Chapter 58: Addicting Delicacies (Rewritten)
"As far as I was concerned, Madam Cocolia’s order to arrest you sounded reasonable... but why didn’t she issue it straight away? She must have realized something about you... Something I haven’t yet been able to perceive for myself, and it bothers me..."
Sunny listened to Bronya’s words as he attempted to piece the puzzle together. Indeed, Cocolia’s method must have seemed extraordinarily illogical. As such, he was able to think of a single answer:
’She was gaining information from an outside source.’
That might have been what caused her to change her mind and try to arrest the aliens on Belobog. If she had a reliable informant that told her something about the three of them — although Sunny wouldn’t know what it could possibly be — then she might have felt justified in her actions, believing that she was working for the good of Belobog and it’s people.
Sunny expressed his suspicions to Bronya, who sat down on the steps in front of the Goethe Grand Hotel. She leaned into her hand as she pondered his words.
"Although that is certainly possible, I have nothing to confirm it. I’ve never seen the Supreme Guardian conversing with suspicious individuals — nor have I seen any within Qlipoth Fort. I wouldn’t discredit that I might have missed such evidence. They would certainly be able to slip by if they were a part of the Silvermane Guards."
She paused for a moment as she changed the topic. There wouldn’t be much more they could figure out by continuing on this avenue — not without visible proof.
"In the past, Overworld soldiers on the front line would lose their lives in droves, and yet the Fragmentum’s advance would remain unaffected. Nevertheless, that was her reason for deploying all the Silvermane Guards to the front line. The transport line for supplies and Geomarrow remained open, but the passage between the surface and the underground ceased. I approved of that decision..."
A worried expression appeared on her face as she frowned.
"I never thought that the Underworld would sink into such ruin without the Silvermane Guards... Perhaps mother was wrong... But how can I change her mind? I’ve tried, but she won’t listen. I don’t know how to get through to her..."
Sunny didn’t say anything as he thought about how he should reply to her. He didn’t know Cocolia better than Bronya, so he doubted that he could give her a good answer.