[I'm Space Station Director Asta, and I've been captured by a very, very bad man. I'm trapped here and can't get out.]
[Is there any kind soul willing to come save me? I'll transfer 200 million credits to you immediately after!]
Sparkle stared at the post she'd made on the forum, its popularity pitifully low—just a few dozen views and a handful of simple replies.
[I'm Herta. Asta, don't bother coming back. I've already made a perfect replica of you at the space station. (Image attached)]
[What?! 200 million credits? That's more than I could spend in a lifetime!]
[Where's the location? I'll immediately lead the Luofu army to attack!]
[People actually fall for these bait posts?]
[Even if it's a scam, at least put some effort into it—give an address or attach a picture…]
Sparkle stomped her feet in frustration.
She wanted to post pictures or share the address! But anything related to this villa couldn't leave any digital traces.
No need to guess—it was definitely Tatsuke's doing.
He didn't want her to escape!
He didn't want anyone disturbing his peaceful life!
Knowing this, Sparkle truly had no way around it.
In the end, she simply gave up.
If she couldn't resist, she might as well enjoy it.
She started spending her days online as an ordinary player, looking for fun wherever she could.
Ever since Honkai: Star Rail appeared, the internet had become a treasure trove of entertainment—far more interesting than reality.
It almost made Sparkle forget her troubles.
Now, she found herself in the forum's [Leaks] section.
A particularly popular post read: [Three out of Six Limited 5-Stars Revealed! Who Will the Remaining Three Be…?]
[Based on the information I've gathered, Topaz, Argenti, and Hanya are confirmed to be in the gacha pool.]
[Of the remaining three, Jingliu should definitely take one spot (she was playable in Yanqing's companion quest). But who are the last two? There's not even a hint of news!]
[Fellow Trailblazers, I'm so impatient!]
[If anyone has info, please notify me under this post immediately!]
The comments section was lively.
[Nope. I've almost finished the Xianzhou storyline, and no new characters have appeared.]
[It's just a joke from Yu Ling—because Yu Ling is also a troublemaker…]
[I'm busy with side quests and grinding the new map. Maybe the last two characters are hidden there?]
[Did you guys grow an extra liver or something? I can't even build Topaz properly, and you're already hunting for new characters?]
[What if the new ones are even stronger?]
[I thought it'd be Xueyi and Hanya, but… what's going on, Mommy Ting? You made these two judges 4-stars?!]
[Just came back from Hanya's post—those skill effects… She's totally a 5-star disguised as a 4-star!]
[Guinaifen, Xueyi, Hanya… Three new 4-star characters.]
[Perfect! All three are my favorites!]
Seeing how passionately players were discussing, Sparkle couldn't resist joining in.
Her inner trickster spirit flared up.
She commented:
[The last two characters are locked behind a paywall!]
[I already spent 2 million credits, and a golden light burst from the gacha—out came a girl named Sparkle. She told me she's one of the remaining limited 5-stars.]
[Because she's too powerful, Yu Ling placed her in this position.]
After a few minutes, someone replied:
[Wait, seriously?!]
[Sparkle? Never heard of her.]
[Who?]
[Obviously fake. I've watched Xiao Guizi's streams—she's spent over 2 million too, and no new characters were unlocked.]
Sitting on a swing, Sparkle curled her lips into a smirk.
Her legs dangled in the air as she pondered what else to comment.
Then, a voice sounded behind her.
"That's it?"
"Even fictional historians do better."
"This kind of comment won't blow up."
Tatsuke took a sip of tea, speaking with the tone of a seasoned veteran.
Sparkle immediately bristled.
"Hmph!"
"Oh, so you're the expert now?"
"Then show me your posts or comments!"
Tatsuke smirked mysteriously.
"These are just low-level pranks."
"Someone like me? I go for high-level mischief."
The moment she heard "high-level mischief," Sparkle perked up.
"What high-level mischief?!"
Tatsuke leaned in and whispered:
"Let's… leak Yu Ling's secrets."
"My ability… lets me steal intel from Yu Ling."
"Don't ask about the specifics—you wouldn't understand anyway."
"Just think of me as an insider."
Sparkle stared at him in shock.
"You can do that?"
Her mind raced, analyzing whether Tatsuke was lying.
Was this another one of his schemes?
But based on her experiences so far, this man clearly had some unbelievable abilities.
Maybe he could actually steal something from Yu Ling…
Sparkle licked her lips.
If they could leak future version content, this prank would be on a whole other level!
It might even draw Yu Ling's attention.
Just thinking about it was thrilling!
She immediately asked, "So, what intel did you steal?"
"I got two major pieces of info."
"The first is about future game characters."
"The second is about something Yu Ling is planning in real life."
Sparkle was stunned.
Stealing game-related intel was one thing, but even Yu Ling's real-life activities?
That was downright unbelievable!
"I'll tell you the second one first, but you have to promise to help me with something."
Without hesitation, Sparkle agreed. "Sure, go ahead."
"Yu Ling is about to make a deal with the Luofu's General Jing Yuan."
"He plans to take something from Jing Yuan."
"If we act before he does… we might be able to snatch it first!"
"Snatch what Yu Ling wants?!"
Hearing this, Sparkle's heart surged with excitement.
This was way too freaking thrilling!
Hehe…
Mmm, I like it!
But Sparkle stayed cautious. "What is that thing?"
"How would I know? Getting this intel was hard enough!"
Tatsuke rolled his eyes.
"But think about it—if Yu Ling wants it, it's definitely not ordinary!"
Sparkle relaxed slightly.
If Tatsuke had known exactly what it was, she'd have been suspicious.
This level of vagueness made more sense.
"So, you want me to go get it?"
"Exactly. My identity's a bit… inconvenient. If I step out, Yu Ling might notice me. I've stolen a lot from him—he's probably caught some traces of me."
"Whether we can pull off this prank depends on you."
Tatsuke took out the mask he'd snatched earlier.
Sparkle stared at it silently for a few seconds.
Then, she and Tatsuke exchanged a grin.
She took the mask and placed it on her forehead.
"Deal."
"What's more important than having fun?"
After leaving the villa…
Sparkle's eyes glowed pink as she examined her hands.
"My powers… are back."
But along with them came a familiar restlessness.
For a moment, she almost missed being an ordinary person.
"Pfft…"
"I must be sick."
"But hey, that's just Sparkle!"
Giggling, she headed straight for the coordinates Tatsuke had sent her.
"Alchemy Commission, Alchemy Commission…"
Soon, she reached the destination.
From the shadows, she spotted the general.
Then, with a flicker of illusion, she transformed into Sampo.
Jing Yuan frowned at the approaching figure.
"…?"
"Yep, it's me."
["Sampo"] rubbed his hands together, his trademark smirk in place.
"I'm here to pick up what Yu Ling asked for."
Clearly, Jing Yuan knew about Sampo from the game's story—even that he was a Masked Fool.
"So Yu Ling's envoy is a Masked Fool…"
"Does that mean he's connected to the Aeon of Elation?"
"Ah, that's not something I can disclose."
["Sampo"] eyed the gourd in Jing Yuan's hand.
"That's what Yu Ling wants, right? I'll take it."
Sparkle knew her intel was limited—the less she said, the better.
Securing the item was the priority.
Just as Jing Yuan was about to hand over the gourd sealing Phantylia, he paused.
"By the way… that vision Yu Ling showed me—was it real or just a dream?"
Jing Yuan asked because he remembered Penacony was, after all, a grand dream.
That scene…
Even if it was from future story content, it could've been part of a dream.
Sparkle's heart skipped a beat.
She had no idea what vision or dream he was talking about!
She didn't know a single detail about Yu Ling's deal with Jing Yuan!
But she couldn't show weakness now.
A performer's greatest taboo was losing composure.
She flashed a confident smile.
"General, you worry too much."
"If it's from my Lord Yu Ling, it's absolutely real."
"Good. I have no further questions. Send my regards to Lord Yu Ling."
"I'll convey your message."
Taking the gourd, Sparkle internally sighed in relief.
She wanted to bolt immediately—but had to maintain an air of calm.
Under Jing Yuan's gaze, she vanished.
Back at the Golden Alley, Sparkle reverted to her true form.
She couldn't stop grinning.
"Got it!"
"What's inside this gourd?"
She shook it vigorously, then pressed her ear against it.
A woman's voice suddenly roared in her ear.
"HOW DARE YOU?!"
Sparkle nearly toppled over in fright.
"Holy—!"
"This isn't treasure—it's a freaking disaster!"
Worse, cracks began spreading across the gourd's surface.
It could barely contain Phantylia anymore!
"Jing Yuan, you incompetent fool!"
"Couldn't you at least add a few more seals?!"
As the cracks multiplied, Sparkle's first thought was to sprint back to Tatsuke's place.
Inside, everyone was equal!
He'd definitely have a way to subdue this boss!
To be continued…
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