Chapter 28: Xianzhou Luofu
*here with another chapter. I'll see if I manage to write one more today, if not, this will be all. I genuinely gotta see what other things I feel like doing, and get a schedule set up :))
Welp, I do enjoy writing, and with you all reading and supporting me, it feel so much nicer. We're growing steadily, and I'm thankful for that. Glory to God, my friends, let's keep this journey going. Also, another discord invitation set up here for others who might want to rethink not having joined already. We have random chats bout stuff, and sometimes images and things I make related to the fanfic. Here's the link: https://discord.com/invite/8RcQy2aQ36
See you there :))
Peace out, Deus vult.*
After a few hours spent in complete solitude with nothing but his own mind and sheer focus on the energy within himself, Mark had walked out of his room, heading straight for the parlor. He was slowly understanding the way to channel his powers better, using his body as a conductive medium, and yet it still lacked something. Pushing too much out caused him strain, fatigue, and it also hurt like hell thanks to his body not taking it well.
"I guess I need to add strength training to my list of shit to do as well..."
Mark stepped into the room, looking around at everyone who had gathered with Pom-Pom in the middle. He said something about congratulating the ones who had managed to solve the situation on Jarilo-VI, and he also got an official welcome into the Nameless.
"Now, it is time for the conductor, that is, me, to officially announce the name of our next stop..."
Right on time, as he knew it, Kafka's hologram appeared in the middle of the room, holding an umbrella for some reason that Mark couldn't explain even in the game. It had to be fashion or something.
"Long time no see, Astral Express Crew. It's Kafka."
She began walking through the little crowd, eyeing each and every one of them.
"I came at a good time. You're all here."
Her gaze lingered on Mark for a second extra, which he didn't fail to notice. Tiny was the smirk that appeared on his face, but huge were the implications.
He let her go on with her show, talking with Himeko, who reminded about the tempting bounty that Kafka had on her head. Mark remained silent, just like the others, at least for now. He knew what she wanted, and to him, it was nothing too interesting.
The hologram did happen to look at him from time to time, but it wasn't all that clear thanks to the quality of the image. He simply stood there, waiting for her to reveal where she wanted them to change course to.
She did explain the simple thing. The Stellaron crisis in the Luofu, and the image changed to Blade, the man that Dan Heng knew better than the others. Still, in that moment, Mark realized that he hadn't shown up for the meeting, which meant that a certain feeling of dread wouldn't fill the air.
In that moment, Mark took a step forward, speaking in a calm tone, keeping his cool.
"Fine, let's say I trust you. I'm not sure about the others, but I do know a thing or two to make sense of the following things: you're not at fault. If it were you, I'm sure you'd make it grand, with a lot more things going on than a simple Stellaron burst."
Kafka looked him up and down, the hologram changing back to her figure. Everyone was taken aback by Mark's declaration, especially Himeko.
"Mark, do you understand who you're dealing with? They're notorious criminals, wanted for the most heinous crimes."
Mark nodded, smiling softly.
"You see, I personally wonder who's worse, them or the IPC, the supposed 'peacekeepers' who killed more innocents than the Stellaron Hunters ever could. For now, please have a little faith in me, alright? After all, I'm sure you weren't going to reject helping the Luofu, since the Astral Express does take care of disasters like this one."
She sighed, crossing her arms, thinking for a moment, until she approved with a tiny nod. Welt simply analyzed him in silence, fixing his glasses as he rested against his cane. Stelle and March didn't know exactly where Mark was going with the argument, yet they listened.
"Oh my, to think we'd have admirers within your ranks," said Kafka, her voice the same seductive tone as usual. The hologram stepped closer, looking up at him. She was taller than what the in-game model made one think, yet she barely reached Mark's chin with her heels on.
Mark gave her a smirk, shaking his head slightly.
"Don't go getting the wrong ideas, alright? Still, I hate the IPC more than I could ever hate you. Plus, as far as I know... you too seek a specific end."
She simply stared at him, saying nothing, but her gaze gave away nothing. She was like an impenetrable fortress when it came to her emotions, showing nothing but what she wanted others to catch notice of.
"Someone's done their homework, that's for sure."
Mark chuckled then asked the big question, the one based on a simple theory he's heard. Still, his head felt heavy, the pain stinging as he touched topics he shouldn't.
"Tell me, Kafka, is that one black cat you Stellaron Hunters take care of in good health?"
The thing he asked was based on the theory that Elio was the cat shown in her splash art and other places through the game. He wiped his nose with a proud smirk on his face. Around him, Himeko showed clear confusion, just like Welt and the others. What was the cat's deal in all this?
Even Kafka had to take a moment before answering.
"The cat is in good health, thank you. It eats plenty, and it sure loves meowing a lot."
Mark chuckled, keeping the answer in mind for another time. If the theory was true, then it meant that Elio loves talking a little too much.
"Glad to hear that. Well, anyway, let's just accept the deal, right? We help prove your innocence, not like you don't have a plan for that as well, and we just take the benefits of an improved relationship with them. It's a win-win, even if the mission has its own risk factor involved."
Kafka's gaze, holographic as it was, didn't budge away from him. She studied him curiously, like a cat finding a new toy. Mark knew he was in trouble, but nothing could stop him now. His memories of the future were missing, but what details lingered in his mind told him to trust them more than the IPC.
"I sure hate the fucking IPC, so if I can annoy them, I'm willing to help you any day," he muttered, taking a deep breath.
Seeing that her job was done, she took a few steps back, looking over everyone with a friendly smile—how friendly it truly was, Mark couldn't tell.
"Oh, also, tell Silver Wolf I said hi, and she better not screw around too much with the Express before I ask Herta to cut off her accounts in every possible game that she plays."
Kafka chuckled, taking a mental note of the threat.
"I'm pretty sure she heard you, and she doesn't seem pleased about it. Anyway, our paths shall converge sooner or later. See you then."
With that, she was gone. Mark let out a relieved breath, sitting down on the couch.
"March, get Dan Heng," said Himeko, wishing to initiate a vote for the whole situation. Meanwhile, her attention went back to Mark.
"You seem awfully familiar with them. You just make me wonder what your story is more and more, you know? It's not nice to keep a lady curious for long."
He chuckled, closing his eyes for a moment.
"I have my fair share of knowledge of things. I ask just that you trust me a little."
She nodded, watching as Stelle went ahead and followed March.
"Well, if we do end up agreeing to doing this, you could think of it as your official first Trailblazing experience."
He smiled, understanding where she came from. The thing on Jarilo-VI was Stelle's first mission, which he ended up intruding upon and tagging along.
Soon, the whole crew was assembled, with Mark standing at the edge, silently listening. Both Welt and Himeko were skeptic of what she had told them, thinking that Kafka's information was a lie, yet they couldn't just ignore it.
Soon, voting time came, and everyone voted, reaching out with their hand, except Dan Heng. Mark understood why, yet he said nothing. The nightmare Dan Heng had was clearly related to Blade, thus the Xianzhou.
Mark instead wondered about the members of the expedition. It was him, Stelle, and March, so for a moment he had gotten scared that Welt wouldn't join them.
"Welt, you've been itching to go on a trailblazing expedition, so how about joining them? Since we have two newbies, I think it would make sense to have someone more experienced go with them."
He gave a light nod and a tiny smile, assuring her not to worry. March was excited, despite her initial reluctance to go. Soon, the train made the jump, and Mark made sure to brace for it. The moment the Express jumped, he felt his guts move around his body, all of them moving to the side. He laughed to himself, enjoying the feeling more than he thought he would.
Soon, the large Xianzhou ship came into view. It was a sight that left Mark speechless for a moment. Before his very eyes was something that lacked the impressive aspect in game. However, when seen in reality, it left quite the impression on him.
The others were talking in the background, all while Mark kept thinking about the mission and what he knew from before. He had little information to start with, but he did have a bad feeling that didn't leave him.
"I need to focus and get my head in the game. I could force out the information, but I'm sure it wouldn't end nicely for me. I'll try to play it safe and see how things go."
He stood there, looking out the window, lost in thought, his name being called out in the background.
"Mark, are you alright?"
It was March who gently shook his shoulder to try and bring him back to the real world. He shook his head slightly, his eyes focusing on the real images around him instead of those in his mind.
"Yeah, I'm fine, sorry. I just spaced out a little thinking about the mission and how large this place is."
She nodded, understanding his feelings. The whole crew was there, looking at him, waiting for an answer regarding something.
"How do you feel knowing that you're about to embark on your first official Trailblazing expedition?" asked Stelle, understanding how he felt. After all, her first mission took place not so long ago.
"Well, I feel... excited, to be honest. I'm looking forward to what's going on over there. For now, however, let's see if we can disembark somewhere."
Said and done, Himeko requested access, only to be met with an automated message.
"Something's not right," murmured Welt, trying to understand what's going on. Mark looked out the window and spoke.
"Silver Wolf, work your magic. If you're listening, which I'm pretty sure you are, just make the damned bridge work or something."
The truth is, he wasn't sure if she made it happen in the game, yet he couldn't help but give it a shot. What did he have to lose?
To the side, March was more worried about the whole thing looking like a horror film.
"A vessel arrives at a deserted spaceport... isn't that how, like, loads of horror movies start!?"
Mark nodded, deciding to mess a bit with her.
"Indeed, it is. However, there's no trace of zombies... yet. If I am to recall the things I know, there could be many oddities happening, yet here we are, alone, waiting... we sure need to lend a hand."
At the mention of zombies, she nearly hid behind Dan Heng, using him as a supposed shield.
"You big oaf, scaring me like that all the time."
Mark quickly dashed to his room to fetch his sword and metal pipe. When he came back, the bridge had been connected, meaning they could disembark.
"Heh, seems like she did her work in the end. How curious."
Welt gave them all a quick rundown of what he thought of the situation and what they should expect. A warm welcome is one of the last things on their list. Finding the Stellaron, however, was their goal. Armed with bits of knowledge and his usual weapons, Mark followed the others as they walked out of the Express.
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