Lower District, Mechanical Clan
Clara accepted the soap bar from the blond Pontiff, shooting a pleading glance at Svarog behind her.
Milk tea, soap... Next up, laundry detergent?
"B-Blake mister... Clara isn't doubting you on purpose, but these soaps—are they really tools for crisis moments?"
From Bronya's declaration before the [Everwinter Monument], Clara had recognized Blake.
Blake set the full sack of strategic armaments beside Svarog: "[Eternity] doesn't lie—let alone a single bar of soap?"
"Clara, HE is a [guest], and a [friend]. Return to the residence and await me." Svarog knew full well the upcoming talk involved secrets unfit for Clara's ears at her age.
"Indeed." Once Clara departed, to match the mood, Blake deliberately lowered his voice: "Jarilo-VI's rebirth from ice and snow has drawn notice from certain organizations."
"To prevent the Legion's vermin from regrouping, I've specially delivered this batch of projectiles as gifts... Might even come in handy shortly."
...
Seeing Stelle produce the [∞]-shaped soap, Topaz clearly paused. Why'd this thing look so familiar...
Got it—the Oswaldo Schneider hit scene. Forensics had found these exact soaps crammed in the bathtub.
Tying in Stelle's earlier mention of the [Church]...
Flash!
Insight struck—truth dawned on Topaz!
The true culprit framing Head Schneider... From the Eternity Church!
But... Holes in that. Even Pontiff Blake couldn't solo-storm the Market Development Division—did they take the Interastral Peace Corporation for a pushover?
Absurdly, detectors hadn't picked up [Emanator]-level energy spikes. So the perp wasn't an Emanator?
Or some oversight...
Topaz looked up to see March 7th pulling out an [∞]-shaped soap too.
Flash!
Lightning cracked her mind—key clue resurfaced!
Gang job! Premeditated!
Now... Just ID the man from the surveillance, and the [Oswaldo Schneider Murder Case] would crack wide open.
"Mind if I ask... Who gave you these soaps?"
Truth be told, Topaz hadn't wanted to drag Stelle and March 7th into this—hoping they had zero Church ties.
Stelle jumped straight to fibbing—with a dash of truth: "Every [Eternity] Pathstrider gets one from the benevolent, selfless Pontiff Blake—I'm one of 'em."
She straight-up owned her identity.
"D-D-Dual Pathstrider?!"
By outing herself, Stelle felt the talks lighten up: "Miss Topaz, Jarilo-VI's under [Eternity]'s protection. The Corporation showing up now—contesting custody with the Church?"
If Blake saw Stelle speaking for the Church on Jarilo-VI's behalf, HE'd be heartened. Pontiff's seat had an heir—not just talk.
Topaz let out a loaded chuckle. "Haha~ Counter-question, Miss Stelle... You representing the [Eternity Church] to declare war on the Corporation?"
"Or, may I take that as... A threat?"
Stelle went quiet, battle-ready. Pity the History Museum—rebuilding'd take days.
"Ancestral debts burdening descendants... On reflection, that's part of the cosmic life cycle too."
Topaz shifted tones abruptly—she wasn't dumb enough to go [harsh measures] on the Astral Express.
Suddenly veering into heady stuff March 7th couldn't follow: "...Eh? How'd it get this profound outta nowhere?!"
"Um, Miss Topaz—so what'd it take for the Corporation to go easy on Belobog?" With the [Church] play fizzling, March 7th asked.
"Bronya and the rest poured so much into making this world better... If it all vanishes in a blink, that's too cruel..."
Topaz smiled, clarifying: "What've you pegged the Corporation for, March~ Don't forget—we're [Preservation] practitioners, just like the [Builders]."
"No matter what, our proposals always factor in Belobog's people's welfare... If we couldn't even manage that, wouldn't the [Strategic Investment Division] just be another brute squad like the Legion?"
"So, you're saying... We don't need to worry? But Bronya, she..."
From the Astral Express's view, us Nameless didn't need to sweat it much. But flip to Supreme Guardian Bronya's shoes—saying "no worries" was fake.
Barely days into her nineteenth term as Belobog's Supreme Guardian, and the universe's top economy knocks.
Never mind the pre-Guardian saga—Cocolia's trial by the Church, whereabouts unknown to this day.
"Relax—the Supreme Guardian lass has real wisdom. She'll figure it out."
"Plus, straight answer to your ask... It's [nothing works]. Whatever hurdles, I'll wrap the Jarilo-VI project."
"...Even against the [Eternity Church]." Topaz's tone hardened suddenly, resolute in rebutting Stelle's earlier line.
March 7th was stunned: "Whoa—sudden pressure vibe. Scary."
"So yeah, I'd suggest you two not overthink this. What do you say? Better enjoy the pre-festival buzz while you're here... Ah, colleague's calling—sorry!"
"Heading out—till fate reunites us~"
Watching the first parley flop, their budding morale tanked.
"What now... Talked forever, zero progress!"
"She makes some points..."
Stelle shelved calling Pontiff Blake for now—nearly came off as a threat to Topaz.
"Mm, I agree. But Bronya's bind is real as hell... Bottom line, Miss Topaz is just upholding her job ethics."
"Step back: From the Express and Church's stands, clashing with the Corporation's unwise... Especially the latter—Teacher Adrian said the [Market Development Division]'s head's eyeing Church outposts. Just needs a spark."
"If we slip up on words, could ignite a war!"
No sooner said than March 7th's sparkle dimmed, lips visibly downturned.
"Suddenly so gloomy!"
"Aw~ The stakes here's way too tangled, too tricky! School never covered this... Eh? Wait—did I even go to school pre-amnesia?"
March 7th clocked an issue suddenly. Stelle felt that kinship.
No wonder they clicked as besties—rounded off, she was amnesiac too.