No matter how the Supreme Guardian tried to delay, Aidan always had the same line.
"Let's go seal the Stellaron now."
He was truly immune to persuasion.
The Supreme Guardian began to talk about other things.
"But there are many Rift monsters on the way..."
"It's fine, I have professional escorts. But, Supreme Guardian," Aidan looked at her, "what are you worried about?"
Cocolia did not answer that question.
"However, sealing the Stellaron is not a simple matter. At the very least, we need the confidential documents passed down by generations of City builders as a guide. We must be fully prepared and cannot act rashly..."
"No need for all that trouble. I can seal the Stellaron on the spot. Let's go now."
Aidan spread his hands, giving her no opening.
"Any other concerns? Feel free to speak up, and we'll find a solution together."
"...You've come from afar, won't you rest first?" Cocolia tried a different angle. "Although Belobog is short on resources, we still have the ability to host a few guests. We can discuss the details of sealing the Stellaron tomorrow morning."
"No need, no need, we're not tired." Aidan waved his hand, smiling even more sincerely. "We just woke up and are full of energy. We even specifically ate, brought our equipment, and have supplies and first-aid kits with us... In short, there's nothing we need."
Tsk.
This guy is a damn tough customer!
"Your preparations are indeed thorough." Cocolia forced a stiff smile, her tone no longer as gentle as before. "But as the Supreme Guardian, I must be responsible for all the citizens of Belobog. This matter concerns the survival of the entire city; I cannot gamble with it."
"Oh, I see what you mean. So, for your city to survive, why don't we go seal the Stellaron?"
Cocolia almost slapped herself in the face.
Why are you still talking about the Stellaron!
"The danger of the Stellaron is far beyond your imagination." Cocolia took a deep breath, changing her angle, her tone becoming heavy. "The City builders tried to approach it, study it, and seal it, but they all failed in the end. Some died on the way, some were consumed by the Rift, and some... when they came back, they were no longer themselves."
She looked straight into Aidan's eyes.
"Do you understand what I mean? It's not an ordinary threat; you should be aware of that."
"I understand, I comprehend, I'm aware." Aidan nodded, his expression still gentle. "Of course I know what you mean, so let's go seal it now."
You...
Cocolia almost let out a Belobog curse.
"You aren't listening to me at all!"
"I'm listening."
"I mean, don't seal the Stellaron yet!"
"Why not seal it yet?"
"Be... hiss, this... tsk!"
Cocolia was so angry she was momentarily speechless.
Why not seal it yet?
Because I don't trust you!
"I don't trust you! Is that reason enough?"
"Oh..."
Aidan nodded.
"Then won't you be able to trust me after I help you seal the Stellaron?"
Cocolia's chest heaved violently, and her well-maintained face was now somewhat distorted. She stared intently at the young man with black hair and blue highlights before her, feeling as if her punch had landed on cotton.
He was completely airtight.
She was so angry she almost had a heart attack.
"Fine." Cocolia spat out the word through gritted teeth, her voice cold enough to drop ice shards. "Since you're so confident, I'll give you this chance."
Aidan's eyes lit up, and he immediately snapped his fingers.
"Great, the Supreme Guardian indeed has good judgment. So, shall we set off now? Where is the Stellaron? Lead the way."
"Not now." Cocolia raised her hand to interrupt him. "Even if you don't need rest, we need to prepare. Before sealing the Stellaron, the Silvermane Guards need to be mobilized, and the route needs to be cleared. The earliest will be tomorrow morning."
Aidan opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to push for more.
"This is the bottom line." Cocolia's voice brooked no argument as she glared at Aidan. "If you aren't even willing to wait for this half-day, then we have nothing left to discuss."
"Alright then." Aidan spread his hands with some regret. "Then can I go take a look? Don't worry, I'm just an ordinary academic, quite frail—I'd be out of breath just carrying a box upstairs."
"...Fine."
Cocolia said those two words almost through gritted teeth. She rubbed her temples hard, feeling that her blood pressure hadn't been normal all day.
"However, you must be accompanied by Silvermane Guards." she added, her tone firm. "And you can only observe from the perimeter of the safe zone; you cannot approach the edge of the Rift."
"No problem, no problem." Aidan nodded repeatedly, looking sincere. "I just have a scholar's curiosity, that's all. I certainly won't do anything excessive."
Even though Aidan had walked out, his voice seemed to still echo in Cocolia's ears.
"When are we going to seal the Stellaron?"
"Let's go seal the Stellaron."
Aidan's face with that harmless smile, and those two sentences repeating over and over like a haunting ghost, were like a single-track loop play button pressed in her mind, over and over, impossible to turn off.
Oh right, because Aidan had made Cocolia's head throb so much, even the Stellaron's whispers couldn't reach her mind right now.
It was that matter-of-fact tone, telling her to go out and seal the Stellaron right now, immediately, this instant.
She really couldn't stand this damn voice anymore.
— — —
"That was practically a linguistic system of mental pollution."
"Classic you."
"And here I thought you were a coward."
"As expected."
"When dealing with politicians, there's no point in being indirect; they're better at it than you. You have to be blunt and nail your core demand to their forehead like a spike."
Aidan said righteously.
"Only you could drive someone to a breakdown just by talking."