"It's simple. Until the situation on the surface clears up, it's better for Wildfire to stay in the underground."
Leon didn't beat around the bush, speaking plainly.
"The lockdown is two-way: Svarog in the underground, Cocolia on the surface."
"We've only dealt with one side. If you head up through the Furnace Core now, Cocolia's bound to notice, and who knows what could happen."
"Wildfire can handle the vagrants down here, but you stand no chance against the Silvermane Guards. The equipment gap's too wide."
"Only when Bronya's finished preparing the Guards can the call to resist be sounded."
Stelle asked curiously, "Until then, it's just us dealing with Cocolia?"
Leon paused, then glanced to the side.
"Let Seele come with us. She's the strongest down here."
Natasha's face showed gratitude. "Mr. Leon, you've thought this through thoroughly. To be honest, I was about to suggest the same."
"You've done so much for the underground, yet we're limited by various constraints and can't fully assist. It's hard to admit…"
"But since Mr. Leon brought it up first, I've got no reason to refuse."
"That girl Seele's great at scouting, quick-witted, and decisive. I'm sure she'll be a big help."
March 7th: "Is Seele okay with joining us? Shouldn't we ask her opinion?"
"No need for that."
Stelle wagged her index finger.
"While you were catching beauty sleep, we got to know Seele better. Taking down Cocolia? She'd jump at the chance."
March 7th put on a mock stern face. "Spill it—are you low-key roasting me for slacking?"
Stelle feigned surprise. "You caught that?"
"Hmph, next time I catch you slacking, don't cry." March 7th raised her fist, annoyed.
With follow-up plans settled, Natasha said with concern:
"My scouts said you didn't rest at the Goethe Hotel after returning from Rivet Town. Instead, you let Seele and the others rest for six hours."
"Your body's the foundation of the revolution. Overworking yourselves will break you down."
"Leave the cleanup here to Wildfire. You should go back and rest properly."
Stelle: "No biggie. This hero can go ten days without sleep."
March 7th rolled her eyes. "…Please, draft your lines first."
Stelle poked her chest with two fingers, earnestly saying, "March, we're not the same…"
"Holy cow, the public release quality absolutely crushes the beta. It's like watching an anime where you occasionally pick the plot."
Paradigm, a diehard otaku, followed both anime and gacha games.
Having played the third beta, he could feel the difference clearly.
"It's now proven: letting the protagonist talk more and ditch the mute role boosts immersion."
"By the way, how's Dan Heng's route?"
"Plot's the same as the beta, but the protagonist's dialogue options, which were mostly similar, are now spoken outright?"
"That's solid. Feels like Mihoyo's upcoming action game could do the same for its protagonist."
"It's great, right? Like we're living in the game world."
"Don't ask why the protagonist leans into a comedic style—it's popular and versatile."
"Funny characters can have mysterious power levels, growing stronger when needed. Most directly, they carry the simple emotion players seek in games: joy."
"With the game just launched and so many wanting to be Aha's followers or loving Leon, the surface-level joker, doesn't that prove the light comedy style was the right call?"
"Just a shame there's no twisted drama…"
[You starting?]
[Paradigm's a NTR and harem drama fan. White Album, Scum's Wish—all his faves.]
[If a general-audience gacha game had Paradigm's dream plot, most players and fans would riot against the devs.]
[Not necessarily. Paradigm seems to love knife-twist plots too.]
Paradigm glanced at the chat and riffed casually.
"Knives are great. Comedy's core is often tragedy. Becoming a joker's usually a shortcut to burying a painful past."
"From Leon's first backstory, you can tell there's heavy stuff coming."
"Hey, what if Leon gets knifed later and leaves his wings to the Trailblazer… cough, you get it."
"After all, the unobtainable always stirs the heart. The ones we can't let go of, the ones that haunt us, are often the dead and the memories they leave behind."
[???]
[Shut it, old thief! Don't jinx it!]
[Planting a Domain Anchor now—if this happens, we're coming for you, Paradigm.]
[I, the Water Army Admiral, back this in real name!]
"Alright, just joking. Don't take it seriously." Paradigm half-playfully backed off for the show.
The game just launched, and Leon's popularity had already caught up to the beta's top characters.
Milking the drama was fine, but he couldn't set himself up for a boomerang, though boomerangs do bring traffic…
"Back to the plot."
…
Clara finished checking Svarog's battle damage, finally easing her worries.
The core systems were intact, with only minor external damage—easy to repair.
Mr. Svarog was fine, and no one else suffered major injuries. A win-win.
She was glad she'd mustered the courage to listen to Leon and make a change.
"Big brother, big sisters, are you leaving?"
Leon: "Our purpose in the underground is done. We'll probably leave tomorrow."
Clara: "Wishing you success. Clara will remember your help."
March 7th: "So sweet and well-mannered. You did great, Clara. Big Sis March 7th's gonna miss you."
Stelle: "If it weren't for your persuasion, we probably couldn't have changed Svarog's stubbornness. You're the one who helped us big time."
Clara just shook her head.
She only wanted everyone to live and see the blue sky.
Earlier, Brother Leon and Sister Stelle protecting the defeated Svarog was protecting her family.
Otherwise, Wildfire members, caught up in the heat of battle, might not have stopped so easily.
"Mr. Svarog's calculations can't exist without everyone's memories, so… Clara will never forget you."
[Ouch—my heart just took a critical hit!]
[Clara, my waifu, take me with you!]
[Our country has a complete criminal code.]
[Good thing Leon's legal, hehe~~]
[Chill, missy up there, I'm legal too. Can I get a V?]
[Scram, I only love my husband Leon!]