After Clara agreed to take everyone to meet Svarog, the group quickly returned to the Mechanical Settlement.
Before meeting Svarog, everyone first helped Clara repair the settlement's energy core.
Only after that did they come to the pitch-black iron gate they had seen before.
The wandering red-and-green signal light they had seen earlier was still there.
"...I'm back, Timmy," Clara greeted.
"Welcome back, Miss Clara."
"Timmy, help me open the door. I want to see Mr. Svarog."
"Foreign personnel detected. Grant access?"
"It's fine. They're all Clara's guests."
"Command received. Access terminal unlocked. Welcome back, Miss Clara and guests."
After the exchange, the group obtained permission to enter. Before going inside, Clara added, "Um... if possible, please don't make Mr. Svarog angry..."
"Don't worry, Clara! We're here to reason with him," March said.
"I'll leave the negotiating to you. I'm not good at that," Seele said.
"Negotiating with a robot... that's a first for me too," Bronya said, her expression subtle.
Nero looked left, then right, and said, "Actually, Seele, you might not be completely useless. If reasoning doesn't work, then we'll have to use physics."
"A fight? That, I'm definitely good at," Seele said.
Clara glanced at Nero, looking a bit worried. She opened her mouth, but in the end didn't say anything.
"Let's go. We're heading in," Dan Heng said as he watched the mechanical gate slowly open.
And so, everyone moved inside.
As soon as they entered, they saw Svarog's towering figure facing the door, standing there quietly.
"I'm back, Mr. Svarog," Clara ran over first.
"I saw that the settlement's power system is back online. Thank you, Clara," Svarog said.
Then Svarog raised his head and looked at the others. "However, why did you bring them here? If it was just to make friends, bringing the one who looks like you would have been enough."
Hearing this, March immediately got annoyed. "What kind of thing is that to say? What do you mean? Even robots discriminate now?"
Stelle spoke up, "I think... what's more worth paying attention to is Nero. Even robots... to us, he and Clara are only somewhat similar, at best..."
Dan Heng nodded as well. "Indeed. When Mr. Welt was on the train, he also said that sometimes seeing Nero makes him think of a few old acquaintances from his hometown."
"Nero's special quality is obvious, he's very beautiful. People who see him can always find something similar to the beautiful things in their own hearts."
"I just didn't expect this trait to work not only on emotionally inclined beings, but also on rational machines," Stelle raised a hand to rub her chin.
"I get it now. So Svarog isn't a completely stone-cold machine after all. At least Clara is very important to him!" March grasped the key point.
After a brief moment of thought, Nero spoke up, "So what you're saying is, kidnapping Clara as a hostage to threaten Svarog isn't exactly off the table..."
He steered the discussion in a very strange direction.
Standing to the side, Seele and Bronya both looked at the Trailblazing Squad with odd expressions. They didn't really understand what they were talking about...
'But why kidnap Clara?'
'What is wrong with you people?'
On the other side, because the Trailblazing Squad was speaking quietly, Svarog hadn't heard any of this. Clara was explaining,
"Mr. Svarog... regarding the matter of going to the Upper District, they want to talk to you about it."
Hearing that, Svarog looked at everyone again, his gaze passing over Seele and Bronya, and finally landing on the four members of the Trailblazing Squad.
"Analyzing... Analysis result, Targets do not belong to the Wildfire organization. Background, unknown. Classification, unknown information."
"In light of Clara's recommendation, I will give you an opportunity to speak."
"He seems willing to communicate with us! Quick, Stelle, it's time for your silver tongue!" March said.
Stelle looked left and right, then finally fixed her gaze on Nero.
March wasn't very reliable, but the reliable Dan Heng didn't like talking much. Nero was clear and logical when he insulted people, maybe...
However, a certain white-haired leaping-strike hero refused the Galactic Baseballer's request, and under her gaze, took a step back.
"I... I'm not good with words. So, Stelle, you should do it..."
Stelle blinked. "..." You weren't like this when you were roasting people!
Bronya blinked too, staring blankly at Nero. "..."
'You weren't like this when you were roasting me either!'
But there was no helping it. Since the white-haired leaping-strike hero refused to take the stage, the Galactic Baseballer had no choice but to step up.
"We have no intention of starting a conflict," Stelle said.
"Seeking peace, understood. However, that is a unilateral statement from you," Svarog replied. "As for my stance, it will be determined after evaluating the outcome of our negotiations."
"We may have no intention of starting a conflict, but we know the suffering of Belobog's people..." Nero muttered quietly from behind."
"That basically meant, we're here for the happiness and safety of Belobog's people. We don't want to fight, but if you're stubborn, we'll beat you down."
So after Nero said that, Svarog slightly tilted his head and glanced at him.
Svarog's calculation core told him that this white-haired boy who resembled Clara was not here with good intentions.
At the same time, Svarog ran some additional calculations. If Clara were allowed to continue interacting with this human youth, it likely wouldn't be good guidance for Clara's future development.
All calculations were completed in an instant. Then Svarog said to Stelle, "Get to the point. Do not waste this world's precious time."
"He just shut down your whole speech," March said.
"Don't panic. Remember, we need to make him believe we're variables in his calculations," Dan Heng reminded.
After a brief moment of thought, Stelle asked Svarog, "Do you know what a Stellaron is?"
"Stellaron..." Svarog paused for about a second.
"Accessing database... access blocked. Discussing the Stellaron with unauthorized targets, prohibited. You are touching secrets sealed in the depths of this world, secrets no human should know."
"Reassessing target status, threat index increasing. I demand that you state your true purpose!"
"As expected, he knows about the Stellaron," Dan Heng said. "But this topic is risky..."
"At this point, why beat around the bush?" Seele said. "Lay it all out. Success or failure comes down to this."
"Seele's right, Dan Heng!" Nero said. "At a time like this, we should tell the truth! If he won't listen, that's his problem!"
Then Nero spoke directly, "We want to find the Stellaron and seal it, ending the disaster this planet is suffering!"
"..."
After a brief silence, Svarog said, "In recorded history, humans have attempted to make contact with the Stellaron multiple times. Without exception, they acted out of selfish desire, attempting to claim the substance for themselves."
"Builder's directive, Any attempt to contact the Stellaron will result in severe consequences. Reassessing, target threat index has reached maximum."
"What do we do, what do we do? This doesn't look good at all!" March said nervously.
"Wait, we're not like those people!" Stelle tried to argue.
However, Svarog's attitude was extremely firm. "There is no evidence to suggest you will be an exception. Maintaining original calculation results. Peace maintenance protocol temporarily suspended... requesting activation of eradication protocol."
March took a step back and blinked. "E-Eradication? Like... literally?"
Dan Heng sighed. "Negotiations have broken down. March, Nero, prepare for battle."
At this moment, Clara realized what was about to happen and pleaded with Svarog, "Mr. Svarog! Please don't..."
Svarog cut her off. "Clara, leave this place."
Seeing that there was no avoiding a fight, Seele spat in annoyance. "Tch... so it comes to this in the end."
Bronya shouted, "Clara, it's dangerous! Find somewhere to hide!"
"Prototype Unit No. 3:Supervisory Machine Svarog. Eradication protocol request status, approved.
"...Permission to exterminate!"
The next moment, Svarog's eyes emitted a dangerous red glow, and his body structure began to change. Armor plates at his shoulders, forearms, knees, and other areas slowly opened, revealing pitch-black gun barrels.
Some sections were fitted with micro-missiles. At the same time, the energy cannons in both of Svarog's hands began to gather power. Thrusters deployed across his body, gears and engines entering maximum output.
There was no doubt about it, he had made his decision to keep everyone here.
Just as everyone drew their weapons and faced off against Svarog, fully on guard, before either side had launched their first attack, a white figure leaped in, tracing an arc through the air.
Immediately after, everyone heard a dull, heavy crash, as if a metal shell had collided at high speed with something.
At the same time, they heard Nero shout, "You really have never seen aliens before!"
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