Chapter 427: Three Bangboos Descend
Belle's earnest declaration rang with an absolute, unwavering trust in her companions. Her genuine emotion managed to ease the tension in the room, smoothing out the sharp edges of suspicion that had begun to form.
However, seasoned professionals like Section Chief Liu and Von Lycaon understood the unpredictable depths of human nature far too well. Relying solely on 'trust'and'good character' was a luxury their respective organizations could ill afford. The heavy gravity anchoring their expressions refused to fully dissipate, their minds still calculating the sheer risks of multiversal anomalies.
Noting their lingering apprehension, Wise stepped forward, offering a gentle, reassuring pat on his sister's shoulder. "What Belle said is entirely true," he began, his voice calm and analytical, "but she might have glossed over a few of the more practical, fundamental constraints that govern these visits."
Wise let his gaze sweep across the three guests, ensuring he had their undivided attention. "First, and most: traveling across different worlds—and especially maintaining a physical presence and active state within our reality—requires a highly specific 'vessel'."
"The Curio we are currently using boasts a relatively complete set of functions, but it is incredibly difficult to manufacture and carries an astronomical cost. Even within our own 'organization,' it is by no means a common item that can be mass-produced and distributed on a whim."
"The new friends arriving today will be operating through a much more simplified vessel—specifically, a Bangboo chassis. This particular vessel comes with severe limitations regarding operational flexibility, overall power output, and sustainable activity duration."
"Think of it more as a medium for 'experiencing'our world and engaging in'limited interaction,'rather than allowing a powerful individual to fully exercise their original strength and cause structural impacts on our reality. In terms of an actual'threat level,' they are strictly and physically constrained by the hardware."
Watching the three of them process this information, Wise pressed his advantage, presenting an even more crucial layer of security. "Secondly, and perhaps more: the act of crossing over itself, along with the subsequent activities of these travelers in our world, are bound by a set of incredibly strict—even 'absolute'—rules."
He offered a recent, highly relevant example. "Section Chief Liu, do you recall what happened at the end of the Port Epis Hollow incident? Specifically, after Stelle's emotions spiraled out of control and she unleashed a level of power that far exceeded what the 'event rules' permitted?"
Liu's eyes widened slightly in immediate recollection. "She and that Mr. Welt were forcibly teleported straight back to this Base., all the material gains and data collected from that entire operation were instantly cleared." She remembered the incident vividly; at the time, she had felt a chill at how the punishment mechanism operated with a cold, mechanical precision that seemed far too absolute to be controlled by human hands.
"Exactly," Wise affirmed, nodding slowly. "That was a direct manifestation of the 'event rules' in action. The system simply will not allow any situation to develop to the point of catastrophic loss of control."
Wise's thorough explanation—grounded in the highly practical realities of vessel limitations and absolute rule constraints—effectively drew a hard, obvious "safety boundary" around the entire concept. This logical breakdown proved far more persuasive than simple emotional assurances. A collective, quiet sigh of relief finally escaped the three guests.
"Vessel limitations... event rules..." Liu repeated the terms softly under her breath, her tense shoulders finally dropping as she nodded. "If that is truly the case, then indeed... as long as it remains within a controllable range, it is leaps and bounds better than the apocalyptic worst-case scenarios we were just imagining."
She shifted her gaze between Wise and Belle, offering a respectful nod. "Thank you for the detailed explanation, Rope Masters. This grants us a much-needed peace of mind."
Lycaon placed a hand over his chest and offered a crisp, elegant bow. "Thank you both for your refreshing honesty and thorough clarification. With this knowledge, Victoria Housekeeping can properly adjust our internal risk assessments and emergency response plans. After all, it is never a bad thing to prepare for a rainy day."
Lucy crossed her arms, a small, slightly embarrassed smirk playing on her lips. "Perhaps we were winding ourselves up a bit too tight. However, as your friends, we might just have to drop by your little 'Base' more often in the future to check up on things. You two better keep your wits about you, too! Ugh, whatever, just don't do anything stupid and be careful."
Belle's face lit up with a radiant smile. "My brother and I will definitely be careful! But seriously, everyone is always welcome to come hang out here! This space was originally intended to be a fun hub for everyone to communicate, relax, and exchange ideas anyway!"
Although the deepest, most gnawing worries in their hearts had been temporarily soothed by Wise's rational, step-by-step analysis, the three guests still understood the reality of their situation. Facing completely unknown, cross-world communication demanded a certain degree of lingering vigilance.
Each of them secretly resolved to participate more actively in the affairs of this Base, determined to observe these multiversal anomalies with their own eyes.
Meanwhile, deep inside the Gear Coin Exchange...
Stelle, Lumine, and Hu Tao were huddled tightly around the glowing central screen. Three shimmering, holographic invitation vouchers had already materialized in their hands, casting a soft, colorful glow over their eager faces.
"Alright then, let's get this party started!" Stelle declared, taking a deep, dramatic breath before stepping up to the console as the first volunteer.
She swiftly brought up the system's invitation interface. Her golden eyes immediately locked onto two specific names she had already picked out in her head. Without a single second of hesitation, her fingers danced across the holographic keys, locking in her targets: "Pom-Pom" and "Sunday."
Lumine stepped up right beside her. Her movements were equally decisive, lacking even the slightest hint of hesitation. Her golden eyes were set with an unyielding firmness as she tapped the screen. Invitation target—"Aether." Confirmed.
Hu Tao rounded out the trio, completing her own operation with a mischievous, ringing giggle. Invitation target—"Daiyuan." Confirmed.
The bustling Gear Coin Exchange fell into a breathless hush for a fleeting moment. The air hummed with a faint, static energy as the Chat Group system processed the four applications, actively bridging the unfathomable barriers between entirely different universes.
A split second later, three distinct clusters of soft, uniquely colored light flared to life in front of the three girls.
The illumination wasn't blinding; instead, it pulsed with a warm, inviting energy before rapidly condensing inward, pulling physical matter from the digital ether to take solid shape.
Within the swirling cluster of light hovering directly in front of Stelle, a pair of signature, comically large, drooping ears materialized first. This was quickly followed by the manifestation of a perfectly round, incredibly fluffy, light-gray body.
The newly formed entity was dressed in a miniature, yet painstakingly exquisite replica of the Astral Express conductor's uniform. Perched proudly atop its round head was a tiny, perfectly tailored conductor's hat.
It slowly opened its large, expressive eyes, blinking blankly at the unfamiliar surroundings for a few seconds. Then, it tilted its head, curiously scanning the high-tech room before its gaze finally locked onto the practically vibrating Stelle and March.
It attempted to take a step forward. Its mechanical Bangboo body was somewhat clumsy, wobbling slightly as it worked hard to maintain its center of gravity. This was the beloved Pom-Pom, having successfully descended into this reality within a Bangboo chassis—a form that could only be accurately described as the "Conductor-boo."
Right beside it, a second Bangboo materialized. This one radiated a faint, ethereal glow from behind its head, mimicking the spread of angelic wings, complete with a simple, floating golden halo hovering just above its casing. It was draped in an extremely elegant, miniature priest's robe, with every fold and golden accent rendered with careful perfection.
Its digital gaze was remarkably calm and deep, carrying a heavy weight of scrutiny and philosophical thought. It floated quietly a few centimeters above the floorboards, staring at Stelle with a complex, difficult-to-discern expression. This was the former head of the Oak Family, Sunday, manifesting in the mortal realm as the "Sunday-boo."
Over in front of Hu Tao, the descending light felt noticeably heavier, carrying the ancient, steady aura of bedrock and deep-rooted vegetation. The Bangboo that stepped out of the glow possessed a deep, earthy brown chassis, looking incredibly sturdy and packed with latent physical power.
Its most striking features were the two small, branching dragon horns protruding from its head, and the thick, geo-infused dragon tail swaying behind its rear. The tail wasn't a mere cosmetic decoration; it swung flexibly with a heavy, rhythmic thud. This was Daiyuan—the human guise of the ancient Geo Dragon—now fully realized as the "Azhdaha-boo."
Inside the quiet confines of the Gear Coin Exchange, bathed in the fading glow of the teleportation light, three completely unique Bangboos floated and stood in silence, acclimating to their new mechanical vessels.
Lumine's golden eyes swept over the scene with a sudden, desperate urgency. She saw the adorable Conductor-boo Pom-Pom, the elegantly floating Sunday-boo, and the sturdy, majestic Azhdaha-boo. But there was no fourth light. There was absolutely no sign of the one figure she desperately wanted to see most.
The digital voucher she had so carefully used to invite "Aether" did not ignite into a brilliant connecting point of light like the others. Instead, it flickered weakly, remaining a dim, gray phantom on her screen. A second later, it quietly dissolved into digital dust, completely dissipating from her account.
In its place, a cold, concise prompt from the Chat Group system popped up on her interface:
[The invitation has been rejected by the other party. Please choose another invitation target.]
Lumine stared at the glowing blue text, her breath hitching in her throat. "Rejected..." she murmured softly, the word tasting like ash on her tongue.
An indescribable, heavy wave of loss—mixed with a sharp, sudden spike of irritation—instantly welled up in her golden eyes. She clenched her hands into tight fists at her sides, her knuckles turning a stark, bone-white from the pressure.
Deep down, this result wasn't entirely unexpected. With her intimate understanding of her twin brother's current path, she knew that stubborn idiot wouldn't easily accept such a seemingly "playful" and random invitation out of the blue.
But rational expectation was a poor shield for the heart. Logic did absolutely nothing to offset the sharp, visceral sting of being so directly, coldly rejected by her own flesh and blood.
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