Ultimately, after some discussion, everyone reached a consensus:
First, let [Cocolia] have a "physical conversation" with Svarog to see if she can "persuade" him to change his mind.
As for the backup plan proposed by Stelle—"kidnap Clara and see if Svarog panics"—it was unanimously opposed by everyone.
Natasha covered her forehead: "Stelle, we are here to solve problems, not to star in a villain's script."
March 7th nodded vigorously: "Exactly! Clara is clearly a good kid, and bullying children will get our snack quota deducted by Conductor Pom-Pom!"
Dan Heng was concise: "Unethical, and likely to escalate the conflict."
[Jing Yuan] patted Stelle's shoulder with an expression that said, "Your way of thinking is very dangerous."
Stelle rubbed her nose: "Ahem, I was just saying it to lighten the mood..."
"In that case, wait for my good news."
[Cocolia] downed the coffee in her hand and set the cup aside casually.
She lazily stretched, her figure fading as if merging into the shadows.
"Time to give that tin can some 'ideological work'."
Before the words even faded, she had vanished at the end of the alley, heading straight for the mechanical settlement.
"Alright! Strategic deployment complete!"
Stella clenched her fist, looking with bright eyes at the ethereal [Jing Yuan] beside her.
"Let's go! [Jing Yuan]! I'm taking you to grind levels! I guarantee your experience points will skyrocket!"
Saying that, she grabbed [Jing Yuan]'s sleeve and charged toward the area at the edge of Stellaron Town where Rift monsters appeared.
"Wait, wait, wait? How can a general act so recklessly? No, that's not it—it's unnecessary! It's really unnecessary!"
[Jing Yuan] stumbled as he was dragged along, trying to maintain his composure.
"Training! Training can also improve one's skills! Sparring and gaining insights is also a form of cultivation!"
"Huh?"
Stella slammed on the brakes and turned back, looking confused.
"Training works too?"
[Jing Yuan] quickly straightened his sleeves and nodded solemnly: "Indeed. Combat practice, comprehending moves, and familiarizing oneself with the flow of power are not necessarily inferior to actual combat, and they are safer and more controllable."
Upon hearing this, Stella was silent for three seconds, then slowly turned her head, her gaze piercing towards [Little Herta], who was still dangling her legs on the neck of the galatron, and asked gloomily: "Then why... didn't you tell me that before?"
She recalled how she had been struggling and getting covered in dust while grinding monsters to level up her summoned characters.
[Little Herta] gave a small yawn with an expression that said "need you ask?": "You didn't ask. Besides, data obtained through direct combat is more straightforward, the leveling efficiency is theoretically higher, and it allows for testing real-combat parameters."
She patted the galatron beneath her, and the thing cooperated by emitting a blustering but slightly wheezy hum.
Stella: "..."
She felt as if all those times she had fought so miserably had become "ineffective effort" in some sense.
Thus, [Jing Yuan]'s leveling plan changed from "braving the Rift" to "friendly sparring in Stellaron Town."
His opponent was Seele, who happened to want to stretch her muscles.
It was assumed that this summoned general, being a newcomer and only LV.5, would suffer a great loss against the agile Seele.
Unexpectedly, [Jing Yuan], without using his signature lightning and Lightning-Lord, managed to trade blows with a non-serious Seele, relying solely on exquisite footwork, steady responses, and occasional strokes of brilliance.
The Formation Blade and the phantom of the scythe clashed, ringing out with a pleasing spectacle.
Seele shook her wrists, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes: "Yo, not bad, you've got some skills."
[Jing Yuan] smiled slightly, calm and composed: "You're too kind; the young lady's footwork is even more fierce."
Watching from the side, March 7th and Stelle had already started taking bets on who would show a flaw first.
Dan Heng watched the battle between [Jing Yuan] and Seele, lost in thought.
——————
Meanwhile, deep in the Great Mine.
Cold mechanical lights illuminated the rich mineral deposits.
Svarog's towering frame stood in the main mine tunnel, his crimson electronic eyes scanning the rock walls, precisely analyzing the data stream.
"Based on current average extraction efficiency and energy conversion rates, this mineral vein can supply the Lower District of Belobog with standard energy consumption for two hundred and thirty-one days, with a margin of error of plus or minus seven days."
His steady synthesized voice echoed through the empty mine.
He lowered his head slightly to look at the quiet girl in red beside him: "But you summoned me to the core area; logically, it is not just to verify these basic data. Clara, state your true requirement."
Clara looked up, her light-colored eyes filled with worry: "...Mr. Svarog, I saw that many vagrants and miners were injured fighting over ore... Can we do something to really help them? Not just... control this place."
Svarog's processor ran rapidly: "I have intervened in the conflicts and designated safe extraction zones. According to existing behavioral model predictions, within the next thirty days, if no major variables intervene, the probability of large-scale armed conflict is less than five percent. Current measures are the optimal solution."
"The optimal solution... is it?"
Clara sighed softly.
Just then, Svarog's sensors suddenly sounded an alarm!
He moved instantly, his massive metal body acting like a wall, completely blocking the space in front of Clara. His right arm raised, and charging light condensed at the muzzle, locking onto the shadows of the mine tunnel.
"High energy reaction and unauthorized target detected. Who is there?"
His voice carried a defensive, sharp ringing sound.
From the shadows came the crisp sound of high heels striking the ground, unhurriedly.
A female voice, laced with a hint of playfulness and laziness, sounded:
"The optimal solution? Let me see, if I beat you, the 'control variable' itself, into a temporary standby state, would that count as a new 'major variable'?"
[Cocolia] swung the two gorgeous long spears condensed from ice energy in her hands, walking out from the darkness as if strolling leisurely, the spear tips grazing the ground, kicking up fine ice crystals.
She looked up, flashing a "friendly" smile at the vigilant Svarog:
"Don't be nervous, big guy. Just an enthusiastic visitor... who wants to have a nice 'chat' with your 'parent' and stretch her limbs a bit."
She deliberately emphasized "chat" and "stretch her limbs," but her gaze darted toward little Clara, who was being tightly protected behind Svarog, before returning to Svarog, brimming with fighting spirit and playfulness.
The atmosphere in the mine instantly dropped from mechanical calm to freezing point (both literally and figuratively).