Lower District.
The two of them arrived at Boulder Town and headed straight for the Great Mining Area entrance without stopping.
From afar, they could see many figures gathered there. Two groups of people were in a tense standoff, weapons drawn.
March 7th had sharp eyes and quickly spotted the figure holding a huge scythe.
"Seele!"
"You're finally here!"
Seele turned her head at the sound, her brows tightly furrowed.
"The situation is really bad. We can't hold on much longer. I can only ask for your help again."
Stelle scanned the crowd with her gaze.
"The atmosphere feels like gravity has doubled. Tell us the current situation. Is anyone injured?"
"No one is seriously injured. Only a few Wildfire brothers got some scrapes. The opponents' weapons are very powerful, but they didn't go for the kill."
Seele spoke very quickly, with a mix of relief and suppressed anger as she pointed toward the mining area entrance.
"Do you see those guys at the entrance? They're using their good equipment to stop anyone from entering or leaving. It's simply too bullying!"
She knew in her heart that even if she charged in and took down a few, or even ten of them, it would only provoke an even fiercer counterattack from the other side.
She wasn't afraid of fighting, but this kind of troublesome situation that required negotiation and maneuvering gave her a real headache.
"Those guys keep talking about asset evaluation, but in reality they're just harassing the normal lives of the people in the Lower District!"
Stelle frowned and asked about Topaz's whereabouts.
Unexpectedly, Seele looked completely confused and said she didn't know her.
So they hadn't met.
They tried contacting Topaz, but the AI automatically replied and the call wouldn't connect.
March 7th guessed: "She was still strolling around the museum earlier… Could it be her subordinates acting on their own?"
Seele: "Forget it. Whether it's Topaz or Pahto, the most important thing right now is to take back the Great Mining Area as soon as possible."
Stelle looked at March 7th.
"See? I told you we'd have to fight. Changing clothes in advance was such a correct decision."
"Indeed…"
"Hey—"
Seele raised her scythe, her eyes so gloomy they could drip water. She stared fixedly at the two employees.
"Are you people deaf, or have your tongues been cut off? If you know what's good for you, get out of my way!"
The IPC employees remained silent and didn't say a single word.
Seele got so angry she was about to charge forward.
March 7th was quick-eyed and swift-handed. She grabbed Seele, who was about to lose control.
She forced a smile at the door-god-like employees, trying to ease the atmosphere.
"Uh… You guys have been standing here for so long, you must be tired, right? Why not rest over there for a bit? I heard the IPC is quite humane and should have lunch break benefits, right?"
IPC employees: "…"
Stelle couldn't stand their pretend-deaf-and-dumb attitude and spoke in an unfriendly tone.
"You won't listen to soft or hard approaches. Is your skin itchy and in need of a beating?"
IPC employees: "…"
"Tsk—"
March 7th's eye twitched.
"What's wrong with you people? Are you real humans or robots? Can't even one of you say something?"
One of the IPC employees finally moved his gaze slightly.
"…You two are the ones who were talking with the Director in the snowfield earlier…"
"Oh, so it's you. You're not lying in the hospital?"
March 7th immediately recognized the person's voice.
It was the one who had arrogantly talked about silencing witnesses but got taught a lesson by Leon.
"Even your boss is polite to us. As subordinates, you should at least understand some rules and show some manners, right?"
IPC employees: "…"
"No! We can't let you through. The team leader said that if we let even one person in, he'll deduct half a year's performance bonus from me!"
"Hah?"
March 7th couldn't hold back and sneered subconsciously:
"Oh, so you're not even a team leader? I really overestimated you."
The employee looked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. His voice became sharp from anger and frustration.
"Shut, shut up! What do you know! In order to join the IPC, I struggled for six or seven years on a barren little asteroid!"
"I went through a full seventeen rounds of hellish interviews before successfully getting hired. You unemployed vagrants, what right do you have to judge me?!"
"Pfft hahaha."
Stelle failed to hold back her laughter. Her gaze swept across the surrounding miners, but her finger pointed at the IPC employees.
"Everyone, fathers and fellow villagers, did you all hear that? These people are all relying on their master's power, but in reality they're not nobler than any of you."
"You all rely on yourselves in the mining area and don't have to look at anyone's face. But some people here are different."
"They're terrified that their master's big foot will kick them into the roadside like a stray dog."
For the first time, March 7th felt that sarcastic and mocking words sounded so satisfying.
It was probably because her own people were mocking the enemy.
It was a bit double-standard to enjoy this… but it felt so good!
Seele felt roughly the same. Her tense expression eased a little.
Well scolded. They deserved it. She wished there could be more.
"Shut up shut up shut up. If you keep making noise then—"
"Then what? Keep going, hahaha. You're so anxious. Do you want to hit me? Do you dare?"
Stelle rudely interrupted the other party, stretched out the side of her face, and patted it lightly. She taunted extremely provocatively.
"Speak, speak. Hit me, idiot?"
"You don't dare, hehe."
Such an arrogant attitude made the IPC employees tremble all over.
"Bastard!"
But he really didn't dare to attack casually.
The terrifying man who had hung him on the wall wasn't here, but the shadow left in his heart was too deep.
Even Director Topaz was polite to that man.
But his job was tied to his bonus. No matter what, he didn't want to give in.
The IPC employees behind him saw that he wasn't moving and didn't dare to act rashly either. They just felt stifled inside.
Someone had stepped on their faces. How infuriating.
Stelle's eyes rolled around. She decided to add more fuel to the fire.
"I just did a divination for you guys. Guess what?"
"Sigh, how pitiful. You all have the appearance of short lives. You won't live very long."
"Each of you is destined to have a rough life, disabled in middle age, and suffering from dementia and terminal illness in old age."
"The reason I'm not being harsh with you is because I can't get past the psychological barrier."
"If I wield weapons against you poor little things, I'm afraid I'll lose emotional control and even lose interest in Trailblaze for the rest of my life."
March 7th stared blankly at Stelle.
When did her trash-talking level get so good?
She didn't use a single swear word, but once you substituted yourself in, it made your fists feel hard.
"…"
The IPC employee's trembling hand held a trembling gun.
"Miss, can you please accumulate some virtue with your mouth? I've endured you for a long time…"
"You people with this kind of behavior have been born to be laughed at by others. If you don't want to listen, just turn left into the trash can and return to your position automatically, or go bang your head and die."
Stelle's nearly harsh words finally detonated all the IPC employee's remaining sanity.
"Stinky girl, shut up!!"
Bang—
The gunshot rang out abruptly, instantly silencing the surrounding snickers and mocking sounds.
The IPC employee regretted firing the moment he pulled the trigger, but unfortunately the bullet could not be taken back.
However, the bullet was steadily caught between Stelle's two fingers.
"Hmph, I can even catch bullets."
She loosened her fingers and let the powerless bullet casing fall to the ground.
"Everyone saw it, right? These guys attacked first."
March 7th snorted coldly: "Not only did I see it, I even recorded it."
"Good, good, good. Best sister!"
Stelle's ill-intentioned gaze immediately fell on the IPC dogs blocking the way.
She first thrust the Flame Lance into the ground, forming a thick shield to protect the locals. Then—
Baseball bat in hand, she beat the IPC dogs painfully.
...
...