2/5
Chapter 193: Space Station, please initiate a punitive expedition against Duke Inferno!
Little Gui's Livestream.
She is currently engaged in a heated debate with Dr. Ratio.
After gathering enough information within the [ Recollection ], and facing the doubts raised by Dr. Ratio, Stelle argued forcefully, her voice resonant: "After the Antimatter Legion's incursion, the space station has been in a state of unrest, mired in a crisis of trust."
"If another violent incident occurs now, it would be like adding fuel to the fire, completely igniting internal conflicts."
"While it can't serve as direct evidence, if the system recorded the activation of the fire suppression system around the time the puppets were attacked…"
"Then there is ample reason to suspect that the two incidents are related!"
"No matter how much you suspect me, I am merely an uninvolved person caught up in this by accident."
"—No different from you, who was also caught up by accident, yet has begun to play the role of the interrogator."
After several rounds of intense dialectics, the suspicion on Stelle had been mostly cleared.
Dr. Ratio's tone softened slightly.
"Hmm…"
"If both incidents were indeed the work of the same person, then your suspicion would decrease significantly. But that is contingent on the existence of the records you claim are in the system."
Asta, standing to the side, said: "We'll know once we check the Master Control Zone. Let's go… Eh? What's that noise?"
She took out her phone to check her messages.
At the same time, an in-game prompt appeared: Stelle had also received a message.
It was from the previous group chat: [ Herta Investigation Team ]
[ It's coming, it's coming, it's coming! ]
[ What's coming? ]
[ Something big is coming! ]
[ ? ]
[ Oh my god! ]
Below was a newly posted video.
Little Gui clicked on it.
The familiar Herta Space Station logo appeared, followed by a familiar news interface.
The announcer's voice rang out.
"Madam Herta Solo-Simp Flash News—Breaking news! Breaking news!"
"The attack on Madam Herta finally has a follow-up! The Annihilation Gang has claimed responsibility for the entire incident and will take further action. The Association expresses its strong condemnation…"
However, just as Little Gui was watching this as a piece of "for-fun" news, the signal of the emergency bulletin was suddenly interfered with!
After a burst of static, the content of the video changed abruptly!
A crown of burning flames.
Massive, winding ram horns.
An exquisite claw-shaped brooch.
A magnificent black robe.
Ashes floating in the background…
These characteristics—there was no need to say more. Every player watching knew who it was!
"Whoa…!?"
Guinaifen's biscuit dropped straight to the floor, and she didn't even notice.
Only the voice of Duke Inferno, Ifrit, could be heard:
"The gods of the stars have departed from the mundane, with no heart to care for the infinitesimal living beings."
"Only the Wounded Master gives the order for all worlds to bathe in the flames of Destruction."
"There are always cowardly small men who vainly attempt to reject grace and flee from the gifted wounds."
"Flee, then. Flee as you might—no matter where you run, Annihilation shall eventually arrive!"
Facing the camera, Duke Inferno struck an extremely arrogant pose.
The video ended.
Guinaifen's astonished expression was reflected on the black screen.
"This is basically a preview for a terrorist attack!"
"Although we knew from the Special Program that the crisis at the space station was orchestrated by Duke Inferno…"
"I didn't expect the Duke to flex his presence like this in the plot!"
"He even specifically hijacked the space station's news bulletin to play his own promotional video?"
…
"Duke Inferno is definitely the big boss designated by Feathered Spirit for the 2.0 version!"
"I hadn't heard much about the Ever-Flame Mansion before, but I didn't expect them to have such a cinematic presence in the game?"
"Duke, the crown on your head looks exactly like the Relic I just farmed!"
"Old Duke, you've changed! You've actually started reading the Art of War?"
"He even knows that attacking the heart is the best strategy, utilizing the space station's trust crisis to cause internal strife among the researchers!"
…
Space Station. Master Control Zone.
Seeing the plot where Duke Inferno used Phase Flames to make researchers disappear, thereby triggering dissatisfaction with management, the space station looked like it was on the verge of internal chaos.
The researchers couldn't help but sigh: "I remember before Honkai: Star Rail came out, quite a few people were actually pretty dissatisfied with Asta."
"That was then, this is now. Who doesn't know the young lady's character today?"
"Most of the facilities in Herta Space Station were funded and built by Asta."
"She even ordered a Star-Crusher to strengthen the space station's security!"
"Now she's even competing with Peppy…"
"To be honest, I still prefer how everyone used to be so stubborn and unruly."
In the back, Asta's mouth twitched slightly.
While being trusted was a good thing, why did it feel like her "rich girl" persona was becoming more and more set in stone?
She was clearly still a young girl!
She came to the space station specifically to escape her family's influence. As it turned out, she still couldn't escape the shadow of her wealth!
"Ding-dong—"
A notification sound came from her phone.
Asta picked it up to look. It was a message from the family group chat.
Several elders were @ing her, reminding her to stay safe and asking if she needed the family to send security forces to the space station, and so on…
Furthermore, a piece of information was revealed: The IPC had already dispatched a specialized fleet toward the Ever-Flame Mansion.
They intended to bring Duke Inferno under control before he could execute these dangerous plans!
Seeing this information, Asta breathed a long sigh of relief.
At least in reality, she didn't have to worry about being suddenly attacked by Phase Flames.
At that moment, a sudden gasp erupted from the crowd.
Asta looked up. In the game livestream, the scene had just reached her part of the story.
Screwllum was seen musing: "No, it is not enough."
Dr. Ratio echoed: "Indeed. It lacks one final spark."
"If you stop here, you still have a chance to defend yourself. If it were me…"
"I would not give you that chance."
Screwllum and Stelle suddenly realized something and simultaneously looked at Asta!
In the story, Asta didn't seem to realize what was about to happen, showing a confused expression: "Hmm? What's wrong?"
The next second, blue flames suddenly ignited on her body!
The flames quickly covered her entire body. Stelle tried to grab Asta, but her hand passed through empty air.
She watched helplessly as Asta vanished!
Even though this was a game plot, Asta herself was inevitably startled!
This was a scene happening right in front of Screwllum, a member of the Genius Society; Dr. Ratio of the Intelligentsia Guild; and the Galactic Baseballer!
Was Duke Inferno really this reckless? Really this emboldened?
Based on previous analysis, although this was just being teleported away with no immediate life-threatening danger, it was still enough to make one's heart skip a beat.
After all, the appearance of the Phase Flames was without warning. The victims were chosen as if at random, with no room for resistance.
This ability was indeed somewhat terrifying!
Screwllum said: "Calm down. Asta has only been teleported; there is no danger to her life."
"Through physical contact, I have confirmed that Ifrit's fire is merely a spark of the original spiritual fire and lacks phase-shifting capabilities. Logic: Asta is still within the space station."
Dr. Ratio summarized: "That ball of fire must still be somewhere in the zone. Find it, and there will be a way to bring her back."
Suddenly, Duke Inferno's voice rang out: "Hehehehe…"
"Merely a spark? The arrogance of a Genius is quite to my liking."
"If you can do it, then come and try."
Seeing this scene, all the researchers were indignant!
They clenched their fists one by one, as if wishing they could charge into the game to make Duke Inferno pay the price!
"No way! Old Duke, you actually dared to lay a hand on Lady Asta?"
"How dare you!"
"Show me your HP bar if you've got the guts!"
"No! Friends! We don't know how long we'll have to wait for Duke Inferno to show his HP bar in the game. Let's just… launch a preemptive crusade against him in reality!"
"I've been wanting to do this for a while!"
"Not only did he target Madam Herta, but he also targeted Lady Asta. This has seriously crossed the line for our space station!"
"Get ready to move! The ion cannon I developed can finally be put to use!"
"My optical converter can also be modified into a lethal weapon!"
"We're being bullied at our own front door! What's there to fear? Let's take the fight to the Ever-Flame Mansion!"
"What does our space station have to fear from a battle?"
With that, the various researchers called upon their friends from their respective departments, preparing to head off for modifications and deployment.
Asta was momentarily caught off guard.
One must realize that while these people seemed to be just researchers, those who could come here to conduct research were all talents in their respective fields. They only seemed less brilliant under the halo of the Geniuses.
Once truly united, this force was something that could not be underestimated!
Although logic told Asta that as the Lead Researcher, she should stop such dangerous behavior from her staff…
Thinking back to the scene in the plot—if not for the appearance of Honkai: Star Rail, that scene would have been the "reality" of the future.
Duke Inferno had bullied her to her face? Why should she swallow her pride?
So what if it's the Ever-Flame Mansion!
I, Asta, have no fear of a battle!