Pela's wariness of Serval's idea stemmed from one simple fact—Serval's methods tended to be… unconventional.
This wasn't to say she failed at tasks, but rather that her solutions were always creatively unpredictable. Like adding drills to snowplows or ballistic calculators to toasters… Practical? Perhaps. Necessary? Debatable.
Noticing Pela's skeptical gaze, Serval gave a quick cough and shot her a look, one that said, "Come on, give me a little credit here."
Finally, Serval spoke up. "Look, maybe there's no hidden agenda. The important thing is, this technology could be a huge boon for the Silvermane Guards—no drawbacks, just benefits, right?"
"Well, you're not wrong…" Pela admitted, though her expression remained thoughtful. The technology itself—and what it represented—wasn't something she could just wave off.
She adjusted her glasses, concern creasing her brow. "I just think… if we could trace the origin of this technology, we might not only understand more about ancient mechanisms, but maybe even revive energy exploration techniques that would improve our situation."
While the restricted area of human activity had slightly eased Belobog's energy strain, the Iron Guard restricted zone remained a huge drain.
Keeping the front lines held—and launching regular offensives—couldn't be sustained by manpower alone.
The Silvermane Guard's casualty rate was high, but the number of auto-machines that could complete even one mission without breaking down was even lower.
The factories producing auto-machines never closed, running 24/7 at full capacity just to supply the front lines.
And each machine guzzled geofuel, just like soldiers needed food to fight.
A soldier could skip a meal and keep going; an auto-machine, without fuel, stopped dead.
Even beyond the machines, everything—geofuel artillery, the energy center that powered the restricted zone—needed that fuel to run.
To keep Belobog from collapsing under the strain, everyone had already given far more than they'd received in return.
Calculating energy consumption over the years and dwindling mining output, Pela had nothing but bad news: their resources were only barely sustainable, and even that was assuming the discovery of new, large veins.
The thought of such issues falling on the next Supreme Guardian, Lady Bronya, made Pela's heart ache.
And on top of that, the Rifts' encroachment was forcing the city's defenses to retreat. Yet the front line had to stay intact. In fact, recent advances had even expanded their territory.
This created a terrifying scenario: the Silvermane Guards, stationed at the front, might soon find themselves encircled by the Rift's corruption. If the Rift's monsters suddenly surged, those soldiers could be stranded, without hope of retreat.
Collecting intel, analyzing it, and presenting data objectively were her duties as an intelligence officer. But—
Since meeting Venti and encountering his ideals, Pela had started to question her "follow orders and accept fate" approach.
If her commanders could make sound decisions, she'd have no problem following them.
But if they couldn't… should she just watch as those in power squandered her efforts and that of her colleagues?
These rebellious thoughts had always stayed buried deep within her, a secret she couldn't afford to reveal.
But witnessing Bronya's transformation, her clash with the Supreme Guardian, had stirred something in Pela.
Perhaps she wasn't alone in her thoughts. Even Bronya, born and raised in the Guardian faction, had started to question Cocolia's methods.
So, as a lowly intelligence officer, wasn't it only natural for her to form her own opinions?
The Silvermane Guards weren't afraid of sacrifice; what they feared was pointless loss.
There were times when Cocolia's orders seemed like mere whims, arbitrary commands that caused unnecessary death.
Forcing the Guards to seize a bridge only to abandon it shortly after, not even giving them time to retrieve the fallen—it was enough to drive them to despair.
Or issuing decisions based solely on personal judgment, ignoring all valid advice.
Like the order to isolate the lower district, leaving its people defenseless against possible Rift encroachment.
Any observer could see that such actions were reckless, yet Cocolia pushed them through anyway, as if dragging everyone into oblivion with her.
The very thought left Pela tense with dread.
If even the Guardian, the city's protector, had lost the will to preserve Belobog, then what hope did the Silvermane Guards and citizens have?
Ever since the disbandment of the outer-science exploration teams after her mother's death, Belobog had been utterly cut off, losing all chance to discover life beyond its walls. With each failed mining expedition, Pela grew more anxious that her fears were valid.
The city could only last so long on limited resources. Had it not been for the large veins the Geomarrow Mining Corps had discovered, Belobog might already be facing an energy crisis.
Yet now, every team with any significance to Belobog's past and future was either disbanded or shelved indefinitely.
The Guardian had funneled all resources into the front line's bottomless pit…
These grim realities left Pela no choice but to make her own decision.
And she glanced at Captain Gepard, another devoted officer of the Supreme Guardian who shared her principles.
But Pela could tell—this steadfast captain didn't blindly accept unreasonable orders from Cocolia either.
This gathering, then, might be a chance.
A chance to change the status quo and unite those still willing to fight.
---
T/N: tax plezase or die
Me no update on Sunday anymore 😋
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