Honkai: Star Rail – Banner Character, Delivering Knives to the Player [29]

[Poor Bronya, silenced by authority when trying to defend us.]
[Typical—subordinates can’t question the boss, especially when that boss is your mom.]
[But why do I feel Bronya doesn't really resemble Cocolia?]

Seeing the last comment, Ah Xian held back from spoiling anything.

The perspective returned to the Trailblazers.

On the table, several dishes of breakfast and a pot of tea had appeared.

The Astral Express crew chatted casually, not looking the least bit like prisoners.

Then, the sound of a door opening came from the left side of the screen.

"Commander Bronya, have you found proof of our alleged infiltration?"

Lingzhou asked bluntly.

Bronya paused, startled. How did he know I was trying to…?

Since she'd been seen through, there was no point in hiding it further.

She was about to answer when Lingzhou's next words left her stunned.

"If you haven't, that's fine—I have proof."

"I'm sorry… I don't quite follow your meaning."

The suspect claimed he had proof of why he was arrested? Wasn’t that basically a confession?

"Take a look."

Under Bronya’s wary gaze, Lingzhou conjured a phone seemingly from thin air.

He activated the projection, clearly displaying last night's recorded conversation on the wall.

"Stellaron…? It’s the cause behind the Rift…?" Bronya murmured unconsciously, before snapping back and gripping her rifle tightly, staring sharply at the trio.

"So, your identities really are fake!"

Stelle: "Relax. You've seen and heard it yourself—we’re here to help."

"Isn't it suspicious you received an order to arrest us just after we discussed this last night?"

"This recording was staged, sure. But it proves our room was bugged."

"Care to guess who placed the bug—and whether they're connected to Cocolia?"

Bronya froze, her expression tense.

Bugging guests was unethical.

Even if justified by caution toward outsiders, simply overhearing a conversation didn't prove malicious intent.

Quite the opposite—these visitors intended to help Belobog solve its Rift crisis.

March 7th had a point.

Those desperately defending their home wouldn't reject aid.
If your home was on the brink, why hesitate?

In recent years, the Rift expanded rapidly, devouring large portions of Belobog. If unchecked, humanity’s living space would shrink drastically within six months.

Seeing Bronya’s thoughtful silence, Lingzhou got straight to the point.

"Cocolia didn't tell you about the Stellaron, or that it's causing the Rift, did she?"

Bronya slowly nodded, brought back to reality.

Stelle: "She had you arrest us specifically because of the Stellaron."

"Why?!" Bronya was completely confused.

Lingzhou gave a relaxed, faint smile, crossing his arms and leaning back.

"Forgive me for saying so, but assuming you didn’t become commander purely through nepotism, you should have the answer already."

Bronya bit her lip hard.

Of course, she had a suspicion—but it was one she refused to believe.

She couldn't accept that her mother, Belobog’s Guardian and leader, might hide the very source of their crisis.

At best, she was trying to prevent panic.
But why conceal it even from Bronya?

Recently, Cocolia had grown more stubborn, sending troops repeatedly into danger zones to find the source of the Rift or stop its expansion.

Each expedition ended disastrously due to poor planning or lack of numbers.

And now, just hearing outsiders mention the Stellaron prompted immediate arrests—with no verification of their claims.

Lingzhou was right—how could she not suspect?

She hadn't verified because she already knew it was true.
She arrested them because they'd touched upon a sensitive truth.

But why was talking about the very thing endangering countless lives considered taboo?

Bronya’s rifle clattered loudly as it slipped from her trembling hand.

She didn't dare think further.

Lingzhou: "Let me simplify things. Our motive is straightforward."

"If we don't seal the Stellaron, we can’t warp away from this star system."

"Helping you helps us. We have nothing to hide."

"Our initial concealment of identity was merely necessary caution."

"Cocolia can’t be trusted. So we hope you'll help us, because—"

"You don’t want to lose your home either, Bronya."

Bronya was torn.

On one side, the mother who raised her. On the other, outsiders speaking an uncomfortable truth.

Instinctively, she knew Lingzhou wasn’t lying.
Yet familial bonds and gratitude still made her cling desperately to hope.

"Maybe… Mother’s just overly cautious, that's why she—ugh!"

Before she could finish, Bronya stiffened, collapsing forward.

Stelle swiftly caught her, glaring in shock at the figure behind Bronya.

Players reacted similarly.

[What the—why is it Sampo?!]
[Looks like he knocked Bronya out?!]
[Wasn’t Sampo locked up? How’d he escape?]

Ah Xian quickly remembered the hidden plot she'd previously discovered, slapping her thigh excitedly.

"The foreshadowing pays off! Lingzhou must've arranged something with Sampo!"

"Hey now, big bro! No need to keep pleading. Just knock her out and drag her down to the Underworld. If she won't help willingly, we can still make do."

Sampo strutted forward casually, his tone irritatingly smug.

① "What's going on?"
② "How'd you get past all the guards outside?"
③ "Lingzhou mentioned a guide—could it be you?"

Option three.

Sampo laughed smugly, rubbing his hands together.

"Helping my pals is only right—especially considering the reward—"

"Hey now, we’re brothers! Brothers help brothers in need," Lingzhou interjected abruptly, appearing suddenly beside Sampo, one hand gripping his shoulder and a gentle, menacing smile on his face.

"So, since I helped you out of jail, you'll guide us where we want to go, right?"

Feeling the chilling grip, Sampo shivered.

"Y-yeah, exactly! Brothers look after each other—into the fire, through thick and thin, anything you need!"

Lingzhou’s eyes opened slightly, dangerous yet amused. "Then maybe I should find an opportunity to stab my brother twice—in repayment."

Sampo’s expression twitched dramatically. "No repayment needed! Good buddies don't talk repayment! Your business is my business—mention repayment again and I'll be mad!"

[I'm laughing so hard!]
[No wonder Sampo’s terrified—Lingzhou treats him like a mouse cornered by a cat.]
[I was holding it together until the censored profanity… now I'm losing it.]

---

This is a fan translation of 崩铁：卡池角色，给玩家发刀 by 三十度幻. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!