Chapter 363: Unexpected Friends
'Teyvat... Astral Express...' Yanagi silently repeated those two unfamiliar names in her heart, rolling the syllables over her tongue as she analyzed their implications.
Regardless of their mysterious origins, these strangers claiming to be friends of Wise and Belle displayed absolutely no malice. In fact, their demeanor was overwhelmingly friendly, almost disarmingly so.
The sheer strength they casually displayed—whether through their baffling technology or those bizarre, reality-bending abilities—was entirely unfathomable. Yet, they exuded no aggression. The tight knot of tension in Yanagi's shoulders finally began to loosen. At this critical juncture, with the looming threat of Bringer and the shadowy forces backing him, having them as powerful allies was a godsend. They were an asset, not another enemy requiring her to divide her already stretched attention.
"I understand. Thank you all for your honesty." Yanagi nodded slightly. Her tone remained formal, carrying the crisp professionalism of her station. "I am Yanagi from Section 6, and these two are my team members, Soukaku and Harumasa. I am very pleased to meet you all, and I hope we can maintain a pleasant and efficient cooperation in our upcoming operations."
She chose to accept their outlandish explanations for the time being. Establishing a foundation of initial trust was simply the most pragmatic choice available.
"Pleasure working with you too!" March responded energetically, a bright smile blooming on her face. She already had a fantastic impression of this capable, elegant older sister.
Harumasa offered a lazy grin, shifting his weight. Although he was burning with curiosity regarding these sudden, out-of-nowhere 'experts,' he implicitly trusted Section Chief Miyabi's judgment. If she allowed this alliance, he would play along.
The atmosphere gradually warmed, shifting into a harmonious rhythm as the group began discussing the layout of the base facilities and their upcoming operational plans. Off to the side, Venti had been casually plucking the strings of his wooden lyre, providing a soft, melodic background track.
Suddenly, his fingers paused.
A subtle, almost imperceptible glint flashed across his emerald-green eyes. The gentle currents of the wind whispered secrets into his ears, informing the bard that a steady gaze had been fixed upon their location for quite some time. It was not a sharp or malicious stare. Instead, it felt like a cautious, highly calculated observation driven by a very specific purpose.
However, during such a sensitive moment, any unnecessary attention could introduce dangerous variables to Wise, Belle, and the integrity of their entire operation.
A faint, playful smile curled the corners of Venti's mouth. 'It must be so tiring to always watch from afar,'he thought to himself, amused.'Why not come over and have a proper chat?'
His thumb brushed lightly over the taut strings. An invisible, gentle flow of Anemo energy quietly gathered in the air. Moving like a phantom limb with a life of its own, the breeze threaded flawlessly through the narrow gaps in the warehouse architecture, bypassed towering stacks of heavy cargo containers, and accurately locked onto the observer hidden deep within the shadows.
The very next instant, the group felt an extremely gentle breeze brush past their skin, feeling no different from the usual salty sea breeze rolling in off the harbor.
However, trailing directly in the wake of that wind, a figure materialized. It was as if the person had been physically 'pushed' by the breeze, stumbling forward and abruptly appearing right in the open space at the center of the crowd.
The scene unfolded far too suddenly. The entire group froze, stunned by the unexpected intrusion.
The person who had just been dragged into the light was even more bewildered. She instinctively reached up to adjust the slightly crooked hat on her head, her eyes darting around the circle of faces, wide with absolute disbelief. She had clearly been crouching in the pitch-black shadow of a shipping container dozens of meters away. How on earth had she changed locations in the literal blink of an eye?
Yanagi and Harumasa reacted the fastest, their combat instincts flaring as they instantly dropped into a state of high alert. Yanagi's gaze turned as sharp as a freshly honed blade, scanning every inch of this uninvited guest. Harumasa had already shifted his stance, turning slightly to the side while his hand came to rest—seemingly casually—against the handle of the bow secured behind his waist.
Their internal shock was staggering. These mysterious outlanders not only possessed unknown technology and raw power, but they could also forcibly teleport someone else with such nonchalant ease? This completely shattered their established understanding of modern technology and standard Proxy techniques.
The atmosphere in the warehouse instantly plummeted from relaxed camaraderie to a suffocating, stagnant tension. Although no one had explicitly drawn their weapons yet, over a dozen intense gazes locked onto the figure trapped in the middle. The sheer invisible pressure of their combined scrutiny caused a light sheen of sweat to break out across her forehead.
Only then did Venti casually stow away his lyre. A perfectly harmless, cheerful smile graced his face as he broke the heavy silence. "Oh my, this friend has been hiding over there watching us for quite a long time."
"I thought it must be quite troublesome to watch from so far away, and the view couldn't possibly be good either. So, I simply invited her over to take a closer look! It's much more convenient for everyone this way." His tone was incredibly relaxed, sounding as though he had just invited a neighbor over for afternoon tea.
Hearing the bard's explanation, the group immediately understood the situation.
Yanagi's gaze hardened, her vigilance spiking. She stepped forward, her voice laced with an icy, authoritative coldness. "Who are you? Are you a spy sent by Bringer?"
The observer, completely surrounded, knew things had taken a sharp turn for the worse. Continuing to play dumb in this highly volatile situation would only trigger an unnecessary, and likely painful, conflict. She took a slow, deep breath, forcing her racing heart to calm down.
Then, under the heavy scrutiny of the crowd, she reached up and removed the wide-brimmed hat she had been using as a disguise, followed by a pair of oversized glasses that obscured half of her face. Finally, her fingers caught the edge of a blonde wig, nimbly pulling it off to reveal her natural, capable short hair underneath.
She adjusted her breathing one last time. Her gaze swept past Yanagi and Harumasa, landing directly on Wise and Belle, who were standing right beside the members of the Chat Group. A wry, utterly helpless smile tugged at her lips.
"Hello, you two little shop managers. Long time no see." Her voice carried a familiar, teasing lilt. "I certainly didn't expect to run into you again under these circumstances... Do you mind if I also get to know some of your 'new friends'?"
Seeing her true face clearly in the warehouse lighting, Wise and Belle's eyes widened. They exclaimed almost simultaneously, "Jane?!"
Recognizing her as a familiar acquaintance—and more, one who represented official order as a PubSec Officer, even if she was currently operating undercover—the heavy anxiety in Wise and Belle's chests immediately dissipated. They quickly stepped forward, physically blocking the tense space between Jane and Section 6. They waved their hands frantically to de-escalate the situation.
"It's a misunderstanding! It's all a huge misunderstanding!" Belle said hurriedly, her voice echoing in the quiet space.
"Ms. Yanagi, Mr. Harumasa, everyone, please don't be nervous!" Wise smoothly took over, his tone a perfect blend of apologetic and firm reassurance. "This is Jane. She's a friend we've known for quite a while. She is absolutely not one of Bringer's subordinates!"
Venti spread his hands at the perfect moment, his cheerful smile unwavering. "See? I told you she was just a curious friend. The wind assured me that although she had been observing us for quite a while, she carried zero malicious intent."
Harumasa crossed his arms over his chest, watching the dramatic scene unfold. He couldn't help but raise a single, amused eyebrow, his tone dripping with lighthearted banter. "You two Proxies really have friends all over the world, don't you? You manage to run into acquaintances no matter where you go."
He didn't mean any malice by the comment; it was simply a genuine marvel at Wise and Belle's uncanny constitution of literally having connections hidden in every corner of the city.
Hearing the teasing remark, Wise and Belle could only chuckle awkwardly, simultaneously reaching up to scratch the backs of their heads in a mirrored display of sheepishness. They knew perfectly well that as a PubSec Officer currently executing a highly classified undercover mission, Jane's true identity was incredibly sensitive. It absolutely could not be revealed in such a public setting. Maintaining their silence and keeping the details vague was the best way to respect Jane's dangerous line of work and protect her personal safety.
Jane naturally understood the siblings' unspoken predicament, casting them a subtle, fleeting look of deep gratitude and understanding.
Just as Jane finished shedding her disguise and the heavy atmosphere finally eased thanks to the siblings' quick intervention, a sudden, violent burst of screeching tires shattered the quiet night air above the dock.
Everyone immediately whipped their heads toward the source of the noise. A patrol car bearing the distinct, flashing livery of PubSec executed a textbook-perfect drift, its tail flicking aggressively before coming to a smooth, steady stop in the open space just a few yards away from the gathered crowd.
The heavy car door swung open. Qingyi, dressed in her crisp, capable uniform and wearing an unusually serious expression, leaped out with nimble grace.
But the true shock came a second later, as two more figures stepped out from the back seat, following closely behind the android officer.
It was Wise and Belle themselves.
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