The city is full of stormy night

[Bronya Rand's favorability towards you is—82.]

"So, I can raise her favorability this much in one go? Bronya really is easy to handle..."

Ron rubbed his chin, looking at the text on the screen:

"Although she appears approachable while on duty, there's always that stubborn and lofty aura around her. I never imagined she was so fragile inside..."

"As long as I can sense her vulnerabilities and protect her before she gets hurt, her favorability will skyrocket."

In this simulation, Ron hadn't chosen many options to raise Bronya's favorability, as most of his time was spent fighting in the rift. He had little opportunity to interact with Bronya.

Before calming her in front of everyone, Bronya's favorability towards Ron was just over fifty.

This single event raised it by more than thirty points, surpassing what he achieved in two years of effort in the previous simulation.

"Got it. If I need to raise Bronya's favorability in the future, I'll focus on this aspect."

Ron muttered to himself and quickly jotted down this favorability-raising trick in a notebook.

Opening the notebook revealed that Ron had filled it with dozens of pages of notes, all about the life simulation game.

As a completionist, Ron's attitude towards the game was serious, unlike his lazy and laid-back approach to work. When it came to gaming, he was highly diligent.

After making his notes, he looked up to see new choices on the screen—

[You have been imprisoned in the front-line military prison. Please choose:]

1. Cocolia has gone too far. Can you tolerate this humiliation? You just learned grappling techniques! 

You decide to storm Klipperfort, restrain Cocolia with a tortoise shell bind, and spank her while settling the score. 

(Choosing this option will render the "Will to Preserve" entry ineffective in this simulation, but the desire for revenge will lead you down another path of destiny.)

2. You know you shouldn't die in the tribunal. Belobog is teetering on the edge, and this city needs you to preserve it.

You decide to escape from the front-line prison, go into hiding, and find a way to protect Belobog.

(Choosing this option will make you a wanderer, unable to openly enter the upper district of Belobog.)

3. Everything has its rightful place.

You decide to quietly await your trial by the Belobog Military Court.

(Choosing this option will keep you as a prisoner, remaining in the front-line prison to await judgment.)

The first option was essentially a coup—based on the situation Ron created at the training ground, the success rate of this coup wouldn't be low if Bronya agreed.

Most of the Silvermane Guards had already sobered up from Ron's speech and held significant grievances against Cocolia.

The second option clearly involved biding time because, regardless, Cocolia would be assimilated by the Stellaron.

Once Cocolia was assimilated, Bronya would naturally become the High Guardian, allowing Ron to clear his name instantly.

In this simulation, Ron had advanced significantly in combat skills, making even an assimilated Cocolia not unbeatable.

The third option seemed like a death choice compared to the other two...

Ron had indeed violated Belobog military law. If he surrendered, he would likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

But he chose the third option without hesitation.

He had anticipated this choice...there was no need for him to escape.

Ron had indeed broken Belobog's military law, but all the Guards at the training ground knew why he did it.

For the Guards who saw him stand up for them and oppose deadly orders, Ron's reputation was extremely high.

If Cocolia didn't want to face a military mutiny right now, Ron would be declared not guilty in the military court.

The choices on the screen faded, and new text began to appear:

[You choose to await trial.]

[Belobog is in turmoil. Some Guards start speaking up for you, but their presence is quietly erased.]

[Some baseless rumors, pushed by someone behind the scenes, spread throughout the city, making your reputation mixed.]

[The Silvermane Guards start secretly preparing a petition to advocate for your acquittal.]

[Time flies, and soon it is the day before your trial.]

[Late at night, to maintain good condition for tomorrow's trial, you are doing pre-sleep exercises.]

[But in this silent night, you hear a faint noise outside the cell—]

The screen showed a new scene:

Heavy chains wrapped around the iron gate. Ron, in his prison uniform, was locked in his cell.

Leaning against the cold prison wall, he was doing wall push-ups. His tattered uniform couldn't hide his muscular frame, which gleamed in the moonlight.

One thousand? Two thousand? Ron had lost count of his push-ups, but he hadn't broken a sweat, his breathing steady, his stamina abundant.

"Rustle, rustle..."

A faint noise like chains clinking reached his ears. Ron turned his head sharply towards the sound—

Bronya stood openly, using a key she had somehow acquired to unlock the cell door.

"What are you—?"

Ron was startled, but Bronya interrupted him.

She looked tired, unable to maintain her previous facade of maturity and reliability, now just a forlorn girl, her head hanging low:

"Alright, I really can't become a qualified High Guardian..."

"I can't even be an ordinary citizen of Belobog. At least they don't break the law."

She spoke, forcing a smile:

"But what can I do? Mother won't release you, and the military court will sentence you to death...because you disobeyed orders."

"I couldn't find another way, so I came to rescue you."

The scene faded, replaced by new text:

[Due to Bronya's misuse of power, you successfully leave the front-line prison.]

[You suspect that it wasn't just Bronya's status that allowed you to leave so easily.]

[Perhaps someone has tacitly allowed this to happen.]

[The next day, news of your escape is rampant, with your and Bronya's photos on the front page of Belobog newspapers.]

[With some unknown force pushing it, the citizens of Belobog start discussing you and Bronya.]

[Countless rumors spread through the city, accusing Bronya of plotting a coup to seize power from her mother.]

[As the one who opposed Cocolia's orders at the training ground, you are seen as Bronya's main advisor, aiding her supposed coup.]

[Due to these rumors, Bronya becomes despondent from the constant pointing and whispering she faces.]

[To prove her loyalty to Cocolia, Bronya resigns from her position as the Logistics Officer of Belobog.]

[Now, she has no authority over front-line matters.]