[Though you accepted Kafka's conversation—piquing her interest—the Astral Express must still pass the Jade Gate , which the Xianzhou Luofu has sealed.]
[As soon as she departed, Kafka ordered Silver Wolf to act. The sudden boot-up of the Jade Gate alarmed the Sky-Faring Commission ; the Helm Master, Yukong , took point.]
[Investigating, Yukong confirmed the Stellaron Hunters had meddled with the gate… yet they didn't flee . Instead, they lingered on the Luofu.]
[So Yukong chose to play along —to see what scheme the Stellaron Hunters were truly after, and why they opened the Jade Gate.]
[Faced with Yukong's counter-plot, you choose…?]
[ Option I — Speak plainly and ally. No games: you'll tell Yukong the Stellaron Hunters' true aim and propose cooperation with the Luofu to contain the crisis. A joint op exposes their plot faster—and earns you deeper trust. Reward: Minor Huandan Pill — a simple pellet that restores a portion of HP to one target. Ground mountain-ghost mint, crane-vine extract, and blue-wing noctilucent sand; bind with honey and roll. Hardly a panacea, but better than nothing.]
[ Option II — Feed the doubt. You know Yukong must suspect collusion between the Express and the Stellaron Hunters. Rather than dispel it, you'll ride it—speaking ambiguously so the Luofu's stance stays cautious and complicated. If no one dares move rashly, you gain freedom to operate. Reward: Signature Red-Oil "Rough-Chop" Beef Offal Recipe —yellow-rock beef bits and innards wok-tossed with a lacquer of chilli oil.]
[ Option III — Stir the pot. The Hunters already muddied the board—so tip it further. Orchestrate an "accident" to sharpen conflict between Luofu and Hunters; while they clash, you harvest the winner's spoils. Reward: Desiccated Emergency Lamp —from the far realm of Ishumazhou . No battery needed; soak it in 5% brine to glow for hours. (Truth: it's a Talassa lanternfish's dorsal lure. Bao'er, I know you wanted romance—"candlelit" dinner—but a grinning fish-head lamp on the table? Appetite annihilated.)]
Kairo stared at the three choices, expression… complicated.
Yukong, playing along? And these rewards… On
A soft rustle pulled him back. Fischl, noticing his pause, rubbed her eyes and peered up through half-lidded amethyst.
"You halt—at the apex of the Prinzessin's training rite?" she murmured, little cat of a voice turning faintly petulant. "Kairo, how doth thou—nay, how canst thou—break the rhythm ere destiny's cadence has fully taken us?"
He chuckled despite himself, palm drifting through her gold-white hair in a soothing pass. "Sorry. Thought wandered."
"Hmph." The little Royalty-Act slipped, just enough to show relief; then she tossed her hair and found her tone again. "Very well. Thy lapse is forgiven. Yet know this is a sacred rite and may not be slighted."
"Understood." He restarted—gentle, methodical. The tension went out of her shoulders by degrees; moonlight glazed her profile, turning every strand of hair to pale gilt.
"Mnn... yes... thus does one grasp destiny's rhythm," she breathed, voice gone lazy, contented, a pampered cat thoroughly "brushed."
Kairo hid a smile and carried on until the night exhaled into quiet.
One night, uneventful.
Morning sifted in, soft and gold. Outside, hawkers were already calling; inside, the inn held to its hush.
Fischl sprawled across the duvet like royalty in repose, hair a beautifully untidy fan. Kairo watched her for a moment from the window, then tapped her shoulder. "Up, Your Highness. We promised a walk."
"Mmm… not rising," came the muffled protest. "To-day I shall remain abed, and then we shall wage our crusade anew."
"You're not alone," Kairo said, helpless. "Barbara's here."
That got a tiny flinch. She rallied—barely. "A-ahem. Barbara… ought already to know. The other night she meant to bring a gift to my house for thee—brought it the next day instead. Oz… mentioned it."
Kairo blinked. So Barbara knew back then? And still came along…
Paimon's voice rang up the stairwell: "Kairo! You awake?"
Fischl sat bolt upright, color flaring. "We must not be discovered!"
Kairo called back, even. "Order first; I'll be down in a minute." Their footsteps receded.
Fischl exhaled—then scrambled, smoothed her dress, tip-toed into the hall and ghosted towards her own door. A perfectly casual stretch—
Click.
Barbara's latch turned. She stepped out—clear-eyed, gentle… and staring straight at Fischl.
"Fischl? What are you doing... here?" Surprise, a blink—then a look Kairo couldn't see last night: thoughtful, curious, a hint of pink across her cheeks.
Fischl snapped to posture, masking nerves behind the mask. "But of course! The maiden of destiny rises ere dawn to greet the appointed day!"
"...Huh?" Barbara tilted her head. That didn't answer anything.
Silence stretched. She hesitated—then, very quietly: "Fischl… how did it feel?"
That one bolt of lightning froze the Prinzessin where she stood.
"Wh-what feel ?" Fischl stammered, ears flushing.
Barbara's blush deepened. "Last night... I saw you... at his window." She swallowed, then, almost inaudible, "You sounded like you were enjoying it. I was just... curious."
Words failed the Prinzessin—and then, with the tiniest cough, chin down, she let out a thread-thin whisper. "It was… v-very pleasant."
Barbara's eyes went round; color climbed all the way to the tips of her ears. She darted a glance up and down the corridor, leaned closer, and whispered, "C-could you... describe it?"
Fischl's mouth opened… closed. Eyes skittered away, the bravado dissolving into a shy, speechless heat.
And somewhere upstairs, by an open window, Kairo's HUD flickered again—those three options hanging there like a coin in the air, waiting to fall.
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