"Himeko!"
"Himeko!!"
"Himeko!!!"
"What's the deal with this video you sent us? Why are characters of me, Dan Heng, and Stelle in there? Is this a game?! Why was our battle with Cocolia made into game content?"
March 7th was extremely excited, constantly @-ing Himeko in the [Astral Express Family] group chat.
After a dozen messages, Himeko finally replied: "It is indeed a game. Its name is Honkai: Star Rail. As for the specifics, Welt and I will explain everything in detail once you return to the Express."
Seeing Himeko's message, March 7th let out a long breath. At least they knew Himeko had some understanding of this game.
Dan Heng asked, "Do we want to stay here a while longer?"
"Stay for what? My head is full of this game now. If I don't get this sorted out, I won't even be able to eat lunch. Quick, quick! Back to the Express with me!"
March 7th grabbed Dan Heng and Stelle, running toward the coordinate point.
On the Interastral Peace Network.
After Guinaifen finished streaming the battle against Cocolia, the topic of Honkai: Star Rail exploded across the entire web! Forums specifically opened an independent section for Honkai: Star Rail to facilitate player discussions.
"I never knew turn-based combat could be this hype!"
"I thought it was just a normal boss fight, but the plot had so many twists and turns, with climax after climax! Finally, when that vocal track kicked in with Cocolia's roar, I felt my scalp tingle!"
"I was lucky enough to experience the whole thing in Little Gui's stream this morning. It was a cloudy day, but the moment the music started, the sun broke through the clouds and hit my floor perfectly. For a second, I thought I'd been chosen by an Aeon!"
"In that moment, I thought I was the villain!"
"To Cocolia, the Express crew really were the villains! The Stellaron was a way out, and the Express was a way out, but these outsiders appeared so suddenly they were completely untrustworthy. Cocolia preferred to believe in the new world she had seen with her own eyes!"
"Cocolia might look like a major villain, but after watching the whole story, I don't think she was purely evil. She truly wanted Belobog to enter a new world, and for Bronya to become the mother of that new world.
She didn't listen to the Stellaron at first; she was just desperate and powerless to change the situation. Belobog's only end was destruction, so she was forced to listen to the Stellaron."
"The Stellaron does have powerful force. Even if she was being tricked, the result would have been the same anyway. So even when the Express crew arrived, she didn't dare gamble that these unknown outsiders could actually change the status quo. If she lost that bet, the only possibility of entering the new world would vanish forever. Thus, she could only choose the Stellaron."
"..."
"Wait, are you guys really progressing through the plot that fast?"
"True Rail-fans play the game themselves while watching streamer Little Gui push the story."
Topics regarding Star Rail and Jarilo-VI became the hottest trends on the internet overnight. This pure white planetwhich in the past would have warranted at most a brief mention on Interastral Peace News even if it suddenly perished in the universewas now writing a tear-jerking epic witnessed by the entire network.
...
Interastral Peace Corporation, Talent Exchange Group.
This group consisted mostly of high-level executives who usually wouldn't say a word. Everyone was busy practicing the company's philosophy in their own ways; who had time for small talk?
However, today the situation in the group was entirely different! Messages were popping up one after another. If one didn't look for a moment, it was already at 99+.
"Jarilo-VI was originally under my department's jurisdiction!"
"The funding transactions provided to Belobog during the Stellaron crisis were also recorded in our files!"
"It was only because Belobog was swallowed by the Eternal Freeze and lost contact with the outside world that it was designated as a bad debt by management!"
"Since Belobog has survived as an independent political entity, the subsequent transactions should naturally be handled by our department!"
[Strategic Investment Department · Topaz] replied immediately: "Heh, what you're talking about happened last Amber Era. The transactions with Belobog have long since become a non-performing debt.
Handling and recovering such debts is the duty of our [Special Debt Picket Team]. Who in the company doesn't know that? I've already received approval from the higher-ups and reported the plan for the debt collection project. Isn't it a bit too late for you to jump out and try to snatch this business from me now?"
"You..."
The head of the other department wanted to argue further, but then a higher-ranking cadre was finally drawn in, posting a message to mediate this sudden storm.
"Enough. Aren't you embarrassed to be arguing like this in a company group? Everyone here is a talent of the company; must we resolve the distribution of work through bickering? Look at your commentsyou sound like red-faced investors arguing at the stock exchange."
"Everyone knows Jarilo-VI is destined to become a hot commodity in the universe, with immense potential value for both tourism and commerce. I trust in your foresight. However, the company has its rules. This business should indeed be completed by Topaz's team."
Topaz was very quick to respond. She immediately replied: "I guarantee the mission will be completed. I won't let the leadership down!"
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