Daziel pocketed his phone and began to prepare.
First stop: a tailor. He picked out a set of Tang-style clothing, the kind you saw everywhere on the Xianzhou.
Next, hair dye. He squeezed out a blob and banished his striking grey hair to a less conspicuous yellow.
Finally, sunglasses. He slid them on, obscuring his features.
He caught his reflection in the mirror and a jolt of familiarity hit him. "...Damn it," he muttered. "Why do I look exactly like Scott?" He sighed. "Oh well, close enough for government work."
He reasoned that tourists on the Xianzhou, especially blonde-haired, blue-eyed off-worlders, often dressed in similar styles. Besides, he couldn't shapeshift into anyone else just yet.
A thought niggled at him. If these system rewards were tied to… corrupting female characters, did that mean Sparkle was in his future? Sparkle's usual attire was… provocative. And this world was definitely… enhanced. Maybe she'd be the one approaching him.
"Nah, too much to think about right now," he mumbled, pushing the thought aside. "Hope this disguise actually works..."
…
The moment was almost upon him.
Daziel took a deep breath, steadying his slightly absurd nerves. He walked towards the agreed-upon location with Yukong, found a secluded corner, and scanned his surroundings.
Time stretched, each second ticking closer to their rendezvous. Daziel's heart began to pick up pace.
Then, a figure materialized in his vision.
He focused – it was a Foxian woman, her dress a flowing masterpiece of blue and white. Delicate cloud patterns danced across the skirt, swaying with each step. Long, blue-green hair cascaded around her face, softening her features. Those undeniably striking white legs were still showcased, ending in a pair of elegant, delicate high heels. Each step was a study in grace.
It was Yukong.
She spotted him too, and offered a subtle nod.
"Mr. Daziel, you're already here." Her voice was calm, gentle. "Your outfit is… quite distinctive."
"This… you saw right through it?" Daziel asked, a little deflated. "This is the best I could come up with." His gaze flickered to those white legs, lingering a beat longer than strictly necessary. For the first time, he really registered Yukong's beauty. Those legs, so toned!
Yukong seemed to catch his glance, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Your disguise is certainly eye-catching," she conceded, "but it should be enough to fool anyone who hasn't met you before."
After a few brief exchanges, they got down to business. Daziel gestured towards the warehouse door, a heavy, closed thing in the dim light. "Locked tight. Needs a special command. We can't get through."
Yukong approached the door, studying the lock's mechanism with a keen eye. Then, she moved back, towards the tall wall beside it, taking a few paces, inhaling deeply.
Before Daziel could even blink, Yukong exploded into action. Legs driving powerfully against the ground, she launched herself upwards, a human arrow shot skyward.
Daziel's jaw went slack. His eyes widened in disbelief.
Yukong traced a beautiful arc against the moonlight, light as a soaring bird. Seven, maybe eight meters high – all in delicate high heels, silver star embellishments glittering.
Is this… is this the power of a Sky-Faring Commission helmsman? Daziel was stunned. He'd never witnessed such a leap, such effortless height, especially in those shoes.
He knew, logically, that anything was possible in Honkai: Star Rail's reality. This kind of thing wasn't exactly rare. But seeing it in person, raw and undeniable, was still mind-blowing, bordering on absurd.
Those high heels… so utterly impractical.
Seven or eight meters was apparently just a casual stroll for Yukong.
Thud!
She landed on the other side of the wall with a soft thud, her movements fluid and composed. A moment later, the warehouse door creaked open from the inside. Yukong stood in the doorway, beckoning him over.
Only then did Daziel snap out of his stupor and hurry over.
"Master Yukong," he exclaimed, genuinely awestruck. "You… your skills are incredible!"
"Just a little trick." Yukong dismissed it lightly. "Back in my younger days on the battlefield, things were much more dangerous. I was even faster then."
Daziel considered it, and it clicked. In the game, Yukong did sprint in high heels when her skill activated. Of course, Xianzhou craftsmanship was probably playing a part. Ordinary heels would have snapped under that kind of stress ages ago.
They stepped into the warehouse and began their search for anything… unusual.
The place was a maze of crates and boxes, stacked high. Dim light filtered through, and the air hung thick with the smell of cardboard and tape. Daziel and Yukong moved carefully through the narrow aisles, meticulously examining each stack.
"Mostly just ordinary textiles here..." Yukong announced, unsealing another wooden crate. Inside, neatly folded fabrics. She ran a hand over them; delicate texture, definitely high-quality silk.
"Looks like the Golden Pavilion Chamber of Commerce has hidden those 'special goods' really well." Daziel sighed, disappointment creeping in. He'd hoped to find the abducted women directly, righting this wrong immediately. It wasn't going to be that simple.
Daziel's gaze landed on a half-person-tall crate. He distinctly remembered sensing living beings within crates like these before, but this one was empty.
"Thinking back," he murmured, his voice low, "those living beings I sensed must have been slaves. They probably bought them from other planets, for the embroidery workshop… illegal trading." Anger edged his tone. "A pity. We're finding nothing now."
"They saw you sniffing around those boxes earlier, remember?" Yukong walked towards him, her voice soft. "They would have become cautious. Of course, they wouldn't leave anything incriminating lying around. It's not surprising we haven't found evidence." Her voice, still gentle, carried a calming weight, easing some of Daziel's frustration.
"Right… it wouldn't be that easy." Daziel nodded. "So, we proceed as planned." He pointed to an empty crate, the same half-person size. "Master Yukong, if you'd be willing… could you get inside this box? See if you can infiltrate the Embroidered Spring House. It's a long shot whether they'll even move these specific crates, but we have to try."
Yukong glanced at the crate. No hesitation flickered in her eyes. "Alright," she agreed simply.
Daziel moved to the crate and lifted the lid. The space wasn't generous, but for Yukong's slender frame, it was just enough.
Yukong approached and, with a light hop, settled inside. She shifted, adjusting her posture to make herself as comfortable as possible in the confined space.
"Master Yukong, please be careful," Daziel urged, concern etched in his voice.
"Don't worry, Mr. Daziel. I am the helmsman of the Sky-Faring Commission. If necessary, I can reveal my identity. They wouldn't dare touch me." Yukong's voice, muffled slightly by the box, held a tremor, but also a steely determination. "I will protect myself…"
Daziel took a deep breath and slowly closed the lid.
Darkness swallowed the box again. From Yukong's perspective, only slivers of light pierced through the cracks.
Daziel stood before the crate, a silent prayer forming in his mind for Yukong's safety and success. He knew this next step was critical.
But a prickle of unease ran down his spine. This isn't going to turn into some 'undercover cop gets caught' scenario, is it?
No, no! Don't think like that. Yukong's status, her identity… Surely the Golden Pavilion Chamber of Commerce wouldn't be that reckless? They wouldn't dare to cross the Sky-Faring Commission, not on the Xianzhou.
_____
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