Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [45]
Her resolve was as solid as a fortress, her words sharp yet precise. Most striking of all, her gaze was unwaveringly focused, no longer carrying the trace of admiration it once held.
Beside her, the intelligence officer looked at her with admiration, as did other members of the Architect Council, who were captivated by her report and fully supported her proposals. The atmosphere in the hall was markedly different, warmer and more engaged than before.
The Supreme Guardian, Cocolia, keenly sensed this shift.
However, she did not interrupt Bronya's report, instead watching her from her elevated seat, studying her closely.
Bronya had grown even more competent, understanding how to leverage mutual interests to bind the architects together, while thoughtfully presenting them an offer that would be hard to refuse.
Backwater Pass had once been Belobog's bustling commercial district, and the Rift's emergence there had caused significant losses for the Builder families.
Naturally, they wanted to reclaim this area, yet the ever-present threat of the Rift had kept them at bay.
No one had ever been able to reclaim lands swallowed by the Rift.
This was an undeniable truth, one that, however unwillingly, had been accepted for seven hundred years.
Even with the Silvermane Guards stationed within, routinely clearing monsters, human bodies simply weren't made to endure long periods inside the Rift.
In fact, even objects left there too long became altered, twisted into something entirely different under the pervasive force of erosion.
But Bronya had presented an idea that was, by all accounts, "dangerously bold."
She suggested that the Rift wasn't just a breeding ground for monsters and that its spread could be likened to a cancer, one with a "tumor" or core at its center.
The Silvermane Guards, she argued, were merely battling scattered cancer cells, while the true source went unaddressed.
If they could locate the origin of the Rift's spread and eliminate it, it would surely be more effective than constantly battling the monsters. Perhaps then, the Rift's expansion could even be halted.
While Bronya hadn't yet mentioned the Stellaron, Cocolia could sense she was well aware of it—was she offering her a chance to bring it up herself?
Cocolia's frown deepened, anger quietly bubbling within her.
Bronya's growth might have pleased her, but if she was being influenced to defy her will—
A chill flashed through Cocolia's eyes, and she could think of a likely culprit.
That foolish, ignorant woman.
As a descendant of the Landau family, she could have lived a carefree life even while wasting away in the Research Division. But of all research topics, she'd chosen to study the "Stellaron."
If not for past leniency, Cocolia would have dealt with her rebellion long ago, as she had with others who dared to investigate the truth of the Stellaron, either by banishing them or eliminating them discreetly.
Surviving freely, owning a workshop in the finest part of Belobog, playing with her gadgets—wasn't that enough for her?
And now, she still hadn't given up, using Bronya as her pawn to seek revenge?
Just remembering how she'd approached her back then, wearing that idiotic grin and claiming that the Stellaron could be the root of their woes, made Cocolia want to laugh.
People today didn't understand; they couldn't understand that the Stellaron had simply answered humanity's deepest wish.
It saved Belobog when it was on the brink, about to be destroyed by the Legion from beyond.
Rather than acknowledge this, people now shunned it, and foolishly tried to suppress the Stellaron with their research... Pitiful. Laughable.
As Cocolia's patience wore thin and she began to consider whether to deal with that idiot once and for all, she was pulled from her thoughts by Bronya's voice.
"Guardian, are you listening?"
Cocolia snapped back to the present, facing her adopted daughter's hesitant expression. The others in the room turned to look her way but lowered their heads quickly when she met their gazes with a stern, icy look.
Satisfied that she had reasserted control, Cocolia turned to Bronya, speaking with a touch of authority.
"I am. Do you have anything further to report?"
"…No, I don't."
Perhaps to avoid open conflict in this setting, Bronya, who seemed ready to say more, instead chose to yield.
Cocolia's brows raised, slightly pleased, and her tone softened.
"Very well. Now return to the front lines. With your outstanding leadership, that is where you'll truly shine. As for Backwater Pass, I'll handle its future arrangements myself."
Yes, just as Bronya showed prudence and respect, Cocolia would also consider her daughter's dignity and provide her an out.
As long as Bronya continued to follow her orders, she would remain the daughter Cocolia cherished most.
In time, with a little guidance and affection, Bronya would realize how arrogant and naive Serval's words had been and would return to her loving arms.
However, her flawless strategy unraveled the next moment when Bronya took a firm step forward and declared,
"On this matter, may I ask a question?"
"…"
Cocolia's expression instantly darkened.
This act of defiance silenced the room, as still as if a pin could drop and echo throughout the chamber.
The intelligence officer, Pela, along with the other members of the Architect Council, looked on in astonishment at the confrontation unfolding before them.
Bronya felt the weight of their stares but was even more aware of the disapproval and disappointment radiating from her mother's gaze. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, feeling a surge of courage pounding in her veins.
"I am not questioning your decisions as Guardian, but I can't understand why the command structure is constantly changing in the midst of battle."
It felt as if she were leaving her fearful self behind as she spoke in a steady voice.
"You've repeatedly reassigned my subordinates without notifying me, and now, without warning, you're ordering me back to the front lines."
"This isn't just a question of chain of command—it sows confusion among the soldiers and weakens our unity. It also risks creating serious misunderstandings among the Silvermane Guards. If this continues—"
"…They are weapons, Commander Bronya. Never let the tools at your disposal control your mind. Remember your role and duty, and do not attempt to oppose my orders when you can't even grasp your responsibilities as a commander."
Cocolia's voice, laced with suppressed fury, was like the bitterly cold wind outside, making everyone present tense with fear.
"Now, I am ordering you to immediately return to the front lines and await further instructions. Do you understand, Acting Commander Bronya?"
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Translator's NoteHi, trainers! I'm so excited to finally bring you Team Rocket's Second-in-Command! After translating over 300 chapters of this absolute gem, I can tell you it's everything—action, drama, and just the right amount of chaos. Luo Yuan isn't just a trainer; he's the trainer, slaying battles, running the underworld, and making us all swoon with his brilliance.
This is the last story I'll be posting this month, so let's go out with a bang! Thank you so much for all your love and support—you've made this journey so much fun to share. Now, let's dive in and cheer for our boy as he takes the Pokémon world by storm!
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
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