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"...There are so many people, Nata..."
While guiding the group, Oleg asked the leader carefully, "That pink-haired girl said the fleet size was just a bluff, but looking at the number of people... it doesn't seem to be much different?"
"There are about three garrisons... Some of them carry standard equipment, but those with sophisticated equipment look like ordinary people - they probably belong to different forces."
Natasha analyzed:
"I still underestimated the determination of the Nameless Guest to seal the star core."
"With so many people coming, I think the intensity of the ground battle will be unprecedented in Wumingke's estimation."
Oleg didn't believe that the train crew's comprehensive preparations were just a small fight, and began to worry whether the battle that would break out later would cause irreparable trauma to Beloberg.
"We can only take it one step at a time. With so many Fate Walkers, even though their abilities vary, we should be able to defeat a garrison regiment. Even if the manpower is unstable, we already have three fully staffed garrison regiments... After the quota for the Iron Guard is opened, we should be able to surpass Fort K."
Unlike Natasha and the others' rational analysis, Bronya and Seele, who had already dressed up and were ready to go on a mission with Sora, couldn't help but have almost the same thought in their minds when they saw such a large number of outsiders:
"Is he going to take these hundreds of people on a reconnaissance mission? Didn't they agree on a 'date'?"
All sorts of messy thoughts were running through the heads of the two girls. Naturally, they hoped that as few people as possible would participate in the investigation. As a result, they looked anxiously at the flickering shadows in the air. Seele began to tiptoe impatiently, and Bronya subconsciously pinched her collar, with a hint of loss on her face.
After Kong filled the entire street in front of the Goethe Hotel with the foreign "army", and landed with two beauties who looked extraordinary and a handsome man in heavy armor, and gestured to the leader of the large army twice, he seemed to remember something and moved closer to them, begging for mercy with one hand, indicating that they should bear with it for a while.
"Topa, just follow the signal source and go find the factory address with Swarovski's people. The control code can be handed over directly to Swarovski or Clara. You don't need to ask me specifically. Yuyun, the security situation in the lower level of Beloberg is very bad now. Your main task is to assist in the resettlement of homeless people and recruit new miners. You can ignore those who are unwilling to work or act like scoundrels. Just give them basic survival supplies."
After arranging the work of each unit, Kong said goodbye to Topa and Yuyun. Under the scorching gazes of Natasha and Oleg, he sighed with a stiff back, and then approached the two girls with the shadow that was about to replace Paimon and become the ghost behind him.
"… Sorry to have kept you waiting… A lot of accidents happened. For safety reasons—uh, do you mind bringing one more person?"
Although Ying had just shown her domineering side, she followed him closely for the few short distances, as if she was afraid that Kong would leave her behind, and she was so dependent on him that it seemed as if if she left him, Ying really wanted to find a place to squat and grow mushrooms, and become the "crying and pitiful True Lord" in the fox's mouth.
"…May I mind?"
After half a day of self-reflection, Xier was still so blunt and aggressive: "You must be aware of what we both thought of you... that's why we agreed to act together? In addition to Paimong, you want to squeeze another woman in? Is this someone from your crew?"
"...Xi'er..."
Bronya was shocked when she heard this and quickly turned around to stop her from "talking nonsense".
"Miss Tiewei, if you don't want to offend anyone, I'm happy to do it for you. The fewer people the better for this operation, and it was you who took the initiative to invite Bronya. You should at least explain why you need to add people."
Xier's face was filled with displeasure, but she at least gave Kong a chance to explain. If she were facing other frivolous men, she would definitely turn around and leave.
"Shadow is——"
"…I'm sorry, I just had to come along because I couldn't let go, but I haven't seen Sora for a year and a half, and now I want to be able to protect him at all times."
Ying took a step forward, her gentle tone implying tenacity and a determination not to give in: "You can treat me as a guard instead of an opponent. No matter what we talk about, whether it's sex, I don't have to participate, but I must go with you. I am not only responsible for him, but also for the expectations of my friends at the old friends' meeting, and for those women who can't come."
"Shadow...they won't understand what you're saying."
Kong quickly grabbed a corner of Ying, and the offensive and defensive momentum changed instantly:
"Xi'er, remember I told you I have many old lovers... Ying is the woman I almost made a big mistake and left in that world... This summoning was an accident, and I can only change my travel plan according to the accident... I'm very sorry, if you can't accept it, I..."
"It's okay, Sora, bring her with you. Anyone who can follow you across the world must be reliable." Who knew that Bronya would "compromise" at the speed of light, and there was no disappointment in her eyes, as if she had already expected such a development.
"Hey, Chief of the Iron Guard, I'm speaking for you—" Seeing that Bronya softened so easily, Seele glared at her in disbelief for several times.
"It's more important for someone who's already in a relationship than for someone who hasn't confirmed the relationship yet - let's not make it difficult for him."
After a good night's sleep and summarizing the changes in herself, Bronya faced her own desires and saw them clearly enough to understand that what she wanted from Sora was not just "father's love".
But in fact, she also had a sense of luck - the Great Guardian was destined to marry Beloberg, and it was impossible for her to gain the love she expected from Sora... She could not give Sora any special promises. From this point of view, Sora was wrong, but Bronya was not a good person either. How could she stand on the moral high ground to blame Sora?
It seemed that Xier was really worried that she would collapse if she lost Kong's emotional care - she also felt a little sorry for this strong-willed girl.
"I already knew that you're popular with the opposite sex, but I still wanted to give it a try with a fluke mentality. Am I being selfish and cunning... Hehe... Let's go. Seele, you don't have to speak up for me. I'm already very happy just being with him." Bronya picked up the rifle, and her tight brows relaxed again. She was not only trying to convince herself, but also hoping that Seele beside her would feel more relieved.
"Hey, you, this... humph!"
Seele was surprised at Bronya's "open-mindedness", but since she let Sora off, she had less reason to continue blaming Sora.
In fact, Xier is also a little "smart".
She wanted to use Bronya's emotional problems to put pressure on Sora, but now that the real owner has said that she doesn't need to stand up for her, she has no reason to drive Ying away.
After calming down a little, Xier had to pinch her forehead and look at the purple-haired woman - she had a serious expression on her face, but with the addition of the teardrop mole, she now seemed to have a kind of "dignified sadness" spreading around her body, making people reluctant to scold or blame her.
And... Shadow was very powerful. Xier felt as if she was facing the nine-day thunderbolt, but the other party did not turn this terrible momentum into a sharp knife to deal with her, but instead avoided her.
Was she pitying me? No, was she really taking my feelings into consideration and not putting pressure on me?
"Tsk, you're such a difficult guy... Let's go. It's your own fault that you've made yourself even worse by talking all the way."
There was no other choice, Xier could only glare at the bewildered Kong, and raised her sickle towards Nata, signaling: "Let's go!"
231. Xier: It’s broken, I’m isolated
Rivettown had its good old days.
This is Xier's "hometown" and the starting point of Natasha's struggle. However, in order to avoid the disaster of the rift, a large number of people fled and industries moved out, making this place look quite dilapidated.
…It should have been dilapidated, but when the town scene in the lower area came into view, what Sora saw was not the completely abandoned mining town he had imagined. The lights were still on, and the sound of automatic machinery could be heard faintly. The shaking of the ground also reinforced the concept that "this city is still alive" to everyone. It did not look like a disaster area at all.
"Hey, familiar scenery - do you see the big building over there? Nata and I used to live there. Going down the slope is the market. I guess the supplies that Swarovski and Nata want are still nearby. It's probably also the location where the Rift is most active - by the way, the place where the parts are piled up should be behind the mine. We have to walk a little further."
While listening to Seele's explanation, Kong cast a questioning look at Seele, hoping that she could further explain why this abandoned town could still appear so "vibrant".
"...The rift disaster can only drive away those who want to live, but those who do not even care about their lives and are speculating are not included in this category."
Xier joined the public channel and closed her mouth awkwardly, trying to get familiar with this "telepathic" communication method.
"And those moving figures you see may not be 'people' - you'll understand once you go down. Tsk, are the yellow dots on the small map really 'neutral creatures'? Are there so many friendly guys?"
"The system is very accurate in judging hostility and goodwill. Unless we attack, the areas around these yellow dots are generally in a 'passable' state... Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that someone may take over the mountain and become the king."
"Oh."
Having satisfied her curiosity about the system, Seele then glanced at Bronya, who had taken out a telescope to observe the town below.
This guy was obviously supposed to come out for a walk and relieve stress, but his meticulous look during the investigation made Xier feel helpless. It seemed that she had given up showing her vulnerable side that needed comfort to Kong, and she was completely different from before.
If Seele's doubts were also subconsciously transmitted through psychic energy, Bronya would probably only give a very official answer - because she is an Iron Guard and should not have too many personal feelings when performing a mission.
But the unofficial reply, the thought hidden in her heart...mostly she just didn't want to be looked down upon by Ying and Kong.
Although she said she didn't care whether Ying followed her or not, she still subconsciously wanted to show her "useful" side to strengthen her image and status in Kong Zhong, in contrast to Ying, a woman who looked perfect - so her little girl attitude must not be easily revealed.
At the same time, she felt inexplicably familiar with the scene in this town. The sense of déjà vu made her forehead twitch, but she still forced herself to resist the urge to complain to the people around her.
"It may not be a human? Could it be a ghost?"
The remaining four people had no expression on their faces for various reasons, only Paimon was frightened by Seele's remarks which were not really threatening.
This guy has clearly seen all kinds of supernatural powers and has walked back and forth between the yin and yang, but he still has no resistance to ghosts.
"They are just afterimages of the world rift. They are all guys with deep obsessions... The only difficulty in dealing with them is that it is difficult to distinguish them from ordinary people from a distance..."
Xi'er said calmly: "The real trouble is those guys with crystals growing on their bodies and the out-of-control robots..."
"Will the afterimage... attack us?" Paimon was still more concerned about those guys who looked neither human nor human.
Seeing Paimon like this, Xi'er, although impatient, still tried to comfort him:
“I don’t know. But if you recognize them as afterimages, just chop them down. They are already dead, so it doesn’t matter if they die again.”
"Wow, this is too rough!"
Apparently her definition of "comfort" didn't work on Paimon.
"Xi'er, everyone who died in the Rift has a chance of becoming a residual image. We may see relatives who have passed away long ago, or even comrades."
Bronya couldn't help but say, "Just ignore them and don't provoke them."
To personally wipe out the afterimages of predecessors and comrades? Most people cannot bear such a blow.
The strange interconnectedness of the opening of the rift is likely to allow the souls of some soldiers who had served with her to go from the ground to the underground and "return to the human world"... Bronya doesn't want to send them off again. She has had enough of those so-called tough decisions.
"…If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to fight the shadow of a deceased acquaintance, I will help."
Before Kong Jian could even start working, the atmosphere had already reached a freezing point. He took the initiative to take on this unpleasant responsibility: "After all, I am an outsider, so I don't have any psychological burden."
"You're quite a nice person."
Xier snorted.
It was hard to tell whether she was unhappy with his attitude of doting on Bronya, or she was unhappy about not being able to reach an agreement with Bronya.
The stairs gradually ended, and when the spiral ramp of Rivet Town turned from low to high and the view was filled with buildings, Kong realized that the "bright lights" were not an illusion or some method of fiddling with and manipulating reality - the power supply of Rivet Town seemed to have not been completely cut off, and some houses were forever frozen in the moment when the townspeople hurriedly moved out.
This place is like a "bustling" ghost town.
When Paimon saw the shadow passing through the blurry window, her hair stood on end. She almost dived into Shadow's scabbard and trembled, but Shadow caught her quickly, pinched her little head and told her to calm down:
"Look carefully, Paimon, it's just a vase."
"Flowers, vase??"
Under the influence of light and shadow, the decorations in the room were elongated, creepy like slender ghosts, but ultimately they were dead objects.
"Then what's up with those lights! Is there anyone maintaining them after so many years of abandonment?"
After Paimon's reminder, out of curiosity about the source of this electricity, Kong immediately asked Ying for advice.
After opening the elemental vision, Ying announced on the public frequency what she had observed: that only a small amount of lightning element particles came from the generators that had not yet stopped working. She then added that more of them were "faults" that could not be traced back to the source and were continuously outputting lightning element particles.
"Could the fault be the rift?"
"...Is the Rift Realm actually providing energy to these houses?"
After hearing Ying's analysis, both Seele and Bronya were shocked, and then became inexplicably anxious.
This uninhabited area has taken on some of the flavor of the human world due to the operation of the rift - it's too ominous.
"But considering the risk of wandering rift creatures hurting people... this place is quite suitable for moving in some industries that consume a lot of electricity - just kidding."
Kong saw the two of them turning around at the same time and quickly raised their hands in surrender to show that they would not let their thoughts run wild anymore.
"No, Sora, there are probably many people who think the same way. Look over there—"
Bronya pointed to a workshop on the "mountainside". It was filled with light bulbs and televisions, as well as a workbench surrounded by equipment that looked like a microcomputer...
"There are people who are not afraid of death and are taking advantage of free energy. Tsk - there weren't so many tools piled up here the last time I came here, but that was a long time ago."
Xier walked to the center of the workshop and sniffed: