"These days, no ID means I can't prove I'm an old geezer?"
The dirty old man's string of words left all three of them dumbfounded.
Gepard's pupils dilated as he asked in confusion:
"How can there be something like this? I've never heard of claiming subsidies requiring such a complicated process."
Bronya seemed to think of something. Her thin lips parted slightly as she said softly:
"I remember—the pension distribution affairs are handled entirely by a certain family. It doesn't fall under our direct jurisdiction."
Thinking about it now, maybe the people from that family had their fancy clothes stripped off by Sampo too?
"Sigh, I just want to live a little better. The Eternal Freeze is over—we've fought our whole lives. I really don't want to keep playing tricks and scheming with my fellow citizens anymore, making up all this nonsense."
The dirty old man snatched Gepard's iron bowl, silently stood up, his eyes turbid:
"I'm going to get some food. You guys want any? If you do, I'll bring some for you too."
"Then bring four portions."
"Hm? Four?"
The dirty old man turned back and saw a gray-haired young guy even dirtier than him standing right in front of him, grinning:
"But I don't eat spicy, no onions, no cilantro—remember to add extra meat."
"You little beggar, you're pretty picky, huh!"
The dirty old man didn't say much more—just grumbled a bit, patted Zeig on the shoulder, and left.
Gepard, sitting on the ground, saw the dirty old man really intending to bring them food and tried to stand up to go with him, but was pushed back down by the latter.
"Let him do his thing—stay calm."
"But he..."
"This is his specialty—no need for us to worry."
Zeig flopped onto the ground like a dead fish with a "plop," rolling around nonstop.
Pela couldn't help asking:
"What's up with you? Why are you so filthy...? Did Sampo send you to dig coal or something?"
"Oh, I went begging."
"?"
"Look—this is the spoils I got back."
Zeig silently pulled out stacks of documents from his chest. They were wrapped in exquisite folders and handed to the three.
Bronya, Pela, and Gepard all stood up, staring blankly at the thick piles of files in their hands, and asked in confusion:
"What are these? Solid evidence of those people trying to threaten Belobog's regime? Or proof of other ways they've oppressed the common folk?"
"No no no, none of that."
After handing everything over, Zeig flopped back onto the ground and rolled around again, getting his clothes even dirtier:
"These are things I got from Herta Space Station. Nothing too precious—just some optimization plans for various industries."
"Optimization plans?"
"Yeah, plus all kinds of operation and training manuals—for quickly training batches of employees who can actually get to work."
Pela asked doubtfully:
"Why give these to us? So we can open a factory and be bosses?"
"Hey, not a bad idea."
Zeig lifted his head and gave a thumbs-up:
"The three of you could moonlight as small bosses in some industry right now—you'd definitely make a fortune!"
While the three were still puzzled, the dirty old man came back from begging, carrying five boxed meals in his hands.
One of them was so loaded with meat it was practically bursting the container. Zeig reached out to grab it, but the dirty old man swatted his dirty hand away:
"This one's mine! Those are yours!"
"Tch."
Zeig took the second-most generous boxed meal, eating as he slowly wandered off from there.
The remaining three boxed meals were relatively simple.
But the three didn't complain—each took one and started eating straightforwardly.
It was still someone else's kindness, after all. They squatted on the ground eating silently, without a single word of disdain.
"Yo? You guys haven't finished yet?"
After they'd been eating for a while, an discordant voice rang out again.
The dirty old man looked up and said in surprise:
"Whoa, Sampo? Why are you dressed so fancy?"
Compared to the three ragged people behind the dirty old man, Sampo at this moment was wearing the builders' uniform—solemn and majestic—with an officer's cap on his head.
A large medal symbolizing his status was pinned on his chest.
"Huh, old man, you're here too? How's it going—still into girls? I've got a fresh batch of photos. You're a regular—I can give you a discount!"
"Let me see."
"Here you go."
Gepard, Pela, Bronya: "O.o?"
As they watched the dirty old man hand over a handful of Belobog Shields and stuff several indescribable books into his arms, Pela couldn't help but comment:
"Wow, Grandpa! You're a beggar now—how do you still have money for porn mags?!"
"Tch, what porn mags? Don't young people know how to be subtle?!" The dirty old man grumbled reproachfully.
"Can't I just pick up scraps and trade for cash?!"
"..."
Bronya sniffed and asked uncertainly:
"Just now... wasn't one of the book covers me and Seele?"
"So what?!"
Gepard also asked uncertainly:
"I think I saw my sister and the Supreme Guardian on one too."
"So what?!"
Pela exclaimed in shock:
"Grandpa, you're so corrupt!"
"?"
Hearing that, the dirty old man silently pulled another wrinkled booklet from his pocket. It had portraits of Gepard and Sampo on the cover, both with strange blushes on their cheeks.
Clearly, this book wasn't exactly proper either.
"I don't really like this one—someone just gave it to me. Want it?"
"Heh, do I look like that kind of person?"
...
Not long after, Cocolia walked down the steps of Qlipoth Fort. Something odd in the corner of her vision caught her attention.
"?"
She slowly turned her head. After recognizing who the three were, she asked in confusion:
"Huh? Why are you three here? Where are the things the Executor gave you? Wait—no, where are your uniforms? Why are you all in casual clothes?"
Bronya quickly stood up and answered:
"Mother, we... weren't we fired? As for the documents... uh, they're here. The Executor took his boxed meal and left."
"???"
"You just said you were fired? Who dared to fire you?"
"Sampo," Pela said doubtfully.
Firing the three of them—wasn't that Cocolia's idea? The Silvermane Guards had even taken back their uniforms, so they could only change into their own casual clothes.
"If you ignore him and come straight to Qlipoth Fort to find me, wouldn't that solve it?" Cocolia said helplessly.
"It works like that?"
"..."
Cocolia speechlessly covered her forehead. How were these three so honest? Didn't they know how to push back a little?
"Bring those documents up to Qlipoth Fort. What are you doing sitting there like you're begging? How embarrassing."
"Sampo told us to sit here and beg."
"..."
"By the way, Guardian, my sister said you liked her Moments post—said we make pretty good beggars."
"She liked it herself—my account's with her. I'm too busy to play on my phone."
"..."
"Wait... Pela, what's that wrinkled book in your hand?" Cocolia asked sharply.
"Uh... something good to look at."