[Ding... Connection Value with the Honkai world has increased by 5%. Current Connection Value: 6%.]
---o---
Punklorde, Old District, Veyl's Orphanage.
Wende sat silently on a small chair, expressionless, sipping sweet milk as he listened to the system's notification in his mind without a word.
Although he didn't know how Star Rail had launched its open beta in the Honkai world, he was sure it must have caused a massive stir. After all, Welt Yang was there... and if he remembered correctly, Welt's character profile contained a great deal of information about the Honkai world.
It seemed he wouldn't have to worry about finding a way to farm Player Emotion Value from the Honkai world. It might just start rising on its own when the time came.
That being the case, Wende didn't need to dwell on matters concerning the Honkai world. The most pressing issue now...
Wende looked at the burly man who was also sitting on a small stool, drinking sweet milk. His gaze then shifted wistfully toward the distance, where Veyl was interacting with the children.
Who would have thought that this seemingly cold and beautiful leader was actually a kind and amiable orphanage director... though that gentleness was reserved solely for those kids.
These small stools and the sweet milk... they were all prepared for the children, weren't they?
"Haha, sorry about this. This is all the boss has to offer guests. She's always worried we'll be a bad influence on the little ones, so she doesn't let us smoke or drink here."
Swirling the milk bottle in his hand, the muscular man named Jack downed the rest of the sweet milk in one gulp. He wiped the traces from the corner of his mouth and spoke to Wende apologetically.
On the way here, he had heard the boss's explanation. This group of [Nameless] were apparently great benefactors here to help Punklorde. Their reputation across the galaxy was said to be even greater than that of the [Galaxy Rangers]. The reason Punklorde was even able to develop was thanks to the Star Rail they brought, which formally connected the planet to the outside world.
From that perspective, they really were good people. Or rather, anyone the boss considered a good person was almost never a bad one.
"There's no need for that. We are the ones who came to your territory uninvited. It is I who should be apologizing."
Seeing the sincere apology on Jack's face, Wende shook his head nonchalantly. They hadn't taken the matter to heart at all. In fact, what truly surprised him was how quickly the leader named Veyl had accepted and trusted them.
"Haha, I don't know if you're used to this milk, but every time I drink it here, I have to make a run for the bathroom when I get home."
Jack shook his head with a wry smile and placed the empty bottle on a small table. Seeing such a brawny man sitting on a child's stool and obediently finishing his sweet milk, Wende found himself growing even more curious about Veyl.
What kind of charisma did she possess to make such a fierce-looking man so completely docile?
"Don't worry, after you're done talking with the boss, I'll treat you all to some ginger beer to wash away this milky taste!"
He clapped Wende heartily on the shoulder, then shot a peculiar glance at Jingliu and "Tingyun" beside him before walking out of the orphanage's main hall.
"Mama, why did Uncle Jack leave?" a little girl asked, looking puzzled at Jack's departing figure as Veyl combed her hair.
"Mm, Uncle Jack has things to do. Little Rebecca, you should head back for now," Veyl said softly, stroking little Rebecca's head with gentle eyes.
"Okay! I'm going now. Bye-bye, Mama!"
Little Rebecca politely said her goodbyes to Veyl, then, after a reluctant glance, hopped out of her arms and headed toward her bedroom.
After watching Rebecca return to her room, Veyl slowly closed her golden eyes before turning to walk toward Wende.
"My apologies, that child can be a bit clingy. I hope we didn't make a scene."
Pulling out a small chair, Veyl sat down gracefully opposite Wende, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"Hmph... For the renowned [Nameless] to grace a place like Punklorde, I'd have to be a complete fool not to know what's happening."
She let out a soft huff, her words tinged with a hint of resignation.
"Since Miss Veyl knows our purpose, it seems we can skip many unnecessary steps."
Wende smiled at Veyl. His smile had a certain magic to it, one that could put people at ease.
"I don't want to waste my breath either. Come on, I'll take you to see it."
Planting her long legs on the ground, Veyl stood up from her chair and tilted her head at the trio, signaling for them to follow.
Wende glanced at "Tingyun" and Jingliu beside him. Seeing no objections from them, he naturally chose to follow.
The orphanage's interior was simple and unadorned. From the outside, however, the entire place was fortified with layer upon layer of defenses. The woman before them was not just the [Director] of this orphanage; she was also the leader of a gang, the only one in the old district of the Neon Metropolis, known as [Phantom Light]...
They passed through the main hall, climbed the stairs, and ascended four floors until Veyl led them to the orphanage's rooftop. It was completely enclosed by a chain-link fence, but the space was filled with children's toys and a slide. The fence itself was adorned with all sorts of paper flowers and small handmade crafts.
Step...
Veyl stopped and turned to face the three of them, her red lips parting slightly.
"The thing you're looking for... the place where the [Stellaron] erupted, is right over there."
Her bionic arm lifted, pointing toward a distant golden tower that shimmered with a dreamlike glow. It was a place the people of Punklorde regarded as a totem of their faith... the [Legendary Tower].
---o---
Inside the [Legendary Tower]'s Aether Cartridge storage room, the Stellaron, glowing with a golden light, floated silently amidst the cartridges. As its light pulsed, phantoms flickered into existence with the rustling of the cartridges... They were the Legends of Punklorde.
In their time, they had made their mark on history in countless ways, leaving an indelible impact even across the galaxy. These cartridges were the [final chapter] of the game that was their [lives].
And the appearance of the Stellaron had just loaded a brand-new DLC into these games that should have remained dormant.