Chapter 29: Deal Struck with Feathered Spirit! Kafka Prepares for Luofu Journey
Kafka carefully composed her message, knowing that understanding human psychology was key to drawing out her target. Though she couldn't know who exactly was on the other side of the screen, as long as they had thoughts and feelings like any individual, she could work with that.
"Xianzhou? I'm here on Xianzhou too," she wrote.
"I never expected to find someone like you, Feathered Spirit, aboard Xianzhou! It's truly delightful!"
"Might our paths cross by chance? Or perhaps near your location? If that happens, I'd be so thrilled I wouldn't be able to sleep."
Rather than directly asking for their location, Kafka subtly probed through indirect questions. Her approach showcased her mastery of persuasion. As expected, Feathered Spirit replied promptly:
"Ha ha ha, I'm actually on [Luofu], don't let your imagination run wild, Little Sister."
Luofu!
Luofu!
Kafka raised an eyebrow at Silver Wolf, signaling that their elusive target might not be as unreachable as they had thought. Silver Wolf licked his lips, sensing the progress. "Keep going, Kafka! Continue!" he urged.
Just as Kafka prepared to type her next message, Feathered Spirit sent another reply:
"Little Sister, would you like to meet me in person?"
"!!"
Even Kafka was momentarily taken aback by the directness. Skipping past all preliminary steps, they had reached the critical point far sooner than expected. Both Kafka and Feathered Spirit were Stellaron Hunters—among the galaxy's most dangerous individuals. Could Feathered Spirit truly believe he was speaking with an innocent young girl? Once his true identity was uncovered, Kafka had at least a hundred ways to control him and extract the secrets behind his knowledge and the creation of Honkai: Star Rail.
Without hesitation, Kafka typed a single word: "Yes."
Feathered Spirit replied:
"Then come to the Exalting Sanctum first. I'll guide you on the next steps once you arrive. After all, I'm just an ordinary person; encountering any dangerous elements wouldn't be ideal. Please understand."
"Of course, absolutely. Feathered Spirit, do take care to protect your privacy and avoid attracting attention from hazardous individuals," Kafka responded with feigned kindness.
"Ha ha ha, thanks for the reminder! Looking forward to your message."
Kafka exited the chat interface with an uncontainable smile. Silver Wolf took a deep breath, still processing what had just happened.
"That's all it takes?" Silver Wolf asked incredulously.
"Just that simple," Kafka replied confidently. "As he said, he's just an ordinary person."
However, noticing Kafka's excited gaze, Silver Wolf hesitated before adding a request: "Kafka, when you find him, could you please try not to harm her?"
"Why?"
"As a gamer, I respect developers like him. This game is truly exceptional—and I'm curious about that limited-time character too."
"Alright, I promise you," Kafka said with a faint smile.
To her, Feathered Spirit was merely an ordinary individual; handling him would be effortless. With a simple Vocal Charm, she could control his actions entirely. The real challenge lay in infiltrating Luofu Xianzhou smoothly—a task well within Kafka's expertise.
Closing the game on her phone, Kafka prepared for her journey to meet this mysterious developer in person. Meanwhile, Silver Wolf began hacking into Xianzhou's systems to facilitate Kafka's mission. If not for her lack of infiltration skills, Silver Wolf would have eagerly taken Kafka's place to meet Feathered Spirit herself.
---
Unbeknownst to them both, every move they made was already visible to Lin Yu inside his villa. As soon as Silver Wolf sent the private message to Feathered Spirit, Lin Yu activated his [Eye of Prying] ability and pinpointed their identities through their communication.
"Ah, Silver Wolf and Kafka," Lin Yu mused with a smirk. "I anticipated the Stellaron Hunters' interest in me long ago."
In the past, Lin Yu would have avoided responding entirely—knowing he'd likely be treated as a mere pawn if discovered by such dangerous individuals. But now? With his Territory established and his abilities in place, Lin Yu welcomed their pursuit.
"This villa is indeed too large," he remarked idly while glancing at his sparse garden. "It could certainly use a few maids to maintain it."
"The fish has taken the bait," he continued with confidence. "Now all that remains is for you to reel it in."
After all… "The true hunter often disguises themselves as the prey."
---
Meanwhile aboard the Astral Express…
Pom-Pom diligently cleaned the train carriages and paused at the Parlor Car when she noticed Himeko and Old Yang engrossed in playing Honkai: Star Rail. Surprised but unconcerned by their focus on gaming, Pom-Pom continued inspecting every nook and cranny of the train.
Himeko and Old Yang were fully immersed in experiencing Trailblazing from the perspective of children embarking on their journey—offering them a unique lens into events they had only read about before.
From landing on Jarilo-VI and meeting Sampo to engaging with Jepard of the Silvermane Guards and clarifying their identities before Belobog's grand protector—the gameplay unfolded seamlessly. Despite Little March's occasional impulsiveness during dialogue choices, their journey progressed smoothly.
As they approached Qlipoth Fort within Belobog City's storyline arc, Gepard explained:
"The current Guardian is Cocolia Rand—she oversees all major decisions within Belobog."
Hearing this name made Old Yang pause briefly as a flash of recognition crossed his mind. Cocolia? A vague image of a blonde woman surfaced before he dismissed it with a casual smile—likely just a coincidence.
The scene transitioned into Qlipoth Fort itself where a heated argument unfolded between two figures on a raised platform—one of whom appeared to be Belobog's grand protector.
"...but such sacrifices serve no purpose; you cannot—"
The grand protector interrupted sharply: "You may stand down, Bronya. Our guests have arrived."
Old Yang froze mid-action as he prepared to click through the next dialogue line… Wait! What did she call that girl?!