I'm playing Honkai Star Rail

Chapter 90: Swapping a Plum for a Peach, Stealing the Beams and Replacing the Pillars

Caelus figured he had spent enough time in jail. Slipping away now wouldn't attract too much attention, and more importantly, staying any longer might mean missing out on a lot of fun.

Thus, a certain Masked Fool quickly decided to break out of prison.

Belobog's prison was no Area 13, the so-called safest place in the world on the Afkalin. Sneaking out was simple for Sampo.

However, just as he took two breaths of fresh air, Sampo heard news that someone had tried to assassinate the Supreme Guardian and that the entire city of Belobog was on high alert. Nearly half the city's Silvermane Guards had been mobilized to capture the assassins, which was a real pain for this ordinary fugitive.

Hiding in a trash can to avoid the guards, Sampo was a bit dazed.

Assassinating the Supreme Guardian? Which hero, which genius, which prodigy?

For some reason, the figures of two gray-haired individuals flashed through Sampo's mind.

Then, the trash can lid was lifted, and two familiar gray-haired figures stood before him, their eyes shining.

"Brother, sister, hey."

Pulled out of the trash can with an arm under each of his, Sampo had a mournful look on his face. "I just got out of jail. Please don't mess with me, you two."

"Aiya, you're not a new account. You'll be fine, you'll be fine."

Stelle stared at the golden glow on Sampo's chest, her eyes glazed over.

"Besides, how can you say we're messing with you? Ever since you were taken away by the Silvermane Guards, Stelle and I haven't been able to eat or sleep."

Caelus patted Sampo's shoulder sincerely and began, "For you, we became werewolves! For you, we were infected with madness! We begged and pleaded before the Supreme Guardian, but she was so cruel! To rekindle our bond, we resolutely carried out the decapitation, all to save you! My dear Master Sampo!"

"..."

As if they'd assassinate the head of state for a mere tomb raider.

Being bear-hugged by Caelus, Sampo trembled. Damn, this gray-haired guy is crazy! Are you sure you're not one of us?

"Brothers, sisters, did you really assassinate the Guardian?"

Sampo's expression turned ugly, yet tinged with a hint of fascination.

"No, that was a logical trap set for us by Cocolia!"

Caelus said in a righteous and deep voice, "We discovered a secret that threatened the Supreme Guardian, so she wants to eliminate us, the ones who know."

"So that's how it is!" Sampo also started acting, a faint understanding dawning in his heart.

So that's it. Such a radical method as assassinating a civilization's leader doesn't fit the style of the good-natured Nameless. It must be that their discovery of her relationship with the Stellaron led Cocolia to use this as a pretext to capture them.

Dan Heng, March 7th, and White Seele all looked at the human face he was putting on. The two girls blinked, the expression was so realistic it was flawless, yet their faces were a bit fascinated.

After a brief frown, Stelle's face also became resentful, as if she were a puppy that had been bitten, her eyes moist.

"We were clearly trying to help her solve the Stellaron problem, yet this old hag is so ungrateful and heartless!"

Sampo was starting to believe it.

"In that alley, after them!"

Shouts and the chaotic sound of footsteps came from around the corner.

"The pursuers are here, let's talk somewhere else!"

Caelus and Stelle each grabbed one of Sampo's arms and, amidst his shouts and wails, dragged him away at a run.

A group of desperate fugitives was naturally no match for ordinary guards. Although Seele wasn't a fugitive, possessing the power of Quantum, she could enter a discrete state, making her the safest. She didn't even need to run with them.

As the Trailblaze team ran, no one noticed that as they passed an intersection, a figure cloaked in a blue-gray-white robe, their face hidden by a hood, suddenly appeared next to Caelus.

Without any hesitation, the figure immediately ran down another fork in the crossroads.

Some of the pursuing Silvermane Guards saw it and, thinking the criminals had split up, immediately dispatched a team to chase them.

The alleys of Belobog were a labyrinth. The Trailblaze team's experience with bad roads was not for nothing. If they were unfamiliar with the terrain, they would have been caught by the guards long ago.

Adding to that the map Caelus had drawn beforehand using AI, they easily shook off the guards trailing them with a small trick.

They arrived in a small alley.

Caelus set Sampo down and put an arm around his shoulder. "Master Sampo, you've got connections. How do we get to the Underworld, you know?"

The layout of Belobog's Overworld was no secret. Years ago, Cocolia had issued a decree completely cutting off personnel exchange between the upper and lower districts, sealing off the Underworld, maintaining only the necessary exchange of supplies.

Not only that, Cocolia had also withdrawn all the Silvermane Guards who maintained order in the Underworld, causing Qlipoth Fort to gradually lose control over it.

Even Seele hadn't been able to get much information about the underground area from Bronya, which showed that the Overworld had completely lost control of the Underworld.

If they succeeded in assassinating Cocolia and forcing her into her boss form, that was one thing. If they failed, they definitely couldn't stay in the Overworld. The Underworld, beyond the Supreme Guardian's reach, was undoubtedly the best place to go.

During their "tourism" over the past few days, Caelus had already located the underground train that regularly exchanged supplies with the Underworld. It was heavily guarded by Silvermane Guards, and ordinary people couldn't get close.

For the Trailblaze team, forcing their way through wasn't difficult. Caelus had originally planned a classic 'stealth' operation. But since they had run into Master Sampo, they could save some trouble. Being able to move freely between the upper and lower districts and trade ancient relics, Sampo must have his own ways.

"This... family, those secret passages are old Sampo's livelihood."

Sampo rubbed his hands together with a dry laugh, trying to haggle. But then he felt a cold spot appear in his chest, a familiar metallic touch that immediately made him serious.

"Compared to my dear family, those worldly possessions are not worth mentioning at all!"

He once again spoke words of sincere truth from the bottom of his heart.

"Hey, that's right. This is the Master Sampo I love most."

Putting away the gun pressed against his chest, Caelus gently patted the golden glow on Sampo's chest as if stroking a lover, brushing away non-existent dust. This action sent a chill down Sampo's spine, and goosebumps erupted all over his body.

Unexpectedly, Caelus actually felt something different in the golden glow on Sampo's chest. He paused, then quickly reached his hand in to pull it out.

"Aiyo, bro, bro, what are you doing?"

Sampo's face changed into a sheepish grin. He struggled to back away but was stopped by Stelle's baseball bat at his waist.

"Caelus, same old rule."

Fifty-fifty.

"No problem, but... it doesn't seem to be a crystal... What is this?"

What Caelus pulled out of Sampo's chest was not a clear blue crystal, but a gray-purple pellet the size of a ping-pong ball.

"Uh, just some little gadgets needed for wandering the world." Sampo scratched his head, mumbling vaguely in a thick, crude Tom-cat accent.

"It doesn't look like anything good," March 7th said, leaning in to examine it and making a judgment based on its color.

Caelus squeezed it slightly. A smooth, powdery texture was the feedback. He brought it to his nose and sniffed lightly, then a knowing and brilliant smile appeared on his face. "Thanks for the reunion gift, family."

This thing would come in handy.

"...You're, you're welcome." Sampo forced a smile.

"Caelus, what are you thinking?" Dan Heng's brow twitched as he watched the change in Caelus's expression.

"Cocolia has a deep connection with the Stellaron, but the Supreme Guardian's heir, Bronya, knows nothing about it. She's clearly being kept in the dark. We need to win her support."

"So, what's the plan? Even if we tell Bronya the truth now, she won't believe us, right?" March 7th scratched her head.

"Then let her witness it with her own eyes." Caelus spread his hands, looked around, and found a row of trash cans, one of which had been opened.

...

"Seal off the nearby streets and conduct a carpet search."

The emotions in her chest were more chaotic and complex than the clamor in the domain. Bronya suppressed them and gave orders to the guard unit behind her.

"Remember, capture them. Do not harm them first."

Some guards might find this order strange, but Bronya said it anyway.

Seele, how could Seele assassinate Mother!? There's no reason. It must be a misunderstanding. I have to find everyone and ask them clearly!

Most of the guards dispersed to search, with only a few remaining by Bronya's side.

Suppressing her anxiety, Bronya's eyes caught sight of the trash cans by the road. Because the off-worlders' love for trash cans was well-known among the Silvermane Guards, the trash cans along the road were a must-search spot during the pursuit.

This row in front of her seemed to have not been searched yet.

Could they be in there?

Staring at the abyss-like gap between the trash can body and the lid, Bronya couldn't imagine the scene of Seele trembling and hiding in a trash can. She quickly stepped forward and lifted the lid.

"Surprise!"

Bronya's eyes widened. There were indeed two familiar voices in the trash can. Two gray-haired figures jumped up as if presenting a surprise from a treasure chest.

"Stelle, Caelus!"

"The assassin is... cough cough... what."

Before Bronya and the guards could even cry out, Caelus threw several gray-purple pellets hard onto the ground. Gray-brown smoke exploded like a smoke bomb.

Inhaling the smoke, Bronya and the guards quickly passed out.

"Caelus! What are you doing?"

Dan Heng, March 7th, and Seele, who were hiding on the building above, jumped down. Little March's expression changed when she saw Caelus's actions.

Caelus was taking off Bronya's clothes!

"This uniform is too conspicuous. It's inconvenient to take her with us like this... Stelle, you do it."

He was very familiar with every corner of this body, inside and out, but facing March 7th's gaze, Caelus felt he had to prove his moral high ground.

"Oh, I see. Then I'll help."

March 7th and Stelle moved Bronya to a corner, took off her Silvermane Guard commander's uniform, and changed her into the clothes Caelus had prepared.

"When did you prepare this?" Stelle was a bit surprised.

"What time is it to be concerned with such details?"

Placing the now plainly dressed Bronya on Stelle's back, Caelus could feel two soft mounds pressing against him, but his heart was calm.

Dan Heng: "There are more and more guards. We need to speed up."

"Get Bronya on your back, let's go, let's go!"

The group quickly moved towards the secret passage Sampo knew.

"Huh? What's that?"

March 7th, who had the best eyesight, suddenly paused, looking up and to the side. A flash of silver seemed to have passed by.

"March, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I probably saw it wrong."

Time was tight. Since nothing was blocking their path, it definitely wasn't a Silvermane Guard. March 7th shook her head and continued running.

"Lady Bronya!"

"Commander!"

"Are you all right!"

The spreading smoke attracted many guards searching nearby, who immediately rushed back.

"Cough cough, I'm fine. I just encountered the assassins, but they played a trick on me and escaped."

A silver-haired figure flickered and walked out of the gradually dissipating smoke. Her body swayed as if doing gymnastics, her triple-axel-spinning, whooshing ponytail dancing around. She was wearing Bronya's iconic Silvermane Guard uniform. The only difference was a new red bow tie on her chest.

"They fled in that direction, after them!"

"Yes, Commander!"

The main force of the guards chased in the direction the commander pointed.

Watching the guards run past her one after another, a faint smile appeared on Bronya's lips.

[Trailblaze Mission: Duckie is here, Belobog's in for it! Duckie is here, the blue sky is saved! Become the Supreme Guardian of Belobog. Take office, Belobog!]

[Mission Reward: 300 Stellar Jade]

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