As is widely known.

The external temperature of Yalilo VI is extremely cold and unsuitable for human survival. The builders, with their will to preserve it, forged Beloborg, the last city.

However, according to Schwarzschild's data, the temperature in the city of Beloborg is gradually decreasing, and the resources of the earth marrow in the lower areas are also decreasing.

The ultimate result could be that the lower zones become uninhabitable.

...

"Judging from the known reserves of Earth Essence in the lower layer and the average amount of Earth Essence consumed in recent years, it can support the lower layer for 175 days, with an error margin of no more than three months..." Schwarzro analyzed using big data.

"At that time, both above and below ground will be completely sealed in the ice."

Hearing Schwarz's question, Zhou Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly, recalling the plot of the original work.

"If you seal the star core directly, the source of the cold wave will be eliminated, and the lower zone can be preserved."

"Star Core?"

Upon hearing this unusual term, Schwarzrod retrieved data about the star nucleus from his database.

He didn't know whether the star core was related to the cold wave. In his database, the previous batch of city builders had been researching the star core, but in the end, nothing came of it.

"How to seal the star core is a problem for which I cannot provide a solution," the mechanical voice of Swarona slowly sounded.

"As long as you take out sixty Star Jade, someone will naturally come running to seal it..."

"What's the meaning?"

"Ah, you don't understand the joke, you forgot."

...

The conversation with Schwarzro did not last long before Zhou Xiao headed toward the Goethe Hotel.

"Big brother."

Before Zhou Xiao could even enter the hotel, Xiao Hao jogged to the hotel entrance, clutching something in his hand. He seemed to have some limp as he jogged.

“It’s you…” Zhou Xiao wasn’t too surprised to see Xiao Hao.

These past few days, Xiao Hao has often brought Zhou Xiao, this "good guy," some of the things he considers to be delicious food and drinks from the lower-class area. The things aren't expensive; they're just some small snacks.

Sitting on the steps outside the Goethe Hotel, Xiao Hao handed a piece of the yellowish-brown crystal he was holding to Zhou Xiao and said:

"Candy, big brother, please try some."

Zhou Xiao took it without hesitation, and his eyes fell on a bruise on Xiao Hao's short forearm under his miner's uniform.

"They got into a fight?"

Upon hearing the word "fight," Xiao Hao's expression became slightly unnatural, and he hurriedly said, "No... I just bumped into something in the mining area."

"Be more careful. If you can't handle it, don't pick it up anymore. Find another job."

"I've found a new job at..."

Zhou Xiao didn't hear what Xiao Hao said next; he licked the crystal in his hand.

The taste, which wasn't sweet but rather somewhat bitter, immediately made him frown, and he looked at Xiao Hao.

"Is this candy?"

"Yes..." Xiao Hao licked another crystal in his hand with some doubt and found that it tasted completely different from the one he had just bought.

"How could this be..." Xiao Hao was slightly taken aback. His intuition told him that he seemed to have been deceived.

Where did you buy it?

“The mining area…below the mining area.” Xiao Hao replied, “I bought it from an old man. He said it was a special kind of sugar crystal…I even tasted it.”

Hmm.

Zhou Xiao sighed silently.

This little Hao is so trusting; perhaps it's just childlike innocence and kindness.

Based on his interactions with Xiao Hao over the past few days, he discovered that Xiao Hao wanted to help anyone or anything that Xiao Hao felt was in a bad situation...

Even though they themselves are not living a satisfactory life, they cannot bear to see the suffering of others.

A child who lost both parents and grew up in an orphanage had to earn a living at a young age. He collected crystals in the mining area, but couldn't sell a single one even after half a day...

Even if it means eating less myself, I'd still give a little help to stray cats that come begging for food as they pass by...

In the chaotic environment of the lower levels, he was like a lamb, constantly at risk of being torn apart by the wolves of the lower levels...

Xiao Hao lost sight in his left eye because he trusted strangers too easily.

Seeing that Xiao Hao was a little down, Zhou Xiao paused for a second, then patted Xiao Hao's head:

"Let's go, I'll take you to buy candy."

Well, Zhou Xiao could only help Xiao Hao in a limited way, such as buying the crystals Xiao Hao picked up, taking Xiao Hao out for a meal, and giving him a bath.

As for further assistance, he could only say that it was unlikely. Firstly, he wasn't a particularly helpful person, and secondly, he didn't know how many days he could stay on Yalilo VI. Being in darkness was more despairing than seeing a glimmer of light in the darkness and then falling back into darkness.

...

"Big brother... is there anything you like?"

While walking down the street, Xiao Hao suddenly asked this question.

"Things?" Zhou Xiao shook his head upon hearing this: "There's nothing I like. If I had to say what I like, it would probably be a little money."

"Money..." Xiao Hao scratched his head, then chuckled sheepishly, "I like it too... With money, you can do so many things..."

"Hey? Lord Black Hook!" Xiao Hao suddenly called out to the child not far away as if he had seen someone.

Upon hearing the voice, the dark-skinned Lord Hook turned around, saw Xiao Hao, and waved:

"Stone Knight Hao!"

Stone of Hao... Knight?

Zhou Xiao said that this nickname was too childish and would easily lead to social embarrassment; only people of Xiao Hao's or Hu Ke's age could say it.

"It's been a long time, Knight Stone Howe." Hook approached with several of his "subordinates."

"This adult who doesn't look like a good person... is the Zhou... Zhou Xiao, the great good man you mentioned?"

Hook put his hands on his hips and looked up at Zhou Xiao.

“...”

“Yes, Lord Black Hook.” Xiao Hao was quite happy to see Hook.

He got to know Hook because Hook had protected him when he was being bullied, so he easily joined Hook's Mole Party.

However, Xiao Hao usually has his own things to do and doesn't participate much in the Mole Gang's adventurous activities.

Hook looked Zhou Xiao up and down several times, then said:

"Very good, you have gained my approval... I now allow you to be friends with Knight Shi Zhihao."

"Since you're a friend of Knight Shi Zhihao, then you're also a friend of the Mole Party, so I should give you a nicer title..."

Hook stroked his chin, racked his brains for a moment, and then uttered a six-character title.

"The Ruthless Owl Knight!"

“...”

Upon hearing this title, Zhou Xiao's expression resembled that of an elderly person on the subway looking at their phone—a face full of black lines.

"Don't give people titles so casually!"

...