"Mr. Kaslana, why does this thing look so much like... it's alive?"
After seeing Kevin leave directly, Pela struggled internally for a moment but ultimately chose to continue following him. As for those Silvermane Guards, they of course hurriedly reported what had happened at the Fragmentum.
The Fragmentum that had invaded Belobog being cleared by human intervention... such a matter naturally still needed to go through multiple layers of verification before a definitive conclusion could be reached.
But for Pela, just based on the core in her hand, she was already half-convinced. Because even with gloves and solid ice as barriers, she could still clearly feel this pulsating core slowly throbbing.
She had never seen such a bizarre thing before; it even somewhat overturned her rational understanding of this world.
"That depends on how you define life."
Compared to Kevin, who was two heads taller, Pela looked completely like a little follower, having to crane her neck to listen to his explanation: "It can absorb and digest various energies, grow by eroding the world, and even understand and replicate things existing within the Fragmentum."
"In a certain sense, this planet, this world, can also be considered one of the myriad forms of life."
If Su were standing here now, he would surely be able to easily explain many profound principles to make this young girl fully understand the meaning. But for Kevin alone, this was the most straightforward explanation he could give after his best effort.
"I see..."
Fortunately, the young girl named Pela fully met people's standards for a genius. She could not only understand the concept Kevin described but even extrapolate from it to some extent.
"Mr. Kaslana, so you mean this core still isn't safe? Because if not suppressed in time, it could even spawn new Fragmentums at any moment?"
If not for the person who had effortlessly extracted this Fragmentum core being right beside her, Pela might really have trembled and dropped this thing that could potentially trigger a major disaster at any moment.
"...Indeed, that is possible."
When it came to professional expertise in scientific research, Kevin, who had always been a warrior, probably couldn't compare to the young girl before him. It's just that what he had seen and experienced far exceeded that of ordinary people.
After receiving an affirmative reply, Pela lowered her head again to look at the core in her hand. After several internal struggles, a certain impulsive emotion and strong thirst for knowledge finally overcame the fear in her heart. So she gritted her teeth and asked: "Mr. Kaslana, before instructions from above arrive, could I first take it to my friend's place?"
"Please rest assured, although she has left her research position, she is absolutely the best researcher in all of Belobog, bar none."
Even so, one should realize that in a place like Belobog, which isn't too big or too small, it simply can't support overly specialized research divisions.
For example, someone like Mobius—even if she were the top biologist from another world—would probably only be fit for moving bricks or sweeping floors here... After all, with the environment outside being minus forty or fifty degrees Celsius, even bugs can barely survive. What is there to study?
Although he knew there likely wouldn't be any useful feedback, looking at the girl focused on him, Kevin ultimately nodded slightly.
After all, it seemed he really didn't have anything urgent he must do.
"Great!... Ahem, I mean, thank you for your support, Mr. Kaslana. We definitely won't cause you any trouble. My friend lives in that mechanical workshop over there. Please follow me."
Before long, Pela successfully brought Kevin to their destination. It was an architecturally distinctive building with various mechanical gears crudely used as decorations on top, looking quite... unconventional?
However, even though it was right outside Qlipoth Fort with considerable foot traffic nearby, this mechanical workshop seemed completely isolated—no one was willing to enter or even linger outside.
One didn't need to think hard to know there must be something wrong with this situation.
"Well... not many people usually visit here, so there's no need to worry about disturbances. Actually, it's quite peaceful."
Knowing Kevin would surely have questions, Pela immediately explained the issue from another angle, then stepped forward and skillfully pushed open the door.
The originally quite spacious room appeared very crowded due to being piled high with various mechanical products. Even the light coming through the windows was limited, forcing Pela to call out.
"Serval, are you in there?"
"That voice... Pela?"
"Why does the Silvermane Guards' intelligence officer suddenly have time to visit my little shop? Shouldn't you be on duty at this hour? Or has my place accidentally been added to the suspect list?"
A blonde girl suddenly popped up from behind the counter piled with clutter—not just her expression, but even the purple streak dyed in the bangs hanging over her forehead unabashedly displayed her unconventional personality.
This made Kevin instinctively feel that this would probably be a troublesome...
"Hey, who's this handsome new face? Pela, is this someone you specially recruited for the band as a bassist?"
"No."
Before Pela could reply, Kevin crossed his arms and decisively answered her question.
"Eh? There's no need to refuse so quickly. I think your vibe is perfect for being a bassist... no, you're practically a born bassist... Are you really sure you don't want to consider it?"
"..."
Sensing the situation was getting slightly out of control, Pela immediately stepped in to steer the conversation back: "Act normal, Serval. Mr. Kaslana is an honored guest of the 'Supreme Guardian.' We came here for serious business."
"What? Serious business?"
Hearing this, Serval suddenly reacted as if her tail had been stepped on, her tone immediately turning odd: "I don't think that important person sitting in Qlipoth Fort has any serious business with me."
Hardening—Pela's little fists were hardening.
"It's not because of the 'Supreme Guardian'! I took the initiative to come find you during this time, you idiot!!"
There is an illustration here; it can be viewed after updating the version.