Even someone as strong-willed as Guinaifen found that the comment section was now spiraling out of control.
[Huh?]
[What's going on here?]
[Is this really necessary, folks? Even if a promise wasn't kept, is death the only way to threaten us?!]
[Hold on, we just helped Okhema! Don't we have even a basic shred of trust?!]
[Why? How come? Even Castorice... I thought we were friends.]
[I feel like a clown right now, kids. The locals don't even trust me anymore, why am I even staying here?]
[Professor Dan Heng, do something! If we can't win, can't we at least run? Do we have to just stand here and die?]
[Don't panic, everyone. Maybe they don't really want to kill us. Perhaps this is just a test?]
"Uh..." Seeing the situation was uncontrollable, Guinaifen immediately spoke up to mediate, "Don't panic, everyone!"
"Let's first see what she wants to ask. There might be a twist, right?"
Having said that, Guinaifen quickly proceeded with the story, hoping for some kind of reversal.
After all, this sudden shift was too drastic. Even though she could somewhat understand why the other party was so serious, judging by the community's reaction, things were probably beyond stopping now.
Who wouldn't react when Stelle is threatened with death, especially when so many players are fans of the Astral Express?
However.
It wasn't as speculated.
Aglaea posed four questions in succession:
"Why did you come to Amphoreus?"
"For what reason did you extend aid to Okhema?"
"If the situation were to drastically change, would you possibly turn your blade against Okhema, and its citizens?"
"That surging, unknown power within you—are you willing to use it to assist the Chrysos Heirs in deicide?"
After the four questions, Himeko fell into deep thought before the screen.
"These are all very pointed questions."
"Even if this isn't real, the one posing them clearly understands the kids' character well, and is very familiar with the recent situation of the Astral Express Crew."
Old Yang also chimed in, "Indeed. But since what she wants is sincerity, then given the current circumstances, answering sincerely should suffice."
"There are three options for each question. That shouldn't be too difficult."
Things having reached this point.
Faced with the locals' distrust, Himeko and Old Yang had no choice but to calm down.
After all, they had been Trailblazing for so long, and this wasn't the first time they'd encountered such a situation. It was much the same at the beginning on Jarilo-VI and Xianzhou Luofu.
If anything, Aglaea's cautious actions allowed them to judge that she was genuinely on Okhema's side.
So, as a story-focused player, Himeko quickly completed the four questions honestly from Stelle's perspective and perfectly passed Aglaea's test.
Alas.
Guinaifen wasn't so fortunate.
She thought she'd try something different, maybe there'd be a twist later. But she picked answers at random and ended up getting them all wrong?!
Not only that.
After the complete failure, no reversal appeared. Aglaea sighed and then watched as Castorice began to approach step by step.
"No need to be tense."
"Please... relax."
One finger.
Two fingers.
Three fingers.
Castorice gradually reached towards Stelle's pulse point.
The gentle expression on her face at that moment seemed chillingly terrifying.
Gradually, Guinaifen's screen went black.
Words appeared on it: The Trailblazer is welcoming their sweet death.
[Holy crap? What is this, for real?]
[There, there~ Take a deep breath. Feeling a bit dizzy is normal!]
[I'm actually laughing in anger. My Stelle is just gone? No resistance at all?]
[To die by Castorice's hand... I suppose I can die content~]
[Can the person above have some self-respect? They're trying to kill you, hello!]
...
"Do you think we would have died?"
Lying on the lounge chair in front of the balcony, Xu Qiong asked casually.
Castorice leaned in from behind, bending over to watch the game content with Xu Qiong.
She thought for a moment, then her expression suddenly became tense and apprehensive:
"My lord, actually, I should say... I had already sent the message to Lord Phainon before the interrogation even began."
"Even if Lady Aglaea were to do this, nothing bad would happen. Would you believe that?"
Xu Qiong let out a puzzled 'Hmm?' and turned to see the look on Castorice's small face, which seemed nervous and somewhat dejected.
This matter wasn't just in the game. In real time on Xu Qiong's side, he had intentionally experienced it once as well.
It was just that the final resolution method was a bit different; it didn't come to Castorice sending a message to Phainon for a rescue.
But whether it was the Chrysos Heirs themselves or the players' reactions, it was clear they all understood that doing this was quite hurtful.
Distrust, even bordering on betrayal...
However, Xu Qiong had just asked casually. They were just discussing the plot.
He hadn't expected Castorice to be so sensitive, mistakenly thinking he was hinting at her?
"No, Castorice." Xu Qiong took her hand from the side and patted it. It was cool to the touch, as always. "Of course I know what you were thinking then. I don't mean to blame you."
"Look, I made it clear in the later parts."
Having experienced a second playthrough, Xu Qiong naturally knew what Castorice had done then and what she was thinking.
Moreover, taking a step back, even if he hadn't known, the two weren't familiar at the time, and it was Okhema that had taken Castorice in. On the surface, she would still follow Aglaea's orders.
Hearing Xu Qiong's response, Castorice's expression visibly relaxed a great deal.
Indeed, that was the case. In the game, just as Dan Heng and Stelle were about to be executed, Phainon arrived precisely at the scene.
And ultimately, using his own reputation as collateral, he rescued the two from Aglaea's grasp.
Later, after some discussion, Castorice also vouched for the two, which finally made Agleya abandon the execution.
Inside the Astral Express, Welt's expression was somewhat uneasy. "This looks more like... one playing the 'bad cop' and the other the 'good cop'."
With the story pushed to this point, based solely on the available information, it indeed seemed like the Chrysos Heirs were deliberately setting up the Astral Express Crew.
However, Himeko held a different view.
She felt that after the recent conversation with Phainon, including Aglaea's actions, it didn't seem much like acting.
"Regardless, as long as the kids are safe." Himeko breathed a sigh of relief.
"But Welt, this game actually offers branching storylines?"
At this moment, the story paused at the scene where Phainon invited the Astral Express Crew to join the Chrysos Heirs.
A rare choice appeared for Stelle to freely decide: to stay or to leave.
Thinking about it, it made sense after what they'd been through.
Having saved someone only to be met with distrust—most ordinary people definitely wouldn't be able to stay.
But as the parental figures, Himeko and Welt naturally chose to stay. At the very least, March 7th's issue wasn't resolved, and the train's fuel was still unaccounted for.
She believed that even if the kids were on the scene, they would make the same choice.
Yet Himeko suddenly grew very curious. After all, this was just a game. What would happen if they chose to leave?
Seeing this, Old Yang beside her also became curious.
Due to the distrust, Stelle, after discussing with Castorice and Phainon, still angrily decided to leave!
Immediately after, accompanied by the somewhat sorrowful farewells of Castorice and Phainon, the screen gradually faded to black.
A line of text concluded the scene.
[Under the escort of Phainon and a group of Holy City guards, you and Dan Heng returned to the crash site of the Abyss, and together salvaged the train carriage.]
[With the assistance of an Okhema citizen who had taken the form of an automaton, you departed Amphoreus, escaping the so-called punishment of the extraterrestrial curse.]
[Upon returning to the Astral Express, you found that Black Swan had quietly left. March 7th's condition had worsened, and no one knew the cause of her symptoms.]
[Despite the critical fuel shortage, you managed one final jump, placing your hopes on the next destination to solve all your troubles.]
[As for the fate of the Eternal Land, Amphoreus, and the great upheaval it would ultimately bring to the galaxy, at least within your lifetime...]
[It all had nothing to do with you anymore.]