The Astral Express crew had only just arrived in Inazuma, and they immediately received a complimentary prison-cell package.
For ordinary people, the matter might have been processed more slowly. But Kamisato Ayato held a high-ranking position, so it had to be taken seriously.
"Bro, come bail us out."
Their communicators had not been confiscated, so Stelle directly contacted Koji. At a time like this, she could only look for someone she knew.
"What happened?" Koji asked, completely confused.
Bail them out? What had happened after he had left the unconscious Stelle behind?
"You know Kamisato Ayato from the Yashiro Commission, right?"
"I know him. We're pretty familiar. We've eaten together before." Koji nodded.
He was his brother-in-law, after all.
Although Ayato was a little deep and calculating, he probably would not attack strangers for no reason.
"I invited him to drink Himeko's coffee. Then he collapsed in the street. We're currently in an Inazuma prison cell."
Koji fell silent.
He had not expected things to develop like this. Did the Nameless have some kind of bad luck? Every time they went somewhere, they ran into trouble.
Teyvat clearly no longer had any major crisis. They should have been able to relax and have fun, yet they still managed to stir up trouble.
Himeko's coffee… Tsk, tsk, tsk. Kamisato Ayato really was pitiful. Although Koji had never drunk it himself, he knew exactly how terrifying the coffee Himeko made was. Every single member of the Astral Express crew turned pale at the mere mention of it.
Kamisato Ayato had not known the effect of the coffee, so it was only natural that he had fallen for it.
"Makoto, some friends of mine were locked in a cell because of a misunderstanding. Lend me a hand."
"No problem. Do you need me to go with you?" Raiden Makoto nodded. She believed what Koji said.
"No need. No one was hurt. It's just that Kamisato Ayato fainted, and my friends were treated as the culprits…"
Koji briefly explained the cause and effect.
When Raiden Makoto heard it, she revealed an expression that was half amused and half helpless. This really was far too dramatic.
However, she was a little curious. Just what kind of coffee was it? It actually had that kind of effect, making someone silently pass out on the spot.
There was really coffee that powerful? She wondered how it compared to her younger sister's cooking.
If Koji had known what Raiden Makoto was thinking, he would definitely have said that Himeko's coffee was kiddie stuff compared to Raiden Ei's god-slaying cuisine. There was absolutely no comparison between them, because that god-slaying cuisine really could take someone's life.
In the Inazuma prison cell, Stelle and the others had not suffered any unfair treatment.
"By the way, do you guys have prison food here?" Stelle asked curiously.
"You're still thinking about that right now? Stelle, the reason we got locked up in here is because of you!" March 7th felt her anger value soaring.
This inexplicable prison disaster was not even a false accusation this time. They had been dragged down by a pig teammate.
"Ahem, who knew Kamisato Ayato wouldn't doubt it at all?" Stelle coughed awkwardly.
She really had not expected Kamisato Ayato to actually dare drink it. He had not even hesitated.
"Based on the time, Kamisato Ayato should be waking up soon. Hopefully nothing else happens," Welt added.
As for why he knew the timing, that was all thanks to the experience of those who had gone before them.
It was the result of their own attempts.
At Komore Teahouse, the unconscious Kamisato Ayato had been brought over. Kamisato Ayaka looked at her older brother with an expression that was both amused and helpless. A dedicated doctor had come to examine him, and there was nothing wrong with him. He had simply fainted.
"Mm…"
Kamisato Ayato's eyelashes trembled slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes, seeing a familiar environment.
"Brother, how do you feel?" Kamisato Ayaka asked with concern.
"Ayaka, I'm fine."
Kamisato Ayato sorted out the entire sequence of events, then a helpless, amused expression appeared on his face. He had actually been knocked out by a cup of coffee.
He could confirm that there had definitely been no medicinal ingredients in the coffee that little gray-haired girl had given him. It was entirely the coffee itself that was special.
"By the way, where are those outlanders now?" Kamisato Ayato asked.
"I understand. I'll go release them."
Kamisato Ayato nodded. There was not the slightest problem with his body. So it only had a dizziness effect?
"Brother, I'll go with you."
Kamisato Ayaka was somewhat interested in those outsiders as well. They had run into something like this the moment they arrived in Inazuma. It reminded her of the Traveler.
Koji arrived at the prison. With the Electro Archon's written order, no one stopped him.
"Yo, how does it feel?"
Looking at the few of them as "prisoners," Koji smiled and teased them. For people like them, the cell door had no real blocking effect at all. It was as fragile as paper. If they wanted to come out, they could come out.
What truly stopped them was the moral line in their hearts.
The Nameless of the Astral Express crew were famous good people throughout the cosmos. Unless they had been framed or falsely accused, if it was because of their own actions, they absolutely would not run away.
"It's pretty good. We just haven't gotten to eat," Stelle nodded.
"Sure. I can have someone keep you locked up for a few more days. Then you'll get to eat prison food," Koji nodded. That was a small matter.
"Wait, we don't want to stay here. Stelle, if you want to, then stay here by yourself," March 7th quickly said.
Since Koji was here, nothing would happen. If Stelle wanted to experience prison life, she could experience it on her own.
"March, didn't we already agree that we'd be good sisters together?" Stelle could not help saying.
"I regret it now, okay? You can stay here by yourself." March 7th rolled her eyes.
Back when Stelle had just boarded the Astral Express from Herta Space Station, March 7th had indeed said that. After all, they were both girls, and Stelle had even helped block the attack fired by the Doomsday Beast for her. Her favorability had increased greatly.
But being thrown into jail together for no reason? She had no such thoughts at all.
"Fine, fine. I'll go out too." Stelle nodded helplessly. She did not actually want to stay here either.
"Himeko, your coffee really is amazing. If you run into an enemy, you can pour it down their throat," Koji said with a smile.
Himeko revealed a helpless expression and said, "Mine is just coffee. It isn't some kind of weapon."
Hearing Koji tease her like this, her composure really was starting to crack. Was he serious? She was just brewing coffee normally.
"That makes sense. If it succeeds, then we wouldn't even need to fight." Stelle clapped her hands.
Using Himeko's coffee to weaken opponents. If they fainted, that would be even better. They could win without shedding blood.
"Stelle, I think you want to drink coffee," Himeko said with a smile that did not reach her eyes.
"I was wrong."
The moment drinking Himeko's coffee was mentioned, Stelle decisively admitted defeat. From that alone, one could imagine just how shocking the coffee was.
Dan Heng and the others did not say anything, because they knew the consequence of butting in.
That would be asking for trouble.
Koji released everyone. It had not been a big deal to begin with. No one had been injured, and only Kamisato Ayato had fainted, so it was very easy to handle.
(End of Chapter)
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