Inside the milk tea shop, looking at Adrian before her, Tingyun found it somewhat difficult to speak for a moment.
"Rest assured. Even if you have changed your appearance, [Eternity] would recognize you."
Adrian enjoyed the tea handed to him by Blake, for once not drinking milk tea. "Why are you being so formal? There are no wiretaps here; our conversation won't be monitored. Feel free to chat."
"Or... do you feel the inequality in status?"
Tingyun nodded. After all, she was merely an Amicassador of the merchant guild, while one of the people speaking to her was an Emanator of [Eternity], and the other was even more absurd: an Aeon.
Even the General would likely not remain composed. Who could have imagined that an Aeon, whom ordinary people would struggle to see in a lifetime... was sitting right in front of her, looking so lazy?
Looking across the universe, perhaps only the Aeon of [Eternity] would be like this.
"Lord Ite..."
"Just call me Adrian." The disguise was completely blown, so using his Aeon name felt a bit inappropriate. He guessed Tingyun also found the name awkward to pronounce.
To alleviate the tense atmosphere, Adrian specifically used telekinesis to fetch a cup of milk tea and placed it in front of Tingyun.
"No need to be nervous." Adrian didn't forget to grab a cup for Blake as well.
Tingyun examined the milk tea in her hand, thinking this must be Adrian's test for her. Without hesitation, she tipped her head back and downed it in one gulp.
Adrian: ? ? ?
This child... just how thirsty is she?
Looking at the milk tea that didn't have a single drop left, he turned his head to look at Blake, who was equally bewildered.
"Is there something wrong with the Church's food?" Adrian reasonably suspected that this was caused by Tingyun not eating much while recuperating at the Church over the past few days.
"I guarantee with my life that, apart from Screwlloyd who is an inorganic lifeform, all visitors who came to play gave rave reviews about the Church's food. There were absolutely no complaints!"
"Is that so..."
Tingyun was also confused. Did these two misunderstand something?
...
Palace of Astrum
Yukong saw the fake Tingyun leading the Astral Express crew over and changed her tone:
"Guests of the [Astral Express], hello. Tingyun has already reported your intentions to me in full. Originally, my duties do not include receiving travelers."
"But since you know of the Stellaron and have stated you wish to help the [Luofu], then both reasonably and emotionally, I must give you all a chance to meet face-to-face..."
"To personally decline you."
The sudden turn in conversation successfully stunned Stelle and March 7th.
"Refuse?! Why?"
"It is merely a Stellaron. The Alliance has long been aware of this object and has its own ways to deal with it. The Xianzhou has soared for eight thousand years and is accustomed to crises of survival."
"Although the current disaster is menacing, the Xianzhou has the strength to handle it. Moreover... you saw the Church's aid on your way here."
Yukong found a reasonable excuse; the Church's enthusiasm was truly hard to resist. "Please do not overthink it; the Alliance will not show partiality to any side. The Church had previously sent multiple messages regarding an alliance to the Luofu. Refusing repeatedly would harm the Xianzhou's hospitality."
"Therefore, the Xianzhou does not need to borrow the strength of outsiders to quell the calamity. You have come from afar as guests; there is absolutely no reason for you to get involved in this matter... Do you understand what I am saying?"
"Judging from the current situation, the Stellaron's influence has not yet fully penetrated."
"If the location can be found in time and contained, both the eroded space and the infected people have a possibility of recovery," Welt replied. He could understand that the Xianzhou's own affairs did not require outside interference.
The Church was an exception. From Yukong's meaning, the General of the Luofu seemed to have a very good relationship with the Church's Pontiff and could accept aid from the Church.
Seeing a Stellaron burst on the Xianzhou, given the Pontiff's personality, he couldn't sit idly by. On Jarilo-VI, since his goal was simply to find Adrian, he wouldn't have acted to clear the Fragmentum and the blizzard caused by the Stellaron.
"We have prevented a Stellaron disaster before. We came this time only to lend you a hand."
"I have made myself very clear: this is an internal affair of the Xianzhou Alliance, and we do not trouble the Astral Express to intervene. To show respect, I specifically received you to convey the final decision, which allows for no changes."
The Xianzhou had dealings with the Church of Eternity, but the Express had no dealings with the Xianzhou, so naturally, they wouldn't easily trust outsiders.
Seeing Yukong's attitude being so tough, March 7th persuaded from the side: "Forget it, Mr. Yang. The Alliance can handle it themselves. Why should we bother? Let's just grab Teacher Adrian and go."
Hearing Adrian's name, Yukong's ears twitched, and a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes.
These people know Adrian? Didn't Qingque say he went on an interstellar tour?
Wait... so the interstellar tour group Adrian mentioned was the Astral Express?!
"No, you cannot leave," Yukong said, seizing the momentum, successfully angering March 7th.
"...Hey, that's a bit excessive."
Except for Himeko, why are all these mature big sisters so bad!
First, there was Cocolia who was bewitched by the Stellaron and blindly wanted them wanted; then came the bad woman Kafka who demanded they change their destination; and now here comes a Helm Master Yukong who won't let them leave.
"It has been but a few days since the Stellaron was discovered on the [Luofu]. Starskiff Haven is completely sealed, and no one has left... How did you foresee this, and how did you determine that all this is related to a Stellaron?"
Stelle turned to look at Welt. He really guessed it. As expected of him!
For some reason, Stelle had a premonition that she was going to be wanted again.
"I pulled the access records for Starskiff Haven. Not long ago, someone hacked into the system, opened the Jade Gate, and guided a ship into port. That was you: the Astral Express."
"And the person who hacked the system used sophisticated methods, even deliberately leaving behind a graffiti stamp, as if provoking us... [Silver Wolf], a member of the Stellaron Hunters."
"How do you explain this?"
Stelle tried hard to explain: "This is the stratagem of driving the tiger to devour the wolf. Do not be confused, Madam Helm Master!"
Yukong didn't expect Stelle's answer to be so abstract, but remained serious: "Furthermore, the Adrian you just mentioned... as the noble Emanator of [Eternity], how could he have any association with the [Trailblaze] of the Astral Express?"
"Sister Helm Master, don't you know that Eternity and Trailblaze are one big family?" Stelle took out her phone and found Adrian's contact information. How dare she question the relationship between her and the Milk Tea Aeon.
Welt was stumped. How should he explain the reason Adrian boarded the Express? He was once the "Worst Nameless," nearly causing severe damage to the Express... the scope involved was a bit too broad...
"In short, until the aforementioned mysteries are cleared up, you may not leave the Sky-Faring Commission."
"Yukong, don't be so fierce. If word gets out, wouldn't the galaxy laugh at the Xianzhou Alliance for lacking hospitality? Don't be so contradictory."
Jing Yuan's hologram suddenly appeared, interrupting Yukong.
"General Jing Yuan..."
"How could the Astral Express be allied with the Stellaron Hunters? They are mortal enemies."
Hearing this, March 7th looked at the disguised Kafka and nervously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
This... surely won't be misunderstood by the Luofu General, right?