Chapter 67: Rand Duck, Quarantine Approved
When March 7th woke up, she saw Stelle and Caelus staring at each other in a strange atmosphere.
White Seele walked out with small steps, but her gait looked incredibly odd. Sleepy-eyed, she hadn't slept well all night.
Her shifting, flickering gaze was like that of a good child who had done something naughty at night and was afraid of being discovered.
"Seele, what's wrong with you?"
"N-No, nothing! Seele is doing great!"
A blush instantly spread across her delicate face. White Seele scratched her head and waved her hands, her eyes betraying a flustered shyness.
She had been so embarrassed last night she almost cried. However, no matter how much she tried to dissuade and roar, she couldn't stop the Seele who was in control.
Wuwuwu, she had become a bad child!
After breakfast, March 7th excitedly took out her guitar; her three-minute enthusiasm hadn't waned yet.
Thanks to her, Stelle's attention also returned to the drum set.
Seele regained control of her body, returned to her room, and began a warm and loving teaching session with the quantum projection of her big sister, Silver Wolf.
She, White Seele, and Dark Seele had a clear division of labor.
White Seele and Dark Seele were in charge of playing the keyboard, while Seele was in charge of playing with her big sister, Silver Wolf~
Not long after, a figure dressed in blue, white, and silver armor arrived at the door.
"Everyone, the Supreme Guardian was overjoyed to learn of your origins and has specifically requested to meet you."
After some simple pleasantries, Gepard led the group to the Administrative District.
On the way, Gepard's gaze towards Stelle was quite peculiar.
"Gepard-bro? Is there something on my face?" Stelle felt a bit unnerved by that strange look.
"..."
The overly familiar address "Gepard-bro" made Gepard a little uncomfortable, but he still put on a gentle expression: "Next time you want trash, please tell the Silvermane Guards. Belobog will definitely let its guests have their fill!"
The incident of someone crawling out of a trash can in the Everwinter Monument plaza had already spread like wildfire. After learning about the eyewitness accounts and the reports from the on-duty Silvermane Guards, Gepard quickly identified the 'suspect'.
The air fell silent for a moment.
Dan Heng, March 7th, and Seele – three pairs of eyes simultaneously turned to Stelle.
Stelle, who had been searching everywhere for treasure chests, immediately shut up and guiltily averted her gaze.
"This is Qlipoth Fort." On the long flight of stairs, Gepard introduced it to everyone as they walked.
"Qlipoth?" Stelle's brow twitched; she found the name somewhat familiar.
"Oh, that old man who got angry because I crashed a car into his wall!"
"???" Gepard was stunned upon hearing this.
What was that?
Crashed a car into a wall?
Old man?
"Please don't mind her; she often says strange things," March 7th interjected in time to save the situation.
Caelus carefully examined the building before him.
Perhaps because the Amber Lord (Qlipoth) was the number one civil engineer in the universe, buildings related to the Path of Preservation were all quite magnificent, including the fortress before them.
Walking into the fort, fierce arguing could be heard from the Supreme Guardian's office.
"Such a sacrifice is meaningless, you cannot—"
Seemingly guessing what was happening inside, Gepard sighed helplessly, pushed open the door, and made a gesture to invite them in.
"Everyone, please."
Cocolia, standing by the desk, saw the door being pushed open. She frowned and looked down at Bronya, who was trying to argue, her voice cold.
"You may leave, Bronya. The visitors have arrived."
The group walked along the light blue carpet into the administrative hall, which was filled with bookshelves.
Upon seeing the two figures in the room, White Seele, who was walking at the back of the group, froze instantly, her sea-blue eyes widening.
"Mama Cocolia..."
When she had heard the Supreme Guardian's name before, she thought it was just a coincidence, but she didn't expect it to actually be that familiar face.
And...
"Big Sis Bronya!"
Although the age didn't match, that familiar face, and Mama Cocolia's earlier address, all indicated the silver-haired girl's identity.
White Seele's little head was spinning.
Big Sis Silver Wolf, wasn't she the Big Sis Bronya of this parallel world?
Why was there another Big Sis Bronya here?
[Under the big bridge in front of the door, a group of ducks swims by. Come quick, come quick, let's count them, two, four, six, seven, eight~]
Seele opportunely sang a children's song in their mental channel.
"..."
Bronya wanted to say something, but the authority of her mother and the Supreme Guardian prevented her from opening her mouth.
The air suddenly fell silent.
Thus, she was able to hear White Seele's faint and delicate little exclamation.
Following the sound, when Bronya saw the speaker clearly, she was stunned.
It was approaching noon, and the bright sunlight pierced through the glass window into the hall, enveloping the office area on the circular high platform where the Supreme Guardian was.
A group of visitors was stepping out of the shadows into the realm of sunlight.
The girl's hair swayed with her steps, that navy blue transforming into a completely different, magnificent color under the light.
Like a butterfly with shimmering, phosphorescent wings, fluttering its gorgeous wings, it danced and flew into Bronya's eyes.
So, so cute!
In that stunning glimpse, Bronya's heart actually skipped a beat for a moment.
If the stimulation of the exhibitionist adult Seele to Bronya was 1, then the cute and adorable version of little Seele would at least be 5 times that!
Having regained control of her body because White Seele let out an untimely exclamation, Seele endured that thieving gaze, a strange expression flickering on her face for a moment, then she beamed a brilliant smile.
This is what you call a trump card against ducks! (Tactical lean back)
She herself was a duck!
Although she always said she wanted to expel Bronya Rand from the duck registry, she was, after all, a Bronya certified with a triple-helix booster ducktail. How could she not be a duck?
Judging from her reaction to Seele, Bronya Rand was 100% a flagship duck of the Great Honkai Universe!
Seele certified!
It was a pity she didn't have a stamp on hand, otherwise, Seele would definitely brand those beautiful black-stockinged legs—Quarantine Approved!
As the commander of the Silvermane Guards, Bronya quickly recovered from the trump card's special attack, and her brain's CPU began to operate.
"This little sister... do we know each other?"
That stunning feeling was tucked away and buried deep in her heart, replaced by puzzlement. Bronya subconsciously softened her tone.
Seeing that the outworld visitor actually knew Bronya, Cocolia's eyes glinted sharply for a moment, her gaze heavily fixed on the timid-looking girl.
If she hadn't misheard, before this girl called Bronya "Big Sis," she had also muttered "Mama Cocolia."
Perhaps feeling that her rashness had brought trouble to her 'parallel world self,' White Seele anxiously apologized in their mental channel.
Seele didn't think this was much trouble. In fact, White Seele's sudden outburst had even given her a reminder; she was just wondering how to get close to Bronya.
And now...
[Seele, well done~!]
[Eh?]
"Sorry, Big Sis, you look exactly like my Big Sis Bronya."
Seele blinked innocently, speaking in a soft and delicate voice.
"Your... Big Sis Bronya?"
The moment she heard this address, Bronya's heartbeat sped up again for two seconds.
"Welcome, visitors from beyond the stars. I am Cocolia Rand, the Supreme Guardian of Belobog."
Cocolia, seated in the Supreme Guardian's position, put on a smile, her voice clear, peaceful, yet carrying a hint of majesty.
"Before listening to your purpose, I am also very curious as to why this little sister knows me and my daughter."
"Ah, this..." March 7th opened her mouth, then looked at Seele.
Not just the people opposite them, but even as a teammate, she found it a bit strange. Seele seemed to know these two people. Wasn't she from some kind of bubble universe?
"Well, it's like this..."
Maintaining a timid and lovable demeanor, Seele softly narrated the cause and effect of the matter, that is, White Seele's past.
She lost her parents in a disaster, was adopted by Mama Cocolia, and in the orphanage, she met many companions, including her favorite Big Sis Bronya.
The Supreme Guardian looked exactly like her Mama Cocolia, and the Silvermane Guard Commander looked just like her Big Sis Bronya would if she grew up.
While Seele was narrating, Caelus seriously sized up Bronya, playing a game of spot-the-difference.
The Silverwing: N-EX in the system's Valkyrie space versus Bronya Rand.
Height, consistent.
Hairstyle, different, that doesn't matter.
Weight, impossible to measure practically, but Silverwing: N-EX looked a bit heavier.
The only difference between the two was where that weight difference lay—the duck's chest!
Perhaps it was because the modern world had better nutrition than the apocalyptic world?
Caelus, who had taken practical measurements last night, was certain that the adult Bronya (Silverwing) was a size bigger than Rand Bronya!
Then, his gaze fell on the black stockings engraved with faint gold patterns.
The one-piece floral patterned black stockings stretched from neck to toe, yet only exposed the absolute territory of her full thighs. That color, he didn't know which of the fifty-plus patents it belonged to.
Although he had thoroughly appreciated the duck legs last night, could duck legs wrapped in one-piece black stockings be the same as duck legs in white stockings?
Especially, as his gaze shifted...
Caelus gradually fell into deep thought.
"To think such a thing could happen."
Listening to Seele's narration, Cocolia's gaze, initially sharp and questioning, turned to astonishment and surprise. Bronya was the same.
"The vast universe is full of wonders."
Caelus took a step forward, and to March 7th's ghostly expression, transformed into a refined scholar, speaking eloquently.
"Based on the structure of the Imaginary Tree, some adjacent leaves can be said to be similar to parallel worlds. Although the probability of this happening is not high, on a galactic scale, it's not entirely unheard of."
"Imaginary Tree?"
"Parallel worlds?"
Caelus briefly gave the two a popular science lesson.
Stelle, on the other hand, stared obsessively at the space between Bronya's legs. That beautiful and alluring alchemical golden light made her drool.
March 7th watched with a "what the heck" expression, tightly holding Stelle's hands to prevent this fellow from having an episode during a solemn official meeting.
Dan Heng probably guessed Caelus's intention in bringing up this topic and remained silent, occasionally adding supplementary explanations.
Belobog, sealed by the Eternal Freeze for seven hundred years, had long since lost its knowledge of cutting-edge physics. Faced with the "lofty-sounding" terms popping out of Caelus's mouth,
Cocolia, as the Supreme Guardian, felt like a village chief from a remote mountainous area facing civilized people from the big city. Even her condescending posture couldn't help but retract a bit.
"This is just common knowledge among interstellar civilizations, but it would take too long to explain in detail. The Supreme Guardian is busy with work, so it's probably best not to waste your precious time."
"...That's true."
Cocolia nodded.
This was undoubtedly advanced knowledge for Belobog. Even if they knew it in more detail, it wouldn't help their current situation in the slightest.
At this point, the last trace of doubt in her heart disappeared, and she completely believed the identities of the group as outworld visitors.
And, her gaze towards Seele couldn't help but soften a few degrees.
According to what Caelus described, this cute and adorable girl could be considered the adopted daughter of her 'parallel world self,' Bronya's younger sister.
What a peculiar fate.
In any case, it was closer than a stranger, and this child looked very well-behaved!
Enduring that amiable gaze, Seele was genuinely afraid that Cocolia would, in the next second, reveal the aura of a Yonko pirate and ask her, "Will you be my daughter?"
Cocolia did indeed have a similar thought for a moment, but unfortunately, Qlipoth Fort was not an orphanage. The Supreme Guardian's adopted daughter meant a legitimate heir.
"What is the purpose of your visit, everyone?" Cocolia asked naturally.
"Actually, we were originally on a self-driving tour across the galaxy. We inadvertently learned that Jarilo-VI... this planet, was a famous tourist destination in the galaxy seven hundred years ago, so we planned to come for a visit."
In a sense, this was entirely true.
The only difference was between trailblazing and tourism.
"Although the ice and snow are different from the descriptions in the records, since we're already here, we can't make a trip for nothing, right? So we came down to take a look."
Throughout the conversation, there was no mention of the Stellaron, nor did they proactively offer help. Caelus acted like a genuine tourist.
Cocolia fell into deep thought.
She knew of this planet's prosperity hundreds of years ago, but now humanity had been pushed to the brink by the Eternal Freeze, struggling bitterly in despair and darkness.
The contrast touched Cocolia, making her secretly determined.
The arrival of a new world is necessary!
"We deeply regret the disaster on this planet. Unfortunately, we are just ordinary travelers. We want to help the people here... but we are truly powerless!"
Caelus wrung his hands and sighed, full of worry.
"For you all to have this sentiment, I thank you on behalf of the people of Belobog. But the future of Belobog can only be grasped by ourselves."
"Our planet is not what it was hundreds of years ago, but Belobog's gates are always open to guests from the stars. If you don't mind, you can stay in the city. There are still some places to visit."
Cocolia, Caelus, and Dan Heng were the main speakers, and their conversation lasted for nearly an hour.
The atmosphere was harmonious, at least on the surface.
"Bronya, leave the frontline matters to Gepard for the time being. Knowing how to entertain guests is also something a qualified Supreme Guardian should learn."
Bronya opened her mouth to say something, but being stared at by Cocolia's eyes, and then thinking of the dreamlike butterfly-like girl, she finally nodded in agreement.
"I understand."
Hearing this reply, Seele, in a corner unseen by anyone, curled her lips.
Bronya led the group out of the administrative hall. Cocolia sat behind her desk, her fingers intertwined, propping up her chin, her gaze profound.
"I don't believe their words."
She suddenly sighed and muttered to herself:
"There's no evidence, and they are, after all, from beyond the stars. It's said their companions are still waiting for them out there. I don't want any complications at this critical juncture..."
"If they honestly tour the city, what harm is there in letting them stay for a while."
"Of course, if they have ulterior motives, then..."
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