"Who is it? Who's there?" Bronya turned around warily and looked at the masked man before her.
"There's no need to be so wary. I'm a Galaxy Ranger. My name is Mangfeng." Bronya kept her eyes fixed on him, her gun already loaded. "State your purpose, or a bullet from this gun will go through your head."
"Don't be so hasty. Hear me out." "Mangfeng" narrowed his eyes and stared at Bronya. "Besides, you can't beat me."
That was indeed the truth, because the person beneath the mask was none other than Hanxing!
"Then what exactly are you after?" Bronya's voice remained cold as she pressed Hanxing about his purpose. "My spaceship was damaged, and I've been staying here for quite some time." Hanxing slowly laid out the lies he had come up with in his room. "At the same time, I've been paying close attention to the situation in the Underworld. I want to change things here with you and the others-in other words, join you."
"It seems you know their objective quite well," Bronya commented briefly. "Of course. I also know that their goal is to seal the Stellaron, and that they're the Nameless of the Astral Express." Hanxing played his trump card.
"It seems you really are from beyond this world." Bronya lowered her guard slightly. "But why should I trust you?" Hanxing turned his head as a gray-haired young man approached from the hotel entrance. "Looks like the person in question is here."
As Caelus came out, he saw the masked stranger and warily drew his bat. "Who are you, and why are you here?" "I'm a Galaxy Ranger named Mangfeng. I want to join you on your Trailblaze journey."
"Why should I trust you?" Caelus said coldly to Hanxing. "I know there's a Stellaron inside you. I even know your 'past'!" "Who exactly are you?" Caelus's voice grew colder, and he even ground his teeth.
"I told you, I'm just a Galaxy Ranger. Don't get so worked up." Hanxing laughed. "And all I want is to join you. In return, once everything is over, I'm willing to tell you about your 'past.'"
Caelus fell into thought. After giving it careful consideration, he finally agreed to Hanxing's request. "Fine. But if I find out you dare lay a finger on any of my friends, I definitely won't let you off."
"Let's skip the threats. I have no intention of doing that." Hanxing dropped the subject and asked about their plans instead. "So, what are you going to do next?"
"Right, why did you come out?" Bronya realized and looked at Caelus. "I had a nightmare and couldn't sleep," Caelus answered briefly.
"Perfect. There's something I wanted to ask you." Bronya turned to Hanxing and spoke again. "Could you... give us a moment?" Hanxing replied, "As you wish." Then he walked a few steps away.
"Huff... huff..." Hanxing gasped for breath. That had been far too close. If his act had been exposed, a conflict would have been inevitable.
"The lines Kafka taught you were pretty useful after all," Silver Wolf couldn't help remarking over the earpiece. Silver Wolf had naturally been prompting Hanxing the whole time. In truth, she hadn't been confident either; the only thing she could rely on was Hanxing's unfathomable combat power.
"No matter what, it worked." Hanxing relaxed, but Caelus called out to him from the other side.
"What is it?" Hanxing jogged over. "We're both feeling a little restless, so we're going out for a walk. Want to come?" Caelus asked. Hanxing agreed at once. "Then let's go."
"I don't know how long it's been since I last took a walk like this. I never imagined I'd be doing it in an unfamiliar place, with people I only recently met." Bronya sighed with emotion. Recent events really had shaken her worldview.
"It's so quiet here. I'm a little unaccustomed to it... The quieter it gets around me, the louder the distracting thoughts in my head become."
"I suppose the vagrants in the Great Mine must have been desperate, to go so far as to target an innocent mining crew."
"But regardless of their circumstances and hardships, a crime is still a crime. Sigh, faced with such a complicated situation, how is a law enforcer supposed to find a balance between justice and human considerations..."
Bronya poured out her frustrations. Caelus and Hanxing wanted to get a word in, but neither could find anything to say.
"...How long can you hold out with the supplies you have?" A woman's voice came from a distance. "That's... Seele's voice? Caelus, Mangfeng, let's go take a look." Bronya realized something and quickened her pace, running up ahead.
"...I understand. Then I'll make a trip to Rivet Town and bring the supplies back for you." "It's too dangerous to go alone. Why not have Oleg send someone with you?" According to Silver Wolf's information, the woman answering Seele was none other than Natasha, a doctor from the Underworld.
"Uncle Oleg and the others haven't slept a wink in days. They should rest first. If they force themselves to go, they won't be able to help me anyway. They'd just be a burden. Besides, didn't you say some of the miners are badly hurt? Time is life..." Seele said, voicing her concerns.
"We came at just the right time," Caelus announced before anyone else could speak. Seele turned around. "Weren't you resting? What are you doing out at this hour?... You're not up to anything bad, are you?" Seele said unhappily. At the same time, she eyed the masked Hanxing warily. "And who are you?"
"Mangfeng, a Galaxy Ranger," Hanxing answered briefly. "The fact that I'm standing with them is proof of who I am."
"We couldn't sleep, so we just came out for a walk. Please take back that baseless accusation," Bronya said irritably. "Hmph. Then go walk somewhere else-" The atmosphere suddenly grew tense, and Natasha immediately stepped in. "Seele, don't be hasty. They might be able to help you."
"No problem. We'll help with anything," Caelus quickly chimed in to ease the tension. "Is that so... No wonder you give off the air of someone who takes charge."
"Here's the situation. A lot of people were injured in that incident at the mine, and the clinic is overflowing with patients. After you helped quell the unrest, Seele and I have been busy taking care of the wounded. As you know, resources have always been scarce underground, and with this happening so suddenly, the clinic's medical supplies are nearly exhausted. We need to get some from elsewhere." Natasha described their current predicament and offered a solution.
"Are there other towns underground?" Caelus asked first. Seele snorted and spoke up. "Hah, the other towns are even worse off than we are. The reason there are more and more vagrants in the mining area is that the Fragmentum is spreading underground. Monsters are roaming everywhere, and every town is suffering because of them. The supplies and equipment people depend on to make a living have all been swallowed by the Fragmentum. You have to risk your life just to get anything out of those places!"
"Don't get so worked up, Seele. It's bad for your health." Sensing the mood was off, Natasha immediately stepped in to smooth things over.
"Seele and I actually didn't grow up in this town. We came from an industrial town in the north. Its main urban district was infiltrated by the Fragmentum a few years ago. I used to run an orphanage and clinic there, but when the corrosion started, I had no choice but to come to Boulder Town. After all, only by staying alive myself could I have a chance to treat more people."
"So, in short, we need to gather supplies from somewhere else." Hanxing spoke up decisively. "Count me in." Bronya, standing nearby, said, "Count me in too." Caelus added, "Let's help out too."
"Wait! I haven't agreed to let you join yet!" Seele remained unyielding, but Bronya countered, "Lives are at stake. It can't hurt to have another person helping, can it? I also happen to have plenty of experience dealing with the Fragmentum. I'm sure I can help." "Hmph... Then don't get in my way!" That was all Seele said.
"Seele didn't refuse, which means she's already accepted you. With you accompanying her, I can rest easy too." Natasha smiled as she spoke from the side. "Come on, I'll make you a list of supplies."
"But come to think of it, weren't you keeping watch?" Hanxing suddenly noticed the issue and spoke to Bronya. "It's fine. March 7th and the others can handle it," was all Caelus said.