"He stressed that while the Xianzhou can handle the Stellaron, it would require significant manpower, so they're asking us to deal with the hidden threat of Kafka."
"But why ignore Blade, a key factor?"
March 7th froze at this.
Welt, meanwhile, gave an approving look.
Stelle continued her analysis:
"Using a hostage may not be honorable, but when you're enemies, who cares about honorable tactics?"
"Only self-righteous, sanctimonious types would fall for that, utterly naive."
"Spread the word: if Kafka doesn't show, they'll deal with Blade. Simple."
"But Jing Yuan deliberately focused on Kafka, skipping Blade."
"Based on Leon's note, where's the flaw in Jing Yuan's words?"
March 7th racked her brain.
Okay, she couldn't figure it out.
She gave an awkward but polite smile, hoping to cute her way through.
Welt held back his words, wanting to hear Stelle finish.
Seeing neither spoke, Stelle shared her thoughts.
"The flaw is exactly what I said—Blade. Unless Blade has a special identity or significance that prevents the Luofu from using him to threaten Kafka…"
"There's only one other possibility—Blade escaped, slipping out of the Luofu's control."
"But Jing Yuan doesn't want us to know Blade's out of their grasp, so he acts like Blade's no big deal, and we just need to handle Kafka."
"Mr. Welt, is my analysis correct?"
Welt couldn't help but clap lightly.
"Your analysis is solid, and it aligns with my thoughts. I'd add a few possibilities."
"Jing Yuan asking us to find Kafka likely includes using us as bait."
"Since Blade is no longer under the Luofu's control, to lure out Kafka, we're the only bait available."
"Because we're the only ones who've had contact with Kafka."
"I'll make a bolder guess: Kafka contacted us while on the Luofu, deliberately letting the Luofu intercept her signal."
March 7th was stunned and couldn't help asking:
"But what's the point of Kafka setting us up like this?"
"She wouldn't want to get caught by us on purpose, just so the Luofu or General Jing Yuan owes us a favor, would she?"
"That'd be like directing her own play!"
Welt: "That's the part I can't figure out either—Blade's escape, Kafka's scheme…"
"If we could understand those two points, we might get closer to the heart of the matter."
"And then there's Jing Yuan—what does he know, and what is he deliberately hiding?"
Stelle didn't respond.
She studied March 7th up and down, looking thoughtful.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Your gaze is creepy." March 7th felt uneasy.
Stelle: "Nothing, just thinking your idea might not be impossible…"
What if, right?
Don't try to guess the Stellaron Hunters' logic.
March 7th's eyes widened.
"…Hold on, sister, I—"
"Never mind, my head's itchy. Whatever it is, it is."
"A day of missing that cunning doctor…"
"Sly, deceitful, two-faced, honey-tongued but ruthless—those are usually insults…"
"But on Leon, they're absolutely high praise."
"He's a master at outsmarting schemers. If he were here, some Luofu folks would be sweating buckets."
Leon's sharp tongue once nearly talked a few enemies to death.
She remembered it vividly.
Stelle's eye twitched: "…Is that how you compliment someone?"
March 7th: "Hehe, you don't get it, do you?"
"No matter how cunning or calculating Leon is, it's always aimed at outsiders. Think about Jarilo-VI—how good was he to us?"
"Especially you. He didn't even share his wings with the rest of us…"
"You, a newbie fresh on the train, got his airtight protection."
"I… kinda want to try flying too."
That said, no one knew before that Leon's wings could be lent to others.
① "All that talk just means you want a sense of security, right?"
② "Look at Mr. Welt's expression—I bet he already thought of what I did. Isn't he just as reliable?"
③ "Poor, pitiful, clueless, helpless me requests to return to the Express for backup!"
"Long time no see, fam! Almost forgot this game's protagonist has choices."
Ah Xian's words amused many.
True enough.
"Took me this long to realize the one seriously analyzing and seeing through the twists is the Master."
"Blackie, speak!"
"I'm not here to diss other games, so stop jumping on the 'voice acting ruins immersion' bandwagon."
"Ruins, my foot."
"If MiHoYo makes another game where the protagonist speaks regularly in the story, you'll eat your words."
She chose option one.
Stelle smirked, showing her familiar mischievous grin.
"All that talk just means you want a sense of security, right? Don't worry, I can give you that too, A-Seven."
March 7th immediately shot her a disdainful look.
"Before we came to the Palace of Astrum, don't think I didn't notice you looking around for something."
"Good thing the Luofu doesn't have trash cans—that's the biggest sense of security you've given me."
Stelle: "???"
[LMAO.]
[Why are we still on the trash can thing? Can't move past it, huh?]
[No helping it—the writing team's got issues. Even trash cans are compelling now.]
[The Xianzhou doesn't have trash cans, but it's got email piles. Same level of crazy.]
Amid the players' laughter, the scene shifted to the Seat of Divine Foresight.
Jing Yuan: "Fu Qing, you heard my conversation with them. What's your take?"
Fu Xuan: "What's my take? The ways of heaven are clear, but human hearts are subtle. Should I divine their intentions for you, General?"
Players: Huh?
So they never divined anything about the Express crew?
Stelle was right—Jing Yuan said that on purpose.
Jing Yuan chuckled lightly.
"No need for that. I'm absolutely certain the Astral Express has nothing to do with this."
"No need to probe their intentions. As long as the bait's swallowed and the fish is hooked, that's enough."
Fu Xuan: "That was my suggestion, wasn't it, General?"
Jing Yuan nodded repeatedly: "Indeed, indeed. Thanks to Fu Qing's wisdom, I'll be relying on you for the rest as well."
Then hand over the General's seat already, you jerk!!!
Fu Xuan was screaming inside.
But on the surface, she remained calm, her tone steady.
"Hmph, then step down sooner."
Jing Yuan: "It's not time yet. If something unexpected happens, I need to bear the blame as General."
"The Luofu is at the heart of this conspiracy. If I walked away now, wouldn't that leave Fu Qing in an unjust position?"
"It's your own fault. If you'd handed Blade over to me earlier, we wouldn't have this trouble now."
Fu Xuan pursed her lips, her expression suddenly freezing.
She thought of a possibility, her eyes widening as she blurted out:
"No way… Jing Yuan! Did you deliberately let Blade escape?!"