["Let me introduce myself. I'm Serval, the owner of this mechanics shop." Serval introduced herself warmly. "If you have any broken equipment, you can come to me, though I can't guarantee I'll be interested in fixing it."]
["No, no, I was just curious about this heater..."]
["This is just a regular Geomarrow heating unit. You can find them everywhere in the Administrative District." Serval pointed to the one at her shop's entrance. "And the one under your feet is already broken. I just haven't gotten around to fixing it yet."]
["Geomarrow?"]
["I heard from a loose-lipped Silvermane Guard that a few [outsiders] arrived in Belobog, must be you guys, right?"]
[Serval smiled faintly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she bent down and knocked on the broken heater at her feet. "Geomarrow is a local energy source here. From city-wide heating to the smallest pocket watch, everything runs on it."]
["It's mined by specialized teams in the Underworld, then transported to the surface through pipelines. In return, the Overworld sends down supplies that can only be found aboveground through those same pipelines."]
["Didn't know that, did you? Belobog's city structure is like two giant disks connected together. The Overworld handles administration and trade, while the Underworld handles energy supply and resource extraction."]
Silco immediately found this scene eerily familiar.
...Wasn't this just like the relationship between Piltover and Zaun?!
Piltover, the city above, enjoyed technology, wealth, and glory, while Zaun, the city below, was filled with toxic rivers and polluted air. The Overworld basked in splendor, while the Underworld was forever mired in filth...
He didn't even need to think hard to guess that the conditions in the Underworld must be just as terrible.
"You think their Underworld has a 'Silco' in it?"
Jinx found this absolutely hilarious and fascinating. It was like a brand-new, alternate-world version of Zaun and Piltover! She leaped down from the rafters, landing beside Silco and blinking at him playfully.
"Wherever there's oppression and inequality, wherever there's no respect or independence, that's where a 'Silco' will appear."
With that, he adjusted his tie, his voice low. "Jinx, trust me. Belobog's Underworld definitely has its own 'Silco.'"
[After chatting with Serval for a while, the trio headed to the Goethe Hotel where Cocolia had arranged for them to stay.]
[Along the way, they saw many citizens gathered on the streets near the hotel, weeping. After asking around, they learned that these people had left their belongings inside the Fragmentum, and now that the area was sealed off, ordinary citizens were no longer allowed through.]
["This world is truly plagued with disasters," Stelle remarked, looking at the soldiers standing guard outside the Fragmentum. "Can soldiers really stop the Fragmentum's invasion?"]
[Dan Heng shook his head regretfully. "Impossible. As long as the Stellaron remains active, the corrosion will keep spreading. The soldiers can only clear out the monsters inside temporarily—but they'll just keep respawning and multiplying."]
["Tomorrow, we'll talk to the Supreme Guardian and set off to find the Stellaron as soon as possible. The sooner we resolve this, the better!" March 7 couldn't bear to see the despair on the faces of the elderly anymore. It was just too heartbreaking.]
[Dan Heng and Stelle nodded in agreement. The first day of their trailblazing journey had already been exhausting enough. Right now, March 7 just wanted to collapse onto a soft bed and sleep.]
[However, just before entering the hotel, March 7 and Dan Heng noticed Stelle wasn't following them.]
[She had stopped in her tracks, her gaze locked onto an unremarkable trash can beside the spiral staircase.]
"Uh... what's so interesting about a trash can?"
Stark was baffled. But seeing Stelle's unusually serious expression, he didn't dare jump to conclusions. After all, she had a Stellaron sealed inside her, what if she could see something incredible?
But still...
"A trash can is just a trash can, right? What else could be inside besides garbage?" He glanced at Frieren. "Frieren, can you see anything?"
Frieren closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Still, the way she's looking at that trash can feels familiar..." Sein's eyes widened in disbelief. "It's exactly how I look at Miss Himeko!"
"You—" Fern couldn't even muster the energy to retort.
...How could a trash can compare to a one-in-a-million beauty?!
Frieren placed a finger on her lips, thinking for a moment before saying, "Maybe there's something incredibly valuable inside? Like a discarded legendary sword or an ultra-rare grimoire..."
"Lady Frieren, do you think a trash can is a mimic?!"
Under the stunned gazes of everyone across the myriad worlds, Stelle slowly placed her hand on the trash can's lid... and lifted it.
——
Sure enough, it was just full of garbage.
[Dan Heng and March 7 both stared wide-eyed. This was... not something they'd ever seen before.]
["Hey! Hey! What are you doing, Stelle?!"]
[Stelle seemed ready to move on to the next trash can, but March 7 managed to drag her back just in time.]
[They were, after all, honored guests personally invited by the Supreme Guardian. If anyone found out they were digging through trash in the middle of the night... Just imagining it made March 7 want to curl up in embarrassment.]
[Once inside the hotel, Dan Heng pulled March 7 aside. After confirming no one else was around except Stelle, he spoke solemnly. "March, back at Qlipoth Fort—"]
["Ah, stop! I know what you're gonna say: 'March, you talked too much back there,' 'March, you shouldn't reveal our goals to people we don't trust'... I get it! It's just that you two were talking in circles instead of being straightforward!" March 7 protested.]
["But look, things turned out fine, didn't they? Not only did we get to stay in a super fancy hotel, but we also got the local authorities' support! Seems like this trailblazing mission is going smoothly!"]
["No, that's not what I meant." Dan Heng shook his head. "Did you notice anything about the [Supreme Guardian]?"]
["Of course! After adventuring with you guys for so long, my observation skills have been honed to be, heh, exceptionally sharp~" March 7 grinned proudly, puffing out her chest.]
["Am I the only one who didn't notice anything?" Stelle scratched her head.]
["Stop obsessing over your trash can—once you've been adventuring with us long enough, you'll pick it up naturally." March 7 patted Stelle's shoulder before continuing Dan Heng's topic.]
["That woman's gaze had this... piercing quality to it. Like, even though she was talking to us, her eyes seemed fixed on something far away..."]