Chapter 47: Believing the Stellaron? Might as Well Believe I'm the [Infinite] Aeon

"So this is Qlipoth Fort, where the Great Guardian works? Quite magnificent."

Fu Zhu tilted his head back, looking at the large fortress built atop a long flight of stairs. If this were in MC, there would definitely be a boss spawning inside.

Though, thinking about it, isn't Cocolia basically the final boss of Jarilo-VI?

While Fu Zhu was spacing out, lost in thought, Bronya had already started walking towards the few Silvermane Guards stationed before the stairs.

Seeing her approach so openly, Xing couldn't help but tighten her grip on the baseball bat she carried. If Bronya showed even the slightest sign of betraying them, she guaranteed this bat would connect with her head first!

"Lady Bronya! Welcome back!"

The Silvermane Guards were initially uncertain when they first saw Bronya from a distance. Only when she drew closer did they confirm it wasn't an illusion.

Bronya nodded at them, then raised a hand to point at Fu Zhu and Xing waiting behind her.

"Let them pass. I brought them here specifically to see the Great Guardian."

The guards' gazes bypassed Bronya, landing on Fu Zhu and Xing.

They hadn't seen Fu Zhu before, but they recognized Xing beside him. Weren't they two of the three wanted criminals Adjutant Pela had escorted to see Lady Cocolia yesterday?

The Silvermane Guards hesitated at first, but seeing the unquestionable look in Bronya's eyes, after a moment of internal conflict, they chose to step aside and let them pass.

Bronya nodded, satisfied, thanking them for their understanding before turning back to beckon Fu Zhu and Xing.

"Come on."

Fu Zhu and Xing then walked over, flanking Bronya. Xing put away her baseball bat and said playfully, "Just now, I was planning to break through by force if you betrayed us like Cocolia did."

Hearing Xing bring up the past, a trace of bitterness appeared on Bronya's face.

"Please rest assured. Since I said I chose to help you, I would naturally not do such a thing. As for Mother's previous actions... perhaps there was some misunderstanding?"

Fu Zhu and Xing just shook their heads, not attempting to correct Bronya's thinking. As the Great Guardian's daughter, it would be difficult for her to believe anything negative, regardless of what others said.

The trio ascended the long flight of stairs step by step. After entering Qlipoth Fort, although they encountered many patrolling Silvermane Guards along the way, none chose to intervene, seeing Bronya accompanying them. They smoothly arrived before the largest office door.

Standing before the closed door, Bronya took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and pushed the door open, walking inside. Fu Zhu and Xing followed closely behind.

Inside the office, Cocolia, sitting behind her desk, heard the door open and looked up.

If Fu Zhu hadn't heard from his companions about Cocolia betraying them, seeing her worried expression might have made him think she was merely a leader troubled by Belobog's future.

"Bronya?! You're finally back!"

Upon seeing Bronya enter, Cocolia immediately shot up from her chair. Her movement was so abrupt it knocked the chair over behind her. Completely disregarding the composure expected of someone in her position, she walked out from behind the desk and hurried over to Bronya, embracing her tightly.

"Mother, I'm back..."

Bronya buried her face in Cocolia's chest, savoring the brief moment of warmth. The suspicion she previously held towards Cocolia lessened slightly.

After the mother and daughter shared a tender moment, Cocolia finally noticed Fu Zhu and Xing who had entered with Bronya. Her gaze swept past Fu Zhu and landed directly on Xing, a flash of apprehension in her eyes.

"Bronya, why did you bring two people here? One of them is the wanted criminal I ordered you to pursue yesterday."

Cocolia released Bronya from her embrace, the tenderness on her face instantly vanishing, replaced by an boundless chill.

Xing stared at Cocolia, feeling the coldness radiating from her, and frowned, muttering, "I only had a slight feeling before, but now it's much stronger. There's a familiar aura about you..."

After muttering for a moment, Xing thought of a possibility and pointed at Cocolia, stunned.

"Don't tell me, you're also a Stand User?!"

What the heck?

Cocolia and Bronya were both utterly confused. Fu Zhu, however, somewhat understood what Xing meant.

Stands were obviously impossible, but the only thing that could make Xing feel Cocolia was similar to her was the [Stellaron]!

"Cocolia, we came to negotiate with you. Our intention is to seal the Stellaron and resolve the crisis on Jarilo-VI. This benefits both you and Jarilo-VI. Why did you suddenly issue a warrant for my companions?"

This was also something Fu Zhu couldn't understand. Dan Heng and the others had clearly stated their purpose to Cocolia back then, yet Cocolia later used a flimsy excuse to put out a warrant for them. It made no sense.

Hearing this, Cocolia's anger flared instantly.

"Silence! Every Great Guardian knows perfectly well what caused the disaster on Jarilo-VI! Yet you arrive on this planet carrying the very culprits! Your purpose couldn't possibly be as simple as salvation! They said you came here to destroy Jarilo-VI!"

The moment the words left her mouth, Cocolia regretted it. She had forgotten Bronya was right beside her!

There were things she didn't want Bronya to know.

Hearing Cocolia's self-incriminating outburst, Fu Zhu raised an eyebrow. Things were finally becoming clearer.

"How do you know what we are carrying? And who are the 'they' you mentioned... Don't tell me it's the Stellaron?"

The Stellaron inside Xing's body was extremely stable, far beyond the detection capabilities of a technologically lagging planet like Jarilo-VI. The only way Cocolia could know about the Stellaron within Xing was if the Stellaron she possessed told her.

"Mother, you..." Bronya finally reacted at this moment. Her mother was not the uninformed person she had imagined.

Feeling Bronya's questioning gaze, Cocolia unnaturally turned her head away, unwilling to speak.

Fu Zhu pressed his advantage, continuing his verbal assault on Cocolia.

"Cocolia, are you an idiot? Since you clearly know what caused the Eternal Freeze on Jarilo-VI, why did you then believe the Stellaron's poisonous words?"

"What do you understand!"

Cocolia snapped back angrily. Then, glancing at Bronya beside her, she closed her eyes helplessly, deciding to throw caution to the wind.

"No one understands the disaster Jarilo-VI is facing better than I do! The collapse of the ecosystem, the endless Eternal Freeze, dwindling resources... Sooner or later, humanity will vanish in this cold snap due to lack of supplies, just like those extinct animals! Only by following the method they proposed is there a glimmer of hope... Even if it's just an ethereal sliver of hope, I must grasp it firmly in my hands for Belobog!"

Collapse of the ecosystem, dwindling resources?

Fu Zhu couldn't help but sneer after hearing this. "After following their instructions, has Belobog's situation improved at all?"

"They offered you such a huge pie, have you even had a single bite?"

"How foolish. Instead of believing the Stellaron that brought you disaster, you might as well believe I'm the God of Creation."

"At the very least, I can show you what true [Infinity] looks like!"