Honkai, Survive

The midday sun had not yet arrived when Gepard arrived on time, inviting Fang Jie to Clipper Fort.

"Guest, Cocolia-sama is already waiting for you."

"It's time to go. If I've done anything wrong, please forgive me."

Fang Jie nodded. Gepard would likely never understand why he apologized, only thinking it was about their previous encounter.

He still didn't bring Rin. She wasn't suited to meet any figures like soldiers or high-ranking humans. It would be best to eliminate them all before she saw them, the more miserable the better, the more satisfying the better.

Yae Sakura couldn't protect everyone forever; she would wake up sooner or later.

A car was waiting at the entrance for transportation, powered by Subterranean Veins. It was quite welcoming.

Indeed, one had to fight for everything, especially respect.

Soon, under the escort of swift and decisive guards, Fang Jie passed through the crowds and arrived at the heart of Belobog.

"Guardian-sama, the foreign guest has arrived."

Seated in the center of the room was a familiar figure. Although Fang Jie hadn't actually met Cocolia there, this Cocolia Rand had a sharp, commanding presence, possessing the authority of a leader... and strength.

He could feel a vast energy within her, seemingly much stronger at first glance than the evasive Astral Express trio.

"Well done, Gepard. You may withdraw and rest well."

Cocolia's expression was gentle. She had likely given the same instruction to many people today, as if she had had a good conversation with the outsider yesterday.

Gepard bowed silently and withdrew. Cocolia appeared quite polite. "Sit down, outsider. I am Cocolia Rand, the Guardian of Belobog. I have already understood the intentions of the other group of outsiders. We can now discuss why you have come."

A 'gaze' with a similar penetrating quality swept through the room. The two parties did not fall into a back-and-forth of 'What are you looking at?' and 'What about it?'. That gaze immediately retracted.

Cocolia's expression shifted slightly, and she invited again, "Please, sit."

This broke Fang Jie's pursuit. The watery green light in his eyes receded, and he boldly sat down, facing Cocolia, who was poised to listen.

What was there to discuss? It's not your fault for lacking the ability to save the world, but crushing hope after giving it to the world is an unforgivable sin.

Do not make promises of hope lightly. Fang Jie gauged his own abilities and said earnestly, "Then let's discuss the future of Belobog."

"Future?" Cocolia raised an eyebrow. This expression lacked authority, but she didn't care. She had been more cheerful today, so what was one more expression?

Resting her chin on her clasped hands on the table, Cocolia looked rather impolite.

"Outsider, what is the future of Belobog in your eyes?"

"A sliver of hope amidst despair."

"Despair, a sliver of hope." Cocolia was noncommittal. "Yesterday, I spoke with the Nameless from beyond the stars. They demanded that the Stellar Nucleus be sealed and taken away because it obstructed their path and spread disaster."

"They were very straightforward, powerful, and confident, especially Miss March 7th. I appreciate her candor. So, outsider, we don't need to beat around the bush. Have you also come for the Stellar Nucleus?"

Fang Jie had nothing to hide. "I am interested in the Stellar Nucleus, but such a thing is beyond my reach at present. What I seek is Belobog itself, or more precisely, the people here."

"Oh." The unexpected answer caused Cocolia, who had been smiling, to drop her smile. "Please, speak."

"I wish to become a Nameless and walk the path of Trailblazing," Fang Jie stated his objective first. "As I step into the universe for Trailblazing, I must remember that cosmic Trailblazing without the bonds of family, friends, and companions is no longer Trailblazing, but mere invasion. I must never forget such a dangerous thing."

"Therefore, the primary attitude when contacting a planet should be to seek consent and engage in voluntary Trailblazing."

"But please note, unlike the Nameless who have already boarded the train, they are more noble. Even if the cost outweighs the reward, they will press forward resolutely. I have not yet boarded the train, and Belobog is the last Trailblazing where my repayment can outweigh the cost."

What flexible principles. Cocolia didn't dislike it; in fact, she found such a conversation more adaptable. Let's talk about costs and rewards, not about common interests or sealing the Stellar Nucleus together.

Unfortunately, you're too late.

Unfortunately, you are only two people, one of whom is still 'unconscious' and you yourself have frankly stated you haven't boarded the Astral Express.

"I am very pleased to meet a noble person like you," Cocolia's demeanor became much warmer. "I have fully understood your stance. I would like to ask about the part where 'my people' are what you seek."

Frankly, Cocolia didn't understand what kind of repayment this was, so she had to ask.

"For similar people, for similar things."

Fang Jie looked at Cocolia, his gaze not just on her. "There are countless similar yet different worlds in the universe, and in these worlds, there are countless similar yet different people. The destinies of these people often follow familiar trajectories, overlapping each other."

"You are not the person I have yet to meet, and your homeland was not as fortunate as hers. But I believe that even for this 'similarity,' Belobog is worth my attention. Thus, I came, I saw, I am here."

Cocolia narrowed her eyes. Frankly, she didn't quite understand. The universe was a blind spot in her knowledge. Fang Jie's reason was harder to grasp than 'common interests,' leaning more towards 'personal factors.'

But it was quite believable. He had given such a ridiculously sounding reason; why not believe it?

"I am very curious. If there really is such a person similar to me, what similar things happened to her?" She was indeed curious.

Then she saw Fang Jie look at her with a strange expression. "She just caused a great catastrophe, destroying the city I was in. Millions of people from the Far East died because of it, and I was almost subjected to a fission bomb – a weapon of immense power – caused by it."

The atmosphere became a little awkward.

Cocolia really wanted to ask, 'Are you perhaps here to vent your anger on me?' Personal factors often included unsolvable personal grudges, making it difficult to believe he came with good intentions.

Fang Jie appeared very magnanimous. "Don't worry, you are not the Cocolia I know, and I won't be petty."

"That's for the best, then."

Cocolia maintained her smile.

"Returning to the previous topic, the 'person' you seek is... me?"

This topic is also awkward to discuss, what do you want from me?

"More than that, to be frank, even those who don't know Belobog, I have requests." Fang Jie tried not to show favoritism. "In the galaxy, theoretically, anyone can become a being with immense power; the possibilities are infinite."

The Anti-Matter Legion has a lot to say, whether you're human or not, the Voidrangers welcome you.

The Swarm also has something to say: Give birth for me.

The Abundance's followers depend on the situation. If they're not hungry, they'll try to trick you into seeking the Abundance's blessing. If they are hungry, you're just a meal.

"Yes, humans are a resource."

Cocolia didn't find it jarring. What stung her most was that Belobog couldn't even support these resources.

Without sufficient population, how can a civilization talk about civilization? To create miracles, a sufficient base is also needed, after all, the infinite possibilities for everyone is only theoretical.

"'City Builder,' remember history to strengthen your resolve; I know that in the distant past, before the Eternal Freeze descended and before the 'Legion' invaded, this world was once incredibly prosperous..."

"The Aeons connected our planet to other worlds, and we learned of the countless possibilities in the vast galaxy. The development of Subterranean Vein resources attracted the City Builders, and through them, we heard of the 'Amber Lord'—under His gaze, we began to build the city walls, laying the foundation for Belobog's current Preservation."

"If what you seek is similar, the selling of resources based on people, I can tell you, I am very willing."

Cocolia readily agreed, selling people with a reserved smile that was anything but reserved.

"Then what can you offer us in return? A glimmer of hope?"

She was surprisingly straightforward, even sounding as if she didn't consider people as people, completely devoid of dignity.

A truly qualified leader.

Frankly, Fang Jie didn't equate this Cocolia Rand with that Anti-Entropy Cocolia; he could distinguish between grievances, but he knew both Cocolias were... unhinged.

He said solemnly, "Perhaps a glimmer of hope, or perhaps another crisis."

"Are all outsiders so confident and frank? It's admirable." Cocolia didn't mind hearing about a crisis at all and gestured for him to continue.

"First, we need to be honest about what kind of desperate situation Belobog is facing." Fang Jie didn't intend to talk about Honkai, nor was he in a hurry to mention Nihility, but rather to discuss Belobog.

"The Cleft phenomena caused by the Stellar Nucleus, and the Eternal Freeze," Cocolia answered rather perfunctorily.

"Cocolia, I am communicating with you with great sincerity, you shouldn't hide the current situation. Those are all superficial matters. The Stellar Nucleus is indeed a crisis, but I'm not concerned about that. Belobog is fully capable of handling it themselves, no matter how they handle it."

Fang Jie didn't want to discuss the Stellar Nucleus. While it seemed dangerous, it wasn't entirely unsafe, but ultimately, there were ways to deal with it.

"What I want to talk about is the Legion, the Anti-Matter Legion, and the Company. Beneath the three mountains Belobog bears, including the Stellar Nucleus, there are also countless minor troubles within Belobog itself, such as suppressed humanity. Perhaps a riot, an uprising, or something similar to destroy order and then attempt to reshape it is brewing. However, that should be decided by the people of Belobog themselves."

Originally, Fang Jie had planned to get involved. But after waking up today, Belobog's "celebrating with the people" attitude jolted him awake.

Stabilize the crazy ones first, all sorts of crazy ones. Give the child some time to develop.

And Sampo, I must repay you for the sausage buried in the snow, with a grand, dramatic conflict.

This world, still asleep, doesn't know it has already been made a stake in a gamble, placed on the cosmic gambling table.

"The Legion, the Company?"

Cocolia chewed on these words, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

The Eternal Freeze was imminent, and the Stellar Nucleus was about to be lost. The only solution she could think of was to emulate the first Great Guardian and make a wish to the Stellar Nucleus, creating the new world it promised, or...

To trigger a new Eternal Freeze and end it all herself, rather than facing an ugly demise in the future.

Compared to that, the Legion was too distant. Even though the Legion had once destroyed Jarilo-VI to the very end, only to be swallowed by the Eternal Freeze indiscriminately.

As for the Company...

"The Company, why the Company?"

"To collect debts, of course."

Then she recalled some not-so-important matters from the old civilization.

That was just before Jarilo-VI encountered the Legion, when various factions were evacuating Jarilo-VI. The Company's representative, using the loan provided to Jarilo-VI to defend against the Legion's attack and rebuild their homeland, had a loan term of 290 years.

After that, Jarilo-VI lost contact with the galactic network.

Even so, 700 years later, Belobog's Winter Zone Shield maintained an exchange rate of 1:50 with credit points. If the new world was constructed and reconnected to the galactic network...

Would the principal, 700 years of interest, and penalty fees not have to be repaid?

That was the Company, not the lower district.

Just as she could abandon the lower district, could sell the resources of the people of Belobog, this astronomical sum owed to the Company also had to be honored.

"As expected, it's a desperate situation."

Cocolia even laughed.

As she laughed, like Agni, her gaze suddenly sharpened. She was never a person who lacked decisive, ruthless judgment.

Fang Jie had been guarding against her going mad and reminded her, "You're probably not thinking of taking me down, taking us down, and continuing to keep Belobog closed off to avoid the Company, right? Even if you could do it, wouldn't the Anti-Matter Legion still be there?"

"..."

Cocolia stopped laughing.

Fang Jie understood how to play both sides.

She looked at him with a hint of misery, waiting for him to offer a glimmer of hope, to stop talking about desperate situations. She was numb, numb from all these years.

Fang Jie readily agreed, "You've strayed too far from the path of Preservation. You've gone from aiding the weak to preying on them, from the principle of action over thought to cutting down the weak and keeping the strong."

Bronya, however, inherited her youthful ideals and hadn't been defeated by harsh reality yet. If she were sent to the lower city, she could still be salvaged.

Of course, Bronya couldn't know the Guardians' secrets. If she had the Astral Express as backup, or at least met Seele, then...

To stubbornly cling to an ideal without turning back requires a certain madness; it's difficult for normal people to persist.

Fang Jie's tone was firm, "You don't believe in Preservation, you don't believe miracles can happen, and you don't believe there are kind people willing to protect Belobog from the ravages of the Legion and the Company. We don't need to dwell on this. I am not someone the Amber Lord has glimpsed, nor have I boarded the Astral Express yet."

Cocolia didn't retort, "Then what is your ideal? Pursuing Trailblaze? As far as I know, the Aeon of Trailblaze is dead."

Even in a backwater place, Cocolia knew of Akivili's death, which showed the influence of Aeons and her own pragmatism.

Fang Jie waved his hand, "Let's not talk about Aeons. Neither you nor I need to consider facing beings of that caliber. It's truly unnecessary.

Generally speaking, having a connection with an Emissary is enough to shelter a planet, not just one.

To put it more plainly, on the grand stage of the galaxy, without an Emissary behind you, you are nothing."

Cocolia strongly agreed with this statement. Jarilo-VI was abandoned by outsiders who saw no hope because the Legion had a Lord of Ruin behind them. Only the Company, after weighing the risks, chose to issue loans.

While it might have been an astronomical sum for Jarilo-VI, what was it to the Company?

Even a bad debt was worth gambling on a probability, a miracle of 'Preservation'. There are always miracles in the galaxy; as long as a little hope is sown, miracles can be reaped. Why would the Company be stingy with its efforts?

It was just a pity that Jarilo-VI ultimately did not produce a miracle. The first Great Guardian chose to make a wish to the Stellar Nucleus for Preservation, leaving a fatal blow to faith for those who came after.

The more the people of Belobog believed in the Amber Lord, the more the succeeding Great Guardians and the high-ranking officials who knew the truth found it impossible to speak out. They could only conclude that Belobog's survival was due to the Amber Lord's protection.

This was too much of a disconnect.

Returning to the present, facing Cocolia's disbelieving and inevitably suspicious gaze, Fang Jie's tone was firm, "Yes, I have an existence at least on the level of an Emissary behind me."

Even more than one. There's one you'll see if you continue down the path of Nihility and self-destruction.

There's no need to use that to scare Cocolia. If I told her, she might not have confidence. Belobog truly doesn't need to leverage multiple Emissary connections.

Cocolia has no reason not to believe. Reality is already desperate enough. Even if the sliver of hope from the Stellar Nucleus succeeded, it would only be a temporary reprieve, just like the past seven hundred years.