"Who are you?"
"Big bro, he doesn't look like a good guy."
"That gaze under his black balaclava is so sleazy?!"
"…"
Amid the vagrants' discussion, the thug silently pulled a rocket launcher from his coat.
"Ya! This black-balaclava big bro is so handsome! You can tell at a glance he's got real manliness!" The leader of the vagrants broke out in cold sweat and hurriedly gave a thumbs-up in praise.
"Yeah, yeah! He's practically the flower of the lower district, blooming on the eve of dawn!"
"Haha, since that's the case, us brothers will take our leave first. Goodbye, goodbye!"
The vagrants kept their eyes fixed on the rocket launcher, retreating a few steps with sheepish smiles as they bid farewell.
Just as they turned and took a step to sprint away,
A voice like silver bells stopped them.
"Wait." Bronya spoke.
The vagrants froze, turning back with fearful expressions to look at the two behind them.
Especially the thug beside her, rocket launcher on his shoulder, face full of madness.
"Uh, officer miss, is there anything else?" The leader rubbed his hands together while smiling obsequiously.
Moments ago, they'd seen Bronya alone, so they'd spoken freely, saying whatever they wanted.
But now it was different.
This girl's companion was aiming a rocket launcher at them.
They'd already vented most of their resentment with all those words.
They couldn't possibly risk their lives just to keep talking tough in this situation.
Yet, to their surprise,
In front of them, Bronya reached into her pocket, pulled out a large handful of Winter City Shields, held them in her palm, and extended them toward the vagrants.
"These are for you."
"Ah?" Seeing this, the vagrants looked at each other in bewilderment.
They'd just insulted this girl so harshly, and she was still giving them money?
"What do you mean by this?" one vagrant asked.
"No particular meaning. If you don't need them, I'll take them back."
As she spoke, Bronya made as if to withdraw the Winter City Shields.
The vagrants swallowed hard and quickly stepped forward to accept them.
To them, these weren't cold coins—they were clothes, food, and water.
Seeing them take the money, Bronya said: "You may go."
The vagrants exchanged glances. Though they didn't understand what the girl meant, at least they'd come out even.
Without lingering, they hurriedly left with the Winter City Shields.
Watching them gradually walk away, the thug beside Bronya finally lowered the rocket launcher and said in shock:
"Your Excellency, you're actually pretty nice, huh."
Bronya pursed her lips slightly:
"It's not that much."
"Fine, fine, whatever you say." Zeig removed his balaclava, quickly pulled a large cloth bag from his coat, and kept stuffing money into Bronya's pockets.
March 7th, watching from behind, was stunned.
"Wow, how is he so rich?"
Sampo sighed:
"Didn't see that coming, did you? I didn't either. I was the one who did the kidnapping, yet big bro's the one extorting money. Woo woo woo."
March 7th looked at Sampo in confusion:
"Kidnapping? Who'd you kidnap?"
"This Guard girl here. You might not believe it, but I actually got into Qlipoth Fort and extorted the Supreme Guardian face-to-face." Recalling the experience, Sampo suddenly felt incredibly badass.
"So why did Zeig end up extorting the money?" March 7th continued asking.
"…" Sampo looked very embarrassed and could only spread his hands:
"Big Sis March, just don't ask, okay? You know how thick-skinned my big bro is—what wouldn't he do?"
Beside Zeig, Bronya hurriedly waved her hands:
"Okay, okay, that's enough—really, no more. They won't fit."
Zeig glanced over, stuffed a bit more anyway, and only reluctantly put away the large cloth bag after confirming there was truly no space left for more Winter City Shields.
"Yosh, when you're out and about, you gotta have money. Commander Bronya, with the way you were handing it out just now, the money on you will be gone again soon."
Bronya pursed her lips, saddened:
"What they said isn't entirely wrong. The ones truly suffering because of the lockdown are the people of the lower district."
"Hey, then just hurry and help those two fugitives find the Stellaron, end the eternal freeze, deal with your mother, lift the lockdown—won't everything gradually get better then?" Zeig reminded her.
"Executor, do you mean…you also believe what those two fugitives said?" Bronya inquired.
Zeig sniffed.
Big sis, I'm on the same side as them—how could I not believe it?
Besides, I've got a Stellaron in my own body. Wouldn't I know if it's real or not?
"Commander Bronya, suppose those two rascals are telling the truth—then for the entire people of Belobog, that would absolutely be a great thing!"
The silver-haired girl nodded.
If the Stellaron truly existed and was the source of the eternal freeze, eliminating it would be the greatest responsibility toward Belobog's people.
But if all this were true,
Why would Mother lie?
She clearly loves this city so much—why issue a warrant for them?
Is there something wrong with them, or…does Mother have other intentions?
"Executor, I think it's better if we remain cautious." After thinking for a long time, Bronya replied thus.
Her answer did not exceed Zeig's expectations.
As the daughter closer to the Supreme Guardian than a biological one, how could she completely deny the Supreme Guardian herself over something like this?
To her, even if Dan Heng and March 7th weren't fugitives, they were still just two strangers.
How could their words overturn Cocolia's place in Bronya's heart?
"No rush, Your Excellency." Zeig immediately suggested:
"Why not just go along with them for now? If it succeeds, it'll be a great thing. Even if it fails, there's no real loss."
Hearing this, Bronya nodded lightly:
"You're right, Executor."
Zeig shook his head and said seriously:
"You should say, 'Yoshi omaetachi wa hontō ni yoi shimin da!' and then give a thumbs-up."
Bronya looked stunned. "Why? What does that mean?"
"It means praise and affirmation! You can tell at a glance, Your Excellency, that you've never mingled with the grassroots."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah!"
Zeig revealed an excited smile.
"Your Excellency, hurry and say it to those three over there—let's express our goodwill!"
Bronya was very conflicted.
But after thinking it over, she still nodded.
"Mm, you're right. Since we're already here, we should show goodwill toward them."
Yet she still looked up suspiciously:
"But, Executor, do people here really talk like that?"
Zeig nodded as if it were obvious:
"Of course! Haven't I been talking like that the whole time? See how naturally I say it!"
Bronya carefully recalled—Zeig did indeed often speak that way.
It should…be fine, right?
While chatting with Sampo, March 7th watched wide-eyed as Bronya walked toward them.
Zeig, standing behind her, even pulled out two glow sticks to cheer her on.
"?" March 7th suddenly had a bad feeling.
This feeling stemmed from her prior experience dealing with Zeig.
In short,
Something's off—very off!
Dan Heng had been standing silently to the side the whole time, organizing the information they'd gathered so far.
Suddenly, he noticed Bronya approaching the three of them.
The noble silver-haired girl wore a completely serious expression.
Her beautiful face was filled with determination.
Under the trio's gazes, the silver-haired girl slowly raised a thumbs-up.
Blushing, her voice trembling slightly, she praised:
"Yoshi...omaetachi wa...hontō ni yoi shimin da.."
"???"
…