"So, are we sure it's okay to just be chilling out here in the open, right in front of the main entrance?"
March 7th sat by the gate of the Legendary Tower, looking doubtfully at the rest of the crew.
"From the looks of it, it should be fine. After all, it's gone quiet outside, and it's even quieter in here."
Himeko, perched on her toolbox, shrugged with a hint of resignation.
After spending so long underground, she felt uncomfortable all over. Hmm... after this Punklorde mission is over, I'll have Wende give me a good relaxation session. That damp, dark sewer... it really made you feel a chill deep in your bones. She had no idea how those hackers managed to live there...
"Fine, I guess I am a little tired... Wende! Do we have any snacks left?"
March turned her head and called out to the dazed Wende, only to see him sitting there as if in a trance, staring intently at the empty air beside him.
"Uh, what's with him...?"
March scratched her head in confusion, then looked over at Stelle, who was seriously asking Tingyun for tips on how to apologize.
Could it be... that Stelle had angered Wende so much he'd snapped?
Gazing at Wende's somewhat lonely-looking back, March pulled her hands back slightly. It was probably best not to disturb him right now...
Dan Heng, who had been on guard duty, had also returned. They had basically cleared out all the monsters in the vicinity. Surprisingly, there weren't many of them, which didn't match their initial assessment.
They had expected a fierce battle, but things had turned out to be quite relaxed...
---o---
Wende sat motionless, staring at the glowing screen before him with a bewildered expression.
Right now, all he had to do was tap this screen, and he would register a company named "HuyouCom" in the world of Star Rail. He would then launch a universal open beta for a game called <
Alright, he thought launching a Star Rail open beta in the Honkai world was absurd enough, but he never expected the system to pull a reverse on him. And it had actually registered an interastral, universal gaming company called "HuyouCom" for him...
How should he put it? The nonsense he had spouted to Wendy had seemingly become real, and it had been gilded in gold. He had gone from being a mere "employee" to the "boss"...
The whiplash from this was a bit too much. He probably needed some time to process it...
Confirming once again that his name was written on the contract, Wende rubbed his temples in frustration. Whether he signed it now or not... it probably didn't matter, did it?
The other things were manageable. Although the Honkai World Beacon was in his possession, the Star Rail network hadn't reached that world yet, so it wasn't a huge problem.
But if Mr. Yang found out...
He was afraid Mr. Yang's silent, judgmental gaze would haunt him for the rest of his life...
After hesitating for a long time, Wende decided against launching the company for now. First, he had to get out of Punklorde. The rest... could wait.
He closed the system screen with a flick of his hand. The moment he turned around, he was met with a pair of large, shimmering golden eyes staring at him with a pitiful expression. Amidst her grey hair, it was as if two dog ears were about to pop out. For a split second, Wende thought a Punklorde-native husky had appeared behind him, and he instinctively jumped back.
After a closer look, he realized, oh, it wasn't a local specialty, but one of their own...
"Wende Forgive me Don't be mad anymore Okay?"
Stelle very naturally sidled up to Wende, grabbing his arm and shaking it while putting on a cutesy, pleading voice.
"......."
Dan Heng decisively turned his head away, and while he was at it, covered March's eyes.
Don't look. You'll get a stye...
Wende decisively gave Stelle another flick on the forehead. Watching her clutch her head and crouch down defensively, he sighed helplessly.
The cutesy act was well-executed, but she should never do it again. How could such a personality exist behind that stoic, aloof face?!
"Wuwu, I'm really sorry. Please don't be mad at me..."
Stelle squatted on the ground, putting on a show of "sincere repentance, will never reoffend." She raised three fingers above her head and swore the most vicious oath of her life.
"If I ever make Wende angry again, may I hit hard pity on every single gacha pull from now on!"
"Hiss..."
Hearing this, Wende sucked in a sharp breath of cold air. He looked doubtfully at the deadly serious Stelle. What was with her today? Was she really going to...
Stop playing gacha games that relied on hard pity? Was she switching genres?
Wende was baffled. He was more willing to believe that Stelle was just switching games than to believe she'd subject herself to such a curse.
After all... expecting an agent of chaos to stay on the straight and narrow... that was just fundamentally unnatural!
"Huh? Is she serious? She didn't take my account, did she?"
Seeing Stelle's sincere act, March subconsciously checked her phone to make sure Stelle hadn't swapped it with hers.
"Hmm..."
Wende stroked his chin suspiciously. He felt like he'd seen this exact scene more than once, and he had a premonition that Stelle would commit the same mistake again.
Namely, the act of disrespecting her godfather!
"Forget it. I wasn't really angry in the first place. You don't have to make such a venomous vow."
In the end, Wende's heart softened, and he once again let a certain someone who was "using the same old trick" off the hook.
Stare...
Wende shot a complaining look at Tingyun, the "honored teacher" from whom Stelle had learned the art of acting cute and begging for forgiveness.
"Ah, this..."
Feeling Wende's resentful gaze, Tingyun's ears twitched involuntarily. The pair of pure-white fox ears wiggled atop her head, looking exceptionally playful and charming...
Jingliu, standing to the side, thoughtfully compared Stelle and Tingyun. She concluded that Tingyun's teachings were sound... because when performed by Tingyun herself, the lethality would surely be far greater than Stelle's attempt.
As for Stelle... one could only say that in terms of sheer awkwardness, she could at least stun the enemy for a good ten seconds while they cringed so hard they could dig a villa with their toes...
---o---
"Someone's here."
Atop the Legendary Tower, "Physical Ascension" slowly spoke to "Mechanical Ascension" behind him.
"They... are the hope of Punklorde? I must say, I am somewhat disappointed. That the fate of Punklorde does not lie in its own hands."
"Mechanical Ascension" crossed his arms, sighing with emotion.
"It's time to act... Don't forget, we cannot entertain any thoughts of defying Its will..."
"I know."