Mechanical Settlement

"A hero? Your dream truly is astonishing, my husband... Dan Heng and March 7th just woke up. They both left with Oleg, the leader of Wildfire."

"March 7th and Dan Heng have already made contact with Oleg? Phew... I've missed a lot." Zhang Xiu let out a breath, a wry smile creeping onto his lips.

In the original storyline, Stelle would go for a walk while everyone was asleep, run into Bronya and Seele, and accept Natasha's request to venture into the Fragmentum in search of supplies.

At the end, Bronya's identity would be revealed, and her relationship with Seele would soften somewhat.

"Let's go too and see what Oleg has planned."

With that, Zhang Xiu got dressed and left the Goethe Hotel with Yaoshi, following his memory toward where March 7th and Dan Heng were.

By the time they arrived, Stelle, Bronya, and Seele were already there, waiting with the others for Zhang Xiu and Yaoshi.

"You're here, Zhang Xiu. How are you feeling? Are you all right?" Dan Heng's tone was still somewhat cool, but a trace of concern threaded through it.

"Yeah, you really scared me back there." March 7th planted her left hand on her hip. "Have you come to your senses now?"

"Sorry, sorry. Seeing that scene really got me down, but I've calmed down now." Zhang Xiu smiled, patted his chest, and turned toward Oleg.

Wildfire's public-facing leader had short, white hair, but his body was still strong and sturdy.

"Looks like everyone's here, so let's keep this short." Seeing that everyone had arrived, Oleg nodded.

"You want to track down that stellaron, and Wildfire wants to lift the lockdown on the Underworld. That means our target is the same: Svarog. Unless we deal with him, everything that comes afterward is just empty talk."

To ensure that the Astral Express Crew and the others grew during this journey, Zhang Xiu had no intention of revealing the stellaron's location outright.

"I think we might be able to get him on our side," Stelle offered, only for Seele to object.

"Hah, he's a robot. What does he understand? The quickest way is to cut that heap of scrap down!"

"No, no, no, Seele. Svarog is an Intellitron. He has self-awareness. You can tell from the way he's with Clara."

"An Intellitron? What's that?" Seele frowned.

As far as she knew, all robots could only follow human commands. The idea of one having self-awareness was a little too far-fetched.

"You could say they're another kind of person, just made entirely of machinery." Zhang Xiu spread his hands.

"All right. Either way, we need to prepare for both possibilities. A peaceful solution would be ideal, but if things change, we have to be ready to use force at any moment."

Oleg swept his gaze over the group. "Wildfire has tried to contact Svarog several times, but we've been turned away every time. That guy has no intention of talking to us."

"His machines aren't afraid of being sacrificed, but I can't gamble with the lives of the people down here. You're different, though. You might have a chance of persuading him."

"Yes, that would be best." Dan Heng lowered his folded arms.

With the plan settled, Oleg turned his gaze to Bronya. "What do you say, Silvermane Guard girl? Out of everyone here, you're the only one with no reason to fight Svarog to the bitter end. I'd like to hear what you intend to do."

Bronya's expression was serious, and she answered without hesitation. "The Underworld is part of Belobog too. If Svarog's presence threatens the residents here, of course I'll stand with you."

"Hahahaha, very good. That's the resolve I'd expect from the next Supreme Guardian... Well then, let's go, everyone. I've arranged for a guide to take you to Svarog."

Stelle raised an eyebrow at that. "You aren't coming with us?"

"Wildfire has always been on bad terms with Svarog. Coming along would only cause unnecessary misunderstandings. But don't worry. We'll be standing by nearby. If anything goes wrong, Wildfire will be there right away."

With that, Oleg looked at Seele. "Seele, escort our friends from outside a little farther."

"Wait, wait, wait. Isn't Seele part of Wildfire too? Aren't you worried Svarog will start hissing?" Zhang Xiu pinpointed the inconsistency and raised a hand to voice his confusion.

"Oh, come on. How are you even dumber than me? Bringing just one Wildfire member-Seele-isn't going to set Svarog off." March 7th half-lidded her eyes, while the others also cast puzzled looks his way.

Having his intelligence questioned by an idiot left Zhang Xiu looking rather embarrassed. "Oh... Then let's go."

The group continued onward and encountered Pitch-Dark Hook the Great outside Svarog's Mechanical Settlement.

"...Hook? It's you?" Seele folded her arms, surprised to see the yellow-haired girl before her.

"I really didn't see this coming... The guide Uncle Oleg arranged is Hook?" March 7th's eyes widened too.

Only Dan Heng was giving it serious thought. "I see. So the Moles are part of Wildfire too..."

Hook seemed a little nervous at their arrival as well. Blinking repeatedly, she said, "Y-yes, it's me, Pitch-Dark Hook! What do you need me for?"

Just then, a familiar voice sounded from the distance, accompanied by footsteps. "Uh, kiddo, I think there's been a misunderstanding..."

Everyone turned toward the voice and found Sampo approaching. He wore a melancholy expression and seemed to be complaining. "It's me, friends. Oleg sent me to show you the way..."

"You've really broken my heart... You even thought of a child this young, but you didn't think of me..."

Zhang Xiu rolled his eyes and cut off his complaints. "All right, all right, enough wisecracks, Sampo. Just hurry up and lead the way."

"Hehe, Brother Zhang Xiu, long time no see, and you're still brimming with spirit~ Looks like you and your wife are getting along better too."

"Mm~ Now that's something I like hearing. But we have more important things to do right now, so let's get moving."

"You got it! Everyone, just follow your old pal Sampo."

Under Sampo's guidance, the group continued onward. Along the way, the impatient March 7th asked him every few minutes whether they had arrived yet.

After they passed through the streets, a landscape of ice and snow came into view, with wisps of cooking smoke drifting here and there.

"Sampo, are we there yet?"

"Hey, little sis, do you really have to ask every minute? Just a couple more steps. A couple more steps ahead, and we're there."

But when they first reached the Mechanical Settlement, what they saw were clusters of people chatting all over the place.

The sight immediately surprised March 7th. "This is Svarog's lair? I thought it would be all machines. There are actually this many people?"

"A lot of drifters are staying here for now. Monsters from the Fragmentum occupied their old homes, so they came here," Seele explained to March 7th as they walked.

"Don't they think it's dangerous to camp right under Svarog's nose?" March 7th was even more puzzled.

"No. Svarog may be overbearing, but he won't attack humans for no reason. For people with nowhere to go, this place is actually pretty safe;

"Hmph, if I hadn't moved away early, I might have become one of them too." Seele chuckled and shook her head.

Just as they were about to pass through the crowd and reach the iron gate up ahead, a short figure bumped into Stelle at the back of the group.

"Sorry, sorry. I was in such a hurry to get somewhere that I didn't notice you..."

He wore coarse hemp clothing, and a hint of panic showed on his face. After bumping into Stelle, he tried to hurry away, only for Zhang Xiu to grab his clothes and lift him into the air.

"Hey, little buddy, care to explain why you just reached into my friend's pocket?"