Chapter 426: Concerns
Welt watched the energetic backs of the girls disappearing through the doorway and let out a soft sigh, shaking his head with a wry smile. He turned to the red-haired navigator beside him. "Himeko, we should probably contact Pom-Pom and Sunday separately to inform them about this. It would be best to give them some time to mentally prepare. After all, this particular form of 'invitation' might be a bit out of the ordinary for them."
Himeko nodded gracefully, her gaze lingering on the spot where Stelle had just vanished. "Alright, I'll handle the communication with Pom-Pom. I'll leave Sunday to you."
Welt nodded in agreement, already tapping the interface of his device.
Not long after Stelle and March rushed back to the shop, two more figures in the lively banquet hall quietly slipped away from their seats, tracing the exact same path out the door.
It was Lumine and Hu Tao.
Lumine's steps were firm and swift, the heels of her boots clicking sharply against the floorboards. A fierce, unwavering determination burned in her golden eyes. She had to confirm as soon as possible whether this miraculous "invitation" system would work for her brother. Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance of reaching Aether across the vast multiverse, she had to grasp it with her own two hands.
Hu Tao, on the other hand, practically skipped alongside her. A mischievous, highly expectant grin stretched across the funeral director's face. She hummed a little tune, completely unable to wait for the utterly hilarious sight of the dignified Rex Lapis appearing in the mortal realm stuffed into the squishy, waddling body of a Bangboo.
Venti leaned casually against the polished wood of the bar counter, watching his companions hurry off to fulfill the names on their respective lists. In those bright cyan eyes, usually filled with nothing but boundless freedom and poetry, a rare, faint trace of envy flashed. It was a fleeting emotion, entirely unnoticed by the bustling crowd around him.
He swirled the crystal glass in his hand, watching the amber liquid slosh against the rim. The fine wine, poured endlessly from his magical pot, shimmered under the warm tavern lights.
"Oh dear, everyone has such clear, wonderful goals..." he whispered to himself. His tone remained light and breezy, yet it couldn't quite hide a subtle hint of helplessness regarding his tragically empty wallet.
Invite friends? Of course he had people he wanted to invite too. But right now, his meager stash of Gear Coins was completely insufficient to fund such an endeavor.
However, this passing wisp of envy was just like a ripple caused by a gentle breeze passing over a tranquil lake—present for a moment, then quickly dissipating into nothingness.
Venti tilted his head back, draining the wine in his glass in one smooth motion. Feeling the mellow aroma and the slight, comforting warmth spread through his chest, he lowered the glass and gave a free, easy smile.
"Well, no rush, no rush at all." He summoned his wooden lyre, his slender fingers plucking a few light, airy notes that floated over the ambient noise of the room.
"There's plenty of time anyway, and the fine wine and poetry here are more than enough to keep me company. I'll take my time after everyone else has fulfilled their wishes. A banquet of friendship never truly ends, does it?"
He blended a tiny bit of melancholy, and an even greater amount of sincere blessing, into his next improvised melody. The wind-like tune continued to accompany this strange, beautiful banquet where partings and reunions, reality and yearning, were all unfolding at once.
However, Stelle's two whirlwind entries and exits, combined with Lumine and Hu Tao's subsequent hurried departure, did not go unnoticed. For the sharp-minded locals of New Eridu present in the room, it was difficult not to harbor deeper doubts and associations, even with Wise and Belle's previous reassuring explanations.
The banquet's cheerful music and lively chatter continued unabated, but a subtle sense of unease and intense scrutiny began to flow quietly in the hearts of some, moving like a cold undercurrent beneath a warm sea.
The sheer power, advanced technology, and bizarre behavioral patterns displayed by these visitors from another world were far beyond the norm. While the help they had provided to the city was incredibly real and deeply appreciated, the unknown itself inherently came with massive risks.
Now, judging by Stelle's undisguised ecstasy and the subsequent chain-reaction of departures, the so-called "good news" was highly likely to be the arrival of even more visitors from other worlds.
One or two outlanders could be seen as a miraculous, fortunate encounter. But if the number continued to increase exponentially, the fundamental nature of the situation would change completely.
Yanagi, Lycaon, and Lucy exchanged subtle, weighted looks across the room. Each of them saw the exact same shadow of worry reflected in the others' eyes.
As members who bore heavy responsibilities within their respective factions, and who were constantly required to make split-second judgments on city security and Hollow activity, they could not simply immerse themselves in the blind joy of the banquet.
The three of them stood up almost simultaneously. Moving with a tacit understanding, they handled through the crowd and walked toward Wise and Belle, who were currently deep in conversation with Zhu Yuan, Caesar, and the others.
Lycaon was the first to speak. His posture remained impeccably elegant and proper as he bowed slightly, adjusting his cuffs. Yet, the content of his question cut straight to the core, his phrasing carrying an unavoidable, sharp inquiry wrapped perfectly within his polite demeanor.
"Master Proxies. Forgive my presumption, but the unusual reactions of Miss Stelle and the other guests from another world just now, as well as the hurried departure of several others... does this mean that the 'organization' your side belongs to is about to have new members arrive in our world?"
He deliberately used terms like "members" and "arrive," invisibly raising the level and formality of the event from a simple gathering of friends to a potential geopolitical incident.
Yanagi didn't bother beating around the bush. Her tone was direct, professional, and deadly serious. "Proxies, I am not intentionally throwing cold water on this celebration, nor am I being overly paranoid. But as people who live in this city and maintain its fragile order, we must consider the more practical, immediate issues."
She paused, her sharp gaze sweeping over Venti, Zhongli, and the others who were chatting and laughing in the distance. "More visitors from other worlds inherently mean more uncertainties and variables."
"Will their power systems, social concepts, and codes of conduct be able to coexist peacefully with us? Will they provide help, just like the few of you here now?" Yanagi pressed, her voice lowering. "Once a conflict of perception or interest arises, what kind of consequences will it trigger? Are we prepared for that level of collateral damage? These questions cannot wait until the people have already arrived."
Lucy nodded in agreement, her own concerns being much more specific and grounded in the gritty reality of the Outer Ring and New Eridu's streets. "The Deputy Chief is right. Wise, Belle, you both know the current situation in New Eridu better than anyone. The constant pressure of Hollow disasters, the vicious infighting between major organizations, the endless, bloody struggle for Ether resources... the situation is already a powder keg."
She crossed her arms, her expression grim. "If more visitors from other worlds with unknown, god-like powers and massive organizational backgrounds continue to join the fray, even if their intentions are purely good, there is absolutely no guarantee they won't be drawn into the existing whirlpool. They could unintentionally break the fragile balance keeping this city alive."
"When that happens, New Eridu might truly turn into a chaotic mess. As your friends and as your partners, we have a duty to voice this concern."
Their words were all entirely reasonable, pointing directly to the core issues of security and order. There was no blame or hostility on their faces, only deep, genuine worry and a clear recognition of potential future risks.
This wasn't a lack of trust in Wise and Belle. Rather, it was precisely because they valued this newfound friendship and cooperation so highly that they needed to lay the potential hidden dangers out on the table before it was too late.
Wise and Belle's expressions also shifted, the relaxed smiles fading into something much more serious and attentive.
Belle stepped forward, meeting their gazes head-on. "We completely understand your concerns. If we were in your position, managing the safety of the city and your respective factions, we would absolutely be considering the exact same things."
Her tone was incredibly sincere, lacking any defensiveness. "But please, trust Stelle, Lumine, and everyone else here. Those they choose to invite are surely their most trusted and reliable partners—people who, just like themselves, are kind-hearted, cherish friendship, and are always willing to risk their own lives to help others."
She turned slightly, gesturing toward the figures in the banquet to provide concrete examples. "Look at Venti over there. He was once the literal deity of an entire nation, yet he actively chose to step down from his divine throne, returning freedom and the future entirely to his people so they could write their own history. And Mr. Zhongli is exactly the same. He guarded Liyue for thousands of years, and now that his nation has succeeded in standing on its own two feet, he has retired, becoming a mortal to simply experience the world. What they pursue has never been power, authority, or control."
Belle's eyes shone with a quiet, fierce pride as she continued. "Stelle and her companions from the Astral Express Crew travel across the vast sea of stars. Their entire goal is to help planetary civilizations in crisis, to trailblaze unknown territories, and to deliver hope where there is none."
"They are not ambitious conquerors, and they certainly aren't troublemakers," Belle concluded, her voice steady and reassuring. "They are a group of broad-minded, incredible people who deeply respect life and civilization. How could such people ever choose to invite friends who are unsuitable, or who might bring chaos to our home?"
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