Outside Qlipoth Fort, Fu Zhu and his group had just arrived at the entrance when they were met by Pela, who, following Bronya's instructions, was waiting for them.
"Mr. Fu Zhu and everyone, hello. Please follow me. The refreshments are still being prepared, so please come with me to see the Great Guardian first."
Fu Zhu and the others had no objections and followed Pela into Qlipoth Fort, heading straight for Cocolia's office. Only then did Pela stop and knock on the door for them.
"Come in."
Upon hearing Cocolia's voice from within, Pela opened the office door.
Fu Zhu's group of four filed in. Cocolia, seated behind her desk, looked up and saw them, a smile gracing her lips.
"Just in time. I was just thinking of asking Bronya to bring you over. Ms. Topaz, I'd like to revisit the matter of the debt. There's something I'd like you to see."
"Something?" Topaz was intrigued but didn't immediately walk over. Instead, she glanced at Fu Zhu. Only after he nodded did she smile and approach Cocolia's desk.
"And what might the Great Guardian have to show me?"
Cocolia maintained her smile, not forgetting to gesture for Fu Zhu and the others to come closer as well.
"Fu Zhu, you all should come have a look too. I think this will be familiar to you."
The three of them walked over, and the group of four gathered around the desk. Cocolia put down the tablet in her hands. On the screen was a picture of a Creation Engine, and in the corner of the photo, several more identical engines could be seen in the distance.
Cocolia took a deep breath, her expression serious as she addressed Topaz. "Ms. Topaz, regarding the debt, I have found that a long time ago, while the Company did provide a large quantity of supplies to Jarilo-VI, the vast majority were combat mechs for fighting Fragmentum creatures. However, the Company never provided the activation keys for this portion of the mechs. These Creation Engines, on the other hand, were machines independently developed by the predecessors of Jarilo-VI.
This proves that we on Jarilo-VI are not incapable of changing our situation. Therefore, I hope the Company can grant us some leniency on the timeline. We will definitely be able to repay the debt!"
Topaz was somewhat surprised to hear that the Creation Engines were an independent invention of the people of Jarilo-VI. She hadn't expected them to be capable of developing such machines without any technical assistance.
It was just as Cocolia said: Belobog truly did have the ability to save itself without relying on outside help.
However...
Topaz suddenly smiled and shook her head. "That probably won't be necessary anymore, Madam Cocolia."
Cocolia was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"Because the Company no longer intends to collect on this debt. As you said, the Company made a grave error in its assistance to Jarilo-VI back then, making the debt unreasonable. Therefore, the Company has cancelled its plan to collect the debt and, as a gesture of goodwill on behalf of Mr. Fu Zhu, is willing to gift that batch of mechs and their activation keys to Belobog for its future reconstruction. Of course, if needed, the Company can also provide further assistance in other areas."
Cocolia had been the Great Guardian for many years; she was an incredibly shrewd woman. The moment she heard Topaz's words, she understood. A complex expression appeared on her face as she looked at Fu Zhu.
"Fu Zhu, you..."
Fu Zhu folded his arms and raised an eyebrow at Cocolia. "There's no need for thanks, Cocolia."
"No." Cocolia shook her head. "That's not what I wanted to say. How about this, Fu Zhu... you be the Great Guardian instead?"
Fu Zhu looked at the seemingly serious Cocolia with an expression of utter confusion. "How about you just thank me instead..."
"I'm being serious, Fu Zhu."
At this moment, Cocolia's heart was filled with a certain helplessness. Jarilo-VI simply owed Fu Zhu too much. It was a debt they could never repay!
It would be better to just hand the entire planet of Jarilo-VI over to him. Besides, with Fu Zhu's character, he would surely not mistreat the people of Belobog. In fact, he could probably do an even better job than they could.
"I agree with Mother's words."
Just then, Bronya suddenly entered through the door, expressing her view with a smile.
Seeing even Bronya say this, Fu Zhu shook his head in resignation.
"Bronya, how could you say that too?"
Bronya walked to Fu Zhu's side and looked him earnestly in the face. "Because, I truly believe you are more like the Great Guardian of Jarilo-VI than we are."
"Ahem!"
Xing and March 7th suddenly squeezed in between them. Xing looked at Bronya and Cocolia with a resentful expression. "You just got our help, and now you're trying to poach my old bro?"
"If you're willing, you can stay too. With you assisting him, I think Fu Zhu's work would be much easier."
"Really?"
Xing was immediately swayed. Her mind began to fantasize about herself on Jarilo-VI, commanding the masses and leading a grand reform. As she pictured it, she couldn't help but start giggling foolishly.
"Xing!"
Seeing that Xing was about to be won over, March 7th quickly reached out and gave a sharp pinch to the soft flesh of her waist.
"Ouch!"
Xing rubbed her waist, looking at March 7th with a pout. "March, I was just thinking about it..."
March 7th shot her a glare, then wrapped her arms around both Fu Zhu and Xing, looking at Cocolia with some urgency. "That's probably not possible. Fu Zhu and Xing are Nameless; they can't stay in one place for too long. Miss Himeko wouldn't agree!"
Xing quietly leaned in and whispered in March 7th's ear, "You're clearly the one who can't bear for us siblings to leave, yet you're bringing Miss Himeko into this, hehe."
March 7th didn't say a word, but her ears turned a little red.
Fu Zhu had overheard their whispered conversation. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips before he spoke seriously to Cocolia and Bronya.
"March is right. I'm a Nameless, and for the time being, I have no plans to settle down somewhere for the rest of my life. So, let's just forget about this Great Guardian business."
"Is that so?" Cocolia nodded with some regret. "That's truly a pity."
Bronya's face remained impassive as she echoed, "A pity." But a flash of disappointment crossed her eyes. Immediately after, however, she became even more determined about a certain idea in her heart.
The words Seele had said to her earlier echoed in her ears.
'Since you'll have regrets no matter what, you might as well choose the option that won't make your present self regret it. Anyway, you can't let it go, so just take it one step at a time.'