Just as this low pressure began to build, and some fans were even thinking of mustering the courage to ask "Stelle" again if she was being coerced—
"Everyone, be quiet!"
A clear and serious shout rang out.
It was the badge girl.
The near-breakdown and sacred sublimation on her face had disappeared, replaced by a seriousness akin to a pilgrimage.
She pushed aside the people in front of her, walked to the front of the crowd, and stood between "Stelle" and Bronya, her burning gaze sweeping over every companion with a puzzled or indignant expression.
"You... you don't understand anything at all!" The badge girl's voice was even trembling with excitement.
"You think the Stelle sisters are succumbing to Lord Bronya's status? Utterly wrong! Shallow! Too shallow!"
She took a deep breath, as if to pour all the surging emotions in her chest into her next words, each of which was spoken with force.
"Look carefully! Look at Lord Bronya's eyes just now, and listen to what she said!
"That's a deep-seated understanding of Homu, the soul's light of a true connoisseur! And the Stelle sisters..."
She suddenly turned, pointing at the two dazed Shus, her eyes bursting with incomparable admiration.
"What did the Stelle sisters pour into creating these figures? It's love! It's skill! It's an artistic pursuit that transcends the mundane! It's a soul-shaking resonance that only those who truly 'know the trade' can feel!"
Her speech grew faster and faster, her emotions higher and higher:
"This is not a transaction at all! And it's certainly not a surrender!
"This is the ecstasy of finding a kindred spirit! It's a modern interpretation of 'high mountains and flowing water meeting a connoisseur'!
"Just like how only Bo Ya could understand Zhong Ziqi's zither! Just like how the vast starry sky in Senior Joyce's heart only shone for Kaslana's pioneering spirit! Just like in "King of Homu", when Homu D. Luffy entrusted his straw hat to Shanks, that relay of dreams that transcended everything!"
The badge girl opened her arms, as if to embrace the entire shop, to embrace this incredibly sublime moment that she had "discerned":
"Here, right before our eyes!
"A top-tier Homu art master has met another top-tier Homu connoisseur and collector!
"Their souls, because of Homu, have produced the purest, most noble resonance here!
"This resonance is clearly a mutual recognition and entrustment at the soul level! Worldly rules? Shop regulations? In the face of such an epic encounter, what are they?! How can they stop two brilliant stars from illuminating each other?!"
Her voice was choked with extreme excitement, but her words were like a spark thrown into dry wood, instantly igniting the emotions of all the fans.
That's right! Why hadn't they thought of that?
So... there was never any "darkness falling"?
So, it was all because they failed to understand the light that erupted when the "suns of artistic souls" converged, a light bright enough to illuminate everything?!
The reluctance in the twin-tailed girl's eyes turned into a tearful realization, and she covered her mouth.
The unwillingness on the short-haired girl's face turned into a blush mixed with shame and excitement.
The fan who had previously muttered about "power" even slapped her own palm, her face full of regret, as if to say, "I'm such a plebeian."
Everyone's gaze focused on the cash register again.
At this moment, in their vision, which had been thoroughly "purified" and "sublimated" by the badge girl's words:
The posture of the gray-haired, golden-eyed "Stelle" slightly tilting her head back to meet Bronya's gaze was no longer their "imagined heroic march to death."
It was clearly the unrestrained and sublime gesture of an artist frankly handing over the crystallization of her life's work to her only kindred spirit!
The light shining in her molten gold eyes was definitely the glow of meeting a true understander!
The background music seemed to become solemn along with everyone's attitude at this moment, and the air seemed to be filled with sacred particles called "artistic resonance."
The fans held their breath, as if afraid of disturbing this historic moment.
Tears of emotion welled up in their eyes, and a sense of happiness perfectly filled their hearts at this moment.
To think that we could witness such a great encounter at the soul level in such a small shop!
To be a member of "Hmoe Random Play," to be able to follow the Stelle sisters, is simply the greatest honor of this life!
And in the center of all this sublime fantasy and collective emotional infection—
Shu, with a resolute face: It's over, it's over, it's over. Bronya, please don't ask any more details, please, please, please, please...
[Shu], with his head down, playing dead: Hurry up and send this great god and her figures away. Peace is a blessing, peace is a blessing, peace is a blessing...
Bronya, having received her answer, was also clearly a little surprised.
In fact, she also thought that those were definitely not for sale, and to be honest, Bronya did have the idea of using her "money power" to forcibly buy these figures.
At worst, she would just buy the whole shop. Then the two shopkeepers could be assigned to watch the water cooler and the front desk...
She, Bronya, had money!
And her "good sister" had even more money!
Why do you think she brought Mei-neechan along?
At worst, for the rest of her life, she'll just help Mei-neechan... ahem...
Although the development was unexpected, it would be a waste not to take advantage of it!
So she began to order without any politeness.
"'Zekkend,' 'Hinokami Kagura,' 'Homu-Man Mark 85,' 'Homu Genesis - Awakening Ver.'... and that 'Homu's World Tour - No. 22,' Bronya will take them all."
As she spoke, she had already brought up her contribution point account, her movements clean and swift, just like carrying out a precise tactical procurement without any hesitation.
Mei sighed helplessly on the side, but there was also a smile in her eyes.
She was used to it.
Bronya was still a child, after all...
Just as Bronya was focused on scanning codes to pay for her large purchase, and the fans were immersed in the touching of the "sacred transaction between a master and an artist."
Mei, who was casually looking around the shop, unintentionally glanced at the things [Shu] was staring at while playing dead.
Next to the "dead" [Shu] was a pile of unfinished molds, paints, and tools.
And in [Shu]'s hand was a fully painted object that was shining under the light.
It was this object that precisely attracted Mei's attention.
It was a figure, a little over twenty centimeters tall, with a lifelike appearance.
White long hair tied into a neat ponytail, azure eyes full of vitality, wearing that familiar combat suit, and a cheerful smile with a hint of pride on her face—the face of Kiana Kaslana.
The figure's pose was full of dynamic sense, as if she were about to brandish her dual pistols in the next second.
Mei blinked, thinking she had seen it wrong. She subconsciously moved a little closer.
Her Kiana-dar was not mistaken.
That was Kiana.
And the craftsmanship... seemed to be exactly the same as the Homu figures outside that had even moved Bronya.
The gentle smile on Mei's face instantly froze, turning into pure surprise and confusion.
She looked at the figure, then at [Shu] who was holding the figure while playing dead, and finally, her gaze fell on the "Kiana Energy Station" girls who were looking at Bronya and the shopkeepers with adoring eyes...
"Uh... excuse me...
"Is this figure for sale too?"