——
["What on earth happened? Why did that Supreme Guardian suddenly send people to arrest us?"]
[Unable to swallow her anger, March 7th puffed her cheeks in frustration: "Launching a surprise attack while people are sound asleep is just too underhanded!"]
["That woman carries an unsettling aura... My instincts weren't wrong." Dan Heng swiftly surveyed the area and eventually found a quieter path. "There are Silvermane Guards nearby. Avoid conflict with them."]
[The alleyways were crawling with Fragmentum monsters, but fortunately, the group was agile enough to handle them. Stelle, in particular, was knocking them out one by one with her baton, leaving them behind without a second thought.]
[The mechanisms controlling the doors in several alleys were easily deciphered by Stelle. As the doors slowly creaked open, another Fragmentum passage appeared not far ahead.]
[Just as the three of them were mustering their energy to charge forward, Dan Heng's eyes suddenly sharpened, and he raised an arm to stop March 7th behind him: "Watch out!"]
[With three gunshots piercing through the air, wisps of smoke rose from the bricks at Dan Heng's feet. Thanks to his quick reflexes, no one was hurt.]
[March 7th looked up to see both sides of the alley lined with Silvermane Guards who had been lying in ambush, their dark gun barrels already trained on them.]
["Hmph... You're underestimating us." Bronya slowly stepped forward from behind, coldly remarking: "Even though it's been eroded by the Fragmentum, this place is still part of Belobog, our former home. The Silvermane Guards know every inch of it."]
[March 7th helplessly spread her hands: "You're really persistent, huh... I don't get what crime we've committed to make you chase us all the way here!"]
[Dan Heng calmly tried to reason with her: "You saw us just yesterday, remember? Back then, we were welcomed as Lady Cocolia's honored guests. It's hard for us to accept how things have turned upside down overnight."]
["...The Supreme Guardian investigated your backgrounds." Bronya placed a hand on her hip. "She summoned me last night and said you deceived her, that your identities and motives were fabricated to undermine the Architects' control over Belobog."]
["Huh?! That old witch is two-faced!" March 7th blurted out without thinking.]
[Bronya's previously composed expression instantly hardened. Gritting her teeth, she spoke almost word by word: "Publicly insulting the Supreme Guardian will only add to your crimes. Surrender your weapons now!"]
——
"Insulting someone's mother right to their face... This Miss March 7th... pfft."
Furina nearly choked on her tea. She tried to suppress her laughter, but seeing Lynette and Lyney in front of her, she forced herself to maintain an elegant demeanor: "If possible, I'd love to teach March 7th a thing or two about a lady's manners."
"Hehe, it is rather improper, but... ignorance is no crime, right?"
Lyney smiled faintly, sliding a ticket for tonight's magic performance at the Opera Epiclese across the table toward the young lady. "Might Furina grace us with her presence this evening?"
"Certainly, but don't let my attendance make you nervous." Furina giggled playfully.
"You flatter me... But speaking of which, Furina, in your centuries of performances at the Opera Epiclese, have you ever felt nervous?" Lyney suddenly grew curious.
"Of course not! But if I had to pick a time..."
Furina pondered for a moment. "Not long ago, during one of my performances, one of the Fatui Harbingers [The Knave] came to watch. That particular show... uh..."
At the mention of "Father's" codename, Lyney wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but Furina's body seemed to tremble slightly.
As if she had finally found someone to vent to, Furina immediately launched into a torrent of words.
"I really don't get why someone would watch a performance with such a stiff face. She was sitting in the front row, barely two or three meters away from me..."
"Let me make this clear... I wasn't scared! But the way she looked at me... It felt like I owed her a mountain of Mora. And even though Fontaine's affairs have been settled, as a diplomat from Snezhnaya, she shouldn't have been glaring at me like that!"
"If she keeps looking at me like that, I... I hope she grows a few more wrinkles!" Furina muttered under her breath, lowering her head as if guilty.
"Uh, Lady Furina..." Lyney awkwardly rubbed his face, forcing a smile. "I heard all of that."
"...Brother." Lynette's usually expressionless face broke into a faint smile.
"Ignorance is no crime~"
——
[Dan Heng's expression remained as steady as ever. He shot March 7th a glance: "No point in talking further, March. At least one thing is clear: We can't afford to be arrested now."]
[March 7th confidently planted her hands on her hips: "If there's no way out, then let's show them the power of the Express Crew!"]
[The battle erupted instantly. Despite the Silvermane Guards' preparations, under the protection of March 7th's shields, Stelle and Dan Heng moved as if unopposed—dispatching groups of soldiers with effortless swings of their weapons.]
[In the blink of an eye, Bronya, who had just held the numerical advantage, found herself with only one guard left standing beside her.]
["Stand down." Bronya motioned for the remaining guard to step behind her. "I'll handle these... vile criminals myself!"]
——
"Taking on the Express Crew alone?" Miyamoto Musashi stared blankly at the girl's spear. "That toy might work against ordinary people, but against Stelle and Dan Heng? Not a chance."
Stelle could knock the head off a Doomsday Beast with a single swing of her baton, there was no way a young girl like Bronya could withstand that.
But what unfolded next on the screen far exceeded Musashi's expectations.
Bronya was not only highly trained but also remarkably agile. Her spear was equally deadly in close and ranged combat, and after thirty exchanges with the Express trio, she showed no signs of faltering.
["This kid... is way too strong. Hey, Dan Heng, hurry up and use your hidden power!" March 7th urged anxiously.]
[Bronya issued her final warning: "Surrender, intruders! I'll ensure you receive a fair trial."]
[But just then, a familiar voice suddenly rang out above the four of them.]
["Uh, not to ruin the tense mood or anything~"]
[As everyone looked up, they failed to notice the smoke grenades rolling at their feet. With a bang, thick smoke erupted, obscuring their vision.]
["...Who's there?" Bronya coughed violently, covering her mouth.]
[Through the smoke emerged a figure with an unruly demeanor. He strolled leisurely past the haze, stopping beside the trio. His unmistakable blue hair confirmed his identity.]
["Just wanted to say, Sampo never lets friends who've helped him down."]
[A wave of overwhelming exhaustion crashed over Stelle's body. Her eyelids grew heavier, as if submerged in water. The last thing she heard before losing consciousness was the man's flamboyant voice echoing in her ears.]
["See? Sampo always keeps his word~"]
——
"Anesthetic bullets can affect someone with a Stellaron?"
Musashi stroked his beard, deep in thought. Recently revived by Tokugawa, he knew little about modern technology. Over the past few days, he had only encountered firearms and stun batons in combat.
Glancing at Yujiro Hanma beside him, Musashi grinned curiously: "Yujiro, have you ever experienced the power of anesthetic bullets?"
He had already learned about this "Strongest Creature on Earth" from Tokugawa—a man who could take a billion-volt lightning strike to the face and trigger minor earthquakes with a single punch. He was practically inhuman.
"No." Yujiro's reply was unexpectedly brief.
Tokugawa, sitting behind them, curiously leaned forward, confused as to why Yujiro would lie: "Did you forget, Yujiro? Back in the underground arena, that guy Nobi used an anesthetic gun on you—"
"Shut up, old man!"
In an instant, Yujiro's face twisted into a visage of pure malice. His hair stood on end, and the sheer intensity of his aura distorted the surrounding air.
"One more word, and I'll kill you!!"