Chapter 159: Temporary Pioneers of Amphoreus
A notification chimed, its crisp sound echoing in the minds of every group member.
[System Announcement]
[World Event: Temporary Trailblazers of Amphoreus is about to begin.]
[Event Time: Commencing tomorrow at 4:00 AM [System Standard Time]. The event will last for 120 system hours.]
[Event Location: Amphoreus — Okhema and surrounding areas.]
[Event Rules: Explore the world of Amphoreus with your group members. Experience the local customs and traditions, immerse yourselves in its unique culture, and collect various world texts and item information. You may also increase the world exploration progress by engaging hostile forces and other methods.]
[Event Rewards: Tiered point rewards will be distributed when world exploration progress reaches 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Completing limited-time missions released during the event will also grant additional points or item rewards.]
The announcement was clear and concise, delivered in the chat group's usual straightforward style.
For a moment, the group fell silent as everyone processed the sudden information.
The next second, a flood of messages erupted like a burst dam.
Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Waaah! A world event! It's a world event! Points! Paimon sees so many points waving at us!"
Belle (Zenless Zone Zero): "It's really here! This is amazing! We can finally go help Stelle and the others!"
Lumine (Genshin Impact): "Hmm, this is a good opportunity."
Zhongli (Genshin Impact): "Logically speaking, this activity is beneficial to all parties involved."
A chorus of cheers seemed to rise from the chat. "This is great, more points!" Joy and excitement crackled through the virtual space.
Stelle (Honkai: Star Rail): "Hahahahaha! The chat group really gets me! I can't believe it. I was just casually complaining to March about being short-staffed, and it actually launched a world event! How considerate!"
Stelle's message was brimming with incredulous surprise and a healthy dose of self-satisfaction. She immediately began to push her luck, her imagination running wild.
Stelle (Honkai: Star Rail): "So... if I wished for it to give us a ten-pull right now, would it actually happen?"
March 7th (Honkai: Star Rail): "..."
March, who had also been swept up in the initial surprise, felt the familiar urge to facepalm as she read Stelle's incredibly narcissistic comment.
March 7th (Honkai: Star Rail): "Hey, hey! Stelle, stop being so full of yourself! It's probably just a coincidence that the chat group was scheduled to release a world event now. There's no way it just launches events and hands out rewards based on what we're thinking! You're getting way ahead of yourself!"
Dan Heng (Honkai: Star Rail): "March, perhaps what Stelle said isn't entirely impossible."
March 7th (Honkai: Star Rail): "Huh???"
March stared at her screen, bewildered. She felt as if she'd just witnessed something unbelievable. How could even Dan Heng, the most level-headed person she knew, start going along with Stelle's nonsense? She couldn't understand it. Even Dan Heng had betrayed her.
Wise (Zenless Zone Zero): "What Dan Heng said might be true. I've also noticed that the world commissions released by the chat group often seem to arise in response to the most urgent needs of its members at that specific time."
Wise (Zenless Zone Zero): "Take the first world commission, for example. It was to rescue me after I fell into a Hollow. The second was to save Kachina in Natlan. The timing of their appearance corresponded precisely to the strong wishes or needs of one or several group members."
Dan Heng (Honkai: Star Rail): "Mm. Wise's conclusion is consistent with my own observations. The chat group's operating mechanism seems to have some degree of linkage with our collective consciousness, or a strong individual will, rather than being simply random or on a fixed cycle."
Dan Heng's affirmation and Wise's analysis was a revelation.
Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Is that really how it works?! So it wasn't a coincidence?"
Belle (Zenless Zone Zero): "So... the chat group has actually been paying attention to us all along?"
Stelle (Honkai: Star Rail): "Now that you mention it, I suddenly remember!"
As if she had just discovered a new continent, Stelle immediately jumped back in to provide more evidence.
Stelle (Honkai: Star Rail): "Before the last Tour de Inferno event, I had just finished listening to Belle talk about the motorcycle races in her world. I was thinking, 'Wow, that's so cool, I wish we could do that too,' and then the event immediately appeared!"
Stelle (Honkai: Star Rail): "This time, too! I was just thinking, 'I wish we had some backup,' and a new support event appeared! Could it be... that I, Stelle, actually possess a hidden permission to activate world events in our chat group?!"
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became, already beginning to plot her next "request."
Whether Stelle actually possessed any hidden permissions was anyone's guess, but the discussion had clarified at least one thing for everyone. This mysterious chat group's operating rules might be far more "humanized" than they had imagined. It truly seemed to focus on the status and needs of its members, responding to them to a certain degree.
After the brief period of surprise and theory-crafting, more practical issues began to surface.
Dan Heng (Honkai: Star Rail): "Everyone, let's not get too excited yet. We are currently in Okhema, and Lady Aglaea, the leader here, specifically instructed us not to reveal our identity as 'outsiders' to avoid causing unnecessary panic."
Dan Heng (Honkai: Star Rail): "Therefore, even with a world event, if we want everyone to come over, we must first negotiate with the local Golden Bloodline—especially Lady Aglaea—to gain their understanding and permission."
Dan Heng (Honkai: Star Rail): "The chat group announcement also states that the event starts tomorrow, so please give us some time to handle this."
Dan Heng's considerations were thorough, and the group members were not unreasonable people. They all expressed their understanding.
Lumine (Genshin Impact): "That's how it should be."
Wise (Zenless Zone Zero): "No problem. That's a necessary process. We'll wait for your news."
Zhongli (Genshin Impact): "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. We should naturally abide by local regulations."
Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Mmm-hmm! Make sure you ask clearly, otherwise Lumine will become Lumine again!"
Stelle (Honkai: Star Rail): "Oh, relax, relax! Dan Heng, you're overthinking it! This is nothing! With our deep friendship with Phainon and Tribbie, and all the effort we put into the Battle of Okhema..."
Stelle (Honkai: Star Rail): "We helped them drive away so many of Strife's Minions and even dealt with Nikadori's clone! Aglaea and the others definitely won't refuse! They might even give us a warm welcome!"
March 7th (Honkai: Star Rail): "Yeah, yeah! I also think Aglaea and Tribbie definitely won't refuse! Okhema is so big, and there's strength in numbers! We can help them, too!"
Their unshakeable confidence made Dan Heng helplessly rub the bridge of his nose. He could understand Stelle and March's optimism, but as someone who thought more comprehensively and often had to handle negotiations, he couldn't help but worry.
Okhema had just experienced a major upheaval. The public's emotions were fragile and complex. In such a tense, post-apocalyptic situation, the sudden appearance of a large group of outsiders could have an unimaginable impact on the populace.
And Aglaea, as a leader, had to consider every possible consequence of a sudden, large-scale arrival of "otherworldly visitors"—the potential effects on social order, the cultural shock, and the security risks. Her primary duty was to protect Okhema's stability and the peace of its people, not to satisfy her friends' desire for exploration.
Refusal, or at least some degree of reservation, would be the more fitting and likely response from a responsible leader.
'I hope everything goes smoothly,' Dan Heng thought to himself, already beginning to plan how he would present this somewhat abrupt and sensitive request to Aglaea.
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