"Sorry to disturb everyone's meeting. I am the [Luofu] Cloud Knight General: Jing Yuan."
"General, this is Luofu's internal affair..." Yukong reminds.
"Yes, yes, internal affair—I fully endorse Helmswoman Yukong's opinion." Jing Yuan shifts his gaze to the Express crew:
"My apologies, everyone of the train group. There is indeed a Stellaron Core on [Luofu], but I must refuse your good intentions: this is the Xianzhou's problem and can only be resolved by us ourselves."
"...But since you've come all this way, how can I let you all return empty-handed? Although the Stellaron Core matter cannot accept the train group's assistance, but... I do indeed have another matter that I must entrust to you all. What are your opinions?"
Yukong sees this scene and silently retreats to the side, handing over the conversation space to Jing Yuan and the Express crew.
"Astral Express... your name has long been renowned below, and I have yearned with heart and spirit. To see you today is a fortune indeed."
"Song to chant the will!" Stelle chimes in to supplement. Welt directly gets to the point: "We've long admired the general's great name. What matter do you have to entrust to us?"
"Oh, that is something only you all can handle. Several days ago, we captured a Stellaron Hunter who trespassed into the Xianzhou's key area, namely [Blade]."
"During the interrogation of him, the Divination Commission—the department on the Xianzhou responsible for intelligence and information deduction... intercepted a short segment of communication he sent to his accomplice Kafka lurking on the Xianzhou. As for the communication recipient, well..."
Jing Yuan's meaning is already quite clear. Stelle didn't expect their conversation to be detected after all, but from the looks of it... only the initial part. As Kafka appeared on the Express, the detected communication also ceased there.
"I also know a thing or two about the relationship between you all and the Stellaron Hunters. The Divination Commission believes you must be accomplices. I said it's impossible. The Astral Express acts upright, with the reputation of doing justice bravely spreading across the realms—how could you collude with petty villains?"
"Therefore, this communication must be the Stellaron Hunters' scheme to shift blame eastward."
This speech successfully hoodwinks March 7th, sweeping away the previous unpleasantness in one go.
This person is much more agreeable than that Yukong. No wonder people say he can become the Xianzhou general while she can only be a helmswoman? Just from the art of language alone, the two are worlds apart.
Tsk, look at this way of treating people—how vast the gap.
Jing Yuan continues speaking. The bait is already cast; now just wait for the big fish to bite:
"The Stellaron Core disaster, the Xianzhou does have a way to resolve it. But pacifying the calamity requires time and must commit the Cloud Knights' main force to succeed."
"But this Kafka lurking on the Xianzhou is ultimately a scourge that cannot be unguarded against."
"Since the Stellaron Hunters deliberately led you all to Luofu, you and I can simply go with the flow. In my capacity as general, I grant you all provisional authority to act freely on the Xianzhou, luring out the missing Kafka and capturing her in one fell swoop."
"In this way, first, it clears the dirty water the Stellaron Hunters splashed on you all. Second, it also allows us to learn this hunter's purpose for infiltrating the Xianzhou and what connection she has to the erupting Stellaron Core."
"Everyone of the train group, what say you?"
...
Tingyun does some deep breathing, completely not noticing Blake leaving with a dark face. Recalling that scene just now, her heart that had been tense suddenly relaxes.
Adrian is still the Adrian in her memory, without the slightest change. Just as he himself said, no need to feel formal because of the relationship in status.
"Sigh~ Adrian's thought processes remain as peculiar as ever. This little lady truly cannot comprehend them."
"But... this quite fits Adrian's style. Thank you for your life-saving grace." Tingyun says seriously.
"Since you are a friend of [Eternity], no need to say such words to me anymore." Adrian waves his hand. "If you really want to thank me, come to the little shop more often in the future and help Qingque out a bit."
Tingyun's fox ears twitch slightly. "From your words... after the Luofu disaster subsides, you intend to continue [Trailblazing] together with the Astral Express?"
Seeing Adrian nod, she doesn't press for the reasons excessively either. Only now does she realize one person is missing.
"Eh... where has Pontiff Blake gone?"
"Who knows... perhaps he went to the [Sleepless Earl] teahouse to tell stories. After all, right now he's wearing Mr. Xiyuan's face."
Adrian casually muddles through it. To ensure the next plan can proceed smoothly, he instructed Blake to do one thing.
Give our little friend Phantylia a forceful and comfortable neck massage.
"Enough of that. Let's talk business. You must really want to know... who the Lord Ravager disguised in your appearance is, right?"
Adrian tells Tingyun all the intelligence related to Phantylia in one go.
"How about it? Any thoughts?" Seeing Tingyun's slightly twitching corners of the mouth, Adrian looks forward very much to Tingyun's next response.
"From your description, that Lord Ravager is indeed extraordinary in leadership. Her actions and conduct are exactly like this little lady's own. Rather than disguise, it's more like she lived several days in my stead."
"If not for Adrian's assistance, including those in my inner circle, the companions of the [Thunderforge] Merchant Guild would all suffer that Lord's poisonous hand and perish thereby."
"Although this little lady advocates harmony as foremost, this time the situation is special. No matter what, this little lady must demand an explanation from that Legion's Lord Ravager." Tingyun's gaze grows ever more resolute.
"That Phantylia stole my life. Fox people bear grudges and must repay in kind—absolutely no loss!" Tingyun suddenly changes her tune. Demanding an explanation is too lenient for Phantylia.
"This little lady must take something back from her hands."
"Very good. Then let's start from the simplest."
Adrian claps once in agreement. As expected of a Xianzhou person—must repay any grudge. It very much fits the spirit of [The Hunt]!
"Hm..." Adrian strokes his chin, as if thinking.
"Got it! We'll take [the life that shouldn't have been stolen] as our goal and go demand that Phantylia unilaterally return it... how about that?"
...
As Jing Yuan says this, the expressions of Stelle and March 7th clearly change, looking like they're holding back laughter.
Welt strives to maintain seriousness. As Adrian said, Xianzhou Luofu would use the Stellaron Core as bait, wait for them to arrive before shifting the target, drawing them into the action of capturing the Stellaron Hunters.
"General, your proposal is quite good. But..." Stelle feigns seriousness; her acting skills still need much honing.
"What if we... have already captured the Stellaron Hunter Kafka and brought her to justice?" Welt pushes up his glasses, successfully turning the tables.
Dan Heng and March 7th, seeing this, bring the disguised Kafka before him.
Kafka is also extremely cooperative in voluntarily undoing her disguise technique, appearing in her true visage amid the Seat of Divine Foresight and instantly drawing everyone's gaze.
"Sigh~ Truly performed a fine play." Kafka laments. "How about it? Satisfied?" She gazes gently at Stelle.
Seeing this scene, Stelle's thoughts are complex, not knowing what to say... always feeling like Kafka is somewhat pitiable.
"Hey, don't let the bad woman deceive you!" March 7th reminds in time.
Jing Yuan is also stunned by this flashy operation, but quickly reacts. That pink-haired miss just mentioned [Adrian], and suddenly the whole thing seems reasonable.
This is also within [Eternity]'s calculations?!