Playing Stat-Sticks in Honkai: Star Rail

"So, following Elio's script, we've run into an unexpected situation, haven't we?"

Kafka said with a smile.

"Hm?"

Silver Wolf paused, thinking back carefully.

"What do you think is the probability of an error or unexpected situation occurring when following Elio's script?"

"It's practically zero!"

Silver Wolf replied without hesitation.

"Exactly, so not only did we encounter an unexpected situation this time, but we encountered two."

"Two?"

"That's right, two!"

Kafka poured herself a cup of tea and savored it elegantly.

"You mean the person hiding in the warehouse we found initially, and the country girl we met on our way back?"

"Precisely!"

Kafka nodded.

"You mean to say..."

"If my judgment is correct, the person hiding in the warehouse is the same child we encountered later."

"But even so..."

"She's the unexpected factor in the script! And because of her appearance, this script now has many more potential directions for unexpected events..."

Kafka explained.

Beep, beep, beep.

At that moment, Kafka's terminal chimed with a message notification.

She picked up the terminal and looked at the message. Her brow furrowed slightly, and then she sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"It's from Elio. He said that just now, the situation in the script, where only Stelle boarded the train, has changed. Another person has been added."

"What!"

Silver Wolf was dumbfounded.

Kafka had just said that the country girl was an unexpected factor disrupting the script's flow, and then another passenger had joined the train crew.

This was almost too accurate.

"Now, in which direction will things head?"

Kafka walked to the spaceship's window, gazing at the boundless universe outside, thinking to herself.

Meanwhile, Liuge and Stelle, who had already boarded the train, were assigned their own rooms.

However, while Liuge was calmly organizing his room, Stelle kept visiting March 7th, under the guise of strengthening their bond.

"Passenger Liuge, here are the toiletries and new bedding prepared for you. If you need anything else, please purchase it yourself after our next stop."

At this moment, a small figure resembling a plush toy, dressed in a conductor's uniform, entered Liuge's room carrying a pile of items.

"Thank you, Conductor Pom-Pom."

Liuge took the items from Pom-Pom and, in the process, took the golden orb of light floating above Pom-Pom's head.

Acquired Stat-Stick [Luck·Mascot]

Quality: Gold

Effect: When equipped, there's a high probability of gaining favor from women, along with a blessing of good luck.

Liuge's eyes widened.

As expected of the train crew's mascot, the Stat-Stick it gave was also so awesome.

He didn't care about gaining favor from women; what he cared about was good luck.

Well, he hoped this good luck attribute would compensate for his abysmal luck.

Even if it just brought him up to a normal person's level, that would be fine.

Liuge was so happy at this moment that he almost wanted to grab Pom-Pom and rough it up.

"It's nothing. Taking care of passengers is one of our essential rules."

"Can I sleep with you?"

The moment he finished speaking, Liuge saw Pom-Pom recoil sharply by four or five steps, looking at Liuge with a wary expression.

"Passenger Liuge, please mind your words. Pom-Pom is the conductor, not a mascot, and certainly not a cuddle pillow!"

"Ahem, Pom-Pom. Is such a strong reaction really necessary?"

Liuge's eye twitched.

"No, before you, March 7th also said that, and even took action."

"..."

Alright, so someone else had already made a move.

"Okay, enough joking. I'll go see if Passenger Stelle needs anything."

Pom-Pom said, then trotted off on its short legs towards Stelle's room.

Liuge opened his mouth, wanting to say that Stelle was probably slacking off in March 7th's room right now.

But seeing Pom-Pom's demeanor, he knew that stopping it would be useless, so he remained silent.

After being busy for nearly an hour, Liuge looked at his room and nodded to himself.

It was now one-third similar to how it was before he transmigrated.

Having finished, he collapsed onto the soft bed and opened the Aether Editor.

Looking at the five new Stat-Sticks in the Stat-Stick Library, each marked with 'new', the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

One white, two blue, and two gold Stat-Sticks. He had picked these up while wandering around the main control room before leaving.

[Stat-Stick · Trash Can]

Rarity: White

Effect: No matter where you are, as long as you equip this Stat-Stick, your mouth becomes a bottomless trash can.

Looking at this Stat-Stick, Liuge's mouth twitched.

Was this even necessary?

[Stat-Stick · Childhood Sweetheart]

Rarity: Blue

Effect: With this Stat-Stick equipped, you will gain an invisible aura of a childhood sweetheart. In the eyes of others, your presence will be someone they know best, yet also most unfamiliar.

[Stat-Stick · Guardian]

Rarity: Blue

Effect: When protecting others while equipped with this Stat-Stick, you will prioritize their safety.

The two blue Stat-Sticks were picked up by Liuge in the Defense Department.

However, judging by their names, Liuge could roughly guess who had dropped these two Stat-Sticks.

Yes, he was talking about you – Arlan!

Seriously, hurry up and use your main account to protect your childhood sweetheart!!!

After a moment of internal grumbling, Liuge looked at the remaining two gold Stat-Sticks.

[Stat-Stick · Friend of Rich Women]

Rarity: Gold

Effect: When equipped with this Stat-Stick, no matter the time or place, whenever you encounter someone with the attribute of a rich woman, you will receive a gift. (Note: So what will you receive? A happy ball for rich women or a happy whip for rich women?)

"Hey, this Stat-Stick would be better without the notes!"

All these new Stat-Sticks, why were they all so useless? They weren't even as good as the mascot Pom-Pom brought him earlier.

[Stat-Stick · Genius]

Rarity: Gold

Effect: A genius is a genius. All your actions will be interpreted as having a special, profound meaning befitting a genius. (Note: Geniuses act, madmen react, and you... my friend, you stand at the crossroads!)

015 Stelle: Trust me, the coffee isn't bitter at all.

At this moment, Liuge's expression was that of a typical old man looking at his phone on the subway.

What was all this?

Although the effects of the gold Stat-Sticks were good, the notes seemed completely unnecessary.

After a moment of thought, Liuge looked at the blue Stat-Stick, Guardian, and began to conceive a plan.

He reached out and dismantled the [Stat-Stick Skill · Puppet Control], separating it back into [Threads] and [Puppet].

[Stat-Stick · Puppet]

Rarity: Gold

Effect: Can be placed on an ownerless object, granting 100% control over it.

[Threads]

Rarity: White

Effect: You can try fishing with it; it's incredibly durable.

Looking at the two separated Stat-Sticks, Liuge silently combined [Puppet] and [Guardian].

However, there was no reaction, as if they couldn't be combined at all.

"Where did I go wrong?"

Liuge pondered for a moment, his gaze lingering slightly on the Guardian Stat-Stick.

Guardian, Guardian... without combat power, how can it be called a Guardian?

Thinking this, Liuge added the excess white Stat-Sticks, Strength and Speed, into the combination.

And indeed, just as Liuge had thought, after adding the two basic attribute Stat-Sticks, the combination of Puppet and Guardian went incredibly smoothly.

Right before him, a brand new Stat-Stick, marked with "new," appeared: Stat-Stick [War Machine Bodyguard].

Stat-Stick [War Machine Bodyguard]

Quality: Gold

Effect: Place it on a humanoid masterless object, and it will transform into a Guardian-type War Machine Bodyguard with both Strength and Speed. (Believe me, he can take on fifty of you.)

Wait, why is this Stat-Stick insulting people?

Slightly annoyed, Liuge's attention was again drawn to a purple Stat-Stick.

[Stat-Stick · Holy Sword of Physics]

Quality: Purple

Description: This is a golden playful little pig that brought back this Stat-Stick from a certain chaotic region, possessing the ability to clear one's mind.

"Seriously? You bring back a Stat-Stick from a chaotic region again, and it even clears your mind... why are your Stat-Sticks so twisted this time?"

But then again, as a Guardian, how could he not have a weapon?

Don't you agree!

Thinking this, Liuge once again combined the purple Stat-Stick, Holy Sword of Physics, into the Stat-Stick for Stat-Stick [War Machine Bodyguard].