(Brothers, the author's fever has subsided today. I'll resume two chapters a day. Also, thank you to the readers for your concern.)
(*￣3￣)╭♡
————
At this moment, Elio finally got down to business.
【The video screen began to show a magnificent room.】
【The empty room was very quiet.】
【Suddenly, a noise came from the corner.】
【It was Jiang Lin. He walked forward, only his back visible.】
【After confirming no one was around, he carefully surveyed the entire room.】
【Then, after searching the room, he seemed to have found something he liked and left contentedly.】
【As he turned, the items in his hand were exposed to everyone's eyes — two keystones.】
"Jade: ..."
"Topaz: This is..."
The two individuals at the Interastral Peace Corporation fell silent, for they had recognized them: their Jade and Topaz.
Meanwhile, in Penacony, Sunday frowned, looking at the scene in the image.
He immediately recognized the location.
"Will my plan... also be exposed...? I wonder how many in the universe will support it, and how many will oppose it, when that time comes?"
【The scene changed, showing the Xianzhou Loufu, on the Competition Ship.】
【Yanqing, Yun Li, and March 7th were jointly restraining the out-of-control Feixiao.】
【March 7th, in particular, was clinging to Feixiao's leg, refusing to let go, looking as if she was putting in her utmost effort.】
【And just then, Feixiao's body suddenly went limp.】
【He flashed a strained smile at the three, but at that very moment...】
【A figure appeared silently, and before the three could react, directly pierced Feixiao's body...】
【And took... a crimson moon!】
【When the three reacted, they instantly glared at the figure.】
【The scene abruptly ended there.】
"Feixiao: Uh... what is this?"
"Jing Yuan: Cough cough, this time Mr. Jiang Lin is a friend of the Xianzhou Alliance, and he will certainly not do such a thing again. @Jiang Lin, right?"
"Jiang Lin: Hmm..."
"Yanqing: I... I couldn't do anything..."
"Yun Li: @Yanqing, haven't you gotten used to it yet? I'm already accustomed to it."
"Yanqing: You... do you dare to spar with me?!"
"Yun Li: Come on, come on, who's afraid of who."
"Star: @March 7th, I want to take your place."
"March 7th: ..."
"Hu Lei: This... how is this possible...?"
In the Cloister of Imprisonment
Hu Lei, still at the bottom of the Cloister of Imprisonment, looked at the crimson moon in the video, his heart filled with doubt.
"Could it be that some wolf cub took the crimson moon from me, and then the Xianzhou people took it back?
And that fox-human general actually has Buli People blood in him?!"
At this moment, Hu Lei had no idea how destitute his Buli People hunting party had become after his capture.
Pielpoint
Interastral Peace Corporation Headquarters
"Thump thump thump--"
A rhythmic knocking sound was heard.
"Please come in."
Upon hearing the sound, the person pushed the door open and entered.
"On my way here, I saw such explosive news. What are your thoughts? Should we try to win him over for cooperation, or...?"
The person's tone was casual, as if describing a trivial matter.
"Cooperation? That would mean we might have to hand over our lifeline to a stranger.
As enemies? We currently don't know what methods this person possesses.
After all, not all geniuses are as... approachable as Dr. Calderon Chadwick."
"If it's cooperation, it will likely come at the cost of the keystones, but what the Interastral Peace Corporation will gain is still unknown."
"But if we become enemies, how much will the Interastral Peace Corporation lose? We also cannot calculate."
Because of this, everyone in the conference room fell into a long period of endless debate.
Everyone held their own opinions, and no one would back down.
Ultimately, after a full day of meetings, they only reached the conclusion to wait and see.
And on the Xianzhou Loufu
The three Astral Express members around Jiang Lin, however, had no additional opinions.
Instead, they were chatting about other topics.
"March, when did you buy that outfit in the video?"
Star asked with curiosity.
"Huh? I don't know either... How about this, why don't we go look for it? We've been on the Loufu for so long, and we haven't even bought a new outfit."
March 7th first looked puzzled, then said excitedly.
"I don't really want to go."
Star protested, saying she'd rather flip through two more trash cans in that time.
"Oh, no refusing. I always see you wearing the same outfit. Today is a good day to buy you a new one."
March 7th forcibly pulled Star along, not forgetting to glance back at the other two.
"You two hurry up and follow!"
The two behind exchanged glances.
Jiang Lin seemed to see a hint of weariness in Dan Heng's eyes?
But then he thought, buying two Xianzhou-style outfits didn't seem bad either?
As for why he was so idle?
Why wasn't he pondering the Mara-Struck matter?
Mainly because he wasn't a warm-hearted person.
The reward the Xianzhou Alliance promised him hadn't arrived yet, and since the Alliance wasn't in a hurry, he naturally didn't need to be either.
March 7th, however, searched everywhere but couldn't find the same outfit.
Finally, Dan Heng couldn't stand it anymore.
"Actually, I think if you can't find it, you could have it custom-made..."
Only then did the two stop their sweeping behavior through the Loufu streets... During this time, Jiang Lin had already changed into a Xianzhou-style outfit, and from his appearance, it was impossible to tell that he was also an outsider.
Just then
March 7th, who was leading the way, seemed to finally be tired.
"Jinyan Alley is just ahead. Shall we go take a look? There are still so many specialty snacks on the Loufu that we haven't tried."
March 7th looked at the other three, asking with a face full of anticipation.
Dan Heng was about to say something when his phone pinged with a message. He opened it curiously to check.
So, she looked at Star and Jiang Lin again.
Jiang Lin, however, refused at this moment.
"No, I have some... hmm, other things."
Star seemed to suddenly remember something... "Let's exchange contact info. Oh, right, Herta also asked me to contact you. I'll introduce you to her later."
Jiang Lin was slightly taken aback by her words but didn't refuse. After adding Star as a friend, he prepared to leave.
"How come no one recognized you along the way? You should be quite famous now, shouldn't you?"
Star suddenly asked.
"Hmm, I used some... small tricks."
At this moment, Dan Heng, who had finished reading the message, spoke up.
"I won't be going this time either. The Conductor told me someone sent me a letter, so I plan to go back to the Astral Express to check it."
After saying their goodbyes, the group went their separate ways.
And Jiang Lin hadn't walked many steps... when a Xianzhou native stopped him.
"Brother, do you desire eternal life?"
Jiang Lin: ????