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Su Jinyan replied slowly, "You already know, Cocolia.
"The Administrative District may appear peaceful and stable today, but in truth, the rift's encroachment has been gradually advancing for a long time.
"Parts of cities have already been lost to the rift, overrun by creatures from beyond. It is no longer suitable for human habitation.
"While the Silvermane Guards have continuously fought against the rift, they cannot halt its relentless advance.
"Without a turning point, Belobog's fate would be sealed—doomed to be swallowed by the rift, leaving no chance for escape, only to perish trapped within Belobog itself.
"And my arrival with the Astral Express offered that hope for change."
Cocolia sneered coldly, "Hope for change? Then let me reveal a harsh reality to you."
"Belobog had no hope left whatsoever."
"Only I can lead everyone towards a beautiful new world." Su Jinyan's eyes filled with pity as he gently pressed his fingers against her lips. "Cocolia."
"What exactly led you to become like this?"
"I still remember when you were at Belobog Military Academy, you were a naive young girl filled with hopeful aspirations."
Considering the plot details he learned from March, it must have been the Stellaron that influenced Cocolia.
He resolved to sway Cocolia with love, aiming to alter this narrative arc.
Cocolia's chest heaved rapidly, and she gritted her teeth, bitterly uttering, "It's all your fault, Su Jinyan!"
"The reason I lost hope was entirely because of you!"
Su Jinyan blinked in surprise.
So, the true culprit behind Cocolia's corruption has been found? It wasn't the Stellaron after all, but me?
Cocolia clenched her jaw slightly, pacing back and forth in the office.
"It's all on you; blame lies solely with your abrupt departure without farewell..."
"If there had been even a glimmer of hope, I would never have given up."
"But you—"
Unconsciously, the distinct fragrance of a mature woman wafted into his nostrils.
Su Jinyan stroked his chin, openly admiring Cocolia's slender and snow-white legs.
After all, this was a fabricated Memory Palace where he could act as he pleased, viewing her however he desired.
Even if little March found out, there would be no reason to blame him.
Cocolia, now deceased, hadn't voiced any objections herself, had she?
Ever since being abandoned by Su Jinyan without a farewell, Cocolia ceased to be that passionate and steadfast young girl.
From then on, she dedicated herself entirely to learning, completely leaving behind her former naive self.
Only after becoming Belobog's Supreme Guardian did she come to understand that cruel truth.
Jarilo VI's initial threat was actually the Antimatter Legion, against which even The Architects' relentless struggle proved arduous with little hope for victory.
Thus, the first Supreme Guardian communicated with the Stellaron, and it responded to their wish at the cost of unleashing a chilling cold wave that engulfed the entire planet.
Although humanity ultimately triumphed over the Antimatter Legion,
However, over the ensuing years, both cold waves and rifts would continually erode this planet.
Indeed, the cold waves and rifts afflicting Jarilo VI all originated from the Stellaron itself.
This calamity was nearly impossible to halt; everyone would perish within the rifts. All she could do was engage in a futile struggle against it.
After learning the truth, the overwhelming despair and suffocating sensation deepened day by day, incessantly eroding Cocolia's spirit.
Then, she recalled the voice of the Stellaron she had heard during her youth:
They proclaimed themselves as allies of the Protector, desiring to rebuild this dying world and fulfill her wish to save Belobog.
A sorrowful expression showed on Cocolia's face:
"Yes, I wanted to rebuild this dying world and achieve my desire to save Belobog."
"The Astral Express cannot breathe new life into Jarilo VI or revive the dead, but the Stellaron can."
"It will grant me a brand-new future, a world where everyone gets reborn."
Su Jinyan stepped forward, and amidst Cocolia's astonished gaze, suddenly embraced her tightly.
"Don't say more, Cocolia, I understand you."
"I do?" Cocolia looked at him with uncertainty.
"Yes, compared to your grand vision, our Astral Express seems truly insignificant." Su Jinyan continued solemnly, "Go ahead and pursue what you believe in; I will support you from behind every step of the way."
"How exactly would you support me?" Cocolia's eyelashes fluttered slightly.
"Cocolia, since my departure, you must have accumulated immense pressure over these years, haven't you?"
Su Jinyan gradually leaned closer to her cheek, thinking even if he couldn't indulge fully, teasing her was still quite enjoyable.
Cocolia's breath quickened as his warm exhale brushed against her snow-white earlobe, causing her delicate body to involuntarily shiver.
"Su Jinyan!" Cocolia abruptly pushed him away.
"You left without a word many years ago," she exclaimed, "and now, upon reuniting, you're already making advances! What exactly are you trying to do?!"
Su Jinyan took hold of Cocolia's hands and whispered softly, "Listen to me, dear Cocolia."
"The reason I left without saying goodbye was actually for our daughter—Bronya."
"She had contracted a terminal illness, and only a specialized medicine from the Astral Express could cure her."
"Although I managed to obtain the medication, saving Bronya's life..."
"I paid a very severe price for it."
Cocolia's beautiful eyes flickered, suddenly sensing something amiss.
"Wait, when you departed, I hadn't yet adopted Bronya."
The highest form of deception begins by convincing oneself first. To avoid any slips in his performance, Su Jinyan subtly suggested to himself, making his expression appear more natural.
"That's true, Cocolia. In reality, I'm a man with overwhelming compassion."
"Even during our courtship, unbeknownst to you, I secretly adopted many children from the orphanage, including Bronya."
"Bronya's background is tragic; both her parents passed away. However, she doesn't know her true origins and believes me to be her biological father."
"Cocolia, please don't reveal to her that we share no blood relation."
Cocolia's eyes still held suspicion. "Is that so?"
"And Bronya was diagnosed with a terminal illness as a child?"
"Then under the authority of the Supreme Guardian," Cocolia declared, "I shall command the Silvermane Guards to investigate this matter in the Underworld."
Su Jinyan spoke sorrowfully, "You still don't believe me."
"Have you forgotten? The Underworld is rich with mineral veins."
"In such conditions, what disease are those frequently exposed to earth essence most susceptible to?"
A flood of unfamiliar memories surged into Cocolia's mind.
"Mineral Sickness?!" she exclaimed involuntarily.
It seemed her memory returned. When she first adopted Bronya, numerous children at the orphanage had developed crystalline formations on their skin—a symptom of Mineral Sickness.
Belobogians, long-exposed to earth essence, the energy ore, were more prone to contracting Mineral Sickness. Inhalation of dust or cuts from mineral fragments could also lead to its onset.
At that time, Mineral Sickness was undoubtedly incurable, leaving victims with no choice but to await death.
Despair and grief enveloped the entire Underworld; nobody wished to contract Mineral Sickness, yet for survival, they had to mine the earth essence.
Then one day, the rampant Mineral Sickness that plagued Belobog vanished overnight.
No one knew why it disappeared so suddenly.
It turned out Su Jinyan had pleaded with extraterrestrial visitors to heal those afflicted in the Underworld, including Bronya.
"You..." Cocolia's voice trembled as she asked, "What price did you pay?"
Su Jinyan replied gravely, "For the rest of my life, I am now a slave to the Astral Express."
"Every night, they force me to lick their feet until they are completely satisfied before allowing me to return to sleep."
"Despite enduring unimaginable humiliation, it is all worth it for our children."
Cocolia's beautiful eyes radiated icy coldness. "The Astral Express has gone too far!"
"How dare they treat Cocolia's fiancé like this? They shall pay the price! In this beautiful new world, there will be no place for them!"
In an unexpected move, Su Jinyan spoke up on behalf of Fu Xuan and her companions.
"No, Cocolia, you've misunderstood—they aren't bad people," Su Jinyan interjected hastily. "The reason I could return to Belobog this time is also because..."
"Because what?" Cocolia asked anxiously.
Su Jinyan hesitated before responding, "Because... recently, I've been serving my two mistresses exceptionally well."
"As my birthday approached, they granted me a wish."
"So, I requested their help to save Belobog."
Fortunately, Cocolia had already dismissed Fu Xuan and her companion earlier, giving him room to maneuver without them present. Otherwise, it would have been challenging to deceive Cocolia right in front of them.
In his current role as the ex-boyfriend, as long as his words weren't too outrageous and aligned with the persona, the Matrix of Prescience would strive to support his backstory seamlessly. Naturally, Cocolia wouldn't detect any inconsistencies.
Didn't he just proudly ascend from being the "Supreme Guardian's ex-boyfriend" to the "Supreme Guardian's fiancé"?
Cocolia gritted her teeth, "Belobog doesn't need outsiders to save us!"
A look of disappointment crossed Su Jinyan's face. "I didn't expect you to consider me an outsider now."
"Well, if roles were reversed, even I likely wouldn't harbor feelings for an ex-boyfriend who left without a word."
Cocolia slowly shook her head. "No, Su Jinyan, you're not an outsider."
"From today onwards, you are my fiancé, Cocolia's chosen one."
"As for those two insolent wenches from the Astral Express, the Silvermane Guards will ensure they receive a 'proper' escort."
Internally, Su Jinyan was taken aback; Cocolia seemed filled with intense resentment.
He couldn't plead for Fu Xuan and March 7th's mercy now; it would only fan the flames further.
Besides, how could mere Silvermane Guards possibly stand against them?
"Su Jinyan, under the authority of the Supreme Guardian, I command you."
"Go take a bath immediately and forget all past unpleasantness."
"I'll wait right here for you," Cocolia hinted subtly.
Su Jinyan wasn't surprised at this request.
Although it sounded absurd, he decided to risk everything by attempting to tame the she-devil herself—Cocolia—and disrupt the storyline entirely.
Having endured years of solitude, upon reuniting with her long-lost ex-boyfriend, if Su Jinyan could humble himself and craft a poignant tale to evoke Cocolia's sympathy, gaining her forgiveness was likely. Once that happened, their relationship would ignite like kindling meeting a roaring flame, ready to explode at the slightest spark.
However, one concern weighed heavily on his mind.
This was a memory space reconstructed by March, who was an innocent and naive young girl, devoid of any knowledge regarding such intimate matters.
In this knowledge gap, would the Matrix of Prescience automatically correct itself? Or would it simply kick him out when reaching critical steps?
Qlipoth Fort.
The Matrix of Prescension Ultima lived up to its reputation, seamlessly filling in gaps even in crucial aspects where knowledge was lacking.
Cocolia's loose strands of hair draped over her snow-white shoulders, revealing a tender affection for her lover within her gaze.
Tap-tap-tap—
A rhythmic knocking echoed at the door.
Bronya called out, "Mother, may I come in?"
Bronya? What brings her here?
Doesn't she know that I'm discussing important matters with her father?
An unusual hint of panic flickered in Cocolia's beautiful eyes.
Just as she prepared to decline, Su Jinyan responded, "Come in, Bronya."
Cocolia looked at him, puzzled.
Adjusting her attire, Bronya gently pushed open the door and entered.
Hmm, why does the air carry a sweet, intoxicating scent?
Bronya sniffed delicately, feeling perplexed.
"Father, Mother... Is the Supreme Guardian not present here?"
Su Jinyan softly caressed Cocolia's golden locks, only to receive a fierce glare from her.
"No, she just left on some urgent matter."
"Hiss—"
"Bronya, did you need something from her?"
After a moment of silence, Bronya asked, "Father, how did your discussion with the Supreme Guardian go?"
She had long grown accustomed to privately referring to Cocolia as 'Mother'. However, in front of Su Jinyan, Bronya felt embarrassed to use that term. She feared it might invite her father's rebuke, accusing her of forgetting her biological mother.
Su Jinyan smiled warmly and replied, "To be honest with you, Bronya, my conversation with Lady Cocolia was quite extensive, and we reached a very agreeable partnership."
"At first, I didn't fully endorse her, but her strong convictions and broad-minded approach convinced me."
Bronya genuinely felt delighted for both her father and mother. Initially, she had worried their differing ideologies might lead to a fallout.
"Mother, ahem, the Supreme Guardian is indeed a formidable leader," Bronya said. "Once she decides on something, it's incredibly difficult to change her mind. It's truly wonderful that your views align so closely."
"Oh, by the way, how did you and the Supreme Guardian meet?"
Not only do our views align, we've become one in body and spirit too.
Su Jinyan subtly glanced under the desk, maintaining his smile as he responded:
"Your mother and I were classmates in elementary school."
"We became close friends through playing 'Landlord' together," Su Jinyan added with nostalgia.
Bronya's eyes widened, puzzled. "Classmates in elementary school? Playing 'Landlord'?"
"In any case, you and Mother were very good friends, right?"
"Do you mind if I refer to her as 'Lady Supreme Guardian'?" Bronya asked hesitantly.
Su Jinyan chuckled softly. "Not at all. Lady Cocolia has been instrumental in your upbringing; it's only fitting for you to address her that way."
"Uh... by the way, what brings you here today?"
Bronya finally recalled the purpose of her visit.
"Father, please take a look—this is today's battle damage report from the Silvermane Guards." She approached Su Jinyan, carrying a stack of frontline intelligence reports.
Cocolia anxiously signaled discreetly, fearing that if Bronya noticed anything amiss, her carefully crafted image would crumble.
Su Jinyan nodded gently. "Place them on my desk. Once Lady Cocolia returns, I'll inform her about these matters."
Unaware of any unusual situation, Bronya set down the pile of intelligence reports on the desk. Among them, unnoticed, was a storybook mixed within the documents.
Just as Bronya was about to turn and leave, she paused, looking back to ask,
"Father, do you smell anything strange?"
As she got closer to Su Jinyan, the scent became more intense.
Su Jinyan calmly lifted his coffee cup without showing any signs of discomfort.
"It might be due to the honey, berries, and milk I added to my coffee."
Bronya slightly shook her head, dismissing her suspicion. "...Your taste is truly unique."
After Bronya left by pushing open the door, both Su Jinyan and Cocolia sighed in relief.
Cocolia abruptly stood up, shooting him a fierce glare.
"Have you gone mad? Bronya nearly discovered our relationship."
Wrapping his arm around Cocolia's soft waist, Su Jinyan grinned mischievously.
"Well, she didn't find out, did she? Besides..."
"So what if she had?"
Flustered, Cocolia let out an involuntary gasp.
Caught off guard, Cocolia found herself being lifted by Su Jinyan.
"Su Jinyan, put me down immediately, you scoundrel!" Embarrassed and indignant, she struggled half-heartedly.
Just then, the door swung open again.
It was Bronya once more.
Bronya entered apologetically, saying, "My sincerest apologies, Father, I left behind a book—"
The air seemed to freeze instantly.
Bronya's pupils contracted sharply, as if her mind had momentarily crashed.
"Mother? Father? You two were—"
In the past, whenever Bronya needed to enter Cocolia's office, she always politely knocked first, waiting for permission before stepping inside.
What happened today with Bronya?
Was it because of my absence that you disregarded the etiquette I taught you?
Cocolia's cheeks flushed; her compromising position was now fully exposed to her successor, Bronya. She couldn't fathom how she would face Bronya with any dignity in the future.
Perhaps only by obeying the Stellaron, embracing Destruction, and ushering everyone into rebirth could Bronya forget this humiliating incident.
Despite these thoughts, Su Jinyan did not release his grip.
From the moment Bronya pushed open the door, he had already cast an illusion to conceal everything.
"Am I seeing things?" Bronya rubbed her beautiful eyes, murmuring softly.
What she actually witnessed was a composed Cocolia engaged in a lively conversation with Su Jinyan, both impeccably dressed.
"Let go of me, quickly!" Tears welled up in Cocolia's eyes as she whispered fiercely into his ear.
Su Jinyan complied readily, "Alright, Lady Cocolia, I'm letting go now."
Cocolia's pupils contracted sharply, "No—"
But it was too late; Su Jinyan had already released his hold around her waist.
Caught off guard, Cocolia suddenly felt weightless and began plummeting downward.
In that instant, her mind flashed through a montage-like sequence of memories—a humiliation she had never experienced throughout her life.
Unfazed, Bronya walked to the desk and retrieved her storybook.
"Seriously, how could Mother team up with Father just to tease me?" Bronya chided gently.
She found it hard to imagine that her mother, Cocolia—the ever dignified and authoritative Supreme Guardian—would act like a mischievous child, hiding beneath the office table to prank her intentionally.
If not for Bronya returning to fetch her storybook, she would have fallen for Cocolia's trick entirely.
"Lady Supreme Guardian, I have important matters to report," declared the noble young girl, assuming a serious expression as she spoke gravely.
"Our forces' morale has severely declined due to consecutive defeats and heavy casualties in recent battles."
"Currently, discontent is widespread among the military camps."
"I must emphasize one crucial point: every instance of significant losses can be attributed to Mother's unauthorized command interventions."
"Although I fully understand your eagerness to secure victory, our forces cannot venture beyond the barrier for direct confrontation with rift creatures."
"Not only does this contradict the calculations from Otschepolov's dynamic warfare equations, but it also negates the long-standing combat experience of our army."
"To appease discontent within the ranks and minimize casualties, preserving our fighting strength to the maximum extent possible, could you please refrain from interfering with the Silvermane Guard's command authority?"
[Please, at least don't make her issue absurd orders like 'Silvermane Gunners' Fire Team, advance twenty meters forward'].
Recalling Pela's clearly resentful expression, Bronya couldn't help but echo those sentiments inwardly.
Such sacrifices were utterly meaningless.
Since Father and Mother were old acquaintances, even classmates back in elementary school, why not try persuading Mother instead?
Lady Cocolia's pale purple eyes seemed distant, as if lost amidst clouds.
She hadn't absorbed a single word of Bronya's lengthy explanation.
Not receiving any response after a prolonged silence, Bronya furrowed her brow, "Mother?"
Su Jinyan smiled gently, "Indeed, that seems reasonable."
"Lady Cocolia likely has her own considerations," he continued. "Bronya, step aside for now. I agree that she may have erred in this matter, and I will discuss it with her properly."
"Thank you for understanding, Father. Please do reason with Mother."
"Well then, I shall take my leave."
Bronya slightly bent her knees, lifted the sides of her dress with both hands, and nodded respectfully before departing.
After this incident, despite Su Jinyan's repeated explanations that he had used illusions to conceal Bronya's presence from Cocolia, a woman blinded by anger and embarrassment is irrational.
Cocolia stubbornly summoned the Silvermane Guards to escort him out of Qlipoth Fort.
At least until her emotions fully settled, Su Jinyan could not hope to see her again.
Not long after Su Jinyan left, one of the floor-length mirrors in Qlipoth Fort suddenly shattered, startling Lady Cocolia.
As she prepared to investigate, a mysterious girl emerged slowly from the broken mirror, her features obscured by shimmering blue crystal facets.
"Lady Cocolia, who are you?" asked Cocolia cautiously.
The enigmatic girl replied softly, "I am the messenger of the Garden of Recollection. Please remember your past, Lady Cocolia; do not be deceived by that man."
Cocolia sneered, "Garden of Recollection? Messenger? Never heard of it! You want me not to trust him, but should I believe you instead?"
As she spoke, a magnificent azure spear materialized within Cocolia's delicate hands, signaling her readiness for combat.
Even as the messenger of the Garden of Recollection, directly confronting the Matrix of Prescience was impossible. This meant she could neither alter Su Jinyan's identity further nor change Cocolia's perception of him.
However, as a messenger, she could directly instill accurate memories into Cocolia, allowing her to discern the truth herself.
The messenger calmly stated, "Cocolia, although this may seem cruel, I must reveal a crucial fact to you."
"As the Supreme Guardian of Belobog, you have already died."
"In your final battle, transformed into a Singer wielding Imaginary Energy, you perished under the blazing lance once held by the Supreme Guardian."
With unfamiliar memories flooding in, Cocolia clutched her forehead in anguish, fear gradually reflecting in her eyes.
"Do you wish to continue living, Cocolia?"
"If you're willing to believe in Lord Fuli,
"after this matter concludes, I can allow you to endure in another form."
At the Goethe Hotel:
"Ah, you're finally back."
"Just what could be so important that kept you talking with Cocolia for so long?"
"She's already passed away, yet you still can't forget about her?"
As soon as Su Jinyan returned to their hotel room, he was bombarded by relentless questions from the self-proclaimed detective, March 7th.
"Let me guess," she continued, "you weren't secretly cozying up with Cocolia behind our backs, were you? An ex-boyfriend perhaps?"
Su Jinyan felt his head pounding at her chatter. "Stop! Stop-stop-stop!"
"Little March, a good girl shouldn't talk this much; otherwise, you'll never find a husband."
March 7th, hands on her hips, glared at him. "Mind your own business!" she retorted. "With looks like mine, suitors would line up from the Exalting Sanctum all the way to the Seat of Divine Foresight!"
Su Jinyan couldn't help but chuckle. "No wonder then, I finally know where your Credits have been disappearing to. Seems like you've been hiring people just to boost your popularity—quite an extravagant expense, isn't it?"
"You—!" March 7th sputtered indignantly.
Fu Xuan calmly interjected, "Enough, stop quarreling."
"Disloyal disciple, this venerable one has discovered who interfered with Miss March's recollections of the past."
Confused, Su Jinyan asked, "Have you already encountered the Memokeeper from the Garden of Recollection?"
March 7th nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, we met her right after returning to our room."
Fu Xuan's expression turned slightly grave as he stood with hands clasped behind his back. "She suddenly appeared before us, claiming to be a messenger from the Garden of Recollection."
"She also told March not to continue delving into her past."
"And she warned you, stating that any further attempts to destroy this precious memory would not be tolerated."
"Stealing others' memories like obscuring leaves before eyes, deceiving them with such audacity—how dare she!"
"If she hadn't fled swiftly, this venerable one would have certainly taught her a stern lesson."
Upon hearing Fu Xuan's account, Su Jinyan felt reassured.
"You needn't worry; it merely indicates that the messenger fears confronting me directly," he said. "The fact that she can only warn me through your voices suggests she dreads my abilities as well."
March 7th still trembled with lingering fear. "Forget about her, even I'm scared!" she exclaimed. "Getting pregnant out of nowhere—who could handle that?"
Fu Xuan agreed emphatically, "Your notorious reputation alongside Luocha has indeed spread throughout the universe, known by all."
"In the future, try to stay close to this venerable one for protection," he advised. "To prevent anyone else from attempting harm."
Su Jinyan remained silent, unsure how to respond.
However, March 7th had a different perspective. "Well, I think..." she began hesitantly. "Unless someone truly despises him, like those from the Antimatter Legion or Lord Ravager..."
"Who else would have the guts to provoke him? Aren't they afraid of being glared at and suddenly becoming pregnant?" she asked rhetorically.
Inspired by Fuli's teachings, Memokeepers shed their physical forms and now exist solely as memes.
With this unparalleled gift, they freely traveled across numerous worlds within the star sea, unbound by material limitations.
In other words, conventional physical means were rendered ineffective against Memokeepers.
Only by interfering with the "meme" constituting their essence could harm be inflicted upon them.
Coincidentally, just recently, he had used Appraisal on Nanook to grant him a "rebirth," witnessed by billions throughout the universe.
This likely explains why the messenger remained elusive, fearing confrontation with Su Jinyan.
[Fool, the situation has changed.]
[Cocolia's mind has been swayed by the messenger, causing her to revert back to the original trajectory of memories and now stands firmly opposed to you.]
[Please capture the messenger swiftly; otherwise, once the Matrix of Prescience Ultima begins its calculations, neither you nor Fu Xuan will have the ability to interfere with this memory segment.]
Su Jinyan's eyes sharpened, "I only managed to convince Cocolia, ahem, not long ago."
"And that despicable messenger forcibly distorted her memories."
"To recklessly manipulate someone's mind and memories, obstructing their pursuit of truth..."
"It's utterly reprehensible!"
March 7th's gaze turned subtle as she gently poked his waist with her delicate fingers.
"Erm, no... I didn't mean..."
"Little Su'zi, it seems like your words inadvertently apply to yourself too."
Su Jinyan responded firmly, "No, I stand on the side of justice here."
"To help little March regain her memories, even if it means facing some personal setbacks, it's worth it."
Fu Xuan retorted unhappily, "Your so-called setbacks involve becoming Miss Bronya's father and Cocolia's ex-boyfriend?"
Su Jinyan, with utmost seriousness, said, "Incorrect. Now, I've become a thorn in Cocolia's side."
"We must succeed; failure is not an option."
"If we fail, there will be no further chance to intervene in this segment of little March's memories."
"March, this situation is urgent. Right now, take me to as many friends you know as possible."
Intimidated by Su Jinyan's grave expression, March 7th hastily nodded. "O-okay..."
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Just then, frantic knocking echoed outside the room.
"Father, Father, open the door quickly!"
Exchanging glances, they rushed to open the door.
Bronya looked anxious, scanning left and right. After ensuring she wasn't being followed, she hurriedly entered the room.
"Father, did you upset Mother?"
March 7th couldn't help but ask, "What's happening, Bronya? Take it easy and tell us."
Bronya ignored March 7th, turning instead to Su Jinyan with urgency in her voice.
"Mother ordered me to lead troops and apprehend infiltrators planning a rebellion.
"Father, you're among them too."
Su Jinyan stroked his chin thoughtfully. "The plot has indeed returned to its original course, intriguing."
Yet this indirectly confirmed my suspicions were correct. By shattering little March's cherished memory of Honkai, the messenger would undoubtedly feel uneasy.
"Father, please escape quickly, leave together with the two from the Astral Express."
"As Lady Cocolia's adopted daughter, she won't harm me," sighed March 7th.
"Soon, Gepard will also bring forces here, making any attempt to flee much harder then."
March 7th lamented, "This feels so annoying."
"Wah, I hate being wanted!"
Fu Xuan asked, "A-Yan, should this venerable one intervene and purge the 'Distortion,' or shall we continue as per your plan?"
Su Jinyan pondered for a moment before saying, "March, these memories belong to you, so it's your choice."
"Should we take the tough-guy approach and confront Gepard and the Silvermane Guards head-on?"
"Or perhaps go with the 'Daddy, Where Are We Going?' route?"
Bronya complained, "Enough, Father! Don't put me in such a difficult position!"
I'm already risking much by alerting you, yet instead of leaving, you're considering engaging with Gepard and his forces?
March 7th chimed in sarcastically, "What even is 'Daddy, Where Are We Going?'?"
"This option sounds the most unpredictable, so I choose this one!"
Gently placing a hand on Bronya's shoulder, Su Jinyan said, "Bronya,
"Please brace yourself for what I'm about to say.
"In truth—"
Before he could finish, the synchronized sound of marching military boots echoed from below the Goethe Hotel.
A silver-haired, blue-eyed commander of the Silvermane Guard, Gepard Landau, issued orders:
"All units, in the name of the noble and supreme Amber King Qlipoth—
"On the command of Supreme Guardian Cocolia Rand, swiftly apprehend the infiltrators planning rebellion."
The Silvermane Guards loaded their rifles synchronously and marched uniformly into the Goethe Hotel.
Bronya covered her face, exclaiming, "We're doomed."
"Gepard, the Iron Wall of Belobog."
"With Mother's direct order, he won't grant me any favors, no matter who I am."
Gepard arrived too swiftly; the Silvermane Guards had already surrounded Goethe Hotel, making even jumping out the window futile.
Su Jinyan appeared unperturbed, instead choosing to sit leisurely on the soft bed, awaiting Gepard's arrival.
With a gentle flick of his fingertip, he effortlessly added a new identity for himself: Father of Gepard Landau.
Apologies, but having the Editor allows one to act with complete freedom.
Shortly thereafter, heavy footsteps approached as Gepard reached the door and politely knocked.
"Listen up, everyone inside," he began, "In the name of the revered and supreme Amber King Qlipoth,
under orders from Supreme Guardian Cocolia Rand,
we have come to apprehend infiltrators plotting rebellion.
Comply willingly and accompany us, or we reserve the right to use force."
Despite knowing full well, Su Jinyan feigned ignorance. "Identify yourselves, old man does not engage with unnamed individuals."
Gepard responded gravely, "Listen carefully, I am Gepard Landau, Commander of Belobog's Silvermane Guard."
Su Jinyan, in surprise, flung open the door. "I'm your dad!"
Gepard stared, utterly perplexed.