---o---
The next morning.
Topaz woke up feeling refreshed on the large hotel bed. She stretched languidly and patted Numby, who was sleeping by her pillow.
"Time to get up, Numby. We have a field inspection to do today."
Numby flicked its plump ears and followed a pajama-clad Topaz into the washroom. A dozen or so minutes later, a sharp and energetic Topaz emerged from her room, holding Numby in her arms.
As she took the elevator down to the lobby, she spotted Bronya sitting on a sofa in the lounge area. Bronya also noticed Topaz stepping out of the elevator and immediately rose to her feet and walked over.
"Miss Topaz, there is something I would like to discuss with you."
"Oh?" Topaz rubbed Numby in her arms, looking at Bronya with great interest. "Then let's walk and talk. I was just about to head to the Underworld."
"The Underworld?" Bronya paused, then asked, "Why are you going to the Underworld?"
Topaz smiled faintly as she walked towards the exit with Numby, Bronya following closely behind.
"Naturally, to assess the resources of the Underworld. It's the only way to more accurately determine if Jarilo-VI has the ability to repay its debt."
"I understand. I will lead the way for you, but I hope, Miss Topaz, that you can promise me you will not interfere with the daily lives of the Underworld's residents."
"Of course. I am a businesswoman, not a bandit."
The two of them exited the hotel. Outside, the project team members Topaz had brought with her were in a tense standoff with the Silvermane Guards led by Gepard. It wasn't until they saw their respective superiors emerge from the hotel that they both relaxed their gazes.
The leader of the project team, who was piloting a large mech, was the first to salute Topaz. "Lady Topaz, the project team is ready. We can begin the survey at any time."
"Mm." Topaz gave a slight nod, then turned to Bronya. "Miss Bronya, the Underworld is quite large. I can't possibly survey it all by myself. You wouldn't mind if I had my subordinates help share the workload, would you?"
"Of course not." Bronya had no grounds to refuse. She could only nod in agreement, though she didn't forget to caution Topaz once more.
"As long as you do not disturb the lives of the Underworld's residents."
"Naturally."
After getting Bronya's consent, Topaz signaled for her project team to head towards the Underworld.
The moment the team set off, Gepard nodded to Bronya and led the Silvermane Guards to follow them.
Topaz said nothing as she watched this unfold. She understood Gepard's intentions perfectly. She then turned to Bronya, who was beside her, and said, "Shall we head out as well, Miss Bronya?"
"Alright."
The two of them entered the mine shaft elevator that led to the Underworld. Inside the quiet elevator, Topaz finally asked Bronya the purpose of her visit.
"Miss Bronya, you came to see me about the debt, didn't you?"
Bronya gave a soft hum of affirmation, then said, "Miss Topaz, Jarilo-VI has only just begun to recover from the Eternal Freeze. We will take responsibility and repay this debt, but could you please grant us some more time?"
Hearing this, Topaz sighed with a hint of disappointment. "I'm afraid that won't be possible, Miss Bronya. I understand Jarilo-VI's plight, but I have seen planets in far more miserable conditions. If I were to grant extensions to every planet out of sympathy, how would the Company conduct its business in the future?"
Bronya had anticipated this outcome; her question was merely a sliver of hope.
Topaz glanced at the somewhat dejected Bronya and sighed silently to herself. She offered a soft word of comfort, "You shouldn't be so pessimistic, Miss Bronya. The terms the Company has offered are very generous. As long as Belobog signs the contract and agrees to have all its citizens work for the Company, the Company is willing to fund the reconstruction of Jarilo-VI."
"Many planets that suffered from Stellaron disasters in the past chose this path, and their worlds were revitalized as a result. Besides, aren't you the Great Guardian? This is a decision that should be made by Lady Cocolia."
"No."
Bronya suddenly interjected with a firm refusal. "This is my responsibility."
Topaz was taken aback for a moment, then she chuckled lightly. "It seems the next Great Guardian has already been decided. In that case, I await your answer. The deadline is one day away. But before that, I need to complete one task. I need to show the higher-ups the value Jarilo-VI is capable of creating. It would be for the best for both of us. Otherwise..."
Topaz didn't finish her sentence, but Bronya could guess what she meant. If the Company's higher-ups didn't see sufficient value, the plan awaiting Jarilo-VI would likely not be so... gentle.
Although Bronya was extremely uncomfortable, for the sake of Jarilo-VI, this was not the time to be stubborn. She took a deep breath and turned to Topaz. "What do you need my help with?"
"Well, could I trouble you, Miss Bronya, to take me to the robot named Svarog? According to my investigation, his database contains records of events from the distant past. I need his help."
"Alright. Follow me."
As luck would have it, the mine shaft elevator arrived at the Underworld. The two of them, along with Numby, stepped out, and Bronya led Topaz towards Svarog's robot settlement.
A short while later, they arrived at Svarog's residence within the settlement. However, despite ringing the doorbell several times, there was no answer from inside.
"Strange. Svarog usually stays in his residence and rarely goes out..."
Puzzled, Bronya reached out to ring the doorbell again. After a moment, Clara's soft voice came through the intercom.
"Hello, this is Clara. Who is it?"
Hearing Clara's voice, Bronya quickly spoke up. "Clara, it's me, Bronya. I have a guest here who would like to speak with Svarog. Is Svarog around?"
"Ah, Big Sister Bronya! Please, please wait a moment."
Clara suddenly hung up. Not long after, Bronya and Topaz saw her from a distance, carrying a tray. On the tray were three glasses of warm milk. She walked over to them with a sweet smile.
"Good morning, Big Sister Bronya."
"Good morning, Clara. What's this...?" Bronya asked, confused, pointing at the three glasses of warm milk on Clara's tray.
"This is for Big Brother Fu Zhu, Big Sister Xing, and Big Sister March. They've been busy all this time. I remember Big Brother Fu Zhu telling me he likes to drink milk, so I wanted to bring some over to them. Oh, right."
"The Mr. Svarog you're looking for is over there with Big Brother Fu Zhu right now, helping him guard the entrance."
"Svarog... is helping Fu Zhu guard the entrance?"
Bronya and Topaz couldn't help but look at each other, both seeing the same astonishment in the other's eyes.
What in the world was Fu Zhu doing?