When she mentioned the name "Zao Wu," Cocolia's tone softened.
After a moment's thought, she added another sentence.
"Capture him alive, if possible, without harming him."
"..."
Gepard remained silent for a long moment, until the Supreme Guardian Cocolia cast a stern gaze upon him. Only then did the man feel a slight chill run down his spine as he acknowledged the order.
"Yes, Lady Cocolia."
Gepard couldn't quite understand why, in just one night, the Supreme Guardian's attitude, which had been one of friendly cooperation with the outworlders, had taken a 180-degree turn.
Intending to incite a rebellion... that's a serious charge.
But as a subject of the Supreme Guardian and a member of the Silvermane Guards who protected Belobog, even though Gepard had a favorable impression of Zao Wu and his group from their meeting yesterday, he could never bend the law for personal feelings.
I hope it's a misunderstanding.
But even to clear up a misunderstanding, he had to bring them before the Supreme Guardian first.
Gepard stood up, his fists clenching with determination, and a resolute look gradually filled his azure eyes. He turned to leave, his blue cape billowing behind him.
Only after Gepard had left Fort Qlipoth did Cocolia slowly retract her gaze.
"..."
In the silence, the woman let out a deep sigh.
If the accident last night hadn't happened, perhaps Zao Wu would have already experienced the beauty of a mature, older woman like herself and agreed to become her king. Then, Belobog would have been saved, and everyone would be reborn in a beautiful new world.
But why... why, at that very moment, did you have to disturb me, Bronya?
At the thought of her daughter, alone in the empty space, Cocolia instantly lost the majestic authority she had displayed before Gepard. A vulnerability she would never show to anyone else even emerged. The blonde woman's shoulders began to tremble, and she raised her hands to cover her face.
No matter how calmly or shamelessly Cocolia pretended to be in front of others, she couldn't stop the intense sense of shame and deep guilt from welling up from the depths of her heart.
I'm sorry, Bronya...
I'm sorry, my daughter...
For letting you see your mother in such a disgraceful state.
From the moment she chose to adopt Bronya from the orphanage, Cocolia had sworn to raise her well, sworn to protect her smile. And all this time, Cocolia had done just that. She was like an inadequate parent, managing the livelihood and survival of the large family of Belobog while also caring for the small family she had formed with Bronya. She had once poured all her energy, all her heart and soul, into Belobog and Bronya, completely neglecting her own needs.
If doing so could save Belobog and raise Bronya into an excellent adult, Cocolia would not have a single regret about her sacrifice!
But reality dealt her a heavy blow!
When she learned that the Eternal Freeze and the Fragmentum were actually born from the Stellaron responding to the wishes of the first Supreme Guardian, Alisa Rand, and all the people of Belobog at the time, Cocolia's heart of Preservation had already begun to crumble, on the verge of shattering!
What a joke... So the one who saved Belobog from the war against the Antimatter Legion back then wasn't the "first Supreme Guardian" or a "miracle worker" at all.
It was the Stellaron, which successive Supreme Guardians had regarded as taboo!
So the blizzard that has swept across the entire planet for seven hundred years was actually a demon released from Pandora's box by Belobog itself!
Then what have I been protecting all this time?
Why is even the Stellaron willing to respond to Belobog!
But Qlipoth, as a Star God, why are you unwilling to spare even a sliver of your power to save the thousands of subjects on this land who believe in you!
The reappearance of the Stellaron's voice was the last straw for Cocolia, the final blow that shattered her heart of Preservation. For Cocolia, on one side was the inevitable arrival of the blizzard and the erosion of the Fragmentum, which she could hardly stop even if she gave her all; Belobog was doomed to fall, and she couldn't even protect her own daughter. On the other side was the "beautiful world" promised by the Stellaron. In that world, she could let go of all responsibilities and just be a woman, enjoying and making up for her lost youth.
Comparing the two, wasn't it obvious which one Cocolia would choose?
I'm sorry... Bronya.
But Mother, is truly "hungry."
Cocolia had endured for so many years, accumulating countless desires.
They had to be... unleashed on her destined king, didn't they?~
In an unnamed inn in Belobog, the already cramped room became even more crowded with the addition of three single beds. The problem was, of these three beds, only Dan Heng ended up using one.
As for March 7th and Stelle... at some point, they had moved over to Zao Wu's bed. The two girls, one on his left and one on his right, held Zao Wu tightly in their arms, as if guarding a precious treasure, before they finally succumbed to their fatigue and fell into a deep sleep.
No wonder Zao Wu kept dreaming that he was being tightly wrapped by the tentacles of a giant octopus. He couldn't break free, and his breathing became difficult. But for some reason, there was also a comforting scent nearby.
It's the scent of Sister March 7th and Sister Stelle...
In the end, Zao Wu chose to stop thinking. The giant octopus didn't seem to want to eat him anyway. In fact, after getting used to it, it felt quite soft and comfortable.
The boy slept like this until dawn.
Until a sudden chill woke him from his dream.
"Hah... hah..."
The boy gasped for air, his face, as flawless as fine oriental porcelain, was covered in a thin layer of sweat, shining in the early morning sun with a light that made hearts race.
March 7th and Stelle, who had woken up a little earlier, had been admiring Zao Wu's pure and beautiful sleeping face from either side, as per their peace agreement. Now, they were even more smitten. If this were a game, the word "Charmed" would surely be floating above their heads, indicating they had been hit with a "Charm" debuff.
But after a brief moment of being dazed, March 7th quickly realized that something was wrong with Zao Wu's condition. She immediately asked with concern.
"What's wrong, Zao Wu?"
Only then did Zao Wu open his eyes. At first, it was a blurry patch of gray and a patch of pink. When his vision cleared and his eyes focused, he saw that it was Sister March 7th and Sister Stelle.
Zao Wu sat up in bed, looking like an angel deep in thought. Even though the light was falling on his face, it seemed as if he himself was radiating a pure white light.
"...I don't know. I just suddenly felt... something scary."
"Scary?" Stelle asked back, confused.
Dan Heng, who was polishing his long spear nearby, heard this and replied faintly.
"Hostility, fighting spirit, love, hatred... any strong emotion, when it reaches a certain level, has a certain possibility of being sensed by others."
"It's what is commonly known as 'telepathy'."
Hearing this, March 7th's face lit up as if the clouds had parted.
"Wow, you're amazing, Dan Heng! You spend all day in the data bank, you know so much!"
Dan Heng's hand paused its polishing, and a complicated look flashed in his eyes.
It's not that I know a lot. It's just that I've been hated for hundreds of years and have experienced countless related heart palpitations.
Stelle's eyes lit up.
"I get it! What Zao Wu felt must be the deep love from my pounding heart!"
With that, Stelle snuggled up to Zao Wu's neck, becoming like a "Stelle-koala."
March 7th's lips twitched, and her expression turned as if she were looking at the king of trash.
"Don't take the opportunity to harass Zao Wu!"
"And no matter how you look at it, Zao Wu's current state doesn't look like he's happy and surrounded by love!"
"Or is your love so terrible that it scared Zao Wu straight out of his dreams!"
Stelle's eyebrows shot up.
"What did you say!"
Seeing that a conflict was about to break out between Sister Stelle and Sister March 7th because of him, Zao Wu quickly smiled and tried to smooth things over.
"Alright, alright, I'm actually... fine now."
"But, didn't you sisters hear it?"
"Huh? Hear what?" Stelle and March 7th asked in unison, both looking puzzled.
Zao Wu then realized that it was probably because of his "extrasensory perception," which was far beyond that of ordinary people, that he had heard... the sound of an army marching from far to near.
"Thump, thump, thump, thump!"
He immediately went to the window, pushed open the thick windproof glass, and looked out at the city of Belobog. In the far distance of his line of sight, Gepard was leading a team of Silvermane Guards, rapidly marching towards the inn where they were temporarily staying.
"Captain... Gepard?"
For some reason, a sense of unease suddenly arose in Zao Wu's heart. He told March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng in the room what he had heard and seen.
"You're saying Gepard is coming to arrest us now?"
"I didn't say that..."
"But, I feel like we should prepare just in case."
"After all, last night, we offended the Supreme Guardian..."
"Huh?" March 7th and Stelle said in unison, both with an expression as if they had just thought of non-burnable trash.
"What do you mean we offended that lewd... that bad woman!"
"It was clearly her who almost hurt you, Zao Wu!"
"You really need to be more careful!"
"Don't naively trust those pretty women outside with their sweet words!"
"Otherwise, you'll be eaten clean and have nowhere to cry!" March 7th lectured Zao Wu with an extremely serious demeanor. Beside her, Stelle nodded repeatedly.
But there was one thing she didn't understand.
Why did Zao Wu have to be careful of "dim sum"? Weren't dim sum meant to be eaten? Like plum blossom cakes, osmanthus cakes, mung bean cakes, red bean cakes... Stelle had eaten them often at the space station! They were delicious! She just didn't know where they came from, and why she always felt like she forgot something after eating them. It must be her imagination...
Although Zao Wu didn't understand what "eaten clean" meant, seeing how much Sister March 7th cared about him, his heart warmed.
"I'll remember, Sister March 7th."
Afterward, the four members of the Express crew took action, each taking out their weapons in case the worst-case scenario really happened and they were caught off guard.
Gepard also took this opportunity to order the Silvermane Guards to surround the small inn where they were staying.
"Keep a close watch! Don't even let a mosquito fly out!"
The inn's owners had never seen such a scene and were so scared they collapsed.
"Lord Gepard, I think there must be... there must be some misunderstanding!"
Gepard also hoped there was some misunderstanding. He reached out to help up the innkeeper who was about to kneel before him and comforted him.
"Don't be afraid. I am here today under the order of the Supreme Guardian to capture infiltrators who intend to incite a rebellion."
"Ignorance is no crime. As long as you don't harbor them, you are still a citizen of Belobog and under the protection of us Silvermane Guards."
Just then, Zao Wu and the others walked out of the inn on their own initiative. Gepard's attention instantly shifted from the innkeeper to Zao Wu and his group. The man's gaze was as sharp as a spear, and he immediately raised his hand in a pre-attack gesture. In an instant, the Silvermane Guards who had been dispersed to surround the inn were summoned back. They all held their weapons, aimed at the four members of the Express crew.
At the same time, Gepard announced in a deep, cold voice.
"I am Gepard Landau. You already know me, but that is meaningless."
"Today, I am here in the name of the noble and supreme Amber Lord, under the command of the Supreme Guardian Cocolia Rand, to capture the rebels who plot against Belobog."
"I will temporarily deprive you of your freedom of action and speech. If you have any defense, you can say it when the tribunal and the Supreme Guardian judge you!"
"I don't want to hurt you, so, lay down your weapons and surrender!"
Hearing this, March 7th was furious.
"Gepard! You with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, and we trusted you so much!"
"You don't know anything at all!"
"You don't know what the high and mighty Guardian you speak of has done!"
"You don't know what a despicable, shameless, and lewd woman she is!"
March 7th was only focused on venting her own anger and didn't realize that some of the Silvermane Guards loyal to Cocolia had heard her, and were instantly filled with a blood rage. However, there were also some Silvermane Guards who had long been dissatisfied with some of Cocolia's policies, and they secretly cheered in their hearts. But as for showing it... they didn't want to be the ones sent out to the icy wilderness to fill the Fissures next time!
Gepard frowned and sighed deeply.
"It seems words are useless between us."
"All Silvermane Guards, listen to my command!"
"On the premise of ensuring the safety of the white-haired boy, take down these four rebels!"
Just as Gepard's words fell and the battle was about to break out, a familiar female voice, anxious and angry, came from the distance.
"Everyone, stop!"
The Silvermane Guards all shuddered. The only one who could make them react this way was naturally a high-ranking figure in the Silvermane Guards.
The current Captain of the Silvermane Guards, the future heir to the Supreme Guardian, Lady Bronya!
The silver-haired girl rushed over, her elegant figure becoming a savior in the eyes of Zao Wu and the others!
"It's Miss Bronya!"
"Sister Bronya..."
If the girl hadn't arrived in time, with the Express crew's usual style of doing things, they would have probably already targeted the Fissure that extended into the city of Belobog nearby and planned to escape from there. The main theme would be "retreat, sell out, and run away." They couldn't help it; they were the Astral Express crew, who came here with humanitarian spirit and idealism to solve the Stellaron crisis. They were for world peace, to prevent the universe from being destroyed, to uphold love and justice... Ahem, wrong script!
In short, they were not a chaotic-evil "kill, kill, kill" group like the Stellaron Hunters!
Stelle: Eh!? We're not?
Stelle: Crap, I joined the wrong team...
She clearly felt that knocking all the Silvermane Guards in front of them flying with her Galactic Baseball Bat was the easiest and most convenient method.
Gepard looked with confusion at Bronya, who had pushed through the encirclement of the Silvermane Guards and come before the four of them, even spreading her arms like a mother eagle to shield Zao Wu behind her. The Silvermane Guards also began to stir and become confused at this scene.
The Supreme Guardian, and the future Supreme Guardian...
Whose orders should they follow?
At the critical moment, it was Gepard's sharp shout that made them understand.
Whoever wins, they listen to them.
"Bronya! Are you going to defy your mother's orders and collude with rebels? Aren't you afraid of being imprisoned!"
Lady Cocolia is Lady Bronya's mother. She has the right to imprison her. Lady Cocolia wins! A huge win!
Hearing the word "mother," Bronya felt a deep sense of absurdity and sadness. Cocolia, who had committed such... such a shameless act last night, was simply tainting this sacred word. But no matter what, she was still Bronya's "mother."
And also a mother who had made a mistake!
A child not taught is the father's fault.
A mother who doesn't change is the daughter's fault!
"I only know who is right and who is wrong!"
"Gepard, I can't tell you what happened behind the scenes..."
"But I can guarantee with my honor! Zao Wu and the others are not wrong!"
Bronya's words caused an uproar. If the outsiders in front of them were not wrong... then didn't that mean that their Supreme Guardian, Lady Cocolia, was wrong!?
What an unfilial daughter!
...
In a corner unnoticed by anyone, a tall, blue-haired man with a smirk on his lips muttered to himself.
"My rookie colleague seems to be in a bit of trouble."
—"Then will you help him?"
"Of course!"
"Old Sampo will never let a friend who helped him suffer!"
"Hey, wait...!"
Sampo just realized that one of those sentences wasn't his own! But that sentence was indeed spoken in his own voice! And the person who could do that...
A sudden chill ran down Sampo's spine!
But the moment he turned around, what greeted him was a club from a "Sampo" who looked exactly like him!
In the last moment before Sampo lost consciousness from being knocked out, he heard the merciless ridicule from "Sampo" and "his" imitation in a high-pitched, mocking tone.
—"Old Sampo would never let a friend who helped him, suffer"
—"Hee hee hee~"
-------
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