Svarog Appears

"Hey, you—hey, hey, what's going on?"

The vagrant who had been shouting at Clara in front of the iron gate turned around, cursing, only to freeze the moment he saw the crowd of Mechanical Vanguards standing beside Jing Yan.

He couldn't even finish his sentence.

"No, no, no, that's not right! Didn't a lot of these Mechanical Vanguards just... go out of control?"

The vagrant's expression turned frantic.

"Perhaps they did." Jing Yan smiled and added casually, "But unfortunately for you, I just finished repairing them."

At these words, the vagrant was rendered speechless. He scrutinized Jing Yan, a frown creasing his brow as if something had clicked, and continued, "You—I think I know you. Aren't you that doctor from Natasha's Clinic? Since when do you know how to..."

"Since I became a master of the craft!" Jing Yan cut him off directly.

"Is that a problem?"

As he spoke, Jing Yan waved his hand. Beside him, an Automaton: Direwolf revved its massive, disconnected chainsaw, emitting a shrill, grinding whine.

The vagrant gulped at the sight.

Among all the automatons, this Automaton: Direwolf was the one he feared most. Not only was it more agile than an Automaton: Grizzly, but if that chainsaw ever bit into you, the lacerations would keep you bedridden for a long time.

A vagrant's partner while excavating ruins was usually one of these ancient Mechanical Vanguards.

However, because most of the Mechanical Vanguards here had malfunctioned, they were unable to carry out their work as usual.

The vagrant believed Svarog was the one pulling the strings, which was why he had come to demand an explanation.

Of course, if Svarog couldn't control those rampaging machines, things might get a lot more interesting.

It would mean that this vagrant no longer had to fear Svarog.

The other party was just an ancient machine as well, yet he acted like the leader of the Robot Settlement—he didn't deserve to be called "Mr."!

He should be kicked out of that massive mansion behind the iron gate!

Who told him to lose his greatest assets—the other ancient machines?

Yet, things did not seem to be going as he had expected.

Those out-of-control Mechanical Vanguards were actually capable of moving again?

And they looked so obedient, too?

But why were they listening to this young doctor in front of them?!

Jing Yan offered no further explanation.

He looked toward the front, at the small girl with white hair and red eyes wearing red clothes: Clara.

"Clara, do you remember me?" Jing Yan asked.

Clara had originally been a wandering orphan, but after being found by the ancient machine Svarog, she had been taken in.

Although Svarog controlled and repaired the Mechanical Vanguards dug up by the vagrants to trade for human necessities, Clara, as a human, had still visited places like Boulder Town and the Great Mine.

Jing Yan had seen her there before.

However, he had never brought her back to Natasha's Clinic.

By comparison, Clara was more emotional and could, to a certain extent, influence the decisions of the highly rational Svarog.

Because the latter was a true machine, believing that calculations could never be wrong.

"You... I think I've seen you?"

"Why are there so many automatons behind you?" Clara asked, puzzled.

Jing Yan didn't answer her question, but instead asked, "Where is Svarog? With so many vagrants blocking his door, is he not going to open it?"

"Or is it that..."

Jing Yan pondered for a moment.

"No, that's not it. Svarog, he..."

Clara's words suddenly trailed off. She looked down, her fingers interlaced and rubbing together, as if she had some unspeakable secret.

Seeing this, Jing Yan felt a bit strange.

"What's wrong? Is there something you can't talk about?"

"Svarog..."

Clara continued.

"He went to the mine to handle some business."

As soon as Clara said this, Jing Yan immediately understood.

At the Vagrant Camp, the vagrants had a closer relationship with Svarog of the Robot Settlement.

However, because of the mechanical disturbance here, the vagrants were very unhappy and had come to demand an explanation from Svarog.

But Svarog just happened to be away. Of course, in his eyes, this might not count as much of a problem, but if something had gone wrong at the Great Mine, that was a much bigger issue.

If something happened at the mine and the Geomarrow Ore could not be extracted and transported, then even without a full-scale invasion by the Fragmentum or the arrival of a blizzard Frost Wave, the people of Belobog—from the Underworld to the Overworld—would all be doomed, every last one of them!

"Hmm..."

Jing Yan rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

According to his memories, Mr. Svarog's calculations seemed to conclude that the humans here were destined to perish.

After all, Svarog was unaware of the existence of an Aeon like Jing Yan, nor of the visitors from beyond the stars like the Astral Express.

He hadn't accounted for these variables.

If that was the case, what was he even doing heading to the mining area?

"Ah, what a waste of time, Mr. Svarog isn't even here!" a vagrant nearby said with a hint of disdain.

Hearing this, Jing Yan glared at him.

The man immediately let out a sheepish "haha," scratched his head, and signaled his brothers to turn back, saying as they walked away, "Never mind then, nothing to see here."

He didn't say another word about his previous plan to force their way in.

Jing Yan couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind.

Watching these fickle vagrants, March 7th and Stelle found it quite amusing. March 7th turned to Jing Yan with a smile and said, "It seems that having a background and real strength is the only way to get ahead!"

"But Jing Yan, what Path are you actually on? At first glance, you seemed like the legendary Path of 'Enigmata,' but now you look a bit like 'Erudition'."

"If that's not it, how did you control so many Mechanical Vanguards? You wouldn't happen to be some incredibly skilled hacker, would you? Though, does the Underworld even have that kind of technology? Wait a minute..."

March 7th pondered for a moment before continuing, "Jing Yan, you aren't a robot, are you?"

Hearing her words, Jing Yan was left completely speechless.

Just then, a flash of red light suddenly lit up in the distance.

A humanoid mechanical entity with an eye that resembled a red sensor walked toward them.

It was draped in a suit-like robe, much like human clothing.

The newcomer was none other than the leader of the Robot Settlement, Mr. Svarog.

"Mr. Svarog!" Clara called out the moment she saw him.

"External entities detected. According to calculation results, target danger level: High. Clara, please step aside!"

Following Svarog's appearance, the tightly shut iron gate ahead creaked open.

Beyond it lay an open, plaza-like area, where numerous mechanical constructs stood.

As Svarog appeared, these constructs began to move. The "clatter" of their mechanical parts grew intense as bright yellow lights flickered on their bodies, and they marched outward.

At the same time, as Svarog extended one hand, two massive, floating mechanical claws appeared on his left and right.

A bright blue light ignited in the center of his palm.

It was clearly a weapon similar to a beam cannon.

It was aimed at Jing Yan, ready to fire.