[Female Announcer: The Xianzhou Alliance has soared for eight thousand years, enduring setbacks without decline, growing stronger through trials.
Male Announcer: According to observations from the Intelligentsia Guild and the Genius Society, the Xianzhou Luofu faced an invasion by the Antimatter Legion's Lord Ravager.
Female Announcer: The Lord Ravager Phantylia, along with Zephyro, invaded the Xianzhou Luofu. According to the Alliance, the Lord Ravager Zephyro has already fallen at the hands of the Emissary of Causality.
Male Announcer: The Trailblazers of the Astral Express defeated the Lord Ravager Phantylia. As the Lord Ravager fled, the Reignbow Arbiter, with a radiant arrow, proclaimed their divine decree. The arrow of the Hunt, spanning past and present, struck down the Lord Ravager Phantylia.
Female Announcer: Based on observations, the Aeon of Causality and the Aeon of Destruction…]
The crew of the Astral Express listened quietly to the Interstellar Peace Broadcast. When the announcer mentioned the name of the Astral Express, everyone present couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement in their hearts.
"Woo-hoo! We made it onto the broadcast!" Pointing at the photo of the Astral Express crew with General Jing Yuan displayed on the screen, March 7th was so excited she could barely stay still, practically jumping up and down.
"Mhm, Mommy, I'm on TV!" Stelle, hands on her hips, echoed with equal enthusiasm.
Looking at this lively pair, Dan Heng and Himeko exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads with amused smiles. With these two around, the Astral Express had certainly become much livelier.
Not far away, the Pure Knight Argenti, wrapped in bandages and sporting a cast, had a glint of envy and respect in his eyes. He envied the bond between the Astral Express crew, and he respected them for helping the Xianzhou Alliance eliminate a scourge like the Lord Ravager, a blight that would be reviled for millennia.
"These are the Trailblazers, then? Truly, they are heroes worthy of admiration. Perhaps I, too, could become a Trailblazer…" Argenti mused to himself.
Beside Argenti, Mr. Velite from the Interastral Peace Corporation discreetly wiped sweat from his brow, his face a picture of shock. A Lord Ravager! Even a colossal entity like the Interastral Peace Corporation wouldn't dare provoke such a being.
To think that this group of Trailblazers had such a grand background—they had helped the Xianzhou Alliance defeat a Lord Ravager! It was simply unimaginable!
Gulp…! Velite swallowed hard, his thoughts spiraling. We rear-ended the Astral Express. They seem unbothered now, but what if… what if they find an opportunity to take us out?!
— — — —
After this brief interlude, let us turn our attention back to the large screen, where the Interstellar Peace Broadcast continued.
[Female Announcer: With the Harmony Festival approaching, the Family extends an invitation to all major factions to attend the grand event on the Planet of Festivities, Penacony, and join in this magnificent celebration.
Male Announcer: It is reported that the renowned galactic singer, Robin, has returned to Penacony. During this grand event, she will represent the Family and perform a song dedicated to the Harmony.]
"Wow! Miss Robin is going to Penacony for the Harmony Festival? Does that mean we'll get to hear a live performance of 'If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking'?"
Hearing March 7th's words, Stelle paused for a moment before responding with an air of profundity. "Based on universal rationality… probably."
March 7th: "…"
Stelle's response left March 7th speechless, a black line forming on her forehead. The girl reached out and, with no small amount of exasperation, rapped Stelle on the head.
"Why are you talking like that now? You're still a 'less-than-one-year-old' baby—don't start imitating Yun Fan!"
Stelle clutched the spot on her forehead where March 7th had knocked her, looking up with a slightly aggrieved expression and letting out a…
"Ehe—!"
March 7th: "...!!!"
"Don't stop me, I'm going to knock this 'Ehe Monster' out!!"
After a chaotic bout of chasing and tumbling, an exhausted March 7th and Stelle collapsed unceremoniously onto the lounge sofa. Seeing this, Miss Himeko, ever considerate, brought over two cups of coffee for them.
"Alright, alright, March, Stelle, stop fooling around. You must be tired from all that playing, right? Come, have some coffee and rest."
Himeko's words landed in March 7th and Stelle's ears like a devil's whisper. The two of them swallowed hard, seeing the fear reflected in each other's eyes.
"Uh, um, we're not thirsty… Stelle, right?!" "Mhm, March is right, we're not thirsty!"
The two waved their hands frantically, adamantly refusing, as if they feared Himeko would force the coffee down their throats if they hesitated for even a moment.
"You're really not thirsty?"
Himeko looked at them with a hint of suspicion, but seeing their refusal, she didn't press further.
"It's just that I've already brewed these two cups of coffee. If you don't drink them…" Himeko said with a touch of concern.
Her gaze swept the room, landing on Dan Heng. But Dan Heng, ever-prepared, was already in a state of feigned meditation, resembling the statue of The Thinker, lost in contemplation and impossible to disturb.
Himeko's gaze moved on, settling on Velite and Argenti, who were engaged in conversation nearby. Her golden eyes lit up, and with a warm smile, she carried the coffee over to them.
"Gentlemen, you must be thirsty after all this time, right? Come, try some of my coffee."
"Oh? May Idrila bless you, the lovely Lady Himeko."
The Pure Knight Argenti spoke with gentlemanly praise, then, with his unbandaged hand, took a cup of coffee from the tray.
"Thank you for your generosity, Lady Himeko."
Velite, somewhat stiff and formal in the presence of these "legendary" figures, mimicked Argenti's praise. His wrist trembled slightly as he took the coffee from her hands.
"Go on, try it. Let me know how my coffee tastes," Himeko said to Argenti with a smile.
"Then I shall not refuse," Argenti replied courteously.
Raising the cup, he observed the steam rising from the coffee and the bitter yet fragrant aroma emanating from the liquid. Argenti took a gentle sip.
In an instant, a wave of bitterness, scorching heat, and spiciness assaulted his taste buds, leaving the knight's mind momentarily blank.
But soon, he snapped out of this peculiar sensation. Looking at the coffee in his hand, the knight, as if refusing to believe it, took another sip.
As expected, that mind-blanking sensation surged through him once more.
Not far away, Stelle and March 7th, who had been secretly watching, turned away, unable to bear the sight. Another victim of Himeko's coffee had been born…
"This coffee, this coffee…"
Argenti repeated the phrase, pausing for a moment before continuing.
"This coffee… is simply extraordinary! Miss Himeko, your coffee is truly one of a kind in the universe! I've never tasted such remarkable coffee!"
March 7th: "???" Stelle: "???" Dan Heng, who had been playing dead: "…"