"With you here, that Company guy's scheme definitely won't succeed."
Hearing this, Stelle's playful side gradually emerged. She deliberately teased Sushang.
"If for some reason I run away halfway, can you handle the follow-up matters by yourself?"
Sushang's expression froze. She replied somewhat unnaturally.
"This… uh, with my brain, probably maybe… not really?"
"Since I was young, my family education has been strict. Before dawn, my mother would drag me up to practice swordsmanship and spar with her."
"Sigh, practicing the Taixu Sword Technique early in the morning left me exhausted. By the time I got to Hongxue for classes, I could only sleep soundly…"
"Not only did I not learn much knowledge, the teachers even called me, called me Li Big Pillow…"
"..."
Laughing would be impolite.
Stelle tried hard to hold back her laughter.
But the more she held it in, the more she naturally didn't feel like laughing anymore.
She thought about her own situation.
She had no memories of the past. Except for vaguely remembering Kafka's name and seeming to know her, she knew nothing else.
However, in terms of intelligence and knowledge… it seemed a bit better than Sushang's?
Uncertain. She'd have to see.
Sushang continued: "I definitely hope you'll help all the way to the end. You don't want to see me barking like a puppy in front of so many people, right?"
"Moreover—I really want to help Aurum Alley."
Her expression was firm, as if she were about to join the Cloud Knights… well, she already was a Cloud Knight.
"My hometown, the Yaoqing Xianzhou, has even closer dealings with the Company. It's said that at the beginning, it was only the Company investing and establishing mutual markets on the Yaoqing."
"As time passed, things began to change…"
"Gradually, the younger generation on the Yaoqing started to like the illusory plays and toys produced by the Company's entertainment department."
"Putting on the Company's form-fitting, fashionably designed clothing, it became hard to tell whether they were Xianzhou people or Company employees."
"Quite a few people also longed to go to the Company's worlds to make money after their coming-of-age ceremony."
"The architecture in the Grotto Heaven has also become unrecognizable. The beautiful upturned eaves I saw as a child have become fewer and fewer."
"The glazed tiles and bricks have also disappeared. One after another, smooth-surfaced Company buildings like monuments have begun to rise."
"Anyone who has lived over five hundred years on the Yaoqing, like my mother, all say that the Yaoqing has changed."
"But they also can't say whether all these changes are heading toward a better future or sliding down a slope controlled by short-lived species…"
"Most of the older generation are filled with fear and unease. When I saw Mingxi facing that Company guy, I felt the same unease."
"Aurum Alley is like a microcosm of the Yaoqing's past, on the verge of being completely remodeled by the Company and no longer what it once was… um… how do you describe it?"
Sushang furrowed her brows. Her fingers subconsciously scratched her hair as she thought hard.
"Never mind, I won't think of fancy words. Anyway, that's what I mean. You can understand, right?"
"..." Stelle nodded weakly: "I can."
"You don't want Aurum Alley to become like your hometown Yaoqing—assimilated by the Company's style and losing its original flavor, right?"
"Yes yes yes! Sister, you're so smart! You hit the core of what I wanted to express!"
Sushang nodded like a pecking chicken.
"If that guy were a powerful martial evil-doer, I could step forward and exchange a few moves."
"But this matter with Aurum Alley can't be solved with just fists and feet. I have strength but nowhere to use it."
"You're different. Not only are you smart, you also have a master helping you."
"I want to help the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce. I want to help them protect this place. Please, good sister, help me!"
Seeing Sushang clasp her hands together and bow in earnest request, Stelle reached out to help her stand straight.
"I really can't do anything with you…"
Stelle confidently flicked her bangs and raised the corner of her mouth.
"It seems I'll have to step onto the Path of Erudition ahead of schedule and use knowledge to harshly teach those guys who rely on Preservation but have walked down the wrong path."
"The Train Crew should resist injustice. Leave this matter to us Nameless. We'll definitely make Skott bark 'woof woof woof' in public."
Sushang tilted her head, inexplicably feeling that Stelle's words were very catchy.
They had a very… very… rhythmic quality?
Whatever, she didn't know how to describe it anyway. Overall, listening to it made one feel full of fighting spirit!
[skr~]
[Please, my other self.]
[What does "my other self" mean?]
[Huh? You don't know? Stelle and Sushang's CV teacher is the same person.]
[Just thinking about the CV teacher talking to herself in the recording studio makes me want to laugh.]
[Got to say, the IQ laying I'm laying now won't feel abrupt even if I get glanced at by Erudition later.]
[Still early. The person hasn't even been glanced at by Hunt while in the Xianzhou Alliance. Who knows when she'll leave Black Tower Space Station.]
[The next Path is probably Hunt, right?]
[Who knows? I think it won't be that soon. After all, there are already two Paths now.]
[True. Referring to how the other game has one element per nation, the next Path in Star Rail should be at least version 2.0, right?]
After temporarily settling the arrangements at the dock, Stelle immediately set off to the shops that were still cooperating to discuss changes to the logistics routes.
After reaching a consensus, she immediately connected to the logistics system and modified it according to the reference plan Leon provided.
Once she got the hang of it, she quickly completed the improvement of the low-altitude logistics airspace routes.
Afterward, she followed the steps to improve the middle-altitude routes.
The high-altitude airspace was still far off.
One had to eat meals one bite at a time and take steps one step at a time.
If one took too big a stride, they might trip and fall hard.
…
Ah Xian opened the connection interface and found that Leon's avatar was still on the right side of the screen.
Tutorial stages aside, for the later connections, she just needed to lightly click on the avatar with her mouse.
The routes connected as smoothly as a pre-set circuit being powered on.
"My head feels so refreshed. There's no risk of my brain growing and getting itchy."
"Ah~ So comfortable~~"
Ah Xian spread her arms, her face full of intoxication as she picked up Leon's hand figure and rubbed it against her face.
"Friction with my dear husband Leon can make one feel happy and produce a strong sense of happiness."
[Bruh.]
[Stand user? When did you get here?]
[Got to say, choosing Father really liberates the brain. Moving even a single circuit is disrespectful to Father.]
[The bet definitely can't be lost. I want to see if that Company guy will really apologize and bark like a dog.]
[An apology is probably possible. Barking like a dog will most likely be denied. Otherwise the CV teacher's sacrifice would be too great.]
[Not necessarily… If barking like a dog is part of the work content, a dedicated CV definitely won't refuse.]
...
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Stelle and the others, the chamber of commerce's previously insufficient liquid funds began to reverse, achieving revenue.
The momentum was quite promising.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before the cargo dock rent could be repaid with principal and interest.
However, in the dark places Stelle couldn't see, Skott was not simply watching.
He knew the situation in Aurum Alley and how many changes had occurred better than most people in the chamber of commerce.
At this moment, in the Company's special envoy office stationed in Aurum Alley, a dirty transaction was taking place.