At that moment, only the Trailblaze Squad and Cocolia remained in the room.
"Welcome, visitors from beyond the Eternal Freeze... from beyond the sky, correct?
"I am Cocolia Rand, the Guardian of Belobog. I am here to hear what brings you here."
Stelle looked at Cocolia. From the sound of it, she did not doubt their identities at all.
That made Stelle rather curious.
"You don't doubt who we are?"
In response to Stelle's question, Cocolia asked:
"Would you rather I doubted you? Do you have so little confidence in the identities you claim?
"No, I do not doubt you. I can tell you are not from this world.
"The Architects remember history so that we may remain steadfast in our convictions. I know that in the distant past, before the Eternal Freeze descended and before the Antimatter Legion invaded, this world was immensely prosperous...
"The Aeons connected our planet to other worlds. We learned of the countless possibilities in the vast galaxy, and we also heard of the Amber Lord, Qlipoth-under his gaze, we began building our walls...
"...So there is no need to be surprised. Although the Architects have received no word from the stars for a thousand years, I know of your existence.
"Tell me why you have come. I am listening."
After hearing Cocolia's words, Stelle nodded as though she understood and declared, "We're here to Trailblaze this planet!"
"Who's supposed to understand that?" March 7th gave Stelle a flat look.
"We came here for something called a stellaron."
In the end, the ever-reliable Dan Heng had to step forward.
"It is a substance that suddenly descends upon different worlds, and its arrival heralds disaster. Many of the planets we have passed through have suffered from stellarons.
"You mentioned the Antimatter Legion's invasion just now. Not long after its arrival, the Eternal Freeze appeared on this planet.
"And when the Eternal Freeze began, a phenomenon of spatial corrosion known as the Fragmentum appeared as well, correct?"
Cocolia nodded. "...Correct."
Stelle told Cocolia, "The Aeon of Destruction scattered the stellarons..."
March 7th picked up where Stelle left off:
"That's why the Antimatter Legion often appears alongside stellarons! Worlds implanted with a stellaron develop the Fragmentum. As for the Eternal Freeze... it's probably a disaster the stellaron created based on your planet's conditions."
Jiang Yu then picked up where March 7th left off:
"And we're wandering heroes who travel the universe!
"You can think of us as kindhearted interstellar travelers who specialize in lending a hand to worlds troubled by stellarons."
Cocolia fell silent for a while before speaking again:
"You have analyzed our current circumstances quite clearly. Yes, we have suffered these disasters, and some remain a problem to this day. But what does that have to do with you?
"Even if this stellaron truly exists... and it brought these calamities upon us, I still fail to see how it concerns you.
"I do not believe anyone would go to such lengths to help a world that has nothing to do with them, without seeking anything in return."
As Cocolia finished speaking, Jiang Yu poked March 7th and Stelle beside him, and the three huddled together.
"Holy Aha, did you see that?" Jiang Yu whispered. "Now that's an expert! She got straight to the heart of the matter!"
March 7th nodded too. "How else do you think she became the Supreme Guardian?"
Stelle said, "If this were one of those stories on the radio we sometimes listen to on the Express, she would've believed us the moment we finished talking."
For these three, anything resembling tension was a little too "precious."
The ever-reliable Dan Heng continued to shoulder the burden, telling Cocolia:
"You are right. Ultimately, we came to seek cooperation because our interests align-unless we seal the stellaron, this planet cannot escape the effects of the Eternal Freeze, and the spatial distortions caused by the stellaron prevent us from leaving this planet as well."
"So whether it's to make your world safer and more suitable for human life, or to let us continue our interstellar journey, both sides share the same goal and need to deal with the stellaron."
Jiang Yu added to Dan Heng's explanation.
Cocolia's brows furrowed slightly, then quickly relaxed. She narrowed her eyes as she studied them, a barely perceptible trace of complicated emotion flashing through her gaze.
"You... have a way to seal this thing called a stellaron?"
"We have the means to do so," Dan Heng said.
Cocolia considered this for a moment, then spoke:
"Very well. I believe you. If our current circumstances truly are connected to this so-called stellaron, your arrival will be a source of hope for Belobog. I am willing to provide every possible form of assistance to help you find it."
Cocolia sounded as though she had accepted the Trailblaze Squad's explanation.
Under normal circumstances, then, as the ruler of a human settlement on a planet that had struggled through the Eternal Freeze for so long, for the sake of her people and their future hopes-
What followed should have been a discussion in this room about plans to find the stellaron, a meeting to establish their next objectives.
Yet Cocolia did nothing of the sort. Instead, she immediately chose to send her visitors away-though, of course, she phrased it tactfully as asking everyone to get some rest.
She said, "It is getting late. You must all be tired. I will arrange for you to stay at the most comfortable hotel in the city. Get a good night's sleep.
"At noon tomorrow, I will send someone to invite you back, and we can discuss this matter properly."
Neither Cocolia's expression nor her tone changed much. Given her composed demeanor, nothing about those words seemed unusual.
Especially from the Trailblaze Squad's perspective, Cocolia was clearly looking out for them, which made those subtle irregularities even harder to notice.
Stelle, for example, noticed nothing amiss whatsoever. Cocolia's sudden show of concern made her quite happy.
"Thank you, Madam Supreme Guardian!" Stelle smiled brightly.
"I should be thanking you, visitors from beyond the sky.
"I also need some time to investigate records concerning the stellaron. Please excuse me for not seeing you out."
March 7th was clearly in a good mood as well. Knowing that the two sides could work together had helped her relax considerably.
Stelle and March 7th exchanged a glance, each recognizing the thought in the other's eyes-She's actually really nice!
Dan Heng remained silent. He lowered his gaze in thought, unable to find anything wrong with what Cocolia had said.
Whether it was their need for rest or her need to consult the records, either seemed to explain why they would not immediately begin discussing how to deal with the stellaron.
His past experiences had taught Dan Heng to remain suspicious and cautious in most situations-who knew when someone might pop out shouting, "Of five people, three must pay a price," and try to cut him down...
At that moment, he had a vague feeling that something was not quite right.
But considering he had no concrete evidence... all he could do was remain quietly on guard for now.
"Wait! I have a few more questions!" Jiang Yu called out.
At that, Cocolia's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly before she said to Jiang Yu, "Go ahead."
"We caught Sampo, and Gepard has taken him away. There's a bounty or something, right?"
Even now, Jiang Yu still wanted to confirm with the Supreme Guardian herself whether Sampo would actually drop any gold.
"Yes, of course. I will have someone deliver the reward to the hotel arranged for you."
Cocolia patiently answered Jiang Yu's question.
"Then, question number two! Can I take pictures of you, and of Kliperburg, inside and out?"
"Pictures?"
Cocolia looked at Jiang Yu with some surprise and began considering whether he had some ulterior motive.
In the end, however, she concluded that the boy did not look particularly scheming. He simply wanted to take some photos.
Capturing moments from one's travels was perfectly normal. Besides, Kliperburg was indeed a landmark of Belobog.
Cocolia mentally reviewed the implications of allowing Jiang Yu to take pictures and found no way it could cause harm to Belobog.
In that case, what harm was there in letting him take a few?
After all...
"Yes, you may."
Cocolia agreed to Jiang Yu's request.
Before you continue