Ironclad: How can hand-crafted knight belts not be considered genius?

That short sentence was like a biting wind shattering the last vestige of warmth in the clinic.

The air froze instantly.

Clara blinked her snow-white eyelashes in bewilderment, completely oblivious to the deeper meaning in Jiang Ning's words.

In her eyes, Sister Natasha was always a gentle healer who saved lives and patiently comforted everyone; she was the warmest light in the lower wards.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the heavy and sharp word "leader".

At that moment, Natasha's hair stood on end.

A sudden chill ran down his spine; the gentle and kind doctor's facade was shattered in an instant by the stranger before him.

Her pupils contracted sharply, all the tenderness in her eyes vanished, replaced by the composure and vigilance unique to a leader.

Outsiders only know Oleg as the overt leader of the fire, responsible for taking charge, leading the charge, maintaining order, and negotiating with foreign powers.

In the minds of everyone in the upper district, "Earthfire" was nothing more than a loose resistance organization formed spontaneously by a group of retired Iron Guards and refugees.

But only a very small number of core executives know the truth.

Natasha is the true leader of "Earthfire".

"Clara, you play with Iz for a while. Jiang Ning and Natasha can go outside and chat alone for a bit, okay?"

Jiang Ning walked towards Clara by the bedside and reached out to rub her head.

Clara nodded obediently. Although she didn't quite understand the change in the atmosphere between the two, she knew that Brother Jiang Ning was a good person, and Sister Natasha was a good person too.

There shouldn't be much conflict between good people, right?

After receiving the reply, Jiang Ning turned to face Natasha and smiled slightly.

"Please come this way, Miss Natasha."

Natasha pursed her lips, glanced at the quiet clinic behind her, and finally followed Jiang Ning out the door.

The door behind them clicked shut, isolating the interior.

Natasha couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief—after all, the fewer people who know about such a sensitive topic, the better.

"Let's get straight to the point, President Jiang Ning."

You contacted me not just because of Clara, right?

What is your purpose? Or rather, what do you want me to do?

Jiang Ning simply shrugged.

"There's no need to imagine me as a cunning schemer."

Actually, finding you was just a side effect. Revealing your hidden identity was merely to make you believe that I know far more information than you suspect.

Natasha couldn't deny it, but remained silent, quietly watching Jiang Ning.

"Okay, okay, I do need your help with something, but my request isn't unreasonable."

I need an adoption list from orphanages from about 15-20 years ago, the more comprehensive the better, ideally accurate to gender and adoption date.

Natasha frowned, somewhat puzzled.

"What do you need the list of orphanages for?"

Jiang Ning rested his chin on his hand and glanced around.

"Hmm... I might as well tell you."

The sharpness of the conflict between the upper and lower levels is evident to all.

Do you think it's possible to get the oppressed people in the lower classes to obediently integrate into the upper classes without causing conflict?

"You want to merge the upper and lower floors? How is that possible..."

"Therefore, we need a 'bond' that can convince both the upper and lower classes."

Ideally, it should be someone born in a lower-class area but holding a high position in an upper-class area.

Natasha clicked her tongue dismissively, feeling that Jiang Ning's words were nothing but a fantasy.

"You're being too idealistic. Where are we supposed to find someone like that?"

Yes, it has always been there.

Do you remember the silver-haired girl next to Cocolia?

Jiang Ning spoke casually and naturally, as if he were stating something insignificant.

"You mean... Bronya?"

She's the current Silvermane Iron Guard Commander! Cocolia personally selected her as a candidate for High Guardian, and you're saying she's from the Lower District?!

Natasha's pupils dilated suddenly, somewhat incredulous.

You don't believe it either, right?

That's why I need that list; you'll understand when the time comes.

Natasha lowered her head and remained silent for a moment, then looked up at Jiang Ning.

"Okay, I'll collect them for you."

But I can't guarantee that nothing will be missing, after all, it's been so long, and paper documents are rarely preserved intact.

"It's okay, just do your best."

Oh right, soon Sambo will be bringing a group of four people here. Apart from Bronya, the other three are my pioneering partners.

"I'll have to trouble you to take care of him then, Leader of 'Earthfire'~"

Natasha sighed and rubbed her forehead, somewhat speechless.

"Please, have mercy on me. Just keep this to yourself, okay? I'm begging you."

"Okay, I won't say anything more."

Jiang Ning turned around, waved his hand, and then pushed the door open and went back inside.

Inside the house, Clara was enthusiastically asking Iz all sorts of questions about the outer world.

Iz answered all her questions, enriching Clara's small world with color and content.

The room was warm and cozy, completely isolating it from the chill of the permafrost below.

Clara sat on the examination bed, her legs swinging gently, listening intently.

Hearing the door open, Clara immediately turned around, her snow-white hair swaying gently, and a pure smile blooming on her face:

"Brother Jiang Ning! You're back! Sister Iz just told me there are so many stars outside, and all sorts of amazing robots!"

Jiang Ning looked into the clear, untainted brightness in her eyes, and his heart softened. He slowly walked to the bedside and knelt down.

"Yes, the outer world is vast, far more expansive than this frozen wasteland of Beloborg."

He looked at Clara with gentle eyes, and spoke naturally, his tone sincere, without a trace of coercion, a completely equal request:

"Clara, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

"help?"

Clara immediately straightened her small body, her eyes serious and determined, completely forgetting the soreness in her ankle.

"OK!

"Brother Jiang Ning saved me! Clara will help with anything, no matter what!"

Natasha followed Jiang Ning into the house, leaned against the door frame and watched quietly, a sense of relief in her eyes.

She knew that Jiang Ning's next path would inevitably involve that lower-level mechanical overlord.

Jiang Ning looked at the sensible little girl and said softly:

"I want to see Schwarzkopf."

Upon hearing this, Clara was slightly taken aback.

"To see Mr. Schwarz?"

"Um."

Jiang Ning nodded slightly, his tone frank and composed.

Seeing Clara's troubled expression, Jiang Ning softened his tone and spoke softly.

"I've heard that he is the core of the intelligent machine that preserves the remnants of the old civilization, guarding the entire ruined mine, protecting you and countless displaced wanderers."

I come from outer space and possess completely different mechanical technologies and intelligent mechanical systems.

I want to have a talk with him and have some technical exchange and mutual learning.

I can help him upgrade outdated mechanical architecture, repair damaged mechs, and optimize low-temperature endurance modules.

Similarly, I need to draw upon the underlying computing logic of the lost storage machines of the old era to improve my own technology.

He spoke frankly and clearly, without concealing his motives or feigning goodwill; it was purely a mutually beneficial and equal cooperation.

Clara seemed to understand, but she grasped the key points.

Brother Jiang Ning is a good person; he wants to help Mr. Schwarz and the little mechs become better.

The little girl's eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded without hesitation:

"Sure! No problem!"

She eagerly clutched the hem of her dress, her voice soft yet resolute:

Mr. Schwarz will be very happy!

Recently, many of my mech companions have broken down and are difficult to repair, and the wanderers are always causing trouble.

If Brother Jiangning can fix them and make everyone alright... Mr. Schwarzkopf will definitely want to be your friend!

Seeing her unwavering trust, Jiang Ning smiled faintly.

The entire city of Belleburg was shrouded in layers of suspicion and distrust.

The upper class fears change, the lower class fears plunder, but this little girl in the mud always views the world with goodwill.

"But your foot is still injured, there's no rush."

Jiang Ning gently pressed Clara down, who wanted to get out of bed immediately, and tenderly instructed her.

"Once your injuries have stabilized a bit, we'll visit the mechanical settlement again."

"It's okay! I can walk slowly!"

Clara quickly shook her head, afraid of delaying the important matter.

"The mechanical settlement isn't far away! It's in the area of ​​the vertical shaft deep in the ruins."

That's the home Mr. Schwarzrod guards; many homeless people and repaired mechs live there!

Natasha spoke up at the opportune moment, her tone calm and objective, consistent with the official settlement setting:

"The mechanical settlement of Schwarzlo is a unique haven in the lower zone."

There, people and machines coexist, and as long as they follow the order he has set, they can be sheltered, whether they are refugees or orphans.

It is also the only safe zone in the entire ruins that is not disturbed by the rampant invasion of the Rift Monsters and Wanderers.

However, outsiders always needed Clara's guidance and verification to approach the core area and see Swallow in person.

At this point, Natasha looked up at Jiang Ning, her gaze becoming completely serious:

"Since you've already made up your mind, I won't try to persuade you any further."

Having Clara lead the way is the only safest way, and the one least likely to trigger the mechanical swarm's alert.

Jiang Ning nodded in understanding.

Schwarz's computing power alert and mech swarm defense are the highest security systems left over from the old era.

Clara was his only weakness, his only key to success.

"Then I'll trouble Clara to lead the way."

Jiang Ning raised his hand and ruffled Clara's soft, smooth white hair.

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