotionless tone, "Then report back to me what you've observed, Commander Bronya."

Bronya was incredulous at what was happening before her eyes; she had never seen her mother display such a cold attitude in front of her. Despite the past admonitions to be impartial and not to let family factors interfere with her work, Bronya could still feel her mother's care for her.

However, things are completely different now.

Her cold attitude reminded Bronya of Cocolia's demeanor when discussing the so-called outcasts of the Underworld. Only back then, she genuinely believed her mother's views were correct.

"Don't be afraid, don't be confused, speak your mind!" Bronya kept telling herself, her hand quietly gripping Bai Jun's coat, as if only in this way could she gain some sense of security.