The Astral Impoverished Express

"Ahem... this ordinary, kind, adorable girl you mentioned-does she have pink hair, stand about this tall, and happen to be pretty good with a bow...?"

Lin Feng gestured above March 7th's head, a faint smile appearing on his handsome face.

"Hey! I wasn't talking about myself! I was just giving an example..."

"There are loads of novels with plots like that in the women's magazines popular across the galaxy..."

March 7th stamped her ankle boot hard against the floor. A blush spread across her fair, pretty face as she hurried to explain.

"Read fewer of those domineering CEO novels. Stories like that don't make any sense..."

"Oh, right, March. Do you have any Credits to spare? Could you lend me some?"

As though something had occurred to him, Lin Feng reached out with his broad palm and patted March 7th's head, his expression gentle.

"Wh-what for?"

"Nothing much. Just buying a phone. You know how inconvenient it is not to have one..."

Lin Feng's words made March 7th's expression shift slightly, and she seemed a little nervous.

All that talk of wealthy heirs had suddenly reminded him that, although he had some strength, he was completely broke.

This was a real world, not some game. Blowing up a Doomsday Beast that huge hadn't made any coins drop.

And with neither an official position nor a job, he was an unemployed drifter through and through. Naturally, he didn't have any Credits.

So seeing March 7th and the others chatting happily in their group had stirred Lin Feng's interest.

"Uh... how much do you need?"

March 7th frowned slightly. At the mention of Credits, a hint of anxiety appeared on her pretty face.

"Just five thousand... that should be enough for a phone..."

Lin Feng nodded slightly and named what he considered a reasonable amount.

"F-five thousand? That much? I don't have that..."

The girl looked utterly astonished, and her reply left Lin Feng petrified on the spot.

What the hell? You don't even have 5,000 Credits? Little March, are you sure you know what you're saying?

"You don't even have five thousand? Then where do you get the money for your everyday expenses?"

Lin Feng frowned and asked, feigning calm.

"Well, we get Himeko to reimburse us, of course."

"We get an operating budget for every Trailblaze expedition and all, but Himeko won't let me handle the money."

"Dan Heng's always been the one in charge of that stuff. Yep... that's how it is."

The pink-haired girl spoke earnestly, showing no sign of lying.

"So the members of the Astral Express Crew don't get a regular salary either?"

"Exactly. So how would I have 5,000 Credits?"

March 7th spoke slowly, looking a little aggrieved.

She genuinely wanted to help Lin Feng, but she simply didn't have the financial means.

"Ahem... I understand."

Lin Feng let out a long sigh, utterly speechless. He could only accept the reality before him.

He now felt that they might as well rename the Astral Express the Astral Impoverished Express.

If the path simulation hadn't forced his hand, he thought staying at Herta Space Station as a security guard or something would have been fine.

Even so, Lin Feng was still in a fairly good mood. Although he hadn't finished off the Doomsday Beast himself, the outcome was the same.

Even in the Path of Destruction simulation, killing the Doomsday Beast was worth barely any points, so he didn't care about that at all.

Still, I'll have to properly thank Asta later. She actually managed to get a Star Destroyer.

If I didn't still have to complete the path simulation, I wouldn't want to work hard at all. I'd just cling to that rich girl.

All sorts of thoughts ran through Lin Feng's mind, and he couldn't help feeling that living off a woman sounded pretty sweet.

As for how he would thank Asta, that gorgeous, fabulously wealthy girl-well, that could wait until later.

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

In Herta Space Station's Central Control Zone, the threat of destruction had been averted, and the researchers were cheering in celebration.

Standing before the holographic observation screen floating in midair, Asta watched the Star Destroyer annihilate the Doomsday Beast with a smug expression.

"Um... Miss, did you go spending recklessly again?"

A hesitant look crossed Arlan's dark face as he asked seriously.

"Hmph, I only spent a little pocket change. What's the big deal?"

"If it weren't for the Star Destroyer I bought, Herta Space Station would already be finished..."

With her arms folded across her chest and an entirely untroubled air, Asta felt that this purchase had been well worth the money.

Although she had paid double the price to speed up delivery, she didn't care in the slightest.

After all, even a top-of-the-line Star Destroyer was pretty cheap to her.

"Haha... that's true enough."

"But, Miss, why is that Star Destroyer called the Giant Peak?"

Arlan scratched his head, looking curious.

For some reason, seeing the huge character for "peak" on the Star Destroyer's flank made him feel that it had something to do with Lin Feng.

Besides, he had heard Asta's complaints earlier. Did she really have a special relationship with Lin Feng?

"Huh? Arlan, why do you have so many questions?"

"The space station's crisis has only just been resolved. There's still plenty of repair work and cleanup to do. Get back to work..."

"Oh, and stop calling me Miss all the time. You should call me Lead Researcher, okay?"

Asta's delicate brows drew together slightly, and a faint blush rose on her fair, pretty face.

How could I tell Arlan about something like this? Even if he could keep his mouth shut, absolutely not!

After all, telling him the truth would be far too embarrassing.

"Understood, Lead Researcher Asta. I'll go attend to my duties right away!"

Arlan bowed slightly and was about to turn and leave, only for Asta to stop him again.

"Um... Arlan, there's one more thing I need you to pass along."

"If you see Lin Feng, ask him to come see me. I have some questions to consult him about regarding the space station's security."

Asta spoke slowly, forcing a calm expression onto her fair, pretty face.

Through the holographic surveillance footage earlier, she had already learned quite a few things.

Lin Feng apparently needed Credits badly, and he had actually asked March 7th for a loan just to buy a phone.

She had been completely stunned when she learned that. Phones were so cheap-how could anyone be unable to afford one?

And 5,000 Credits? What could that tiny amount even buy? She honestly couldn't imagine.

As the saying went, help offered in a time of need revealed true affection.

So, rather than waiting passively, Asta decided to take the initiative and find a way to grow closer to Lin Feng.

Even if Lin Feng no longer remembered anything that had happened last night, she would help him in her own way.

The people from the Astral Express would probably leave Herta Space Station soon, so she didn't have much time left. If she wanted to win Lin Feng's heart, she would have to put a little thought into it.