"Would the Silvermane Guards really run short on food? Isn't it all distributed together?" March 7th couldn't help asking.
"Heh... now that's a lot more interesting."
Brother Dao gave a miserable laugh:
"You know what happened back then? When resisting Fragmentum creatures, we were split into squads. My son's squad only had seven people in total."
"Out of those seven, five were from the Underworld—they were always thinking about their families."
"Guess what? Some guy told them he had a way to send letters down to the Underworld, to let them contact us—but it would cost some extra 'service fee'!"
"It was just taking their money. At first it was fine, just a little bit."
"But later... heh heh."
Zeig raised an eyebrow:
"Back then, the only person who could still go between the Overworld and Underworld was one guy, right?"
Brother Dao waved his hand:
"I know who you're talking about, but that guy wasn't Sampo! So... wasn't he just a scammer?"
"Who knows how many guys like my son believed his bullshit! It was already a time of turmoil, and they still had to spend money sending letters that would never arrive."
"Later it got even worse, haha... they actually started receiving replies—but not handwritten, all machine-printed, impossible to tell real from fake by handwriting."
Brother Dao spread his hands with a bitter smile:
"Those scammers spoke for us to the kids—saying we down below were suffering, no food, need money, need lots and lots of food and money."
"In the end, everything they scrimped and saved went straight into whose pockets—you can probably guess."
"No need to talk about it anymore. The matter got suppressed anyway, the ones who deserved to die are dead. Now our only target left is one."
...
Overworld.
Qlipoth Fort.
"Guardian, there weren't any seriously heavy casualties. The brothers only suffered varying degrees of burns—after prompt treatment, they're all fine!"
"...I understand."
Cocolia Rand slightly lowered her gaze, looking toward Gepard leaning on a crutch nearby, and said softly:
"Fortification Officer, are you reassured now?"
"Guardian, this is truly a blessing amid misfortune."
Gepard, with his cast and crutch, slowly walked to the center of the hall and said gravely to Cocolia above:
"Please let me contribute as well! I've recovered almost enough."
After he was beaten so badly he couldn't get out of bed, Cocolia had pulled out Belobog's current best medical resources to treat him.
Now, he could already stand and take a few steps with the crutch.
"Indeed, he's recovered quite a bit," Pela chimed in. "He can go walk all over the enemies' faces and deliver them a message."
"...Cough cough."
Gepard coughed awkwardly twice, not hiding his inner anxiety at all:
"Guardian, the army needs me... Without me, those flames of his are really too much for the Silvermane Guards..."
"Gepard, you still need rest," Cocolia said gravely.
Actually, Pela wasn't wrong—right now Gepard could only manage walking a few steps.
Letting him run around like this would basically be sending his head on a platter.
Besides.
"..."
Cocolia glanced toward Bronya nearby.
Her own daughter... seemed to have unparalleled confidence that the situation would settle.
"Bronya, what do you think?"
"...I feel."
Bronya stepped forward two paces and said earnestly:
"After this operation, the rebels have probably suffered a huge blow too. We captured quite a few people— in the short term, they shouldn't act recklessly anymore."
"What we should focus on now might be..."
Bronya's gaze flicked downward.
There stood a beautiful noble lady. In the solemn Qlipoth Fort, almost everyone else wore solemn expressions.
Yet she wore gorgeous attire, standing silently listening with a smile.
Sensing Bronya's gaze, the corners of her mouth curved into a faint arc as she said:
"Hehe... I understand what Bronya means. I will report truthfully to the family head, thoroughly investigate that matter, and absolutely not let anyone coveting the position of Supreme Guardian escape."
"..."
Cocolia stared at the noble lady for a moment and said gravely:
"You may leave first."
"...Yes."
This woman didn't address her as "Supreme Guardian" or "Lady Bronya"—she directly called Bronya by name.
Like an elder calling a junior.
Just like that fat old geezer who fled in panic after Zeig raided his house.
"..." Bronya couldn't help pursing her lips.
Those inhuman, ghostly monsters—their appearances were still engraved in Bronya's heart.
Back when Zeig left, researchers from among the builders had hurried over.
Multiple experiments showed these people had consumed massive amounts of Fragmentum creature remains in life and absorbed them through a special method.
As a result, crystals grew on their bodies, converting Fragmentum creature power into part of themselves.
But those monsters weren't perfect—they were no longer human in essence, couldn't think, and couldn't be commanded at all.
Just how many families... were researching this kind of thing?
"Mother, I think... why not be more decisive."
"...Bronya, every word and action of ours is bound by the framework of those above. Everything must be carefully weighed."
"Actually... I think we can be a little more despicable."
"?"
Cocolia's pupils dilated as she looked at her obedient daughter in shock.
She... what did she just say?
Baby?
"Despicable? Bronya... what are you saying?"
"Mother, no matter how the outside world sees us, the builders' goal has always been to preserve Belobog."
"You've always done the same, haven't you?"
"As long as the result is good, everything is worth it."
"..."
Looking at the daughter she had raised and cared for all these years, Cocolia showed a faint smile.
"Bronya, I'm very glad you can think this way."
"But the way you spoke to Uncle—I don't like it."
"?"
Cocolia spread her hands:
"It wasn't me who said it."
At that moment, from under Cocolia's desk crawled out a blue-haired man, still clutching a bag of Belobog Shields.
Cocolia silently shifted her chair aside. Only then did Sampo crawl out with a fawning smile, not forgetting to toss some valuable items from the desk into his sack.
"Sampo... weren't you temporarily conscripted? Why are you still stealing?" Bronya asked in confusion.
"Hah? What do you mean by that?" Old Sampo felt offended again and immediately shot back at Bronya:
"Even though I'm full and satisfied now, I can't abandon my main profession! Primary job for survival, side job for development! I've always been crystal clear on that!"
"..."
"Is that so?"
"Silvermane Guards, seize him," Cocolia called out.
…