"Victory is already assured."
"Lead the charge — fear no blade nor spear! March upon the razor's edge — what matter if we're wrapped in horsehide come the end!"
"These are mere remnants of a broken army. How easily shall we shatter them! Our force crushes their formation — like sunlight breaking through clouds!"
"Alright, up you get. Stop huffing."
Caelus grabbed Stelle by the collar and hauled Hachi-Stelle upright — she'd been crouched in a sprinter's starting stance, ready to charge.
The Stellaron spirit was infuriatingly adorable!
"Old Caelus, your grasp of ancient Xianzhou culture is genuinely impressive — most Xianzhou locals couldn't write lines like that," Qingque said, setting down a stack of cards inscribed with names or printed with character portraits from a portable printer. She let out a heartfelt sigh of admiration.
"I have a feeling that if this game ever gets properly made, it'll outsell Celestial Jade — maybe even take the whole Galaxy by storm."
This game — Xianzhou Killers — was set against the backdrop of Xianzhou history. It lifted famous figures from the Xianzhou Alliance and the Denizens of Abundance, gave each of them skills drawn from their legends, and let players either duke it out head-to-head or run a hidden-identity battle.
As the famous five-star General MacArthur once said: if I'd lived in the age of Xianzhou Killers, I'd have traded my baton for a [KILL] card.
Sheer genius.
"Unlike Celestial Jade, which is pure entertainment," Qingque said, fanning the general cards between her fingers like a poker hand, her delicate fingertips tracing the gilt edges of cards bearing the likenesses of Xianzhou legends, heroes, and ancient Denizens of Abundance spirits.
"This card game ties deeply into Xianzhou history and classical culture. It gives people from other civilizations a way to learn about the great heroes of every Xianzhou era — it could do a lot for Luofu's commercial reach going forward."
"Even someone with Master Diviner's disposition would have to change her tune."
In the past, whenever Qingque brought up Celestial Jade with Fu Xuan, the Master Diviner's view had been exactly one thing: frivolous, mind-rotting nonsense. But swap it out for Xianzhou Killers — a game with genuine cultural and political weight, capable of spreading Xianzhou heritage across the Galaxy — and even Master Diviner would be hard-pressed to object.
"Not bad, right~?"
Caelus toyed with one of the gifts Asta had given him — a portable printer — editing skills from memory on a tablet, feeding in a blank card, and printing out a finished skill card.
"'Xianzhou Killers' can be the second flagship board game for our company, right alongside Celestial Jade."
Caelus tapped the table, a delicate card pinched between his fingers.
"By the way — are we really going to start a Celestial Jade company?" Qingque had been on board with the idea at first, but after that whole incident with the Heliobus possessing her and spinning that illusory realm, she felt a little...
"Absolutely — I'm still waiting for you to become President Qing and keep me in style. The more rich ladies willing to let me mooch off them, the better."
In all honesty, if Qingque hadn't listened to her family and gone the safe route into a Xianzhou civil service job — comfortable enough, but never wealthy — people would probably already be calling her President Qing by now. She read people with uncanny accuracy, her mind was razor-sharp, and over the course of their casual chats about card designs and character skills, Caelus had discovered that Little Sparrow had a business brain that could sniff out opportunities better than a bloodhound.
"Come on, let's play a round and try it out!" March 7th was practically bouncing with eagerness.
"If you dare come at me, I'll send you home in ruins!"
Stelle was holding a card printed with the likeness of a Xianzhou general from the Fiery Tribulation era — Xu Sheng — and activated his general skill, Army Breaker.
The full card set wasn't finished yet, but there were more than enough cards for a test run.
"The rules said a KILL only deals one damage — so why am I taking four?!"
March 7th set down her camera and picked up her hand.
"How did you draw like twelve cards at the start of your turn? Oh — it's a skill, isn't it!"
March 7th caught on to the rules quickly and discovered the game was genuinely addictive. General skills constantly upended the baseline rules in ways that kept you on your toes — all in all, it was a lot more interesting than Celestial Jade.
The four of them played with great enthusiasm.
Back in the courtyard, Seele was multitasking: chatting with Silver Wolf on her own account while simultaneously logging into Caelus's main account to relay the inside scoop on the Fox Immortal Susu conversation — and its outcome — to Asta.
Then, playing both roles at once, she discussed with Silver Wolf and Asta the heavily modded Xianzhou take on the classic game — "Xianzhou Killers".
Silver Wolf had a serious gaming habit that extended to board games, and "Xianzhou Killers" was going to get a digital release eventually — Seele figured it was worth getting Silver Wolf's input now.
As for Asta's side of things, Seele asked her to help register the company and handle operations and digital development for Celestial Jade, the revamped Monopoly, Xianzhou Killers, and the Galaxy-spanning, earth-shattering fission of Flying Over Soukaizan.
The reason Caelus got along so well with Qingque was, in large part, because they were both seasoned salted fish at heart. Something as tedious as starting a company? Obviously you leave that to the professionals.
"Stelle, Caelus — did you hear what Himeko said? Our next stop is Penacony! Apparently it's a world as beautiful as a dream. I can't wait— Nihility!"
March 7th's clever little brain was running at full speed. She threw down a card.
"Hmph, child's play — Negate!"
Stelle kicked off her white flats, freed her snacks from the spatial ring, settled them on Caelus's lap, and slapped down a card with the energy of someone dropping a bomb in Dou Dizhu:
"Didn't Pom-Pom say the date on the invitation is still pretty far off?"
"Which means we've got plenty of time to play to our hearts' content — right?!" Little March's face lit up with pure delight. Her delicate fingertips drummed on the Lu Xun general card. She glanced at the board state, frowned, and nudged Stelle with her elbow: "Why didn't you use my weapon to attack the main target?"
Stelle, currently playing as Huang Yueying, looked at March 7th's Ancient Ding Blade. "I've got +1 Horse range — how am I supposed to use it on you?"
Qingque: "...You two were made for each other."
Lu Xun's 'Modesty' skill prevented him from being targeted by [Petty Theft]. Huang Yueying's Mastermind skill let her use Tactic cards without distance restrictions.
"There's a reason you two get along so well."
Caelus shook his head, pulled out his phone, and booted Seele's session off his account.
[Bronya: Caelus, what are you up to?]
The message was from Belobog's Grand Guardian — Rand-Duck.
[Fusion is a Man's Romance: Playing cards~ We made some new games.]
Leaving Jarilo-VI didn't mean cutting contact with Belobog. As long as they were in range of interstellar signal, they could reach each other anytime — video calls included. Caelus checked in on Rand-Duck every day, sent Sylvia any catchy interstellar rock tracks he stumbled across, and when his main body was busy, he'd have Seele handle things; when Seele was tied up, Silver Wing covered; or Moonscar could step in.
Sorry — having multiple bodies really did mean you could do whatever you wanted. That's what it means to be a true time management master!
[Fusion is a Man's Romance: A friend and I started a company. The registered address is on Jarilo-VI — it should help boost Belobog's economy down the line.]
After Caelus introduced Xianzhou Killers and the other board games to Asta, the pink little heiress had taken a keen interest in the Celestial Jade company and offered to invest a small bit of pocket money.
Caelus had naturally said yes. Having Asta's name among the major shareholders was worth more than any amount of advertising — from there, he just had to sit back and watch the credits roll in on their own.
With the Prosperity buff in effect, once Xianzhou Killers and Celestial Jade swept the Galaxy, tourists would start coming to visit the company — and with the address set on Jarilo-VI, that could draw a lot more eyes to Belobog.
[Bronya: Understood. I'll have the company constructed. Anything I should keep in mind?]
Rand-Duck didn't say thank you. Between Belobog and Bronya herself, there had been more than enough thanks already. Caelus was Belobog's universally recognized Grand Guardian's husband — at this point in their relationship, there was no need for such formality.
Caelus thought for a moment, debating whether to have Bronya build a little Wonder-style company, and ultimately decided against it.
They chatted for a while about the newly formed Celestial Jade company, then the conversation drifted to the past couple of days' goings-on.
[Bronya: In a few days — do you want to come back and visit?]
[Bronya: I've been working on organizing preparations for the Warmth Festival. It's a traditional Belobog holiday — regular celebrations have been suspended for years because of the Fragmentum and the Sealed Zone. This will be the first Warmth Festival since the thaw.]
[Bronya: A lot of people are hoping that Belobog's heroes will be there.]
"A festival! Yes!"
Caelus hadn't even had a chance to reply when Stelle — her fluffy gray hair pressed close, peering at the chat — threw both hands in the air and cheered.
As if a keyword had been triggered, March 7th, who had been agonizing over her hand with a pained expression, instantly transformed. In one smooth motion she was leaning over, eyes sparkling.
"Festival, celebration — sounds like our natural habitat!"
"And we've got time to spare — we have to go! We absolutely have to! Caelus!"
March 7th grabbed Caelus by the shoulders with both hands and started shaking.
[Fusion is a Man's Romance: No problem — Little March is already yelling at me to pack. We'll be back before the festival starts.]
[Bronya: Mm!]
[Bronya: [A bouquet of roses that only elderly people would send].jpg]
"A festival... how lovely," Qingque murmured. She flopped back into her grandfather's rocking chair with a thud, finger idly flicking a tassel, eyes carrying a distant, dreamy look. "How lovely~"
"Qingque, why don't you come with us?" March 7th extended an invitation.
"I'll pass — Master Diviner would never let me go."
Qingque lay there in her chair. One moment she'd been bright-eyed and fierce at the card table; now her entire being radiated the defeated energy of I am a broken sparrow. "She keeps me on too tight a leash."
"Hang in there! President Qing — fight for the day you can have Fu Xuan under your thumb."
Caelus patted Qingque's smooth shoulder in consolation and encouragement. He understood — what Qingque was wistfully longing for wasn't the festival itself. It was not having to work.
"That's never going to happen," Qingque muttered, lips puffed in a pout. She looked like a soul crawling up from the depths of hell, yearning for the world above. She grabbed Caelus's hand and spoke in a pitiful, plaintive voice: "Old Caelus — just go ahead and give me maternity leave!"
Why did her friends get to travel to other planets for holidays while she was stuck being monitored by Master Diviner in the Divination Commission, working overtime?
"The things coming out of your mouth right now—!" March 7th stared at Qingque's outrageous declaration in horror.
"Even with Xianzhou civil service benefits, they're not going to give maternity leave to someone who's been pregnant for less than a month, are they?" Caelus shrugged, expressing regretful helplessness.
"Ahhhh!"
Qingque let out a mournful cry and collapsed back into the rocking chair, her final words a barely-audible murmur: "The world... has rejected me!"
Her whole being seemed on the verge of dissolving into ash and smoke.
Out of sympathy and compassion, the three of them kept Qingque company for quite a while longer — more rounds of Xianzhou Killers, more Celestial Jade — before finally packing up the automated barbecue stall and drawing up rankings for the Heliobus based on their performance.
First place earned a snack suffused with pure Heliobus energy. Second place also came with a reward of its own — all of it designed to spark some healthy competitive spirit in their adorable little employees.
The night's barbecue stall had turned a tidy profit — zero-cost startup, after all.
Thinking about it further — maybe sending a couple of Pals to Jarilo-VI to help with the Belobog revival effort would work: melting ice, hauling rubble... Actually, scratch that. If the Heliobus got out of hand, Belobog might not be able to contain them.
"Everyone — we're back!"
"Bronya sent a message — Belobog is throwing a festival! Hands up if you want to go!"
The voice arrived before the person did. A boundlessly energetic March 7th came sprinting into the courtyard, dragging two gray-haired raccoons along behind her.
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