"Ugh, that old hag is all sweet talk in public but scheming behind our backs!"
"And we're not the villains of [Eternity] Ite—you've got that all wrong!"
March 7th tried to explain, but her blunt insult of the Great Guardian had already enraged Bronya. "Publicly slandering the Great Guardian only adds to your crimes. Drop your weapons and surrender!"
"At least let us clear up the part about…"
If this blame stuck, it'd be impossible to shake off. March 7th wasn't worried about Adrian overhearing—after all, as a seasoned Emanator, he was used to praise and slander alike. It was normal.
But the Church wasn't like that. If they caught wind of someone badmouthing THEIR master, no matter how many light-years away, they'd cross the vast starry sea just to find you.
And with an Emanator capable of teleportation? Imagine the consequences if this reached Bishop Blake's ears!
"Words are useless now, March. One thing is clear: we absolutely cannot be arrested."
Dan Heng figured that with Jarilo-VI's backward technology, the Church probably wouldn't even bother looking their way, let alone detect them.
"When the time comes, a bit of force is the best solution!" Stelle summoned her baseball bat. How dare these people defame the supreme Aeon of [Eternity]? As a loyal follower, how could she tolerate this?
She didn't say the last part aloud—otherwise, there'd be no explaining it.
…
After a fierce battle, every ice arrow March 7th fired was effortlessly dodged by Bronya. In the other guards' eyes, she was practically superhuman!
When immortals clash, mortals suffer.
The ordinary Silvermane Guards, despite their rigorous daily training, were no match for the Astral Express crew.
What a cursed power gap. Unfortunately, these guards hadn't received Adrian's weapon enhancements, which were reserved for the first batch stationed at the restricted zone's front line. It wasn't their turn yet.
Most of the guards were knocked out by the trio, leaving only Bronya and the soldier who'd come to report.
"No way, this girl's too strong. Teacher Dan Heng, unleash your hidden power already!"
Dan Heng took a deep breath, preparing to try the new mode Adrian had mentioned. "This power… I didn't want to use it…"
"Wait, you actually have something?" March 7th was half-joking. When would she get a boost from Teacher Adrian?
"Surrender, invaders! I'll ensure you receive a fair trial."
Thud!
Another plush doll was tossed over. The guard trailing Bronya removed his helmet, revealing a face all too familiar.
"Sigh~ Looks like ol' Sampo's acting skills haven't rusted. If I had a [Mask of Fools], it could've been even more polished."
Boom!
The Sampo doll exploded, releasing a thick mist. This was his latest invention—one whiff, and you'd sleep like a baby.
"Cough… cough…"
Bronya was still holding out, but the gas was overwhelming, stronger than any anesthetic.
"I just wanna say… Sampo never lets friends who've helped him take a loss." Sampo flicked his hair, rolling up his sleeves to drag the unconscious four away.
When the mist cleared, Bronya was out cold on the ground. Dan Heng, Stelle, and March 7th stood there, staring at Sampo.
Seeing this, Sampo was incredulous. What the heck? That dose could knock out a beast—how were these three fine?
Hiss…
Sensing the familiar power emanating from them, Sampo's furrowed brow relaxed.
"You guys are way too chummy with that guy to get Emanator-level treatment!" Sampo couldn't help but quip. But seeing their stern faces, he swallowed hard.
"Uh, haha… friends, let's talk this out nicely… no need for violence, right?"
…
At Fort Qlipoth, Cocolia was conversing with the voice in her mind.
"I've done as you said. Slandering that Aeon so much—won't it bring uncalled-for disaster?"
Cocolia's face showed unease. Everything was spiraling out of control!
[Trust us… a brief misunderstanding… will bring eternal prosperity.]
The seductive voice echoed in her ears. Cocolia bit her lip, unsure how to retort.
By constantly defaming to draw THEIR gaze… to receive a divine oracle and save Belobog—that was the plan the voice in her mind proposed yesterday.
An absurd plan. Cocolia didn't believe a grand entity like an Aeon would even glance their way.
The Aeon of [Preservation], Qlipoth, whom they'd always worshipped—had THEY ever truly looked at humanity? It was just the Architects' delusional wishful thinking.
The moment off-world invaders landed on Jarilo-VI, this world was sentenced to death. But the Stellaron Core… offered the Great Guardian a sliver of hope.
Rebirth came at a cost. Cocolia's task was to erase all traces of the decayed old world, abandoning meaningless survival.
[Destroy the decayed old world… embrace the eternity of the new world! You've seen… what we promised…]
In just one day, the Stellaron Core had changed, even taking on a fanatical, obsessive vibe.
[Beware those outsiders… they'll ruin our new world…]
[The end of all things… is only Eternity!]
Ignoring the Stellaron Core's voice, Cocolia grew worried about Bronya's safety.
O Aeon of [Eternity], please protect my daughter Bronya.
Cocolia prayed silently, then realized something.
Hm? Why was she praying to the Aeon of [Eternity]? That was worth pondering…
…
In Belobog, at a clinic:
"Ow… that hurts!"
A mature woman with gray-blue hair put on a fresh pair of medical gloves, tearing off a long strip of bandage from a nearby roll.
She expertly wrapped it around Sampo's waist, pulling it tight.
"First time I've seen you this roughed up."
"Miss Natasha, Seele already mocked me last night—please don't pile on."
"Hehe~" Natasha dropped it and changed the subject. "So, what's your plan for that upper-district girl? And the four off-worlders?"
"Haha, who'd have thought I'd run into them while treasure-hunting in the snowfield? That guard girl collapsed in the corroded streets—I couldn't just leave her to die, right?"
"You think you can fool me, Sampo Koski?" Natasha crossed her arms, listening to his excuses.
"No idea what you're scheming, Sampo. What's the upper district's mess got to do with you? Why wade into this mess? Not high-profile enough already? Gotta make a mess and get [Wildfire]'s attention to be satisfied?"
"I gotta clear this up with you, Miss Natasha. Ol' Sampo always looks out for friends, including former big clients. You know I hate owing favors."
Sampo recalled the figure of that golden-haired Bishop… In a haze, that deep voice echoed again:
[Fool, committing countless sins… blaspheming our divine Aeon, you deserve a thousand cuts.]
[But knowing you're a follower of the lord of [Elation], seeking the aesthetics of [Elation]… your actions are understandable.]
[My Aeon Ite embraces all, so… I won't hold you accountable. You may leave—consider it a favor owed to the Church.]
[...]
[Hm? You're actually leaving?]
[Hahahahaha… alright then, please accept this final parting gift!]
[Fool, come feel the grace of Eternity!]
A chill ran through him. Sampo snapped back, continuing:
"Maybe… these folks I brought can give [Wildfire] a hand."
Natasha kept bandaging Sampo, not pressing further about his injuries, and pondered his words.
This morning, a young man whose attire clashed with the lower district—Sampo's so-called big client, Adrian—had come to her.
Hook was with him, or rather, Hook had brought him.
After safely escorting her target, Hook ran off with a big bag of candies and sweet drinks.
Adrian didn't hide his identity: an off-worlder soon to be wanted by the Great Guardian.
Knowing words alone wouldn't convince Natasha, he dragged in Sampo, who was planning a prison break in the upper district.
With a witness secured, as for physical evidence… he showed Natasha things she'd never seen in her life.
A locust figurine encased in amber crystal, a miniature black hole sealed in a protective shield, a hammer made of amber stones, wrinkled parchment… covered in the word [Eternity].
It seemed this off-worlder and Sampo were on pretty good terms.
After a brief talk, he left. Not long after, a battered Sampo showed up at the clinic with four new faces.
The pink-haired girl carefully placed the unconscious guard on a bed. Then the leading dark-haired man introduced himself.
When it was the gray-haired girl's turn, she said something Natasha couldn't comprehend.
"I'm the Galactic Baseballer, may you believe in [Eternity] Ite."
"What kind of weird introduction is that?!"