[Having resolved a series of matters, Stelle could finally take a leisurely stroll through the Xianzhou. Just as she was lamenting the lack of a guide, she ran into Bailu by the roadside. The two hit it off immediately and decided to head to Aurum Alley for a feast.]
[Aurum Alley, also known as "Luofu's Premier Night Market," wasn't as bustling as its reputation suggested, and Stelle found its "premier" title somewhat undeserved as she walked through it.]
[Passing by a snack stall, the owner, Auntie Gao, noticed Stelle's distinctly non-Xianzhou attire and greeted her warmly: "Oh my, this guest must be a tourist from beyond the Xianzhou, right? Tell me, do you like Aurum Alley?"]
[The question caught Stelle off guard, as she had just arrived: "I just got here, so I can't say I like it yet."]
["Then I'll have to treat you well… Don't mind my chattiness, dear guest, but coming from the outside world, do you know about the Interastral Peace Corporation? What's their reputation like?"]
[Stelle only recalled IPC's annoying advertisements but knew little else. Seeing that Stelle couldn't answer, Auntie Gao realized she'd asked the wrong person. After gifting Stelle a few snacks, she went back to her work, calling out to customers.]
[The two wandered through Aurum Alley, eating and enjoying themselves. But as they walked, they noticed a crowd gathered at the dock, where Interastral Peace Corporation members seemed to be arguing with dockworkers.]
[As they approached, they heard a bold, spirited female voice: "You lot better talk nicely and not bully anyone—"]
["Hey, where did this wild girl come from? What's it to you?"] a company representative sneered.
["As a Cloud Knight, how could I stand by and ignore a conflict at the docks? Also, I'm not 'hey,' nor am I a 'wild girl'—my name is Sushang!"]
["Miss, why don't you let our Aurum Alley Chamber handle this?"] a secretary-like woman pushed through the crowd to address Sushang.
["You handle it? That's a laugh!" Skott raised his voice with a mocking tone. "Everyone watching here knows the Aurum Alley Chamber is mismanaged and incompetent. Now, with unpaid dock rent piling up, who's to blame?"]
["—It's all on you, the Aurum Alley Chamber!"]
["…" The secretary girl took a deep breath, gritting her teeth as she replied, "…I don't deny that."]
["Then say it louder! Say, 'The Aurum Alley Chamber has failed everyone, botched the dock situation, and everyone in the chamber is utterly useless!' Then, for every day of overdue rent, give me a loud, clear kowtow and apologize to me, the company representative!"]
——
Gintama
"Hey, what's this? Even the Xianzhou Luofu has corporate exploitation drama?"
Gintoki Sakata lounged on the Yorozuya sofa, picking his nose and squinting lazily at the screen.
"Exactly, aru! That guy looks even nastier than Gin-chan's three-day-unwashed hair!" Kagura sat cross-legged on the floor, stuffing vinegared kelp into her mouth while mumbling.
"Hey! My hair isn't that bad! And I just washed it yesterday, okay?!" Gintoki protested, instinctively touching his naturally wavy silver hair.
Shinpachi pushed up his gleaming glasses: "This guy represents a company called 'Interastral Peace'… It's as absurd as calling a killer whale a 'love dolphin.'"
"No, no, Shinpachi-kun," Gintoki suddenly turned serious. "In the dictionary of companies like that, 'peace' means 'obediently let me eat you up.'"
Watching Skott relentlessly mock and taunt on the screen, Shinpachi couldn't hold back and stood up abruptly: "Gin-san! We may not be able to help the secretary lady or Sushang on the Xianzhou Luofu, but at least we can…"
"?"
"At least give them some moral support!" Shinpachi shouted toward the screen. "Miss Secretary, Miss Sushang, don't lose to that jerk!"
Kagura jumped onto the sofa, waving her umbrella: "Go for it, aru! Sushang, make that chicken you summoned peck his eyes out! Or crush him with its butt!"
These two…
Gintoki sighed: "Hey, yelling at the screen like that makes you look like old ladies cheering for the hero in a cartoon on TV…"
——
[If this guy didn't have an invisible health bar, Stelle would've already jumped in.]
[Her fists were itching.]
["Hey, your attitude's way too arrogant! Can't you discuss the unpaid rent calmly?"] Sushang stepped forward, hands on her hips, scolding him.
[Skott suddenly lowered his voice: "I'm not bullying anyone. I'm just kindly reminding you—can the company collect the rent?"]
[The secretary lowered her head awkwardly: "…Not right now."]
["The company leased the dock's management rights to your chamber, hoping Aurum Alley would thrive… and look, you've completely wasted such a prime shipping dock!"]
[Skott's words dripped with feigned sorrow, but his exaggerated gestures were brimming with mockery.]
["Who says the chamber can't pay it back? What if… what if we can?"] After Skott's in-your-face taunting, Sushang's own words lacked confidence.
["Oh, I wouldn't dare dream of it,"] Skott said, putting on a mock-shivering, smug act.
[Sushang really wanted to punch him.]
["How about this? Let's make a bet. If the chamber can pay back the company's rent, I'll bow and apologize in front of all the Aurum Alley locals…"]
["Not only that, I'll loudly declare, 'I'm a blind fool! Arrogant and barking like a dog!' Then I'll only bark like a dog in front of you. How's that?"]
["Deal!"] Sushang agreed on the spot. Making this jerk bark like a dog? That'd be satisfying!
[But after agreeing, she suddenly hesitated, lowering her voice nervously: "What if… I lose the bet?"]
["Simple. You do the same—apologize in front of all the locals and bark like a dog in front of me."]
——
Honkai Impact 3rd
Valkyrie Headquarters
Rita sat elegantly with her legs crossed, a playful glint in her wine-red eyes. She propped her chin on one hand, watching the screen where "Sushang" confronted Skott with great interest.
"…So you're into making these kinds of bets?"
Li Sushang felt her temples throb: "It's a counterpart… not me!"
"Oh?" Rita tilted her head, studying Li Sushang with amusement. "But even the tone of voice is so similar."
On the screen, Sushang was all about "recklessness," already agreeing to the bet without hesitation: ["It's a deal!"]
The real-world Li Sushang silently covered her face.
"Speaking of…" Rita leaned closer, her subtle fragrance wafting over. "How about we make a bet too?"
"No way." Sushang warily stepped back half a pace, turning to leave. "Every time you make that face, it's never good news."
Rita leisurely raised three fingers: "Three boxes of limited-edition osmanthus cakes."
Sushang's ears twitched.
"Plus my private stash of black tea."
Her eyelashes quivered.
"Deal!" Her gluttony won over, and Sushang spun around, only to freeze upon seeing Rita's triumphant smirk. This scenario felt… familiar.
"Wait… if I lose…"
"Hmm~" Rita smiled without answering, glancing meaningfully at the screen.
"You wouldn't…" Sushang's face slowly reddened. "Want me to…"
"Relax, it's not barking like a dog~" Rita chuckled softly, glancing at her maid outfit. "I'm just curious how you'd look in this, serving tea in my room~"