"Hey, do you happen to know why the Great Guardian ordered all the residents to gather in the plaza right now?" one person asked, turning to their friend beside them, their voice brimming with curiosity.
To them, an order like this felt strange—almost bizarre. It was the first time they'd ever received such a command from the Great Guardian.
Their friend shrugged and replied, "How would I know? Go ask the Great Guardian over there! Why are you asking me, someone who's a nobody?"
But the questioner wasn't deterred. "Well, your uncle's a noble, isn't he? Maybe he knows why the Great Guardian issued an order like this."
The friend shook their head, their face clouded with confusion. "Even someone like my uncle, a noble, doesn't have a clue. When I asked him earlier, he was just as lost. It really seems like this was a sudden decision by Lord Cocolia, made without discussing it with anyone else."
"Is that so?" the questioner said, their eyes sparkling with intrigue. "Now I'm even more curious about what could've pushed Lord Cocolia to give an order like this." They could barely contain their excitement for her arrival.
Beyond the two of them, others in the plaza shared the same eager anticipation, restless to see Cocolia and wondering what she'd reveal. Whatever it was, it seemed far more important than they'd initially imagined.
But curiosity wasn't the only thing stirring. Tension crackled in the air as Underworld and Overworld residents came face-to-face. Ever since Cocolia's order to seal off the Underworld, a bitter conflict had simmered between them.
Now, they glared at each other with open hostility, especially the Underworld dwellers, who looked ready to start a fight.
"Hey… Look at them!" someone whispered, their voice dripping with disdain. "So filthy and ragged! Why did Lord Cocolia even invite them here? Their presence is ruining our view," they sneered, casting a disgusted glance toward the Underworld residents.
Another whisper drifted through the air, its tone marked by sorrow. "How pitiful they are," it murmured. "Their clothes hang in tatters, and those children—so small and frail—they must starve, barely getting enough to eat, and suffering terribly from malnutrition."
Though the second comment wasn't meant to mock the Underworld dwellers, it sparked even greater anger among them. They didn't need or want pity from the Overworld residents!
"Leader! Are we just going to stand here and let them insult us?!" shouted a Wildfire member, their voice thick with indignation. Soon, others joined in, their angry cries echoing through the crowd.
Natasha's head throbbed, overwhelmed by the chaos. The relentless turmoil of the day was draining her, and a flicker of resentment toward Rozen sparked within her for his absence in this critical moment.
Finally, pushed to her limit, Natasha snapped. "Enough!" she bellowed, her voice cutting through the clamor. "We're here to listen to the announcement, not to bicker! I'll say it again—we didn't come to fight! If any one of you disobeys my orders, go ahead, but know this: the moment you do, you're out of Wildfire!"
Her stern warning silenced the crowd, and they reluctantly settled down. But though they grew quiet, the insults from others continued to sting. Despite their outward calm, the clenched fists and taut expressions betrayed the storm of emotions raging inside them.
Witnessing the turmoil, Natasha felt powerless. She knew the animosity between the Underworld and Overworld ran deep, a rift so entrenched that reconciling the two seemed nearly impossible unless the Underworld blockade was lifted.
Fortunately, others who noticed the escalating conflict took swift action. The Silvermane Guards stepped in, moving quickly to quell the chaos and restore order.
"Silence, everyone!" Gepard, Vice Commander of the Silvermane Guards, shouted with authority. "If there's any more noise or disruption, we'll haul you straight to the cells!" His commanding voice instantly hushed the crowd, leaving them silent and still.
No one wanted trouble with the Silvermane Guards—especially not the threat of imprisonment—so they had no choice but to comply and remain quiet.
Finally, after what felt like a long wait, the figure everyone had been eagerly anticipating emerged. A mature blonde woman stepped through the door, accompanied by a younger woman with silver hair styled in elegant drills trailing just behind her.
"It's the Great Guardian!" someone shouted loudly, their voice cutting through the air as they recognized Cocolia's arrival.
"Lord Cocolia! Lord Bronya!" The plaza exploded with cheers, the names of the mother and daughter reverberating powerfully across the square. The sound was so thunderous that even Rozen, far off in the Underworld, could hear the echoes.
"Has it begun?" he murmured to himself. "Well then, time to make my move—after a quick change!" With a swift motion, Rozen swapped his outfit for a sleek black suit paired with a black shirt, draping a long black coat around himself like a regal cloak. To top it off, he conjured a striking black halo shaped like a crown, lending him an aura of royal authority.
Once prepared, he teleported instantly to Cocolia's side without hesitation. His sudden appearance caught the Silvermane Guards escorting her off guard, their hands instinctively gripping their weapons, poised to attack.
"Stand down!" Cocolia commanded sharply, her voice cutting through the tension. "Do not attack—he is a important figure!" The Silvermane Guards and Bronya exchanged confused glances, uncertain but quick to obey her order.
"Mother… who is he?" Bronya whispered, sidling closer to Cocolia. Her curiosity burned—why would Cocolia call this stranger as important figure?
Cocolia ignored her daughter's question, striding purposefully toward Rozen. He stood nonchalantly, hands tucked into the pockets of his long coat, utterly unfazed by the wary glares surrounding him.
Then, Cocolia did something astonishing—so shocking that the onlookers questioned whether they were trapped in a dream. She bowed deeply, her posture radiating deference, as if apologizing to the highest authority in Belobog.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, for my subordinates' discourtesy," she said, her voice heavy with sincere regret. "I haven't yet informed them of your new position in Belobog." Her words stunned the crowd, leaving them reeling, as if reality itself had shifted beneath their feet.
"By the Qlipoth! Did I hear that right? Lord Great Guardian called that stranger 'Your Majesty'!" a voice gasped from the crowd.
"No, you heard it clear as day! I did too, with my own ears!" another replied, equally stunned.
The entire plaza stood frozen, reeling in disbelief. Their sole ruler, the Great Guardian, had addressed someone with utmost reverence, treating him with a deference that bordered on awe. It was unthinkable.
People pinched themselves, desperate to confirm they weren't dreaming, only to face the stark truth: they were wide awake, and what they were witnessing was undeniably real.
"Mother…" Bronya stammered, her voice faltering under the weight of shock. She could scarcely process it—never in her wildest thoughts had she imagined Rozen as a figure of such towering importance.
Part of her burned to step forward and demand answers from Cocolia—why had she suddenly called Rozen "Your Majesty"? But Bronya held back, her curiosity tethered by the need to see what would unfold next.
Rozen gazed upon the sea of shocked and disbelieving faces before him, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his features as he nodded. His arrival had to be nothing less than staggering—an indelible mark etched into the memory of Belobog's people, a spectacle they would never forget.
He then turned to Cocolia, who remained bowed in reverence before him. With a subtle upward wave of his hand, he summoned his telekinetic power, gently lifting her to her feet. "Rise, Cocolia," he said, his voice steady and authoritative yet laced with understanding. "I forgive your earlier oversight, for I did not command you to reveal my presence to others."
Cocolia, momentarily dazed by the strange sensation of being drawn upward by an invisible force, quickly regained her composure. "Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty!" she responded, her tone brimming with gratitude as she dipped into another respectful bow.
Rozen acknowledged her with a slight nod before shifting his attention back to the crowd. They had shaken off their initial astonishment and were now buzzing with fervent discussion, each voice speculating about the true identity of this enigmatic figure in their midst.
Sensing the moment had ripened, Rozen gave Cocolia a discreet signal. She understood at once and stepped forward to face the throng. Her voice cut through the murmurs, resounding with clarity and resolve. "Everyone! Citizens of our beloved Belobog! Hear me now! What I am about to proclaim concerns the very future of our city!"
All eyes were fixed on Cocolia as she stood before the gathered crowd. Without keeping them in suspense any longer, she continued, her voice firm yet heavy with significance. "From this moment onward, I hand over full authority of Belobog to this man—the esteemed sovereign!"
Her astonishing statement triggered a wave of gasps and disbelief among the listeners.
"By Qlipoth!" someone shouted, their voice quaking with shock and incredulity. "Does this mean Belobog is now a kingdom instead of just a city? How could this possibly happen?!" Their exclamation echoed the confusion and astonishment rippling through the crowd.
Like that individual, many others shared the same reaction, rejecting the reality that they had suddenly gone from ordinary city residents to subjects of a kingdom.
"This is unacceptable!" one of the nobles shot back, his tone sharp with outrage. "How dare you abruptly change Belobog's constitution without consulting the Architects or the noble families, Cocolia! This shift holds no validity for Belobog!" His words were a fierce rebuke, reflecting his staunch opposition to the change.
His refusal made perfect sense. As a member of the nobility, he understood that if Belobog transformed into a kingdom, the status and privileges he and his family had long held would vanish in an instant. After all, in a monarchy, all power and authority would be concentrated in the hands of the royal family, leaving them, the old nobles, stripped of their influence.
How could the nobles, who had relished the advantages of their prestigious status, simply let it slip away without a fight? Naturally, they were furious and utterly unwilling to accept Cocolia's proclamation.
Facing the nobles' complaints and sharp retorts, Cocolia responded with a sneer, her face radiating contempt. "Your refusals and grievances mean nothing," she said coldly. "I am the Great Guardian—not you! I can rule Belobog as I see fit, without needing your permission or approval. In the past, I tolerated you only because I chose not to make enemies of you then!"
Her words silenced the nobles instantly. As the Supreme Ruler of Belobog, the Great Guardian wielded immense authority, akin to a king in his own kingdom.
Powerless, the nobles stood quiet, their eyes burning with hatred as they glared at Cocolia. Yet one among them dared to act, trying to incite a protest in the crowd to block the changes she sought to impose.
Unfortunately for them, Bronya, ever vigilant, spotted the instigator and moved swiftly to stop him before the situation could spiral out of control.
"Seize him and throw him in prison!" Bronya commanded, her voice firm and resolute. "And if you see anyone else stirring trouble, act immediately before things get worse!" Her clear orders jolted the stunned soldiers back to attention.
"Understood, Lord Bronya!" the soldiers replied, saluting sharply. They promptly advanced on the nobles, apprehending the troublemaker and dragging him away.
"Release me! I order you to let me go this instant!" the captured noble shouted, struggling against the soldiers' grip. "You soldiers are forbidden from defying a noble's commands! Free me now, or you'll regret it later!" His desperate threats echoed, but they fell on deaf ears as he was hauled off.