Serval's words startled everyone. The group quickly hid in different places around the room, while Hanxing found a corner and entered the spatial gate.
"Where is this?" Hanxing looked around. It seemed to be an enclosed space, with a box directly ahead of him. "How did I get in here?" Hanxing thought back. There was only one possibility: he had come here because he hadn't thought of any coordinates when he entered.
"Is this a space that belongs only to me?" Hanxing looked around. He opened the box, revealing a dagger engraved with strange patterns. It was embedded deep in the box.
Hanxing gripped the dagger in one hand and pulled it out with all his strength. A red circle burst forth. "So that's how it is. Things are getting more interesting."
Before long, Hanxing emerged from the spatial gate and stepped into the main room. Everyone was already standing by the door, ready to leave. "Mangfeng, where did you come from?" March 7th asked anxiously.
Hanxing shook his head. "Sorry, I can't tell you." "You're just in time," Serval said from the side. "Let's set off for the Silvermane Guard Restricted Zone and catch up to Cocolia!"
Before long, the group arrived outside the Silvermane Guard Restricted Zone. "Security's tight... Looks like sneaking in isn't an option. Serval, time to put your wits to work," March 7th said from the side.
"If it's really that complicated, I can just force my way in." A chill crept into Hanxing's voice. "No," Dan Heng immediately rejected the idea. "We're already wanted. Attacking the Silvermane Guard Restricted Zone would only add to our crimes."
"Leave it to big sis. Stay close and don't give yourselves away," Serval said. Then the group walked up to a guard at the gate.
"Military restricted area ahead. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted entry." As expected, the group was stopped immediately, but the guard changed his tune. "Wait, is that... Huh, isn't that boss Serval? Long time no see." The guard took a closer look and recognized Serval.
"Well, if it isn't Franz! Long time no see. How come you're still guarding the gate?" Serval greeted the guard in front of her.
"Th-that's a hard one to answer. You're as sharp-tongued as ever, boss Serval... Um... What brings you here so late? And who are those people behind you?" The guard called Franz eyed the others behind her warily.
"Oh, my little brother said there's a fault in the restricted zone's power lines, and it's pretty serious. He doesn't trust the outside repairmen, so he asked me to come work for free. These are my assistants. We need to check all the equipment inside," Serval said.
"Um... I haven't heard anything about a problem with the power lines..." Franz said, somewhat puzzled. "Oh, what could a gate guard do about something like that, even if you knew? All right, let me in. If people freeze to death in the middle of the night, are you going to take responsibility?" Serval stressed the seriousness of the situation.
"No, no, no, I couldn't take responsibility for that..." Franz said nervously. "Since she's Captain Gepard's sister... it should be fine, right?" Franz muttered to himself. "All right, here's a temporary visitor pass. Please keep it safe... Uh, remember to return it when you come out!" Franz handed over the visitor pass.
"Thanks, Franz. I'll put in a good word for you with my little brother when I get the chance. Maybe he'll give you a promotion!" With that, Serval took the visitor pass and led the group onward. "See? Easy as pie," Serval told them after they had walked a short distance.
"That's 'Gepard's sister' for you," March 7th said from the side. "I don't want people seeing me as 'Gepard's sister'... I'm doing this for you. Otherwise, I wouldn't want to borrow my little brother's name." Serval seemed a little disgusted by the title.
As they talked, the group came to a cross-shaped bridge with a circular center. "See that mechanical bridge in the middle? Cross it, and you'll be in hell on earth," Serval told them. "What's on the other side?" Caelus seemed a little puzzled.
"An endless Fragmentum, a group of exhausted Silvermane Guards, and... air thick with the smell of death," Serval answered Caelus. "And we're here to deal with all of that," March 7th said from the side, hands on her hips.
"If you want to keep heading north, you'll have to cross that 'hell.' Are you ready?" Serval asked the group.
"If we can't even overcome this, how can we Trailblaze?" Caelus said from the side. "Glad you feel that way. Let's go. First, we need to find a way across the bridge," Serval said.
"Wait, where did Mangfeng go this time?" March 7th looked around. Caelus replied, "Get used to it. He does this every time."
Just then, Caelus received a message on his phone: "The power was cut off just now, but I've taken care of it for you. Go operate the gate now. One last thing: the alarm has been triggered. Get out of here as fast as you can!"
At the same time, a piercing alarm rang through the air. "What's he done this time?" March 7th listened to the alarm. "The alarm would have gone off sooner or later once we crossed the bridge. While we have the chance, run!" Serval said anxiously, but they ran into a large robot.
"Is it our turn to fight? Mangfeng keeps stealing our kills. Anyone watching would think we don't know how to fight." The group summoned their weapons and quickly knocked the robot down.
"The system's online. Verification is starting. Come on, faster..." Serval immediately stepped forward and started the system. "Forty percent... sixty-five... eighty-five..." Serval counted along with the progress displayed.
"Ha, finally! Now we have permission to cross the bridge. We need to hurry." She activated the switch. "Let's go, to the front line." Serval led the group forward. "...Is this all right? Your brother might be there too," Dan Heng said worriedly.
"Probably... It'd be best if we didn't run into him. If we do, we'll just have to try talking..." Serval said. "Can you convince him?" Dan Heng asked. "My chances are less than thirty percent. If we end up fighting, please go easy on him." Serval pleaded on her brother's behalf.
"Understood." The group headed toward the front line, but they ran into Gepard as soon as they crossed the bridge. "Sis... it really is you." Gepard sounded somewhat disbelieving. "Wait, Gepard! Listen to me-" Serval was about to explain when she was interrupted.
"When the sentry reported to me, I wondered if there had been some misunderstanding. Perhaps the intruders had taken you hostage, or perhaps your entry into the restricted zone had nothing to do with the alarm. But... Sis, step away from the intruders and slowly come over behind me. You're not like them," Gepard said to Serval.
"Sorry, little brother-I promised I'd stand with them." Serval apologized. "Give me a few minutes, just a few minutes, and I'll explain everything-" Serval was about to explain when Gepard interrupted her again.
"You know what this place is, don't you? The Landau Family knows this place better than anywhere. It's the front line of the defense against the Fragmentum, the central fortress protecting Belobog.
"The Silvermane Guards here, every single person here, is prepared to sacrifice their life for the people at any moment-always ready to shed blood and lay down their lives for Belobog...
"And you led this group of criminals into the restricted zone, hurt our fellow guards, and seized the energy hub... Even now, you still refuse to see reason... Are you worthy of that family name?" Gepard demanded sternly of Serval.
"Why do you think I'm here? We've found a way to dispel the Eternal Freeze and seal the Fragmentum. It's this world's last hope," Serval retorted.
"If that's true, why didn't you report it to Lady Cocolia? Why sneak into the restricted zone and cause chaos?" Gepard demanded. "You don't understand. The person stopping us from getting close to the truth... is Cocolia." Serval spoke each word deliberately.
"You and the people over there have all met the Supreme Guardian in person. Since she doesn't agree with what you've said, how can you take matters into your own hands..."
While Gepard was speaking, a familiar figure appeared before them. Blue eyes flecked with stars stared at Gepard coldly, and he spoke slowly:
"Fire-Eye Prison: Soup Cooking!"