March 7th sat down across from Zeig, slumped over the table, utterly exhausted.
"You know, I haven't eaten anything this whole time—I'm about to pass out from hunger. Good thing you came down. Hurry and order some food."
Zeig glanced toward Bronya and said:
"I'm still playing spy here. See that Silvermane Guard commander over there? She's still around. If you just run over like this, what if I get exposed?"
March 7th waved her hand dismissively:
"Exposed? So what. There isn't a single Silvermane Guard here—does she think she can arrest you?"
Zeig rolled his eyes speechlessly:
"What are you doing? Why turn hostile when we can get along peacefully? Jealous of my vast experience in slacking off?"
Glancing at Bronya, who was ordering at the counter, March 7th sighed:
"Then what can we do? She's probably the most loyal person under the Supreme Guardian. I heard her call her 'Mother'—you're not thinking of turning her, are you?"
Bronya in the distance had already noticed them.
She saw March 7th sitting in her seat.
Bronya froze for a moment, then looked at Zeig.
Zeig noticed Bronya's gaze and waved at her.
"…"
After finishing ordering, Bronya sat beside Zeig, looked at March 7th, and slightly furrowed her delicate brows:
"Executor, why is she here?"
Zeig immediately declared righteously:
"Perfect timing. This fugitive says she has something to tell us—something that will completely overturn our understanding. I'm furious. Come listen to what she has to say!"
Bronya murmured:
"Don't let her trick you. Mother said they're dangerous elements."
March 7th, sitting across from them, rolled her eyes:
"Please, you believe everything she says?"
Bronya nodded. "Mm, of course I do."
March 7th said speechlessly:
"If she told you the person next to you is a woman, would you believe that too?"
Bronya looked at Zeig in shock:
"So… you're female?"
"…" Zeig was speechless. "Get lost, get lost… how dare a mere fugitive slander this Executor."
"Tch." March 7th huffed.
At that moment.
Two more people walked in through the door of the Goethe Hotel.
"Chief, that new guy is over there too. I hear he's a physician. He told me he's a spy embedded in the Overworld—not sure if it's true or not." Seele waved her hand.
The man named Oleg stroked his stubble, thought deeply for a moment, then walked forward.
"I'm not interrupting your fun, am I? Haha." Oleg casually pulled up a chair and sat at the side of the table.
"Hmph." Seele mimicked him, dragged over a chair, and joined them.
"You are?" Bronya asked.
"Oh, I'm the leader of Wildfire in the Underworld. Just call me Oleg." the man smiled.
"Don't let my appearance fool you—I used to be a Silvermane Guard. Little miss, ever heard the legend of Quick-Fist Oleg?" Oleg raised an eyebrow.
Bronya froze, searching her memories.
"I think I have heard the older guards mention it."
"Hahaha, good to know someone still remembers me, Oleg, after all these years of separation between the Overworld and Underworld. Truly comforting."
Bronya said gravely:
"So, do you have something to discuss as well?"
Oleg smiled:
"Nothing major, really. I heard you were all brought down here by that kid Sampo. Why don't we chat? It's been so many years since the lockdown—we don't even know how things are going in the Overworld. Just some communication."
Zeig immediately leaned close to Bronya's ear and said:
"Commander, this is a great chance to exchange intelligence—and build some rapport with the Underworld folks. I just overheard that short-shorts girl over there calling him 'Chief.' Whether we can get by down here depends entirely on this conversation."
Bronya pressed her lips together, then finally nodded.
With just her and Zeig in the Underworld, they were outnumbered and outmatched. It was better to go along with them.
"Very well, Senior Oleg. I'm willing to speak with you." Bronya agreed.
At that moment, March 7th raised her hand to interrupt:
"Wait wait wait—include me too! Our intelligence is important as well!"
Oleg smiled:
"Little miss, you're from the Overworld too?"
"No, we're from outside this planet." March 7th said unhappily. "We came with good intentions to help rid this planet of the snow disaster, but your Supreme Guardian branded us terrorists. Now we've been driven down here."
Oleg froze. He exchanged a glance with Seele, then asked March 7th:
"You… you can really dispel the snow disaster? Do you know how long the great blizzard has been raging on this planet?"
March 7th said seriously:
"Of course we can. The thing causing the snow disaster is a substance called a Stellaron. As long as we seal it, everything will be fine."
"Stellaron?" Bronya murmured. "Why didn't you just tell Mother about this?"
March 7th rolled her eyes:
"We did! You know that—she agreed to treat us as honored guests one moment, then sent you to ambush us at the hotel the next, claiming we were trying to overthrow Belobog's regime. Tell me, aren't we wronged?"
Oleg and Seele blinked. This was dirt on the Supreme Guardian—they actually got to hear such explosive gossip.
Bronya countered:
"That can't be. Mother has always loved this city. She wouldn't wrong you without reason."
"Besides, saying you can save the planet is just your side of the story."
March 7th said irritably:
"Why would I lie to you? What good would it do us if this planet were destroyed?!"
Seeing the tension rising, Oleg quickly reached out to mediate:
"Alright, alright—we're just chatting today, hahaha. Everyone calm down."
Gertie carried a tray over, setting down dish after dish of delicious food, and said enthusiastically:
"Oh, Oleg and Seele are here too? Then I'll throw in some extra dishes for you, hahaha."
Oleg turned back and quickly waved his hand:
"Huh? Gertie, no need—really, no need. We're just having a casual chat."
Gertie smiled and patted his shoulder. "Don't say that. Ever since the Silvermane Guards withdrew from the Underworld, Wildfire has been maintaining order. How could the Goethe Hotel not treat you to a few dishes? Sit tight, sit tight—keep chatting. The food will be right up."
Hearing this, Bronya lightly pressed her lips together.
After the lockdown order, Mother had withdrawn all Silvermane Guards from the Underworld, leaving its safety unprotected.
So now, the ones protecting the Underworld… were Wildfire.
Oleg sighed and smiled at Bronya:
"Little miss, forgive the embarrassment. After the Silvermane Guards pulled back to the Overworld, we ordinary folks spontaneously formed Wildfire. It's just our duty—nothing worth special treatment."
Bronya nodded.
She had assumed that without the Guards, the Underworld would be in dire straits.
She hadn't expected them to have already organized themselves.
"Speaking of which, we have a physician from many years ago to thank—one who looks a lot like the guy next to you."
"Huh?"
Zeig was sipping his vegetable soup when he heard this and felt incredibly awkward.
"Hiss—the more I look, the more you resemble him. You wouldn't happen to be called Zeig, would you?" Oleg examined him up and down.
"Back then, he healed my injuries. I even wanted to help him fix that tractor, but he just drove off."
"Hey, why aren't you saying anything?"
"I'm choking."
…
"Cough cough… ptoo~"
…
Splat—
A small patch of moss appeared on March 7th's pretty face.
"…"
…