Chapter 51 - 50: Two Kafkas, Double the Joy!

"Yay! On my first ten-roll, I got gold!" exclaimed March 7th jubilantly within the Parlor Car. "Of course! Beautiful girls always have great luck!" she added confidently. Dan Heng merely glanced briefly at her, his thoughts still unsettled. The image of Blade smirking while wielding his sword lingered persistently. His name had been called for the new main storyline. What fate awaited him and Dan Heng aboard the Xianzhou? At that moment, Dan Heng felt powerless against destiny. More precisely, It felt like being roasted over a fire! Dan Heng hoped the plot would swiftly reach the part concerning him. Whether it meant death or survival, he preferred a swift resolution. In his view, chaos on Xianzhou Luofu was inevitable in the upcoming events, leading to a decisive battle between himself and Blade. Their companions aboard the train would undoubtedly come to assist them. The final outcome... could be victory, or it could result in mutual defeat. If his friends were harmed because of him... Such a consequence was unacceptable. "If I knew the result beforehand, perhaps I could prevent this ending." Dan Heng sank deeper into his anguish. On the other hand, March 7th seemed carefree, eagerly checking the Pull's results with excitement. Stelle, beside her, watched with anticipation as well. "It should be the next draw!" "Are you ready?" March 7th nodded vigorously. With a tap of her finger, five golden stars appeared! The background pattern represented [Erudition]. March 7th instantly recognized it, becoming overwhelmingly thrilled! "Erudition! It's Erudition!" "Out of the seven five-star characters, only Ji Zi is associated with Erudition!" "I drew Ji Zi!" Sitting on the couch, Himeko glanced helplessly at March 7th, muttering, "What peculiar remarks..." "Such peculiar dialogue," March 7th muttered to herself. The glow faded away, revealing indeed Himeko—but not as the [Himeko] character. Instead, it was the five-star Light Cone, "[Night on the Galactic Railroad]." In the image, Himeko sat casually atop a train engine, her long white dress neatly tucked beneath her. Her red hair flowed loosely around her, gazing intently at the starry sky above. The stars traced circular paths amidst the celestial river. "Woah~" March 7th leaned closer to the screen, almost wanting to dive right in. "It's Ji Zi's exclusive Light Cone!" "How beautiful..." Stelle nodded approvingly. "This is definitely worth it!" "But... I don't have Himeko yet. I feel like this Light Cone should only be used by Ji Zi herself..." "Oh, I get it! It's one of those developer tricks!" exclaimed Stelle. "They give me an exclusive Light Cone first, then force me to spend Premium Points for the character!" "Curses! Even knowing their scheme, I still can't resist topping up my account!" Just then, Himeko approached and reminded them, "A new storyline has started. Would you two like to join us?" "Yes!" March 7th and Stelle replied simultaneously. They promptly set down their phones. Everyone gathered on the couches, including Pom-Pom, and attentively watched the new storyline unfold. Pom-Pom was the first to appear on screen. "Ladies and gentlemen! The Leap Route Conference is now officially underway! "Firstly, Pom-Pom would like to thank all the Nameless passengers for resolving the issues at this station, allowing our train to continue its journey across the stellar rails!" "Next, your conductor will announce the name of our next destination—" Just as everyone held their breath, eagerly awaiting Pom-Pom's revelation, a holographic projection of a woman suddenly materialized in the scene. She held a black umbrella with one hand. From beneath the rim, a delicate face peeked out, wearing a faint smile. "It's been a while, fellow travelers aboard the Astral Express." "I am Kafka." "Ah, perfect timing. Everyone seems to be here—or rather, almost everyone." Still holding her umbrella, she walked past the group. "No need for such charming introductions, Stellaron Hunter," Himeko said, eyeing Kafka suspiciously. Undeterred, Kafka smiled lightly. "Himeko, isn't it?" "My apologies for interrupting your gathering, but I believe after hearing my request, you'll understand why I took this liberty." "I am asking you...to change your destination." "You've come to the wrong place, Kafka. We have no intention of accepting your request or getting involved with the Stellaron Hunters. It's been delightful chatting, and perhaps one day you might visit us personally; then we can discuss it further." Himeko exuded a commanding presence. Kafka smiled slightly. "Ladies and gentlemen, have any of you heard of 'Luofu'?" As they watched this scene unfold, inside the train carriage, each person displayed a different expression on their faces. The live stream was directly projected onto the screens within the cabin, coinciding with the events taking place in the Parlor Car. It created an illusion as if the game's narrative were unfolding in reality. Fortunately, subtitles were present in the game, clearly distinguishing it from actuality. March 7th exclaimed, "It's actually her!" "And she wants us to change our destination... Surely we won't heed her words and head to Luofu, right?" "I don't want her leading us around by the nose!" Pom-Pom also sprang up from the couch, "Passenger March 7th is right!" "The Stellaron Hunters are dangerous, and the Feathered Spirits are no less so." "Pom-Pom's suggestion is—stick with our original plan and head straight to Penacony!" Seeing that even the conductor sided with her, March 7th felt more resolute than ever. "If Kafka really appears on our train just as depicted in the storyline..." "I-I swear, I'll take a swing at her first chance I get!" Stelle chimed in, "Why does it feel like you stole my line?" Just then... At the other end of the carriage, particles began to shimmer, forming a holographic projection visible to all present. And this figure was none other than Kafka herself! With the game stream's overlay included, there were now two Kafkas inside the carriage! As if peering into a mirror, they stood facing each other. March 7th was utterly dumbfounded. Moments after boasting, the real Kafka appeared! What terrible timing! Stelle glanced back and forth between them, subtly licking their lips. "Two Kafkas? Two mommies!" "Double the joy!"