"Isn't this just a mix of coaxing and tricking?"
Firefly was still unsure if this would work, but seeing that Dreamweaver's situation was truly a tear-jerking tragedy.
"Isn't that obvious? Think about it, don't most jobs pay you after you've done the work? Theoretically, the producer is always at a disadvantage, right? It's not like you get paid before you start."
Stelle's words were a revelation to Firefly.
She realized, "If you paid before the work started, wouldn't the employer become the consumer, and the worker become the shop owner?"
From this perspective, the roles of producer, organizer, and consumer were basically in a constant state of flux.
To get someone to be a producer, you first had to either coax them or pay them upfront to work for you.
But right now, Robin obviously didn't have much to pay them, so she had to use her reputation and power to get them to accept this process of being coaxed.
Robin felt the two of them were clearly slandering her. She argued, "It's not what I did. He genuinely believes that future is better and more beneficial for him. Shouldn't we be thinking about how to win over more Dreamweaver teams? That way, we'll have a greater say in Penacony."
"Of course not. You haven't even found out who's been persecuting the Dreamweaver teams. If you just raise your banner without knowing what's going on, you'll be the first one to die." Stelle wasn't surprised at all by Robin's potential fate; she could get shot in the back at any moment.
Stelle had something else on her mind. She looked at Firefly and asked, "Are you Stellaron Hunters really working with us? Kafka has assisted me so many times. Can't you be a little more... open about it?"
Firefly shook her head. "I can't do that. Besides... I'm not too clear on the specifics myself."
"Aren't you a Stellaron Hunter?" Stelle was surprised by Firefly's claim.
But it wasn't just that Firefly personally didn't know. She was, of course, aware of Elio's position. In this situation, knowing was one thing, but she couldn't just let others know. It was best to keep things under wraps.
"No, just think about it... think about the way our friends talk. You'll understand why I can't help but be uncertain sometimes."
Firefly's answer made it click for Stelle instantly.
True. The Stellaron Hunters' tendency to be riddlers at the drop of a hat was definitely a problem—a big one. Now, even she wasn't sure what the real situation was.
Who knew if they were just using each other, or if they truly shared the same vision for the future?
Besides that, there was one more question Stelle had to ask Firefly.
"Right, the vehicle? The one your partners stole from my boss? The one Noldrei left behind when he went to the Xianzhou. And how did you get to Penacony?"
"The vehicle... about the vehicle..." Firefly hesitated for a moment, then explained, "Actually, the vehicle left voluntarily. Well, not entirely voluntarily. The main thing is, its AI ran into one of our opponents and was breached and captured by Silver Wolf. After that, it was simple. The AI brought our people along and locked onto the Express's course."
[I knew it! I knew it! I had a feeling that AI was completely unreliable. I even disconnected her link specifically to remove a middleman. I never thought... I was too soft. I should have just uninstalled her from the start!]
Noldrei lamented. He'd thought that AI was a bit unreliable from the beginning.
Any existence with intelligence and the ability to act can basically be considered a lifeform. But a star-faring express should prioritize stability above all else, which made implanting an AI a liability.
It wasn't like he couldn't pilot it himself. Having an extra AI as an intermediary was completely unnecessary.
Although he didn't know how the Stellaron Hunters negotiated with the AI, the fact remained that the AI took the express and left him stranded on the Xianzhou.
'Big Bro, what's the deal? Why was that AI installed on your vehicle in the first place?'
Stelle had never encountered a situation like this. How could Noldrei run into a machine crisis just by going on a trip?
[Haven't I told you? I've always been an emperor back home. I took the throne not long after I was born. Those people figured they could use an AI to make my journey a bit more comfortable, but I don't need it...]
[So when I left, I disconnected the AI. In the end, the Ekayana just plowed right into the center of the Matrix of Prescience and smashed Fu Xuan's matrix to pieces.]
[I never expected something like this to happen. I have no idea how the Stellaron Hunters communicated with the AI. Maybe they made some kind of strange deal.]
'What kind of deal involves ditching you?'
Stelle found this whole thing too ridiculous. She didn't even know how to deal with it. It's not like she could just pick a fight with Firefly right now, right? That wouldn't make them bring Noldrei's express back.
[Probably something to do with a prophecy? Haven't you noticed how cryptic all these Stellaron Hunters are? Who knows what kind of weird Aeon they believe in.]
Stelle looked at Firefly curiously, thinking, This pretty girl doesn't look like some kind of heretic.
"Wh-what are you looking at me for?"
Firefly was a little nervous, afraid she had said something wrong.
"No, it's nothing... Actually, I was planning to kill you at first. If you hadn't fished out that 'fake Sampo,' I was going to find a place to take you out. If I'd known you were a Stellaron Hunter from the start, I might have spared you. After all, you're Kafka's companion, and she's helped me a few times, so letting you live wouldn't be out of the question."
Stelle stated her thoughts very frankly, causing Firefly's face to pale several times in shock.
Firefly even suspected Stelle had reached a whole new level of unhinged. The girl could chat and laugh with her while simultaneously planning to drag her into some dark corner and stab her to death.
"By the way, my big bro asked me to pass on a message to you."
"Huh? What is it?" Firefly finally realized the "big bro" Stelle was talking about was Noldrei.
"He said, you Stellaron Hunters had better watch your backs. If he finds out what you're doing with his vehicle, he'll definitely find a chance to sort you out. But, you know, I consider you Stellaron Hunters friends, more or less. If you were to bribe me a little, I might be able to put in a good word for you with my big bro!"
As she spoke, Stelle cheerfully patted Firefly's shoulder.
[You little brat, when did I ever say that!]