Chapter 149: Honkai Star Rail's Annual Comedy Skit "Checkout"
[March 7th]: "Stargazer has already boarded the ship, and it seems she was actually the first to arrive. And Moonlight... Moonlight is still waiting for the Captain too."
[Stelle]: "Hiss~ If Moonlight really came aboard, would she and Stargazer perform daily soap operas together? I wanna see that!"
[Silver Wolf]: "Please no! We just got hit with major emotional damage - you still want more?!"
[[]]: "Then let's have something cheerful - guaranteed to make you laugh!"
[Kiana]: "Since when can we trust anything you say?! Huh?!"
[Elysia]: "We can't keep deceiving the tears of beautiful maidens! ♪"
[[]]: "Since you don't trust me, I'll just have to let the facts speak for themselves!"
[Now Playing: Honkai Star Rail's Annual Comedy Skit "Checkout"! "Starting today, this lady right here is the new owner of this hotel!"
Stelle stood proudly in the Reverie Hotel, hands on hips, eyes brimming with arrogance. "It's time to reform Penacony's workplace environment... and the hotel lobby will be my first battleground."
"Let's show these guests what real five-star service looks like!"] [Stelle]: "Mhm! That's so me!"
[March 7th]: "What kind of nightmare is this? If Stelle manages Penacony Grand Hotel, we're all doomed!"
[True to her word, Stelle immediately approached a staff member to inspect their work, casually dropping the fact that the Astral Express now holds shares in Penacony (with slight exaggerations).
She passionately expressed her desire to replace Dennis and experience life as a lobby manager. Dennis gave her a look reserved for idiots before politely declining. However, Old Oti surprisingly agreed to let her try working as staff. Never one to refuse, Stelle humbly requested Old Oti address her as 'President Gray'. "'President Gray' - your reputation precedes you!"
"I hereby declare that for the next ten system hours, you shall be the Reverie Hotel's one and only lobby manager!"] [March 7th]: "Stelle! Did I hear that right? We actually own shares in Penacony!?"
[Dan Heng]: "What catastrophic event occurred for them to give shares to Nameless like us!?"
[Stelle]: "Address me as President Gray!"
[Qingque]: "President Gray! When I visit Penacony later, I'm counting on you for discounts!"
[After Old Oti left, Dennis and Stelle stood in awkward silence.
Stelle wanted to console the now-jobless Dennis, but instead he burst into uncontrollable laughter: "In all my years... who would've thought I'd live to see such a blessing?!"
"You're truly a saint, my Nameless friend!
After working here so long, this is the first time I've seen someone volunteer to take another's shift!"
"Well then, I'll leave everything to you—between you and me, I've got unfinished business at the Golden Hour—"
"But what about the handover—" Stelle began feeling uneasy. Dennis cheerfully explained no handover was needed—she should just go with the flow! "Then it's all yours! Have fun working... I mean, enjoy your shift!"
With speed defying human quadriceps physiology, Dennis vanished from the Reverie Hotel's front desk.] [Qingque]: "President Gray! You saint! Come work my shift at the Divination Commission!"
[Stelle]: "What's in it for me!?"
[March 7th]: "Dennis ran away so fast..."
[Qingque]: "Obviously! Getting paid time off with official permission to slack? If someone offered to take my shift, I'd outrun him!"
["Perfect... now the entire hotel lobby is mine."
To make things more authentic, Stelle guiltily unplugged the self-service terminal. Henceforth, every guest needing assistance would have to come directly to her.
Stelle now held absolute power over every guest... able to answer their queries with condescending superiority. But this wasn't enough—more preparations were needed to ensure ten perfect system hours of managerial experience. So she gave all receptionists a day off! And through sheer determination, managed to carry an entire dozen-pack of Soulglad by herself.] [Qingque]: "First time seeing someone actively increase their own workload. Stelle, you've opened my eyes."
[Stelle]: "It's President Gray to you! Now you've seen it!"
[March 7th]: "Oh no... I can't imagine what Stelle will do in those ten hours."
[Stelle]: "Your President Gray will obviously lead Penacony to new heights of glory!"
["Excellent! Unlimited Soulglad refills—a privilege reserved for managers!"
"Everything's ready... time to get to work! Let's see what kind of people stay here."
Perhaps due to President Gray's... unconventional decorating style, no guests arrived for quite some time.
So "glug... glug glug... glug..."
A bottle of Soulglad helped pass the time. Only then did Stelle realize she didn't know where the restroom was—but whatever "glug... glug glug... glug..."
Another Soulglad. As she emptied the bottle, regret hit when her stomach protested with painful cramps. Just then—a guest finally arrived! "Hello, I'd like to check in!"
"I'm Stelle, shareholder of Penacony."
"Uh... okay? Shareholder Lady of Penacony. Could you help me check in now?"
Summoning her immense moral fortitude, Stelle resisted laughing at this Pipixi guest's name: Royroy Buchibuga Badenhowell.] [March 7th]: "Chugging that much Soulglad—aren't you afraid of stomach problems!?"
[Stelle]: "The Galaxy Bat Bearer fears nothing!"
[Himeko (HSR)]: "Ahem... when you return to the Express, I'll make you coffee."
[Qingque]: "Come find me—I'll treat you to a dozen packs of Soda Bean Juice!"
[Stelle]: "Kafka save me! I'll never drink recklessly again!"
[Kafka]: "Sweetie, you really should take better care of yourself out there."
[Having dismantled the management system while knowing nothing about it, Stelle relied purely on instinct to manage. Until that Pipixi mentioned Uncle Oti.
Suddenly, Royroy Buchibuga Badenhowell didn't sound so ridiculous anymore. Truly, having wealthy relatives is the best cosmetic procedure for Pipixi. The Pipixi needed the most comfortable room for an upcoming event. Clueless, Stelle randomly assigned a room number.]
[Silver Wolf]: "LMAO your sudden attitude change kills me!"
[Guinaifen]: "Never thought this was Stelle's true nature!"
[Kiana]: "So this is how hotels are run? Even I could do this!"
[Bronya Zaychik]: "No! You absolutely cannot!"
[Scott]: "Well well... Stelle! You actually know how to read situations like me—you have my respect!"
[Stelle]: "That's not me! How could I be like this? I sue for slander! And I completely reject your approval!"