After Oliver left the Qlipoth Fort.
Bronya immediately arrived in front of the Supreme Guardian's office door.
She took a deep breath, calmed her slightly hurried breathing caused by the run, and then raised her hand and knocked three clear times with her knuckles on the carved door panel.
"Wait a moment!" Cocolia's anxious and slightly flustered voice came from within.
After quite a while, permission to enter was granted.
"Bronya, did you find Oliver?"
Cocolia put down the pen in her hand, forced herself to look calm, and raised her head to look at her adopted daughter.
Just now, for some reason, all her clothes had burst open.
When Bronya knocked, she was frantically putting her clothes back on. "Yes, Lord Oliver has already gone to the Lower District."
Bronya replied.
"Mhm..."
Cocolia's tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, and the heart she had been holding quietly settled back into place.
Seeing Bronya's professional and completely normal expression, she secretly rejoiced: the "little secrets" between herself and Oliver, which were not meant for outsiders, seemed safe for now.
She picked up the glass of still-warm water on the corner of her desk, hoping to moisten her somewhat dry throat.
However, Bronya's next words exploded in her ear like a sudden, unheralded clap of thunder:
"Mother, I think... Lord Oliver might like you."
This statement was like a bolt from the blue, causing Cocolia's hand to tremble, nearly knocking over the cup.
"Ahem, Bronya, Oliver and I are innocent; we didn't do anything. Don't let your imagination run wild."
"But I saw Lord Oliver secretly collecting your portrait and putting it in his bosom. If he doesn't like you, why would he do that?"
Bronya continued to look directly at her mother with her innocent, large eyes.
Cocolia fell silent.
Bronya never lied; her words were the most powerful evidence.
An indescribable warmth, mixed with surprise, shyness, and a secret sweetness, quietly flowed through her heart.
Even though... even though she had already... He was still secretly hiding the portrait?
This was simply... simply something only a boy experiencing first love would do!
Cocolia pulled out a small portrait of Oliver from her drawer and smiled unconsciously.
"So he feels the same way I do—"
Thinking this, Cocolia found it harder and harder to suppress the smile on her lips.
Ever since the Stellaron left her body, her state of mind had changed slightly, and her personality had reverted to its original form.
Bronya saw her mother smiling, but she didn't know why, and she didn't dare to speak or ask.
Was she perhaps thinking about how to keep Lord Oliver in Belobog?
As Cocolia smiled, she suddenly recalled her disheveled state from last night.
"No, I can't keep him by myself—"
She knew very well that Oliver was no ordinary man; if she couldn't satisfy his needs, she would be finished sooner or later.
Rather than sharing him with other women—it would be better to—Cocolia suddenly grew serious, fixing her gaze on Bronya and sizing her up.
She thought to herself: My adopted daughter has an exquisite appearance, a great figure, an excellent personality, and has inherited my true essence in every aspect.
Furthermore, she was also reaching the age of first love.
As the saying goes—don't let the fertile water flow into others' fields.
If Oliver helped, Bronya would surely have a bright future.
Bronya felt goosebumps under that sharp gaze.
She had a feeling that her mother was planning something major involving her.
"Bronya."
Cocolia spoke solemnly, "You are already grown up; it is time for you to share some of the firepower with me."
Firepower?
Bronya thought she had misheard.
She must have meant pressure.
Alas, Mother must be tired and overworked, even her speech was becoming unclear.
"Yes, Mother, I will do my utmost to share your concerns."
Bronya solemnly patted her chest, swearing to her mother.
Cocolia smiled with satisfaction.
Oliver had no idea that someone was developing influence for him behind his back.
At this moment, Oliver was walking along the streets of Belobog's city district.
Everyone who saw him respectfully greeted him.
"Lord Oliver, good morning!"
"Lord Oliver, thank you for your hard work!"
"Lord Oliver, this is the breakfast I just made, please try some!"
"Lord Oliver, these are flowers I picked, they're for you~"
"---"
People enthusiastically greeted the new Supreme Guardian who had saved the world.
If Oliver hadn't previously instructed them not to interfere with his normal life, he would probably have been surrounded by people by now.
Soon, Oliver arrived at the entrance to the Lower District.
The area was now fully open, guarded by over a dozen Silvermane Guards.
With people coming and going, the scene resembled a subway station back on Earth.
"Lord Supreme Guardian, Gepard reports to you: everything is normal!"
A tall Guard Officer came forward and saluted Oliver.
Oliver looked closely.
It was a handsome blonde man.
He was even more handsome than his in-game model.
Of course, he was slightly inferior to Oliver.
"Hmm, I can tell you're all diligently carrying out your orders."
Oliver raised his hand, patted Gepard's shoulder, and praised him: "Well done. I'll find you a sister-in-law next year."
Hearing the praise, Gepard quickly and modestly replied, "Thank you for your consideration, My Lord."
Huh?
Sister-in-law?
Gepard suddenly realized what was said and looked up, only to see Oliver had already turned around casually, hands in his pockets, humming a strange, passionate tune he had never heard before, and walking with light steps straight toward the entrance to the Lower District.
The singing wasn't loud, but it carried a strange penetrating power, clearly reaching the ears of Gepard and the nearby Silvermane Guards:
"We've made a choice. Go fight against your fate! Pain will come with the blade. Pain will wake up the despondent crowd in this dormant world somehow..."
(Wildfire lyrics)
The tune was passionate, and the lyrics made one's blood boil.
Gepard unconsciously started humming along with Oliver.
As he hummed, he realized something was off. "Strange, why does this song make me feel like my leader is about to be beaten to death?"