Did I Pull a Golden Legendary?

[Congratulations, host. You have drawn one legendary item: Universal Countermeasure Card.]

[The corresponding reward has been deposited in your inventory.]

As the system's mechanical voice sounded, Lin Chen saw a flash of golden light before his eyes.

"Holy shit... I really pulled a gold?"

"Even I get a day of god-tier luck?"

"Universal Countermeasure Card... what the hell is that?"

After a moment of stunned silence, Lin Chen opened the item's information.

[Legendary item: Universal Countermeasure Card.]

[Effect: Helps the host resolve the immediate crisis with a reasonable, effective response plan.]

[This item disappears permanently after one use.]

"Seems a little underwhelming. It's not a tangible reward."

"At least it's an ace up my sleeve... I'll save it to keep myself alive."

Once Lin Chen understood the [Universal Countermeasure Card]'s effect, most of his excitement faded.

As far as Lin Chen was concerned right now,

getting stronger soldiers for the Conqueror Legion seemed like a much more reliable reward.

"Mr. Lin Chen... that thing has been completely destroyed, right?"

A light, lilting voice interrupted Lin Chen's thoughts.

In front of him, Asta held her right hand against her chest.

Her clear, lake-blue eyes carried a hint of apprehension and hope.

"That's right... it's completely taken care of."

"The uncanny singing haunting Herta Space Station ends here..."

He reached out with his broad palm and gently patted Asta's shoulder.

Lin Chen's expression was calm and serious.

"Good..."

"Thank you, Mr. Lin Chen."

"If you hadn't been here, everyone on Herta Space Station, and I..."

She seemed to suddenly remember something.

A faint blush appeared on her fair, pretty face.

Asta stopped herself halfway through her sentence.

Perhaps she really did have a great deal she wanted to say to Mr. Lin Chen.

But with March 7th and Arlan standing nearby, she couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable.

"There's no need to keep thanking me."

"Since an uncanny calamity descended on Herta Space Station,"

"I wasn't going to stand by and do nothing."

"Besides, you're my friend. I'll help when you need me..."

The corners of his mouth rose slightly as Lin Chen answered with an easy smile.

Lin Chen valued his relationship with Asta quite highly.

What had happened in Asta's bedroom that afternoon

was still fresh in Lin Chen's memory.

Those sweet, soft lips, and the warm, yielding fullness of her breasts.

Lin Chen found himself missing the sensation.

Now that Asta felt grateful to him,

perhaps their relationship could take another step forward in the near future.

"Mr. Lin Chen... for this hard-won victory,"

"the brave warriors under your command also paid with their lives."

"I will remember this kindness forever."

"If there is anything I can help with in the future, Mr. Lin Chen, I am at your command."

Arlan placed his right hand against his left shoulder and bowed.

He looked especially earnest and sincere.

It left Lin Chen a little taken aback.

Sure enough, the young Arlan before him still seemed to have his original disposition.

Upright, brave, and sincere, Arlan possessed the virtues a knight should have.

"All right..."

"Let's have a drink sometime."

"You can hold your liquor pretty well, can't you, Arlan?"

Lin Chen nodded quietly and casually changed the subject.

Outside of combat, Arlan seemed to be an honest, cautious person.

If they kept dwelling on the sacrifices, Arlan might start blaming himself.

"Drinking? I'm not very good at it..."

"But if you're inviting me, Mr. Lin Chen, I'll gladly risk my life to join you."

The young man with short gray-white hair scratched his head in slight bewilderment as he stood ramrod straight.

His youthful, wheat-colored face wore an exceptionally serious expression.

"Is this where the leak in the Base Zone is coming from?"

"We need to find a way to deal with this quickly."

"Otherwise, Lead Researcher Asta will definitely demand answers tomorrow."

"The Water Tower seems to have been damaged. We need to report this to the engineering supervisor immediately."

Some surprised voices sounded from the outskirts of the B4 Load Zone.

Several researchers in Space Station uniforms arrived at the edge of the plaza.

At last, they saw people who had awakened.

Asta lightly bit her lip, a watery shimmer seemingly rippling in her beautiful eyes.

Although the battle had left this place in shambles,

seeing order return to normal

made Asta so happy she nearly cried.

"Asta... I'll leave this mess for you to sort out."

"I'm a little sleepy. March 7th and I are heading back to bed."

He waved to Asta and Arlan.

Feeling somewhat relieved,

Lin Chen left the increasingly bustling plaza side by side with March 7th.

As they walked through the brightly lit corridors of the Space Station,

Lin Chen and March 7th occasionally spotted researchers who had awakened from their long dreams.

"March 7th, when you went back to the Astral Express this afternoon,"

"what exactly did Himeko tell you?"

He looked at the girl beside him, who had remained silent all this time.

Something occurred to Lin Chen, and he took the initiative to ask.

"Just don't ask..."

"Oh, come on... it wasn't anything important anyway!"

March 7th froze for a moment, her delicate brows drawing together.

Then she quickly shook her head.

In March 7th's still-clear eyes, Lin Chen caught a trace of uncertainty.

"Lin Chen, be honest."

"You and Himeko really aren't in that kind of relationship, right?"

Her right hand rested against her chest, and her breasts trembled slightly beneath her white shirt.

March 7th turned toward him, her pretty face exceptionally serious.

"What kind of relationship?"

"A... a romantic relationship?"

"Actually, I saw everything that night, in the last carriage..."

By the end, March 7th's voice had grown faint.

It seemed this young Trailblazer was reluctant to bring these things up.

"No..."

"I've always seen Himeko as my own older sister."

"Himeko should have explained that whole thing to you already, right?"

Feeling wrongly accused, Lin Chen hurriedly denied it.

Although, admittedly, that farewell hug back then

really had been an attempt to squeeze a few more system rewards out of Himeko.

Still, while he and Asta might have a little secret they couldn't share,

there really was nothing going on between him and Himeko.

"Oh, I see. Got it..."

"By the way, Lin Chen, have you thought about what you'll do next?"

"Go to Azure Star, or... return to the Astral Express?"

"With your current abilities, Himeko might agree too, right?"

After nodding quietly, March 7th raised her brows and asked.

It seemed the girl truly cared about where Lin Chen would go.

"I'd like to hear your advice, Miss March 7th."

"Of course I want you to stay on the Express! That way, we can..."

"Go adventuring in more worlds together!"

As though she had said something wrong, March 7th hurriedly covered her mouth.

Then she quickly corrected herself, making her reason sound plausible.