She secretly glanced at Gray Serpent, adding in her mind:
(I just hope this mechanical head doesn't crash because of this and start indiscriminately biting people in a frenzy.)
Just then, Gray Serpent's stiff body suddenly trembled, as if finally disengaging from the intense internal communication.
Slowly turning his head, his crimson electronic eyes focused on Raven and Jackal.
The voice from his speaker tried to maintain its usual calm, but the tone was unmistakable, revealing the immense shock he was facing:
"We… need… to be clear…"
His voice was intermittent, and the black smoke behind him grew thicker, "The other party… is not… is not…"
Although his linguistic logic was clearly disordered, Raven and Jackal still barely understood his core meaning:
Unknown entity.
No traces or clues found.
Currently… this matter will temporarily be defined as an act of "Schicksal."
(Schicksal?)
Raven curled her lips inwardly. It was obvious no one would believe it. If Otto had that ability, he would have wiped them out long ago, why bother with this charade?
Gray Serpent ignored the subtle expressions on their faces and continued to issue instructions in his stuttering voice: "Next… actions… focus… on investigating… Schicksal…"
Upon hearing this, Jackal raised her hand and asked with a hint of probing, "Then… what about the Lord…?"
She referred to the true leader of the World Serpent, who was still deep within the Sea of Quanta.
Gray Serpent's mechanical body visibly paused, falling into an even longer, almost frozen, silence.
Kevin Kaslana, one of the most important founders and associates of the Elysian Realm, if he were to know that the Elysian Realm had been completely stolen in his absence… the consequences, just imagining them, sent shivers down one's spine.
A moment later, Gray Serpent's static-filled voice finally spoke again, carrying a tone of almost difficult decision: "Temporarily… first… investigate. Before obtaining… conclusive evidence… or… a feasible plan… do not… report."
Upon hearing this, Raven couldn't help but secretly feel relieved.
(Good thing… the Lord is still lying in the Sea of Quanta.)
(Otherwise, given his Importance of the Paradise and the Flame-Chasers, after knowing about this, I, as the first witness, would probably be the first to be taken for "interrogation," or even directly "operated on" in his fury.)
The reason for her immense fear was deeply rooted in her biggest secret—she, Natasha Ciora, was a Transmigrator.
Before becoming the "Raven" of this world, she was just an ordinary game player, intimately familiar with the plot of Honkai Impact 3rd and Honkai: Star Rail.
She knew the "original" plot progression, knowing that the Elysian Realm should play an important role in the subsequent story until it eventually dissipated with the Herrscher of Corruption… but there was absolutely no mention of "being completely moved away by aliens in the early stages of the story"!
This sudden change made her, the "prescient" Transmigrator, feel an unprecedented sense of bewilderment.
The meeting concluded in a suppressed and eerie atmosphere.
Gray Serpent almost staggered out of the conference room, emitting black smoke as if he could fall apart at any moment, appearing nearly scrapped, clearly needing immediate emergency maintenance and self-repair.
Raven and Jackal walked side by side in the corridor. Jackal still looked indifferent, even finding the situation somewhat amusing.
"Hey, who do you think… did it?"
Raven couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "This doesn't look like Schicksal's doing at all."
Jackal rolled her eyes at Raven: "Why do you care so much? Anyway, the thing is gone. If Gray Serpent says it's Schicksal, then it's Schicksal, at least there's someone to blame. You can't possibly believe that message, that it was aliens, can you?"
Raven didn't reply, just walked silently.
(What if it was?)
She silently retorted in her mind, (After all, the Honkai Impact 3rd plot I know… never recorded that the Elysian Realm would be packed up and taken away by an alien calling itself "kind and amiable.")
Astral Express · Party Car
Long Night Moon still sat languidly on a high stool by the bar, her crimson eyes half-closed, as if napping or waiting for something.
Her fingertips unconsciously tapped lightly on the cold countertop, producing an almost inaudible pattering sound.
The Party Car was dimly lit, with only a few ambient lights casting a soft glow, elongating her figure and projecting it onto the polished floor.
Just then, the heavy sliding door of the car made a "click" sound.
Long Night Moon's ears twitched almost imperceptibly, and a knowing smile curved her lips.
Immediately after, a small pink head, like a little animal, quietly peeked out from behind the door.
Her blue eyes, with a hint of nervousness, darted left and right. Only after confirming that Long Night Moon seemed to be the only one in the spacious car did she breathe a sigh of relief.
March 7th, like a nimble cat, tiptoed in, quickly walked to Long Night Moon's side, sat down next to her, and subconsciously patted her chest.
"Sister…"
March 7th lowered her voice, as if sharing a huge secret, with a hint of lingering fear on her face, "Did… did you hear any strange noises just now? Like… ghost wails or something?"
As she spoke, she couldn't help but look back at the closed car door again, "When I came out of my room just now, I seemed… seemed to hear a 'hehe' sound from the corridor, it scared me so much I almost shrank back in!"
Looking at her sister's cute, self-scaring appearance, Long Night Moon finally couldn't help but chuckle softly, with affection and helplessness.
She reached out and gently ruffled March 7th's soft pink hair.
"Silly sister…"
Long Night Moon's voice was gentle, carrying a reassuring power, "Where are there any ghost wails? You, you must have been too tired from playing during the day and are hearing things."
She paused, a hint of playfulness flashing in her crimson eyes, "Besides, we're on the Astral Express, Trailblaze's territory. Which reckless 'ghost' would dare to cause trouble here? Hmm?"
March 7th, hearing her sister say this, scratched her head a little shyly and laughed foolishly: "Oh, right! Hehe, how could I forget that!"
After the small interlude, March 7th immediately remembered her true purpose for coming here late at night, braving the "risks."
She grabbed Long Night Moon's arm with both hands, shaking it gently, her azure eyes filled with starlike anticipation:
"Sis! Last night's story isn't finished yet! Tell me quickly!"
Seeing March's impatient look, the smile in Long Night Moon's eyes deepened.
She deliberately kept them in suspense, gently tapping her chin as if in thought:
"Hmm… last night we talked about Kevin, who made a grand vow. Tonight…"
She drew out her words, and only when she saw March 7th so anxious she was about to pout did she slowly continue, "is about a… maiden as delicate as a flower, as free as a bird."
"A maiden?"
March 7th's curiosity was thoroughly piqued, "Are there maidens among the Flame-Chasers who are around our age too?"
"Of course."
Long Night Moon nodded, her voice softening as if to lead one into a magnificent dream, "Her name is Elysia. A… sincere, passionate, flawless maiden who seems to embody all the beauty and colors of the world♪~"
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