Chapter 28: Pre-match Warm-up
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli]: "In my humble opinion, there are likely other individuals involved within the upper echelons of the Vanquishers, and their status is by no means low. Given Mr. Pompey's keen insight, he must have already noticed the discrepancies."
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli]: "He chose to pin the entirety of the blame squarely on Morse, swiftly closing the case and offering compensation to pacify the unrest. This course of action served a dual purpose. First, to stabilize the immediate situation and prevent widespread turmoil within his organization. Second... to afford the true mastermind a chance to step down, or perhaps, to serve as a silent warning."
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli]: "One can presume that this high-ranking individual shares a close personal bond with Mr. Pompey, or stands as a key pillar within the Vanquishers. Such a dynamic would cause Pompey to hesitate, prompting him to temporarily suppress the matter while he observes the resulting fallout."
Zhongli's methodical analysis dropped like a heavy stone into the previously calm waters of the group chat, sending immediate ripples of shock through the interface.
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Wh-what?! Are you serious?! Mr. Zhongli, are you saying... Uncle Pompey... actually knew the whole time?!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Whoa! It goes that deep?! Sounds thrilling! High-level syndicate infighting? Undercover betrayals? Now that is interesting. It is playing out exactly like a late-night blockbuster movie."
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Oh my goodness... Belle, is the situation on your end really that twisted? Just reading about it makes my head spin. It sounds like way too much trouble!"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Paimon's brain is going to overheat and start smoking... This is way too complicated! Zhongli, how in the world did you figure all that out from just a single photo and a couple of sentences?!"
Unlike Belle's genuine shock and Stelle's chaotic excitement, the more analytical members of the chat group took the revelation in stride.
[Zenless Zone Zero · Wise]: "As I suspected. Last night, Pompey's handling of the crisis appeared flawless on the surface. But in reality, it was entirely too perfect and executed far too swiftly. It felt highly deliberate."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Wise]: "Pinning a conspiracy of that scale on a single mid-level subordinate creates a massive logical gap. Everything Mr. Zhongli just outlined aligns perfectly with the lingering doubts I had when reviewing the incident data this morning."
[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng]: "Hmm. Conflicts of interest, internal power struggles, and the necessity of checks and balances. It is not uncommon for such systemic rot to fester within a large organization. Pompey's decision is a textbook strategy for a leader forced to weigh devastating pros and cons. He chose to cut the Gordian knot, stabilize the public front first, then quietly purge the internal threat. It is just that..."
[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng]: "The hidden danger remains entirely active. The turmoil will not simply subside because a scapegoat was named. Belle, Wise, you two must remain highly vigilant while cooperating with the Sons of Calydon."
Sitting in the video store, Belle stared at the glowing text on her screen. She read over Wise and Dan Heng's measured replies, the heavy truth finally sinking in. A cold prickle of lingering fear washed over her skin as she realized just how close they had danced to the edge of a massive syndicate war.
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "So... that is what was really going on! My brother and I both felt the whole mess wrapped up a bit too smoothly... It seems we really need to look beneath the surface when dealing with the Outer Ring factions from now on."
[Genshin Impact · Lumine]: "It seems that no matter which world we travel to, human nature remains the same. There will always be these kinds of troublesome power struggles. Belle, Wise, please be extra careful out there."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Mhm, mhm! Thank you all so much for the warnings! We will definitely keep our guard up!"
The lingering tension from the syndicate conspiracy hung heavily over the chat. Sensing the sudden drop in mood, Stelle immediately seized the opportunity to pivot the conversation, injecting her signature brand of chaos to liven up the atmosphere.
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Alright, alright! Enough doom and gloom! All these deep conspiracies and political schemes are way too brain-draining! Let's talk about something fun! Everyone! How are your training races going?"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "I have already thoroughly familiarized myself with the Outer Ring Hollow terrain in the simulation room! Those hairpin curves, those completely chaotic spatial distortions, they are absolutely nothing before the might of my Invincible Galaxy Transcender One! I am definitely sweeping first place and taking those 300 points!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Hey! Stelle! You are getting way too full of yourself again! Do not forget that I am not to be trifled with behind the wheel either! We will just have to see who crashes into who when the flag drops!"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Hmph, hmph! Lumine and I have also been working super hard, okay! Lumine taught Paimon so much about reading the dashboard instruments and judging the terrible road conditions!"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Although Paimon hasn't actually driven the vehicle herself yet... I can already feel that I am destined to become an excellent driver! We are definitely going to secure a top ranking too!"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "My brother and I can only squeeze in practice sessions between commissions, but we have the basic operations down perfectly! Plus, we just finished debugging the HDD system, so we can finally dedicate some real focus to training for the next few days."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Wise]: "The true value lies in participation. Completing the race safely is more than enough of an achievement. After all, personal safety remains our highest priority."
The mere mention of race points and rankings acted like a spark in a powder keg. The atmosphere in the multiversal chat group instantly flared into a highly competitive, enthusiastic frenzy.
Almost in perfect unison, the group members began discussing their system rewards. Between completing their grueling training races and pooling their previous savings, every single one of them had successfully accumulated enough points to afford their very first ten-pull, especially taking advantage of the system's generous twenty-percent newcomer discount.
Yet, despite the burning temptation glowing on their respective system interfaces, everyone tacitly agreed to suppress the urge to immediately roll the gacha.
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Obviously, we have to save up for one massive pulling session! After the finals, the second those ranking points hit our accounts, we all draw together! Let's see who gets blinded by the blue light of trash, and whose luck proves they are the true Transcender!"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Exactly, exactly! Paimon is going to draw a super-duper powerful skill! It will be so flashy it might even manage to scare Zhongli!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Hehe, I have already started brainstorming how to combine all the amazing five-star items I am definitely going to pull! Dan Heng, you better pray your usual terrible luck doesn't drag you down!"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "By the way, should we coordinate our final race time to fall on the exact same day as Caesar's big event? That way, we can all watch their race together through the stream. Plus, you guys might actually learn a thing or two from watching the Sons of Calydon's driving techniques."
A distinctly mischievous grin spread across Belle's face as she typed the suggestion. She knew full well that Caesar and her rugged crew spent half their lives tearing across the scorched earth of the Outer Ring. The Sons of Calydon pulled off vehicular maneuvers so violently unhinged that no ordinary person could ever hope to replicate them without ending up in a ditch.
She desperately wanted her multiversal friends to experience the exact same stunning, heart-stopping shock she felt the first time she witnessed Caesar's terrifying mastery behind the wheel.
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Bring it on. I am ready for the finals anytime, anywhere. A mere local racing tournament is absolutely nothing to worry about."
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "When the dust settles, it won't be me taking notes on their techniques. Instead, every single one of you will be left utterly amazed by my flawless, all-around driving development. I will easily conquer even the most treacherous Hollow off-roading conditions."
Watching Stelle shamelessly boast in the chat, March 7th felt a familiar, uncontrollable urge to complain flaring up in her chest.
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Hey! That is quite enough out of you! If you talk this big and don't even manage to scrape into the top three, watching you cry about it is going to be incredibly embarrassing for all of us."
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Embarrassing? Please. Even if that highly unlikely scenario occurs, the one who gets embarrassed will be the Stelle of New Eridu's Outer Ring. What does that have to do with the Stelle of the Astral Express?"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "also, this time I am going to properly explore these other worlds and bring back a massive wave of Trailblaze energy. Once I deliver that kind of haul, Pom-Pom will be entirely at my mercy."
Stelle's imagination began to run wild, painting an increasingly glorious picture of her future. 'From now on, aboard the Astral Express, this Galactic Baseballer will rummage through whatever trash cans I desire! I will eat as many synthetic snacks as I want! I will throw loud, obnoxious parties whenever the mood strikes!''Pom-Pom will have no choice but to serve me tea and fetch my water! And March... oh, March will be personally responsible for maintaining and hand-polishing the chassis of my Invincible Galaxy Transcender One! Wahahahahaha!'
Lost in her own delusions, Stelle could vividly picture the scene. She saw herself sitting cross-legged on the plush main sofa of the parlor car, acting like a tyrant. Pom-Pom would be standing by, trembling while offering up a silver platter of Xianzhou specialty snacks, while March 7th scrubbed the tires of her imaginary race car with a bitterly resentful expression.
Overcome by the sheer majesty of her daydream, Stelle couldn't help but plant her hands firmly on her hips. She tilted her head back and let out her characteristic, highly penetrating, utterly demonic laugh right into the ceiling of the Express.
"Passenger Stelle!"
Conductor Pom-Pom, who had silently materialized directly behind her at some point during her villainous monologue, stomped their short, fluffy legs against the carpeted floor. The heavy thumping echoed ominously through the cabin.
"I have already told you a hundred times not to make such loud, disruptive noises on the Astral Express, pom-pom!"
Sitting in a quiet booth not far away, Dan Heng did not even bother to lift his head from his datapad. He merely let out a long, almost imperceptible sigh, his slender fingers sliding just a fraction faster across the glowing screen as he tried to ignore the unfolding chaos.
Meanwhile, March 7th, who was busy swiping through a fresh batch of holographic photos on her camera, rolled her eyes and muttered softly under her breath.
"Here she goes again. This girl's delusions are completely beyond saving."
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