"Um, I apologize for my earlier inappropriate remark, Mr. Kaslana..."
After listening to Pela clearly describe the purpose of their visit, Serval still bowed her head very seriously towards Kevin. Perhaps she is indeed somewhat unconventional in many ways, but she can still distinguish basic right from wrong.
Logically speaking, if all of this were true, then the item in Pela's hands should rightfully be delivered to Qlipoth Fort immediately. Yet, the other party specifically came to her first, taking advantage of the gap before the information was fully verified.
To put it mildly, this is just exploiting a timing gap. But if someone were determined to pursue the matter, dismissal would be considered a very light punishment.
"But, if you insist that this little thing is the culprit causing the Fragmentum's erosion, are you really not joking with me?"
Before Kevin even had a chance to open his mouth to forgive the other party's mistake, he saw Serval, holding the core in her hand, just weigh it a few times before placing the crystal back on the table without any attachment.
"Forgive my bluntness, I don't think this little thing has that much energy. Besides, even if it does have something special about it... look at the furnishings in this room. Doesn't that prove something already?"
"I'm just a mechanic, but this thing doesn't look like a machine at all, does it? You can't fix it with just a wrench and a hammer."
"Pela, you should quickly take it to where it needs to go... Oh, right, and don't let work delay tonight's rehearsal."
Without giving the two much chance to argue at all, Serval spoke on her own while stuffing the core back into Pela's hand, gradually pushing them out the door. Then, with a bright smile, she slammed the door shut with a bang.
And when she turned back around and looked at the mess all over the room again, the smile that had been hanging on her face gradually disappeared.
Is she just a mechanic specializing in industry, completely ignorant of other research directions? Perhaps that is indeed the case.
But that doesn't mean she truly knows nothing about the object Pela was just holding.
The culprit behind Belobog's cold wave—the Stellaron. The number of people in the entire city who know of its existence and true form probably doesn't exceed ten, but Serval happens to be one of them.
Even though there are quite significant differences in appearance on the surface, she could still tell at a glance that this mysterious core must have a very close relationship with the Stellaron.
She used to be very good friends with the current 'Supreme Guardian' Cocolia. They were friends since their school days until the other became Belobog's leader, while she silently supported her from behind as a researcher in the Architects' Technology Department.
Their close relationship lasted until—after Serval gradually discovered in her research on the Stellaron its great correlation with the main factor threatening Belobog, [the Fragmentum], she was mercilessly expelled from the Architects.
That Cocolia personally issued the order to expel her closest friend and has never met with her even once since then.
Those who don't know the truth might naively think it was because she never produced any useful research results or messed up some important research that she was expelled from the Architects. Only she herself knows that it was absolutely because there is some secret in the research related to the Stellaron that absolutely cannot be made public.
But... no matter what, it doesn't matter anymore, right? After all, that one is Belobog's 'Supreme Guardian,' while she is just a down-and-out mechanic who was fired by the Architects.
"Cocolia, what on earth happened to you..."
Since becoming the 'Supreme Guardian,' her friend's personality changed almost overnight, completely unlike her former passionate and idealistic self.
Sometimes Serval even wonders if her friend's mind has been taken over by previous 'Supreme Guardians.' And those outrageous policies were also made under the control of another consciousness?
What kind of thing could make a person transform into a completely unfamiliar personality...
———— ————
"I'm really sorry, Mr. Kaslana. In the end, I made you come all this way for nothing... Serval, although she's usually quite worrisome, she rarely acts like this."
Even though she herself essentially meant well but ended up getting snubbed again, Pela was the first to apologize to Kevin and even defended her friend.
How should I put it? Such behavior seems very... peculiar to Kevin?
In this real world, misunderstandings and conflicts are inevitable between any two people; there's no such thing as a perfect match made in heaven.
But whether two people can become truly long-lasting friends can actually be seen quite easily.
"There's no need to apologize. This isn't anything important to me."
Kevin shook his head and looked at Pela again, saying seriously: "But you really do have a very good friend."
Although the logic in Serval's words just now indeed had no problems, Kevin could still keenly sense that the other party had a faint sense of familiarity and recognition regarding the existence and form of the Fragmentum Core.
As if she subconsciously believed from the start that this is what the core of the Fragmentum looks like.
So... is it the Stellaron?
Perhaps he should find a way to see what form that object that nearly destroyed an entire world takes.
The only thing to worry about is that unknown object clearly already possesses its own consciousness to some degree. If it detects his approach, there's no guarantee it won't do something extreme.
Or perhaps he doesn't need to be so anxious after all. Everything happening right now is ultimately a trial unique to this world. Of course, he can also choose to understand this unknown civilization as much as possible before the final choice arrives.
"If possible, you should take it to Qlipoth Fort as soon as possible. The longer it stays, the more dangerous this core will become," Kevin suddenly said.
"Huh? But if I leave, Mr. Kaslana, you'll be alone..."
"It's fine. I'll wait for you here. Time is pressing."
"Well then, Mr. Kaslana, please don't wander off. I'll be back very soon!"
Pela didn't hesitate either. She nodded and immediately ran towards Qlipoth Fort. After all, no matter how you look at it, Kevin's safety doesn't seem to be something she needs to worry about.
Better to worry about what to do if some clueless unlucky person accidentally provokes him.
Watching Pela's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Kevin unhurriedly walked over to a trash can by the street, seemingly planning to get some Belobog local specialty.
"You've been following behind all this way. Still not planning to come out now?"
There is an illustration here; you can view it after updating the version.