"Ms. Herta, weren't you supposed to warp with the Astral Express? What happened afterwards?" Welt asked cautiously.
"Hmph."
"Ms. Herta"—or rather, Black Herta, who was perfectly mimicking Ms. Herta's posture—crossed her arms, a look of just the right amount of displeasure on her face, as if recalling something troublesome. "I was played by some guy hiding behind the scenes who thinks he can control everything. My spatial coordinates were maliciously shifted, and I ran into a bit of trouble."
The tone was casual, yet enough to spark speculation.
"Someone behind the scenes?"
Stelle blinked.
Black Herta mimicked Ms. Herta's tone. "Not important. In any case, that guy probably didn't want me to arrive at the Xianzhou Luofu smoothly. Since that's the case..."
She curled the corners of her mouth. "I'm coming anyway. I want to see what's hidden here that's worth going to such great lengths to arrange."
This reasoning fit Ms. Herta's persona perfectly—curiosity about the unknown, and a rebellious streak against anyone attempting to limit her actions.
Welt pondered for a moment.
Having an additional powerful ally, especially one as knowledgeable and combat-capable as Ms. Herta, would undoubtedly be beneficial for the unknown crisis on the Xianzhou Luofu.
Although that trace of doubt remained, under the current circumstances with insufficient information, accepting this fact was the more rational choice.
"I see. Then, Ms. Herta, since you have arrived, would you like to accompany Stelle and me? We are preparing to meet with the guide sent by the Xianzhou Luofu officials." Welt extended an invitation.
Ms. Herta nodded slightly, her tone carrying a hint of interest. "Following you is fine too. According to past data statistics, the probability of encountering abnormal events where you are is significantly higher than the average. It saves me from having to look for them myself."
Stelle was quite happy. "That's great! Having Ms. Herta here makes me feel more at ease! Maybe we can even find clues about March's disappearance and the reason for your own disappearance, Ms. Herta!"
She automatically ignored the fact that "interesting" might also include her.
Just like that, Black Herta, in the guise of "Ms. Herta," naturally blended into the two-person team.
She knew clearly in her heart that the real Ms. Herta was currently in Fuyuki City, and she, this "substitute boss," could use this identity to observe the interaction between the Astral Express and the Xianzhou Luofu at close range, while guiding the plot in the direction she needed.
"So, are you going to find that 'guide' now?"
Black Herta, playing the part of Ms. Herta, asked in a casual tone, as if she were just mentioning it in passing.
"Yes," Welt nodded. "The Grand Diviner informed us via the Astral Express communication that a Diviner from the Divination Commission will be waiting near the Exalting Sanctum. It hasn't been specified who exactly."
"Oh."
Black Herta replied, understanding in her heart.
Qingque.
But of course, she wouldn't say it out loud. She just put on an expression that said "handle such trivial matters yourselves" and walked forward first. "Then let's not waste time. I'd like to see what kind of person the Xianzhou Luofu will send to receive us."
Unlike the slightly relaxed atmosphere on the streets, although the Seat of Divine Foresight still maintained a facade of calm, the air was filled with an invisible pressure.
Jing Yuan leaned back in the large chair at the head of the room, one hand supporting his forehead. He appeared lazy, but deep within those golden eyes, a light of contemplation gathered.
Several light screens floated on the desk in front of him, displaying summaries of intelligence from various places. Among them, entries such as "Tingyun Missing," "Ten-Lords Commission Judge Huo Huo Lost Contact," "Unknown Energy," and "Signs of Stellaron Hunters Activity" were specially highlighted.
A faint light projected in front of him, condensing into a 3D image of Fu Xuan.
The Grand Diviner's pink hair was still meticulous, the third eye on her forehead glowing faintly, and her expression was the usual serious one.
"General, the Divination Commission has exhausted all techniques, even using some forbidden divination methods, yet we still cannot locate the exact positions of Tingyun and Huo Huo."
Fu Xuan's voice came through the communication with a trace of imperceptible tension. "Their presence seems to have been completely erased from this celestial region, rather than by ordinary concealment or escape. Such methods are unimaginable."
"Even your third eye cannot see through it..."
Jing Yuan sighed softly, his fingers tapping the armrest unconsciously. "One is a tactful merchant representative who travels abroad all year round, and the other is an internal judge of the Ten-Lords Commission. To have them both disappear without a trace on the Xianzhou Luofu at almost the same time... this is definitely not a coincidence."
Yanqing, standing by, had a face full of eager sharpness. "General, Lady Fu Xuan! There must be something suspicious about this! Please allow me to lead the elite Cloud Knights to thoroughly investigate the relevant areas! No matter what evil is at work, I will make it have nowhere to hide!"
Jing Yuan glanced at him, a smile appearing on the corners of his mouth, as if seeing a sharp sword eager to be unsheathed. "Young man, your spirit is commendable. But the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. Searching blindly is like striking water with a sword—futile. Setting aside Tingyun for a moment, was there anything discovered near the location where Huo Huo was last seen before she went missing?"
Fu Xuan took over the conversation. "According to Hanya's report and the analysis of the traces left at the scene, Judge Huo Huo's behavior was indeed abnormal before she disappeared, as if she were influenced by some external object. But the trail completely cut off at a street corner in the Exalting Sanctum. There were no remnants of spatial transfer, no signs of fighting; it was as if... she evaporated into thin air."
She paused. "In addition, there was an unknown energy reaction in the port area this morning. It appeared briefly and then quickly subsided. It is suspected to be related to a Mara-Struck being instantly purified in the street. Witness descriptions are vague, and there are no leads yet."
"Evaporated into thin air... instantly purified..."
Jing Yuan repeated in a low voice, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. "It seems that there are guests we don't know about who have already come on stage silently. Their purpose, I fear, is not just to take away two seemingly unrelated people."
He changed the subject. "Fortunately, we also have guests about to arrive. How is the Astral Express side doing?"
Mentioning this, Fu Xuan's expression softened slightly. "The Astral Express Crew has arrived at the Starskiff Haven Central according to the agreed time. I have sent Qingque to welcome them, and she will bring them here to meet you later. With the help of that Trailblazer and their companions, we might have a better chance of dealing with the current treacherous situation."
"Qingque?"
Jing Yuan's brows twitched slightly, as if he recalled something interesting. "That child... hasn't been plotting how to sneak off to the card parlor lately, has she?"
Fu Xuan's image seemed to stiffen, her tone slightly stiff. "...I have strictly ordered her to correct her attitude and ensure nothing goes wrong. If she dares to..."
She didn't finish the second half of the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Yanqing couldn't help but interrupt. "General, Lady Fu Xuan, since foreign aid is arriving, should we take the initiative? For example, strengthening monitoring of key areas such as the Alchemy Commission and the Artisanship Commission? Although the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus haven't made any major moves recently, there are undercurrents, and it's hard to guarantee that they aren't related to these disappearances."
Jing Yuan nodded. "Yanqing's words make sense. Monitoring can be strengthened, but we must avoid alerting the enemy. The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus seek nothing more than longevity, and on the surface, there is little connection to the disappearance of Tingyun and Huo Huo. But in this fog, we cannot let go of any possible clues."
He sat up straight, regaining the decisive bearing of the General of the Divine Spear. "Minister Fu, after the Astral Express Crew arrives, you will be primarily responsible for liaising with them and understanding any information they have. Yanqing, the daily patrols and contingency plans of the Cloud Knights need to be further refined, especially in the areas where people went missing and at the points where abnormal energy was reported."
"Yes!" Yanqing clasped his fists, his eyes full of fighting spirit.
"I understand." Fu Xuan nodded.
Jing Yuan's gaze returned to the light screens, finally landing on the marker representing the arrival time of the Astral Express, a deep light flashing in his golden eyes.
"A troubled time..."
He seemed to sigh, yet also seemed to be anticipating something. "Very well. The muddier the water, the easier it is for the fish hidden beneath it to reveal their traces. We shall control the situation by remaining calm and see how all parties intend to make their moves in this game of chess."
He waved his hand, Fu Xuan's image dissipated, and Yanqing also left to carry out his orders.
In the vast main hall of the Seat of Divine Foresight, only Jing Yuan remained.
He picked up the slightly cool tea beside him, but did not drink it, only gazing at his own thoughtful face reflected in the cup.
All the clues arranged and combined rapidly in his mind.
As a chess player, he sensed a complex atmosphere that far exceeded an ordinary Stellaron crisis or the chaos caused by Abundance abominations.
But this game of chess, it seemed, was becoming increasingly interesting and dangerous due to the addition of some unexpected "pieces."
He took a sip of tea and temporarily pushed his thoughts aside.
"Then, next, let me properly meet these key visitors."
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