"Purpose…"
Right. They came to attend the festival!
But between the IPC debt collection mess and Xun Yu's various chaotic operations, they had almost forgotten.
"Good thing you mentioned it, I nearly forgot. I wonder how Bronya's doing…"
"Xun Yu, do you have a way to solve Jarilo-VI's crisis?"
"We just pulled them out of the Stellaron disaster, and now there's a debt crisis…"
"I don't feel at ease doing nothing."
In a way, they were the fuse.
If they hadn't resolved the Stellaron, Jarilo-VI would've been destroyed soon enough.
But spared from destruction, it now carried a crushing external debt.
Bronya had said that sum alone was enough to break Jarilo-VI's spine.
Instant annihilation… or prolonged suffering.
Hard to say which was better.
"Yes."
"Seriously??"
"O.o."
Xun Yu made one eye huge and round and the other tiny and round.
March 7th's brain crashed.
She'd only used a meme phrase—and he replied with a facial expression.
Forget it. Business first.
"So where do we find Topaz?"
"Easy."
Xun Yu tore open a spatial rift and reached inside.
March 7th thought he was about to yank Topaz out directly—but instead, a soft, grumbling voice came through.
Xun Xiaoyu was being held by the scruff of fate, glaring straight at Xun Yu.
"What are you looking at?!"
"…."
Her first sentence left Xun Yu speechless.
Thinking about how she'd been binge-watching dramas and devouring snacks on the Express lately, he rubbed his chin.
Did he accidentally create an ancestor?
"Do something useful, Xiaoyu."
"Find Topaz's location for me."
Xun Xiaoyu held out a hand.
"Payment first."
Pfft—
"Hahaha—Xun Yu, I'm not laughing—haha—I just thought of something funny—HAHA!"
March 7th and Stelle were doubled over.
Even Yanqing's lips twitched upward.
"You eat my food, use my stuff, wear what I provide, sleep in my space—and when I need help, you charge me?"
Xun Yu's face darkened.
Xun Xiaoyu nodded like she didn't notice.
"I think what you need isn't money. It's some 'fatherly love.'"
"What are you—?!"
"Mom, help—mmph!"
A fruit was stuffed into her mouth.
She bit down. Her eyes lit up.
Sour. Crisp. Nice.
"Mom? Didn't Xun Xiaoyu get created by Xun Yu? If he's the father… then the mother is…"
"Don't tell me it's really Fu Xuan?!"
Remembering how Xiaoyu addressed Fu Xuan before the Seat of Divine Foresight, everyone's expressions turned strange.
"I knew there was something between them."
Who randomly turns into a dog and acts like one for someone else?
…Though, Xun Yu wasn't exactly normal to begin with.
"Ahem. Apologies. The child lacks discipline."
Xun Yu decided she deserved a future bamboo-shoot-and-pork lesson.
"Eeeehhh~"
Feeling a chill, Xiaoyu tried weaponized cuteness.
Unfortunately, after prolonged exposure to Aha, Xun Yu was immune.
Thanks to Aha and Xiaoyu, he felt cured of certain questionable preferences.
Don't misunderstand—now he simply appreciated all varieties of beauty.
And! He could transform himself.
The mask he crafted for himself allowed size shifts at will.
"Stop whining. Find her."
Grumbling, Xiaoyu got to work.
He could obviously locate someone himself—why make her do it?
She'd just reached the best part of her show!
Life is hard. Xiaoyu sighed.
For "finding someone," she started by force-cracking Topaz's device.
After pulling the data, her eyes sparkled.
Perfect. She'll pay my service fee.
Break in, transfer from her card… hehehe.
But how much?
With little sense of credit value, she transferred half.
Which promptly froze Topaz's account.
Xiaoyu went silent.
Oops. That's bad.
"Here. She's here."
After handing over the coordinates, she sighed gloomily.
Xun Yu, fully aware of what she'd just done, twitched violently.
A lifeform modeled after himself and modified by Aha…
Every move radiated Elation.
"Send me back. I'm finishing my show."
She poked his cheek irritably.
What a tiny tyrant.
Yes. Definitely two servings of bamboo shoots later.
Unaware of her looming fate, Xiaoyu hummed and vanished.
"Let's go."
…
"You're seriously using that?! Excuse me—I need a moment!"
Topaz had expected the Astral Express to plead for Jarilo-VI.
She'd already prepared her arguments.
They were here to negotiate.
But then Xun Yu took out a stone.
A stone filled with pure Preservation power.
Now Topaz lost her composure.
She immediately intended to inform Diamond.
But before she could report the situation, another message stunned her.
What the hell?
Her data had been breached?
Her card frozen?
Her assets nearly halved?
_______________________________________________________________
TL note: I finally managed to make a cover for this shit🥺 this short ass chapter is short so lete ramble for minute
For those who are wondering why I vanished for a week or two it's because I'm trying to find a way to make a cover and I'm too lazy to sometimes update
So expect me to update this story even more chaotically