Stelle: "Shocking!"
Stelle: "Is there finally an update on Miss Tingyun?"
Feixiao: "There are some leads…"
Feixiao: "But judging by the situation at the scene… It's not exactly… optimistic."
March 7th: "Huh?!!"
March 7th: "Could it be… Miss Tingyun is still…"
March 7th: "THAT WRETCHED PHANTYLIA!!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Who is Miss Tingyun?"
Furina de Fontaine: "She seems very important to you all…"
Welt Yang: "That's a long story."
Welt Yang: "Simply put, when we first arrived at the Luofu Xianzhou, it was Miss Tingyun who guided us."
Welt Yang: "But in the end, we discovered that the so-called Miss Tingyun was actually a disguise used by the Lord Ravager Phantylia."
Hu Tao: "OH MY!!"
Hu Tao: "That means… Miss Tingyun might have already been… BY THE LORD RAVAGER!!"
Stelle: "DAMN THAT LORD RAVAGER, THEY REALLY ARE A HEARTLESS BUNCH!!"
Yukong: "Sigh… Tingyun, in the end…"
Feixiao: "No need to be so pessimistic."
Feixiao: "I found the place where Tingyun met with danger."
Feixiao: "But I didn't find any traces of her."
Feixiao: "However… I did find traces of Ms. Ruan Mei."
March 7th: "What?"
March 7th: "Are you saying, Miss Tingyun was successfully saved by Ms. Ruan Mei?"
Ruan Mei: "Are you talking about a Foxian woman?"
Stelle: "Yes, yes! Tingyun is a Foxian!"
Ruan Mei: "Hmm, I do have an impression of her."
Ruan Mei: "Don't worry. Perhaps, when the time is right, she will appear before you again."
March 7th: "REALLY?!!"
March 7th: "YAY!!"
Stelle: "Uh… the problem is… Tingyun won't appear in some strange form, will she?"
Ruan Mei: "Hehe, you guess?"
Stelle: "Cough, cough… I… I'd better not guess."
Stelle: "I just hope Miss Tingyun doesn't turn into a bug…"
Stelle: "If she really has to change… she should just turn into a Tingyun Cake."
....
『 The scene shifts, coming to Stelle. At this moment, she is deep in thought.
[ The meeting that decided the future of Penacony went much smoother than expected… ]
[ It ended with almost no debate. ]
[ The opening ceremony of the Charmony Festival should be starting soon, let's go check out the scene. ]
[ Hmm… there are quite a few treasures on this airship, quite a bountiful harvest… ]
After pondering for a while, Stelle remembered the Charmony Festival opening ceremony was about to begin, so she headed toward the venue.
After walking for a while, she saw Boothill talking to a projection of Aventurine.
[ …Don't forget, I can shoot you to death anytime. ]
Boothill said with his arms crossed.
[ That would truly be my honor… Rest assured, the thing I hate most is cheating at the gambling table. ]
Aventurine spread his hands, smiling indifferently.
[ Hmph… you'd better. ]
Boothill saw Aventurine's attitude and gave a cold snort.
[ Look who's here. ]
[ The great hero of the Astral Express, the most dazzling Miss Stelle in all of Penacony! ]
Aventurine turned his head slightly, saw Stelle walking toward them, and a smile appeared on his face.
[ Yo, you're here too? ]
[ Long time no see, friend. ]
Boothill also saw Stelle and immediately greeted her. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "Why are Mr. Boothill and Mr. Aventurine on the same side?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Weren't they at each other's throats before, ready to shoot each other to death at the slightest disagreement?"
Hu Tao: "It seems like… they just happened to have a common goal?"
Stelle: "Oswald, they both want to kill that guy."
Stelle: "So it should be a temporary alliance."
March 7th: "But come to think of it, why didn't Mr. Aventurine come to the Radiant Feldspar in person?"
March 7th: "Instead, like Silver Wolf, he set up a holographic projection."
Silver Wolf: "His projection can compare to mine?"
Silver Wolf: "His is just a standard holographic projection."
Silver Wolf: "Unlike me, who can come and go without a trace."
Qingque: "Haha, maybe he has trauma from coming into the dream in person."
Li Sushang: "Indeed, being slashed by that terrifying blade before, it was exactly like the worst nightmare!"
....
『 [ How come you're standing with the IPC, cowboy? ]
Stelle saw Boothill and Aventurine standing side by side, and asked with some curiosity.
[ This guy… has something to do with a certain 'cutie' I'm tracking. ]
[ How does that saying go? ]
[ The enemy of my enemy is my friend. ]
[ Forget it, let's put the shady stuff aside for now, don't ruin the atmosphere of the Charmony Festival. ]
Boothill shook his head, not wanting to say more on the matter.
[ I agree. ]
[ Then let us congratulate Miss Stelle. ]
[ I heard the Family is going to properly thank you guys from the Express at the Charmony Festival. ]
[ Ah, it's such a pity I can't be there in person. ]
Aventurine said, feigning regret.
[ Aventurine, you really retreated in a hurry. ]
Thinking about what happened before, Stelle teased.
[ My mission was only to tear open an opening for the IPC to enter the game. ]
[ Regardless of anything else, as far as this matter is concerned, I think I completed it quite well. ]
[ When you were lingering in the Dreamflux Reef, I was actually nearby. ]
[ Thanks to a knowledgeable friend, otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to dig up so much dirt. ]
[ It's just that the Emanator used a bit too much force… My body couldn't hold up for long, otherwise this matter could have been wrapped up even more neatly. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Hahaha, dying of laughter, 'too much force'."
Stelle: "Deep resentment from Aventurine toward Ms. Acheron."
Qingque: "Is it possible… that was already a very, very small amount of force?"
Qingque: "And Mr. Aventurine just couldn't handle it?"
Guinaifen: "Definitely!"
Guinaifen: "Look at that last slash from Ms. Acheron, it even split the Ena's Dream!"
Guinaifen: "If that slash had landed on Mr. Aventurine, he probably would've been gone on the spot!"
Furina de Fontaine: "I feel like if Ms. Acheron didn't have reservations and wasn't afraid to go all out…"
Furina de Fontaine: "Then she could probably have sent the entire Penacony to its grave by herself."
March 7th: "One can only say, the power of Nihility is truly terrifying."
....
『 [ I'd like to thank you for all your help in the battle, cowboy. ]
Stelle smiled at Aventurine, then thanked Boothill.
[ Hah, no problem. ]
[ Punishing evil and promoting good is the top priority; it would be strange if we weren't there. ]
[ After that little stunt earlier, we Galaxy Rangers can be considered to have come out of retirement. ]
[ You'll probably meet quite a few comrades of the Hunt on the road in the future. Please do me a favor and say hello for me. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Lumine: "Does this count as the Galaxy Rangers coming out of retirement?"
Paimon: "YAY!!"
Paimon: "From now on, the bad guys in the universe definitely won't dare to be so rampant!"
Welt Yang: "Hmm… once the news of the Galaxy Rangers' return spreads, it will deter some of the vicious evildoers."
Welt Yang: "The atmosphere in the universe will also become a bit better."
Stelle: "Tsk, Boothill, looking forward to you Galaxy Rangers continuing to do some earth-shattering things."
Stelle: "Best to make the scum of the universe tremble with fear!"
Boothill: "Easy, easy."
Boothill: "Once we Galaxy Rangers get stronger, we'll continue to assassinate Lord Ravagers!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Ah…"
Furina de Fontaine: "Mr. Boothill, isn't that a bit rash?"
March 7th: "I also think it's rash, Lord Ravagers aren't that easy to kill…"
Boothill: "Hey, at least we have the experience of assassinating one, next time, we definitely won't suffer such heavy losses!!"
Boothill: "Only in this way can we live up to the prestige of the Galaxy Rangers!"
....
『 [ By the way… what were you two talking about just now? ]
Stelle was a bit curious about what Boothill and Aventurine were just discussing.
[ Forget it, I won't beat around the bush, I'll just say it. ]
[ I have a grudge against an executive named Oswald Schneider, and this flashy guy can help me find him. ]
Boothill didn't intend to hide anything and explained it directly to Stelle.
[ The grudges between the Marketing Development Department and the Strategic Investment Department are known throughout the galaxy, but I really didn't expect that even the Galaxy Rangers would have a chance to get involved. ]
[ It seems… things are about to get interesting. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Asta: "Flashy… that word is really quite fitting for Mr. Aventurine."
Stelle: "Aventurine, can't you dress in a more low-key way?"
Stelle: "Why do you give people the feeling of a nouveau riche?"
Aventurine: "Huh?"
Aventurine: "My clothes are all exclusively customized."
Aventurine: "Luxurious and elegant, how is it like a nouveau riche?"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "You are correct."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "But paired with your damned gambler temperament, it indeed looks like a foolish nouveau riche."
Stelle: "See!"
Stelle: "Even the Professor says so!"
Aventurine: "This…"
Aventurine: "Temperament is not something I can change at will."
Aventurine: "Tsk, no matter."
Aventurine: "At worst, I'll just hire a famous designer to make me a few more styles that fit my temperament."
Aventurine: "Anyway, it's just a matter of spending money to solve it."
Aventurine: "Not a big deal."
March 7th: "Ahhh, everything is solved with money!"
March 7th: "Is this the arrogance of the rich?"
....
『 [ I see… ]
[ Alright then, I wish you both a good time at the festival. ]
Stelle nodded and said with a smile.
[ Thanks, and I wish you a good time too, great hero of Penacony! ]
Boothill returned the sentiment.
[ I'll pass. ]
[ However, I wish you a good time. If you don't mind, let's play a couple more rounds later. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Playing a couple of rounds is fine."
Stelle: "BUT I'M BRINGING SISTER ACHERON TO PLAY WITH ME!!"
Aventurine: "???"
Aventurine: "Friend, what do you mean by this?"
Aventurine: "Bringing a bodyguard?"
Stelle: "That's the only way to have a sense of security!"
Stelle: "Acheron, Sister Acheron, you'll protect me, right? (pitiful.jpg)"
Acheron: "Uh…"
Acheron: "Since you've said so, I won't refuse."
Acheron: "It's just that, I might get lost…"
Stelle: "It's fine~"
Stelle: "I'LL BE YOUR NAVIGATOR!!"
Qingque: "Aiya, see that?"
Qingque: "This is the classic 'thecrying child gets the milk'!"
Qingque: "All of you, learn from this!"
March 7th: "Child?"
March 7th: "I've really never seen a child this big."
Stelle: "Hehe, well, you've seen one now."
....
『 Stelle bid farewell to Aventurine and Boothill, and continued walking.
And after walking for a while, she met another acquaintance.
It was Dr. Ratio.
[ Oh? I remember you, your performance at the Madam Herta Space Station… was basically passing. ]
[ Heh, no wonder that gambler values you so much. ]
As soon as Dr. Ratio saw Stelle, he started grading her.
[ Professor Ratio, please give me an autograph! ]
Stelle's brain circuit functioned normally, and she started asking Dr. Ratio for an autograph.
[ Don't try to play smart all the time like that gambler. ]
[ This time I'll turn a blind eye, but don't let it happen again. ]
[ Alright, isn't the Charmony Festival about to start? ]
[ A rare opportunity, go ahead, only by balancing work and rest can you better absorb knowledge. ]
Dr. Ratio waved his hand, saying indifferently.
[ Professor, how do you evaluate Aventurine? ]
Stelle was suddenly curious to ask Dr. Ratio for his opinion on Aventurine.
[ The administrators of the IPC and the Intelligentsia Guild define us as strategic partners. ]
[ But in my view, I can only ever play the role of a teacher, while he is a student, just like you and everyone else. ]
[ From this perspective, Aventurine is not a good student, but he is certainly not a blockhead. ]
[ It's a pity, the void in his heart can never be filled with talent and knowledge… ]
[ I hope he won't degenerate into a philosophical zombie. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Oh my, unbelievable."
Stelle: "The Professor's evaluation of Aventurine is actually quite high."
March 7th: "What about the evaluation of you?"
Stelle: "Also quite high."
Stelle: "High enough to surprise me."
Furina de Fontaine: "Uh… 'basically passing'… is that considered high?"
Aventurine: "Hahaha."
Aventurine: "Miss Furina, you don't know this."
Aventurine: "According to the Professor's temperament, the lowest score with him isn't zero."
Aventurine: "It's a negative score!"
Aventurine: "So, you understand."
Hu Tao: "There are negative scores for grading???"
Hu Tao: "Good heavens!"
Hu Tao: "If you put it that way, the gold content of the passing line is really ridiculously high!"
....
『 [ Professor, honestly, I thought you would tell me to focus on my studies. ]
Stelle scratched her head and said.
[ Heh, asking such a question means you haven't truly understood the purpose of learning. ]
[ Balancing work and rest has its scientific basis; the relevant argumentation process can be found on page 21 of the 31467th issue of the academic journal "Starseizer". ]
[ Acquiring knowledge aims to enhance living. Don't invert priorities like those dolts at the Guild. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Wait!"
Stelle: "Which issue and which page???"
Stelle: "Professor, did you read all these academic journals and then memorize them all?!"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Don't make a fuss."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Is this difficult?"
March 7th: "….."
Qingque: "I'm telling you… this is a naked humblebrag, right?"
Hu Tao: "This doesn't seem to be a question of difficulty."
Hu Tao: "BUT SOMETHING THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE SIMPLY CAN'T DO AT ALL!!"
Zhongli: "Based on general rationality, indeed."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Hmm, failing to consider the average memory capacity of ordinary people is my fault."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "However, within the scope of your abilities, I still suggest you read more of these things."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Because they are truly useful."
Alhaitham: "Agreed!"
....