I, on the Starry Sky Railway, change everything

Cocolia sensed the weight of information in his words and finally frowned.

Seele couldn't stand the Great Guardian in front of her; even his mature and elegant demeanor seemed arrogant in the girl's eyes.

Why should you be able to remain calm when people in the lower classes are living a hard life, instead of looking worried and miserable?

As a great guardian, shouldn't he be concerned about the suffering of the people?

"Please let me explain the situation!"

Bronya stepped forward, stealing the opportunity to speak from Seele.

If this situation is allowed to continue, conflict may break out.

She had to proactively control the pace of the conversation, using a method that was less directed at her mother and more in line with the situation in the lower districts, to recount in detail what she had seen and heard on the trip.

Organizing language, taking the initiative in negotiations, considering various issues, and taking multiple aspects into account is no easy task.

But Bronya did it.

She has grown and is no longer the same person she used to be, which is enough to make Cocolia look at her with new eyes.

Natasha and Seele listened to Bronya's description, including how the rift erosion spread underground, Rivettown fell, the Great Mines became dangerous, many residents were displaced and became scavengers, the subterranean fire struggled to maintain order, and the moss-based vegetable soup was one of the few sources of vegetables amidst the scarcity of resources...

There are no omissions, no extra embellishments, it's all the truth.

They have nothing to add.

Cocolia did not show any obvious emotional changes, and her inner thoughts were unreadable. She simply stared at Bronya.

The girl became uncontrollably anxious.

What exactly is Mother thinking? You must know that the words and actions of the Great Guardian will directly affect Natasha, Seele, and even Hua Yi and the entire Lower District's subsequent attitude. A slight misstep could lead to an abyss.

It wasn't Belloberg, but Cocolia who fell into the abyss.

Even Bronya had to admit that if Hua Yi became the King of Belloborg, he could truly lead the city to a better future.

"Hua Yi suppressed the rift, eliminated the monsters, and saved the people of the lower district, bringing them immense hope. Otherwise, if things had been allowed to continue, the entire lower district would have collapsed, countless people would have died, and the upper district would not have been able to remain uninvolved!"

Bronya's speech became faster and more urgent, and tears even welled up in the corners of her eyes.

"Mother, please lift the lockdown order! This decree is wrong! At the same time, please allocate resources to support the lower districts and protect the gains Hua Yi has made. Don't let the people suffer any longer!"

“Take a deep breath and calm yourself down. Bronya, you are my daughter, the commander of the Silvermane Guard. You must stand on your own and not appear so vulnerable.”

Is this the time to talk about this? Mother, do you even realize how serious this is?

"Master Guardian!"

Now Bronya could no longer hold back her tears.

Chapter 194 You are the child I am proud of

Hiluva pulled Bronya to her side, feeling both heartache and anger, glaring at her best friend who had once studied and formed a band with her.

“Cocolia, you’re still so unreasonable! Is this the time to blame Bronya for being fragile? You have no idea how hard she worked to eliminate monsters in the Lower District to make up for the mistakes of the lockdown order, and you have no idea how agonizing it was for her to want to defend her mother when she heard people regard the High Guardian as a tyrant and a tyrant, but found herself speechless!”

Is this considered being abandoned by everyone?

Despite her best friend's loud rebukes, Cocolia only lowered her eyes slightly when Bronya shed tears, but did not respond.

“Natasha of the Earthfire, give me a list of supplies needed. You should know what the lower districts need.”

"...The list has been completed. Daily necessities and medical supplies are the most scarce items at present."

"Within today, the builders will send supplies underground via resource transport pipelines."

Bronya's growth was almost entirely built on the collapse of her faith. The radiant image of her mother in her heart was shrouded in gloom. From initially being unable to bear hearing others speak ill of the High Warden, to later silently enduring it and desperately wanting to do more for the Lower District, wasn't it all to help you make up for your mistakes?

How can you be so indifferent? Can't even your own daughter's tears evoke any guilt or pity in you?!

You should at least offer her a word of comfort or praise.

Cocolia, you bastard!!

Hilva was about to explode and have a big fight with Cocolia, but Hua Yi stopped her.

He took out a tissue and wiped Bronya's tears.

"Don't be sad, and don't worry. I think the Great Guardian understands the seriousness of the situation, otherwise she wouldn't have so readily allocated supplies."

Resources in the upper zone are also limited.

Hua Yi reviewed the supplies list that Natasha had prepared in advance and also learned about the ground situation from Himeko, who remained in Kripper Castle, via mobile phone message.

If Himeko hadn't used the railgun to eliminate a large number of monsters in the snowfield, the defense line outside the city would still be under intense fighting. The upper districts wouldn't have been able to allocate manpower to prepare resources, and the front lines would have had to consume a large amount of medicine, leaving no reserves of medical supplies to support the lower districts.

They might not even be able to achieve self-sufficiency.

Ironically, as Natasha said, the list she made consisted of the things most needed in the lower districts, and she was not exaggerating at all.

Belloberg was on the verge of collapse, and could completely lose control if he wasn't careful.

Before the arrival of the Star Train, this was true in both the lower and upper levels.

The Beloborg is unable to resolve the Star Core Catastrophe or turn the tide internally, while Cocolia has done in the past and is about to do so—

Hua Yi and the golden-haired Great Guardian locked eyes.

"You only mentioned transporting supplies, not lifting the blockade immediately. Do you intend to wait until we seal the star core and everything settles down before resuming communication between the upper and lower levels?"

"……Yes."

"So, now that we've turned the tide in the lower zones, you must have found the location of the star core, right?"

"You may rest at the Goethe Hotel for one night. Tomorrow, I will inform you of the location of the Star Core."

Why wait until tomorrow? Since we have the coordinates of the star core, we should release them sooner so that everyone can make preparations based on the specific location.

Both Shiluva and Natasha frowned, suspicious of Cocolia's motives for making such a arrangement.

Bronya didn't think much of it. When she realized that the Great Guardian seemed willing to help everyone seal the Star Core, her tearful eyes lit up.

Has Mother not been seduced by the Star Core and still cherishes the ideal of protecting Beloberg?

"The star core is indeed the key to everything. Without handling it properly, all other negotiations and visions are like rootless duckweed, ethereal and unreal."

Hua Yi had already guessed what Cocolia was planning, so he didn't urge her to lead everyone to the star core right now. Everyone worked together to seal the source of the disaster.

“It just so happens that Natasha and Seele also want to get to know Himeko, so we won’t disturb them. The trip to the Lower District had a huge impact on Bronya, but she is very strong. The only thing she shed before was sweat, which was shed to eliminate monsters and restore peace to the people.”

The implication was that Bronya would remain in Cripperburg, and Hua Yi would take the others back to the Goethe Hotel.

There's another layer of meaning: Bronya only showed her deepest vulnerability to her mother.

Cocolia fell silent, while Hua Yi turned and left with his companions.

Seele wanted to finish everything in one go, forcing the High Guardian to abdicate and indicating that the Lower District had chosen a new king worthy of people's following. However, Hua Yi grabbed her hand and pulled her away.

Anything we say now is superfluous; the star core is the key.

"Bronya, you go back to your room first, I'll come find you later."

"it is good!"

Even after Hua Yi wiped away Bronya's tears, her eyes were still red, but a single sentence from Cocolia surprised her.

My mother and I have had very little private interaction since a long time ago. Is she finally willing to have a heart-to-heart talk now?

The girl's steps became a little lighter as she left.

The spacious, hall-like office fell silent again, but before a few breaths had passed, the whispers of the Star Core reached the Great Guardian's ears.

"Cocolia, are you going to give up the new world we've been hoping for, and give up the future of Belloberg?"

A gentle, intellectual female voice expressed deep sorrow.

If Cocolia hadn't maintained her clarity of mind, she would have forgotten that the Star Core had also uttered inhuman, rambling words to intimidate and threaten her.

“The Star Train is determined to seal the Star Core, and I can’t change that. It’s the most direct approach—you said we’re allies.”

"Yes, ally."

"The star core displays a power sufficient to create worlds, crushing the fantasies of fools with irrefutable reality. This is how things will develop tomorrow, isn't it?"

"Of course, of course!"

"I look forward to Belloberg's bright future, his only salvation..."

The voice of the Star Core faded, and it sought to gather authority for the Great Guardian who had betrayed its protection, to help it eliminate its powerful enemy.

Cocolia stood quietly by the window, overlooking the snowfield outside the city, until she was sure that the whispers of the star core would not reappear before heading to Bronya's room.

"Mother, you've arrived."

Looking at Bronya's red and swollen eyes, and recalling what Hua Yi had said earlier, Cocolia's stagnant gaze flickered.

She subconsciously tried to suppress it, but then, remembering something, her expression softened completely, and she reached out to gently stroke the girl's head.

“I’ve always known you work hard, and you’re a child I’m proud of, Bronyadin.”

Chapter 195 Night

How long has it been since Cocolia stroked Bronya's head so affectionately, softly praising and encouraging her?

So long ago that I can't remember.

In a somewhat distant memory, Bronya, as a child, would sit on Cocolia's lap, her slightly cool arms wrapped around her neck, giving the girl an indescribable sense of security.

Back then, Cocolia's voice was gentle and deep as she told all sorts of stories.

At that time, Bronya preferred dramatic plots and found simple fairy tales with happy endings boring.

After her mother finishes telling the story of the not-so-happy ending, little Bronya becomes curious again and asks why the people in the story can't live happy lives.

Do you want her to be happy?

Yes, she is a kind person, and kind people deserve to live happy lives.

To this day, Bronya still remembers the gentle smile on her mother's face after she gave that answer.

It wasn't until she grew into a beautiful young woman and learned the truth about Belleburg and the suffering in the lower classes that she understood how precious a happy ending truly was.

All the ups and downs, aren't they all for just one result?

Bronya was momentarily lost in thought, longing for her mother to hold her like she did in her childhood.

So she reached out, intending to grasp the Great Guardian's gloved hand, but it was avoided.

Seeing the girl's suddenly uneasy gaze, Cocolia's eyes flashed with a complex mix of apology and other unspoken feelings, and she could only gently change the subject.

"Tell me about your experiences in the lower districts, from your perspective."

Meanwhile, inside the Goethe Hotel, Natasha was also talking to Himeko, whom she was meeting for the first time, learning about the Star Train and its pioneering significance. However, Seele had no time to make friends in a conventional way and protested to Hua Yi.

"I bet Cocolia is still up to some wicked scheme, trying to stall for time and only tell us the location of the Star Core tomorrow—why did you stop me from losing my temper on the spot? Once I subdue Cocolia, you'll still become the King of Beloborg. What, do you think I'd fight you for the throne?"

“She needs time to better understand the situation in the lower districts. Bronya, having experienced various unexpected events, also wants to talk to Cocoliado, and I…”

Hua Yi paused slightly, looking out of the hotel, unsure whether to gaze at Kripper Castle or the endless snowstorm beyond.

"We must also prepare for the final battle."

"indeed."

Natasha approved of Hua Yi's decision.

Sealing the star core is of paramount importance, as it will determine the future fate of Belloborg and cannot be taken lightly.

If Seele were to take matters into her own hands and launch an attack in Crepperburg, not to mention whether Cocolia would still be willing to reveal the coordinates of the Star Core, the mere fact that the High Guardian was attacked would trigger a conflict with the Silvermane Iron Guard.

Unlike the lower districts, where people endure hardship and then decide to follow heroes, Cocolia remains the undisputed ruler of the upper districts.

By then, the problem of the star core will still be unresolved, and humanity will be fighting amongst themselves. Such conflicts cannot be quelled in just a day or two.

"Everyone, please get some rest today."

Therefore, Xing should no longer seek out Hua Yi to engage in a romantic rivalry.