Chapter 133: Tribbie is Here
Just then, a clear, youthful voice, laced with both anxiety and a sharp note of reprimand, cut through the tension from behind them. "Xiao—Bai—! Are you messing around again?! Running off so fast and provoking trouble without permission?! Didn't I tell you to wait for us?!"
Everyone turned toward the sound. A small, red-haired girl was hurrying over from a nearby building, her face slightly flushed from the sprint. She had a pair of large, lively eyes that were anxiously scanning the area. They quickly locked onto the white-haired man pinned to the ground by Stelle, and her small face instantly puffed out with anger.
She ran closer, first glaring fiercely at the man on the ground before immediately turning to Stelle, Dan Heng, and March 7th. Clasping her hands together, she gave a deep, formal bow that seemed almost too big for her small body.
Her tone was filled with sincere apology. "Ah! Honorable guests from afar, I am so sorry! Truly, deeply sorry! We apologize to you on behalf of Little Bai! This guy must have done something presumptuous and impulsive again. I hope he hasn't caused you too much trouble!"
The little girl paused, as if just remembering her manners. "Ah, I forgot to introduce myself—we are from Janusapolis! My name is Tribbie, and this is Little Bai! Little Bai, apologize this instant!"
Tribbie's sudden appearance and her rapid-fire apologies instantly defused the tense atmosphere. March 7th blinked, looking at the spirited red-haired girl who seemed to be around Bailu's age but carried herself with an entirely different energy. Tribbie's apology was earnest and her etiquette was flawless, completely unlike that of a typical child.
The white-haired young man she called Little Bai was still pressed firmly to the ground. Faced with Tribbie's scolding, his expression shifted to one of helpless resignation. He gave up struggling, his voice muffled as he spoke toward Stelle and Dan Heng, his face still planted in the dirt. "My apologies... The three of you landed in a rather dangerous area, and your method of arrival was... conspicuous." He was clearly referring to the wreckage of the Astral Express plummeting from the sky. "My vigilance was excessive, and my actions were too reckless."
Dan Heng watched the peculiar scene unfold—a young girl scolding a grown man, and the man actually admitting his mistake and apologizing without a hint of defiance. His gaze swept over the still-terrified civilians huddled nearby, then back to the sincerely bowing Tribbie and the white-haired man who, despite being subdued by Stelle, showed no real hostility.
Tribbie's attitude was genuine, and Little Bai's apology seemed equally so. Their primary mission here wasn't combat; it was to retrieve March's lost equipment and scout the area. Making enemies with the local powers—especially a group that seemed to be protecting civilians—would be a foolish move.
He gave a subtle nod, signaling to his companion. "Stelle, let him go. It seems we need to talk."
Stelle pouted, still a little annoyed, but she released her hold on the man. She stood up, dusting off her hands with a flourish. "Hmph, consider yourself lucky! Next time you try to jump me, I'll use my Fire Dance Whirlwind! You'll get a real taste of its power then, so watch out!"
The white-haired young man pushed himself up from the ground, stretching his sore arms and neck before silently moving to stand beside Tribbie.
Tribbie stood on her tiptoes, her small hands diligently brushing the dust from his cloak as she muttered angrily under her breath. "Stupid Little Bai! Messing around again! We clearly agreed you'd wait for us!"
With the intervention of a pint-sized "guardian," a conflict that could have escalated was brought to a temporary close.
Dan Heng stepped forward, his calm gaze sweeping over the two newcomers. He decided against any pleasantries and went straight to the point. "We are from beyond the heavens, travelers who arrived in this world aboard the Astral Express, following the will of the Trailblaze. You can call us the Nameless."
Before Dan Heng had even finished speaking, Stelle and March 7th let out simultaneous, short gasps of surprise behind him.
Stelle's eyes widened. She nudged March with her elbow, her lowered voice brimming with disbelief. "Hey, hey, March! Who taught Dan Heng to negotiate like this?"
"Don't movies always have people faking civility, scheming against each other, and only getting the key info after a few drinks? Why'd he just spill all our secrets right away? I haven't even had a chance to build up my mystique as the legendary Stelle yet!"
March 7th was just as bewildered. She tugged at Stelle's sleeve, her voice even quieter and tinged with embarrassment. "Uh... I... I don't get it either! But Dan Heng must have his reasons, right?"
"Himeko said Dan Heng is the most reliable strategist out of the three of us! We... we just need to stand back and support him! Yeah, that's it! Support him!..."
"Oh no! Stelle, stop talking! Why are they all looking over here?!" March suddenly noticed both Phainon and Tribbie's gazes fixed on them, and even Dan Heng had turned his head slightly. She was so mortified she wished she could find a hole to crawl into. She quickly feigned a deep interest in a distant, giant statue carrying a golden sphere, raising her camera and pretending to adjust the focus, trying to mask her embarrassment with an air of concentration.
Stelle's reaction was the complete opposite. Faced with everyone's undivided attention, she showed no trace of shame. Instead, she immediately straightened her back, crossed her arms over her chest, and lifted her chin slightly. Forcing her expression into one of deep dignity, she tried to mimic the look of a "big shot" and even let out a solemn, "Hmm!" from her nose, as if to affirm Dan Heng's "report."
Dan Heng looked at the vastly different reactions of his two companions and rubbed his forehead, a wave of helplessness washing over him. He knew them too well; asking them to engage in mind games and elaborate schemes was simply asking too much.
He sighed internally before turning back to Tribbie and the white-haired man, his tone remaining steady. "As you can see, my companions are rather... free-spirited. We came here with no ill intentions."
He paused, then added, "Otherwise, your attempt to disarm us just now would have been more than enough reason for a major fight. The reason I'm being so frank is to establish a baseline of trust between us."
The man scrutinized Dan Heng and his two peculiar friends, his tone tinged with inquiry. "Not from 'above,'but truly from'beyond the heavens,' then. It seems you are even more extraordinary than I imagined."
"Then that's even more amazing!" Tribbie clapped her small hands, her eyes sparkling. "It's a good thing you ran into 'us'! If you'd met some of the other guys around here, there would have definitely been big trouble!"
"Although Little Bai's recklessness was wrong, at least it didn't cause an irreversible misunderstanding, right?" she said, looking at Dan Heng, who gave a silent nod of agreement.
The white-haired man spoke up as well. "This place is not safe to linger in. We are here to rescue these trapped refugees and escort them to the holy city of Ochema for sanctuary."
"This is also why I reacted so excessively earlier," he explained. "Any threat that might expose the refugees' location or attract a greater disaster must be controlled immediately."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Dan Heng, Stelle, and March 7th as he gave a formal introduction. "I am Phainon of the Elysian Realm."
He bowed slightly. "I apologize again for my earlier offense."
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