The night slowly deepened.
Though in Rivet Town, there was almost no difference between day and night.
Zeig and Bronya strolled along the streets, with dim yellowish lights lining both sides of the road.
Some of the light came from lamps, while some originated from Geomarrow.
From not far away, voices could be heard.
"How much longer can you hold out with the supplies you have on hand?"
Upon hearing this,
Bronya's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she looked ahead:
"That's… Seele's voice. Executor, let's go take a look."
Without waiting for Zeig to respond, Bronya took the lead and ran over.
In a corner,
Seele and Natasha were standing there, seemingly discussing something.
Seele: "Got it. Then I'll make a trip to Rivet Town and bring the stuff back for you."
Natasha: "It's too dangerous for you to go alone. Let Oleg send some people with you."
Seele: "The old man and the others haven't closed their eyes in days. They should rest first. If they force themselves to come, they'll only drag me down instead of helping."
As the big sister of the Underworld, Seele had no intention of asking for help from other Wildfire members.
Rivet Town was already in the Fragmentum, and since Oleg and the others had been exhausted dealing with conflicts between miners and vagrants, Seele wouldn't disturb them.
"Sigh." Natasha let out a sigh. "Seele, if you go alone with no one to watch your back, it's just too dangerous."
Seele, however, acted as if it were no big deal and shrugged:
"Didn't you say it yourself? Some of the miners are gravely injured—time is life…"
Zeig and Bronya exchanged a glance, stepped out of the darkness, and approached the two.
Seele reacted quickly; almost the instant they emerged from the shadows, she turned around.
Seeing it was Zeig and Bronya, she relaxed slightly and asked:
"Aren't you two supposed to be resting? What are you doing out at this hour? Not planning anything shady, are you?"
Zeig revealed a sinister grin and said maniacally:
"Of course—we strike while Wildfire is weak and take their lives! Kiehehehehe!!"
Immediately after,
Bronya pulled a roll of duct tape from her pocket, sealed Zeig's mouth, and then explained to Seele:
"We just couldn't sleep and came out for a walk. Please retract your baseless accusation."
Seele huffed.
"Fine. Then go walk somewhere else."
"Wait." Natasha said gently, "Seele, don't be hasty. They might be able to help you."
Zeig tried to tear off the tape, but the moment he moved, Bronya shot him a glance:
"Executor, it's best if you don't speak for now."
Zeig: "…"
Seele glanced at Zeig and smiled:
"What's wrong with him? He needs duct tape over his mouth?"
Bronya shook her head and sighed:
"I don't know either. He was fine before, but after a short nap, he's been off. It's better if he doesn't talk for now."
Zeig ripped off the tape and retorted:
"Your Excellency, you can't treat me like this! Hahahaha! This world has never been beautiful! We…"
Riiip—
Bronya casually tore off another strip of tape and sealed Zeig's mouth again.
Zeig: "…"
Seele finally understood and nodded:
"I get it. Nice work."
Natasha smiled and said:
"Could the two of you do us a favor? I'm still worried about letting Seele go to Rivet Town alone."
Seeing Bronya listening seriously, Natasha briefly explained the situation:
"Here's what happened: many people were injured in the earlier incident at the mining area, and the clinic is overwhelmed. After you helped quell the riot, Seele and I have been busy tending to the wounded."
Natasha sighed:
"As you know, resources in the Underworld are always scarce, and with this happening so suddenly, the clinic's medical supplies are running out. We're trying to get some from elsewhere."
Zeig tore off the tape and laughed madly:
"Hahahaha! This is the moment for Zeig to shine!"
Right in front of the three, he pulled out Abyss Flower, his expression ravenous as he licked his lips and grinned crookedly:
"Let me heal! Where are the little patients? Rururururu~ You can't escape~"
Riiip—
After Bronya taped Zeig's mouth again, she turned to the two and said:
"Why don't we let the Executor provide emergency treatment to the injured first? As for the supplies, we can figure that out later."
The taped Zeig cooperated by nodding enthusiastically.
Natasha blinked, as if remembering something: "Oh, right—Zeig is a physician, isn't he? I've heard his healing doesn't require any medicine. That would be very convenient."
Seele looked into Zeig's increasingly frenzied eyes and said worriedly:
"Natasha, I think it's better to let him calm down first. He seems way too excited right now. The miners' injuries aren't so urgent that they can't wait one night, right?"
Natasha touched her chin and nodded lightly:
"Seele has a point… Regardless of whether Zeig helps, the clinic's supplies are nearly depleted. We have to make a trip to Rivet Town."
Bronya volunteered:
"Then let us accompany Seele. With three people, we can watch each other's backs."
She glanced back at Zeig and continued:
"Don't judge the Executor by how he is now—his skills are still solid."
Seele nodded: "Mm, he is strong. I saw it myself before. But this time, we're not just passing through the Fragmentum—we'll have to stay and search inside, which will be far more dangerous."
From behind, Zeig reached out and gripped the air, summoning the greatsword Judgment of Shamash, mumbling excitedly through the tape.
Bronya glanced at him and said to Seele:
"The Executor says it's no problem. With him here, unexpected situations won't be an issue."
Seele was shocked:
"Wait—Bronya, I just saw him flip the middle finger. Are you sure that's what he meant?"
Bronya nodded:
"I was personally trained by the Supreme Guardian and spent many years in the Administrative District. Some things I can understand at a glance."
Seele scratched her head: "You're serious?" She pointed at Zeig behind Bronya: "Then translate what he means now."
Bronya turned around—Zeig was no longer there.
After searching carefully, she spotted him on a distant rooftop, waving his arms and twirling his hands in the air.
Bronya immediately understood and turned back to Seele, translating:
"He says someone is dancing at the entrance of the Goethe Hotel."
Seele's eyes widened as she took several steps back.
Retreating to Natasha's side, she whispered:
"Natasha, no offense! But how is Bronya keeping a straight face while saying that even scarier than Zeig losing it? How can a person translate that?!"
Natasha smiled calmly:
"Seele, everyone's constitution is different. You'll get used to it."
"I didn't read many books, so don't trick me." Seele said in shock.
Bronya beckoned behind her, summoning Zeig back, then said to the two:
"No time to waste. Let's set off now."
Seele swallowed hard.
"Uh… are you two really okay?"
"Don't worry. We've undergone strict training and won't hold you back." Bronya assured her. Behind her, Zeig pulled out a tablet and seemed to be queuing up some music.
"Then… alright…"
…