Having weathered great storms, Ah Xian quickly regained her composure.
From the Astral Express crew's subsequent dialogue, players could glean plenty of daily-life details.
It felt full of lifelike atmosphere, as if they truly existed.
So enviable…
Soon, upon hearing the absurd metaphor "Baby's tummy is thundering," she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The lingering sadness in her heart quickly dissipated.
[My gosh, I can't imagine how cringe it is for Caelus to say that line.]
[Is the writing team's aesthetic poet from Penacony? Who comes up with this stuff?]
[They said it's a meme from browsing online—why haven't I seen it despite eight hours a day on Douyin?]
[Don't worry, you'll start seeing it today.]
[Coming from the stream next door, Caelus saying that with a pitiful face nearly killed me laughing.]
"I'm done with you. Good thing I packed plenty of snacks."
March 7th's words hadn't fully landed when her face froze.
She slowly turned her head, flashing an awkward but polite smile.
"…Uh, I forgot to bring the snack pack…"
Stelle was about to tease her when Bronya, standing above, finally came down.
Leon gave a slight smile, pulling portable food from his system space.
"Relax, reliable adults have it covered. Eat on the go."
The four headed toward the mining area entrance to find Seele.
Ah Xian, like players new to the game, felt a rush of excitement for the story.
Though the goal was to find Seele, the process differed from the closed beta.
Along the way, there was extra dialogue between Leon and Bronya.
Through these conversations, players' impressions of the lower district deepened.
Cocolia was truly despicable!
The dialogue also showcased Bronya's conflicted mindset, highlighting her gradual change.
From Bronya's behavior, it was clear Leon's words had a big impact on her.
"From my perspective, Leon-hubby's words to Bronya have an increasingly clear purpose."
"He wants Bronya to rebel against the family member walking the wrong path, to truly save this crumbling world."
"Nothing changes a person's mind faster than witnessing the bitter fruits of mistakes firsthand."
The subsequent unexpected encounter further supported her interpretation.
A group of vagrants blocked their path, attempting to rob them.
Stelle pulled out her bat, standing in front of March 7th.
"Think you can boost your confidence off me? You'll regret it. Move."
[So reliable, Trailblazer!]
[Protecting March-wife like a boss.]
The screen cracked, entering combat.
After defeating two waves of vagrants, a cutscene began.
The camera locked onto a rapidly descending scythe, landing between the two groups.
Before its owner was even visible, the vagrants blocking the path fled like they'd seen a ghost, each running faster than the last.
"Trouble! It's that Wildfire menace—run!"
Seele approached from the side, grabbing her weapon and looking at Bronya.
"Well, surface missy, got any comments on the underground's state?"
Bronya: "…"
The silent shot lingered for nearly ten seconds.
Bronya's chaotic, wandering gaze wordlessly conveyed her powerlessness.
Anyone could see that anything she said now would be futile.
"Cocolia's really inhumane, spinning lies for over a decade."
"Bronya's so upright and dutiful, serving her nation and people. Seeing the lower district like this must hurt her so much."
Ah Xian sighed, her voice slightly hoarse.
Saying this, wasn't she also projecting herself onto Bronya?
Her real-life experience wasn't so different from Bronya's in the game.
Betrayed by the person she trusted most, it was already impressive that Bronya held her emotions together without breaking down.
"You just let them run? Those guys tried to rob us—way too lawless!"
March 7th's face flashed with indignation.
Seele let out a cold scoff.
"What else? Arrest them and feed them? We barely have enough for our own—who's got time for that trash?"
Hearing this, players felt even worse.
The words were harsh, but this was the brutal reality.
Lock them up without food, and you're killing them.
Don't arrest them, and these desperate people will turn to robbery.
In the face of survival, there's no right or wrong.
Only perspectives.
Seele: "Missy, it's too early for that expression."
"What?"
Bronya relaxed her lip, nearly bitten to bleeding.
"I mentioned before, right? Wildfire's got some trouble. Guess what it is?"
"The vagrants… are targeting the mining workers?"
"Not bad, you've got some brains. Come on, let's show you how chaotic the underground's become."
Seele gave a cold huff and walked ahead on her own.
The Express crew exchanged glances and quickly followed.
Soon, they encountered another group.
March 7th, using her camera, zoomed in and spotted a familiar figure in the distance.
"Sister Natasha's over there!"
Seele's expression darkened.
"At this hour, Natasha's usually at the clinic tending to patients. Why's she here? Looks like new trouble's popped up."
She quickened her pace.
"Nat, you're usually at the clinic this time of day. What brings you here? Where's Boss Oleg?"
Natasha turned, her expression grave, pointing to a group nearby.
"According to the miners, Oleg took a team deeper into the mines.
As for the situation here…"
"See those people? They're miners and their families, here to confront the troublemaking thugs."
"This path leads straight to the vagrants' gathering spot. The entrance is blocked now, probably to stop angry miners from retaliating."
Seele looked toward the mining area entrance and, sure enough, saw a group blocking it.
"These guys even have guns? How'd it get this bad?"
Natasha explained:
"Word is, the First Mining Team found a new geomarrow vein—massive reserves.
Preliminary estimates say it's the biggest find in nearly thirty years."
Seele was stunned.
"No way. Such big news, and I haven't heard a peep?"
Natasha shook her head, laying out the conflict's cause.
"Because the First Mining Team didn't want to spread the word. Most mining areas are eroded by the Fragmentum, and many lost their jobs.
If this news got out, that mine would be swarmed by other miners.
But you know, you can't hide news from homeless vagrants wandering around.
Some rogue thugs wanted to cash in, extorting hush money from the team. That crossed the miners' line.
Resource ownership goes to the first discoverer—that's always been the underground's rule.
But the vagrants claimed their own rule: finders get a share.
Result? Neither side backed down, leading to a fierce conflict with heavy losses."