Why not believe it?
"Then what do you need me to do?" She showed a cooperative attitude.
Fang Jie smiled. "For mutual trust, my friend, for mutual trust. I know you're not someone who easily trusts outsiders, but strength is real. You'll understand as long as you go beat up the Astral Express crew. Give it everything you've got; it's fine if you make a wish to the Stellaron. Or you can beat us up too, but I'll lower the price afterward."
"..."
This... weren't they on the same side? Was this some kind of business war? Or were they trying to prove the outsiders' strength to her? Cocolia did not quite understand, but there was no need to dig deeper. She had been mentally prepared for this from the start.
"I understand. I've already arranged to discuss the Stellaron with them tomorrow. I can immediately—"
"There's no need to be so swift and decisive. Tomorrow will do; make the arrangements properly. Besides, the Preservation ideals that you—your Guardians—cannot bear also need someone to inherit them."
Fang Jie did not hold a grudge at all over being doodled on. He said cheerfully:
"Put them on the wanted list first."
.
.
PS: Good morning. Something feels off. Did monsters start spawning in the comments? Anyone who leaves a good review gets dogpiled.
But March 7th Was Very Worried About You
On the second night of the Trailblazing Journey, the Stellaron Spirit still did not sleep as peacefully as she had on the train.
It was not because she had any deep attachment to the cardboard boxes on the train. Rather, she had heard strange sounds last night... It seemed like the voice of a younger Cocolia talking to something about reforging a dying world.
How baffling.
As for tonight, she kept hearing the clatter of military boots while half-asleep, and it was unbearably noisy.
Damn it, I'm going to send all of you flying with my bat—!
Xing was a little envious of Fang Jie's sleeping quality in the next room. March 7th could draw Pom-Pom on his face, and he would not wake up...
Wait, if I slept like that too, would he get revenge on me?
"Yah!"
Xing instantly woke up and heard a rapid knock at the door.
Her instincts told her something big had gone wrong... She should go outside and check.
When she stepped out of her room, March 7th and Dan Heng were already waiting in the hallway.
March 7th looked excited. "A-Xing, did you hear that?"
"Since when did I have a nickname like A-Xing?"
Xing's eyes widened.
March 7th glared back. "Is this really the time for that? Doesn't it sound nice, like Rin? Or should I call you Little Grey Hair?"
Xing was persuaded. "A-Xing, then. It sounds more like a person. What happened? What are you listening to?"
Watching the two little ones start chatting at any time and place, Dan Heng quickly explained the situation before they wandered off into another topic. "It's the Silvermane Guards. A group of Silvermane Guards has arrived at the inn entrance, and they don't seem friendly."
"Executioners?"
Xing immediately recalled Fang Jie's earlier joke. Wait, had he said that?
March 7th, however, seriously, academically, and earnestly corrected Dan Heng. "We're the ones who arrived."
"..."
Dan Heng did not want to discuss this with them.
Xing looked around. "Where's Fang Jie? Is he still asleep?"
Without realizing it, she had acknowledged him as a qualified teammate. When trouble came, they should face it together.
"Probably. He sleeps like the dead."
March 7th complained...
"I'm not dead."
Fang Jie pushed open his door. A bench stood behind him. He glanced at March 7th, who had taken half a step back in "fright." "Aren't you being too suspicious? Maybe these Silvermane Guards are just here to escort you."
He had always treated people sincerely.
"Escort us? Then why is the atmosphere so tense?"
March 7th did not accept that explanation. "This feels really bad."
Xing widened her eyes and tried her best to see tension through the Silvermane Guards' helmets...
Nope.
March 7th, your intuition is so incredible.
Of course! I'm a pretty girl!
March 7th thoroughly enjoyed Xing's admiring gaze. She puffed out her chest, raised her head, and put her hands on her hips.
Suddenly, she saw someone step out from among the Silvermane Guards downstairs.
She wore a military uniform similar to Bronya's. Especially those black stockings—Belobog specialties in this frozen wasteland, warm and stylish. Her resounding footsteps seemed to tread upon everyone's hearts.
"Wow, what a cool big sister."
March 7th felt like she looked familiar somehow.
"I am Serval Landau, acting Garrison Officer of the Silvermane Guards. In the name of the supreme Amber Lord, under the orders of Great Guardian Cocolia Rand, I have come to arrest the infiltrators who intend to incite rebellion."
Even more familiar.
"No, wait a second. Isn't this like the earlier Gepard and Bronya... Did you fuse together?"
March 7th felt there were simply too many things to mock.
Xing also found it strange. "Her tone sounds weird."
That sort of... fallen female knight tone. Seemingly stern and dignified, yet unwilling and burdened by hidden hardships, with a hint of excitement too... That was Bronya from earlier as well!
Serval neither listened nor stopped. "Hereby, in my capacity as acting Garrison Officer of the Silvermane Guards, I temporarily revoke your freedom of movement and speech. When the tribunal judges you, you will have the opportunity to defend yourselves. Surrender—"
"Wait!"
A loud voice rang out, somewhat weak and filled with disbelief. Everyone knew it well.
It was Gepard.
He seemed to have rushed over in a hurry and was even injured. He happened upon the arrest scene, and the guards around them could not help opening the blockade for him, letting him pass by face recognition until he reached Serval.
"Big sister, what is going on? Clearly..."
"Silence."
Serval shouted sternly.
"Gepard, address me by my title."
"I am the Garrison Officer of the Silvermane Guards!"
Gepard could not understand. Everything had been fine yesterday. The Great Guardian had seemed to be having a pleasant conversation with the outsiders and had even comforted the people after so long. Why had things suddenly taken such a drastic turn today?
"Not anymore. You have been dismissed, Gepard. Interfere again, and you will be regarded as an accomplice!"
"What? Serval..."
Serval looked cold and merciless. Her hawk-like eyes stared at the all-too-familiar face before her. At his words, she flicked out an official document, sparks flashing in her eyes.
"Step back! Do you intend to shield them?"
Catching the document, Gepard was rendered speechless by the dismissal order bearing the Great Guardian's personal signature. He truly could not believe it. Why had it come to this?
"No, there must be something—"
"Guards, seize them!"
Serval did not waste time and gave the order to act.
March 7th did not understand what was going on either. Even the young man who had guaranteed their safety had turned on them. It was all because of that Great Guardian. "W-Wait! This isn't what we agreed on! She clearly said she wanted to invite us to discuss an important matter..."
Foolish March 7th, the Stellaron Spirit already had her bat in hand and was eager to fight.
Dan Heng wanted to advise her otherwise, only to find that he already had Cloud-Piercer in hand.
"..."
He silently put it away and stopped Xing with empty hands.
Leading by example!
Still, they needed to explain the situation. He concluded, "This was a planned betrayal, without a doubt."
"No way, we're becoming prisoners again... I've noticed that this happens once every three worlds."
March 7th held her head in both hands, unwilling to accept it.
"That's because you always act on impulse, with absolutely no plan."
Dan Heng hoped March 7th would learn a lesson, and used this opportunity to educate the Stellaron Spirit as well.
"You need to think carefully and act with a plan."
Xing looked skeptical. Really?
She was not sure, so she looked at March 7th...
That gaze was filled with trust and pressure. March 7th understood that she had to come up with a plan to salvage her image as a senior, or else... There was no or else.
"I can grow too. A plan, a plan... Ah, got it."
March 7th looked around. She did not see Fang Jie quietly retreating behind them, but she did see the street. "A-Xing, Dan Heng, look at that alley over there!"
Dan Heng understood. "I see. That area has been sealed off due to Fragmentum corrosion—I understand. This is indeed a feasible plan. Everyone, prepare to run."
"Huh, Dan Heng agrees? As expected of me, yay!"
March 7th immediately beamed with delight.
Wait, why weren't they fighting? Running? I don't want to...
Xing had objections, but then she heard Dan Heng say, "Observe one corner and infer the other three—"
For some reason, she immediately behaved herself.
March 7th even explained thoughtfully, "Shh! This is an old Astral Express code. When we count to one, run with us!"
"The ruler's command admits no second—"
"What are you whispering about? Stop resisting and come with us!"
The Silvermane Guards had already drawn close. They faced the group like a formidable enemy, diligently carrying out their duty.
Just like that, their eyes met.
"—Borrow one city!"
The horn of battle sounded. Before Xing could even think about pulling out her bat, she aimed it at the Silvermane Guards surrounding them—
Smash!
At the same time, March 7th coordinated swiftly, using Six-Phased Ice to lock down their bodies.
The group charged out just like that...
Before March 7th leaped into the Fragmentum-corrupted area, she noticed that Fang Jie was merely watching. She was instantly alarmed. "Why aren't you moving? Run!"
The charging group even paused because of it.
"They don't seem to be arresting me."
Fang Jie looked utterly serious. "Look, only you have wanted posters."
They were two highly artistic portraits—uh, wanted posters.
The figures in the portraits had grayish-white fur, were impossible to identify as male or female, stood on all fours, and stared straight ahead. Their eyes conveyed a wild, unrestrained love of life. Their mouths hung open with their tongues out, and the starlight on their backs made them especially conspicuous.
They were even in full color!
Before you continue