"You—what are you laughing at? Stop laughing!" Realizing her current awkward state, Stelle couldn't help but puff up her cheeks. After tearing off the slips of paper stuck to her face in two or three swipes, she stomped over to Yun Fan and glared at him fiercely.
"Hahaha, I couldn't help it, I really couldn't." Yun Fan ruffled Stelle's gray hair vigorously, making her grit her teeth in annoyance.
Seeing Stelle bristle like a little kitten, Yun Fan cleared his throat twice and returned to the main topic.
"Ahem, earlier at the Supreme Guardian's residence, I discussed the handling of the Stellaron with her. She has agreed to let me take full responsibility for resolving the Stellaron issue."
"Really? That's wonderful!" March 7th's eyes lit up at these words. This Supreme Guardian was quite reasonable, after all. Back on other planets, their Trailblazer team had often been misunderstood. Ah, these days, it's really hard to be a good person.
As for Yun Fan's words, Dan Heng felt somewhat hesitant. Of course, this wasn't because he doubted the truth of Yun Fan's statement, but rather because of the Supreme Guardian—Cocolia. Though it was only for a fleeting moment, he had indeed sensed the aura of the Stellaron on her.
Dan Heng didn't believe Yun Fan would have failed to notice, given that he was an Emanator. Could it be...
"From the sound of it, do you already have a plan in mind?"
"Exactly." Yun Fan answered Dan Heng's question straightforwardly. However, the truth was... he hadn't prepared any plan in advance. In his view, improvising as they went was the best approach. After all, he wielded the authority of causality. Even if the situation deteriorated into complete chaos, he could still turn the tide and reverse the outcome.
"Everyone, rest well today. Tomorrow morning, I'll take you all for a visit to the Underworld."
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Knock knock knock...
"Come in."
Creak—click—
With the sound of the door opening and closing, Bronya, with her beautiful silver hair, stepped inside and approached Cocolia. "Supreme Guardian."
"Mmm." Cocolia nodded slightly, her usually rigid mask-like face finally breaking into a faint smile. Even her slightly cold eyes thawed as if touched by spring, filling with tenderness.
"Bronya, there's no one else here. Call me 'Mom.'"
"Th-This... Mother?" Bronya was momentarily stunned.
"Come, sit beside Mom. Let me take a good look at you." Cocolia patted the seat next to her, inviting Bronya to sit by her side.
"Yes, Mom." Bronya pursed her lips, then smiled happily. For some reason, she felt that Mother was different today—this warmth was something she hadn't experienced in a long time...
Once Bronya was seated, Cocolia pulled her into an embrace, then gently stroked Bronya's fair, jade-like cheek with one hand.
"In the blink of an eye, you've grown so much. Thinking back to when you were little... that tiny princess has now blossomed into a graceful young lady."
"Mom..." Bronya's cheeks flushed slightly. Cocolia's words made her shy, but at the same time, her heart swelled with sweetness.
"By the way, Bronya, what are your thoughts on today's guests?" Cocolia shifted the topic, turning the conversation to Yun Fan and the others.
"Huh?" The sudden change left the great "Big Duck" lady momentarily dazed, but she quickly switched into work mode.
"Mother means those people from the Interastral Peace Corporation? They seem nice, though their personalities are... a bit odd? Beyond that, I can't really tell much else. But I do sense that they bear no ill will toward Belobog." After summarizing and analyzing the known information, Bronya calmly gave her assessment.
"Yes, you're right." Cocolia nodded in agreement. "But Bronya, you've overlooked one thing—their purpose for coming here."
"Their purpose? Mom, do you mean Belobog's outstanding debt?"
"Exactly, Belobog's outstanding debt." At this point, Cocolia paused briefly.
"Centuries ago, when the Fragmentum monsters invaded, Belobog was still very weak. Against the creatures born from the Fragmentum, we had no choice but to fight them with our flesh and blood, resulting in heavy casualties among our soldiers."
"It was then that the Interastral Peace Corporation appeared. The Supreme Guardian at the time, in order to resist the Fragmentum, signed an agreement with the Corporation in exchange for military automaton technology and various other forms of assistance, including resources..." Cocolia recounted the origins of Belobog's debt to Bronya, along the way also revealing the truth of the Eternal Freeze and the Stellaron.
When Bronya heard that her mother had once been corrupted by the Stellaron, she asked anxiously, "Mom, you—"
"Don't worry, Bronya." Cocolia gently stroked Bronya's triple-turbine-style hair, soothing her unease.
"I'm fine now. That lord... he helped me."
"That lord?" Bronya was puzzled. Who was this lord? Could it be...? As if struck by a thought, Bronya quickly said, "Qliphoth the Preservation is merciful."
"Qliphoth?" Cocolia froze, then shook her head. "Bronya, I no longer follow Qliphoth."
"Not Qliphoth?"
Faced with Bronya's confusion, Cocolia shook her head slightly, her gaze seemingly lost in reminiscence.
"I, too, once yearned for Qliphoth's mercy, hoping his gaze would linger for even a moment on this small city at the edge of the universe. Not just me—every Supreme Guardian before me has thought the same."
At this point, Cocolia stood up and walked to the window on her own, pressing her palm lightly against the glass. Staring at the snowstorm outside and feeling the biting cold seep through her palm, she continued.
"But what did seven hundred years of waiting and praying ultimately bring us? Hah... nothing. The Will of Preservation has never truly acknowledged Belobog!" Cocolia's emotions grew somewhat agitated, and a power unlike that of the Path of Preservation—yet far more mysterious—surged within her.
"Mom..." Sensing this change, Bronya's eyes filled with concern.
"Forgive me, Bronya. I lost my composure." Bronya's words helped Cocolia calm down again.
"No, it's alright, Mom." Bronya shook her head. She opened her mouth, wanting to say more, but the words caught in her throat, and she hesitated.