Just as Baiheng was wondering if she should find a hole to crawl into, a small commotion arose in the crowd ahead, and a petite figure with dragon horns and a dragon tail darted out in a panic, nearly running straight into Baiheng's arms.
"Oh dear!"
"Watch out!"
Baiheng subconsciously steadied the person. Taking a closer look, wasn't this Miss Bailu from the Alchemy Commission? Judging by her breathless state, she had likely snuck away again from some overly "caring" custodian.
"Miss Bailu? Are you...?"
When Bailu saw it was Baiheng, she grabbed onto her like a lifeline and quickly whispered, "Miss Bai Xing! Please help, there are... there are people behind me!"
Baiheng immediately understood, and subtly shielded Bailu behind herself and System, perfectly blocking the view of the hurried Alchemy Commission attendants who were chasing her.
She put on her professional smile and said to the attendants, "Gentlemen, are you looking for Miss Bailu? I just saw her heading toward the starship Bay Central. She was running really fast!"
The attendants looked at Baiheng skeptically, but ultimately thanked her and chased off in the wrong direction.
Seeing them gone, Bailu finally patted her chest and let out a long sigh of relief: "You scared me to death... Thank you, Miss Bai Xing! Huh? Who is this person next to you...?"
She looked curiously at "System," who had always maintained a low presence.
System stepped forward, beginning her performance according to her preset persona of a "complex background."
She still had no expression on her face, but her tone carried a boastful calmness, as if she had experienced many trials:
"I am System, currently residing on Luofu, and I am this Miss Bai Xing's landlady and roommate. I have had the fortune to travel among multiple star Systems and possess some miscellaneous knowledge. Earlier, I served as a Security Supervisor at the Interstellar Mining Association, and later, due to differing philosophies, I switched careers for a few years to information channel clearance—a data... or intelligence broker, as it's commonly known. I was also briefly invited to perform at the 'Rivet Town' bar in Belobog's Lower District, where I mixed several well-received drinks. I even held a position in the Herta Space Station's Cleaning Department, leading several high-difficulty area cleanup plans, though unfortunately, the technical concepts were too advanced to be widely implemented. My most recent formal job was as a Prop Innovation Consultant for the Xianzhou Traditional Opera Troupe, aiming to merge holographic projection technology with classical art, but alas..."
This long, resume-like self-introduction utterly bewildered the young Bailu.
The little Dragon Girl blinked her eyes, and question marks seemed to pop up above her head. She completely missed the point, only remembering the extremely disparate words: "landlady," "travel," "bartending," "cleaning," and "opera."
"Wait, wait..."
Bailu interrupted dazedly, "What... what exactly do you do?"
Seeing this, Baiheng quickly stepped forward, interrupted with a gesture, and dryly explained to Bailu, "Ah haha... Miss Bailu, please don't mind her. Sister Xi Tong... has rich experiences, and her speech is also quite... concise! Yes, concise!"
(What kind of conciseness is that!)
System, having been "interrupted mid-casting," immediately reverted to her quiet "invisible person" state, as if the torrent of words just moments ago hadn't come from her.
Although Bailu didn't fully understand, she found Sister Xi Tong quite interesting. Being naturally lively, she quickly forgot her confusion and instead pulled on Baiheng's sleeve, her eyes sparkling as she said, "Miss Bai Xing, since we ran into each other, take me out to play! I know lots of fun places; the Alchemy Commission is so boring!"
Upon hearing the word "play," System's programming seemed to be triggered by a keyword again.
She narrowed her eyes, stepped half a pace forward, and began to speak in her flat tone:
"AUV~..."
Hearing the familiar "AUV" opening, Baiheng was scared out of her wits. Ignoring all politeness, she immediately reached out and covered System's mouth again!
"Yes! Yes! Miss Bailu, we'll take you to play!"
Baiheng practically shouted this out, frantically winking at System, whose mouth was covered and could only make "woo-woo" sounds. She forced a smile, "Sister Xi Tong... she knows the way! Yes, she knows the way! Let's go now!"
Bailu looked at System, who had been "silenced" again, and the nervous Baiheng. Although she found it a bit strange, the novelty of being able to go out and play overwhelmed everything else. She clapped happily, "That's great! Let's hurry up and go!"
Meanwhile, Baiheng was crying internally:
(When will this day... ever end! Master, please think of a solution quickly!)
Perspective shift.
The atmosphere inside the Party Car appeared, on the surface, to be harmonious.
Long Night Moon was graceful in demeanor and witty in conversation. She could occasionally chime in on Welt's professional topics about interstellar history or Himeko's about coffee culture, as if she truly were just a knowledgeable, ordinary (?) relative visiting her sister.
However, behind this seemingly harmonious conversation lay the deepening suspicion in the hearts of the two Astral Express Crew guardians.
Welt and Himeko exchanged countless glances. Both tried various methods to subtly inquire about Long Night Moon's origins, the faction she belonged to, and the specific information about the "big shot" she mentioned.
Welt would mention known cosmic factions, such as the Company, the Annihilation Gang, and even vaguely referenced entities related to Remembrance, like the Garden of Recollection and the Incinerator.
Himeko, meanwhile, approached the conversation through life details and travel anecdotes, attempting to outline Long Night Moon's trajectory.
But Long Night Moon's response was flawless.
Her words were like smooth pebbles; no matter what angle the question was thrown from, she could catch it deftly and then slide away without a trace.
She admitted that she "serves a great existence," but she always glossed over the name and affiliated faction of this existence using vague titles like "That Great One" and "The one I serve."
The story she told of Amphoreus was rich in detail and genuine emotion, yet it contained unsettling similarities and confusing differences compared to the history of the Flame-Chasers that Welt knew.
(How cunning...)
Welt adjusted his glasses, thinking to himself.
(Either she has undergone rigorous counter-surveillance training, or... her very form of existence is extraordinary.)
(I can't find out anything useful at all...)
Himeko maintained her elegant smile, but her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the rim of her cup.
(Her concern for little March doesn't seem fake, but what is the true motive behind this concern?)
March 7th, sitting to the side, couldn't keep up with this high-level verbal exchange. She looked first at Long Night Moon, then at Welt and Himeko, only feeling that everyone seemed to be getting along well. The guilt she felt over "leaking secrets" was gradually replaced by the relief that "it seems my sister is getting along well."
After chatting for a while longer, Long Night Moon gently set down the cup that had long been empty, the bottom making a crisp sound as it met the table.
She stood up, her crimson eyes sweeping over the three, a smile on her lips:
"It's getting late. Pleasant conversations always pass quickly. I must take my leave."
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