**Chapter 7: Herta Space Station? Can This Really Be Coincidence?**
Lin Yu clutched the 500,000 Credits in his hand, savoring his first taste of effortless wealth. This windfall equaled what would have taken months of backbreaking labor to earn!
*Stay calm. Keep your cool.*
After all, his ambitions stretched far beyond this - he aimed to dominate the universal gaming market and become a premier developer!
This amount was merely pocket change compared to those grand dreams.
Yet...
Lin Yu couldn't suppress the grin splitting his face.
The thought of leaving behind his days of squatting in abandoned buildings eating instant noodles...
Pure euphoria flooded through him!
Today marked this commoner's genuine, unbridled happiness!
Fortunately, the dim alley shadows concealed his expression, and Guinaifen remained engrossed in *Honkai Star Rail* and her stream. Otherwise, she might have mistaken him for some deranged lunatic...
By the time they reached the neon-lit commercial district, Lin Yu had regained his composure. Guinaifen secured a teahouse private room for uninterrupted streaming while Lin Yu excused himself to satisfy his hunger. After exchanging contacts, they parted ways.
Surveying the vibrant night market, the intoxicating aromas of sizzling skewers, grilled fish, and seafood assaulted Lin Yu's senses...
Tears pricked his eyes as overwhelming emotion surged through him.
*Damn it...*
*Finally... finally I can eat like a human being!*
---
Meanwhile at the teahouse...
Guinaifen barely settled into her seat before whipping out her phone.
"Hey fam! Sorry for the wait!"
"Let's dive back into *Honkai: Star Rail*!"
"Truth be told, we've barely scratched the surface."
"Even if it takes all night, I'll show you what deeper gameplay looks like!"
The game had sparked unprecedented engagement in her stream, surpassing even her most dangerous stunts - chest-smashing boulders or throat-defying tricks. More importantly, Guinaifen herself had fallen completely under its spell.
"Folks, I'm betting Kafka's definitely the main protagonist here."
"With skills that flashy, she's clearly getting the VIP treatment."
"Can you even imagine another character topping her ultimate move?"
The chat exploded with agreement:
"Kafka HAS to be the MC!"
"Devs must be some no-name studio - probably blew their entire budget on Kafka's design!"
"Just checked - developer's called 'Feathered Spirit'."
"Feathered Spirit? Never heard of 'em!"
"Watching gaming history being made!"
"Need to see that 'bong~' effect again!"
Scanning the comments, Guinaifen noted the consensus - Kafka was clearly the game's flagship character, with all visual splendor concentrated on her. Most assumed she might even be the only playable unit, though the audience showed remarkable leniency toward the new developers.
As the story progressed...
Kafka effortlessly dispatched enemies until...
A new Voidranger materialized directly behind her!
Its blade flashed toward her neck in a lethal sneak attack!
At the final centimeter...
The weapon disintegrated into colorful pixels.
The entire creature fragmented into digital cubes, vanishing as if deleted from reality itself!
"Cleanup duty wasn't in my job description," quipped a girl manipulating incomprehensible holographic interfaces with one hand. She hopped down from her perch, blowing a pink bubble while casting an indifferent sideways glance.
Under normal circumstances, viewers might've commented "Adorable kid" or "Quirky teen." But now everyone understood:
This was no ordinary girl next door.
Another Stellaron Hunter!
A legendary hacker with reality-bending skills!
The voice they'd heard earlier belonged to her.
"Silver Wolf! It's really her!"
"Didn't expect another top-tier Hunter to appear!"
"IPC has her at 5.1 billion credits bounty!"
"Thought Kafka was unbeatable, but here's another monster!"
"Can we play as her? Dying to see her skills!"
"Keep dreaming! With Kafka's polish, Silver Wolf's probably NPC-only."
Despite this, Silver Wolf's appearance electrified the stream's atmosphere.
Two Stellaron Hunters on screen!
What were they planning?
The narrative continued unfolding...
"However many times I see it, your abilities remain astounding," Kafka remarked.
"Just basic reality data modification. Child's play."
"What had you so engrossed earlier? Let me see."
"Herta's toy collection - the Space Station's Curio catalog. Some amusing trinkets."
"Such as?"
"A gun that rates any lifeform it scans, 0 to 100."
"How's that interesting?"
"Aren't you curious about your score? I certainly am."
"If we pass by, we'll take a look."
Their casual banter resembled friends on a weekend outing rather than operatives executing a high-stakes mission!
Then suddenly...
Chat exploded with realization:
"WAIT! Streamer pause!"
"Did she just say 'Herta'?!"
"You mean... the Genius Society member?!"
"It's confirmed! This is Herta Space Station!"
"Herta Station, Antimatter Legion... holy hell! This is huge!"
"Huh? What's happening?"
"Remember the news..."
"Herta Station WAS attacked by Antimatter Legion! Astral Express assisted!"
"It was on Interstellar Peace News!"
"No freaking way! This can't be coincidence!"