Damn it, something's wrong with the gacha I got.

"Wow! Who drew this beautiful girl like this? It's so ugly!" March 7th immediately expressed her dissatisfaction with the artist's drawing skills.

"Let me see, isn't this drawing quite realistic?" Xingbao came over.

"It looks like a head!" March 7th remarked.

"This art style... should be Jepard's work."

Bronya, who went up to check, immediately recognized who had drawn the wanted poster.

Who else could have such an obvious abstract style besides Jepard Landau, the Silver Mane Iron Guard?

Chen Bai: "..."

Who would have thought that Jepard drew this arrest warrant!

You really can't judge a book by its cover!

"We should go find Silva now, let's not discuss Jepard's painting skills for the time being."

Dan Heng stepped forward to remind him.

“That makes sense.” Chen Bai nodded, and then hid the wanted poster. He planned to use it to mock Jepard to his face when he had some free time; that would be a good way to have some fun.

Just as they were walking "openly and legitimately" into the administrative district, a patrolling Silvermane Iron Guard suddenly came over to check on them and also noticed Bronya following beside them.

"Lady Bronya? Where have you been? We've been looking for you, and these people... they look a bit like the wanted criminals from not long ago~"

As he spoke, the Silvermane Iron Guard had already drawn his weapon. Bronya was about to stop him, but Chen Bai spoke faster than she could.

A white light flashed by.

The original Silvermane Iron Guardian has been transformed into a kitten wearing a cotton hat.

"What is this?"

Bronya's pupils contracted.

"Enough with the nonsense, let's get going!"

Chen Bai brushed past him, urging her on in her ear.

They led a group of people, including March 7th, to the perpetual motion machine shop.

But Bronya caught up with them, wanting to ask what had just happened.

However, Chen Bai knew what she was going to ask, and replied without turning his head:

"I know what you want to ask. Don't worry, that Iron Guard is not in danger and will return to normal in seven days. Now is a critical time, and I don't want any more interference. It's best to finish this quickly."

Bronya: "..."

Chapter 31: A Finishing Blow from My Own Sister

"Hey! You're all back! The Silvermane Ironguards are looking everywhere for you. Bronya? I didn't expect you to be with them too."

As soon as she pushed open the door to the perpetual motion machine shop, Hiluva looked up from behind the workbench with a warm smile on her face.

However, when she saw who was following closely behind, a hint of surprise flashed across her eyes.

"Hello, Miss Shiluva." Bronya nodded in greeting, maintaining that familiar poise and distance.

"Alright, let's put aside the small talk for now." Chen Bai stepped forward, interrupting the two's pleasantries. "Hiluva, we're here because we need your help."

Chen Bai succinctly recounted his experiences over the past few days, from the covert operations and key discoveries to the final whereabouts of the star core.

As he spoke, the smile on Shiluva's face gradually faded.

She leaned against the workbench piled with tools, head down and silent, until Chen Bai finished speaking his last sentence, at which point she let out a soft breath.

“As expected…” she said softly, her voice filled with complex emotions, “Cocolia… in the end, still chose the Star Core.”

"From what you're saying, you've had contact with star cores before?" March 7th couldn't help but ask.

“Yes.” Hilva raised her head, her gaze seemingly piercing through the distant past. “That was all… before this machine shop even existed.”

She paused, as if needing to gather her courage, before continuing:

"Back then, Cocolia and I were best friends who could talk about anything. I was also a mechanic in Belloberg and a former technical researcher in the Builders' department. That is, until I touched on a field she didn't allow because of my research on star cores... We broke up completely. Later, I opened this machine shop, doing some repair work while guarding those old days that can never be returned to."

After a moment of silence, Chen Bai finally spoke.

“Miss Silva, the past is the past. What you need to do now is choose to face it with us, stop the star core, and save Beloborg—your home—from disaster and let it be rejuvenated.”

After listening to Chen Bai's words, Xiluwa took a deep breath, her eyes showing a hint of determination:

“You’re right. The most urgent thing is to stop the Star Core. Since the Star Core is in Yongdong Ridge, let’s make preparations and set off tomorrow. Until then, it’s better if you stay here with me.”

Hilva addressed Chen Bai and the other three, then turned to Bronya and asked, "Miss Bronya, what is your choice?"

Bronya hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Although I'm not sure if it will work, I still want to try and persuade my mother, even though she's already been tempted by the Star Core."

Bronya was still a little hesitant at this point, but she was determined to give it a try.

"Since you've made up your mind, we can only wish you the best. Make sure you keep this thing with you and don't take it off. I'll come back to get it from you later."

After saying that, Chen Bai handed the horse talisman to Bronya.

He did this just in case.

After all, Bronya going to persuade Cocolia all by herself was like a lamb entering a tiger's den.

Cocolia, who is controlled by the Star Core, will inevitably try to harm her, especially with her mind control abilities.

"Yes, I will."

Bronya put away the horse charm and then left the perpetual motion machine shop alone.

"Ah Bai, do you think it's dangerous for Bronya to go like this?"

"Thirty-seven said with some concern beside me."

"I think there's a very high chance I'll be attacked or imprisoned by Cocolia, but I've already left a backup plan, so nothing will happen."

Chen Bai offered a word of comfort, indicating that March 7th should not worry.

March 7: "Okay, then that's the only way."

dong dong dong~

Just then, there was a knock on the door, followed by Jeppard's voice.

"Sis, it's me. I need your help with something."

"Oh no, it's Jepard. If he finds out you're here, we're in trouble."

Hiluva's expression changed slightly.

She knew her younger brother's personality all too well; if he discovered a wanted criminal hiding with her, there would definitely be a fight and a capture.

"You all need to hide!"

Hiluva quickly said to Chen Bai and the others.

Chen Bai shook his head: "Since we're already here, we should at least meet them. Besides, we haven't done anything heinous. And the one who did the bad things is that Star Core Cocolia. Why should we, the righteous pioneers, hide?"

Xingbao nodded with her hands on her hips: "That's right, that's right, we are the righteous Train Heroes!"

March 7th complained helplessly: "What the heck is Train Hero?"

Danheng: "Stop fooling around, you guys."

Click~

The shop door opened.

Jepard walked in, about to speak with Hiluva, but when he looked up, he froze.

"Hi~" Xing greeted him.

"You? Wanted criminals? What are you doing here?"

"What wanted criminal? Be careful, or I'll sue you for defamation. And why can't we be here?"

March 7th said with dissatisfaction.

"You dare to show yourselves here? Since you're all here, you might as well stay here too."

As he spoke, Jepard was about to make his move.

"Wait! Little Jie! Listen to my advice!"

At this moment, Hiluva quickly stopped her.

Jepard: "..."

His face stiffened.

Just as they were about to say something, Chen Bai and the other two spoke up, their words quite joking.

Xing: "Little Jie~ Let your big sister see him!"

March 7: "This nickname is really cute."

Chen Bai took out the wanted notice he had taken not long ago, showing it off to a certain Silver-Maned Iron Guard officer, and said:

"Look, this is our Commander Jepard's painting. Although it's a bit abstract, it still gets a passing grade in terms of the characters' expressions. As for the rest, the art teacher probably has to say, 'This is the worst class I've ever taught,' right?"

Dan Heng: "......"

Aren't you three afraid of the other side retaliating by stirring things up like this?

Jepard was already furious and was about to interrupt when Shiluva's voice rang out.

"Huh? Jepard, isn't this the wanted poster you drew last time? Didn't I tell you to have Pera draw it? Why did you do it yourself? Didn't I advise you against it?"

Jepard: "..."

The finishing blow came from his own sister, and it also came with continuous damage.

Jepard felt his heart bleeding.

However, he was, after all, a garrison officer of the Silver Mane Iron Guard, and quickly calmed himself down.

"Sister, I don't have time to talk to you about this now. These people are wanted by the Great Guardian. I have to capture them all and let the Great Guardian decide their fate."

Jepard was getting impatient and was about to force himself on him.

Chapter 32 Hilva: That's more like it, little Jekyll!

"Brother, wait a minute, let me explain!"

"Hiluva spoke up."

"Sister, what else is there to explain? Are you colluding with these wanted criminals? If so, then I will fulfill my duty as the garrison commander today and arrest you as well!"

Jepard replied righteously.

Hiluva: "..."

Why is this younger brother so stubborn?

She remembers it wasn't like this when she was little.

Has his brain stopped working properly after he became that kind of garrison commander?

"If you arrest us all, then you can expect the entire population of Belleburg to go to their doom!"

At this moment, Chen Bai spoke up.

Jepard frowned: "What do you mean?"

Chen Bai remained calm and continued, "My meaning couldn't be clearer: your Great Guardian Cocolia has long been bewitched by the Star Core and has become its puppet to destroy this planet!"

"Shut up! You're definitely lying to me!"

Jepard shouted, but a subtle, indescribable turmoil stirred within him.

"I lied to you? Forget it, believe it or not. If you still have any doubts, then come with us tomorrow and you'll see the truth."

Chen Bai stopped talking nonsense. He didn't care whether the blond, straight man believed him or not, and he wasn't afraid of Jepard taking action. At worst, he could just turn him into a little orange cat and stay put, so as not to cause trouble for the next operation.