"I have to say, you're a greedy one, kid."
Herta let out a light laugh at Caelus's answer. She reached into her pocket, fumbled around for a moment, and pulled out a phone. After a few taps on the screen, she displayed a QR code for Caelus.
"However, I like your proposal. And this way, if I ever lose interest in you, I won't have to worry about what to do with you."
Caelus looked down at the QR code Herta was showing him, not understanding what it was for.
"What's this?"
"To add me as a friend, of course. From now on, when I need you to cooperate with an experiment, I'll just send you a message."
We're in the space age and they're still using QR codes to add friends?
Caelus grumbled internally as he reached for his own pocket, only to find it empty.
He had forgotten. This body had been created by Kafka and her associate. They certainly wouldn't have wasted their time giving him a phone.
Herta saw Caelus reach for his pocket and then freeze. She instantly understood and shot a look at Asta.
Asta nodded and quickly left. A moment later, she returned with a brand new, unopened phone and handed it to Caelus.
"Please, Mr. Caelus, take this."
"A gift for me?" Caelus was a little surprised.
Asta nodded with a gentle smile, pressing the phone into Caelus's hands.
"Whether it was for helping Lady Herta with her research or for defeating the Doomsday Beast and preventing more severe damage to the space station, we owe you our thanks. Please accept this small token. Besides, not having a phone in this day and age can be very inconvenient."
"Thank you very much."
Caelus didn't refuse. He accepted the phone and quickly unboxed it. March 7th immediately came over, kindly guiding Caelus step-by-step through registering a social media account and adding Herta as a friend. She also had him add her as well.
With March 7th's help, Caelus quickly got the hang of his new phone and, while he was at it, added everyone else's contact information.
After becoming friends, Herta opened her chat with Caelus and sent a "1".
"Alright, that works. The rest is up to you all. I'm leaving."
Herta gave a casual wave to the group and strode out of the lab. She was in a hurry to contact her fellow geniuses; she was certain that Ruan Mei and Screwllum would be extremely interested in Caelus's unique constitution!
Asta offered an apologetic smile to the group. "I'm sorry, Lady Herta has always been like this. Please don't mind her."
Himeko and the others waved their hands. It wasn't their first time meeting Herta, so they weren't bothered by her behavior, and neither was Caelus.
Asta then bid her farewells as well. Although she wanted to stay and chat with Himeko's group, the space station had just been attacked, and since Herta disliked handling such miscellaneous affairs, the responsibility fell to her.
After Asta had left, Caelus turned his gaze to Himeko. The next item on the agenda was joining the Astral Express.
"Are there any requirements for joining the Astral Express?"
A faint smile played on Himeko's lips, her tone earnest.
"The Astral Express never refuses any passenger who wishes to travel with us. All you need to do is decide for yourself if boarding the train is what's truly right for you. In any case, would you like to see the Astral Express first?"
"Yes."
Caelus was also very curious about what the Astral Express actually looked like. He had only caught a distant glimpse of it from the corridor during his fight with the Doomsday Beast.
A 'train' that travels through the galaxy... that was just too cool, too much of a man's romance!
---o---
Himeko led Caelus back towards the platform. Fortunately, the station's construction was sturdy, and the Doomsday Beast's attacks had been focused on Caelus, so the corridor leading to the platform was undamaged. The four of them easily made their way back.
The Astral Express, its pitch-black body accented with gilded colors, was parked silently at the platform. Caelus stared at it, a brilliant light shining in his eyes.
To ride this and adventure across different planets... that would be awesome!
Himeko, March 7th, and Dan Heng walked past Caelus and stood before the train. They all turned in unison to face him, a smile on each of their faces. Himeko, standing in the center, extended a hand toward him.
"So now, Caelus, do you want to join the Astral Express?"
At that moment, Kafka's voice suddenly echoed in Caelus's mind. The words she had spoken before resurfaced from the depths of his memory.
'Go with them. You will experience many things after this, but you must remember this: when you have the power to make a choice, don't make a decision you'll come to regret.'
Caelus glanced at his status bar. The [Spirit Whisper] debuff was not there, but her words had popped into his head all the same.
Perhaps this was his own mind reminding him. But right now, there was nothing to hesitate about.
"I do."
As those two words left his mouth, the smiles on the faces of the three people opposite him widened. March 7th ran over excitedly, hooking an elbow over Caelus's shoulder with a grin.
"From now on, you're the youngest on our crew! We'll look out for you!"
Hearing this, Caelus's face lit up.
"That's great! From now on, you buff me, I'll go on a rampage, and we'll be the Express Twins!"
March 7th instantly recalled the moment she had almost been drained of all her power by Caelus. The smile on her face immediately froze.
Himeko and Dan Heng shared a look and a smile. Himeko then gestured for Caelus and March to follow.
"Alright, let's head back to the train. Caelus has just joined, so March, you'll have to show him around."
March 7th immediately straightened up and gave Himeko a mock salute.
"Mission accepted!"
---o---
Himeko led them aboard the train. The moment he stepped inside, Caelus couldn't take his eyes off the interior. He had expected it to be filled with machinery, but the decor was exquisite. Not only was there an observation car, but also a parlor car. Each car had its own unique style and purpose.
Himeko didn't rush March to give Caelus a full tour. Instead, she first led them to the parlor car. As they entered, Caelus saw a middle-aged man with a cane sitting on a sofa, conversing with a fluffy, doll-like creature.
Hearing their footsteps, the two of them turned their heads to look at the newcomers, their gazes focusing on Caelus. Caelus, in turn, glanced at the two new icons that had appeared on his mini-map.
[Nameless One · Welt Yang (Anti-Entropy's Former Sovereign)]
[Conductor · Pom-Pom]