Out of boredom, Zeig struck up a conversation with Bronya.
Bronya murmured:
"So, she transferred all the Silvermane Guards to the Overworld, sealed off traffic between the upper and lower levels, and only kept the channels for supplies and Geomarrow exchange. I used to agree with that decision…"
"You don't agree anymore?" Zeig asked.
Bronya shook her head:
"I don't know how to explain it, but I definitely can't change her mind. I've tried, but she won't listen…"
Zeig suddenly understood.
He vaguely remembered that when Cocolia had appointed him as Executor, she had mentioned that her daughter had been a bit disobedient lately.
It was probably about this.
"Simple." Zeig immediately turned into a scheming advisor, leaning close to Bronya's ear and tempting her:
"Why don't you just become the Supreme Guardian?"
"Hm?" Bronya froze for a moment, then suddenly realized what he meant and retreated several steps in panic.
"You mean… I should become the Supreme Guardian?"
Zeig nodded and smiled:
"Exactly. A promising student indeed. Educated people really do have better comprehension—much easier to talk to than March 7th or Seele."
"No! That's impossible! How could I even think something like that!" Bronya waved her hands repeatedly.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly:
"Really… the more I think about it, the more confused I get; the more confused, the more I think, and I can't find any direction… I just want the people of Belobog to live better lives…"
Zeig shrugged casually:
"No rush. We're still in the Underworld anyway, and we have plenty of time."
Bronya let out a sigh.
"Sigh, you're right."
Zeig suggested again:
"Your Excellency, look how quiet the night is. How about we take a walk and clear our minds? Maybe once we stroll around a bit, the answer will come to you."
"A walk?" Bronya was startled. She glanced back at the door of the Goethe Hotel and hesitated:
"But… didn't we agree that I'd keep watch tonight? If we both leave, wouldn't that be bad?"
Zeig thought about it and agreed that Bronya had a point. So he reached into his pocket, pulled out a bunch of colorful objects, and right in front of her, buried them around the Goethe Hotel.
Bronya watched in stunned disbelief:
"Executor, what are you doing?"
Zeig squatted on the ground, fiddling with them as he answered:
"Setting landmines!"
"!!! "
Bronya finally realized—the Executor's mental state tonight really didn't seem healthy!
She quickly stepped forward to stop him:
"No, wait—Executor, if you set landmines here, what if innocent people step on them?"
Zeig revealed a wise and profound look:
"Innocent? No one in this world is innocent! Haha! Your Excellency, rest assured! What kind of good person stays up in the middle of the night and comes here to step on landmines?"
Bronya clenched her sleeves tightly and tried hard to persuade him:
"But… but some people might have trouble sleeping and come out for a walk, or there could be miners still working late, or Wildfire members on missions. If they accidentally get blown up, that would be terrible."
"Hiss… you do have a point."
Zeig looked up, thought for a moment, glanced at Bronya, then continued burying the mines.
"Y-you're still burying them?! Didn't you just say I had a point?!" Bronya cried out in alarm.
"Yes, but I've never been one to listen to reason!"
Bronya was shocked.
Why did the Executor change so drastically after just spending a little time in his room? What on earth had he gone through?
Seeing Zeig bury them faster and faster, growing more excited by the minute, Bronya swallowed hard, looked around, and tried to spot the direction of Natasha's clinic.
"Alright, Your Excellency—my mission is complete!!"
Zeig clapped the dust off his hands and stood up, very satisfied.
"As long as someone steps on them, these landmines will fly up and immediately explode!"
Watching Zeig enthusiastically gesture the explosion scenes, Bronya nodded perfunctorily to stall for time while quietly shifting her feet, trying to sneak away.
"Your Excellency, once these landmines go off, they'll release a substance that stimulates the nerves, making people unable to resist dancing!"
Bronya froze instantly:
"Wait… dancing?"
"That's right." Zeig said excitedly, "For that, I even installed mood lighting and a trigger-activated music player—pretty dazzling, right?"
Above the entrance of the Goethe Hotel, Zeig had already set up the mood lighting. Flashing multicolored lights shone down on Bronya's fair cheeks, leaving her utterly bewildered.
"You call this a landmine?"
"Of course—it's buried in the ground, so why can't it be called a landmine?"
"…"
"Don't worry, Your Excellency. We'll just take a short walk and dismantle the disco hall when we get back."
"…Fine."
In the end, Bronya sighed.
As long as they weren't real landmines, it was fine.
The two walked along the quiet streets, where almost no one could be seen.
Yet the dazzling lights continued flashing at the distant entrance of the Goethe Hotel, emitting a glow like a nightclub.
At that moment, two tenants who had just reached the doorframe of the lobby noticed the bizarre scene.
"Huh? Since when did this place turn into a nightclub?"
"Probably the landlady trying to attract more business. What's wrong with adding some entertainment? I'm sick of watching those guys at the Fight Club punch each other every day."
"But there are only lights and no music?"
"Idiot, who plays music in the middle of the night?"
"Uh… you're right."
As they spoke, one of the tenants stood inside the doorframe and began unbuckling his belt.
"What are you doing?!" the other tenant asked in shock.
"Didn't we come out to pee? I can aim pretty far—this distance is perfect to reach outside without dirtying the hotel. You're not telling me you can't do that, are you?"
"But still, this is the entrance!"
"So what?" the tenant frowned. "It'll dry in a minute. You're such a prude!"
After thinking for a moment, he revealed a mocking sneer:
"Heh, you can't do it, can you?"
A short while later.
Both tenants stood side by side at the doorframe, their backs shaking in unison.
"Brother, impressive volume, hahaha."
"You're not bad yourself, hehe."
The two looked at each other and laughed, then walked back inside shoulder to shoulder.
As if nothing had happened.
In the dead of night.
A group of armed vagrants emerged from the darkness, staring intently at the entrance of the Goethe Hotel.
"There's definitely still food in that hotel. While it's dark and quiet, let's make this quick!"
"But boss, what if Wildfire finds us? We can't beat them!"
"Hmph, don't worry—I've scouted it out. They've been fighting us and clashing with Svarog; they're all exhausted and won't come!"
"But that hotel looks kinda off… it doesn't seem like a place minors should enter!"
Smack—
A slapping sound came from the darkness.
"Talking like you're an adult yourself. Cut the nonsense—grab what we can and get out. They won't react in time!"
Soon, about five or six vagrants rushed out of the darkness and charged quickly toward the Goethe Hotel.
Just as they neared the entrance, someone suddenly stepped on something.
"Huh?"
Several colorful objects burst out of the ground in an instant and exploded violently!
In a flash, countless purple gases filled the air, lingering for a long time without dissipating.
The vagrants stood frozen in place.
They didn't move at all; in that moment, their minds seemed to soar into the clouds.
It was as if… they had forgotten all their troubles.
…