["First, Pom wishes to thank all Nameless for successfully resolving this station's issues, allowing the Express to continue racing across the starrails!"]
["This was totally the three of us pulling it off, right, Stelle?" March 7th proudly tilted her head upward.]
["Next, this conductor will announce the name of our next destination—"]
Just as Stelle was anticipating the next destination, a figure suddenly materialized aboard the train—Kafka!
["Long time no see, everyone aboard the Astral Express." Under her umbrella, Kafka elegantly raised her head. "I am Kafka."]
"Wahhh—! It's Kafka! Wooo—!"
The moment Kafka appeared, Denji scrambled up from the floor, letting out four or five excited howls in succession.
"Stop screeching like a damn monkey!" Power smashed a crushed soda can straight onto Denji's head.
Unlike Denji's infatuation, Power felt absolutely no attraction to this woman called Kafka... Of course, it wasn't because Kafka's chest was bigger than hers, but because the aura she exuded reminded Power strongly of someone.
"Aki, doesn't she totally resemble Makima?" Power suddenly pointed at Makima and blurted out. "They both give off that 'bad woman' vibe, right?!"
"Uh..." Aki felt like a flame had just rolled over his tongue—this was not a conversation he could handle. To Power, Makima might be a villain, but to him and Denji, she held extraordinary significance.
To avoid igniting the boiling little flame in this Blood Devil's heart, Aki deftly sidestepped the topic: "Well, maybe there's some similarity in their presence."
"What similarity?! Miss Makima is clearly way cuter!"
If he could just get enough pieces of the Gun Devil's flesh, even someone like him could earn a chance to go on a date with Miss Makima. Maybe they'd watch a movie together? And after the movie, what would they do? Kiss... or something else?
The more his imagination ran wild, the more Denji became convinced that Miss Makima was the absolute best in the world.
Of course, if Miss Makima was number one, then Kafka was number two.
He'd even had a dream where he went on dates with both of them simultaneously, kissing them at the same time... But sadly, that dream ended when Power kicked him square in the jaw, jolting him awake.
[Both Himeko and Welt wore guarded expressions as they looked at Kafka.]
[Himeko even subtly rolled her eyes—clearly, she held no fondness for this woman.]
["Ah~ Perfect timing, everyone's here." Kafka twirled her umbrella as she strolled through the train cabin. As she passed Stelle, her beautiful eyes swept over her with deliberate casualness, the smile at her lips deepening.]
["—Seems like everyone is present."]
["You can skip the charming self-introduction, Stellaron Hunter." Himeko cut in irritably.]
["Oh? Himeko... was it?" Kafka chuckled lightly. "My apologies for interrupting your gathering, but I believe once you hear my request, you'll understand my abruptness. I'd like to ask you all—to change your destination."]
"These two women are really going at it."
Frieren remarked with amusement before glancing back at Sein, her expression clearly enjoying the drama. "Seems like someone's two favorite older sisters aren't exactly on friendly terms."
"If they end up fighting, Sein, which side would you support?"
"Uh..." Sein froze, carefully studying the two equally captivating and elegant women on the screen as if facing the most difficult choice of his life.
In another world, Kafka and Himeko were practically the incarnations of his first love and white moonlight. If these two white moons ended up clashing, his single-track mind would be torn in two!
Not getting the answer she expected, Frieren shifted her gaze elsewhere. "How about you, Stark?"
"Me...?" Stark pondered for two seconds. "Probably Hi—"
Before he could finish, Stark suddenly sensed... murderous intent!
A killing aura even heavier than offensive magic!
"Uh..." He slowly turned his head like a wooden puppet, only to find Fern glaring at him with a darkened expression.
In an instant, his back was drenched in cold sweat. Stark awkwardly scratched his head and pivoted mid-sentence.
"...I'd probably support whoever's winning, haha... ha."
[Faced with Kafka's sudden and presumptuous request, Himeko didn't agree but instead coldly deflected: "Stellaron Hunter, I've seen you before—on the IPC's bounty list. The reward is astronomical, and it's valid dead or alive. Do you know how much your bounty is?"]
["Not particularly concerned." Kafka shrugged indifferently. "The IPC's bounties... rather than marks of infamy, I see them as praises. The higher the number, the greater the acclaim."]
["You wanted criminals sure know how to look on the bright side..." March 7th sighed helplessly.]
["You've come to the wrong place, Kafka. We have no intention of accepting your request, nor do we wish to get involved with the Stellaron Hunters. It was nice chatting, perhaps another time when you're willing to visit properly, we can talk then." Himeko was already preparing to see her out.]
["Have you all heard of the Xianzhou Luofu?" Kafka continued as if she hadn't heard Himeko's rejection.]
["One of the six great vessels of the Xianzhou Alliance, the Xianzhou Luofu—we're aware." Welt replied calmly.]
["Mhm, but what you don't know is that this ship is currently very close to you—just two warp jumps away. And, 45 system hours ago, a Stellaron... erupted aboard the Luofu." Kafka sighed. "Such an undeserved calamity, don't you think?"]
"I can practically hear the calculations clicking in this Kafka's mind." Yae Miko smiled faintly. "...She's quite the cunning one, this woman."
"She's seen how kind-hearted the Express crew is and wants to take full advantage, doesn't she? If Stelle, Dan Heng, and the others don't go, the Xianzhou will probably end up with as many casualties as that giant ice planet."
"To use Liyue's phrasing... this is a 'yang' scheme."
Yumemizuki Mizuki mused, "I don't think Kafka's goal is that simple. To me... this woman's mind is as layered as Lady Guuji's. We might only see the second layer, but you've already thought five steps ahead."
"My, Mizuki... is that a compliment?" Miko's mood suddenly brightened. "I'll take it as one."
"Though, I was forced to develop this way. That blockhead Ei can be so rigid sometimes, utterly lacking in charm. As her familiar, one has to be flexible—if I didn't keep a few extra thoughts in reserve..."
Before she could finish, Miko realized a shadow had fallen over her.
She stiffly looked up to see Raiden Ei standing above her, silently watching while holding a skewer of tri-colored dango.
Miko forced an awkward smile. "Ei... when did you get here?"
"Right when you said I was too rigid and utterly lacking in charm."
Ei's violet eyes narrowed slightly, her usually stern face now carrying a hint of teasing amusement.
"Go on, Miko. I'm listening."