Kafka

If the aroma of fried eggs, egg fried rice, and xiaolongbao made mouths water and whetted appetites...

Then the fragrance of coffee, or drinks in general, made people feel that the world was a wonderful place.

Stelle, March 7th, Welt, and Dan Heng were entranced.

Himeko even felt an urge to fight for everything beautiful in the world~

Pom-Pom felt it even more deeply.

And so, their eyes filled with tears.

Pom-Pom knew they were losing their composure.

But I just can't help it, QAQ.

It feels like I've lost something...

However.

Pom-Pom seemed to notice something unusual.

The passengers didn't think they had lost control of their emotions.

Instead, their gazes conveyed a message: Was it so good you cried? What kind of life were you living before?!

But regardless.

It was still a little embarrassing.

And the culprit was, of course—

March 7th!

"Passenger March! No taking pictures, pom!"

Pom-Pom covered their face with their two long, fluffy ears and shouted.

"Hehe, the Conductor's embarrassing past! What did I tell you? Jiang Yao's skills are unbeatable, right? I wasn't kidding when I said it was good enough to make you cry!"

March 7th giggled.

"Now I finally understand why so many people love coffee."

Stelle sighed in wonder too.

She had always thought coffee was the Black Handsome that Himeko made.

That had made her keep her distance from coffee.

Only now did she realize.

Just how wrong she had been.

What had I been missing all this time?!

Still, to be honest.

Stelle couldn't understand why there was such a huge gap between Jiang Yao and Himeko.

It wasn't as though she had never watched Himeko make coffee.

The steps were pretty much the same, weren't they?

"Now I understand even less why Passenger Himeko likes coffee, pom."

Pom-Pom sighed in wonder as well.

They simply had to get that off their chest. They really did!

Welt shook his head. "No, the problem isn't Himeko. It's Jiang Yao. Ordinary coffee lovers never get to experience such an exquisite flavor."

"Jiang Yao's pour-over coffee has already transcended the very concept of coffee."

This wasn't a screenshot of a chat! It was the Herrscher of Reason's analysis. Surely that made it convincing this time?

...Sorry, I feel a little called out here... A helpless expression appeared on Himeko's face.

Her companions' comments and comparisons had come through loud and clear.

It was a good thing. It meant they were relaxed enough to say things like that.

Still, they did have a point.

After drinking Jiang Yao's coffee.

Even she felt that her already scant list of hobbies was about to shrink by one.

However.

Fortunately, it seemed she would always have drinks this delightful from now on.

A huge win, with nothing to lose!

After the joking died down, she watched her companions each find a seat and slump into it.

Relaxed, content, and carefree.

Himeko couldn't help smiling too.

Especially at Dan Heng.

She rarely saw him this at ease.

Sure enough, the power of good food far exceeded their imaginations.

Just as the Astral Express Crew was relaxing.

A sudden fluctuation appeared.

Kafka arrived uninvited, her data body manifested through Aether Editing.

"Long time no see, everyone aboard the Astral Express."

Kafka held a large umbrella that had likewise been manifested.

"I'm Kafka."

Kafka revealed her mature, alluring face, her gaze drifting casually around the room.

"What good timing. Everyone's here, and there's even a new friend."

In the end, her gaze settled on Jiang Yao.

Twenty-four system hours earlier.

In Elio's script.

She was to appear when the Astral Express was preparing to jump away from Jarilo-VI.

And guide the Astral Express toward the Xianzhou Luofu.

But!

Something had gone wrong when that scene played out.

Silver Wolf's Aether Editing had failed!

Kafka hadn't been able to board the Astral Express.

It was the first time an unexpected event had occurred in Elio's script.

Fortunately, Elio had updated the script in time.

Only then had their second attempt succeeded.

Although Elio hadn't explained why the script had gone wrong.

That didn't mean Kafka wasn't interested in the variable involved.

Unexpectedly, or perhaps she should call it good luck.

She had spotted an unfamiliar face aboard the Astral Express.

A face that definitely hadn't been there when they headed to Jarilo-VI!

Was he the unexpected variable?

What surprised Kafka even more was this.

Welt, Dan Heng, March 7th, and even that ungrateful daughter Stelle were all making subtle moves to protect Jiang Yao.

That made her even more curious.

"You can spare us the charming introduction, Stellaron Hunter."

Himeko had naturally noticed Kafka's scrutiny of Jiang Yao too.

No matter how she looked at it.

She had a responsibility to protect Jiang Yao.

After all, she was the navigator!

"Himeko, right?"

Kafka turned her head with an alluring air.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your meal."

"But I believe you'll understand my intrusion once you've heard my request."

Kafka set aside her curiosity about Jiang Yao for the moment.

"I'd like you to change your destination."

Following the script, Kafka voiced her request.

The atmosphere in the dining car immediately turned cold.

Jiang Yao might have been the only one whose mind was elsewhere, and he even seemed a little eager.

As the navigator, Himeko took it upon herself to deal with Kafka.

March 7th poked Jiang Yao and whispered, "Jiang Yao, don't worry. It's just a minor problem. But you really need to be careful. She's a very dangerous woman."

Stelle nodded too. "That's right, that's right."

After chiming in, Stelle wasn't sure whether she was imagining it, but she felt as though Kafka had glared at her.

Still, that didn't matter.

Protecting the newcomer is a senior's responsibility~

The two of them had just noticed that Jiang Yao seemed drawn to Kafka.

Are bad women really that charming?

"Mm-hmm, I know~"

"But I know one of her companions, and I was just hoping to ask her to deliver a return gift for me."

Jiang Yao explained openly, without trying to hide anything.

"Hm?"

"Huh?"

March 7th and Stelle stared at each other.

What kind of bizarre twist was this?

Jiang Yao knew one of Kafka's companions?

For realsies or fakesies, O.o?

"Hm? Why are you so surprised? Didn't I tell you? I'm a Drifter. I don't know that many people, but I don't know that few either~"

Jiang Yao shrugged, then continued:

"Okay, now I remember. I really don't think I told you. My bad~"

March 7th: "..."

Stelle: "..."

Sure enough, sincerity was the ultimate finishing move!

March 7th and Stelle scratched their heads.

They had never expected this turn of events.

And while they were whispering to each other.

Kafka and Himeko's conversation was also drawing to a close.

In short, Kafka had told Himeko what was happening on the Luofu.

Namely, sixty-nine system hours earlier (45 + 24), a Stellaron had erupted aboard the Luofu.

Her companion, Blade, had also been taken away by the Cloud Knights.

She wanted to clear the Stellaron Hunters of suspicion.

And she told Himeko what would happen if the Astral Express didn't go to the Luofu—

The Stellaron would contaminate the entire Xianzhou ship.

Roughly half the ship's inhabitants would die.

The choice was left to the Astral Express.

According to Elio's original script.

Kafka should have left at this point.

The brave, fearless Trailblazer and the inherently benevolent Nameless would not stand idly by.

But wasn't there an unexpected variable here?

Kafka was in no hurry to leave.

Her official business was finished.

It was time to satisfy her curiosity.

Her gaze fell on Jiang Yao.

But she failed to notice.

The hostile look in Dan Heng's eyes.