Faced with March 7th's exclamation, Pom-Pom coughed twice, trying to steer the conversation back on track.
"Ahem—alright, Passenger March, next, it'll be up to this conductor…"
However, just as Pom-Pom was about to announce the next destination.
A three-dimensional projection suddenly appeared from the train's equipment.
Materializing into the likeness of Kafka.
Kafka elegantly held an umbrella, standing perfectly still, her calm voice resonating through the carriage:
"Long time no see, everyone aboard the Astral Express. I am Kafka—"
Setting the umbrella aside, Kafka, in her projected form, walked through the train as Himeko and Welt watched the uninvited guest with caution.
Kafka composedly explained the current predicament of the Xianzhou to the members of the Astral Express.
Of course, compared to the original script, the situation on the Xianzhou was now much better.
After all, Sylvia's intervention had severely weakened Phantylia's power.
But the Astral Express still needed to make the trip.
Because of Dan Heng.
The Scalegorge Waterscape was a rather unique place, and in the storyline, Dan Heng still needed to use the High Elder's power to part the sea.
If the Express didn't bring Dan Heng along, how would they part the sea?
And this whole business of the Vidyadhara High Elder—ignoring it would only leave a ticking time bomb; it had to be addressed one way or another.
But of course, such things couldn't be stated outright.
Kafka would only emphasize the Stellaron crisis on the Xianzhou.
And how the Xianzhou Luofu would suffer devastating losses if the Astral Express didn't intervene.
After Kafka finished speaking and departed.
The crew fell into deep thought.
"Little March, come to think of it, didn't Sylvia say she was quite familiar with the Xianzhou Luofu? Why not ask her about the situation there?"
Miss Himeko was the first to recall Sylvia's existence.
Though when they first met, Sylvia was living on The Blue.
She still remembered Sylvia mentioning that she had permanent residency privileges on the Luofu as well and was acquainted with many people there.
Now was the perfect opportunity to confirm the Luofu's situation through Sylvia.
A spark of inspiration struck March 7th; reminded by Himeko, she too remembered Sylvia's past words.
So she hurriedly pulled out her phone and sent a message to Sylvia:
[March 7th: Sylvia Sylvia! Are you there are you there are you there—it's super urgent!]
[March 7th: [panic][panic][panic]]
[Sylvia: …What? What's up?]
Having just ended the call with Jing Yuan, Sylvia saw the message from March 7th.
This timing?
Were they asking about Penacony?
[March 7th: That bad woman Kafka just barged onto the Express and said something big's happened on the Xianzhou Luofu! Do you know about it?]
[March 7th: I remember you said before that you're really familiar with the Luofu, right?]
[March 7th: We're voting right now on whether to go to the Luofu or not, can you ask around and check the situation?]
Already here?
Sylvia paused. In her memory, didn't the Express crew arrive two or three days after the Stellaron erupted on the Luofu?
By then, Cloudford port was already sealed.
Had the timing moved up?
Or had the Luofu's Stellaron eruption been delayed?
After all, the game never specified exact dates, so Sylvia wasn't sure which side had shifted.
But it wasn't a big deal; a couple of days earlier or later wouldn't change much.
[Sylvia: I'm on the Luofu right now, and something has indeed happened. A Stellaron erupted here suddenly, stimulating the Plaguemark—the Ambrosial Arbor. It might trigger a disaster of the Arbor's revival.]
[March 7th: ?]
[March 7th: Sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about in the second half, but something really is wrong on the Luofu, right?]
[Sylvia: …Well.]
[March 7th: Got it! I understand! Thanks, Sylvia~]
[March 7th: [Pom-Pom sends hearts]]
"…"
What exactly do you understand?
Sylvia was momentarily speechless.
She had a feeling March 7th had only grasped the words 'Stellaron eruption.'
On the other side—
"I've asked! Sylvia said she's on the Luofu right now, and there really was a Stellaron eruption. She said it'd cause some kind of disaster or something—anyway, it doesn't sound good to me."
March 7th pursed her lips, reporting the matter to everyone on the Express.
Himeko and Welt exchanged a glance, nodding slightly.
Then Himeko spoke:
"March, please go find Dan Heng."
"Mhm, got it."
March 7th nodded, put away her phone, called out to Stelle, and headed toward the train carriages.
Now that the Xianzhou's situation was clear, the next destination should be decided by a vote among the crew.
Would they follow the original plan, or heed Kafka's suggestion and head to the Xianzhou Luofu?
Just as the two passed through the carriage door, Stelle's phone chimed a few times.
Pulling it out and opening it, the sender's note read: [Cybernetic Waifu]
March 7th instinctively glanced over and was instantly floored.
"Oh my god… Stelle, when did you get a girlfriend?!"
Then she took a closer look—wasn't that the avatar Sylvia used?!
March 7th's gaze toward Stelle immediately turned suspicious.
"Wait, isn't this Sylvia? Since when did she become your wife?! Hold on… did you remember something? Could it be that before you lost your memory, you and Sylvia were—"
"Uh… no, not really."
Stelle scratched her head with an awkward smile. She'd actually forgotten about this; after that Simulated Universe run, she'd joked with Sylvia and changed the contact name.
Since Sylvia hadn't punched her for it, she'd just stuffed the phone in her pocket and forgotten about the note.
At least, that's how Stelle explained it to March 7th.
Whether March 7th actually believed it or not was another story.
After all, under March 7th's intense stare, Stelle showed no sign of changing the name back.
--+--
Back at Cloudford, Sylvia looked at March 7th, who had already gone offline.
After a moment's thought, she sent a message to ask Stelle.
Only then did she learn that the Express crew was currently deciding whether to go straight to Penacony or to the Luofu.
Fine, since they were coming to the Luofu anyway, might as well wait for them right here at Cloudford.
This time, the Cloudford port hadn't been completely sealed yet; those with special status could still enter.
Probably no need for Silver Wolf to hack the door open this time.
Thinking this, Sylvia boarded the starskiff and explained the situation to the other two.
Huohuo, at the thought of staying and possibly facing strangers from afar, shook her head repeatedly.
Tingyun wanted to stay, but she needed to report back to Yukong first and also prepare clearance documents for the Astral Express.
So the two foxian girls piloted the starskiff and departed first.
Leaving Sylvia alone to turn and walk back into Cloudford.
Meanwhile—
The Express crew collectively voted to approve the proposal to head to the Xianzhou Luofu.
Pom-Pom naturally had no objections and soon initiated the train's launch.
"Warp jump commencing—5, 4, 3, 2, 1!"
The Express unleashed tremendous power into the void, propelling itself through the spatial barrier separating the two locations.
It seemed to transform into a streak of light, crossing vast distances in an instant.
Arriving before the colossal vessel—the Xianzhou Luofu.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.