"I don't think we need to be in such a hurry. It's not like Kafka is going anywhere."
In the inn's lobby, Caelus sank lazily into a carved, high-backed armchair that smelled of wood. The old sandalwood creaked pleasantly as he leaned back.
Tingyun's expression was rather... subtle.
A wanted fugitive isn't going anywhere? Do you hear yourself?
"Actually, regarding today's operation, I consulted with the Reignbow Arbiter. Last night, he gave me nine sacred cups..."
Lowering his crossed legs and the newspaper he was holding, Caelus pushed himself upright using the armrests, his expression gradually turning serious.
"Nine sacred cups?"
Sitting next to Caelus and eating morning tea, March 7th blinked her clear, wide eyes. She tilted her head in confusion at first, then leaned over curiously.
"What's that?"
"My~ I didn't expect our benefactor to become so familiar with Xianzhou customs so quickly on his first visit."
Her red lips parted slightly in surprise, and Tingyun explained with a light laugh:
"It's a folk custom from another Xianzhou vessel, an ancient way of praying for blessings—casting sacred cups. During the casting, the will of the Reignbow Arbiter is determined by the combination of the cups' faces."
"'Nine sacred cups' means casting auspicious signs multiple times in a row. It's considered a special blessing from the Reignbow Arbiter, signifying that one's request will receive His full support and aid."
"Your luck is truly three parts brighter than the sun over Aurum Alley, Benefactor!"
Tingyun covered the smile on her lips with her gilded fan, the moon-shaped earrings by her ears chiming softly as she tilted her head.
"With such an auspicious sign, who needs to resort to force? I suspect a single cough from you could shake loose three catties of wanted posters! With the Reignbow Arbiter's help, your success on this venture is all but guaranteed."
With that captivating voice, paired with a pretty face that was a blend of innocence and charm, Tingyun's social grace was truly no joke.
Whether it was Tingyun or Phantylia inside, she really knew how to talk!
"An auspicious sign!" March 7th realized. "Then why do you have that look on your face, Caelus?"
"Because the Reignbow Arbiter gave me nine sacred cups yesterday, I could barely stand up today."
Caelus threw up his hands helplessly and shrugged. "I have no energy. How am I supposed to catch Kafka?"
Welt: ??
Tingyun: ??
"???"
March 7th's expression was strange. Which 'sacred cup' are you talking about?
Stelle's face immediately turned serious and solemn, like the most devout follower of the Hunt Star God:
"The Reignbow Arbiter gives out sacred cups? What a great guy! Caelus, where did you pray for that? I want to go pray for some too!"
"What are you praying for? Can you even use a sacred cup?"
Listening to the two gray-hairs' conversation, the corner of Tingyun's mouth, hidden behind her fan, twitched slightly. "Benefactors, it's not wise to be disrespectful towards the Reignbow Arbiter."
Phantylia was now certain these two gray-hairs had something wrong with their brains. What in the world was wrong with this generation of Nameless from the Astral Express?
They were simply the worst batch she had ever seen!
"Ahem."
Old Yang really couldn't watch anymore. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Miss Tingyun, does the Sky-Faring Commission have any leads on Kafka's whereabouts?"
So tiring!
"Thanks to our colleagues at the Divination Commission, we were able to divine some information." Tingyun nodded with a smile.
"The guidance the Sky-Faring Commission received points to the Divergent Star Port. It's a place under the jurisdiction of the Artisanship Commission. I've already filed the necessary paperwork and made some inquiries along the way."
Tingyun's voice was pleasant and soft, but not without a formal tone:
"Just like at Cloudford, the Celestial Orrery at the Divergent Star Port has also stopped turning. The checkpoints have fallen, the interior is overrun with monsters, and there are no signs of people."
"Indeed, a good place to hide one's tracks," Welt said, pushing up his glasses.
As they talked, the group had already left the inn and were following Tingyun.
"So we have a lead, but what's our plan?"
March 7th scratched her head. "Kafka has such a high bounty, countless bounty hunters must have tried to catch her. I can't imagine it'll be easy, right?"
"I have a plan!" Caelus jumped out, proudly planting his hands on his hips and drawing everyone's attention.
"Didn't Tingyun just say that Divergent Star Port place is full of monsters? When we get there, I'll stand in the middle of a monster horde and shout, 'Help me, Kafka-mommy!'"
As he spoke, Caelus made his diamond-hard body look frail and weak, forcing a few tears from the corners of his eyes, putting on a pitiful, teary-eyed act.
"That way, Kafka-mommy will definitely come rushing over shouting 'Get away from my Caelus-baby!' And then, bam, we'll have her just like that, right?"
White Seele & March 7th: ?
Welt was silent.
Although Caelus's words sounded like he was fooling around, after a moment's thought, Old Yang realized that this joke of a plan... wasn't entirely without merit.
Caelus intended to use himself as bait to lure out Kafka.
Welt's mind automatically translated the nonsense into a proper strategy.
The relationship between Caelus and Kafka was still unclear. If they really were close, it just might work.
But the trap was so obvious!
"Right, Tingyun, where are the reinforcements our big bro mentioned?"
Following the foxian lady off the starskiff, Caelus, adopting the air of a mighty general, glanced left and right. Seeing no soldiers in armor, he couldn't help but frown.
"As far as this little lady knows, the Cloud Knights are busy investigating the location of the Stellaron and have no time for other matters."
Tingyun maintained a faint smile on her face.
"None!?" Caelus's eyes widened.
The thirty percent bounty was conditional on a joint capture effort. If there were no reinforcements, they'd have to ask for more money!
Tingyun chuckled and shook her head.
"Don't be anxious, Benefactor. According to the General, the Stellaron Hunters are dangerous individuals. Sending too few people might not be enough to capture them, and ordinary Cloud Knights would be of limited help to you. You benefactors are highly skilled masters of unique arts; even the elite Cloud Knights cannot compare to you."
"Therefore, the General has provided you all with a surprise unit."
"A surprise unit? Where?" March 7th looked around.
"Right here."
Tingyun waved her fan gently, and a creature that looked like a cute little dog came running over from a distance.
"So cute!" White Seele exclaimed.
March 7th's eyes also widened, staring intently at the adorable doggy circling Tingyun's feet.
"This is the surprise unit?"
With a curious expression, Caelus crouched down to examine the dog. It seemed to be a mechanical creation.
"What can it do, pounce on Kafka and not let go?"
"Yes, and no."
Tingyun explained with a smile: "This creature is called a 'Diting.' It possesses extremely strong tracking abilities and is specifically used for finding people and objects."
"Woof-arf~!"
Following Tingyun's explanation, the Diting let out a cute bark, making March 7th's eyes sparkle. "It said, 'Just leave it to me!'"
Caelus was puzzled. "How did you understand that?"
Caelus was baffled. "Also, it only barked once. How did you translate that into so many words?"
"You just don't get it. This is the telepathic link between a cute girl and a cute puppy!"
Under White Seele's admiring gaze, March 7th put her hands on her hips again.
Caelus didn't get it. Her attention was quickly drawn to another question. "I feel like this Diting's bark sounds a lot like Peppy's, and also..."
Caelus looked up at Tingyun. "Tingyun, can you bark like a dog?"
Tingyun: "..."
Is it really polite to talk like that?
"Ahem, apologies. This idiot just thinks your voice sounds very similar to the Diting's and a dog named Peppy that my friend has, so she spoke rashly."
"I see." Tingyun smiled and shook her head to indicate it was fine.
"Stelle, can't you have some manners? Would it kill you to add a 'please'? You're lowering my moral standards," Caelus lectured, pointing a finger.
"Oh, my bad, my bad."
Realizing his own words were also a bit offensive, Caelus quickly apologized and corrected himself: "In that case, Tingyun, could you please bark like a dog?"
March 7th & Welt: "..."
It was more polite, sure, but only by a little.
"Benefactors, please follow me."
Although the Xianzhou is vast, transportation between the various Cave Heavens is quite convenient.
With Tingyun leading the way, the necessary clearances already filed, and Caelus's group holding passes, their journey was naturally unobstructed, and it didn't take long to reach the Divergent Star Port.
The Divergent Star Port was a major center for starskiff manufacturing. The curious young members of the group got to see the entire process of a starskiff's creation, from its initial embryonic form gradually developing into its complete state.
Tingyun would provide explanations at appropriate times, fully demonstrating her knowledge and professionalism as a guide.
The group moved forward as they talked.
"Benefactors A word of warning. If we really do run into Kafka, please feel free to act on your own. This little lady won't be able to help with anything. All I can do is tremble in fear off to the side and maybe cheer you on"
Hearing this, March 7th frowned. "You don't want to join the fight?"
Tingyun's eyebrows drooped, and her voice took on a hint of grievance.
"You benefactors are incredibly skilled, but I am just a humble civil servant. What if Kafka suddenly lashes out and hurts someone... While the Foxians may not live as long as the Xianzhou natives, this little lady would still like to live another hundred and fifty years in peace. So please, spare me."
"That's fine."
Caelus stepped forward with a toothy grin. "Then it's settled. When we run into Kafka and the fight starts, you can just sing and dance in a safe spot, Tingyun."
Caelus thoughtfully stroked his smooth little chin, his eyes lighting up. "Don't worry, we'll protect you."
"Sing? Dance?" Tingyun was slightly taken aback.
"That's right." Caelus smiled. "This is a mission assigned by Yukong and the General."
Caelus gave a trollish grin and continued, "Miss Tingyun, you wouldn't want us to go back and file a report about you slacking off on the job, would you?"
"So, will you fight with us, or will you sing and dance? To cheer us on?"
Caelus leaned forward, slowly approaching Tingyun with an intimidating presence.
"..." What other choice did Tingyun have?
Entering the Divergent Star Port, the search operation officially began.
Although Jing Yuan didn't dispatch the Cloud Knights to help them capture Kafka, it didn't mean there were no Cloud Knights in the port. Their mission was to investigate the Stellaron's location and suppress the Mara-struck and corrupted automatons within the port.
The situation was more or less the same as at Cloudford.
Ordinary Mara-struck soldiers were naturally no match for four Pathstriders and two Valkyries, but to activate the Diting's tracking, they first needed to find some clues to use as a scent.
The group began to operate in three teams within a certain area: March 7th, Stelle, and Caelus as one team; Old Yang and Tingyun as another; and White Seele and Bronya as the third.
Each would search for traces and clues left by Kafka.
And then, March 7th quickly adopted a dead-eyed stare.
"Hey, you two!"
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