"Ahem, we're leaving, don't miss us, we'll play games together again if we have the chance."
"...?" Godzilla flicked his tail and rolled his eyes. Did you specially make a game console for me? Goodbye then, no need to see you off.
"By the way, while you were fighting, I hacked five more IPC freighters for you. Remember to sign for them when they arrive."
Godzilla's eyes lit up.
Why rush off in such a hurry, huh. I would have sent a special send off for you guys.
-----------------------------
"Is it done?" Kafka asked with her hands behind her back, smiling.
"Yeah, I sent him another five ships of ores. Should be enough for him to eat for a while. Oh? My program was triggered — looks like it's over."
Taking advantage of the battle and no one paying attention, the two had seized the chance to escape.
"What does Elio's script say?" Silver Wolf asked.
"Let's head back first. Elio's script is a mess now," Kafka shook her head slightly while taking out the phone slung behind her back and waving it. The messages on the phone were clearly the conversation between Kafka and Elio.
"A mess, huh. Makes sense. Nothing would be normal with that big guy around," Silver Wolf said while patting her head, a bit troubled.
Even being caught would affect her quick thinking; if it affected her gaming performance, what would she do?
Traveling along the route back, Silver Wolf frowned slightly, remembering some of her progress.
Her game records were intact. Although the season-end rewards were gone, she received official supplies. What were those, anyway...
"Blade!"
"Blade!"
...
After resting for a day, the next day, the air was still warm in the hidden area.
Until noon, raindrops began to fall. The rain washed the earth, cooling people's thoughts.
After the war ended, the cold rain fell. Having gone through the ordeal of high temperatures, when it landed, it brought a slight warmth.
Inevitably, a white mist rose, steaming. Belobog was shrouded in a blanket of white fog.
"Ahem, what's going on? I can't see anything clearly," March 7th rubbed her eyes hard, looking bewildered at Belobog, which had turned into a white world.
"From within the white fog, a black shadow silently walked out."
"Waah! Don't scare me! There are no ghosts in this world!" March 7th was startled by the sudden sound next to her ear, then quickly raised her little fist and chased after Stelle.
Watching the two figures, Dan Heng calmly explained.
"This is a normal phenomenon. Rainwater contacts the high temperature, evaporates, and because of the excessive amount, this scene occurs."
Welt chuckled. He had seen plenty of lively girls like this in his memories.
After some playing around, Dan Heng spoke, "We still have to attend the victory banquet. Don't be late."
A celebration to lift spirits after victory is a standard procedure for most.
In fact, Belobog had already held a grand celebration yesterday.
Today's banquet was a private gathering for them.
"Looks like everyone's right on time." At that moment, Himeko came over with a bright smile.
"Himeko is out! Then let's go!" Led by March 7th, the group headed toward Qlipoth Fort.
Welt quietly fell back to walk alongside Himeko and whispered.
"Any news?"
"Nothing found," Himeko shook her head slightly.
Herta was actually missing, which was truly surprising.
But the two didn't let their guard down. Herta had definitely rushed toward Jarilo — she had to be somewhere around.
...
Underground, where Godzilla slumbered.
Originally, Bronya had wanted to hold the victory banquet there so Godzilla could join, but for some reason, the location was changed.
But to Godzilla, it didn't matter much.
He only cared about things containing more energy.
For example...
"This little thing is pretty exquisite."
Godzilla curiously looked at the puppet in his palm, his stomach still feeling warm.
And that little figure followed Godzilla's will, making various poses.
Godzilla recognized it — a Herta puppet.
The vessel created by the Herta for the Emanator of Erudition was made for communication and experimentation with humans, and it also possessed some combat capabilities.
But one of the main features of this thing was... it was powered by energy.
Thus, when it sensed an unfamiliar energy approaching—an energy unlike any it knew from humans—Godzilla unceremoniously activated a storm-like suction.
After all, the energy contained in this vessel exceeded the total energy of many geomarrow ores combined.
When Godzilla focused on absorbing a single object, the speed was fast enough to leave others unable to react.
Caught off guard, the Herta puppet was immediately drained of the vessel's energy and entered a shutdown state.
"Speaking of which, the Herta should come back, right? Should I keep absorbing it then?" Godzilla toyed with the Herta's little figure, deep in thought. Such a tiny vessel already contained energy comparable to so many geomarrow ores; if no one came back, it would be a waste.
However, thinking of the Herta's character, Godzilla gradually felt at ease. As long as the Herta remained who she was, she would not just suffer this loss in silence.
Thinking this, Godzilla happily stowed away the little Herta figure, turned over, and continued sleeping.
Meanwhile, in space, a spaceship was hurtling toward Jarilo at an engine-bursting speed.
Any ships it encountered along the way gave way, staring in confusion and shock at the ship leaving with a furious, human-like aura.
From then on, another urban legend was born in that region of space.
...
Qlipoth Fort.
Topaz had swept away the recent gloom of being scammed, looking spirited and full of the momentum from when she first arrived.
"What's with you?" Serval asked curiously.
"Hehe, you know I sent back footage of Godzilla's battles to the IPC, right?"
...
Serval nodded. She knew about that.
"The IPC executives believe Godzilla has strong cooperative potential, and considering Jarilo's situation, they have launched a new plan to help rebuild Jarilo. As for me, I've been rewarded for creating profit for the IPC." Topaz was riding high on success at the moment.
Discovering such a promising asset was like finding gold; this investment was sure to turn a profit.
Whether it would be a huge windfall or just a small gain depended on how things developed.
Hearing Topaz's words, Serval raised an eyebrow, feeling suspicious: "Since when has the IPC been so easygoing?"
Topaz shook her head slightly: "That's not my concern. My job is to create profits for the IPC and discover investment opportunities. As for Jarilo, whether it's the ecology or combat value, it's worth the IPC's efforts. After all, Jarilo used to be a famous planet for tourism and retirement. Coupled with the buzz of surviving the Stellaron crisis, it's hard not to make money."
"Alright, I really don't get you business types." Scratching her head, Serval realized she was better suited to tinkering with her inventions; she just couldn't make sense of all the commercial twists and turns.
"Anyway, if you're going to participate in rebuilding Jarilo, you should negotiate with Bronya and Cocolia. But as a friend, shouldn't you give us a discount?"
Topaz nodded and then said with a hint of lingering fear: "Good thing when we arrived, we only got brushed by the edge of Godzilla's attacks. If it had been like yesterday's..."
...
Whether it was the Blue Atomic Breath or the Red Lotus · Elegy, there was no way their spaceship could have withstood it. The best they could have hoped for would be a painless end.
Suddenly, Topaz's eyes lit up, and she quickly walked over to where Bronya was.
Not only was Bronya there, but so were Yukong and Tingyun.
"Miss Yukong, Miss Tingyun, pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, it's Miss Topaz. What brings you here?"
Topaz chuckled: "Although this is a celebration party, I'll be leaving soon. Before I go, I wanted to discuss something with you, if it's convenient?"
"That would depend on what you want to talk about. Construction of Jarilo doesn't really concern us, right?" Yukong was a little wary.
Their true purpose in coming to Jarilo could never be exposed; otherwise, it could bring disaster—or maybe opportunity—to this planet.
They had to be extremely cautious.
"Of course not. I want to discuss business cooperation between the IPC and the Xianzhou Luofu. The Xianzhou Yaoqing already has many collaborations with the IPC. If Luofu joins in, it would surely prosper even more."
...
No matter how lively a banquet is, it must come to an end.
Staring at the bright moon that had somehow climbed into the sky, Bronya fell into a trance.
Once upon a time, she only wished for Belobog to survive the eternal winter, to endure until the end of the cold wave.
Now, they could bask under the moonlight, enjoying peace and warmth.
"Feels like a dream, doesn't it?" Cocolia had somehow appeared beside her and spoke softly.
"Yeah." Bronya nodded slightly, her hands unconsciously gripping the window ledge tightly.
"To be honest, Mother, I'm a little scared. I'm scared this is all just a dream." Cocolia gently brushed Bronya's cheek, her hand running through Bronya's carefully groomed, silky hair, and said softly,
"Then let's make this dream last forever—until we turn it into reality."
"...Yeah."