Star Dome Railway, I'm really good at swallowing!

"In short, she is definitely a good helper."

As she spoke, Cocolia walked to the desk in her office and took out a guitar from the bottom shelf.

"Let's go. It's time for me to go find her."

......

Inside the "Perpetual Motion" mechanical house.

Shiluwa was fiddling with the "Earth Marrow Heater" in her hand out of boredom.

"What the hell is wrong with this thing? Seriously."

She looked a little irritated. "My brother has been so busy lately, and so has Perla. There's not even a single person to talk to in all of Beloberg right now. It's everyone's responsibility to care for the empty-nest Shiluva!"

There was a hint of sadness in her eyes, as if she was reminiscing about the past.

"I really miss my school days..."

Xiluwa slapped her face and said, "Why am I thinking about that woman? It seems that I am really sick from being idle."

Just when she was about to pick up the guitar beside her for an impromptu performance, the welcoming bell at the door rang.

Shiluwa, still looking down at the guitar in her hand, said casually, "Welcome to the Perpetual Motion Mechanical House. How can I help you?"

A guitar was placed on the counter, and a mature and cold voice sounded:

"Can this guitar be repaired?"

"Guitar? Do you like guitars too?" Shiluwa became interested and looked up at the guitar, saying, "This is a mechanic's shop. How did you know I can repair guitars—"

Xiluwa didn't continue talking. She stared blankly at the guitar in front of her and was silent for a long time.

"You'd better take it back. This guitar is broken. It can't be repaired."

Shiluwa replied in a flat voice, then turned and left. She never looked up at Cocolia.

Her arm was pulled and Shiluwa struggled a little.

"Sir, please don't push and pull. This is a mechanic's shop, not a music store. If you want to repair your guitar, please go somewhere else."

"...I'm sorry, Shiluwa."

"..."

Shiluwa didn't say anything, but she didn't shake off Cocolia's hand either.

"Since becoming the 'Great Guardian', I know I've changed a lot. But..."

"—Heh." Xiluwa snorted coldly, "First you terminated my research, and now you want to destroy my life... What do you want to take away from me this time?"

"not me......"

"Never mind, never mind. I don't care anymore—from now on, you and I have nothing to do with each other. You can do what you want with that guitar. I can't fix it."

"'Star core'...don't you want to study star cores?"

Cocolia's words made Shiluwa turn around.

Only then did Shiluwa discover that Cocolia was not the only one in front of the mechanical house.

Han Xing was leaning against San Yue Qi, Bronya was holding Wu Wu, and Dan Heng was standing at the door, not knowing what he was thinking.

Xiluwa glanced at everyone, frowned and asked:

"'Star Core'... What on earth has happened to Beloberg recently?"

Just as Cocolia was about to speak, Shiluwa interrupted her and turned to look at Han Xing.

"The little gray-haired girl, you speak."

Han Xing looked at the somewhat depressed Cocolia opposite him, sighed, and briefly explained the whole story.

After listening to this, Xiluwa said:

"I can help you with this, but let me be clear. I'm only doing this to complete my previous project. After all, I've been working on the 'stellar core' project for ten years, and I really want to know what it actually looks like."

She glanced at Cocolia with a cold look and continued:

"It has nothing to do with her."

Cocolia lowered her head and said weakly:

"I won't go with you. There has to be someone left to watch over Beloberg."

He put the guitar on the counter away and turned to Han Xing and said:

"Miss Han Xing, I'll leave the rest to you. Miss March Seven gave me a communication device, so just send me a message if you need anything."

Han Xing nodded.

Shiluwa watched Cocolia leave, feeling furious, but there were other people in the mechanical room, so she could only say:

"Forget it, leave her alone."

"According to my previous survey results, the 'star core' is probably located north of Beloberg—somewhere in the vast snowfield. This road is not easy to travel."

"And the area north of Beloberg has been almost completely swallowed up by the Rift. To reach the northern snowfields, we must first pass through the Silvermane Iron Guard's front-line restricted area. This is easy with the travel permit Cocolia gave us."

"The most difficult part is that behind the restricted area gate, there's a massive rift blocking the way. It's completely different from the underground town you're in. This is a truly fragmented, silent rift."

Han Xing smiled slightly and said to Xiluwa:

"You don't need to worry about that, sister. You just need to be responsible for giving directions and surveying. I'll take care of the rest."

-------------------------------------

Chapter 51 Iron Guard restricted area

-------------------------------------

Looking at Han Xing's confident look, Xiluwa couldn't help but smile.

"In that case, let's go to the front line to find Xiao Jiejie now."

March asked doubtfully:

"Who is Xiao Jiejie?"

"My brother, Jeppard, is the guard officer on the front line of the Silver Mane Guard."

"So he is your younger brother...Xiao Jiejie, poof——" March Seven couldn't hold it in.

"Don't tell me I said that. If he knew I called him that in front of other people, he would definitely complain to me when he got home."

......

Iron Guard restricted area,

The cold wind was howling and snowflakes were flying in the air.

Two soldiers holding long axes stood at the door. They were wearing thick military coats and thick masks on their faces, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes. They looked around vigilantly, ready to deal with any potential threats at any time.

"This is a military stronghold ahead, no one is allowed to enter!" said the guard in front of him seriously.

But when he saw who it was, he seemed a little surprised.

"Wait, this is... Hey, isn't this Big Sister Shiluwa? Long time no see!"

"Hey, isn't this Franz? Long time no see, why are you still guarding the gate?"

Tiewei covered his face in embarrassment, but could only touch the mask on his face.

"I can't accept this. Big Sister Shiluwa is still so sharp..."

"Um...it's so late, why are you here? These guys behind..." The Iron Guard looked behind Xiluwa.

"Lady Bronya!? You...you...how could you...

Xiluwa chuckled and said:

"Okay, is there any need to get so excited? It's not like you haven't seen her before, why are you stuttering like this?"

"Is...is there any important order to be given? Everyone, please follow me. Commander Jeppard is inside."

Everyone followed Franz's lead and walked forward slowly.

Han Xing looked at the surrounding scenery and sighed inwardly:

"It seems the restricted area in the real world is much larger than in the game. But come to think of it, how could a military fortress that isolates the Rift from invading be so small?"

At the camp ahead, Jeppard was talking to the officer next to him. He looked a little surprised when he saw a few people coming over.

"Sister? Lady Bronya, and everyone from the Star Train? How did you get here?"

"Hey~ bro, do you miss your sister~"

"Sister, I'm still working."

"Ah... sorry, I'm just a little excited after not seeing you for so long."

Bronya walked up to Jeppard, handed him the envelope, and said:

"Guard Officer Jeppard, the whole story of our visit was written down in Lady Cocolia's letter. What's the situation on the front lines lately?"

Jeppard looked at the letter in his hand and replied:

"The situation on the front lines is not optimistic. Even though Lord Kokolia has withdrawn the order to initiate an offensive, the soldiers on the front lines are still having a hard time recently."

"The speed of the 'Boundary Corrosion' is faster than before, and the monster attacks are becoming more frequent. If it weren't for the restricted area gate blocking it, I'm afraid we would have failed long ago."

Jeppard had finished reading the letter in his hand. He looked up at Han Xing:

"I already have a general understanding of the matter. Lady Cocolia said in the letter that all subsequent matters will be subject to the instructions of Miss Han Xing."

"You don't need to do anything special. Just open the gate to the restricted area. Leave the rest to us."

Han Xing replied with a smile.

There was a hint of hesitation on Jeppard's face.

"Once the gate to the restricted area is opened, the monsters on the other side will come out in droves. All the Silvermane Iron Guard can do is try to delay the enemy and buy you some time."

"And once you break through the front line...we won't be able to help you anymore."

"Do you think that kind of monster can..."

Before Han Xing finished speaking, Jeppard shook his head and said:

"Of course I know Miss Han Xing is very strong. If it were the previous situation, I would have opened the door without hesitation, but - words are still too pale. Come with me and see."

Jeppard led everyone to a high wall next to the gate and pointed downwards.

"See for yourselves!"

Beneath the high wall, countless "world-ripping creatures" were wandering not far away.

The lowest-level rift monsters such as "Frost Crystal Creation" and "Flame Creation" only occupied one-third, and "Eternal Winter Disaster Shadow" and "Fire Disaster Shadow" only occupied a small part.

What remained were patches of 'Outer Universe Ice' and 'Outer Universe Fire', mixed in with even a few 'Deep Cold' and 'Scorching Wanderers'. The 'Guardian Shadow' and 'Eater Shadow' stood at the rear, surveying the surroundings, their fighting spirit surging.

A strong gale blew, and dozens of "Wind Raisers" rushed through the rift ahead.

"Oh my God! I have never seen so many monsters!" March Seven's voice sounded beside Han Xing.

Jeppard continued:

"That's why I said that if there weren't the gate to the restricted area, this place would have fallen long ago."

Only then did Han Xing notice that the gate on the side was very different from the one he saw in the game.

The gate of the fortress was tightly closed, and ancient runes and mysterious symbols were carved on the heavy door panels, as if reminding the monsters outside that this was a sacred and inviolable area.

There was a huge iron lock hanging on the iron ring on the door, and a huge iron key was inserted in the keyhole, which looked extremely heavy.

Considering that the wind blades attacked by the "Windmaker" just now did not cause any harm to her, it seems that it is the power of "Protecting" Clipper that is protecting the fortress.

Bronya said, "Han Xing, according to my calculations, the probability of all of us passing is no more than 20%."

"Because, even with your strength, it's impossible to protect everyone from tens of thousands of monsters. And once we open the gate, it will be a life-or-death game for the Iron Guards. Even if we can break through the front line, this restricted area will most likely be undefendable."

"So what do you mean?" Han Xing looked at Bronya.