At this moment, Fu Xuan was unaware that Dan Shu's thinking had already begun to shift from that of an extremist Sanctus Medicus believer to the realization that alchemy could not save the people of the Xianzhou.
All eyes were on the Luofu Xianzhou, waiting for the hand of fate to pluck its strings.
With Noldrei's introduction, Fu Xuan quickly got along with Elysia, especially after learning that Elysia had once triumphed over the "fate" her friend had spoken of. She became even more interested.
She took Elysia back to the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus's stronghold in Changle.
Meanwhile, the Stellaron Hunters were facing a predicament that even they found difficult.
The Stellaron was on the Xianzhou, but it hadn't erupted yet!
The Stellaron, which usually brought destruction wherever it went, was now completely limp, showing no signs of activity. Even the script dictated by fate had been torn to shreds.
If the Stellaron didn't erupt, the Astral Express wouldn't go to the Xianzhou. If the Astral Express didn't go to the Xianzhou...
...then the rest of the story would be completely stuck.
Kafka was now facing a daunting task, one so difficult it nearly made her want to give up.
Even Elio couldn't find a single possibility of change within fate. It was even more impossible for her, a mere "worker," to persuade the people on the Astral Express to go to the Luofu Xianzhou.
And yet, Kafka had no choice but to follow the established script.
She once again boarded the Astral Express as a projection.
Just as the Astral Express was about to decide on its next destination.
"Everyone, long time no see."
Kafka saw familiar faces on the train: the gray-haired, golden-eyed Stelle; the pink-haired March 7th; the red-haired Himeko; and... someone Noldrei would definitely be very happy to see, Welt Yang.
Kafka's sudden appearance caught everyone on the Astral Express off guard.
Even the rabbit-like conductor made way for Kafka.
The Stellaron Hunters were notorious throughout the universe; it was impossible not to be wary of her.
Only Himeko seemed unimpressed by Kafka's posturing, simply lowering her head to play with her fingernails.
March 7th stood cautiously beside Stelle.
She was a little confused about Kafka. She didn't understand why Kafka was holding an umbrella. She was just a projection, yet she was deliberately holding an umbrella over her head.
Was it just for show?
March 7th's gaze was completely drawn to that unnecessary umbrella.
"Let's skip the pleasantries. I doubt you, a Stellaron Hunter, would show up during our meeting just to say hello."
The handle of the umbrella in Kafka's hand flickered twice and disappeared.
At this, March 7th also grew tense, worried that the Stellaron Hunter might make another move. She didn't even have her weapon in hand.
"Himeko, is it?"
"I don't have much time to explain, and even I don't know how to explain it to you."
If the script had gone smoothly, Kafka would have been confidently stating her request at this moment.
But since the script on the Luofu Xianzhou had collapsed, she had no choice but to rely on the wisdom and cunning inherent to the Stellaron Hunters.
This was Kafka's current situation.
"I know this may sound a bit presumptuous, but we Stellaron Hunters are preparing to go to the Luofu Xianzhou. There, a Stellaron awaits us."
These words immediately put Welt on high alert.
Himeko frowned. "The Xianzhou Alliance? That's a major power on par with the Corporation. There's a Stellaron there? With the Xianzhou's capabilities, they should be able to handle it themselves."
She didn't want to get involved with the Stellaron Hunters.
Perhaps because their "big sister" personas clashed, Himeko particularly disliked the pretentious Kafka.
"That's right, yes. The information we received is that a Stellaron has landed on the Luofu Xianzhou. You should be able to find what you're looking for there."
Kafka paused for a moment. "My request is also quite simple. I'd like to commission you to help retrieve this Stellaron."
Welt couldn't understand the Stellaron Hunters' thinking at all.
He asked hesitantly, "What did you say? You want to commission... us... to help you retrieve this Stellaron?"
Himeko almost lost her composure.
Did she hear that right? The Stellaron Hunters were commissioning the Astral Express for a job?
March 7th couldn't help but step forward. "Don't you know how high your bounty is in the universe? And you're asking us to do your dirty work?"
Kafka didn't want to do this either. She said with a touch of helplessness, "I know this is a bit hard for you to accept, but if you want the rest of your journey to be... a little more normal."
"What do you mean by that? Are you threatening us?" Himeko was very displeased with Kafka's cryptic behavior.
But Kafka didn't want to be cryptic either. It was just that Elio had lost his ability to observe the script on the Luofu Xianzhou. Otherwise, she would have had a chance to explain the situation to the Astral Express.
"We actually don't know much about the Stellaron on the Luofu Xianzhou. But the key isn't the Stellaron, but the existence of a train very similar to yours."
"That train crossed the Imaginary Space and landed directly on the Luofu Xianzhou where there are no Star Rails. Currently, there should be three people visiting there."
"This is what those three people look like."
Kafka's projection distorted, and the images of Noldrei and his two companions appeared before the crew of the Astral Express.
"This..."
Welt's pupils contracted sharply, as if he had seen something unbelievable.
The man's appearance, identical to the Kevin in his memories, seared through his heart like a wildfire.
"Oh? It seems there is a connection after all."
Kafka noticed Welt's loss of composure.
He looked at 'Kevin' as if he had seen a ghost.
"As far as I know, the three of them are called Noldrei, Elysia, and Mobius."
Welt asked with a grim expression, "When did they arrive on the Luofu?"
At this point, Welt could no longer be bothered with maintaining his composure. The sight of these 'old acquaintances' made him want to leave the Luofu immediately.
So what if the Luofu was destroyed? As the saying goes, what has been long united must divide, and what has been long divided must unite. The next hegemon would still rise in the universe.
But... damn it, why was the Honkai still chasing him?!
Memories buried deep within suddenly began to attack Welt.
Kafka replied, "They arrived there a while ago, and right after they arrived, the Stellaron also landed on the Luofu Xianzhou."
Welt clutched his chest, his face pale.
Why did these people have to run into a Stellaron? Did they think the Luofu was too strong and wanted to spice things up?
Welt said with difficulty, "Himeko, I'm sorry... I..."
Himeko could see that Welt had a complicated past with these three, and she knew that a trip to the Luofu Xianzhou was now unavoidable.
She comforted him, "It's alright. Since we're all on the same train, helping each other out, let's take a trip to the Luofu Xianzhou."