Pei Guang: "Let's get to work then! This thing might not be a combat weapon, but with fists that big, it'll be a blast to use in battle."
Welt: "I think we could even add a floating cannon."
Pei Guang: "No problem, I'm sure we can mod it, though I don't know how to build a floating cannon."
Welt: "I do! And I've got a decent amount of experience with large machines like this."
Pei Guang: "Nice! Got any that have a particularly large caliber?"
Welt: "Are you from Xianzhou?"
Pei Guang: "Nope, I'm from the Dragon Kingdom."
Welt fell silent: "…"
Meanwhile,while those two were still chatting on their private channel, March 7th curiously asked, "Who are you chatting with? You seem really happy."
Pei Guang: "Ahem, this is our kind of romance. Don't worry, I'll definitely bring you along when we play with it."
Hearing this, Stelle shot Pei Guang a sharp look but stayed silent, merely staring at him.
Pei Guang returned her gaze just as sharply, saying, "You, oh lucky one who keeps getting rare drops! No matter how smug you get, I'll still bring you along."
Pei Guang felt a mix of emotions regarding Stelle's constant rare loot drops. Though his system now had many conveniences, the frustration of being overshadowed was stronger than ever!
Still, it didn't really matter. He knew that even if he had gotten the War-flaming Lance himself, he wouldn't use it anyway. His wooden sword could be upgraded, and each upgrade seemed to make it even more powerful. He wondered if it would eventually evolve from the best sword in the village into a legendary heirloom.
As everything settled down, March 7th stretched happily and said, "Yay~ Crisis averted in this world, right? So, our mission's done, right?"
Pei Guang confidently answered, "Absolutely. The rewards are this good, so it must be the beginner village's clear reward."
Dan Heng, however, pondered aloud, "The snowstorm is harsh… it won't stop suddenly. While the Stellaron is sealed, the cold will slowly recede. The Fragmentum won't expand wildly, but it won't vanish either. This planet now has the chance for rebirth, but it will take time."
Pei Guang waved dismissively, "I'll leave a teleportation point on this planet. I can send supplies whenever needed. Worst case scenario, we just package up everything on this planet and take it all with us! No matter the mission, the outcome must be perfect!"
Dan Heng: "Taking the planet's resources with us? That could be an option... but the future of this world will depend on their efforts."
Dan Heng glanced over at Bronya, who was gazing towards Belobog, lost in thought.
"I… did it…" Bronya murmured, her eyes misting up. She held back her tears, but the swirl of emotions inside made her choke up.
Seele patted her shoulder. "Why are you crying? Cocolia, who was completely corrupted by the Stellaron, has been defeated. The apocalyptic threat is gone. Without the Fragmentum's erosion, everyone has a chance to survive."
Bronya shook her head, "There's still so much to do. The commotion caused by the Engine of Creation… the citizens in the city must already be aware of it. The Silvermane Guards, the Underworld, the Overworld—everyone is starting to piece together some of the truth. There's a lot to explain, and I don't know how many will be able to accept it."
As Bronya fell into silence, Serval placed a hand on her shoulder. "Oh, come on. How should they handle it? The people in the city have probably suspected some of the truth for a while now. Just tell them as it is. Besides, with the Stellaron completely gone, you can release a lot of the information the Architects kept secret… All those files that were classified for the sake of stability? Now's the time."
Gepard approached as well, saying, "Commander Bronya, just do what you believe is right. I've seen everything you've done, and your will and actions have convinced me of your determination. As a Silvermane Guard Commander, we will support any decisions you make."
Seele also spoke up, "You know how people in the Underworld feel, right? They already trust you. You ventured into the Underworld, fought alongside heroes, saved so many people, and helped recover important memories. You even defeated Cocolia, who was controlled by the Stellaron. On top of that, you've gained the recognition of the Preservation. I know you can lead everyone toward true happiness and peace."
Bronya: "Do you really think so?"
Pei Guang: "Of course! You've been with us the whole way, from top to bottom and back again. Honestly, I was kinda hoping you'd waver a bit and get corrupted!"
Before Pei Guang could finish his sentence, March 7th hurriedly covered his mouth.
March 7th: "Pei Guang! You can't say things like that! It'll ruin your reputation. How do I know? I'm a girl~ I know how other girls think~"
Stelle and Seele both showed a hint of embarrassment. They knew exactly what Pei Guang was implying. Seele had even thought about it herself—what if Bronya had been controlled? How would they have looted her afterward?
On their journey, Pei Guang had even suggested that they beat up Bronya, whether she was controlled or not, just to be safe. Everyone was actually quite tempted by the idea, but once they saw Bronya fiercely fighting Cocolia instead of being controlled, the plan was abandoned.
However, at this moment, Bronya had already made a decision. She took out the phone she had hidden close to her chest.
"Everyone... Ever since we parted ways, I've kept the recording mode on. Everything that happened, all the truths I've come to know, are stored here. Serval, could you also gather some truths from the Architects side? I want to share all these truths with everyone."
After saying this, she turned to Gepard. "Captain Gepard, could I trouble you to lead the Silvermane Guards in maintaining order in both the Overworld and Underworld? Many may find these painful truths hard to accept, and we must prevent anyone from reacting in extreme ways."
Gepard nodded. "I understand, and I agree with your decision to reveal the truth. While lies might maintain order for a time, when rumors start resembling the truth, covering up reality with falsehoods only stirs up more suspicion and anger. Compared to lies, the truth is painful, but... I have faith in everyone. We will protect Belobog! This city has survived seven hundred years of harsh winters, and the truth won't be enough to destroy our home."
Pei Guang interrupted, "Do we really need to be discussing this here? How about we go back first?"
March 7th quickly agreed, "Exactly! This place is barren and empty. Hey, how about we head back and talk while we stroll through the streets? We've just completed such an important journey; it feels like we'd be missing out if we didn't reward ourselves with a little relaxation."
Hearing Pei Guang and March 7th's words, Bronya nodded in agreement. "You're right, we should bring this good news to everyone and share the truth."
The group decided to return to Belobog and continue their conversation later.