After sending Seele away, Zeig quickly walked up to Bronya and sighed:
"Bronya, I finally found you—I've been looking so hard for you!"
Bronya pressed her lips together and asked in confusion:
"So, what were you just telling that Wildfire member about being at odds with someone?"
"Of course I'm at odds with the person who kidnapped you! In my entire life, I, Zeig, hate scum like that the most!" Zeig declared righteously, patting his chest.
Bronya nodded, her expression a little unnatural.
Wearing this Silvermane Guard uniform, she had been pointed at and whispered about by Underworld residents the whole way.
Many in the Underworld harbored deep resentment toward the lockdown order.
And this uniform was the very symbol of the Silvermane Guards.
"Zeig, were you also brought down here by Sampo?" Bronya asked.
Zeig scratched his head. "Pretty much. By the way, where did my two teammates… ah no, those two vile fugitives go?"
"Those two fugitives should be in the Underworld somewhere too. I haven't paid much attention."
Zeig nodded.
"Have you eaten?" Bronya asked with concern. "Winter City Shields seem to be the main currency here. I don't have many on me—if you're hungry, I can pawn some things and we can get food."
As she spoke, Bronya removed her brooch.
The brooch was exquisitely crafted, clearly of superior workmanship. The carved patterns were smooth and luxurious, inlaid with sparkling gems.
Zeig waved his hand. "No, no need to sell it. It's just Winter City Shields—we've got plenty."
With that, Zeig pulled a large cloth bag from his coat.
He opened the bag, grabbed huge handfuls of Winter City Shields, and began stuffing them into every pocket of Bronya's clothes.
Like an old mother hen.
"Here, here—take more, just in case."
"Uh, that's enough, really—stop stuffing, they're full, I really can't fit any more."
Only when Bronya had no pockets left did Zeig stop his mother-hen behavior.
"Where… where did you even pull this huge bag from?" Bronya patted her now bulging pockets and asked curiously.
"Last time too—your AK seemed to come out of your coat as well. Can your clothes really hold all this?"
Zeig silently tucked the bag full of Winter City Shields back into his coat. Inside one of his inner pockets lay a glowing string knot.
"This? Just a little magic trick—don't mind it." Zeig waved it off.
"Now that we have money, we don't need to sell anything. Let's eat first. We're in unfamiliar territory—if we don't eat, where will we get the strength?"
Bronya nodded and softly replied, "Mm."
Under her guidance, the two arrived at the Goethe Hotel.
At the entrance, many miners squatted casually on the ground, holding bowls and eating while chatting and laughing with the lady boss.
Though their faces were dirty, their smiles were honest and warm.
Zeig walked over and immediately called out:
"Boss lady, we're here to eat."
The lady boss named Gertie saw customers arrive, stopped chatting with the miners, instinctively wiped her hands on her apron, and asked enthusiastically:
"What would you two like to eat? Hmm, new faces—are you vagrants? Hiss… your clothes don't quite look it. Ah, sorry, I might've said too much, haha… come in, come in!"
The two found a random spot inside the hotel and sat down.
"There's a menu on the table—just tell me what you want." Gertie said.
Zeig sat across from Bronya, glanced at the menu, then handed it to her.
"Commander Bronya, you order."
"Ah, me? Alright."
Bronya took the menu and hesitated after seeing the dish names.
"…"
Zeig sat opposite her, scanning the other people in the hotel.
In the farthest corner, several miners huddled together, eating while heatedly discussing something.
In the middle, two elderly men who looked fairly well-off ate slowly and deliberately.
At the table closest to Zeig, a plump woman was dining with her child.
Noticing Zeig's gaze, the plump woman looked over.
In that instant.
Her eyes widened.
"Clatter…"
The plump woman's chopsticks slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.
But she ignored the chopsticks and immediately stood up, walking over to Zeig.
She examined him repeatedly.
"…"
Zeig sniffled and asked in confusion:
"Auntie, what are you doing? I don't do that kind of business."
Bronya also noticed the plump auntie, set down the menu, and asked:
"Auntie, is something the matter?"
The plump woman first shook her head, then nodded frantically.
Leaving both Zeig and Bronya utterly puzzled.
"You're… you're Doctor Zeig, right?" the plump auntie asked with a trembling voice.
"You know me?" Zeig blinked. He had no memory of this auntie.
"Of course, of course! Have you forgotten? I'm Olga. Years ago, you appeared driving a tractor. I was so hungry I collapsed under your tractor. Not only did you treat me, you gave me food—and in the end, you even gave me the entire iron basin full of Winter City Shields that was your clinic fee!"
As she spoke, the plump auntie rushed outside, leaving her child still sitting at the table, looking bewildered as she ran out the hotel door.
Soon, the plump auntie returned carrying an old iron basin and said excitedly:
"Look—this is the iron basin you left me back then!"
Zeig looked closely—it really did seem to be that basin.
"Olga—Sister Olga? Damn, how did you… how did you…"
Zeig stood up and looked Olga's figure over in shock.
"How did you get this fat?"
"Sigh, don't mention it—I've already started losing weight." Olga said awkwardly.
"After you left that year, thanks to your help, our family's situation improved a lot. We took the remaining large sum of money and donated it to Wildfire. You saved many people back then—those who couldn't find you joined Wildfire one after another and went around doing good deeds."
"Wait, let me sort this out." Zeig raised a hand to interrupt.
"I've been gone for many years?"
"Yes!" Olga confirmed.
Zeig sniffled, looking at Olga in shock.
So back then, when he drove the tractor, he had actually gone several years into the past—and the beacon had been left years ago too.
No wonder when he teleported using the beacon this time, the surroundings were already overrun by the Rift. So many years had passed.
"Wait, doesn't that mean…"
What about Cyrille?
He had taken her away in the tractor too—could she… not be from this era either?
Thinking of this, Zeig suddenly felt a wave of guilt.
Good heavens, which year was Cyrille from?
"Anyway, it's really wonderful that you've come back again!" Olga said happily.
Bronya pressed her lips together and asked:
"Zeig, so you've been to the Underworld before?"
"Don't mind these little details, haha—let's eat first, let's eat first." Zeig brushed it off.
Bronya nodded and went to order from the boss lady Gertie.
Zeig then urged Olga, "Sister Olga, I beg you—go back for now. I'll come find you later to catch up, okay?"
Olga nodded and suddenly realized:
"Oh oh, you two are on a date, right? I get it, I get it—Sister Olga won't disturb you. I'll take the kid home first and tell my husband the good news."
Only after Olga finally left did Zeig breathe a sigh of relief.
"That was close."
At that moment, another young woman entered from the door. Upon seeing Zeig, she froze for a second, then tentatively called:
"Zeig…?"
"?" Zeig looked up.
"Holy crap, a living Entanglement?!"
…