Chapter 73: A Little Too Smoothly

Under Sampo’s guidance, the team handled the final stretch of the tunnel. The cramped passage suddenly gave way to a cavernous space, one even larger than the abandoned camp they had just left behind.

The air hummed with a low, electric thrum. Several hulking defense robots patrolled the area, their heavy footfalls echoing a quiet, metallic rhythm as they traced their fixed routes. In the center of the chamber, the formidable alloy gate that Chen had visited just the night before stood imposing and tightly shut.

“This is it,” Sampo announced, coming to a halt. She gestured dramatically toward the gate. “Svarog’s territory—the core area of the Robot Settlement.” She paused, rubbing her hands together with a practiced, sycophantic grin. “But, well…”

Her eyes darted between the unmoving gate and her clients. “As you can see, the door is currently… indisposed. Shall we try a polite knock, or perhaps…”

Before she could finish her sales pitch, a lattice of pale blue light erupted on the ground before the gate, scanning over them. A synthesized, dispassionate voice filled the chamber.

“Unauthorized biological signals detected approaching the core area. Please state your identity and purpose. Repeating, please state your identity and purpose.”

In perfect unison, the patrolling robots swiveled on their chassis, their optical sensors glowing a menacing red as they locked onto the group.

Lord Bronya took a measured step forward, her voice ringing out with the clear, unwavering authority of a commander. “I am the Commander of the Silvermane Guards, Bronya Rand. These are my companions. We have come to investigate the truth behind the Stellaron and the Eternal Freeze, and we wish to speak with Madam Svarog.”

The electronic voice went silent for several long seconds, the silence stretching as the system presumably verified or relayed the information.

As everyone waited, a faint hiss broke the tension. To the right of the main gate, a section of the wall slid away, revealing a small, unassuming door, just large enough for a single person to pass through.

A petite figure cautiously peeked out from behind the opening. He had soft, light-blonde hair cut short, and his eyes, wide with a mixture of nervousness and curiosity, peered out from the collar of a cozy red cotton coat. It was Clara.

Clara’s gaze swept quickly over the large group assembled outside. When his eyes landed on the tall, handsome man with the wild purple hair, he was visibly startled, offering a soft, hesitant greeting.

“S-Seele-gege…”

It was clear that as an active member of the Underworld’s Wildfire, Seele was one of the few outsiders whom Clara recognized and wasn’t entirely afraid of.

His gaze then moved past the unfamiliar faces of Lord Bronya, Dan Heng, and March 7th, lingering for a moment on the bat-clutching Qiong before finally… it landed on Chen. Chen was standing slightly behind Bronya, doing his best to shrink into the background and maintain a quiet, well-behaved demeanor.

Their eyes met.

Chen’s heart gave a little jump. Though he knew the chances of being exposed were slim to none, a flicker of guilt still pricked at him.

Clara’s eyes shifted back to the real Bronya, a hint of doubt clouding his expression. He seemed to find her… inexplicably familiar? But the feeling was so faint, so fleeting, that he dismissed it almost immediately as a trick of the mind. After all, the stern, silver-haired commander before him was a world away from the brown-haired “amazing big sister” from his memories—the one who spoke in such an annoying way but possessed terrifying skills… and who had, in the end, fixed his other big sister.

“Clara?” Seele’s voice cut through the boy’s thoughts, a note of surprise in his tone. “What are you doing here? And coming from inside? Svarog, she…”

Seeing Seele seemed to bolster Clara’s courage. He relaxed slightly and explained in a soft voice, “It’s Svarog-jiejie… she let me out. She said important guests were coming, regarding the… Stellaron. She asked me to lead you all inside.”

“Svarog knew we were coming?” Dan Heng captured the key point, her cold, analytical eyes fixed on the small doorway.

“Mm,” Clara nodded. “Jiejie said she has prepared the relevant records. Everyone… please follow me.”

He stepped fully out of the entrance, holding the door open and gesturing for them to enter.

Bronya and Dan Heng exchanged a quick, meaningful glance before Bronya gave a slight nod. “Thank you for your help.”

One by one, the group filed through the narrow passage. As they walked, March 7th couldn’t help but nudge Dan Heng, who walked beside him.

“Hey, isn’t this all going a little… too smoothly?” he whispered. “I was expecting a whole lot of trouble. But they just opened the door to welcome us, and Svarog was even waiting in advance… something feels a bit off, doesn’t it?”

Dan Heng’s gaze swept their surroundings, her expression as cool and unreadable as ever. “It is indeed suspicious. This level of cooperation is… unusual.” She glanced at the back of Clara, who was diligently leading the way. “We’ll take it one step at a time. Just stay alert.”

The group followed Clara deeper into the core area, winding their way through a scattered array of massive mechanical components and dormant robotic frames. Finally, an immense figure gradually came into view up ahead.

“Whoa…” March 7th subconsciously let his mouth fall open.

And Qiong—Precious Qiong, who had been quietly trailing behind them, clutching his baseball bat like a security blanket… his eyes, which were usually misty and unfocused, suddenly lit up with a brilliant, fervent light.

He stared, utterly transfixed, at the towering form of Svarog on the central platform, as if he had just witnessed the most beautiful thing in the universe.

Then, before anyone could react, he began walking toward her.

“Precious Qiong?” Dan Heng called out, taken aback.

But Qiong was already at the edge of the platform, his head tilted back. His gaze, now bordering on reverent, scanned every inch of Svarog’s magnificent chassis. He slowly raised his index finger, pointing carefully at Svarog’s right hand, his voice filled with an unmatched, heartfelt longing.

“You are so beautiful.”

He took another step closer.

“Can I touch you?”

Standing in the back, Chen was completely stunned by Qiong’s behavior. He never expected the guy to have this kind of hobby. A deep appreciation for exquisite and beautiful mechanical creations?

‘This aesthetic… it’s quite similar to my own!’ he thought, looking at the incredible detail on Svarog’s armor. He couldn’t help but give it a mental thumbs-up.

Dan Heng quickly strode forward, grabbing Qiong’s shoulder. A rare hint of helplessness and embarrassment flickered across her usually stoic face. “Precious Qiong, don’t do that. It’s incredibly rude.”

She tried to pull back the beauty-mesmerized young man, but Svarog did not refuse.

The massive robot lowered her head, her optical sensors focusing on Qiong’s face. According to her past logic, such a request for physical contact would have been met with an immediate rejection or a stern warning.

But at this moment, the ‘flexibility’ module newly added to her core protocols last night—and the direct instructions from that Excellency regarding cooperation—were taking effect.

She ran a quick assessment: Astral Express member. No detected ill intent. Request is harmless.

After a brief pause, Svarog raised her intact left arm, extending it toward Qiong.

“Request received,” a steady, synthesized female voice announced. “Contact permitted. Please proceed with caution.”

Dan Heng’s hand on Qiong’s shoulder froze, surprise flashing in her eyes. Bronya and Seele also wore expressions of astonishment.

This was… far too easy.

Qiong’s eyes grew even brighter. Completely ignoring Dan Heng, he reached out his own hand. First, he tentatively tapped the silver-gray armor on Svarog’s forearm.

“It’s cold,” he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. Then, he pressed his entire palm against the metal, carefully feeling the smooth, cool texture. His fingers curiously traced the complex patterns etched along the armor’s seams.

Svarog remained perfectly still, allowing him to touch her, like a priceless work of art on display in a museum.

March 7th was dumbfounded. He leaned toward Dan Heng’s ear and whispered, “Dan Heng… has Precious Qiong… awakened some kind of strange new attribute?”

Dan Heng expressionlessly pulled her hand back and let out a silent, weary sigh. “Let him be.”

Watching this interaction unfold, an interaction that exceeded all expectations, Bronya’s internal assessment of Svarog’s cooperative attitude rose several more notches. It seemed this meeting might go even more smoothly than she had imagined.

Nearby, Clara breathed a quiet sigh of relief; it looked like Svarog-jiejie wasn’t angry.

After Qiong had satisfied his initial curiosity about the beautiful robot, Svarog withdrew her arm and brought the proceedings back on track.

“Contact concluded.”

Her glowing gaze shifted to Bronya and Dan Heng.

“Regarding the Stellaron and the ancient records, all preparations are complete. Please proceed to the data terminal.”

The official exchange of information was about to begin. Qiong had no choice but to reluctantly return to Dan Heng’s side, though his gaze still drifted toward Svarog from time to time, a clear look of longing in his eyes. He obviously wanted more.

[Elysian’s Note:

Having a good time with the story?

Every single bit helps immensely:

Thanks a ton for making this journey possible!]