「 "Hi, Stelle." As soon as Kafka saw her approach, the smile on her face softened: "...You haven't changed a bit. I'm sorry you have to see me in such a sorry state."
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Stelle looked at her with genuine concern.
"Concerned about me?" Kafka paused slightly, a trace of warmth rising in her heart.
"I'm fine. The Xianzhou has always been very courteous toward prisoners. I didn't speak to you on the Astral Express because I knew then that you would talk to me alone here. So I thought, why not leave everything until now? You seem to have many things you want to ask me."
"What is your objective? Are you really innocent? What did Fu Xuan see?"
"The Xianzhou's Stellaron problem is not directly linked to us. But if you look at it from Elio's perspective, you can't say the Stellaron Hunters are completely innocent. We foresaw all this long ago, but chose to remain indifferent until the time was right for us to get involved."
Kafka continued her explanation calmly: "The reason Diviner Fu was surprised was that she discovered three truths:."
"One, the Stellaron Hunters are not enemies of the Xianzhou. You know this now, though you refused to believe it."
"Two, someone else brought the Stellaron into the Xianzhou and activated it— a result of internal unrest and external aggression. Traitors on the Luofu and enemies from outside want to overthrow Xianzhou. The master diviner is in a hurry to find the general, presumably to inform him of this fact."
"However, that's all the master diviner knows, because Elio withheld key pieces of information from me. He foresaw the Divination Commission using the Matrix of Prescience against me. To guard against setbacks, he ensured that I knew only what he wanted the Xianzhou Alliance to know in this moment."
"As for number three, even in their wildest dreams, the Xianzhou Alliance could never have guessed it, haha... If the Stellaron Hunters aren't the cause of all this, then why are Bladie and I even here?"
A faint smile finally appeared on Kafka's lips: "—We're here for you."
As Stelle looked on in shock, Kafka slowly said, "Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? It's no wonder Fu Xuan doesn't believe it either. But the Matrix of Prescience doesn't lie. The answer is just that bizarre: The Stellaron Hunters appearing here, Bladie getting arrested, me being lured to the Matrix of Prescience..." 」
「 .....」
〜Marvel Cinematic Universe〜
Peter Parker stood before the door of the New York Sanctum. Half an hour ago, he had received a text message from Stephen Strange inviting him to gather there.
He didn't need to think hard to guess what they would be talking about—it was most likely related to the strange light screen in the sky.
Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand and knocked on the heavy wooden door.
The sound of the knocker hitting the wood was exceptionally clear on the evening street, yet no one answered for a long time. Just as he was about to knock again, the door silently opened.
"Come in,"
A low voice came from inside.
It wasn't his first time visiting the Sanctum, but every time he came here, he couldn't help but let out an awed "Whoa, whoa." The air was filled with the scent of ancient texts and sandalwood, and the walls were covered with various strange, magical artifacts.
"Parker, come in and find a seat."
The voice came from the spiral staircase high above.
Strange's signature mustache came into view. He held a coffee cup, looking down at him:
"Don't be late next time."
Parker walked up the stairs and saw that more than one person was sitting in front of the fireplace: Steve Rogers, Dr. Banner, and... Mr. Tony Stark!
"You invited Parker?"
Tony raised his hands, sounding displeased, "Wizard, you should have notified me beforehand."
"Don't worry, this won't take up too much of your time."
Stephen Strange said, taking a deep breath.
"As you all know, the people in the light screen can observe our world, and they have the ability to interfere with and influence us... Aside from that fact, there is one person who caught my attention."
"Who?"
Peter asked curiously.
"Elio—although he hasn't appeared on the light screen, we learned from Kafka's words that this person can foresee the future."
As he spoke, everyone noticed a strange light flashing from the Eye of Agamotto on Strange's chest.
They all knew this was the Sorcerer Supreme's most wondrous and important treasure, inlaid with a gem that could reverse time. With it, Strange could observe the past and even the future at will.
"Oh, I think I understand what you mean,"
Tony raised an eyebrow.
"Are you suggesting that Elio is also a Sorcerer Supreme and possesses the same model of gem as you?"
"I can't be sure—that's why I invited you all,"
Strange sighed heavily.
"To be honest, we know very little about their world. We lack research on both the Star Gods and the Emanators, and it is necessary to continue observing them..."
"Observation is fine, but we need to change locations."
Tony glanced around the Sanctum, then smiled slightly:
"How about heading to my Stark Tower?"
—
「 "It was all to bring you, the Astral Express crew, to Xianzhou. In the future that Elio chose, the power of The Hunt is indispensable. That's why the Astral Express crew had to come to the Luofu and achieve something important for the Xianzhou. You had to establish a connection with the Alliance..."
"...and that's why I had to trick you into coming here. I needed you to meet the Luofu's general in person and help him resolve the Stellaron crisis. I needed the Alliance to owe you a favor. That way, in the future, at the most critical moment, the Xianzhou will offer you their help."
Kafka smiled gently: "What do you think? Surprised? The notorious Stellaron Hunters did all that just to make you a hero of the Xianzhou... Quite the plot twist, don't you think?" 」
「 .....」
〜Genshin Impact World〜
"A strategist enters the game himself, just to win half a move against destiny... It seems Elio's true goal is to build a bridge between the Alliance and the Astral Express."
Zhongli chuckled.
"However, Expert Consultant, there is one thing I find strange."
Hu Tao frowned in confusion:
"The key to Elio's plan is for the Alliance to owe a favor, but according to General Jing Yuan, Xianzhou possesses its own means and abilities to handle the Stellaron. Now that the matter of the Stellaron Hunters is concluded, shouldn't the Express crew be unnecessary?"
"Director, it's not that simple. Since Elio calculated that Fu Xuan would use the Matrix of Prescience on Kafka, he must also have calculated that this Stellaron Crisis is different from previous ones."
Zhongli lowered his head in thought:
"Moreover, Xianzhou is now facing both internal strife and external threats. This 'traitor' Kafka mentioned is likely referring to the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, who colluded with the 『 Abundance 』. It might not be difficult for the Xianzhou to resolve a single crisis, but if the Destruction and the 『 Abundance 』 strike simultaneously, throwing the entire Luofu into chaos..."
"I fear Jing Yuan... his position as General might not be secure."
—