"Do you think I look like someone from Belobog?" Hanxing looked at Clara seriously. "Huh? Just judging by your appearance, you do look completely different from everyone else..." Clara said after taking a careful look at him.
"That's right. I'm not from this world, and Svarog's calculations don't account for my existence. If his calculations were based on 'the people of the Underworld alone,' then the results no longer apply to the present." Hanxing laid out his reasoning:
"Clara, do you remember what Svarog said when he took you away back at the Great Mine? The other three and I are the 'new variables' Svarog mentioned."
"Other... planets?" Clara was somewhat puzzled. "P-please don't treat Clara like a child! Those are just things grown-ups made up. Clara knows..." Clara argued against what Hanxing had said.
Hanxing's eyes slowly turned blue. "There are even worlds beyond this world, beyond the entire universe... That's all I can say."
"Let us meet with Svarog and see if the results of his calculations change. Neither you nor he has anything to lose by doing that, right?" Hanxing posed one last question.
"...Mm, Clara understands now. It's hard to change Mr. Svarog's mind with Clara's strength alone. Clara might not be able to do it even after she grows up, so I believe in everyone," Clara said firmly, but then changed tack. "But could you help Clara repair the base's power supply?" Hanxing quickly agreed, then followed Clara back to the Mechanical Settlement.
Before long, Hanxing spotted the Astral Express Crew, stuck in front of the gate. "You sorted it out that quickly? You're pretty capable, huh?" March 7th blurted out when she saw Hanxing appear. Hanxing simply shook his head. "Does anyone know how to fix things? Come with me."
Caelus and Dan Heng immediately stepped forward, and Hanxing led them to the power supply.
"Hmm... how could this... Clara doesn't understand..." Clara stared at the machine with a troubled expression. It seemed she had tried repairing it herself, but hadn't succeeded.
"Clara, are you repairing this device? Have you run into a problem?" Dan Heng asked. "Big brother, did you come to help Clara fix the machine?" Clara asked, looking at Dan Heng.
"Even though you replaced the damaged components, the device didn't restart as usual. Is that what's troubling you?" Dan Heng asked. "...Mm, Clara has fixed lots of things, but this is the first time Clara has encountered such a complicated device," Clara answered.
"I may have found the problem. The conduit was replaced, but its bearing is misaligned and blocked." Dan Heng looked at the machine. "Caelus, give me a hand. Let's work together to fix this thing."
"Big brother, can you really fix the power supply?" Clara asked, looking at Dan Heng and Caelus with some doubt.
Before long, Caelus and Dan Heng had fixed the device and turned to Clara. "Don't worry. Clara promised you, big brother, so Clara will definitely let you all in!" With that, they headed for the sealed gate together.
"Welcome back, Miss Clara," the guard robot said, looking at Clara. "Timmy, please open the gate for me. I want to see Mr. Svarog," Clara said to the robot called Timmy. "Outsiders detected. Grant entry?" Timmy asked, looking at the group.
"It's all right. They're all Clara's guests," Clara explained. "Instruction received. Access control terminal unlocked," Timmy said, unlocking the terminal. "Welcome back, Miss Clara and guests," Timmy greeted them.
"Um... if possible, please don't make Mr. Svarog angry..." Clara said to the group worriedly. "Don't worry, Clara! We're here to reason with him," March 7th said.
"I'll leave the negotiating to you. I'm no good at that," Seele said from the side. "Negotiating with a robot... it's my first time too," Bronya said, a little nervously.
"Let's go see Svarog," Caelus said confidently. The group opened the gate, and Svarog stood ten meters beyond it. Clara walked at the front, with everyone else following behind her.
"I'm back, Mr. Svarog." Clara went ahead and greeted Svarog. "I saw that the settlement's power system came back online. Thank you, Clara," Svarog said to her.
"But-why did you bring them here?" Svarog turned his head toward the group. "Mr. Svarog, they want to talk to you about going to the Upper District," Clara answered.
"Analyzing... Analysis result: targets do not belong to the Wildfire organization. Background: unknown. Classification: unknown information. Given Clara's introduction, I will give you a chance to speak," Svarog said after analyzing the Astral Express Crew.
"Hey, it looks like he's willing to talk to us now. Quick, Caelus, time to put that silver tongue of yours to work," March 7th whispered beside him. "We have no intention of starting a conflict," Caelus said to Svarog.
"Seeking peace. Understood. But that is your stance alone. As for mine, it will be determined after I evaluate the results of our negotiations. Get to the point. Do not waste this world's precious time," Svarog said after hearing the answer.
"He pushed everything you said right back at you, this guy..." March 7th whispered from the side. "Don't lose your composure. We need to make him understand that we're 'variables' in his calculations," Dan Heng reminded Caelus.
"We came here for the Stellaron." Caelus stated their purpose directly. "'Stellaron'... Accessing database. Access denied. Discussing the 'Stellaron' with unauthorized targets: prohibited. You are approaching a secret sealed in the depths of this world. A secret no human should know." As he spoke, Svarog assumed a wary stance.
"Reevaluating target status-threat level rising. I need you to state your true purpose!" Svarog said warily. "Just as I thought, he knows about the Stellaron... but this topic is risky..." Dan Heng said from the side.
"We've come this far, Caelus. Lay it all on the table. It all comes down to this," Seele said from the side. "We want to find the Stellaron and resolve the disaster this world is currently facing." Caelus came clean to Svarog about their purpose.
"According to recorded history, humans have attempted to make contact with the 'Stellaron' several times. Without exception, they sought to claim this substance for themselves out of human selfish desires... The Architects' directive: any attempt to make contact with the 'Stellaron' will result in grave consequences. Reevaluating-targets' threat index has reached the maximum." As he spoke, Svarog even assumed an attacking stance.
"What do we do? What do we do? This isn't looking good!" March 7th said anxiously from the side. "Wait, we're different from those people," Caelus said hurriedly. "There is no evidence to prove you are 'exceptions.' Maintaining previous calculation result," Svarog said.
"Peacekeeping protocol temporarily suspended. Requesting activation of extermination protocol." As he spoke, Svarog summoned several mechanical hands. "E-extermination? Does he mean that literally?" March 7th asked in a panic.
"If a fight is unavoidable, we won't back down either." Hanxing had already placed his hand on his sword hilt.
"Mr. Svarog! Please don't-" Clara pleaded from the side. "Clara! Leave this place," Svarog warned Clara. He then entered combat mode.
"In the end, we still have to fight," Seele said impatiently from the side, then drew her scythe.
"Prototype No. 3-'Supervisory Machine' Svarog. Extermination protocol request status: approved. Elimination authorized..."