"You're not going? Why?" March 7th asked, puzzled.
Leon smiled casually: "I need to recheck the Fragmentum invasion index and collect data. There are very few samples in the database about what happens to worlds after being eroded by a Stellaron."
"The festival doesn't start today. I can still make it in time."
March 7th nodded.
"Alright then. Stelle, let's go find Bronya first~~"
Stelle: "See you later, Leon."
From the player's perspective, the two girls left under Leon's watchful gaze with his eyes narrowed into slits.
Once their backs were out of sight, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze inscrutable.
This kind of cinematic language was something many players understood at a glance.
Leon had hidden his true intentions in his earlier reply to March 7th.
Most people subconsciously guessed whether it was related to the IPC and expected Leon to provide an explanation.
Unfortunately, the next scene left many players somewhat disappointed.
After giving Leon a shot looking toward a certain direction, the perspective returned to Stelle and March 7th.
No one knew what that position implied.
...
Temporarily leaving the player's perspective, Leon walked to a remote area and unfurled his wings to ascend into the sky without hesitation.
During his high-speed flight, his vision pierced through the clouds and overlooked the ground, taking in most of the ecological conditions.
The more he looked, the more alarmed he became.
After the Stellaron disappeared, the Fragmentum index would decrease and eventually vanish completely after a certain period.
However, the cold tide triggered by the Stellaron had ultimately left behind a massive hidden danger.
In the future, the monstrous waves formed by melting solid ice would cause sea levels to rise sharply, completely submerging this land.
Using the Sky Haven Clan's experience of saving countless tragic worlds, combined with the ecological conditions of the Jarilo-VI star system and its distance from the sun as parameters—
Further considering complex factors such as heat conduction, reduced ice reflectivity, greenhouse gas feedback, and so on—
It would only take around seven hundred years for most of the glaciers to completely melt.
Seven hundred years again. Jarilo-VI really did have a strong connection with this number.
It was just a shame that it wasn't a good one.
Currently on Jarilo-VI, only Belobog remained as a fortress.
In the rest of the uninhabited zones, the ice sheets reached thicknesses of several thousand meters at their deepest points, covering all land.
Once they melted, sea levels would rise by at least several hundred meters at minimum.
The melting process wasn't fast, but with Belobog's current technological level, artificial intervention would be extremely difficult.
Over time, all land except the highest mountain ranges would be submerged.
At that point, humanity would lose its foundation for survival. Even after the global waves receded, it would take who knows how many more years.
But Leon understood that the waves would never recede.
The reason was not complicated—
Take a very simple example.
A water basin containing 70% of its capacity, with a block of ice placed inside that is just enough to make the water reach the edge.
This ice block's height far exceeds the basin. Once it begins melting from top to bottom, the accumulated water will overflow from the basin.
The cold tide enveloping Jarilo-VI was created out of thin air by the Stellaron, not by utilizing the planet's native ecological water resources.
Everything might seem fine for now, but if the people of Belobog fail to identify the hidden danger in time, they might even skip the gradual erosion process.
During Bronya's tenure, or even while she is alive, there is no need to worry about these things.
But who can guarantee that her successors will all be qualified Supreme Guardians?
Of course, Belobog could choose to trust the wisdom of future generations.
The time many planets take—from the beginning of civilization and rapid development, to initially conquering the skies, and then leaving the planet to venture into the stars—is only three to four hundred years at most.
Some even take less than a hundred years.
It's possible that in less than four hundred years, Belobog would already possess the capital to safely deal with civilization-ending disasters.
But a hidden danger is still a hidden danger. Only by planning ahead can one remain calm in the face of crisis.
"Topaz…"
Leon's mind flashed with the person's face, and he immediately contacted Himeko without hesitation.
"What's wrong, Leon? Weren't you going back to Belobog with Stelle and Little March?"
Himeko's tone was somewhat serious.
Unlike Little March, Leon would never casually contact the train unless there was something important while he was outside.
"Help me investigate a person from the IPC. Codename Topaz, suspected to be one of the Ten Stonehearts, rank at least P43… No, P44. I need all her information."
"Understood."
Himeko didn't ask much and immediately began making arrangements.
She knew Leon would provide additional reasons later.
After ending the call, Leon compiled his investigation results on Jarilo-VI along with his related speculations about the IPC and sent them to Himeko's mailbox.
Unknowingly, the highest peak of Jarilo-VI was already close at hand.
He had thought it would be a desolate, uninhabited, lifeless place.
He never expected to see three figures, two of whom were old acquaintances.
...
On the other side, in Qlipoth Fort.
Bronya's face could not hide her unease.
"I fully understand the difficulties your planet is facing, Supreme Guardian."
Topaz wore a perfectly measured smile, taking in all of Bronya's anxiety.
"The current financial strain on Belobog is not because of you, and of course, it is not due to the fault of anyone in this city either."
Her tone shifted, still polite but carrying an unquestionable weight.
"But speaking objectively, since Belobog has continued to exist as an independent political entity until now, this debt cannot simply be written off as a bad debt."
"Bronya, we're coming in~?"
March 7th's energetic voice suddenly penetrated the door.
Topaz turned her head toward the newcomers, slightly surprised.
"It seems important visitors have arrived."
"Miss Topaz is here too?"
March 7th seemed unaware of the subtle tension in the air.
"Oh, you've already started talking about cooperation. Since it's official business, we can come back later—"
"It's fine."
Topaz waved her hand casually, her smile unchanged.
"We were almost done talking anyway. We were just about to wrap things up."
She turned back to Bronya and emphasized:
"Supreme Guardian, please seriously consider my proposal."
"If Jarilo-VI still wishes to rebuild connections with the stars of the galaxy in the future, your credit record with the IPC will be extremely important."
Stelle's brows furrowed slightly.
'If… still wishes… then…'
Such phrasing was rarely used in normal business negotiations unless the deal was falling apart.
"…I understand, Miss Topaz."
Bronya took a deep breath, her expression tense.
"I need time to think."
"Of course."
Topaz nodded readily.
"However, while you're considering it, my colleagues will need to carry out some necessary work in Belobog… I hope everyone in the Upper and Lower Districts can cooperate."
With that, she turned to Stelle and March 7th.
"I'm really sorry for interrupting your old friends' reunion because of my business."
"Now that official matters are done, you can all catch up slowly. I'll take my leave first. See you~"
Even if March 7th was slow on the uptake, Topaz's last few sentences were enough for her to sense that something was off.
"Bronya, are you okay?"
As soon as the person left, she immediately stepped forward with a worried look.
"Miss Topaz earlier… felt really imposing. She was completely different from the easy-going impression I had of her before."