Starry Sky Railway: Twin Origins

Chapter 45 The Beginning of the Counterattack

"Huh? What's going on?"

Natasha frowned; Swallow's words surprised her greatly.

She couldn't understand why Swaro, who had clashed with them in the mining area just two days ago, would suddenly change his attitude so quickly.

After pondering for a moment, unable to fathom Schwarz's intentions, Natasha asked him, "Swarz, what is your reason for doing this?"

“Clara’s wish is to see all of humanity in the Lower District united,” Schwarzlo replied. “I am fulfilling Clara’s wish.”

Upon hearing this, Natasha turned to look at the little girl in red standing next to Schwarz: "Clara, is this true?"

“Yes, Sister Natasha.” Clara nodded with a smile. “Mr. Schwarz said it would help me fulfill any wish.”

Clara's answer surprised Natasha. She knew that Schwarz and Clara had a very good relationship, but she didn't expect Schwarz to be willing to go to such lengths for Clara.

Natasha then turned her attention back to Swallow and asked him the question that concerned her most: "What made you willing to release those two videos, and even assist us, 'Earthfire'?"

Upon hearing Natasha's question, Schwarz turned its mechanical head and looked at Lin Qiong, who was standing not far behind Seele.

Oh no! It's coming for me!

When Lin Qiong saw Schwarz suddenly staring at him with that single red eye, he knew that his secret trip to Schwarz's base to find him was about to be exposed.

As expected, Swallow raised its thick mechanical arm, passed over Seele who was sandwiched between them, and pointed directly at Lin Qiong's location.

"The 'outsider' told me that releasing the images and assisting the fire were essential prerequisites for fulfilling Clara's wish."

"Outsiders?"

Natasha looked in the direction Swallow was pointing and discovered that Swallow was pointing to Lin Qiong and the others who had been brought back by Sambo.

Meanwhile, Seele, who had been stopped by Oleg earlier, was looking at Natasha and Swallow with a blank expression.

She didn't understand why they suddenly started looking in her direction.

But when she realized that Swallow's target wasn't her, but rather the area behind her.

Seele secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then turned around curiously to look behind her. She was eager to know what had attracted the attention of Swallow and Natasha.

"Huh? What's going on?" March 7th noticed that Swaro and Natasha, who had been talking, suddenly looked over here, as did Seele.

She was still clueless and didn't know what had happened.

Then, in order to find out the reason, Natasha walked towards Lin Qiong, followed by Schwarz and Clara.

Upon arriving in front of Lin Qiong and the others, Clara, who was standing next to Schwarz, was the first to greet Lin Qiong: "Good morning, big brother!"

"Uh... hello, Clara." Lin Qiong responded to Clara's greeting, amidst the puzzled looks of his companions.

"Big brother? When did you become so familiar with her?" March 7th seemed a little surprised to hear Clara address Lin Qiong.

“Yesterday, my older brother came to Mr. Schwarzlo’s house alone and happened to run into Clara,” Clara answered for Lin Qiong with a smile. “Later, my older brother told Clara many stories about the Star Train.”

"Going to see Schwarzlo alone?" Natasha was shocked to hear this. She looked at Lin Qiong with a serious expression and asked, "What's going on?"

"Yeah! Didn't you say you were just going to wander around town? How did you end up at Swallow's place?" March 7th asked Lin Qiong, hands on hips, looking puzzled.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lin Qiong had no choice but to recount the whole story.

Of course, to justify his excuse of wanting to stroll around town, Lin Qiong lied and said that he got lost in town and accidentally wandered into Rivet Town. Then, in order to avoid the Rift creatures there, he accidentally stumbled into Swaro's territory.

Then, after asking the wanderers there, they learned that it was Schwarz's territory. Since they were already there, they decided to try talking to Schwarz, and to their surprise, they actually succeeded.

"Don't do such dangerous things next time." After Lin Qiong finished speaking, Dan Heng said to Lin Qiong expressionlessly, but a hint of worry was inadvertently revealed in his eyes.

March 7th nodded in agreement and said, "That's right. Don't do such dangerous things next time. If you have any ideas, you should tell us in advance."

"This is our first 'exploration' trip since we left the space station. If anything happens to you, not only will we be saddened, but Himeko and Mr. Welt will be too."

Xing, who was still trying to recall where she had seen that scene in the movie, said to Lin Qiong with a worried expression.

Seeing how worried his companions were about him warmed Lin Qiong's heart, as if a warm current was flowing through his body.

Yes, even the robot Schwarz and the human Clara can become "family," so wouldn't the companions on the Star Train also consider themselves "family"?

Thinking this, Lin Qiong looked at his companions and said sincerely with a smile, "I understand. If I have any ideas next time, I will tell you in advance."

Hearing Lin Qiong's response, March 7th smiled with satisfaction and said happily, "That's perfect!"

After hearing the whole story, Natasha looked at Lin Qiong with gratitude and said, "We have been trying to communicate with Schwarz for many years, but it has basically all ended in failure."

"But I never expected that you would accomplish something that we 'Earthfire' have never been able to do in all these years, so soon after arriving in the lower district. I really don't know how to thank you enough."

Lin Qiong quickly waved his hand and said modestly, "It's nothing. Actually, everything we've done is to find the source of all this disaster—the 'Star Core'."

However, when Lin Qiong mentioned the words "star core," everyone immediately realized what he meant.

"That's right! If we can find the 'Star Core' and seal it away, we can end all of this!" March 7th slammed his right fist against his left palm, suddenly realizing the truth. "But where exactly is the 'Star Core'?"

Since they didn't know the location of the "Star Core," they couldn't seal it, and the group was somewhat worried when they realized this.

"I think I know where the star core is!"

Just then, Xing's sudden words attracted everyone's attention.

Seeing that everyone's attention was focused on him, Xing continued, "In the video that Swallow played, it was mentioned that a voice resided in the mind of the previous Great Guardian."

"When I was unconscious, I seemed to see Cocolia talking to a large device. I think Cocolia must know something."

At this moment, Bronya, who had been standing quietly to the side, trembled violently when she heard Xing mention Cocolia.

"Are you sure?" Natasha asked, somewhat doubtfully. "Cocolia is the current 'High Guardian,' and talking about the 'High Guardian' casually will get you arrested."

Upon hearing this, Xing replied with a firm gaze, "I'm very sure, because I've seen that scene more than once while I'm sleeping."

Seeing Xing's confident answer, March 7th whispered to Dan Heng and Lin Qiong, "Is it because she also has a star core inside her body that she was able to see that scene?"

“It’s not impossible.” Dan Heng nodded in response to March 7’s question. “Although we’ve never heard of star cores resonating with each other, we’ve never heard of star cores being implanted into a person before.”

"Why don't we just go and ask Cocolia in person?" Lin Qiong said with a slight smile and confidence.

"With the help of the Earthfire and Schwarz's robots, we can launch a direct counterattack on the upper district and advance right up to Cocolia!"

As they were talking, Lin Qiong straightened his black trench coat and then adjusted the hem of the coat.

"Let the anger that has been building up in the lower district for so many years burn the upper district to ashes!"