"Surely the noble Trailblazers of the Astral Express won't stand idly by?" Kafka twirled her umbrella, her holographic hand brushing Stelle's cheek—no physical touch, yet the memory felt vivid.
It had been so long since she last spoke to this child...
"Where there's crisis, there's the Galaxy Bat-wielding Hero!" Stelle puffed out her chest. "Mom, don't worry! I'm basically the boss here—"
March 7th elbowed her aside. "Your face screams 'double agent'! Since when did you become Kafka's lackey?"
Stelle blinked innocently. "March, I told you—Mom would never lie to me."
March dragged her toward the Data Bank, muttering about "brainwashing this mom-obsessed fool" before she got them all killed.
Kafka's gaze locked onto Anming. "I know you won't refuse."
This wasn't a Stellaron Hunter's invitation—it was fate's call.
As her hologram faded, the lounge tension thickened until Himeko broke it with a coffee sip. "She's right. A Stellaron eruption jeopardizes starrails. For safe warp jumps... and the innocent."
"Of course we'll help!" March patted Pom-Pom. "We're dropping Qingque at the Luofu anyway!"
Pom-Pom's ears drooped. "Somehow... we keep drifting further from our original destination..."
Anming stayed calm. He'd go to the Luofu regardless—scripted events demanded it. Like Elio said: paths may diverge, but endings remain unchanged.
What's Fu Xuan up to?
Their chats since Jarilo had been... perfunctory. As long as he wasn't dying, she seemed preoccupied. Probably overworked, especially now with the Stellaron crisis.
"Master-in-Law..." Qingque frowned. "Things feel... off. Since Fu Xuan sent me away, the Luofu's situation has deteriorated."
Anming waved it off. "Just shout 'power of friendship' when trouble comes. Works every time."
The Luofu arc? Pfft. Just Phantylia's petty schemes. With Jing Yuan & Lightning Lord and Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae SP as allies, it'd be a cakewalk.
More like a honeymoon with Fu Xuan.
Jarilo-VI Administrative District
A chill wind blew as Robin—wrapped in a trench coat, sunglasses, and mask—peered into Neverwinter Workshop's window.
Though the Stellaron was gone, its scars remained. But at least the blizzards had stopped.
"Need help?" Serval pushed open the door, eyeing the suspiciously dressed stranger.
Cocolia followed, instantly wary. "Another interstellar scammer?"
"Hello, I was wondering—"
"That voice!" Serval froze, then teleported back inside and reappeared with an album. Hands trembling, she bowed.
"Miss Robin! I'm your biggest fan! Please sign this!"
Robin blinked. "You... recognized me?"
Cocolia gaped. "The galactic superstar? Here?"
After signing, Robin finally asked: "Do you know... Anming?"
Cocolia silently pointed to the half-carved statue in the square.
Robin stared at its unfinished face—and remembered.
A rainy dusk, years ago...