Chapter 34

"Forgot to introduce myself, I'm Hilwa, the owner of this machinery shop." Hilwa enthusiastically introduced herself, "If you have any broken equipment, you can come to me, but I don't guarantee I'll be interested in fixing it."

"No, no, I'm just curious about this heater..."

"This is actually just an ordinary geothermal heater; they're everywhere in the administrative district." Hilwa pointed to the one at her shop's entrance, "And the one under your feet is already broken; I haven't had a chance to fix it yet."

"Geothermal?"

"I heard from a loose-lipped iron guard that a few 【outsiders】 have come to Belobog; that must be you guys, right?"

Hilwa gave a light smile, gathered the hair at her cheeks, bent down, and while tapping the broken heater under her feet, she explained: "Geothermal is this place's special mineral energy source; from city heating to small handheld timers, everything runs on geothermal power."

"Geothermal is mined by professional teams in the lower district, then sent up via transport pipes. Conversely, the upper district sends down surface-only materials through the same pipes."

"Didn't you know? Belobog's city structure is like two large disks joined together; the upper layer handles administration and trade, the lower layer handles energy supply and resource extraction."

Silco instantly felt this scene was extremely familiar upon seeing it.

……Isn't this exactly the relationship between Piltover and Zaun?!

The upper city's Piltover enjoys technology, wealth, and glory, while the lower city's Zaun is filled with toxic rivers and polluted air; the upper city accompanies brilliance and splendor, while the lower city forever keeps company with filth...

He could almost guess without thinking that the lower district's environment must be quite harsh.

"You say, could there be a 'Silco' in their lower district?"

Jinx thought this was super interesting, super fun. It's practically a brand-new version of Zaun and Piltover in another world! She leapt from the beam, jumped to Silco's side, and winked at him.

"Where there is oppression and inequality, where there is no respect and independence, there will appear a 'Silco'."

Having said that, he raised his hand to adjust his tie below his collar, voice low: "Jinx, believe me, Belobog's lower city will definitely have its own 'Silco'."

"After chatting with Hilwa for a while, the three checked into the Goethe Grand Hotel arranged by Cocolia."

"Along the way, they saw many citizens gathered by the hotel street, weeping; after inquiring, they learned that these people's property had been left inside the rift, and now the district is sealed, forbidding ordinary citizens from passing."

""This world is truly full of disasters." Star looked at the soldiers standing ready outside the rift, "Can soldiers stop the rift invasion?""

"Dan Heng shook his head regretfully: "Impossible, as long as the Star Core remains active, erosion will keep expanding. Soldiers can only temporarily clear the monsters inside the rift, but the monsters will keep being born and multiplying."

""Tomorrow we'll talk with the Great Guardian, set out ASAP to find the Star Core, and resolve it quickly!" March 7th couldn't bear to see those old people crying in despair any longer; it was truly pitiful."

"Dan Heng and Star nodded, no objections. The first day's pioneering journey had already been exhausting; right now March 7th just wanted to fall asleep on a soft bed."

"However, before entering the hotel, March 7th and Dan Heng noticed that Star hadn't caught up."

"She stopped in place, her gaze deeply attracted to an unsightly trash can beside the rotating staircase."

"Ah... what's there to see in a trash can?"

Sutasuke was puzzled, but seeing Star's serious expression, he dared not make a hasty judgment—after all, Star's body seals a Star Core, right? What if she could see something extraordinary?

"But..."

"Isn't a trash can just a trash can? What else could be inside besides trash?" He glanced at Frieren nearby, "Frieren, can you see anything?"

Frieren closed her eyes and shook her head.

"However, her gaze at the trash can is very familiar to me." Zan Yin exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief: "It's exactly the same as when I looked at Ms. Himeko!"

"You..." Filien had already grown too lazy to retort.

……Can a trash can be compared to a once-in-ten-thousands beauty?!

Frieren placed her index finger on her lips, thought briefly, then said: "If possible, there could be a very precious treasure inside? Like a discarded peerless sword, or an ultra-rare grimoire, and so on..."

"Lady Frieren, do you think the trash can is a treasure-chest monster?!"

In the astonished gaze of all beings across the myriad worlds, Star slowly placed her hand on the trash can's lid and slowly lifted it...

——Sure enough, there was only trash inside.

"Dan Heng and March 7th both widened their eyes, this scene…… they really hadn't seen anything like it."

""Hey hey hey! What are you doing, Star!""

"Star originally wanted to keep exploring the next trash can, but was at least pulled back by March 7th."

"After all, they're distinguished guests named by the Great Guardian; if someone found them rummaging through trash in the middle of the night... just imagining it, March 7th's toes would already be digging out a three-bedroom apartment."

"After entering the hotel, Dan Heng pulled March 7th aside, confirmed no one else besides Star was nearby, and solemnly said: "March, back in Kriopolis——"

""Ah, stop! I know what you're going to say: 'March, you talked too much back then,' 'March, you shouldn't have revealed our purpose to untrustworthy people'... I know, it's because you two kept going in circles sparring instead of speaking properly." March 7th objected."

""But look, isn't the result good now? Not only are we staying in a super luxurious hotel, we've also gained the support of the local forces! It seems this pioneering mission is going smoothly as well!""

""No, I actually want to say something else." Dan Heng shook his head, "Have you noticed that 【Great Guardian】?"

""Of course, after adventuring with you all this time, my observation skills have been honed, hey, that's not just ordinary sharpness~" March 7th hehehed, puffed out her chest proudly.

"You haven't noticed anything either?" Star scratched her head.

"Stop obsessing over your trash can—once you've adventured with us long enough, it'll come naturally." March 7th patted Star's shoulder, continuing Dan Heng's topic.

""That woman's gaze has a penetrating quality—although she's talking to us, her eyes seem to be fixed on something far away...""