Chapter 29: Journey to New Eridu
A full day had bled away since the wiretapping incident, and the tension in the air remained thick. Lucy's sharp eyes caught every subtle shift in Caesar's demeanor. Ever since that tense meeting with Pompey, the usually boisterous leader of the Sons of Calydon had been unusually quiet. She barely touched her food, pushing her meal around her plate with a heavy sigh. Even Lucy's sharpest, most calculated provocations—jabs that would normally spark a fiery, loud retort—were met with nothing more than a distracted shrug.
Unable to stand the gloomy atmosphere any longer, Lucy cornered Belle. She demanded that the Proxy take Caesar out and fix whatever was bothering her. Belle, naturally, agreed without a second thought.
"It seems Lucy really cares about Caesar after all!" Belle teased, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
A fierce blush erupted across Lucy's cheeks. She crossed her arms tightly, her chin tilting up in pure defiance. "Who—who cares about that meathead? I just think the upcoming competition is important, and she is in a terrible state for it! Yes, that is exactly it. A purely tactical concern!"
Belle's smile only widened. "Alright, alright. I believe you. How about I take Caesar into New Eridu tomorrow? I need to head back to the video store to copy some offline data anyway. We can make a day out of it."
Lucy gave a curt nod, promising she would handle getting Caesar ready on their end so they could leave first thing in the morning.
The next day, the morning sun cast long shadows over the streets as Belle and Caesar set off early. Today's primary mission was simple: help Caesar relax and completely unwind.
After a quick stop at Random Play to copy the necessary data, the two girls hopped onto their bikes, the engine hum vibrating through the chassis as they cruised toward Lumina Square.
When they finally settled into the dark, air-conditioned theater to watch a movie, Belle made a fascinating new discovery.
Caesar, the tough, undisputed leader of the Sons of Calydon, known for her boisterous energy and fierce loyalty, possessed a surprisingly tender side. Just like any ordinary girl her age, she was completely and utterly captivated by cheesy romance movies.
The flickering light from the massive screen illuminated Caesar's face. She watched with intense focus, her eyes wide. During the crucial, emotionally charged scenes in the latter half of the film, Belle watched from the corner of her eye as Caesar unconsciously clenched her fists. The gang leader leaned forward in her plush seat, muttering soft, frustrated advice to the characters under her breath. Her rigid posture suggested she desperately wished she could smash through the screen and act as the protagonists' personal relationship consultant.
Belle had already seen this particular movie. For her, observing Caesar's dramatic reactions was far more entertaining than the film itself. It felt like uncovering a hidden, adorable secret.
Still, Belle was careful not to stare too long. If Caesar realized she was being watched, her pride would likely cause her to shut down out of sheer embarrassment.
Taking advantage of the dark theater, Belle quietly pulled out her phone, opened the multiversal chat group, and typed out a detailed explanation of the situation. She needed ideas from the others on how to properly cheer Caesar up.
[Zero Zone · Belle]: 'That is the situation. I am currently sitting in a theater watching a movie with Caesar. Does anyone have any actual suggestions?'[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]:'So you still do not know why Caesar is feeling down? How are we supposed to give advice on a mystery?'[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]:'Why not just ask her directly if there is a problem? Why sit there guessing?'[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]:'Oh, you! Do not make things worse. How would someone as blunt as you understand a young girl's delicate thoughts?'[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]:'Why wouldn't I understand? Clearly, asking directly is the most efficient solution for any problem. I have always used that method.'[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]:'I am ignoring you. Belle, I think you two should go shopping after the movie. Shopping always makes people happy!'[Genshin Impact · Paimon]:'Belle, I think Caesar just hasn't been eating well lately. You should take her out for a massive meal. Food fixes everything!'
Reading Paimon's message, Belle pressed a hand over her mouth, stifling a giggle in the quiet theater. As expected of their resident little foodie, her mind never strayed far from her stomach.
[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng]: 'Since you mentioned Caesar's low spirits began immediately after her meeting with Pompey that night, the root cause likely lies there.'[Zero Zone · Belle]:'Can you be more specific? What exactly about Pompey would cause this?'[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng]:'Consider Pompey's seasoned tactics and his absolute control over resources, which he fully displayed during your recent internal traitor incident.'[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng]:'For Caesar, as a leader, being forced to directly confront such a massive disparity in experience and power is daunting. It is highly logical that she is questioning whether her own leadership is sufficient to support her ambitions, and worrying that she might disappoint her followers. That is a heavy source of pressure.'[Zero Zone · Belle]:'That makes sense... but Caesar has always given me the impression of being incredibly carefree and generous. She doesn't seem like the type to let pressure crush her.'[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng]:'You are right, Belle, but Caesar is not a simple-minded person either. She is highly perceptive to the reactions and needs of those around her. If she wasn't, she wouldn't have suddenly appeared to intervene the night you were tracking her.'
Belle stared at the glowing screen, letting Dan Heng's analytical words sink in. He was entirely right. Caesar's current slump was almost certainly the weight of leadership pressing down on her shoulders.
She was just about to type another message asking for specific advice on how to approach the topic, when the theater lights suddenly flared to life. The movie had ended.
"Belle? Belle!"
Caesar's voice broke through her concentration. Belle blinked, looking up to see Caesar waving a hand in front of her face.
"Is this movie really not to your taste?" Caesar asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
Realizing she had been caught spacing out, Belle quickly waved her hands in denial. "No, no! I was just... I was just so touched by the sweet ending! I am still savoring the emotional impact!"
A sudden flash of inspiration hit her. "Oh, right, Sister Caesar! Our video store has a few more classic films in this exact genre, and they all have amazing reviews! How about we pick them up on the way back later? We can watch them together next time we have a free evening!"
Caesar's eyes instantly lit up, the gloomy shadow lifting from her face for a brief moment. "Really? That sounds great! No problem, it is right on our way!"
Seeing that her quick excuse had successfully changed the subject, Belle secretly breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Well... I am a bit thirsty after all that popcorn," Belle said, stretching her arms. "I know an amazing tea shop right around the corner! Shall we go grab something?"
As they walked out of the theater and into the bright afternoon sunlight, Belle relied entirely on her memory of having seen the movie before. She chatted animatedly with Caesar about the plot twists and character motivations, successfully convincing the gang leader that she had indeed been deeply immersed in the protagonists' romance.
Upon arriving at the bustling Licha Tea & Milk shop, Belle intentionally sent Caesar away to find them a table while she approached the counter. She ordered a large batch of premium milk teas, intending to send a few cups to everyone in the chat group.
Everyone in the group had been incredibly kind to her and her brother, Wise. While she and Wise certainly could not afford to treat the entire multiversal chat to a high-end luxury restaurant, they absolutely had enough Dennies saved up for a round of good milk tea.
[Zero Zone · Belle]: 'Thank you all for taking care of my brother and me. Please enjoy the tea and milk; you can pick them up directly from the group warehouse. I won't chat much longer; I still need to keep Caesar company.'[Genshin Impact · Paimon]:'Wow! Thank you, Belle! I was just feeling a bit dizzy from soaking in the hot spring for too long. This is exactly what I needed!'[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]:'Got it! Thank you, Belle! It tastes amazing. When I have some free time, I absolutely have to treat you to the Xianzhou Luofu's Immortal's Delight. It has Star Taro Boba in it—the chewy texture is out of this world! Dan Heng can vouch for it!'[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]:'Drinking this reminds me of when I was practicing swordplay with Master Yanqing and Master Yunli. Sneaking away for a sweet, icy drink was the most wonderful feeling in the world.'
As the chat group flooded with messages of gratitude, Belle closed the interface and carried two iced cups over to Caesar.
They spent the next hour walking through the vibrant streets of Lumina Square. Belle sipped her drink, her mind racing as she constantly tried to organize her thoughts. She needed to find the right words to advise Caesar.
However, Belle had never been a gang leader. She did not truly understand the crushing weight of being responsible for so many lives. She was terrified of speaking carelessly and making Caesar feel even more isolated or uncomfortable.
Just as Belle was about to tentatively broach the subject, chaos erupted.
A desperate fugitive sprinted out from a nearby storefront, knocking over a display stand before diving into a narrow, dark alleyway. Seconds later, several heavily armed Public Security officers charged past, shouting loudly for pedestrians to clear the path.
Caesar did not hesitate for a single second. She dropped her empty cup into a nearby bin and bolted after the officers, disappearing into the shadows of the alley without a word.
Belle gasped, her hand reaching out too late. While she was not entirely surprised by Caesar's reckless sense of justice, she could not help but worry about her safety in a dark, unfamiliar alley.
After a tense minute of waiting on the sidewalk, Belle pulled out her phone and dialed Caesar's number. The line connected for a brief second, filled with the sounds of a scuffle and a loud crunch, before going completely dead. Her phone had likely been smashed during the chase.
Still, hearing the sounds of Caesar actively fighting meant she was alive and handling the situation. Belle decided the smartest move was to head back to the parking lot and wait by their bikes, ensuring they would not lose each other in the sprawling city.
Time dragged on. The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting an orange glow over the concrete.
Finally, heavy footsteps approached. Caesar emerged from the crowd, her clothes slightly dusted with dirt and her knuckles scuffed. Yet, the heavy, suffocating aura that had surrounded her all day was completely gone. She looked energized, a bright, confident grin plastered across her face.
Later that evening, back within the quiet walls of Random Play, Caesar finally dropped her usual carefree facade. Sitting on the couch with a new movie playing softly in the background, she opened up to Belle.
Just as Dan Heng had analyzed, Caesar confessed that she had been harboring deep doubts about her own abilities. She had spent the last few days terrified that she was not strong enough, not smart enough, and simply not doing well enough to lead the Sons of Calydon into the future.
But as she spoke, her voice grew steady. Once those dark thoughts were finally dragged out into the open, the answer became clear to her. The sheer adrenaline of chasing down that fugitive, of relying on her own strength and instincts to protect others, had reminded her of exactly who she was.
At this point, all she needed was a few quiet words of encouragement from Belle, and the last remnants of her bad mood dissolved into the air.
Belle smiled, listening patiently. She understood the mechanics of the human heart well enough to know that Caesar had already cured herself.
As she watched Caesar laugh at a joke on the television screen, Belle felt a tiny twinge of guilt toward Lucy. She had intended to play the role of the wise counselor today, but in the end, Caesar had found her own way out of the dark. Still, seeing the gang leader back to her bright, unstoppable self was a victory all on its own.
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