Chapter 56: Simulation Preparation

The sudden turn of events caught Chase somewhat off guard.

Wait, didn't you just say you didn't have the authorization? Why do you have it now?

"Variables added—"

"Variable One: Clara's request;"

"Variable Two: Intervention of outsiders." To answer Chase's confusion, it seemed.

Chase was momentarily speechless. The tense atmosphere that had just been built up dissipated, making him feel a bit uncomfortable.

Moreover, it felt too easy to defeat the final boss, giving him an unreal sensation. It felt like he hadn't fought that battle, and the whole storyline was incomplete.

But the simulation panel displayed that the task was completed, reminding him that the task was indeed accomplished.

[Special Task Completed: Help convince Svarog, the leader of the train group, to reveal information about the [Stellaron].]

[Reward — One simulation opportunity, already claimed.]

[Please choose the time to use on your own.]

[Current simulative chapter — Chapter One: Sirin's Magic of Happiness.]

[Other chapters locked, subsequent chapters unlocked after the first chapter.]

Chase glanced at the panel, silently closed it, and didn't rush into the simulation.

Although he wanted to enter the simulation right away and bring out the adorable Sirin, now was not the time. He had to deal with the current situation first.

Chase looked at Svarog, and there was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes. He had a feeling that Svarog had yielded... or maybe it was just a misconception.

If it wasn't a misconception, it would be interesting to have a machine that could assess and think autonomously like a human, but it wouldn't be scary.

What's scary is not when machines think like humans, but when humans become as mechanized as machines.

Chase dismissed these stray thoughts, turned to Clara, and smiled, "Clara, you see, Svarog is quite easy to talk to."

Clara was stunned. The development of events was too smooth, like walking on flat ground, making her also feel unreal. She had expected a confrontation between Svarog and the group, with her persuading in the end and Svarog ultimately compromising.

However, she didn't expect things to go so smoothly.

Before Chase even had a proper conversation with Svarog, he directly agreed to Chase's request, granting access and sharing information about the [Stellaron] with everyone.

Although surprised at the smooth start, the group was more happy than anything else. Seele, seeing the negotiation settled, temporarily left to inform [Wildfire].

Welt replayed Chase's recent negotiation in his mind but couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation. What exactly made Svarog give Chase permission to access information related to the [Stellaron]?

Welt carefully considered the brief conversation between Chase and Svarog but couldn't decipher the logic behind it.

Why was that...

Bronya walked up to Chase, placed her right hand on her chest, feeling somewhat nervous and uneasy.

"Finally... finally, it's time."

"Nervous?" Chase smiled. If we were to talk about who was most impacted by this journey through the lower district, it would undoubtedly be Bronya.

Bronya, who practiced [Preservation] as a life creed, faced a conflict between trusting her mother and practicing [Preservation] when she saw the dilapidated scenery of the lower district again.

Trusting her mother meant abandoning the people of the lower district, equivalent to violating the will of [Preservation] within herself.

Surely, these past few days had been extremely agonizing for Bronya.

But Bronya shook her head, "Rather than saying I'm nervous, it's more like... there's something in my chest causing intense pain."

After taking a deep breath, Bronya managed to calm herself with a few more deep breaths. She said to Chase, "I'm ready, Chase. Go uncover the truth... I'll be here listening."

Chase nodded. At this moment, Svarog had also organized the data and was looking at him.

"Data and voice records related to the [Stellaron] have been called up. Would you like to access them immediately, outsider?"

Chase nodded.

"Data access approved. Playing now..."

...

[The root of all disasters — the Stellaron...]

[Seduction from the Stellaron...]

[Finding a way to completely destroy the Stellaron...]

[Hidden research results...]

[Efforts spanning generations...]

After all the footage played out, Bronya finally woke up from her reverie.

Through the information and influence provided by Svarog, Bronya already understood.

The [Stellaron] — the root of the cold wave, was a last resort chosen by the first generation Guardian to counter the Legion. It also revealed a crucial piece of information: the murmurings in the minds of each generation of Guardians.

It was seduction from the [Stellaron].

Could her mother's abnormal behavior be related to...

Bronya's body trembled, and she had a guess in her heart, but she couldn't believe it, nor did she want to believe it.

Perhaps her mother had been invaded and seduced by the [Stellaron], deviating from the belief in [Preservation], pushing the entire Beloberg into an endless abyss.

Or perhaps, her mother — Cecilia, had died in the confrontation with the [Stellaron], and the current Guardian Cecilia was just a puppet controlled by the [Stellaron], a soulless shell!

Looking at it with the assumption that Cecilia was seduced, her series of decrees suddenly made sense and seemed quite reasonable...

Thinking to this point, a chill ran down Bronya's spine, making her shudder subconsciously.

The enemy wasn't just internal; it was even in the command center?!

The Queen rebelled first?!

Suddenly, Bronya felt a hand on her shoulder and couldn't help but turn her head to look.

The young man's face was like a breeze brushing past willow trees, warm and gentle like the sunlight on a spring afternoon. He said, "Don't dwell on negative thoughts. Things may not be as bad as you think."

Chase's hand rested on Bronya's shoulder, and the warmth from his palm transmitted through her skin, making her feel a bit less cold.

"You need some time to sort out the complicated thoughts in your mind."

Bronya paused for a moment and expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, I understand."

Chase smiled and, holding Bella's hand, went to find Welt.

He was ready to ask Welt some questions and make some trivial preparations for the second simulation...