"What... what's wrong? Uncle Yang, you know this... uh, Miss Numby?"
"Of course!" Welt said with a serious expression, raising a finger, "Do you know the sci-fi mecha movie Ring Pierpoint? It's an interstellar masterpiece. Initially, no one believed in that genre, but Miss Numby ignored the naysayers, insisted on investing in its production, and ultimately made that masterpiece a reality!"
"That... does show great foresight."
Stelle turned her head, her face full of black lines. The thought that the original Numby was a Dimensional Piggy involuntarily conjured strange images in her mind.
Like a humanoid Piggy wearing Topaz's clothes, or Topaz waddling like a Piggy... No, no, no! She couldn't think about that!
"Let me put it this way: Miss Numby's status in the investment world is no less than Mr. Gallagher's fame in the music industry!"
Stelle: ...
The image of a Piggy in Topaz's clothes standing next to a Gallagher in Robin's clothes nearly made her faint.
Was this art style even right?!
"So, what do we do next? Do we wait here for Miss Numby, or do we go to the company's base to find her?" Stelle asked.
Welt pondered for a moment, "Let's split up. Stelle and March, you stay here. Lady Cocolia will protect you. Dan Heng and I will head to the company's base. That way, even if something goes wrong, both sides will be safe."
"Uncle Yang, you're going to the company's base. That's far more dangerous than our situation. It's better if Lady Cocolia goes with you," March 7th said.
Welt laughed heartily, "March, you've seen what I'm capable of. Don't doubt your Uncle Yang's strength. Besides, I recall that Miss Numby has a bodyguard named Topaz, who's said to be able to shatter a diamond with one punch, on par with your Sister Himeko."
Stelle: !!! (shocked)
"It's settled then. We'll head out first. Bye-bye," Welt waved and left with Dan Heng.
"..."
Stelle scratched her cheek and suggested, "Uh... just waiting here is boring. How about we walk around a bit? We can enjoy the festival atmosphere while we're at it."
This situation was different from usual. Normally, she and March 7th would have their duo time, but Welt had insisted on leaving Cocolia with them, leaving Stelle unsure of what to say.
It wasn't like she was used to being pampered... Bah, she hadn't been pampered at all! But she knew March 7th was shy, and with Cocolia around, she barely spoke.
And Cocolia was even less likely to start a conversation. She was essentially Gepard's errand-runner, full of resentment about her job. Expecting her to provide emotional support? That was a joke.
Sure enough, as soon as Stelle made the suggestion, Cocolia immediately shook her head, "Since we're waiting for the owner, it's safer to stay put."
Stelle thought for a moment. She hated awkward atmospheres, so she quickly shifted gears, "Cocolia, it's been almost a month since we left Belobog. What do you usually do?"
Cocolia: "Nothing... cough I mean, due to the nature of my position, I don't have much work."
Stelle asked again, "What about Gepard? As the Great Guardian, what does he usually do?"
Swish—
For a brief moment, Stelle saw a spark in Cocolia's eyes.
"Him? Hah, don't get me started. You have no idea how idle that humanoid creature is. He..." (eight thousand words of complaints omitted)
"...I'm telling you, even letting Bronya be the Great Guardian would be better than that idiot," Cocolia said indignantly.
Stelle asked curiously, "Then why don't you find a way to make Bronya the Great Guardian?"
At this, Cocolia grew even angrier, "Don't even mention it. With that girl's abilities, she could easily kick that fool Gepard out, but the problem is, she's been hanging out with some purple-haired girl from the streets all day and doesn't even come home!"
"Even though that purple-haired girl has good conditions, strong abilities, and is pretty, she's still a girl! How can a girl be with another girl?"
"..."
Stelle and March 7th stared at Cocolia, neither saying a word.
"Tch... you can't generalize things. People need to be flexible... Forget it, let's not talk about this."
Cocolia changed the subject, "Uh... Belobog recently released a new movie called Three Aliens, based on your story. If you're interested, you could go watch it together."
At this topic, even March 7th perked up, looking over with curiosity.
Stelle was stunned, "Am I the protagonist?"
Cocolia: "You're the female lead, March 7th is the male lead, Dan Heng is the second male lead, Welt is the third male lead, and Gepard is the villain..."
Stelle was dumbfounded, "Wait, hold on. I... I... Did you get it wrong? I'm the male lead, right?"
Cocolia let out a "heh," "What do you think?"
Stelle: "..."
"No way! I don't accept this! They didn't even pay me royalties!" Stelle fumed.
Why was she the only one cast as the female lead?! She was the Astral Express's top Preservation member, wasn't she? Was the director of this movie trying to test how sharp her fire lance was?
Meanwhile, March 7th murmured thoughtfully, "Official CP? Looks like they have pretty good taste..."
Whoosh—Snap!
"Ow!"
At that moment, a shiny gold coin suddenly flew out of nowhere, striking Stelle squarely on the forehead. The force was just enough to make her lose balance and fall backward—
March 7th, quick as a flash, caught Stelle by the waist with one hand, her tone cool but filled with endless concern, "Are you hurt?"
Stelle's mouth hung open, still reeling from the shock.
Cocolia, watching from the side: Perfect composition.
"I'm... I'm fine. Thanks, March," Stelle caught her breath and picked up the coin from the ground. It was solid gold, gleaming as if made of pure gold.
—"Ah! Sorry, sorry, sorry!"
A bell-like exclamation rang out from nearby. A silver-haired girl came running over, bowing repeatedly to apologize, "I'm so sorry, that was me. I didn't mean to hit anyone, I swear!"
It was none other than the "Miss Numby" from the wallet's ID card.
"You're Miss Numby? You're so famous, yet you're littering and hitting people?" March 7th said, her tone unfriendly.
"I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to. Don't worry! I'll definitely compensate you, no shirking responsibility."
Numby waved her hands quickly, "How about... I compensate you with a medical starship?"