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"...Throw these idiots out."
Xier took back the sickle and only glanced at the situation in the room. She immediately raised her chin to the captain of the guards. The latter had no objection and ordered his subordinates to clear the office.
The Minister of Education and a few of his cronies hid in the Guardian Hall and fought tenaciously. Cocolia ignored them when she left, which showed that they were not even minor characters in the eyes of the Star Core. When the guards defected and returned to the top level with the commander-in-chief, these guys realized that something was wrong, but it was too late.
Bronya did not have the time to settle accounts with them for the time being, even though this minister who had overstepped his authority and taken control of part of the military functions was the official she once hated the most. She just glanced at him and then her eyes fell on the desk in front of her.
...Standing in the Guardian Hall where her mother resided, looking at the silhouette of the Iron Guard's shield under the stained glass, Bronya felt a surge of pressure.
She had imagined many scenarios of taking over her mother's banner and leading the people of Kburg back to glory, but in the end, those beautiful wishes were shattered the moment Xier had to use violence to help her knock on the door of the hall.
We can't blame Xier. We can only blame those guys who submit to the powerful and indulge in power for not being able to distinguish right from wrong - were they the same in the eyes of others in the past?
"Are you ok?"
Seeing her best friend Ding sitting at the table, stroking the pile of documents that were scattered by Cocolia and that the Minister of Education had not had time to destroy, Xier couldn't help but speak out.
"…I'm not sure. But I have to take responsibility."
There was nothing to hide in front of her best friend. Bronya took a long breath, knowing that she shouldn't be in a daze now. The threat of the star core had not been eliminated yet. It controlled her mother to wander underground, taking Natasha hostage. The snow and fog outside began to dissipate synchronously, as if indicating that something under the ice and snow was about to wake up.
When the long day comes, in addition to the threat of rising temperatures, Bu Liren's fleet may also make a comeback. She must race against time to control all the manpower and material resources of Kburg and Bay City and throw them into an all-out war.
——An all-out war between humans and the Snowstorm, Star Core, their lackeys, and the Legion.
"…To save Nata, we need to mobilize all the troops in the city to stop that monster. I'm counting on you, Bronya."
"Ah."
The self-confusion only lasted for a short while, and she took her mother's place... Cocolia had always been standing on this slightly higher platform, overlooking the people who came to see her.
Honestly speaking, she didn't feel the kind of excitement that one should have when reaching a high position for the first time. She just felt that the step that was a head higher made her feel a little awkward whenever she looked at Xier - and she subconsciously felt sorry for her.
But Xi'er was not upset because Banya had to lower his head to look at her. Instead, she used an encouraging look to signal her to get ready for the speech: "Do you want to record it?"
"No, I want to make a city-wide broadcast. Captain Isakovich, please prepare the necessary supplies for the City Builders' speech for me."
"Yes."
The captain of the guards gave up his position closest to the guardian's chair to Jeppard and Xier, and then dragged the voice transmission device to Banya himself.
Although he changed sides at the critical moment, he made many mistakes and aided the evil for a while. Therefore, he thought it through and decided to step down and accept liquidation after the war. Now he is just contributing his remaining energy to the newly appointed Grand Guardian.
"...Fellow Belobergs, I am Guardian Agent Bronya Rand."
"Because the former Grand Guardian Cocolia Rand was controlled and abducted by invaders and is now missing, according to Article 1 of the City Builder Succession Law, I will officially be promoted to the position of Grand Guardian to defend the glory of Beloberg."
"Now, as the Grand Guardian and the leader of the Silver Mane Iron Guard, I hereby inform all my fellow citizens in the city that the alien race 'Buli' has invaded our homeland and coerced the officials of Klipperburg, including the former Grand Guardian, to assist in their invasion. At 9 a.m. today, they created a tragedy in the administrative district square, which seriously damaged the property of Bay City and the personal safety of residents, and caused the disappearance of Natasha, the head of the Earth Fire Garrison—"
Coercion? But during the confrontation in the square, Kokolia appeared alone and disappeared alone...
The guards who were repairing in the square looked at the loudspeakers and then thought of Nata who had been taken away.
... Many of Banya's remarks did not match what they witnessed, but they were logically consistent. Most of the soldiers from the underground did not care about what happened to Cocolia, whether she was dead or alive. But Banya promised them that he would not stop fighting and ignore the captured Nata just because he won the war - that was enough.
"In the name of preservation, such atrocities must be paid for!"
Although he put almost all the blame for the whole mess on Bu Liren, Banya's original goal in forming an opposition remained unchanged - to assist the train crew in sealing the star core.
She needed to create an understandable enemy to serve as a target for the entire city. The evil deeds of the wolf heads rampaging in the streets, extracting biomass from the Seventh Group, and controlling humans were more intuitive than the damage caused by the star core controlling the mother.
"Beloberg will enter the state of 'emergency war mobilization' to deal with the threat of Buli people! I declare that the ban on travel between the upper and lower levels will be lifted, the central channel freight and communication functions will be opened, and personnel transportation will be allowed... Klipper is watching us!"
After finishing her speech, Bronya slowly lowered the slender hand that was resting on her chest.
Except for Isakovich, all those present were her confidants, but she still felt nervous as if the entire city was watching her.
She didn't know whether the Amber King was looking at her or not - she cared more about the gazes of the mortal world.
It was not until the end that Banya felt incredible - she couldn't believe that she had actually completed a fairly exciting war mobilization. It seemed that she had barely adapted to this position.
"That's a great point... But Bronya, why don't you tell everyone about Sora and the others? We are still working with other external forces... If we don't talk about this, we can't explain where the railgun came from—"
Although her worry about Nata outweighed everything else, Xier was still excited by Banya's mobilization, and looked proud.
"Seeking help from the train crew as a friend does not count as relying on external forces. As for the company's problems, I have agreed with Miss Topa to formally introduce the company into the business circle and establish 'diplomatic' relations after order is restored."
Bronya patiently and with a relaxed frown, she softly asked Seele, "... Seele, you're fast, I need you to bring a few ground and fire experts with you to cooperate with the collection team to intercept the star core in the east of Molten Hammer Town. The map has been sent to me. The upper exit of Molten Hammer Town leads to the vicinity of the Pillar of Creation. There's no need to fight the star core to death, just force it to the ground..."
"Okay, then will you still go to the front line?" Xier didn't want Banya to go through the painful decision of separation from his mother again.
"...I'll have to go later to withdraw the city defenses in the east and transfer them to Everwinter Ridge to complete the encirclement. Don't worry, I know my mother's condition very well and I won't increase the casualties by forcibly waking her up."
After arranging Xier, she turned to Lang Dao:
"Sir Jeppard."
"Your Excellency, the Great Guardian."
Beloberg's first warrior, who offers Bronya her official loyalty after her succession.
"You and Pelageya lead the team from the east and guard the large rift in Everwinter Ridge. Don't let the star core pass through the maintenance yard and the Iron Guard restricted area."
Finally her eyes fell on the full view of Bay City beside Isakovich.
When the head of the guard saw that Banya had not assigned him any work, he was about to leave, but he saw her pointing the bayonet of her rifle at the northernmost side of the strategic map: "Mr. Isakovich, even though my mother was affected by the star core, she still values you so much - I hope you can continue to serve the City Builders and not have too much psychological pressure."
"But I used to..."
"Then as your token of loyalty to me, I'll entrust the most difficult task to the Guards - go get 'Snowstorm Immunity', set up an ambush at the Pillars of Creation, and cooperate with friends in the train crew to prevent the star core from escaping into the ancient battlefield. We can't fight too far away from the city."
"Thank you for your trust, Great Guardian."
"Go."
Pressed duck has already become a bit "unpredictable".
But after dismissing all the officers and confirming that her subordinates had closed the door, she leaned against the corner of the table and took several deep breaths:
[Sora, I, did I arrange it properly? Are there any omissions?]
She initiated a private message and contacted Sora in the pitiful tone of a little girl seeking advice from her elders.
[…You’ve done a great job. You don’t need my advice at all—]
Kong, who had already arrived above Molten Hammer Town, felt a little distressed when he heard her psychic resonance that revealed a bit of "survivor" emotion.
[I'm not good enough yet, please... tell me how I can do better...]
[Bronya... You are now the Great Guardian, so you can be more assertive when talking to me.]
[If that's your suggestion - or do you prefer me to be more powerful? ]
[No, that’s not what I meant…]
[I have lost my mother - I really... need more support, not the kind of Xier... I don't know how to say it, please support me, okay? ]
While talking privately about this, Bronya almost lay on her back on the table that represented the highest power in Castle K.
And her expression was as confused as the night she was taken away from the orphanage.
[…I will support you unconditionally, Bronya, calm down.]
[Really? Even if I want you to do something for me that you don't want to do?]
【Tell me what you need me to do?】
[I want you to hug me...like my mother would take care of me.]
【……good. 】
Sora also sighed.
The girl had originally been more open-minded, but when she saw her mother being controlled by the star core, she was shocked and began to feel insecure again.
Once she starts to make up for the missing family affection in herself, the relationship between them will become more and more awkward.
No, a normal relationship between men and women must be used to reverse the loss of Banya.
After feeling Banya's psychic energy with a hint of tears, Kong finally made up his mind to drag her into his life in order to prevent her from breaking down...
[After sealing the star core, I will accompany you in any way you want. ]
[Thank you. I'm not being unreasonable. I want you to come to me right away - huh?]
But in a burst of warm comfort, Banya's shoulders seemed to be gently hugged by someone.
A feeling of warmth from being embraced flowed deep into her consciousness.
In front of her, the empty blue shadow seemed like an elf in a fairy tale, fulfilling her wish.
"...Is this also an advanced application of psychic energy? How amazing."
"Feeling better?" Kong carefully manipulated his psychic energy and overlapped it with hers.
"It's so warm... but it's definitely different from my mother's embrace."
"That's for sure...your mother wants to protect you, but if I hold you for too long, I might want to hurt you..."
In order to let her face the reality - the man in front of her would lust for her body and it would be difficult for him to regard her as a family member with whom she had an emotional gap, Kong had to put the ugly words in front of her.
Bronya held nothing in her arms. When she heard his hesitant words, her melancholy was immediately amused by him and she laughed too lightly: "Pfft... Hurt me? Do you mean do the same thing to me as you did to Seele?"
When she realized that she could be recognized and favored by the opposite sex as an elder, her confidence returned a lot.
In the nights before the sudden incident, she was still worried about how to show her feminine charm because the girl next to Kong was so outstanding. But when Kong hugged her, her slowly stiffening muscles were actually secretly telling her that she had enough.
"...You don't need to mention other girls at this time..."
Sora reluctantly loosened her arms, but Banya hugged her even more forcefully. This was a rare opportunity, and it was the first time she had taken the initiative to embarrass Sora. She hoped to feel this kind of tangible "support" a little more before leaving.
"If only I had met you earlier, Sora... Mother seems to be different from the one I remember - maybe I'm just too tired, or maybe I imagined my mother to be someone else..."
She closed her eyes tiredly for a moment.
When she opened her eyes again, she had regained her spirits:
"...Troops have been deployed in all four directions. Space support can last for three days. I think that's enough. Now it all depends on how you and the collection team perform."
"I'm in position. Bronya, you can try to give me orders. It will help you get more familiar with your current role."
Kong cleverly followed Banya's needs and not only gave her "advice from an elder", but also wanted to help her complete her identity transformation and correctly understand their relationship between the opposite sexes.
"No, I won't use a commanding tone with you, unless that's your special quirk."
"Okay, okay, just treat it as if I have a special fetish - hurry up."
"Well, then, I order you, Captain Kong, to prepare for a blockade at the entrance of the Eternal Winter Ridge Pass!"