As time passed, the game's current spread speed was increasing rapidly.
Including many researchers on the Space Station, those who previously only watched the live streams were now downloading the game one after another, preparing to experience it for themselves.
This might cause Madam Herta's image to be exposed to more and more people.
This was what Arlan was worried about...
But hearing this, Asta ultimately chose to shake her head: "There's no need for now. If necessary, I will contact Ms. Herta."
"After all, few people have seen Ms. Herta; even if they saw her, they might not necessarily recognize her."
"Let's leave it at that."
"Understood, My Lady."
As Asta's guard, Arlan followed her orders completely.
Watching his back as he left the office, Asta silently took out her phone and found the game on the Interastral Store.
"honkai: star rail?"
"The theme of this game seems to be related to Astral Express fanwork."
For some reason, Asta suddenly felt that this game seemed a bit interesting?
Should I download it and play too?
Don't misunderstand; she was doing this to help Ms. Herta investigate the other party to see if they were targeting the Space Station.
Commonly known as playing critically!
*Cough, cough.*
Speaking of the Astral Express, a grey figure suddenly appeared in Asta's mind.
She sighed helplessly: "Come to think of it, I wonder how he's doing. He hasn't come to the Space Station lately?"
"Didn't he say he'd come play with me more? I was thinking of asking him if he knows who developed this Astral Express fan game."
Asta's slightly pink fingertips traced circles on the desk.
"But lately, it seems he hasn't contacted Ms. Herta either?"
...
"I can't get through, I can't get through at all!"
"Where is Herta?"
Inside Amphoreus, having finished his work, Xu Qiong was trying to use the aegis anchor to contact Herta and ask what to do now.
But he couldn't get through no matter what.
And at such a critical moment, there was no news from Screwllum either?
It couldn't be helped; as expected, Genius Society Members couldn't be relied upon. Fortunately, he had another way to save Amphoreus, otherwise he would truly be isolated and helpless.
Currently, the number of Cosmic Shards was increasing, and Xu Qiong's game began to see downloads on the store.
Guinaifen finally officially reached the Chrysos Heirs' storyline.
At the same time, she brought their images to the entire galaxy.
Xu Qiong pondered that it was time to consider opening the first character banner and enabling the top-up system.
You see, downloads and popularity were ways to obtain Cosmic Shards, but ultimately, to achieve Deliverance, someone had to spend a lot of money!
While Xu Qiong was operating the system, a familiar voice came from behind:
"partner, this couldn't be me, could it?"
Xu Qiong turned around and found Phainon pointing a finger.
"The first local encountered, hiding a tremendous secret..."
"Could it be that in partner's story, I'm actually the most crucial one? Haha, just kidding." Phainon laughed and scratched his head.
"Stop flattering yourself."
Behind Phainon, Mydei spoke expressionlessly with his arms crossed: "The one who appeared first should have been that little pink..."
"Uh, she should be called the Thirteenth Titan now, and also the Original Titan."
This was true; Phainon thought about it and realized it really was the case.
However, to the outside world, no one would think Hesitation was a person; after all, she really did look like a pet.
"I didn't expect you to actually learn how to think, Mydei?"
"But partner's story doesn't seem to exist in any cycle; it looks like a brand-new original story?"
Facing Phainon's inquiry, Xu Qiong could only shrug.
Of course it didn't belong to any cycle, because it was a predetermined future that hadn't happened yet; unfortunately, he had simply broken and altered it in advance.
But in fact, this cycle was no less than any other life; after all, the so-called Deliverer from beyond had descended.
Thinking this, he felt a fuzzy sensation near his ear, a bit itchy: "Eh? Cyrene, when did you get up there?"
Xu Qiong turned his head and found Cyrene in her Hesitation form crouching on his shoulder, rubbing his cheek with her large, fuzzy ears.
"Heehee, I saw you dazing off and wanted to see what you were thinking about."
"Let me see, these are the partners from the Astral Express Crew in your Remembrance that you mentioned, right? They really are amazing."
Xu Qiong held the phone close to his shoulder.
After turning into Hesitation, Cyrene's voice became even softer and sweeter, sounding very squishy.
Speaking of the Astral Express Crew, Xu Qiong remembered—judging by the current time in the outside world, Stelle and Dan Heng's group should be arriving at Amphoreus soon, right?
But if expectations held, the Amphoreus they entered should be in the past.
Uh...
Xu Qiong didn't know exactly what it would turn into.
Perhaps there would be some discrepancies with the current main storyline, but it certainly wouldn't be too different.
Probably?
"Come to think of it, I seem to have met you for the first time near here too."
"A special energy on you attracted me~"
Hesitation kicked her little legs a couple of times and then flipped to fly in front of Xu Qiong's eyes.
Xu Qiong nodded with a strained expression: "Yeah, back then you couldn't speak yet. When I called you a little pink dog, you could only go 'mi~ mi~ mi~'."
"Hmph, don't call me a little pink dog~ I'm clearly a cute little fairy."
Cyrene put her hands on her hips and pouted, looking angry.
Xu Qiong naturally knew that the initial Hesitation was attracted because of the Stellaron's resonance.
To save Amphoreus, obtaining a Stellaron wasn't that difficult, especially with Herta's connections.
So on the day Xu Qiong arrived at Amphoreus, at the entrance of the Januapolis Temple, he clearly remembered meeting the ripples of the past for the first time.
Just like the first meeting—
"But, partner..."
"Hmm?"
Xu Qiong was dazed for just a moment when he realized Hesitation was gone.
In her place, the adult Cyrene appeared before him out of thin air.
"But, I think no matter how many times." Her voice became somewhat serious, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with a lingering gaze, "I would probably wait for you at that entrance."
"After all, you are the hero I've been waiting for ♪"
Xu Qiong's expression froze.
"Heehee, I even specially prepared a bucket list."
"Looking up at this real starry sky, this list records so many things I want to do with you after we go out, but no peeking for now~"
She took two steps back.
The girl's every smile and frown made Xu Qiong sigh inwardly; Cyrene, who could freely switch between sizes, was truly cheating.
She appeared by his side without a sound, and in the blink of an eye, she grew large and ran ahead.
It was impossible to predict.
He was afraid that one day he'd wake up and find a Hesitation in his bed.
"Cyrene, I've been to many places." Xu Qiong also moved closer, gesturing at the game's main menu, "In the game, perhaps we can't show them one by one."
"But we can go see them in person."
"The snow of Belobog, the Dragon Palace of the Xianzhou, the Movie Park of Penacony, and..."
"Teacher Tribbie, and Teacher Tribbie!"
"Hey, you're here too, Mydei? Now it's my turn to laugh at you!"
Xu Qiong: "?"