Chapter 32: Beaten to a Pulp, Friends

A heavy, twisted voice echoed in Stelle's mind.

[Cocolia... Cocolia...]

Then, a girl's voice followed, sounding much like the High Guardian they had met earlier, but much younger.

"Who... are you? No, what are you?"

[We are allies... Companions of the guardians for generations.]

"What do you... want?"

[To rebuild... this dying world... Help you... achieve your wish.]

Boom——!

The explosion jolted Stelle awake.

She felt the room shake and quickly got up, grabbing her bat as she rushed outside.

In the hallway of the inn, Stelle, Dan Heng, and Gu Tang were all present.

"What happened?" Stelle asked urgently.

"Bro's room exploded, probably an attack," Dan Heng replied.

Gu Tang looked at Stelle, "Don't worry, I'm not hurt, and I put out the fire to make sure it wouldn't harm other guests."

"As expected of Gu Tang, always reliable," March 7th said with a smile, patting Gu Tang's shoulder.

"Hmph... naturally," Gu Tang accepted the praise without hesitation.

Stelle looked around, "Do you know where the attack came from?"

Dan Heng pointed to the hallway window, "See for yourself, the inn is surrounded by the Silvermane Guards."

Stelle walked to the window and looked outside, seeing numerous heavily armed Silvermane Guards.

Attacking a defenseless scientist with explosives, what kind of people are they?

Stelle thought angrily.

"Looks like they're here for us. Let's not wait for them to come in, let's go meet them," Gu Tang suggested.

They left the inn.

As soon as they stepped outside, they were surrounded by a large group of Silvermane Guards, guns and swords aimed at them.

The girl leading the guards looked very familiar.

"You're... the one from Qlipoth Fort..." March 7th stared at Bronya with wide eyes.

Bronya stepped forward, her expression serious as she addressed the group, "I am Bronya Rand, acting commander of the Silvermane Guards. By the esteemed and revered Amber Lord Qlipoth, under orders of High Guardian Cocolia Rand, here to arrest..."

"You bastards!" Gu Tang's loud shout cut off Bronya's words.

Even March 7th and the others were stunned, unable to speak.

Gu Tang strode up to Bronya, his steps so forceful that Bronya instinctively stepped back.

"You people! Using explosives in a civilian facility! Do you have any sense of justice left? Any morality?" Gu Tang righteously condemned them.

"V-very sorry!" Bronya's mind went blank, and she apologized involuntarily.

"Aren't the Silvermane Guards supposed to protect the people? Is this how you protect them?" Gu Tang's momentum grew even stronger.

"You are absolutely right!" Even the Silvermane Guard officer beside Bronya apologized.

"Do you know how many people could die if the inn caught fire? How many would be left homeless?"

Gu Tang continued his barrage, unstoppable.

"It's all our fault!" Bronya and the Silvermane Guard officer were already kneeling on the ground.

"Very well... You seem to have a bit of an apologetic attitude. Hand over all your money to compensate for my mental distress," Gu Tang nodded.

"O-okay..." Bronya took out her wallet.

The wallet had a cute white rabbit on it.

"Um... I only have 7528 Wintertown Shields on me..." Bronya counted and said.

The Silvermane Guard officer also took out his wallet.

It had animals, candy, hearts, and was decorated with several bows. It looked even cuter than Bronya's wallet.

Silvermane Guard Officer: "Because I threw a birthday party for my daughter recently, I only have 5648 Wintertown Shields..."

Gu Tang unceremoniously took all of Bronya's money but left half of the officer's money.

"Hmm... Considering you have a daughter, I'll only take half of yours," Gu Tang said while counting the money.

"Thank you very much," the Silvermane Guard officer was full of gratitude.

Gu Tang waved his hand, "Alright, you stay here and continue reflecting. I'm leaving now."

With that, Gu Tang turned and walked away steadily.

March 7th and the others followed behind him.

One step, two steps, three steps...

They walked ten meters.

Then they all sped up and ran away!

"Stop right there————!!" Bronya's hysterical voice came from behind.

"Green hills never change, the river flows long. Goodbye, croissant," Gu Tang turned and bid farewell to Bronya.

Then he saw Bronya's eyes turn red as she charged at him like an enraged lioness.

"Oh crap," Gu Tang was a bit scared.

In a moment of hesitation, he was tackled to the ground by Bronya.

"Huff... huff... I hated you ever since Qlipoth Fort, and now you dare mock me..." Bronya sat on him, breathing heavily, her hands tightly gripping Gu Tang's collar, "You... I will never let you go!"

Gulp...

Gu Tang swallowed a mouthful of saliva and quickly shouted, "Don't worry about me! Run!"

"It seems... we can't run..." March 7th said awkwardly.

Gu Tang then noticed that another group of Silvermane Guards had appeared ahead, blocking their path.

"High Guardian Cocolia instructed us to be cautious of you, so I had another group of Silvermane Guards ready in ambush," the Silvermane Guard officer said as he approached.

Gu Tang looked at him, "I didn't expect a faceless extra like you to be so capable."

"Ugh...!" Gu Tang's words pierced the officer's heart like an arrow. If not for his fatherly willpower, he would have knelt on the ground.

"Get off Gu Tang!" Stelle's bat swung, forcing Bronya to retreat.

Gu Tang stood up from the ground, dusting off his clothes.

March 7th stood in front of Gu Tang, staring at Bronya, "What now?"

Gu Tang: "Since that's the case, we have to initiate Plan B."

March 7th: "There's a Plan B?"

Gu Tang: "Plan B is for Dan Heng or Stelle to come up with another plan."

March 7th: "... Fine."

"I have an idea," Stelle's eyes glanced at a nearby alley, "Look at that alley!"

"An area blocked due to fragmentum erosion... I see, it is a feasible plan," Dan Heng nodded lightly.

"Alright, let's move!" Gu Tang didn't hesitate to throw a grenade.

Bronya waved her hand, "Everyone, prepare to defend."

"Don't worry, it won't explode," Gu Tang said to her, "It'll just make you sleep."

Thick smoke spread from the grenade.

[Name: Drowsy and Energetic Smoke Bomb]

[Type: Hindrance Tool]

[Level: 3]

[Effect: Produces a large amount of smoke, with a 50% chance of causing drowsiness and a 50% chance of feeling energetic]

[Evaluation: No gambler always loses]

"Cough, cough...!" Bronya inhaled a few puffs of smoke.

She felt her whole body fill with energy.

Gu Tang: "Uh-oh."