"Has it ever crossed your mind that… you might be fired?"
Fired…?
When Qingque heard the word "fired," her first reaction was:
"Wait— that's allowed?!"
But her rational mind crushed the hope instantly.
The Divination Commission's iron-rice-bowl job may not be pleasant, but it's still an iron-rice-bowl.
The salary and benefits? Absolutely solid.
Besides…
"No way. I already got demoted to library duty—what else does the Grand Diviner want from me?"
"Don't panic. The Commission has more than one entrance. I know a place we can slip through in an emergency."
"This way, this way."
Qingque waved them along and hurried ahead.
"Uh… Uncle Welt, why do I feel like this Qingque Diviner is kind of unreliable…"
March 7th whispered.
"Let's follow her first. If I'm right, something may have happened inside the Commission."
Welt said, glancing at the tightly-shut main gate before moving to follow.
"But if something DID happen, couldn't we just break down the door?"
Stelle asked.
Everyone froze.
Stelle was already tightening her grip on Judgement of Shamash, ready to swing.
Qingque panicked.
"Don't!! If you break the gate, we'll have to replace it! That's a nightmare!"
"The Divination Commission is the Xianzhou's divination and fate-reading bureau—it's NOT simple."
"Even if something happened, the Grand Diviner is inside holding the line."
"Don't judge her by her height—her abilities are sky-high."
Stelle reluctantly lowered Judgement of Shamash.
Sigh… having such a divine relic but nowhere to properly use it…
"Here we are. We call this door the Wanderer's Gate."
"When we're bored, we sneak out here to chill outside for a few hours."
Qingque explained cheerfully unaware that someone in the group was recording everything and sending it straight to the Grand Diviner Fu Xuan.
"A few… hours? We really didn't need to know that…"
March 7th muttered.
She was starting to seriously doubt the Xianzhou's competence.
No wonder Kafka said if they hadn't come to the Luofu, the Express might've crashed…
With what March had seen so far, this place definitely felt off.
"Ugh, this damn Stellaron corrosion—what is going on anymore."
"Oh no… This door won't open either. If we keep the Grand Diviner waiting, she'll think unreliable Qingque messed up again…"
Qingque's ears drooped.
Seeing this, Stelle stepped forward.
"Hohoho! Looks like it's time for the Galactic baseballer to take action!"
Slugger or not, she was still lifting Judgement of Shamash…
[TL note: galactic baseballer but is using a claymore]
"Hold it—!"
March 7th grabbed her.
"Xun Yu, don't you know teleportation?"
"Uh… maybe… probably… possibly… I guess?"
Xun Yu scratched his head, embarrassed by everyone staring at him.
Crap. I forgot again. It must be Aha messing with my thoughts.
Aha: "?"
"I'm not taking the blame for this."
"No—you ARE."
After mentally arguing with Aha, Xun Yu snapped his fingers.
"Xun Yu!! Why can't you teleport us somewhere OTHER than right in front of monsters?!!"
March 7th screamed as a cluster of abominations appeared a few steps away.
Fortunately, Stelle—starved for battle—charged in like a beast and wiped them out quickly.
"Ho! As expected of the Grand Diviner's guests! Skilled AND strong—impressive!"
Qingque gave both Stelle and Xun Yu a thumbs-up.
"The Commission really IS in trouble.
Miss Qingque, please take us to the Grand Diviner immediately."
Welt said.
"Alright, stay close."
"Actually… let me handle it."
Xun Yu lifted his hand and snapped again.
In an instant, everyone appeared before Fu Xuan, who was mid-conversation with Jing Yuan's projection.
Both stared, stunned.
And after two consecutive teleportation snaps, Welt couldn't help remembering the Herrscher of the Void—also a finger-snap fanatic.
Dead memories stabbed at him again.
Without realizing, Xun Yu emotionally damaged Welt a second time.
They stood before the Matrix of Prescience: Ultima.
Its engravings and its principles were said to originate from the Omniscient Heavenly Sovereign, tied to the Aeon of Erudition.
In the entire Divination Commission, the only one who fully understood it was the Grand Diviner herself.
"General Jing Yuan, Grand Diviner—we're here!"
"Astral Express crew—meeting again."
"Lady Fu, any progress?"
Fu Xuan sighed.
"The omens rise and fall between Qian and Zhen. Misfortune moves; no path is auspicious."
"..."
Everyone stared—able to read the words, but unable to understand them together.
"Lady Fu… common language, please."
"A great calamity approaches. That is today's fate of the Divination Commission."
Fu Xuan glanced between Xun Yu and Jing Yuan's projection.
Two Emanator-level powers should've guaranteed advantage against a yet-unseen lord ravager.
So why did the divinations still show disaster?
Unless… someone wasn't planning to contribute.
She remembered: Xun Yu said he'd only help at the CRUCIAL moment.
Suddenly, everything became clear.
"Though danger is great, one thread of hope remains."
"Everyone, the Commission lacks manpower. I need your help rebooting the foundation nodes of the Matrix of Prescience: Ultima."
"Sigh… ever since we arrived on the Luofu, we've either been busy… or on the way to being busy."
March 7th muttered.
"Grand Diviner—leave it to us!"
March's determination made Fu Xuan blush a little.
She felt awkward—this 'special squad' was being used way too often…
"Very well. I will leave it to you. For your aid to the Xianzhou, General Jing Yuan offers his thanks in advance."
So the four went off to fight mobs and activate the nodes.
Soon, the Matrix of Prescience: Ultima restarted.
Kafka was brought in.
Her colored contacts, lipstick, sunglasses, coat—removed. But she didn't look disheveled at all.
Bare-faced Kafka still radiated deadly charm.
"Next, I will interrogate Kafka. Those standing at the center of the matrix may feel… some impact."
———————————————————————————
"You… you did all of this… for THAT?"
"For something like THAT?"
Fu Xuan's shock deepened.
Kafka's lips curled slightly.
"Well? Do you like the truth?"
"Incredible…"
"…But the Matrix of Prescience: Ultima does not make mistakes."