The Astral Express...
"Himeko, the matter concerning the Stellaron Hunters is of great importance. I fear unexpected incidents may occur, so I must trouble you to remain on the Express." Wearing his winter attire and fully prepared, Welt glanced at the frozen Jarilo-VI in the distance before turning to speak solemnly to Himeko.
Seeing this, Himeko felt slightly speechless. She thought to herself, 'Isn't it just that you really want to go yourself?'
Yun Fan was an Emanator of Causality, his strength unfathomable. The power Dan Heng had unleashed that day at the space station had also reached the level of an Emanator. With these two present, she hardly believed a single Stellaron Hunter could stir up much trouble.
Though that was what she thought, Himeko merely said, "Mm, be careful."
As she watched Welt's departing figure, Himeko frowned slightly before sensing something and slowly turning around.
"You're already here—aren't you going to say hello?" Himeko tapped her manicured nails and spoke to the empty passenger car.
"Hehe, we're all old acquaintances, Miss Himeko. No need to be so formal." As the voice fell, streams of blue data converged and solidified before Himeko, gradually forming the figure of a voluptuous and graceful woman.
"Hmph, I don't recall the Stellaron Hunters being friends of the Express, Kafka," Himeko said coldly, staring at the projected woman before her.
"No, but at the very least, there's a possibility we could become friends now." Kafka chuckled softly before waving her hand, summoning another projection beside her.
"Him?" Himeko's brows furrowed slightly. The projection Kafka had summoned was none other than "Blade," who had brushed past the Astral Express not long ago.
Seeing Himeko's attention drawn to the projection, Kafka took the opportunity to explain, "His name is Blade, a member of the Stellaron Hunters. Hehe, this information is publicly available. Given the Astral Express's capabilities, you must have already investigated it." She paused before continuing, "But what I want to tell you is another identity of his—one that has deep ties to Dan Heng of your crew. Or rather, the reason he's come to Jarilo-VI is precisely for Dan Heng."
"Oh? Do enlighten me."
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"Hehehe, mere insects."
Jarilo-VI, Snow Plains Outside the City...
Blade sheathed his shattered sword and looked down coldly at the fallen Silvermane Guards. Faced with the enemy's disdain, Gepard could only grit his teeth and remain silent. This outsider from beyond the stars had shattered his Preservation power with just a single strike.
Were all these outsiders from beyond the world so strong?
"Heh, kid, I'll give you a chance to live. Tell me—where is Dan Feng?" Blade planted a foot on Gepard's shield, pinning him firmly to the ground, then snatched a battle axe from one of the Silvermane Guards and pressed it against Gepard's neck.
As for why he didn't use his shattered sword—well, Blade didn't think they were worthy of staining it with their blood.
"Cough... In the name of Landau, even if I die in battle, I will never betray my loyalty and righteousness!" Gepard struggled to breathe under Blade's monstrous strength, but he still spoke through clenched teeth, his eyes filled with the resolve to face death unflinchingly.
"Hahaha... How spirited." Blade laughed, covering his face. "In that case, take that spirit with you to hell!"
Blade abruptly swung the battle axe toward Gepard's neck. The latter calmly closed his eyes, silently awaiting death.
"Wait!" Just before the axe could fall, an urgent voice rang out, causing Blade's movement to halt.
"Hm?" Following the voice, Blade's eyes fell upon a petite girl. She was dressed in thick winter clothing, wearing an adorable cotton hat, with a skirt-like coat on her upper body and turquoise cotton pants below.
Hm, she seemed to be the most warmly dressed among the people of Belobog.
As Blade's attention shifted to her, the girl trembled slightly, but she still mustered the courage to speak up. "P-please wait!"
"Lynx?! Why are you here?!" Gepard jolted, his previously calm eyes instantly filling with panic. He struggled with all his might to get up, but against absolute strength, he ultimately failed.
"Heh, shorty, stopping me comes at a cost. If you can't give me a satisfactory reason, you'll be joining this big oaf on the road to the afterlife."
"N-no, please... spare my brother! I-I can... take you to find the person you're looking for!" Though terrified, Lynx clenched her teeth and spoke up to save her brother's life.
"Lynx, you can't—ah!" Before Gepard could finish, a sharp pain shot through his neck, and he passed out.
Blade tossed the Silvermane Guard's battle axe aside and slowly walked up to Lynx. Looking down at the trembling girl, he patted her shoulder. "Alright, shorty. Lead the way."
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"Oh? Even the Stellaron Hunters are here? Things just got interesting."
In a tavern in the Underworld, Yun Fan, who had been drinking, suddenly sensed something. After briefly invoking the authority of Causality to deduce the situation, a pleased expression appeared on his face.
"Old Sampo, why'd you stop drinking? Does my wine not suit your taste?" Yun Fan's expression shifted slightly as he turned to Sampo sitting on his right, a mysterious smile on his face.
"Ah, hahaha, Mr. Yun Fan, you must be joking! Your wine is absolutely the best I've ever had! Hahaha..." Sampo's face was drenched in cold sweat, his heart pounding with nervousness.
Just yesterday, his superior—the Aeon of Elation, Aha—had personally summoned him and explicitly told him that the Yun Fan he had encountered was an avatar of the Aeon of Causality.
This revelation had terrified our "timid" old Sampo. Looking back, the only reason he had escaped unscathed was because the other party had let him go. Otherwise, even the traces of his existence would likely have been erased by now.
"Seems like Aha told you something, huh? Hehe, no need to be nervous." Yun Fan chuckled. "If I wanted your life, you'd have vanished long ago."
"Hahaha, you're absolutely right." Sampo forced a smile, his face still covered in sweat.
"Enough with the flattery. There's something I need you to do."
"Huh? Don't worry, sir! This Sampo will get it done flawlessly for you!"