Chapter 162: Kafka: Sorry for Letting You See Me in Such a Pathetic State
The two people from the Divination Commission departed in a hurry, leaving only the Astral Express crew and a captive Kafka at the scene.
Everyone exchanged glances, and the air thickened with a subtle, unspoken tension.
Stelle and Caelus were the first to break the silence.
They flanked Kafka, leaning in close with eyes that sparkled with unrestrained excitement. "Kafka..."
"Hi. Long time no see." A gentle smile graced Kafka's lips.
'As expected,'she thought,'these two children were the first to snap back from the shock of the Aeons' descent... No, perhaps they never felt any fear at all.'
Recalling the thrilled expressions on their faces earlier, Kafka couldn't suppress a fond smile.
"Why are Stelle and Caelus huddling up next to that bad woman again..." March 7th muttered under her breath. "You'd think they'd learn their lesson about being tricked by a mature older sister."
"The one most easily tricked is clearly you," Leon teased, his words hitting their mark perfectly.
"Hey, no way! Do you think I'm some kind of idiot?" March 7th puffed out her cheeks in protest. "In most cases, I'm sharp as a tack, okay?"
"Right, right, you're the sharpest." Leon reached out and affectionately ruffled her hair.
"Darn it, I'm not a child!" March 7th complained, but she made no move to dodge his hand.
"Hahaha, and who was it whose legs went weak with fear just now, nearly fainting on the spot?" Serval couldn't help but laugh from the side. She had been the one to steady March just a moment ago.
Serval felt that this Trailblaze journey had been a truly eye-opening experience. On their very first stop, she'd witnessed five Aeons gathered in one place—and they were apparently guests invited by Leon. She hadn't forgotten his casual mention of inviting some friends to the Xianzhou Luofu.
Serval was no fool; on the contrary, her mind was exceptionally keen. With just a little thought, she pieced the puzzle together. She didn't dwell on the specifics of Leon's identity, but simply marveled in her heart: 'As expected of the hero who saved Belobog. He truly is extraordinary.'
As the thought crossed her mind, she even began to feel a pang of envy for Cocolia.
"Leon's identity... is indeed not simple," Welt said, his voice low as he stood beside Dan Heng.
"To be able to associate with five Aeons and arrange a gathering on the Xianzhou Luofu of all places..." Dan Heng's eyes shifted slightly, his tone laced with a deep sense of awe.
They had long known that Leon's strength was unfathomable and his origins shrouded in mystery. But now, they couldn't help but let their thoughts drift toward a once-unthinkable possibility. Could Leon be the reincarnation of the Trailblaze Aeon, Akivili?
If that were true, so many details that were previously beyond understanding would instantly make sense.
Why did he know so many of the universe's deepest secrets?
Why did his behavior sometimes mirror the carefree chaos of a Masked Fool, even as he insisted he wasn't one?
Why was the Power of Trailblaze he wielded so vast that he could construct entire train cars at will?
If he were Akivili, everything would have an answer. The Aeon of Trailblaze would certainly never call himself a Masked Fool, but his nature was inherently free-spirited and unrestrained. Legends of him traversing the sea of stars and causing trouble alongside Aha still lingered in certain ancient records.
"But if he really is Akivili..." Welt pondered aloud, "would Pom-Pom not recognize him?"
Or perhaps, the conductor had known all along but simply chose never to speak of it?
He shook his head. There was no use overthinking it. Regardless of his true identity, Leon's attitude toward the Astral Express crew had always been consistent, sincere, and warm.
Seeing March 7th still bickering playfully with Leon, completely unburdened, and then glancing at Stelle and Caelus's utterly unconcerned expressions, a hint of envy bloomed in both Welt and Dan Heng's hearts. Sometimes, being a bit more easygoing and thick-skinned might actually make life easier.
"I'm so sorry for letting you see me in such a pathetic state," Kafka said, raising her hands slightly to show the restraints on her wrists to Stelle, a faint, teasing smile in her eyes.
Stelle blinked, then… she grabbed Kafka's bound hands and pulled them into a firm embrace against her chest.
"How are you pathetic?" she asked, her tone fiercely protective.
"Idiot, Mommy wanted you to help untie the ropes!" Caelus facepalmed from the side.
"It's not like I didn't know that..." Stelle shot a glare at Caelus before lowering her head to work on the knots binding Kafka. Her voice softened considerably. "Mommy, you're not hurt, are you?"
"No." Kafka gently flexed her freed wrists and smoothed out her slightly messy hair. "The Xianzhou Luofu didn't make things difficult for us. General Jing Yuan and Diviner Fu... are both very smart people."
"Mommy, what exactly is going on?" Seeing that Kafka had tidied herself up, Stelle finally voiced the question burning in her mind.
Kafka's smile deepened. "Elio said he foresaw three questions, but in essence, they are all one and the same."
Her voice was soothing, as if she were narrating a story whose ending had already been written.
"If I heard one of them, I was to tell you the purpose of this trip in full detail. Since you asked... it means everything is progressing smoothly."
"The Stellaron crisis on the Xianzhou has no direct connection to us. But from Elio's perspective, one cannot say the Stellaron Hunters are entirely innocent."
"We foresaw all of this long ago, but chose to wait and watch until the most appropriate moment to get involved."
"I knew Mommy wasn't a bad person!" Stelle and Caelus nodded vigorously in unison, looking as if they had expected as much all along.
Kafka chuckled softly and continued, "As for why Diviner Fu left in such a panic... you should understand now, right?"
"Yeah... it's about the Aeons," Stelle and Caelus replied together. Though they often acted on impulse, they were far from stupid—they understood what truly mattered.
"Yes, it's about the Aeons." Kafka's gaze swept over Welt and Dan Heng, who were still conversing in low voices nearby, before returning to settle on Stelle and Caelus's faces. "But things aren't as bad as they imagine. Everything... is moving in a better direction. This is what Elio told me."
Finally, Kafka's eyes found Leon, and she offered him a knowing nod and a smile.
In the original script of fate, Fu Xuan was meant to be shocked by three facts.
First, that the Stellaron Hunters were not enemies of the Xianzhou.
Second, that someone else had brought in and detonated the Stellaron, a plot involving both internal traitors and external threats.
Third, if the Stellaron Hunters weren't the culprits, then why did she and Blade appear on the Luofu?
The answer always revolved around Stelle and Caelus.
The appearance of the Stellaron Hunters, Blade's capture, being brought to the Matrix of Prescience… every step was carefully planned to bring the Astral Express to the Xianzhou. The Express not only needed to arrive on the Luofu but also needed to leave a deep and lasting mark.
In the future that was supposed to happen, the power of The Hunt was indispensable. The Astral Express had to establish a firm connection with the Xianzhou Alliance, so Kafka had to "lure" Stelle and Caelus here. She needed them to make direct contact with the Luofu's General, assist in resolving the Stellaron crisis, and ensure the Alliance owed them a significant favor.
That way, in the more distant future, at the most critical moment... the Xianzhou would lend the Express a helping hand.
But now... the future had quietly shifted.
After all, in the original future, Nanook was the ultimate enemy they needed to face directly. But now...
Nanook: What the heck? I'm the enemy?
Leon and a group of Aeons surrounded the Lord of Destruction. "Yeah, what do you say? Feel like going through the motions for us?"
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