Starry Sky Railway: Twin Origins

Chapter 47 The Secrets of This World

Upper Beloborg district, Cripperburg.

A mature and authoritative woman is dealing with a mountain of documents piled up on her desk.

She quickly flipped through the documents, glancing at each one before tossing it aside.

At this moment, her brows furrowed deeper and deeper, as if she was not satisfied with the contents of the document.

"Boom boom boom——"

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

But the knocking didn't attract the woman's attention; she remained focused on the documents in her hands, saying something without looking up.

"Please come in."

Upon hearing the instruction, the person knocking on the door pushed open the heavy door.

A Silvermane Iron Guard dressed as an officer strode in from outside the door and then solemnly saluted the woman sitting at the desk.

“Lady Cocolia, this is the thirtieth request for assistance this month, written in the handwriting of Garrison Commander Jepard.”

"Okay, put it there, you can go now."

Cocolia pointed to a thick stack of papers next to her desk and said.

"Yes!"

After receiving instructions, the officer went straight to Cocolia's desk and prepared to place the application in his hand on it.

At that moment, he glanced at the contents of the paper stacked on top and was immediately stunned.

The contents of this paper also request the Guardian to dispatch Silvermane Iron Guards to support the front lines.

However, the application was stamped with the four bright red characters "Not Approved".

If we also consider the fact that Cocolia has never sent Silvermane Iron Guards to support the front lines this month, then...

The applications stacked below were all stamped with the words "Not Approved".

Thinking of this, the officer felt a surge of inexplicable anger. He now wanted to question Cocolia about why she hadn't sent the Silver Mane Iron Guards to support the front lines.

As the effects of the rift grew stronger, the rate at which rift creatures were born reached an unbelievable level.

The Silvermane Iron Guards who were guarding the front line could only take turns on guard duty around the clock to prevent the Rift creatures from launching a sudden attack.

Even so, Cocolia still refused to send Iron Guards to the front lines to provide reinforcements, which was infuriating.

Is there anything else?

Noticing that the officer was still standing by the desk, Cocolia asked aloud.

"I'm very sorry, Lady Cocolia. I haven't been getting enough rest lately, and I've been a bit distracted."

Cocolia's voice startled the officer, pulling him back to reality.

"Well, if there's nothing else, you should go back and get some rest."

Cocolia didn't even glance at the officer, but simply spoke to him indifferently.

"Yes!"

The Silvermane Iron Guard officer responded, then placed the application he was holding on top of the pile of rejected requests for aid. After doing this, he quickly walked out of Kripper Fortress.

After the officer left, Cocolia sighed deeply and gently pinched her temples with her fingertips.

"For the future of this planet, these... are necessary sacrifices..." she murmured to herself, looking at the thick stack of requests for aid.

"Boom boom boom——"

Another knock came at the door.

Cocolia gently rubbed her face with both hands, composed her expression, and adopted her usual dignified demeanor.

"Please come in."

In the past few days, the heavy doors of Cripper Fortress have been knocked on countless times, mostly by officers from various Silvermane Iron Guard units delivering requests for assistance.

As the door was slowly pushed open, Cocolia was just about to guess which officer had come to deliver the request for assistance this time.

A voice that sounded very familiar to Cocolia came through.

"I'm back, Mother."

Upon hearing this, Cocolia immediately looked up at the source of the voice and discovered that the person who pushed open the door was none other than her "daughter"—Bronya—who had been missing for several days.

Upon seeing Bronya return, Cocolia's face lit up with indescribable joy. She quickly stood up, bracing herself on the table with both hands, leaning forward and placing all her weight on her hands supporting her weight.

"Bronya! You... I thought... I thought I was going to lose you!"

Cocolia's voice trembled slightly; the heavy weight that had been hanging over her heart finally lifted the moment she saw Bronya.

"Where did you go? Are you hurt? I'll get the housekeeper right away..."

“I’m fine, Mother.” Bronya interrupted Cocolia before she could continue, “I don’t really want to see Sebastian right now. I’m sorry to have worried you.”

Seeing Cocolia's worried expression, Bronya felt a warm current surge through her body.

Sure enough, my mother was still very worried about me. How could she possibly be bewitched by the "Star Core"?

Thinking of this, Bronya said to Cocolia with a happy expression, "Mother, I've been running around the lower districts for the past few days. Although I encountered some setbacks along the way, I managed to handle it overall."

After speaking, Bronya met Cocolia's gaze with a hopeful look, anticipating her next reaction.

However, when Bronya uttered the words "lower district".

Cocolia, who had been looking worried, suddenly turned grim.

"The lower level? Ah... I see, I understand."

Cocolia raised her head slightly, crossed her arms, and her expression was as cold as a snow mountain.

"Then report back to me what you have seen and heard, Commander Bronya."

Cocolia's change of expression was so rapid that Bronya, who was completely bewildered, was momentarily stunned.

Just now, Cocolia was calling me by my name in a friendly tone, so why is she suddenly addressing me by my title with such a serious expression?

"Mother, I..." Bronya, who couldn't understand this, was about to say something when...

Cocolia suddenly interrupted her, saying sternly, "I said, Commander Bronya, begin your report to me. Don't make me repeat myself a third time!"

Upon hearing this, Bronya could only suppress her doubts and briefly report her experiences in the lower district to Cocolia.

It started with hunting "outsiders" in the Rift, then he was ambushed by Sambo, fell into a coma, and was tied up in the lower area.

Then, outsiders formed alliances to help the people in the lower districts solve their survival problems.

"Finally, we also encountered a robot named Schwarz, from whom we learned some truths about the 'Star Core'..."

As she spoke, Bronya lowered her head, struggling with whether or not to ask Cocolia about the "Star Core".

"Continue, Commander Bronya!"

Seeing Bronya suddenly stop, Cocolia's unquestionable voice rang out again.

Upon hearing these commanding words, Bronya, who had been hesitant, finally made up her mind.

She looked at Cocolia with unwavering eyes and said, "Mother...you've always known the truth about the 'Star Core,' haven't you?"

"I will come into contact with that knowledge someday; it's a necessary process to become a 'Guardian.'"

"Therefore, I believe that ordering the arrest of those 'outsiders' was a mistake, because they are very likely the people the 'Builders' have been waiting for for hundreds of years to solve the problems brought about by the 'Star Core'..."

"enough!"

Cocolia suddenly interrupted Bronya.

"Arrogance, ignorance... You truly disappoint me, Bronya. You've only glimpsed the tip of the iceberg, yet you think you've seen the truth?"

After saying that, Cocolia took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

Then, she coldly said to Bronya, "In that case, it's time for you to experience the truth of this world."

"I knew this moment would come sooner or later, but I didn't expect it to come so soon."

Cocolia left the huge desk and walked slowly to Bronya.

She leaned forward, bringing her face close to Bronya's, and looked directly into Bronya's eyes with her purple eyes at close range.

Then, under Bronya's determined gaze, he whispered something.

Are you ready... to hear the voice of this dying world?