[Sigh, I actually heard the woes of a working stiff.]
[That's Scott for you.]
[Honestly, Scott's a sleaze, but I can't bring myself to hate him. Why is that? Gotta hand it to miHoYo for character crafting.]
At this moment, the cargo container slowly opened.
A wolf-shaped mecha appeared before the group.
Lingsha's pupils widened slightly. "This is the IPC's 'cargo'?"
Meanwhile, Scott was relentless. "Listen up, any losses caused by this inspection will lead to a compensation lawsuit against your commission…"
Lingsha treated his words like a passing breeze, giving the mecha a tap.
Suddenly, the mechanical armor in the container sprang to life, startling Scott, who fell flat on his back.
Yanqing swiftly stepped forward, shielding Lingsha behind him.
Lingsha shouted to the IPC employees, "Shut it down!"
But instead of stopping, the mecha leaped toward Lingsha with a pounce.
Fortunately, Dan Heng, March 7th, Stelle, and Yanqing acted together.
In a single clash, they battered the mecha to the point of needing factory repairs.
March 7th gritted her teeth at Scott. "You were going to leave this thing on the Luofu's docks for days? That's way too dangerous!"
Scott frantically waved his hands. "This… this really isn't our fault! You must've accidentally triggered the 'cargo's' defense protocol!"
"At this point, it's better not to dodge responsibility," Dan Heng said coldly, cutting to the heart.
Scott's voice trembled with a hint of a sob. "I swear I didn't know why it activated… I can swear to Qlipoth!"
"Enough." Yanqing's command halted the bickering. "Miss Xikui, please lead a few Cloud Knights to escort these IPC guests to the Skyship Division."
Scott shook his head helplessly, leading the other IPC employees to follow Xikui.
After they left, Lingsha closely examined the mecha. "Everyone, after a preliminary check, it's as the artisans feared—there's biological tissue inside.
I'm not even sure if this counts as a 'machine' or a 'creature.'"
[So that's it—miHoYo can't let go of their EVA obsession.]
[Classic miHoYo, always leaning toward EVA vibes.]
[Got it, it's Neon Genesis Evangelion.]
Stelle blinked. "Why do you say that?"
Kongqing from the Realm-Keeping Commission explained, "The core component is what they call 'wetware' in jargon. To put it simply, this machine is driven by some kind of biological neural system as its control hub."
Lingsha: "I'll take some samples for the alchemists to analyze. That'll reveal the source of this biological tissue."
Dan Heng: "Why would the Intelligentsia Guild resort to such unethical technology? To create new weapons?"
Yanqing frowned slightly. "Whatever the reason, this might explain why the Borisin attacked this ship.
No wonder the IPC didn't want us inspecting the cargo. I'll contact the Ten-Lords Commission to have a judge weigh in.
By protocol, prisoners or weapons involving dangerous organisms should be sent to the Shackling Prison for containment and further handling. After all, it's the safest place on the Luofu.
Master artisan, please accompany the Cloud Knights to explain the situation to the judge."
[Hahaha, I'm already laughing.]
[Safest? Oh, it's over.]
[Let me explain: 'safe' usually means nothing happens, but when something does, it's a big deal.]
[That's where they held Dan Heng before.]
[Think about it—just one case has stirred up every Luofu department: Cloud Knights, Alchemy Commission, Realm-Keeping Commission, Skyship Division! Anyone can see this isn't simple.]
[This flag's been planted, no need to say more.]
[Marbly!]
— —
Soon, the group dispersed.
Yanqing thanked Lingsha. "I expected the IPC to be difficult, but not this difficult. Thank you, Miss Lingsha, for your help."
"I should be thanking you for saving my life. Your swordsmanship took down this beast." Lingsha smiled faintly. "I thought the General's attendants were all burly warriors… but Yanqing, you're surprisingly…"
Stelle pointed a finger. "Compact."
"Huh???" Yanqing looked at Stelle in disbelief. Was that supposed to be a compliment?
[Hahaha, compact!]
[That's our Stelle, always spouting wild lines.]
[Compact, hahaha, how do they come up with this stuff?]
Lingsha then invited Yanqing and the trio to the Alchemy Commission for tea and to offer suggestions for its reconstruction.
[Reconstruction? Why rebuild?]
[Back then, the Alchemy Commission's Cauldron Master was Dan Shu, a Disciples of Sanctus Medicus member. When the department head follows Yaoshi, you think a rebuild's not needed?]
[That's gotta be a total overhaul, right?]
— —
The scene shifts to the Alchemy Commission.
Stelle wandered nearby alone, her revisit to old haunts stirring some emotions.
With nothing to do, she spotted a familiar face.
Stelle strode over to Sushang.
Sushang lit up upon seeing her. "You're back on the Luofu! Why didn't you say so in the group chat?"
The next moment, she coughed lightly. "I'm on duty. Let's talk later."
But Stelle had no intention of leaving. Instead, she made a goofy face, mimicking "My dad got MVP."
"…"
Sushang's mouth twitched uncontrollably, finally breaking. "Pfft… I'm warning you, the guard post is sacred! Stop messing around, you're annoying!
If you've got nothing else, don't loiter here. Once I'm done in a few days, I'll call up Little Gui and Huohuo, and we'll grab a meal at Aurum Alley. It's been ages since we hung out. See ya!"
Stelle knew the post was sacred and didn't press further. Just then, Yanqing sent a message to regroup, so she headed to the designated spot.
Along the way, an intriguing conversation unfolded nearby.
It was a masterclass in verbal sparring, both speakers displaying impeccable professionalism.
Their words were flawless.
Though it was off-screen dialogue, subtitles appeared at the top of the screen.
It's these small details that make Star Rail so immersive.
Finally, Stelle rejoined the group.
As she approached, she heard Lingsha speaking with emotion.
"After all these years, the scenery of the Luofu's Alchemy Commission remains unchanged. The Primordial Sea is ever-constant, its tides ebbing and flowing. For us Vidyadhara, there's no homeland more worthy of nostalgia."
— —