After much bickering and chaos, Mo Wang and his companions finally arrived at Belobog's Administrative District. But just as they reached the entrance, Mo Wang hesitated.
"What's wrong? Why'd you stop? What are you plotting now?" March 7th asked, eyeing him warily.
"Hey, uh, can I just not go in? I think I'd be fine waiting out here."
After a brief silence, Mo Wang turned to March.
"Huh? Why?" she asked, baffled. They had come all this way, and now he was backing out?
"Is there a problem?" Dan Heng asked, equally confused.
"It's not a big deal... It's just, I have a feeling that if I go in there, something bad might happen."
"Huh?"
Now it wasn't just March and Dan Heng who were stunned; Bronya, Gepard, and even Welt had stopped in their tracks. Welt, in particular, had a bad feeling whenever Mo Wang acted like this. He felt like the guy was just waiting for the perfect opportunity to cause some major trouble.
Something bad might happen if you go inside? What kind of something? You need to be more specific!
"Well, to be honest, I just have a bit of a short temper," Mo Wang explained with a shrug. "What if we're in the middle of negotiations and I lose my cool and start throwing punches? That wouldn't be good. She's your Supreme Guardian, right? You wouldn't want me to just shank her, would you?"
His words were met with a stunned silence. They couldn't imagine what would possibly provoke Mo Wang to attack the Supreme Guardian. The thought alone was a little terrifying.
Welt's scalp tingled at the image of Mo Wang lunging at the city's leader. Forget everything else; if he actually killed her, they'd never be able to get the Stellaron and leave this planet in one piece. And if word of what the Nameless did ever got out, the Astral Express's reputation would be ruined forever.
The thought of being lumped in with the Stellaron Hunters made Welt shake his head vigorously. He wanted no part of that beautiful, chaotic future.
"In that case..."
Just as Welt was about to agree to let Mo Wang wait outside, March interjected. "Wait a minute! Are you just trying to use this as an excuse to go dig through the trash?!"
Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Channeling her inner detective, she scrutinized him. "Something's not right. Ninety-nine percent not right. You, backing down for a reason like that? It's illogical. Highly illogical."
"Uncle Yang! We can't let him go off on his own! He's definitely planning to sneak off and rummage through trash cans, tarnishing the good name of the Astral Express!"
Welt froze. March had a point; that sounded exactly like something Mo Wang would do. In fact, the probability of him going trash-diving was much higher than him murdering the Supreme Guardian.
So no matter what he did, the reputation of the Express was doomed, wasn't it? It was just a matter of choosing between public humiliation and being hunted down as fugitives.
But then again, if they all went in together, they could at least try to restrain Mo Wang if he went berserk. If they left him on his own, the odds of him ending up in a trash can were over ninety percent.
"I've been framed!" Mo Wang yelped, looking utterly wronged. "When did I ever say I was going to go through the trash? This is slander! Pure, unadulterated slander!"
"Slander?" March crossed her arms, unconvinced. "Then explain why you always want to be alone at times like this! You said the same thing back on the space station, and what happened? The moment our backs were turned, you went off to dig through a pile of discarded materials, claiming you were 'treasure hunting'! You came back with a mountain of junk and made us the laughingstock of the station for a whole month! You're not fooling me this time!"
"That was different!" Mo Wang averted his gaze awkwardly. "That was a special case! That stuff was still usable, it would have been a waste! Besides, this time I'm genuinely worried about causing trouble inside. It has nothing to do with trash cans!"
"Hmph, I don't believe you!" March pouted, her eyes full of doubt. "You're always trying to sneak off and do something shady. You're definitely planning to ditch us while we're in the meeting so you can go trash-diving and make us all infamous!"
The thought of becoming known as the "trash collectors of Belobog" made March want to strangle Mo Wang on the spot.
"I..." Mo Wang was speechless. He hadn't realized March "understood" him so well. To be fair, he had been planning something along those lines. He sighed and turned to Welt. "Old Man Yang, you be the judge. Am I that kind of person?"
Welt was rubbing his temples, a massive headache brewing. Do you even need to ask? He looked at Mo Wang with a complicated expression. "Mo Wang, it's not that I don't want to back you up, but... you are a little untrustworthy. You did sneak off to rummage through discarded materials on the space station, and you almost got caught by the security bots. Your sudden reluctance to come with us now is... suspicious."
"Welt! You traitor!" Mo Wang's eyes widened in disbelief. "I was thinking of everyone's well-being! What if I lose my temper and get into a fight with the Supreme Guardian? That would just cause more trouble for everyone!"
"And you think you won't cause trouble on your own?" Dan Heng cut in. "You'd probably cause an even bigger scene. Like, getting caught digging through trash cans by a crowd of onlookers, who then post it on the Interastral Network with the headline: 'Astral Express Crew Member Spotted Dumpster Diving on the Streets of Belobog.'"
"Hey, Dan Heng, don't you pile on too!" Mo Wang stomped his foot in frustration. "Am I really the kind of person who would do that?!"
"Yes," March, Welt, and Dan Heng said in perfect, unwavering unison.
Mo Wang: "..."
He was utterly defeated. He never knew his reputation was this "stellar." He threw up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine, you win. I'll go in with you, alright? But if something does happen, you'd better have my back!"
"Don't worry, we'll be there to stop you from doing anything crazy," Welt said, clapping him on the shoulder with a sigh of resignation. "But Mo Wang, you have to promise me you'll stay calm and not act impulsively. We're here to talk, not to fight."
"I know, I know," Mo Wang waved him off dismissively. "I'm not a kid. I know how to behave."
"I hope so," Welt sighed, clearly not convinced.
Bronya and Gepard exchanged a look, looking a little weary of the crew's internal drama. Bronya cleared her throat. "Since everyone is ready, let's go in. The Supreme Guardian is waiting."
"Let's go, let's go, don't keep her waiting," March urged, then shot Mo Wang a warning glare. "And don't you even think about sneaking off!"
"I won't. And Welt, don't say I didn't warn you later. I might actually throw a punch."
Welt gave him a puzzled look. Who on earth could provoke Mo Wang to that extent? For some reason, a very bad feeling began to creep up on him.
The group entered the administrative building. The interior was solemn and imposing, the walls adorned with portraits of Belobog's past leaders.
Inside, a woman in a military uniform sat at a desk, focused on her work. She exuded an air of competence and reliability.
However...
"C-Cocolia?!"
The sight of the woman nearly made Welt cough up blood. This was even more shocking than seeing Bronya. If seeing Bronya was a mild surprise, seeing Cocolia was a shock so profound he almost drew his weapon on reflex.
In all his long life, there weren't many people Welt truly hated. But a certain Otto, and his look-alike Void Archives, were definitely at the top of that list.
And the only other person on it was, without a doubt, Cocolia.
If Welt had one regret in his life, it was probably allowing that woman to join Anti-Entropy. Even now, he wanted to slap himself for that decision. She had rarely done anything to benefit the organization, but she had been an endless source of trouble.
If a third of Anti-Entropy's bad reputation was Otto's fault, then the other two-thirds were all because of Cocolia. She alone had dragged their name through the mud time and time again.
Objectively speaking, compared to Schicksal, Anti-Entropy was supposed to be the righteous organization. But thanks to Cocolia, they had been branded as villains. And in the end, she had even turned on her own comrades, and there was nothing he could do to stop her.
It was like an emperor being completely undermined by his own minister. While Welt admitted he had his own shortcomings, Cocolia was an absolute menace. That was why the sight of her made him feel so utterly unwell.
This can't be right. First Cocolia, now Bronya... Am I going to run into even more familiar faces in this city? Is Belobog some kind of miniature Anti-Entropy base?
For some reason, Welt had a sinking feeling he was going to encounter even more people he knew. He finally understood the look on Mo Wang's face when he'd talked about Belobog earlier. This was what he'd been waiting for, wasn't it?
At that thought, Welt turned and shot Mo Wang a glare.
"Is this my fault? I warned you I might get violent. It's not my problem you didn't connect the dots," Mo Wang replied with a helpless shrug, unfazed by Welt's resentful stare. He had dropped so many obvious hints.
Honestly, even without the allure of the trash cans, Mo Wang hadn't wanted to come inside. While Cocolia Rand was arguably a slightly better person than her Honkai Impact 3rd counterpart, as a designated villain of the Honkai universe, she was still fundamentally rotten.
Never mind the ridiculous conflict between the Overworld and Underworld; just looking at the extent of the Stellaron's corruption, it was clear this woman was not far from a complete breakdown and a world-destroying rampage. The arrival of the Express crew would, at most, only accelerate the process.
Energy shortages, a mad leader, extreme class conflict, the ever-expanding Fragmentum... To put it bluntly, if the Express hadn't arrived, or had come a few years later, Jarilo-VI would likely have been completely wiped out.
"Bronya, my daughter, you've finally returned. And these people are...?"
Hearing the commotion, Cocolia looked up from her desk. She was about to say something to Bronya when she noticed Mo Wang and the others behind her, her expression turning serious and questioning.
"So that's the Supreme Guardian? She definitely has an imposing aura, don't you think, Uncle Yang?" March 7th's eyes sparkled with admiration.
Welt's face stiffened at her question. "Y-Yes, I suppose so."
He didn't know what to say. To be fair, Supreme Guardian Cocolia did seem more dignified and less like a wicked woman than the Cocolia he knew. She even seemed more approachable. But given that this was still Cocolia, the best Welt could offer was a noncommittal evaluation.
With Mo Wang standing behind him, practically radiating an "I'm just here for the show" vibe, Welt felt his stomach drop.
He now deeply regretted agreeing to come to Belobog with Mo Wang.
This wasn't a mission; this was hell.
-----
T/L: i forgot add this to last volume:
[St. Freya Tea Party] (6 Online)
Mei: Good morning, everyone. Did you all sleep well? I was thinking of making some special soufflé pancakes for breakfast today. 🥞
Ana: Good morning, Mei-san! That sounds absolutely lovely. I hope everyone had a peaceful night after yesterday's excitement. 😊
Bronya: Bronya is online. System analysis indicates a 92% probability of a productive day for gaming and data analysis.
Wendy: Morning! I had the weirdest dream... I was fighting Kiana with a utility pole? My head still hurts a little. 😭
Mei: Oh dear, are you alright, Wendy? Maybe you should rest a bit more. I can bring some breakfast to your room.
Kiana: @everyone
Kiana: GATHER AROUND, YOU MERE MORTALS, AND WITNESS A HISTORIC MOMENT! 😎
Wendy: What are you shouting about so early in the morning, Kiana? Did you finally manage to pass a single exam? That would be historic, I guess.
Bronya: Idiot Kiana is causing unnecessary system notifications again. Mute function engaged.
Kiana: TRIVIAL?! HAH! This is the most important news in the history of St. Freya! Your queen, Kiana Kaslana, is officially off the market! As of last night, Mo Wang is MY boyfriend!
Wendy: ...
Bronya: ...
Mei: Oh my. Is that so, Kiana?
Ana: Oh, wow! Congratulations, Kiana-san! That's wonderful news! I'm so happy for you both! 🙏
Wendy: Pfft! Hahahahaha! USO! (Lies!) Good one, Kiana. You almost had me. You, Mo Wang's girlfriend? You must still be dreaming from when he knocked you out. I don't believe a word of it.
Bronya: Bronya concurs. Idiotka, your brain cells have clearly malfunctioned from yesterday's fight. Boasting will get you nowhere. The Captain would never choose a paramecium as a life partner.
Kiana: JEALOUSY IS AN UGLY COLOR ON YOU TWO! It's true! I even have proof!
Wendy: Oh yeah? What proof? A sworn statement written in crayon? Let me guess, you're going to say he confessed his undying love while you were both passed out from exhaustion yesterday?
Kiana: Hmph! Just you wait!
(Kiana is typing...)
Kiana:
[Video Attachment: IMG_4589.mp4]
Kiana: EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT!
(The video is shaky, clearly filmed by someone lying in bed. It pans across a room that looks like a hurricane hit it—clothes are strewn about, empty beer cans and snack wrappers litter the floor, and a bed is visibly broken. The camera focuses on Mo Wang's shirtless back as he stands in a small kitchen area, humming while cracking eggs into a frying pan.)
Kiana's voice (a shy whisper): "Hey... Mo Wang..."
Mo Wang's voice (tired but gentle): "Hm? You're awake? Stay in bed, it's almost ready. Your back must be killing you."
Kiana's voice (a little shaky): "So... about last night... we're... we're a couple now, right? You're my boyfriend?"
Mo Wang's voice (a soft, warm chuckle): "Yeah, of course. After all that... I'm pretty sure that makes you my girlfriend. Now get some rest, you definitely earned it."
(The video ends abruptly.)
Wendy: ...
Bronya: ...
Mei: ...
Ana: ...Oh. My.
Wendy: YOU VIXEN! Look at that room! It's a complete disaster! There's alcohol everywhere! You got him drunk and took advantage of him while he wasn't in his right mind! That's despicable! I can't believe you! 😡
Bronya: The evidence suggests a high level of intoxication and environmental chaos. Subject Kiana, your actions are classified as predatory. You exploited the Captain's compromised state for personal gain. Bronya, as the rightful heir to Anti-Entropy (Self-proclaim), finds this behavior dishonorable. You will answer for this transgression.
Kiana: IT WASN'T LIKE THAT! We both drank! And he... he said he liked me first!
Wendy: "Liked you first"? He probably said he liked your new flavor of potato chips! You forced him to take responsibility, didn't you?! You're the worst kind of woman, using such underhanded tactics!
Mei: Kiana. ❤️
Kiana: Mei! See? Mei believes me! Thank you!
Mei: We need to have a nice, long talk later. Just the two of us. About what it means to be a good girl and respect other people's... belongings. Don't worry, I'll be very... thorough in my explanation. 😊
Kiana: ...
Bronya: Idiotka, your survival probability just dropped by 37%.
Ana: Everyone, please, let's try to calm down. This seems like a very personal and intimate matter. Maybe we shouldn't jump to conclusions? Let's just be happy for them for now?
Wendy: Happy?! Nani?! Ana, you're too sweet for your own good! This white-haired tuna probably threatened him! He was probably terrified!
Kiana: I WOULD NEVER! He wanted it too! I didn't force him into anything!
Bronya: Your history of impulsive and irrational behavior suggests otherwise. Bronya has logged 47 instances in the past month where your actions have directly led to negative consequences for the Captain. This is merely the 48th, albeit the most severe.
Kiana: THOSE WERE ACCIDENTS! And yesterday was different!
Wendy: How was it different?! Did he willingly let you destroy his room and his only bed?! Look at the state of that place! It looks like a Honkai Beast went on a rampage in there!
Kiana: The bed... was a mutual destruction! And he was a very willing and active participant!
Mei: Kiana-chan. Tell me. What exactly happened after the tournament? I want to hear all the little details. Every. Single. One. Don't leave anything out.
Kiana: I... uh... we talked! And we drank a little! And... things just happened naturally!
Bronya: "Things just happened." A vague and insufficient explanation. Provide a detailed timeline of events from 22:00 hours to 08:00 hours, including all physical interactions and verbal agreements. Bronya requires genuine data for a full analysis.
Wendy: Yeah! Don't leave out the part where you held a Divine Key to his throat and forced him to sign a relationship contract in blood!
Kiana: I DON'T HAVE A DIVINE KEY! And it wasn't a contract! It was a... a mutual, heartfelt agreement!
Ana: Maybe this isn't the best place to discuss the specifics? It's getting a little heated... 😥
Kiana: I don't have to explain myself to you guys! We're a couple and that's that! You're all just jealous that I made the first move!
(Kiana is typing...)
Kiana: I have the right to remain silent! I want my lawyer now!
(Kiana has logged off.)
Wendy: SHE RAN AWAY! THE GUILTY ALWAYS RUN!
Bronya: Coward. Bronya has already begun compiling a formal report on this incident. Disciplinary action is pending. She will not escape justice.
Mei: It seems Kiana needs a little... talk. I will handle it personally.
Ana: 😥
(Theresa has logged on.)
Theresa: Mmmph... what's with all the notifications? My phone just vibrated off the nightstand. Did I miss a war or something? Why are there 99+ messages?
(Fu Hua is there, but she silent reader. Himeko is still asleep after drinking late last night)
[St. Freya Daily Bugle - Campus Life Section]
[HOT!] SHOCKING REVELATION: CAPTAIN MO WANG AND VALKYRIE KIANA CONFIRM RELATIONSHIP AFTER CHAOTIC NIGHT! ROOM LEFT IN RUINS!
[GOSSIP] EYEWITNESSES CLAIM LOVE TRIANGLE ERUPTS INTO FULL-BLOWN WAR! WENDY AND BRONYA ACCUSE KIANA OF "UNDERHANDED TACTICS"!
[ANALYSIS] FROM RIVALS TO LOVERS: A DEEP DIVE INTO THE EXPLOSIVE DYNAMIC BETWEEN THE SLACKER KING AND THE WHITE COMET!
[POLL] WHO IS THE TRUE QUEEN OF ST. FREYA? VOTE NOW! (Current results: Mei - 45%, Bronya - 30%, Wendy - 20%, Kiana - 5%)
[OP-ED] IS THIS TRUE LOVE OR A HOSTAGE SITUATION? AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT.