"Folks, let's make a deal. I'll help you with whatever you need to do next, but can we please renegotiate this whole 'bait' thing?"
Sampo, wearing a face like a bitter lon, pleaded desperately with Fu Zhu and the others, practically begging on his knees. However, the group, having been tricked by him before, gave him no quarter.
Even Seele, who hadn't been knocked out by Sampo's gas but knew his character all too well, let out a disdainful scoff upon hearing his pleas from the side.
Seeing their reactions, Sampo couldn't help but sigh mournfully. He had just managed to break out of prison last ti; if he got caught again, escaping would likely be even harder! Who had he angered to deserve this!
Just as Sampo was resigning himself to his fate, soone nearby suddenly said, "Okay," sounding like music from heaven to his ears.
Xing tilted her head with a grin and said to Sampo, "Since you put it that way, the bait issue isn't entirely off the table for discussion. But only on the condition that you're really willing to do anything for us."
Although Fu Zhu and the others were slightly puzzled by Xing's sudden change of tune, they chose to remain silent and let her take the stage.
Sensing an opportunity, Sampo imdiately raised his hand and swore, "I, Sampo Koski, swear on my honor! Whatever you ask, I will do my utmost to accomplish it for you!"
"You said it yourself..." Xing was still smiling, but her eyes gradually narrowed into slits, wearing the expression of a successful scher. "I need you to help us lure away the Silvermane Guards. That should be simple for you, right?"
Sampo's eyes widened. Lure away the Silvermane Guards?
How was that any different from being bait!
Fu Zhu silently gave Xing a thumbs-up from the side. He hadn't expected this girl to learn bad tricks so quickly.
He recalled how he himself had tricked Xing not long ago; he didn't expect her to master the technique in such a short ti.
Xing didn't give Sampo a chance to resist, as the elevator conveniently arrived at that mont.
With a ding, the elevator doors slowly opened, revealing a long-abandoned facility.
Bronya stepped out of the elevator, glanced around, and imdiately confird their location.
"This is the site of the old factory. It was abandoned due to the spread of the Fragntum."
"That's good too. At least we won't be imdiately surrounded by Silvermane Guards upon arrival."
Fu Zhu lowered March 7th from his back. After a short rest, March 7th had recovered a fair bit of stamina, at least enough to move around normally on her own.
However, once she was set down, March 7th stared sowhat reluctantly at Fu Zhu's back. Being carried by soone, not having to walk herself, felt quite nice.
Next ti there's a chance, I can pretend for a bit longer!
"So, are we going straight to confront Cocolia now?" March 7th pulled her gaze away from Fu Zhu's back and asked the group.
"Confronting Cocolia is necessary, but we can't put all our eggs in one basket."
Fu Zhu thought for a mont and decided to split the group to avoid being wiped out in one go. "Xing, Bronya, and I will go find Cocolia. Dan Heng, March, and Seele will find a place to hide outside and be ready to support us at any mont."
No one objected to Fu Zhu's grouping, but Xing raised her hand curiously. "Bro, aren't you assigning Sampo a job?"
Fu Zhu pointed to the empty space beside her. "He bolted long ago."
While everyone's attention was focused outside the elevator earlier, Sampo had taken the opportunity to sneak away.
Although Fu Zhu had noticed him, he didn't intervene. Better to let a variable like him disappear early than keep him around.
As for the initial plan to use Sampo as bait, Fu Zhu had just been saying it casually; he never really thought Sampo was reliable.
Hearing that Sampo had fled, aside from Xing feeling it was a bit of a sha, the others didn't really care.
"Hide? But the city is crawling with Silvermane Guard informants. Where can we possibly hide?" March 7th recalled their previous experience being pursued by the Guards, feeling that nowhere was safe.
"Hmm... I've thought of a good place. Follow ."
.....
Inside Serval's workshop.
Serval poured hot water for everyone in turn, looking at the crowd packed into her workshop with a slightly odd expression.
"Although I really dislike Cocolia, Fu Zhu, bringing everyone straight here... aren't you worried about getting into trouble?"
"With a brother who's a frontline commander, I'm guessing your relationship with the Silvermane Guards is quite decent. They'll be relatively less suspicious of this place. Besides, we're here to negotiate with Cocolia. If the Silvermane Guards co knocking, you can just say we threatened you."
"Makes sense."
Bronya couldn't help but cough a few tis listening to their conversation, reminding them she was still present!
Although Bronya was currently on Fu Zhu's side, she was still technically part of the Silvermane Guards. Listening to 'wanted criminals' conspiring like this felt sowhat strange.
Hearing Bronya's cough, Serval stopped her conversation with Fu Zhu and turned to her.
"Bronya, it's wonderful to see you back safely. Recently, the city has been rife with rumors about your disappearance, and the Silvermane Guards have been looking for you constantly."
Bronya said apologetically, "I'm fine. Sorry to have worried you."
Serval smiled and shook her head. "As long as you're safe."
After a brief reunion, Fu Zhu stood up from his seat and called out to Bronya and Xing, "Let's go. It's ti we t the final boss."
Xing readily pulled out her baseball bat and asked Fu Zhu curiously, "Will Cocolia have a health bar?"
"Hard to say. Maybe there's actually a chance."
"I'm still here..." Bronya sighed wearily, looking at the two whose killing intent seed to be rising. "Don't forget, Fu Zhu, you were the one who said we'd try negotiating first. Maybe Mother really was deceived?"
Fu Zhu glanced at Bronya with so helplessness. Still clinging to unrealistic fantasies even now. It was clear Bronya truly respected Cocolia as a mother.
But whether it was the video provided by Svarog or the information from Serval, the 'victim', everything indicated that Cocolia, as the Great Guardian, was definitely aware of the situation and was the one insisting on concealing the Stellaron's existence and betraying the Express crew.
However, saying this now wouldn't help. Bronya would only believe it when she heard it with her own ears.
"Let's go. Only by eting Cocolia can we confirm everything."
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