Chapter 46: Undercurrents

"——!"

The atmosphere in the room fell into a deathly silence. No one dared to speak recklessly, all keeping their heads down and minds to themselves. Meanwhile, the courageous young woman stubbornly locked eyes with the Supreme Guardian.

This display was interpreted by her as unwillingness to yield. However, in the halls of power, only one person could hold the greatest authority.

At least, while she remained in her position, the young woman’s dissatisfaction should be kept in check—

"If there are no further objections, report to the frontlines immediately, Commander Bronya. Don’t make me have the Silvermane Guards escort you out."

These were cold words that trampled on the young woman’s self-esteem, a final ultimatum from the one at the very top.

In response, Bronya merely pressed her lips tightly together and replied in a voice that seemed almost forced, "Understood."

Then, without looking back, she walked out of the hall, not even bothering to offer a formal farewell.

This caused Cocolia’s frown to deepen further. The hall felt as if an icy storm had descended, suffocating everyone present.

Seeing the younger members of the assembly visibly shaken, an elderly Architect quickly stepped forward to mediate. "Please calm your anger, Supreme Guardian. Commander Bronya was merely acting in haste and failed to understand your intentions. Once she has calmed down, she will surely realize your thoughtful considerations."

"..."

Cocolia merely glanced at the elder, saying nothing.

Only when beads of cold sweat began to form on the elder’s aged face did she ease the pressure.

"I know what she’s thinking, and I understand her desire to claim her own authority as she grows older. In the past, I, too, was influenced by the voices around me, eager to prove myself, and ended up taking many wrong turns.

Originally, I planned to train her for a few more years before gradually transferring power to her—"

As she spoke, she observed the Architects below, their expressions varied, and her words carried an implicit message.

"However, I didn’t expect her rebellion to come so soon. It seems that Commander Bronya’s temperament still requires timely refinement."

Faced with the Supreme Guardian’s remarks, which appeared to express concern over her successor’s immaturity but were actually a veiled warning to them, the Architects, each holding a position of influence within their respective families, dared not voice any objections. Though inwardly critical, they outwardly expressed unanimous agreement.

"—The Supreme Guardian’s insight is unparalleled."

Seeing how they had previously fawned over the next Supreme Guardian but now quickly submitted, Cocolia silently sneered in her heart.

She no longer wasted time with these ignorant schemers, instead continuing to review the documents on her desk. Even though she knew that the future was doomed to destruction,

and that everything she did now was futile, Cocolia still needed to maintain appearances.

Matters that she would have previously carefully considered, such as policies benefiting the people or aiding the city’s development, were now swept aside and relegated to the reject pile.

The Ministry of Education’s report that enrollment numbers were decreasing year by year, potentially leading to a future talent crisis, failed to stir even a hint of concern in her.

Rather than wasting the last moments of their lives learning such things, it was better to let the people remain ignorant and enjoy their remaining "happy" days.

She continued to review these trivial administrative matters, and among them, an application for a public performance caught her eye.

Cocolia instinctively frowned. Why did such routine approvals need to come to her? Were the people below her just idling away?

Looking further down, the application had a note from the approving officer:

"The performance area is located near the Goethe Hotel. According to frontline reports, there may be a small number of rift monsters wandering into the underground station area from the Edge Corridor-Square departure point, posing a potential safety hazard. It is recommended to transfer this matter to Minister Borsang of the Civil Affairs Department for approval."

Minister Borsang of the Civil Affairs Department added: "Submitted for the Supreme Guardian’s review."

Who was this Borsang? She didn’t recall the Minister of Civil Affairs having that name.

After a moment of thought, finding her memory of this person too vague, Cocolia frowned but ultimately decided not to dwell on it. She stamped the document with her seal and tossed it into the pile.

It was just a minor matter, after all. She could have the nearby Silvermane Guards patrol the area a few times.

She didn’t want any mishaps in the municipal district—

As for the selection of patrol personnel,

Cocolia looked up and saw a petite woman climbing onto a bookshelf, seemingly organizing documents.

"Intelligence Officer Pelageya."

She called out, her tone seemingly cordial.

"—Yes!"

The intelligence officer, startled by the call, nearly dropped her round, owl-shaped glasses from her plump cheeks.

After climbing down from the shelf and tidying her appearance, she stood solemnly before Cocolia.

"How may I assist you, Supreme Guardian?"

"There’s a new urban patrol assignment here. I want you to lead the team and ensure the surrounding area is secure. If any wandering rift monsters are found, eliminate them on the spot."

Cocolia issued the order without room for doubt.

Not everyone had the right to argue with her like Bronya did.

Moreover, she intended to use this opportunity to reprimand this intelligence officer who had grown too close to Serval.

She had turned a blind eye before, but now it was time to make it clear whose side she was on.

"Understood!"

The young woman, who could only guess half of Cocolia’s intentions, quickly accepted the order, feeling a small sense of relief.

If she had been stuck organizing documents here, she might not have been able to make it to the performance before it ended. But now, with official duties calling, she had no choice but to attend.

Moreover, the data she had analyzed from the mechanical bird last night made her eager to see Venti again.

Previously, she had been somewhat dismissive of Venti’s claims, but after seeing the remarkable technology recorded within, she was truly moved.

If they could replicate the two technologies mentioned, the Silvermane Guards’ current headache of casualty rates could be significantly reduced.

One was called the "One-Time Protective Barrier," and the other was "Tech Armor."

Though the names sounded plain, their effects were undeniable.

The former could generate a one-time defensive shield capable of blocking lethal attacks. The latter was a set of armor that protected vulnerable body parts and effectively converted received impacts into energy, recharging the armor and meeting the demands of prolonged combat.

Although some of the materials required were difficult to obtain, calculations showed that if these could be implemented among the Silvermane Guards, the casualty rate on paper alone could drop by 9.72%. If used in combination, the reduction could double.

This good news had nearly kept her up all night. She had recalculated several times to ensure she wasn’t dreaming before finally falling asleep. She had even arrived at work just on time today.

She couldn’t wait to share the good news with her good friend Serval.

As for the Research Institute, unfortunately... due to certain reasons, she didn’t trust those idle bureaucrats very much. She also had doubts about whether the Supreme Guardian could effectively utilize these two technologies.

Rather than explaining it all, it would be better to wait until the actual products were developed and use extensive combat data to convince her.

That was Intelligence Officer Pela’s judgment.