The next day, the four meet at the cable car entrance to the Underworld, exchanging brief greetings.
Stelle initially thought this final collaboration between the siblings didn't involve her or Leon.
To her surprise, Gepard extends an invitation.
The reason is simple.
The Trailblaze team, as heroes who saved Belobog, also has a strong reputation in the Underworld.
Having them along to mediate would ease the pressure of the Silvermane Guards re-entering the Underworld and working with Wildfire.
Several Silvermane Guard squads are already waiting at the entrance.
Seeing their officer arrive on time, they salute Gepard in unison.
Then, they salute Leon and Stelle.
Clearly, the Silvermane Guards haven't forgotten the Trailblaze team's aid.
Gepard: "The meeting with Wildfire is at the Boulder Town clinic. My sister and I are new to this, so we'll need you two to guide us."
Leon: "No trouble at all. I've contacted a friend in the Underworld. She'll send someone to meet you."
March 7th gave out a lot of phones, but locals don't seem used to using them.
Gepard: "Thank you. All Guards, move out!"
Except for a few veterans, most Guards are unfamiliar with the Underworld, sharing the same curiosity.
Upon reaching the designated area, a slender figure steps forward immediately.
"Morning, Leon, Stelle."
Seele, carrying her large scythe, has a faint trace of fatigue in her eyes.
"Officer Gepard, right on time… but I didn't expect you, Serval."
Leon picks up on something off.
Whether it's Natasha or Oleg, they both understand basic etiquette.
Seele's scythe is too flashy. Normally, Natasha wouldn't have her carry it openly for a simple escort.
Yet she's carrying it, and it's not like Natasha forgot to mention it.
Add to that the look of someone who hasn't rested…
"Seele, is there an emergency in the Underworld?"
"How'd you know?"
Seele pauses, then shakes her head, feigning nonchalance.
"Last night, a bunch of Fragmentum monsters flooded the Great Mine, nearly endangering the miners. But it wasn't a big deal—Wildfire handled it."
Even if she admires the Silvermane Guards' valor on the surface, she doesn't want Wildfire to be underestimated.
After all, everyone's fighting for the Preservation.
"Come with me. Natasha and Oleg are waiting."
At Natasha's clinic, the smell of medicinal antiseptic hits them.
Stelle scans the room.
A few beds are still empty.
Compared to the overflowing injuries when they first arrived in the Underworld, things are much better now.
Both sides' representatives meet, exchange brief pleasantries, and get straight to business.
Seeing two familiar faces from the Trailblaze team, Oleg looks at Gepard with approval.
"As expected of Belobog's officer. You considered that Underworld residents might have grievances against the Guards, so you brought the Trailblazers' reputation to ease tensions, right?"
Gepard doesn't deny it but doesn't take all the credit.
"Yes, Lady Bronya has been concerned about this. I invited the Trailblazers as witnesses for this trip."
"The Underworld's been sealed for years, so residents likely have complaints about the Guards."
"With Lady Bronya's inauguration approaching, we don't want to stir up years of pent-up conflicts. We hope to reach a peaceful consensus."
Both sides know what this "consensus" means.
Protecting Belobog and its people is the Silvermane Guards' duty.
Back then, Cocolia stripped the Underworld of many things, and that mistake can't continue.
But there's a prerequisite: the Underworld residents need to trust the Guards.
Natasha smiles faintly.
"Officer, you mean to use this opportunity to replace Wildfire and re-establish the Guards' positive image in the Underworld, correct?"
Gepard admits frankly: "That's our goal without any sugarcoating, but strictly speaking, it's cooperation. We have no intention of replacing Wildfire."
Natasha's expression carries deeper meaning: "Suppose I say—Wildfire doesn't want to work with Guards who abandoned the Underworld for over a decade—"
"What would you do next? Use force to make us submit, or…?"
Serval: "Things are getting a bit heated…"
① "As expected of the Underworld's big sister—her aura doesn't lose to Gepard's at all."
② "Starting to worry about your little brother?"
③ "Fight! Fight!"
The old bear can't resist the chaos option.
Stelle: "No tension a good fight can't solve. Fight! Fight~~"
Leon: "You two could have a friendly duel, stopping at first contact. We're not locals, so we'd be impartial referees."
"I bet Leon's run out of melons to munch, or he'd probably be eagerly holding one now."
"Once again, I get why his profile says he wavers between reliable and unreliable."
"But don't be fooled by his instigating, fun-loving act—he's actually hinting—"
"The tension's probably just a front. Natasha's unlikely to flat-out refuse."
"As Wildfire's leader, how could she not know how to read the situation?"
"Clashing with the Silvermane Guards at this juncture, especially with Bronya's inauguration looming, benefits neither Wildfire nor the Underworld."
"So, in a way, Leon's unreliability is its own kind of reliability. He can tell when his dependability is needed."
"Confusing?"
"Think about it: both the Overworld and Underworld folks are friends. With Leon's personality, he wouldn't just watch them fight."
"He said those things because he saw through the sharpness of Natasha's words."
"He knows a fight's not happening."
"So how is that not a kind of reliability in its own way? That's a dependable adult, brothers."
Many players mull over the old bear's words and find them reasonable.
He offers a fresh perspective, backed by solid reasoning.
Serval is indeed a bit worried: "Little bro, watch your words."
Gepard pauses for a moment before speaking slowly.
"The previous Supreme Guardian's arbitrary decisions created a rift between the Overworld and Underworld."
"Belobog's people, meant to be united, fell into mutual suspicion and resentment."
"Lady Bronya is committed to bridging that divide and restoring the Guards' credibility, but—"
"That doesn't mean we'll use brute force to 'reclaim' the Underworld."
"Wildfire, as a grassroots organization, has maintained order in the Underworld for over a decade—no small feat."
"The determination and hardship involved are beyond what most can imagine."
"As the officer of the Silvermane Guards, I assure you, we're not here to seize power."
"Until we earn the Underworld residents' trust, the Guards are willing to assist Wildfire in maintaining stability."
"Rebuilding trust between the Overworld and Underworld and restoring a united, stable Belobog is our greatest hope."
Gepard's words are firm and sincere.
Seele glances at him, nodding silently.
She can feel his upright honesty, and surely Natasha and Oleg can find no fault in his words.
Leon's ears twitch, breaking the easing tension at an inopportune moment.
"Sorry to interrupt, but a bunch of Fragmentum monsters are heading toward Boulder Town."
"Gepard, this is a great chance to foster unity between the Overworld and Underworld and rebuild the Guards' credibility. Make it count."