Kapitel 61: Chapter 60
"You've found us, haven't you? With [Diti], tracking must be even more effortless now."
"If Kafka's trail leads to Stargazer Navalia, activate this gadget and ensure she doesn't slip away."
Tingyun had completed their testing.
All preparations were finalized.
The Astral Express set off for Stargazer Navalia—the crucial shipbuilding hub of the Roaming Immortal Ark.
Seeing this, March 7th couldn't help but ask, "Stargazer Navalia... The game plot already hinted that Kafka might hide there. Couldn't General Jing Yuan preemptively set up a dragnet and ambush her?"
"Ha ha ha..." Jing Yuan let out a polite yet slightly awkward laugh. "Miss March 7th, your thinking is perhaps too simplistic. If we can anticipate this plot development, why wouldn't the Stellaron Hunters and their allies do the same?"
March 7th tapped her head thoughtfully. "I assumed we could gain the upper hand, but if everyone sees the same plot developments, aren't we all starting from scratch again?"
"That may not be entirely true. By adapting to circumstances and seizing opportunities as they arise, we might still gain some advantage."
March 7th muttered, "Your words are so hard to understand."
"It seems this General has been well-prepared; there's no need for concern," Old Yang explained.
Just then...
Jing Yuan, who had appeared confident until now, suddenly showed a change in expression. The holographic projection flickered repeatedly, as if experiencing interference from another signal.
After approximately five seconds,
the projection returned to normal, but Jing Yuan's composure had vanished, replaced by deep seriousness.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my apologies, but I must immediately head to The Shackling Prison."
"What happened? Has the Stellaron Hunter already arrived?" Old Yang asked.
However,
Jing Yuan seemed too pressed for time to explain. The hologram abruptly disappeared from the sand table, leaving everyone staring at each other in confusion.
"Uncle Yang, what...should we do now?" March 7th sought guidance anxiously.
With Jing Yuan's departure, Fu Xuan moved to the central seat, subtly indicating that since Jing Yuan was gone, he would take charge of the situation.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's remain calm."
"Since General Jing Yuan didn't elaborate further, it seems the situation has not yet reached its most critical point.
"In the unfolding scenario, Kafka is about to make their appearance soon.
"I can buy us some time to observe the plot progression," Fu Xuan continued. "Let's decide our course of action after confirming the Stellaron Hunters' brewing conspiracy."
"Fu Xuan-sama, you're quite considerate," Stelle remarked appreciatively.
Fu Xuan gave a slight nod, implying, "Needless to say?"
Meanwhile, on another front, Jing Yuan was urgently rushing towards The Shackling Prison at top speed!
To his surprise, this time, not only had Kafka arrived, but another Stellaron Hunter—Silver Wolf—had shown up as well! Alongside Blade.
It seemed the Stellaron Hunters were treating Luofu like their second home!
Not that Jing Yuan chose not to provide more information; rather, the communication link had been abruptly cut off! There simply wasn't enough time!
Suddenly,
A screen automatically illuminated on Yuzhao.
Two brief lines of information appeared on it.
After swiftly scanning through them, Jing Yuan felt as if struck by lightning!
"...What?! Even she's here?!
"And that... Luocha too?!"
Jing Yuan had to cover his head with one hand, overwhelmed.
Under normal circumstances, the appearance of any single individual from this group aboard the Xianzhou would demand utmost attention!
Yet now, unexpectedly, they've all converged at Luofu's The Shackling Prison!
Even if every one of them had come voluntarily to surrender, The Shackling Prison wouldn't have the capacity to hold them all immediately!
Even Jing Yuan found himself immensely troubled at this moment.
"Yanqing, hang in there..."
At the Palace of Astrum,
With Fu Xuan's reassurance, everyone slightly eased their concerns and continued watching the unfolding events.
By now, the scene had reached Stargazer Navalia.
Using Ditti to initiate tracking, they searched for clues across the map.
"This is... part of a Cloud Knight weapon, severed by some sharp object..."
"It must be that wicked woman, no doubt! She wields a long and swift blade!"
"This is a jade token belonging to a shipbuilder supervisor, used to open gates."
"Someone deliberately sabotaged it after use; perhaps it was Kafka."
As they watched Streamer Little Gui Zi busily searching for clues within the game, the audience enjoyed their leisurely time.
Even Fu Xuan took a moment to sip some water amidst this stretch. Despite being engaged in capturing Kafka, the atmosphere remained relatively relaxed.
Old Yang had also calmed down from his earlier shock, sitting as steady as a rock in his seat.
However, the feeling of unease seemed to pass like tossing a bouquet, now landing in Dan Heng's hands! For some reason, he suddenly felt unsettled.
Glancing between the unfolding narrative and the view outside the Palace of Astrum, Dan Heng couldn't shake the sense that Jing Yuan's abrupt disconnection felt too hasty—far uncharacteristic of such a meticulously strategic General.
In a daze, the cursed voice echoed once more in his mind:
"There were five souls, but only three paid the price..."
Dan Heng was about to speak when, at that very moment, a significant plot twist occurred in the game.
"When the trail of prey vanishes abruptly, hunters must be cautious—
"For it often signals a reversal in the chase."
Kafka! She unexpectedly appeared on screen!
Everyone immediately froze, straightening up in their seats.
It was time to pursue Kafka!
Their success now hinged on their next moves.
"Darn it, there's no way through here! We need to find a means to intercept her!"
"Benefactor, don't worry about the closed door; we can simply bypass the conveyor belt," Tingyun suggested.
They reached the other side of the gate.
To everyone's surprise, Kafka's figure truly appeared within their line of sight!
Even as the protagonist approached, she showed no intention of fleeing.
This peculiar behavior raised suspicions among all present.
"Welcome, members of the Train Brigade. You've caught me."
Not just Fu Xuan and Old Yang, even the viewers in the live stream clearly sensed something was amiss!
"Why does this feel like mom playing hide-and-seek with her little daughter?"
"Is this part of their plan too?"
"Are we really about to capture Kafka? Could it be a decoy? A projection? Some kind of puppet?"
"She's still smiling; I have a feeling we're walking into a trap!"
"Show your hand, Kafka. Our arrival here must have been part of your plan," Welt said.
"It's not a plan, but rather [the future]. We intervene among countless possibilities to make the best [future] come true," Kafka explained with a smile. "Don't flatter yourselves, Welt; Stellaron Hunters are merely [Destiny's Slaves]."
March 7th retorted indignantly, "The best future? Best for whom exactly? I highly doubt you care about anyone else."
"The entire universe—do you believe that? Naturally, it means 'best' for me."
To everyone present, these words sounded utterly nonsensical, and Guinaifen was no exception.
She decisively chose the most straightforward option:
["Let's fight already, don't waste time!"]
Welt responded, "We will take you to General Luofu. Since you claim innocence, feel free to explain yourself to him; he will render his judgment accordingly."
Kafka shook their head slightly. "No can do. I detest following others' pace."
"Time is running out. Act swiftly, or it'll be too late."
The screen shattered.
The first battle against Kafka began!
Fu Xuan had prepared to record this combat sequence...
...as analyzing Kafka's abilities would aid in devising strategies for future encounters.
A captivating smile crossed Kafka's face.
"Can you stay on your feet?"
With a swift pull of the red thread in her hand, the targeted character instantly became immobilized.
A prompt appeared on the screen:
[Use a skill to remove negative effects and counteract the [Dominate] state!]
"This must be Kafka's Word Power ability."
Under the influence of [Dominate], characters even attacked their teammates. Fortunately, Little Gui Zi's proficiency was quite high.
Using March 7th's Shield, they dispelled the control effect. In the end, they defeated Kafka at the cost of losing two team members, successfully progressing to the next chapter of the storyline!
Kafka found herself surrounded by the group, with both hands poised above her submachine guns as if ready to lower them.
"You're finally here."
In the next moment, she spun her weapons.
Firing indiscriminately towards the sky, bullets poured forth like rain!
The scene suddenly slowed down, as if someone had hit the slow-motion button. Amidst this hailstorm of bullets, a young girl moved effortlessly, almost leisurely strolling amidst chaos. With graceful gestures, she gently deflected the trajectory of each bullet.
Her every movement—calm and elegant!
It seemed akin to removing imperfections from a delicate painting.
"A mere parlor trick."
"Your every move..."
"...has been foreseen within my divine sight."
On the tip of her toe, she executed a flawless landing before the crowd.
"Fu Xuan of the Divination Commission."
"I now take custody of the criminal."
As this scene unfolded, everyone present, to varying degrees, shifted their gaze towards Fu Xuan sitting nearby.
Gently closing her eyes, Fu Xuan maintained a composed demeanor, as if this outcome were expected.
Her demeanor appeared calm and composed, as if everything had unfolded just as expected.
However, beneath the surface, her heart was bursting with joy!
"Truly deserving of this venerable one's title!"
"What a remarkably elegant and grand entrance!"
"This scene must be preserved; I'll ensure Jing Yuan sees it later!"
"Even Stellaron Hunter Kafka had no choice but to surrender obediently before this venerable one."
"I am truly too incredible!" exclaimed Fu Xuan.
Kapitel 62: Chapter 61: General Jing Yuan Faces Great Danger! The Astral Express Rushes for Support
Kafka was genuinely captured!
This fact astounded everyone, as even Fu Xuan's predictions suggested that apprehending Kafka would require considerable effort. Yet, the reality turned out far easier than anticipated.
With Kafka now securely detained, preparations were underway to escort her to the Divination Commission for interrogation.
"To make this suspect speak, the Divination Commission will employ special methods. Due to their confidential nature, they cannot be disclosed publicly. Please accept our apologies, but this venerable one swears: the interrogation will not commence until you all arrive, regardless of how ready we may be."
"I have assigned a disciple to wait at Exalting Sanctum Square. Once internal arrangements are complete, they will guide you into the Divination Commission. Your patience is greatly appreciated."
In the unfolding plot, Fu Xuan addressed the Astral Express Crew:
At this point, Fu Xuan saw no need to conceal anything further and directly explained, "This venerable one is preparing to activate the Indigent Observation Formation 'Four-One-Zero'."
"Only through this formation can we discern past events, calculate future possibilities, and unravel the truth."
"Then, that suspect Kafka will finally speak."
"Oh," March 7th nodded, somewhat grasping the explanation.
With the immediate task seemingly concluded, Dan Heng, who had been quietly observing from the side, could no longer remain seated. He stood up and announced to the Astral Express Crew, "I must go to The Shackling Prison."
"Huh?" March 7th wondered if she misheard, setting down her snack. "Dan Heng, are you okay?"
"The upcoming scene involves Kafka's interrogation—the pivotal moment!"
"Don't we need to watch first, to ensure what exactly Kafka's scheme entails?"
Dan Heng shook his head. "Kafka...she was captured deliberately, I suspect. The true danger aboard Xianzhou likely lies elsewhere."
"Hmm... Still no response from Jing Yuan?"
Dan Heng turned to Fu Xuan.
Fu Xuan glanced at Yuzhao beside her and replied, "No need yet."
"However, if you're truly uneasy, this venerable one will perform a divination for you," she continued. With that, Fu Xuan extended her hand, calculating between her fingers.
After a few seconds, suspicion appeared on her face. It then shifted to confusion before finally turning into shock!
March 7th sighed, "Well, now even without hearing the result, I can tell something unexpected has occurred."
"This venerable one performed three divinations. Both The Shackling Prison and the Stellaron Hunters' situations were disrupted by unknown factors, making it impossible to discern outcomes through ordinary means."
"As for General Jing Yuan...it foretells grave danger!"
Old Yang looked at Dan Heng. "You were right. We cannot stay here any longer."
"Dan Heng, March, and Stelle, come with me immediately—our destination is The Shackling Prison."
"March and Stelle, keep monitoring the live stream on your phones constantly. As soon as Kafka's intentions are revealed, inform us right away."
"Understood!" Old Yang promptly decided.
He gathered the three individuals, preparing to leave the Palace of Astrum.
From behind, Yukong's voice echoed.
"Hold on, everyone."
"You're unfamiliar with the area here," Yukong continued. "I've already notified Tingyun to meet you at the star ferry. She will guide you to The Shackling Prison."
"Excellent, then we greatly appreciate your assistance, Director Yukong."
On the bustling streets of Exalting Sanctum, Phantylia disguised as Tingyun frequently glanced up at the distant tree.
"In about half an hour, we should witness its miraculous rebirth, piercing through the celestial vault, don't you think?"
Nearby, there was a storyteller accompanied by his assistant, who had keen eyesight. At once, he spotted the solitary figure of "Tingyun."
"Tingyun Miss! It's actually you!"
"How did you find time to visit Exalting Sanctum today? Shall I entertain you with a tale on the spot?"
"Sure," Phantylia replied with a smile.
Her mood was quite buoyant, anticipating the upheaval in Luofu soon to be triggered by the World Tree's growth.
The storyteller and his assistant promptly prepared to begin, even setting up paper lanterns to enhance the atmosphere.
Clearing his throat, the elderly storyteller commenced eloquently:
"To my embarrassment, legends are scarce aboard this Xianzhou.
"After all, with eternal life and longevity, what room is there for tales worth telling?"
"However, to recount the tale of the Cloud Rider General, we must begin with a distant legend..."
"This history dates back eight millennia. A ruler of an ancient empire yearned for eternal life and everlasting legacy."
"The ancestors of Xianzhou set sail across the celestial seas on a grueling journey."
"At that time, it was truly as if—'Amidst vast heavens wide, lone sails without a neighbor.'"
What an antiquated legend, Phantylia thought, feeling discontented. Using this worn-out tale to deceive people? No wonder not a single soul was interested, even in such a bustling area.
Soon, the storyteller began introducing the seven heavenly generals of Emperor's Bow:
"Behold, at the marshal's side stand six Xianzhou generals—
"Might surging through the skies, spirit soaring high... Heavenly Strike General, Feixiao!
"Luminous beyond measure, radiant with fiery blaze. Abyssal Torch General, Huaiyan!"
"..."
Phantylia was well-acquainted with these seven heavenly generals, including their commander. Such tales might indeed captivate newly arrived outlanders on Xianzhou, but for her...
Heh...
Upon hearing such exaggerated praise, Tingyun couldn't help but wish to overturn his makeshift stall.
"Surmounting Yujie's heights, repelling celestial spears. The Divine Strategy General, Jing Yuan!"
"Each of the seven generals of Emperor's Bow possesses unique skills and exceptional talents. And when it comes to our Luofu's General Jing Yuan, all would commend him for his extraordinary intellect and profound strategies!
"For indeed—through cunning stratagem, he ensnared Steppath, stealthily seizing victory under heaven's gaze."
"Victory assured from afar, his plans leave no room for error!"
"Well done!" Tingyun applauded at just the right moment, tossing a few Strales onto the stall. "Your narration is truly captivating, sir."
Without looking back, she continued on her way.
At a nearby intersection, she arrived at an open-air plaza bustling with people gathered around a large screen, engrossed in its display.
"Hmph, yet another episode of that Star Rail nonsense," someone scoffed.
"Humans can only find fleeting satisfaction in such lowbrow entertainment within their limited lifespans."
Suddenly, there was a significant commotion near the screen, eliciting gasps from the crowd.
Tingyun's fox ears twitched slightly, catching words that piqued her interest.
"Oh my goodness! Look at this—!"
"Jing Yuan Character PV - 'Chessboard of Heaven and Earth'? Is it really General Jing Yuan? Am I dreaming?!"
"No doubt about it! Check the video thumbnail—it perfectly captures our General's heroic demeanor!"
"The General! The General is so cool, waaaaah!"
"Feathered Spirit actually made General Jing Yuan a playable character!"
"Forget everything else—I need to rush home, sell my house, and prepare for the Jing Yuan gacha draw!"
"Hurry up, hurry up! I can't wait to see Jing Yuan's Ultimate move!"
Phantylia paused, extracting crucial information from their frenzied chatter.
This video seemed to showcase Jing Yuan's abilities?
"Well then, let's take a quick look."
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