Chapter 248: Everyone Gets Busy
Stelle carefully used her thoughts to transfer the carefully packaged specialty meal boxes from Mydei, along with the Aedilith silver ornaments gifted by Castorice, one by one into the Chat Group's shared warehouse.
Immediately after, she posted a notification for all to see.
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "@All members Attention! Attention! Our comrades from Amphoreus, Mydei and Castorice, have sent some thank-you gifts!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Steaming hot gourmet meals have been added to the inventory, and there are also some super beautiful silver ornaments either personally crafted or selected by Castorice! Everyone, please help yourselves! It's a small token of their appreciation for our efforts in Nikador!"
It didn't take long for a response to pop up.
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Wow! Mydei and Castorice are way too polite! The points and experience we gained in Amphoreus were already amazing, and we even had that wonderful celebration feast. How could we possibly accept more gifts from them now!"
Paimon's words were tinged with a hint of feigned modesty.
However, that 'modesty' evaporated in the very next second.
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Paimon, you didn't see it! Mydei's handmade Suspended Blade specialty feast… that Iron Blood Fried Meat is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and just bursting with rich juices! And that Aromatic Roasted Chicken, tsk tsk… just the smell is enough to make my mouth water!"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "!!! Actually… thinking about it carefully, these are our friends' kind intentions, after all. If we don't accept them, wouldn't that be a bit impolite? It would be a disservice to their generosity, right?"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "...Paimon, you change your tune faster than a speeding warp trotter!"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Who—who changed their tune! Paimon's pursuit of gourmet food is eternal and unchanging! It has never changed! Can you even call this changing? This is called adhering to my original intention! And..."
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "And aren't you curious? What kind of devastating flavor would a warrior like Mydei, who can take down an enemy with a single punch, create with his own hands? That in itself is a rare experience!"
Just as Paimon was diligently defending her 'foodie-ism,' the Chat Group was hit with another food-related broadcast.
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Everyone~ The banquet here in New Eridu has officially begun! Lots of delicious food is being served one after another! My brother and I have already picked some that look particularly great and put them in the group warehouse. Please enjoy! These are all from our friends, the Sons of Calydon!"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Wise]: "Yes, Caesar has prepared a very lavish spread to thank us for our help. Everyone, please eat your fill. Don't be shy."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Wise]: "However, when the banquet enters its climax later, Belle and I might need to help entertain guests, so we may not be able to reply to your messages in time. Just a heads-up."
[Honkai: Star Rail · Himeko]: "Thank you, Belle and Wise. Please also extend our regards to Mr. Caesar and everyone from the Sons of Calydon."
[Genshin Impact · Hu Tao]: "Ooh! What a great day! A double-whammy of interdimensional delicacies! This Funeral Parlor Director is in for a real treat!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Welt]: "Thanks for sharing. Please attend to your duties first."
[Genshin Impact · Venti]: "Food and wine are always the best catalysts for friendship~ Thank you all!"
The group members all expressed their thanks and understanding.
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Today is truly a lucky day! We get to eat so many delicious foods from different worlds! Paimon's so happy!"
Little Paimon was completely immersed in the joy of food.
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Caught you! A gluttonous Paimon slacking off during work hours, chatting and fantasizing about food! Speaking of which, aren't you with Lumine investigating the Captain and the Fatui?"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "I knew it. You must be slacking off again, leaving all the work to Lumine, right?"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "That's not true! Paimon isn't some lazy freeloader! We just finished summarizing the information Chuychu and Chasca got from tracking the Fatui, and now we're about to have a good discussion!"
As if to confirm Paimon's words, Lumine's message appeared right on cue.
[Genshin Impact · Lumine]: "Paimon isn't slacking. We just finished a round of information gathering. We're outside the Holy Fire Arena now, preparing to sort through the clues and try to deduce the Captain's specific plan and ultimate goal."
However, just as she sent the message, Lumine seemed to be interrupted.
[Genshin Impact · Lumine]: "Hold on, Citlali is here. It looks like she has something to discuss. Talk later."
In Natlan, just outside the Holy Fire Arena, Paimon watched as Lumine hastily ended the group chat to greet the approaching Citlali. She puffed out her cheeks, a disgruntled expression on her face.
Lumine offered a helpless smile, reaching out to stroke Paimon's head and softly comfort her with a few words.
Although Paimon was still a little huffy, her attention was quickly drawn to the new topic Citlali brought up—whether they should explore deeper into Olonios's memories to obtain more information about the Captain and Natlan's deeper secrets.
Meanwhile, in the private bathhouse in Amphoreus, Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng chatted in the group for a while longer. The atmosphere was relaxed as they watched the food inventory in the warehouse continuously increase.
"Alright, group chat time is over." Stelle stood up from the soft cushion and stretched, her joints popping softly.
"We should probably find something serious to do, too. We can't just lounge around here until it's time to leave, can we?"
"Do you have any ideas?" Dan Heng asked, his gaze calm.
Stelle's expression turned serious, and she stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Do you remember Damianos from the 'Pink Haze Celestial Maiden Research Society'?"
March 7th nodded. "I remember him. That guy who really admired the Pink Haze Celestial Maiden and even thought I looked a lot like her."
"Exactly." Stelle snapped her fingers. "The other 'you'—or rather, the part of you that was taken away—is very likely the 'Pink Haze Celestial Maiden' they talk about from a thousand years ago."
"We only know that she was taken, spent long years in Amphoreus, and might have even influenced Olonios. But we know nothing about what exactly happened, or what her relationship with the Pink Haze Celestial Maiden truly is."
She looked at March 7th and Dan Heng, her gaze firm. "Although Damianos and his group are just ardent enthusiasts, they mostly collect folk legends and unofficial histories."
"But Zhongli and Dan Heng, didn't you say that it's precisely in these unofficial records that details and clues overlooked by mainstream history are often hidden? Since the official channels seem to be tight-lipped about this, or perhaps don't know much either, then we'll start from the folk level."
She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind. "I've decided. We're going to find Damianos again. This time, we're not just listening for fun. We're going to seriously listen to him talk about the unofficial histories and legends of the Pink Haze Celestial Maiden for an entire afternoon! We can't let any possible clue slip by."
To find another one of their companions, lost to the currents of time, Stelle was prepared to endure long, tedious, yet potentially crucial folk legends.
Amidst the festivities and the aroma of food from distant worlds, a new direction for their investigation was quietly established.
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