Chapter 225: A Cautious Welt
Just as the Cross-Dimensional Chat Group was buzzing with excitement over Hu Tao and Venti's arrival, Stelle, who had been watching the constant stream of welcome messages, gently nudged March 7th and Dan Heng with her elbow.
A conspiratorial glint lit up her eyes. "Hey, March, Dan Heng," she whispered, "while everyone's distracted by the newcomers, let's pull Himeko and Mr. Welt in, too! If they join, we can keep them updated on our situation here. It'll save them a lot of worrying."
March 7th's head bobbed in vigorous agreement. "Yes, yes, yes! We should've invited them ages ago! Otherwise, Himeko and Mr. Welt will just keep thinking we're out here goofing off." She pictured Himeko's surprised yet relieved expression upon seeing the chat group, and a happy little smile bloomed on her face.
Though Dan Heng's expression remained as placid as ever, he gave a slight nod. "It's a sound plan. Ms. Himeko and Mr. Welt are far more experienced. Having their input would be a significant advantage in dealing with the situation on Amphoreus."
Seeing she had their full support, Stelle didn't hesitate. She retrieved the two special invitation letters from her pocket, their texture unique to the chat group's rewards. Closing her eyes, she focused her thoughts, silently reciting the names 'Himeko' and 'Welt Yang' while pouring her desire for them to join into the cards.
The invitations in her hand slowly dissolved, transforming into two motes of soft blue light. Like tiny fireflies, they drifted for a moment before scattering and vanishing into the air.
With the task complete, the trio turned their attention back to the glowing screen of the chat group. They watched the lively interactions between old and new members, all while secretly anticipating the system notifications that were sure to follow.
Meanwhile, aboard the Astral Express, the atmosphere in the Parlor Car was anything but relaxed. Through the grand bay window, the distant and mysterious planet of Amphoreus hung in the void.
Himeko stood near the glass, a cup of freshly brewed coffee in hand. Her brow was slightly furrowed, her gaze locked on the planet where her young trailblazers had disappeared. The small spoon in her hand stirred the cooling liquid on its own, a subconscious tell of the worry churning within her. It had been some time since Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng had set foot on Amphoreus, and the complete communication silence was deeply unsettling.
On a nearby sofa, Black Swan was leaning back with her eyes closed, seemingly resting and entirely oblivious to the tension in the air.
The Conductor, Pom-Pom, waddled over on his short legs, carefully balancing a special drink. "Ms. Black Swan, your drink, Pom-Pom."
"Thank you, my dear little Conductor." Black Swan's eyes fluttered open, a graceful smile touching her lips as she accepted the glass.
It was at that exact moment that the unexpected occurred.
A translucent screen, glowing with a faint blue light, materialized in the air directly in front of Himeko without any warning.
Almost instantaneously, a sharp buzzing sound filled the car. The autonomous defense drone swarm she always carried deployed from hidden compartments on her person, rapidly forming a protective perimeter. A network of red scanning beams swept across the Parlor Car, analyzing the unknown screen's energy composition and potential threat level.
Black Swan's previously languid eyes sharpened into points of lethal focus. She rose from the sofa in a single, fluid motion, several tarot cards already fanned between her fingers, their edges glowing with a faint purple light. A powerful aura, unique to a Memokeeper, pulsed subtly from her as she scanned their surroundings.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice low and cool.
Pom-Pom, startled by the sudden escalation, instinctively dove behind the sofa. He peeked out nervously, his fluffy ears trembling. "Wha-what's happening, Pom-Pom?!"
Himeko, quickly regaining her composure, raised a hand, signaling the drone swarm to ease its aggressive posture but remain on alert. She carefully scanned her surroundings, but detected no signs of intrusion or attack. The Express's own security systems remained silent.
Her gaze returned to the strange light screen. A single line of text was clearly displayed upon it.
[Stelle] invites you to join the [Cross-Dimensional Chat Group]. Do you agree?
Below the message were two distinct options: [Yes] and [No].
'...Chat Group?' Himeko was momentarily stunned. Then, she recalled the "Cross-Dimensional Chat Group" that Stelle and March 7th had mentioned offhandedly before—a fantastical platform that supposedly connected different worlds.
Her taut nerves relaxed a fraction, but she remained vigilant. The drones did not fully retract, instead hovering in a standby formation.
At nearly the same time, far away at the Herta Space Station, Welt Yang and Sunday had just stepped through the docking airlock.
The sight that greeted them immediately put both men on high alert.
The entire interior of the station was plunged into absolute darkness. The emergency lighting systems seemed to have failed completely. Only the beams from their own handheld illuminators cut through the oppressive gloom, flickering across the deep corridor.
A dead silence enveloped everything. There was no hum of machinery, no chatter of researchers, not a single person in sight. It was as if the entire station had been abandoned for ages.
"Something's wrong," Welt said, his voice a low rumble. His grip tightened on his Cane of the Old World, the tip of which began to glow faintly. A miniature gravitational singularity was already coalescing within, ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice. He was instinctively wary of such sudden, abnormal situations.
Sunday said nothing, but his reaction was just as swift.
With a mere thought, several figures formed from the pure, gentle light of the Path of Harmony materialized around him and Welt, forming a simple defensive circle. The luminous constructs condensed energy in their hands, their gazes sweeping every shadow-drenched corner.
Just then, the urgent chime of Welt's personal communicator sliced through the dead silence, jarringly loud.
And before his very eyes, just as it had for Himeko, a blue light screen abruptly appeared, displaying the exact same invitation.
Welt did not make a choice. He first shot a quick glance at his communicator; it was a video call from Himeko. While maintaining a vigilant watch on his surroundings, he answered.
Himeko's solemn face appeared on the screen, the Parlor Car and the still-alert drones visible in the background.
"Welt," she said, her tone direct and serious. "I've just received a sudden invitation. It claims to be a request to join Stelle and the others' 'Cross-Dimensional Chat Group.' Have you received a similar message?"
Welt pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, the lenses reflecting the faint light from his communicator. "I just received it as well. But, Himeko, we're currently at Herta Space Station, and the situation here is... abnormal. There's a complete power outage, and there's no one here."
"To receive such an invitation at a time like this… its authenticity is questionable," he analyzed calmly, refusing to act rashly despite his concern for the Trailblazers.
Both ends of the communication fell into a brief, heavy silence. With Stelle and the others out of contact on Amphoreus, and now this unverified invitation suddenly appearing, the choice was fraught with peril. What if it was a trap they would spring by agreeing? But if it was real, this might be the only way to contact their missing team members.
A moment later, Welt spoke again, his voice steady and resolute. "Himeko, let's do this: I'll try accepting the invitation first."
"I have Mr. Sunday here to assist me, and if there really is a problem, we might even be able to ask Ms. Herta for help. You should not agree for now. focus on the safety of the Astral Express and everyone on board."
[Inorin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me!
Want to read ahead on our official home, or unlock 50 advanced chapters (plus an Ad-Free experience) to feed your addiction? Help keep this shameless translator alive here:
(P.S. Replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
🌐 Official Website: elysianreads[.]com
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters & Ad-Free): patreon[.]com/InorinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/InorinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]