An Orphanage in Rivet Town was holding a collective selection, rumored to be organized personally by a big shot from the Overworld.
Children who passed the selection could go live in the Overworld.
In exchange, the organizer would give the Orphanage a sum of money, enough to improve the Orphanage's conditions.
This news quickly spread throughout the Underworld.
Many homeless children, and even parents from some impoverished families, flocked to the Orphanage with their children, hoping to squeeze into the selection queue.
Orion stood not far away, mingling with the onlookers.
He did not approach, only watched from a distance.
The selection process was very mysterious; the Orphanage's gate was tightly shut, with only a few well-dressed people entering and exiting, clearly from the Overworld.
Children were led in batch by batch, then led out again, their expressions varied.
Orion knew very well that this was clearly a deal Natasha had struck with the Overworld.
Using the children from the Orphanage in exchange for funds for the Orphanage's operation and money for the children's food.
Although it sounded a bit like selling piglets, in the Underworld, this was already the best way out for those orphans.
And Orion was not worried about Bronya.
In Belobog's script, she would be the one to stand out.
The selection lasted all day, and it wasn't until evening that the Orphanage's gate opened again.
Natasha walked out of the Orphanage's entrance, looking tired, accompanied by a few guests from the Overworld.
"Only one child passed this selection."
Natasha held a megaphone, her voice clearly reaching outside.
The crowd instantly quieted down, all immediately perking up their ears, waiting for the Orphanage's director to announce the name.
"Bronya."
The name of the sole selected person was called out, and immediately, a stir went through the crowd!
Bronya?!
It was that child in the Orphanage who had little presence...
How could she be the one chosen?!
Orion stood in the corner, but unlike the others, he was not surprised.
Very good, the plan was progressing smoothly.
But when he specifically went to the Orphanage that evening to find Bronya, he found that she was not as happy as he had imagined.
Bronya sat on the swing, holding an old rag doll in her hand, her small face drooping, her eyes not as bright as usual, with a hint of faint sadness.
"Bronya?"
Orion walked over and sat on the swing next to her.
The swing creaked softly.
"Didn't you pass the selection? You're going to the Overworld, why do you look unhappy?"
Bronya slowly looked up upon hearing the voice, and seeing it was Orion, she pursed her small lips, the melancholy in her eyes seeming to deepen.
"Brother Orion..."
Her voice was very soft, with a slight nasal tone, as if she was about to cry.
"Hmm?"
"I'm going to the Overworld."
Orion nodded: "I know, that's a good thing... How many people want to live in the Overworld but can't."
"Bronya, why aren't you happy?" he asked.
Bronya lowered her head, her small feet unconsciously lightly kicking the dust on the ground.
"I... I can't bear to leave here, can't bear to leave Natasha JieJie (Older Sister)..."
As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost inaudible at the end:
"And... and I can't bear to leave you..."
Orion was stunned for a moment.
Although her voice was almost like a mosquito's, he clearly heard it.
He had never thought that, before Bronya left this place where even eating enough was a problem, to go to the Overworld where she would live in luxury, what she was thinking of... was actually him?!
Orion looked at Bronya's silver hair whorl and began to persuade her:
"Bronya, didn't we make a promise before?
If anyone had the chance to leave here, go to the Overworld, or even to the outside world, they must go."
Bronya slowly looked up, her eyes slightly moist as she looked at him: "But..."
"No buts!"
Orion interrupted her, his attitude suddenly turning firm.
"You know what kind of place this is."
He pointed to the dilapidated houses in the distance, and the sky obscured by the dome.
"Here there is only hunger and cold, we can't wait to die here our whole lives... Outside is not like here!"
Orion's gaze looked into the distance, as if it could penetrate the thick dome.
"Up there are clean streets, endless food, and warm houses. And many, many other things we can't even imagine here."
"This is your only chance to escape here... Bronya, you must go!"
Bronya looked at Orion; she knew Orion was right, this was an opportunity to change her destiny.
But somehow, at this moment, her heart felt as if it had been torn open by something, extremely uncomfortable.
"What about Brother Orion?" Bronya asked, "Will you also go to the Overworld?"
Orion nodded and said: "Of course."
"Didn't I tell you? I don't want to rot here my whole life... I will work hard, I will find a way to get up there."
"You go ahead and scout the way for me."
He extended his pinky finger, looking at Bronya, his eyes serious, not like a six-year-old child.
"Let's pinky swear again. I promise."
Bronya hesitated for a moment, then also extended her slender pinky finger.
The two small fingers hooked together and shook vigorously.
"Bronya, I promise you, when I go to the Overworld... we will meet again."
"Okay!"
Bronya nodded vigorously.
"It's a promise! Brother Orion, we'll meet again in the Overworld!"
The next day at noon.
A black car stopped at the Orphanage's entrance.
The car door opened, and a well-dressed, cold-mannered woman stepped out.
Natasha walked out, holding Bronya's hand.
Bronya was wearing clean clothes, tightly clutching the old rag doll Orion had given her earlier.
Her small figure walked step by step towards the car.
She still seemed a little apprehensive, her small hand tightly gripping Natasha's clothes.
Upon reaching the car, Natasha handed her hand over to the cold woman.
Bronya's small hand was held; that hand was cold and firm.
Just as she was about to get into the car, Bronya suddenly stopped.
She did not look at Natasha, but turned her head to look in the direction of the Orphanage's entrance.
Orion was standing there, seeing her off from afar.
Bronya looked at him, her small face expressing a complexity of emotions unlike a child's.
She remembered Orion's words from last night, and their promise.
See you in the Overworld.
Then Bronya's small hand suddenly let go of the woman's hand.
The woman was stunned for a moment, a hint of displeasure flashing across her cold face.
Bronya suddenly started running.
Towards Orion, she rushed with all her might, the rag doll in her arms shaking constantly.
Orion was stunned.
He had not expected Bronya to suddenly make such an impulsive move.
Bronya ran to him, abruptly threw herself into his arms, and wrapped her small arms tightly around him.
Her head was buried in his chest, her body trembling slightly, like a frightened small animal.
Orion was first surprised, then slowly reached out and also hugged her, gently patting her thin back.
At this moment, the woman walked over, took Bronya's arm, and commanded:
"Bronya, it's time to go."
Bronya held on very tightly, unwilling to let go, her small body seemed to have grown onto Orion.
Natasha also walked over, her face filled with worry, and persuaded:
"Bronya, be good, quickly let go of Orion."
Bronya was finally pulled away by the woman.
She was pulled towards the car door, her hand still struggling in the air, as if trying to grasp something again.
Just before getting into the car, she turned her head to look at Orion again.
Tear stains were still on her small face, but her eyes were unusually bright.
She did not speak, but just nodded vigorously at Orion.
Orion also looked at her, and under the woman's gaze, he slightly nodded, giving her a response.
He knew she was saying, "Brother Orion, I'll wait for you."
Bronya was pulled into the car by the woman.
The car door closed with a "bang," separating two worlds.
Then, the black car started, slowly drove away, and disappeared at the end of Rivet Town's street.
Orion stood there, feeling as if Bronya's body temperature still lingered in his arms.
He watched the direction the car disappeared, but his heart was unusually calm.
Bronya went to the Overworld.
The most important step in his plan had succeeded.