"Serval mentioned that, due to an order from years ago, contact between the upper and lower districts was cut off."
"This is clearly abnormal. Perhaps it's to conceal something in the lower district…"
At this, Stelle and March 7th simultaneously blurted out one words.
"Stellaron?!"
Leon snapped his fingers.
"Even if it's not the Stellaron, there's a high chance we'll find clues related to it.
While Stelle was busy rummaging through trash cans, I quietly looked into ways to access the lower district, but the results weren't promising.
The citizens of the upper district seem to only know of the lower district's existence at best, with no idea how to get there.
This means the entrance to the lower district must be heavily guarded."
Stelle, deep in thought, offered a guess.
"Gepard and Bronya might know how to get to the lower district?"
Leon: "Those in high positions have to know, but they might not have the authority to go down there.
On someone else's turf, every move we make is under scrutiny. Even if it's not, we can't just ask outright."
Stelle: "I know what you're getting at. To the locals, we're outsiders…
If we ask about sensitive topics, it'll definitely raise their guard and draw unnecessary attention."
"Smart," Leon praised softly.
March 7th: "So, what, we're supposed to stumble around like headless flies, sneaking and searching in the dark?"
The atmosphere fell silent.
Even with their cover as interstellar merchants, they'd already attracted the local leader's close attention.
If they openly stated their purpose, and Cocolia already knew about the Stellaron's existence, the consequences were unthinkable.
After a long absence, dialogue options reappeared in the bottom right corner of the players' screens.
① "Trailblazing a new world is such a headache and exhausting."
② "We're restricted at every turn—what do we do next?"
③ "Why not go all in, kidnap Cocolia, and make her lead the way?"
"Option three's not rational. How do you find a Stellaron while dragging around a ticking time bomb?"
Old Bear didn't hesitate and clicked option two.
If the writers didn't provide a clear action plan, the practical move was to consult the team leader's opinion—Leon, the reliable one.
His dialogue had repeatedly emphasized his dependability.
At this point in the story, he lived up to it.
Sharp-minded, unflappable, and meticulous.
If he wasn't reliable, who was?
"Remember what Cocolia said? Tomorrow at noon, someone will come to invite us to discuss the trade partnership."
Leon's lips curved into an intriguing expression.
March 7th: "Yeah, I remember. So what?"
Leon: "We'll put on a simple play to see if the person who comes tomorrow is a messenger or the Silvermane Guards."
Stelle perked up, her eyes glinting with interest.
"What kind of play?"
"Simple. We openly discuss how the lower district's been sealed off for years and how the Stellaron's likely down there."
As he spoke, Leon tossed each of them a piece of paper.
It had a dialogue script written on it.
"No need to memorize it—just read the script naturally. Ready?"
"Ready!" x2.
With their confirmation, Leon opened the anti-listening device box and gently returned the gadget to its original spot.
Then he took out his phone, started recording, and used wind to levitate it above their heads, aiming at the three of them.
"The upper district's hiding the reason for sealing off the lower district. There's definitely something fishy. We need to find a way to get down there.
I have a hunch we'll find Stellaron-related info in the lower district. What do you think?"
At this, Leon shot the two girls a look.
Stelle: "A Stellaron doesn't hide itself, but Belobog hasn't found it in centuries. That's weird when you think about it.
Maybe the one hiding the Stellaron is the Supreme Guardian herself. She doesn't seem to know the Fragmentum is caused by the Stellaron."
March 7th: "Why not just come clean with Cocolia tomorrow? After all, we're here to help stop the Stellaron disaster.
Unless she's bent on self-destruction, she's not likely to refuse us."
Leon let out a deliberate sigh: "Let's hope so."
With that, the recording ended, and the listening device went back into the box.
March 7th, looking worried: "If the Silvermane Guards show up tomorrow, what do we do?"
Leon smiled faintly: "Then we'll get a taste of Belobog's prison food first."
"Huh?"
Stelle and March 7th froze.
Surrender without a fight?
Leon: "Don't worry. When I went to see Sampo earlier, I checked out Belobog's prison cells. Breaking out won't be hard."
March 7th's eye twitched.
"You… you were already thinking about this situation back then?"
Leon: "What two words are written on my face?"
"Nothing's there."
March 7th was baffled.
Leon, earnestly: "Dependable, or reliable."
March 7th: "…"
She wanted to roast him but couldn't find the words.
Fine.
She had to admit, Leon was indeed reliable.
Sure, his thinking could be a bit erratic at times, but at least he wasn't like Dan Heng, that poker-faced guy who spoke without a hint of expression.
"Hahaha, Leon's got a bit of a narcissistic streak, but in a good way, he's self-aware."
"I really like his character design. He brings some laughs while making you feel secure."
Old Bear chuckled happily.
Stelle: "I've got a key question—how does going to jail help us find the Stellaron?"
Leon, meaningfully: "To find Stellaron clues, we need a guide…"
"Who?" March 7th asked curiously.
"Not sure yet. There are three possible candidates, but honestly, I don't know who'd care more about us ending up in jail."
At that, Leon handed Stelle another isolation box.
"Don't overthink it. The road will appear when the cart reaches the mountain. Take a nice hot shower, get some sleep, and recharge for a wonderful tomorrow."
Stelle muttered as she took the box: "Wonderful, really?"
Leon smiled: "Guaranteed wonderful. If you don't want to be eavesdropped on in your room, toss the same kind of pen into the box. Good night."
The scene shifted to another room.
Old Bear let out a breath, processing the information from this plot segment.
The next part of the main story clearly pointed to the lower district.
"I'm really curious who the three guide candidates Leon mentioned are."
[Serval, probably. Her shop's right next to Qlipoth Fort—who'd believe she doesn't have some hidden connections?]
[I'll guess Pela.]
[I think it's Gepard. If Cocolia hears the recording and sends people to arrest us, wouldn't it be Gepard leading them?]
[Don't forget Bronya—she's the acting commander of the Silvermane Guards.]
[Jailbird Sampo: Ever consider it might be me as the guide?]
"You know, you might be onto something."
Old Bear analyzed eagerly.
"Leon said he used the visit to Sampo to check out the prison's layout, but he might've actually talked to Sampo.
Who's the most well-connected in the underworld?
Conmen, pickpockets—those types need sharp eyes and an ear for the winds of change to survive."