"You found me! With the [Diting], isn't tracking much easier?"
"If you find traces of Kafka in Stargazer Navalia, just turn this little thing on. Don't let her get away."
The test on Tingyun's end concluded. Everything was ready. The Astral Express crew departed for [Stargazer Navalia]the Luofu's primary shipbuilding hub.
Seeing this, March 7th couldn't help but ask, "Stargazer Navalia... the game plot already hinted that Kafka would hide here. Can't General Jing Yuan just set up a trap in advance and ambush her there?"
"Hahaha..." Jing Yuan let out a polite, albeit awkward, laugh. "Miss March 7th, you're thinking too simply."
"Since we can watch this plot, why wouldn't the Stellaron Hunters and their accomplices be able to see it as well?"
March 7th tapped her head. "I thought we had the advantage. If everyone can see the plot, aren't we all back at the same starting line?"
"Not necessarily. By acting according to the situation and adapting to the circumstances, one might still seize the initiative."
March 7th muttered, "The way you talk is so hard to understand."
"It seems this General has long been prepared. We don't need to worry," Welt explained.
Just then, the previously composed Jing Yuan suddenly had a change of expression. The holographic projection flickered several times as if interfered with by another signal. About five seconds later, the projection returned to normal, but the calm on Jing Yuan's face had vanished, replaced by heavy solemnity!
"Everyone, my apologies, but I must head to the Shackling Prison immediately."
"What happened? Have the Stellaron Hunters arrived?" Welt asked.
However, Jing Yuan seemingly didn't have time to explain. The projection vanished directly from the sand table, leaving the others staring at each other in confusion.
"Mr. Yang, what... what should we do?" March 7th asked for help.
Seeing Jing Yuan leave, Fu Xuan moved her seat to the very center, looking like "Jing Yuan is gone, it's my turn to take charge."
"Everyone, do not be anxious."
"Since General Jing Yuan didn't say much, it means the situation hasn't reached its most critical point yet."
"In the current plot, Kafka is about to make her appearance. I can buy you all a bit more time to finish watching."
"Once we've confirmed the Stellaron Hunters' plot, we can make our decision."
"Lady Fu Xuan, you're actually a pretty good person," Stelle remarked.
Fu Xuan nodded slightly, as if saying, "Do you even have to ask?"
Meanwhile, Jing Yuan was rushing toward the Shackling Prison at top speed! To his surprise, not only had Kafka arrived, but another Stellaron HunterSilver Wolfhad also shown up! Along with Blade, the Stellaron Hunters were treating the Luofu like their own backyard!
It wasn't that Jing Yuan didn't want to explain; it was that the communication had been cut off! There was simply no time!
Suddenly, a light screen automatically lit up on his Jade Abacus. Two short lines of information appeared. After a quick glance, Jing Yuan felt as if he'd been struck by lightning!
"...What!?"
"Even she is here!?"
"And that one... Luocha!?"
Jing Yuan had to clutch his head with one hand. Normally, the appearance of any one of these individuals on the Xianzhou would warrant massive attention! Now, by some coincidence, they had all converged on the Luofu's Shackling Prison!
Even if all these people were here to turn themselves in, the Shackling Prison probably couldn't hold them all at once! Even someone as composed as Jing Yuan found himself with a massive headache.
"Yanqing, you better hold on..."
Palace of Astrum.
With Fu Xuan's reassurance, everyone relaxed slightly and continued watching the story. At this point, the characters had arrived at Stargazer Navalia. Using the [Diting] to start tracking, they searched for clues on the map.
"This is... a piece of a Cloud Knight weapon, sliced off by something sharp..."
"It's definitely that bad woman! She has a fast, long blade!"
"This is an Access Jade from a shipwright. It's used to open the gates."
"Someone intentionally destroyed it after use. Likely Kafka."
Watching the streamer Guinaifen busy herself looking for clues in the game, the others were content to relax. During this time, even Fu Xuan found a moment to take a sip of water. Though they were theoretically "hunting" Kafka, the atmosphere was quite light.
Welt had also calmed down from his previous shock, sitting as steady as a rock. However, the feeling of unease was like a tossed ballnow it had landed in Dan Heng's hands!
For some reason, Dan Heng suddenly felt restless. He kept glancing between the screen and the area outside the Palace of Astrum. He felt that Jing Yuan's departure had been far too rushed! It didn't seem like the behavior of a general who was always in control.
In a trance, that cursed voice seemed to ring in his mind again!
"Of five people, three must pay the price..."
Dan Heng was about to speak, but at that moment, the game plot took a major turn!
"When the prey's tracks suddenly vanish, the hunter should be careful"
"Because that is often the sign that the roles of predator and prey have been reversed."
Kafka! She had actually appeared!
Everyone instantly straightened up in their seats. Catching Kafkawhether they succeeded would depend on the next few actions.
"Damn, we can't get through here. We have to find a way to intercept her!"
"Benefactor, the closed gate doesn't matter. We can just go around the conveyor belt," Tingyun suggested.
Arriving at the other side of the gate, Kafka's figure truly came into view! As the protagonist approached, she didn't even show the slightest intention of running away. This strange behavior made everyone present suspicious.
"Welcome, crew of the Astral Express. You've caught me."
Forget Fu Xuan and Welt; even the viewers in the livestream felt that something was wrong!
...
"Why does this feel like a mother playing hide-and-seek with her daughter?"
"Is this part of the plan too?"
"Are we really catching Kafka? Could this be a body double? A projection? A puppet or something?"
"She's still smiling. I feel like we walked into a trap!"
...
"Show your cards, Kafka. Our arrival here must have been part of your plan," Welt said.
"It's not a plan. it's the [future]. We interfere among countless future possibilities to make the best [future] a reality."
"Don't flatter us, Welt. Stellaron Hunters are but [Destiny's Slaves]," Kafka explained with a smile.
March 7th said indignantly, "The best future? Best for whom? I don't believe you'd ever think of anyone but yourselves."
"For the whole universedo you believe me? Of course, I mean: for me."
To everyone else, these words sounded like complete nonsense. Guinaifen was no exception. She decisively chose the most direct of the three dialogue options:
[If we're going to fight, then fight. Stop wasting time!]
Welt: "We will take you to see the General of the Luofu. Since you claim to be innocent, you might as well explain it to him. He will be the one to judge."
Kafka shook her head slightly. "I'm afraid not. I hate doing things at someone else's pace."
"Time is running out. Do it now, or it will be too late."
The screen shattered. The first battle against Kafka had begun!
Fu Xuan was already prepared to record this combat sequence. It would be helpful for analyzing Kafka's abilities and figuring out how to deal with her in the real future.
Kafka gave a charming smile. "Can you stay on your feet?"
She yanked upward on a red silk thread in her hand. The characters hit by it were instantly immobilized. A prompt appeared on the screen:
[You can use skills that remove debuffs to dispel the [Dominated] state!]
"So this is Kafka's Spirit Whisper ability?"
Characters in the [Dominated] state would even attack their own teammates. Fortunately, Guinaifen's team was well-leveled. She used March 7th's shield to remove the control effect. Ultimately, at the cost of two downed characters, she defeated Kafka.
The story proceeded to the next cutscene!
Kafka was surrounded by the group. She lowered her submachine guns in a gesture of surrender. "You're finally here."
In the next moment, she spun the guns around and began firing indiscriminately into the air, bullets pouring out like rain!
The scene suddenly seemed to enter slow motion. Amidst the downpour of bullets, a young girl walked forward as if taking a stroll through a garden. With a gentle wave of her hand, she brushed aside the trajectory of the bullets. Every movement was calm and elegant! It was as if she were cleaning an unsightly blemish from a painting.
"Child's play."
"Every move you make..."
"Has long been foreseen by the Matrix of Prescience."
She landed lightly on her toes, appearing before everyone in a perfect pose.
"Fu Xuan of the Divination Commission."
"The criminal is now under my custody."
As this scene played out, the people in the room turned their gazes toward the Fu Xuan sitting right there. Fu Xuan closed her eyes, maintaining a serene and "as expected" expression.
However, internally, she was ecstatic!
"As expected of This Seat!!!"
"Such a grand and elegant entrance!"
"This footage must be preserved. I'll have Jing Yuan take a good look at it later!"
"Even the Stellaron Hunter Kafka has no choice but to surrender with both hands raised before This Seat."
"I really am incredible!"
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