Kafka paid no mind to Silver Wolf's shouting. She simply maintained her smile and walked to her own deputy leader's seat. Zāwù, on the other hand, was subjected to a "threatening and enticing" gaze from Silver Wolf and had no choice but to go to her side and temporarily sit in the seat that originally belonged to Sam.
He didn't quite understand what Silver Wolf meant by... "been eaten by the bad woman."
After all, Zāwù had only been in this world for a very short time since his birth, less than a month. Although his thinking and analytical abilities amazed even a genius hacker like Silver Wolf, in fields of knowledge he had yet to touch, he was still a blank slate, waiting for someone to paint it with words or colors.
Silver Wolf was the one who had smeared the most colorful paint on Zāwù's blank slate. Thanks to her, Zāwù could now be called a "minor god of gaming." If Silver Wolf played galgames, Zāwù might have had a chance to learn about love. Fortunately, she had no such hobbies. Otherwise, one would worry she might paint Zāwù with... yellowish colors.
Silver Wolf hadn't even had the chance to properly interrogate Zāwù about what he did last night!
Don't tell me, you went and did...
A cough from Kafka and the crisp sound of a pistol slapping the table instantly made the atmosphere much more serious. Even Blade woke from his feigned sleep, a bloody anticipation welling up in his scarlet pupils.
It's time for another mission.
Another step closer to the end, to his death.
"First, allow me to convey two important messages on behalf of our irresponsible leader and the organization's mascot, Elio," Kafka began. "First, let us welcome our new member."
As she said this, Kafka looked at the handsome boy beside Silver Wolf with eyes filled with approval, gentleness, and many other unnamed emotions.
"Congratulations, Zāwù."
"Your observation period is over. From today on, you are a member of the Stellaron Hunters."
Zāwù couldn't describe his feelings at that moment. Excitement was a given, but there were also many... indescribable feelings stirring in his heart. Was it being recognized, being affirmed? Gaining a new meaning for his existence? Or was it because the distance between him and Kafka... had unknowingly shortened by a great deal?
"Clap, clap, clap."
Blade applauded with a blank expression. In truth, from the moment Zāwù had finally learned that person's sword style two days ago and successfully used "Fleeting Blooms, a River of Dreams," he had already acknowledged him.
As for Silver Wolf's expression, it could only be described as spectacular. It was almost as dramatic as the last time her game account got banned!
No! What on earth happened in just one night!?
Don't tell me Zāwù rode the bad woman's... 'express elevator' to a promotion!
That kind of thing, no, I don't want that!
At this moment, a sense of melancholy, as if "it was over before it even began," chaotically filled Silver Wolf's heart.
But it's not like I have blonde twintails + the childhood friend attribute...
Wait a minute—does this count as being childhood friends? Silver Wolf and Zāwù had been together day and night these past few days. At least in her eyes, they had already formed a relationship that was more than just friends.
"Thud!"
Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Silver Wolf suddenly dropped her head onto the conference table with a crisp sound. A good sound means a good head.
Although Zāwù hadn't yet recovered from the surprise of becoming a Stellaron Hunter, he immediately expressed his concern for Big Sis Silver Wolf.
"Big Sis Silver Wolf, are you okay?"
"...For now, I'm not dead yet, I guess."
Silver Wolf rubbed her reddened forehead and sat up straight again, looking wronged.
Zāwù let out a long sigh of relief. "As long as you're okay. Big Sis Silver Wolf is my most important friend."
"THUD!"
"Eh, why again!?"
This time, Silver Wolf couldn't get back up. Zāwù stood beside her, looking innocent and worried.
Kafka squinted, easily seeing through the little girl's schemes.
Should I say my Zāwù is just that charming? To be able to attract even Silver Wolf away from her virtual world and back to reality. Although, for her, reality was probably just a large-scale immersive simulation game. But Zāwù's status in it would definitely not be an NPC. He would be a player, right?
The woman smiled faintly and returned to the main topic.
"Second, is about this mission."
"It's related to the Trailblazing Astral Express that has just set sail."
"However, we first need to make a trip to the Herta Space Station, which is currently docked in the low orbit of Planet Blue."
"And while we're at it, we'll lure some big guys over~"
...
On the star-river track named "The Trailblaze," a train with a black-and-gold, retro yet magnificent design traveled quietly, becoming the sole beacon of hope in this vast, empty, seemingly void-like sea of stars.
Inside the Astral Express, a lop-eared rabbit-like creature wearing a red uniform and a top hat, standing and speaking like a human, was humming an unidentifiable melody while cheerfully cleaning the red velvet carpet of the train car. But what might surprise many is that it was not a waiter or a mascot on the Astral Express.
...Actually, it probably was the mascot.
But it was also the most important Conductor on the train! Its name was "Pom-Pom"!
Today, Pom-Pom was also diligently cleaning the train.
Behind him, a girl with short pink hair and dreamy blue-and-pink eyes that sparkled with mischief was tiptoeing, carefully approaching the cute, fluffy little Pom-Pom.
And then...
"Gotcha! I am the Stellaron Hunter, Kafka! If you don't want to lose your little life, you'd better be good and let me pet you!"
Saying this, the quirky girl, who was read as Kafka but written as March 7th, scooped Pom-Pom up and happily snuggled against its fluffy body~
"Waaah, help! Help, Pom!"
Poor Pom-Pom actually believed March 7th's words, kicking its short arms and legs, struggling constantly. After all, Kafka and the Stellaron Hunters she led, throughout the entire universe, if not called heinous, were at least notorious. If the Astral Express were to really be attacked by the Stellaron Hunters... Pom-Pom probably wouldn't know what to do.
Maybe... hiding behind Miss Himeko would be a good idea?
"Little March, stop bullying Pom-Pom. Come and try my new coffee~"
A gentle and mature, graceful female voice came through. It not only let the panicked Pom-Pom identify the prankster, but also allowed him to escape from the girl's embrace and land softly on the floor.
"March 7th! Darn you, Pom!"
It also made March 7th's face suddenly darken.
"Big Sis Himeko! Anything but that, please!"
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (250 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (225 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (90 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (100 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (270 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (98 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (120 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(59 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (150 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (120 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (80 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (50 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (80 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (90 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (65 Chapter)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (50 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (60 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (60 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (43 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.