At the heart of the Matrix of Prescience, Wende watched Stelle sitting all by herself on the array's edge. He frowned slightly, then glanced over at Welt, who was chatting with Fu Xuan, and March, who was learning how to play Qiongyu Cards from Qingque. He let out a soft, somewhat helpless sigh before walking over to Stelle.
"Are you nervous?"
Having walked to Stelle's side, Wende sat down next to her and asked softly.
"Mhm, a little."
Nodding, Stelle turned to face Wende, her large golden eyes filled with bewilderment.
"What are you thinking about?"
Wende asked her in a low voice, like a father willing to listen to his child's innermost thoughts.
"I... I don't know how to see Kafka. My feelings for her... are very strange."
Stelle shook her head, then lifted it to look up at the space above the Matrix of Prescience. Mottled auroras shimmered there; it was impossible to tell if this was due to the array's activation or if the Grotto-Heaven where the Divination Commission resided was simply like this.
"If you don't know, then don't think about it. All you need to do is handle what's in front of you first. As for your feelings toward Kafka..."
Wende's words paused for a moment.
"Go and have a proper chat with her later. Although I don't know what that woman is to you... just go and listen."
Wende smiled and stroked Stelle's soft, fine hair, his warm palm massaging the acupoints atop her head. This made Stelle feel very comfortable, and more than that... very safe.
"Mhm, I will have a proper dialogue with her."
Stelle closed her eyes, enjoying Wende's massage while speaking with great resolve.
Seeing such an obedient and sensible Stelle, Wende sighed with feeling once again.
When this child isn't being influenced, she's still so well-behaved and understanding...
He seemed to be... increasingly raising Stelle as if she were his daughter. But thankfully, from the current situation, the "custody" of "Stelle" was still in his hands... As for Kafka... Hmph, don't even try to get close!
This was the jealousy of someone whose daughter was being vied for.
"Achoo!"
"!!"
"Shing!"
Hearing the noise from the prisoner before them, the several Cloud Knights responsible for escorting the felon immediately aimed their guan dao at the "prisoner." If she made the slightest rash move, the blades in their hands would slash at her without the slightest hesitation! She would be killed on the spot!
"Sigh... Is such a big reaction really necessary?"
Kafka watched the almost Pavlovian reaction of the Cloud Knights escorting her. Her purple, languid eyes narrowed helplessly. She wanted to raise a hand to rub her nose, but her hands were restrained, so she could only wrinkle her small, exquisite nose in discontent, appearing exceedingly playful and cute...
Of course, the Cloud Knights responsible for her escort were in no position to appreciate this beautiful sight; their souls had nearly been frightened out of their bodies.
Thankfully, the woman before them truly seemed to have only sneezed. After re-checking the restraining device and inspecting the surroundings to confirm there was no possibility of an accident, the Cloud Knights once again led Kafka toward the Divination Commission's Matrix of Prescience.
"Sigh... honestly, I've been sneezing so often recently... Could it be that I haven't acclimated to the Xianzhou's environment?"
Kafka murmured to herself with a smile.
"..."
"I think you're just jealous over Stelle, aren't you? After all, you went to such great lengths to awaken her, but now she sticks to that person all day and night. And that person really dotes on her, giving her massages whenever he has a moment~ cooking her big meals and all that."
The voice of the Stellaron Hunter, Silver Wolf, spoke in Kafka's ear, laced with mockery.
"Little Wolfie, if you don't know how to talk, you can just shut your mouth."
Kafka replied to Silver Wolf with a smile.
"Strange... why do I feel a bit chilly all of a sudden?"
The Cloud Knight walking in front of Kafka suddenly shivered and spoke oddly to the other knights.
"Perhaps the Lady Diviner's constitution has become robust again?"
"You dare speak ill of the Lady Diviner! Be careful or you'll wake up tomorrow with ten centimeters deducted from your height!"
"Hiss..."
Watching the Cloud Knights ahead, whose thought processes were so peculiar, Kafka shook her head slightly.
"Hilarious. These Cloud Knights really dare to criticize their own superior? I'd say they've got some nerve!"
Silver Wolf's voice continued.
"Little Wolfie, you and that Lady Diviner... are nearly identical when it comes to height, you know."
Kafka hooked her pink lips into a smile, teasing Silver Wolf.
"You! Forget it. Seeing how miserable you look right now, I won't pick on you. After all, someone's meticulously prepared makeup has been wiped off, and even her beloved greatcoat was dragged away... tsk tsk tsk... Wuwuwu, so pitiful~"
"#"
"Hiss... why do I feel even colder?"
"No idea? Is the Matrix of Prescience radiating heat now or something?"
"Can't be, right? Her Ladyship the Diviner needs physical cooling?"
"Kafka is already on her way. To prevent any anomalies, I have specially transferred a contingent of Cloud Knights here. Furthermore, there are masters from the Ten-Lords Commission secretly conducting surveillance, all to ensure the interrogation will be absolutely foolproof."
Fu Xuan stood at the very center of the Matrix of Prescience, addressing the people before her.
"The moment Kafka arrives, I will begin the interrogation under the witness of all of you. At that time, those of you at the center of the array may experience some impact..."
"Are you ready?"
Wende said to Stelle at his side.
"Mhm!"
Stelle nodded, her eyes resolute, but she still unconsciously placed her hand in Wende's, as if that alone could grant her some courage.
"..."
Not interrupting Stelle's small action, Wende gave a helpless smile. He then looked up, and together with Stelle, he quietly gazed at Kafka as she was escorted over with great solemnity by a squad of Cloud Knights.
"Mom! Mom! I brought Dad to visit you in prison, Mom! Are you doing well in there, Mom! Have you been eating on time, have you made friends with your cellmates, have you missed me!"
Having just gotten his livestream channel back (it had been banned for a day), the streamer Dogzi watched Kafka slowly walk over and immediately began to twist and roll around on his computer chair. Under the camera's motion capture, Dogzi's virtual avatar had already contorted into a blob on the screen.
[What the hell is this thing]
[As you can see... it is a blob of dog]
[Haihai's skeleton is truly, amazing]
[Gotta say, this really looks like a scene where the mom committed a crime, and the dad brought their daughter for a prison visit...]
[Mom! I'm here, Mom!]
[Turn over a new leaf and become a new person, right!]
[Mom, Dad and I are doing great outside, you just behave yourself in there! (smile)]
[??????]