Chapter 60 - Imprisonment
"You've located us, haven't you? With [Tingyun], tracking must be even easier now."
"If Kafka's trail leads to Stargazer Navalia, activate this device to ensure she doesn't escape."
Tingyun had finished testing.
All preparations were complete.
The Astral Express departed for Stargazer Navalia, the key shipbuilding hub of the Xianzhou Loufu.
Seeing this, March 7th asked, "Stargazer Navalia... The game's plot already hinted that Kafka might hide there. Couldn't General Jing Yuan set up an ambush in advance?"
"Ha ha ha..." Jing Yuan chuckled politely but awkwardly. "Miss March 7th, your thinking might be too simple. If we can predict this development, wouldn't the Stellaron Hunters and their allies do the same?"
March 7th tapped her head thoughtfully. "I assumed we'd gain the upper hand, but if everyone sees the same developments, aren't we back to square one?"
"Not necessarily. By adapting to circumstances and seizing opportunities, we might still gain an edge."
March 7th muttered, "Your words are so confusing."
"It seems General Jing Yuan is well-prepared; no need to worry," Old Yang explained.
Suddenly, Jing Yuan's confident demeanor shifted. The holographic projection flickered as though disrupted by another signal. After about five seconds, the projection stabilized, but Jing Yuan's calm was replaced with deep seriousness.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize, but I must urgently head to The Shackling Prison."
"What happened? Has the Stellaron Hunter arrived?" Old Yang asked.
However, Jing Yuan was too pressed for time to explain. The hologram abruptly vanished, leaving everyone confused.
"Uncle Yang, what should we do now?" March 7th asked anxiously.
With Jing Yuan gone, Fu Xuan took the central seat, subtly signaling she would take charge.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's stay calm. Since General Jing Yuan didn't elaborate, it seems the situation hasn't reached its peak yet. Kafka will likely appear soon. I'll buy us time to observe the unfolding events before deciding our next move."
"Fu Xuan-sama, you're very considerate," Stelle remarked appreciatively.
Meanwhile, Jing Yuan raced toward The Shackling Prison at full speed. To his surprise, not only had Kafka arrived, but another Stellaron Hunter—Silver Wolf—had also appeared, alongside Blade. It seemed the Stellaron Hunters treated Luofu like their second home.
Before Jing Yuan could provide more details, the communication link was abruptly severed. A screen on Yuzhao lit up, displaying two lines of information. After reading them, Jing Yuan was stunned.
"...What?! Even she's here?! And Luocha too?!"
Under normal circumstances, the appearance of any single individual from this group aboard the Xianzhou would demand immediate attention. Yet now, they had all converged at The Shackling Prison! Even if they had come voluntarily to surrender, the prison wouldn't have the capacity to hold them all. Jing Yuan felt overwhelmed.
"Yanqing, hang in there..."
Back at the Palace of Astrum, Fu Xuan reassured everyone, easing their concerns as they continued observing events unfold. By now, the scene had shifted to Stargazer Navalia.
Using Diting to track, they searched for clues across the map.
"This is... part of a Cloud Knight weapon, severed by something sharp..."
"It must be that wicked woman! She wields a long and swift blade!"
"This jade token belongs to a shipbuilder supervisor, used to open gates. Someone sabotaged it after use—perhaps Kafka."
As Streamer Little Gui Zi busily searched for clues, the audience relaxed, enjoying the show. Even Fu Xuan took a moment to sip water. Despite the tension of capturing Kafka, the atmosphere remained relatively calm.
Old Yang had settled back into his seat, steady as ever. However, unease seemed to pass to Dan Heng, who suddenly felt unsettled. Glancing between the narrative and the view outside the Palace of Astrum, he couldn't shake the feeling that Jing Yuan's abrupt departure was uncharacteristic of such a meticulous strategist.
In a daze, a haunting voice echoed in his mind:
"There were five souls, but only three paid the price..."
Before Dan Heng could speak, a major plot twist occurred in the game.
"When the prey's trail vanishes abruptly, hunters must be cautious—for it often signals a reversal in the chase."
Kafka appeared on screen! Everyone froze, straightening in their seats. It was time to pursue her! Their success depended on their next moves.
"Darn it, there's no way through here! We need to find a way to intercept her!"
"Benefactor, don't worry about the closed door; we can bypass the conveyor belt," Tingyun suggested.
They reached the other side of the gate. To their surprise, Kafka was truly within sight! Even as the protagonist approached, she showed no intention of fleeing. This peculiar behavior raised suspicions.
"Welcome, members of the Astral Express. You've caught me."
Not just Fu Xuan and Old Yang, but even the live stream viewers sensed something was off.
"Why does this feel like a mother playing hide-and-seek with her child?"
"Is this part of their plan too?"
"Are we really about to capture Kafka? Could it be a decoy? A projection? A puppet?"
"She's still smiling; I think we're walking into a trap!"
"Show your hand, Kafka. Our arrival must have been part of your plan," Welt said.
"It's not a plan, but rather [the future]. We intervene among countless possibilities to bring about the best [future]," Kafka explained with a smile. "Don't flatter yourselves, Welt; Stellaron Hunters are merely [Destiny's Slaves]."
March 7th retorted, "The best future? Best for whom? I doubt you care about anyone else."
"The entire universe—do you believe that? Naturally, it means 'best' for me."
These words sounded absurd to everyone, including Guinaifen, who decisively chose the most straightforward option:
["Let's fight already, don't waste time!"]
Welt responded, "We'll take you to General Luofu. Since you claim innocence, explain yourself to him; he'll render judgment accordingly."
Kafka shook her head slightly. "No can do. I detest following others' pace."
"Time is running out. Act swiftly, or it'll be too late."
The screen shattered. The first battle against Kafka began! Fu Xuan prepared to record the sequence, knowing it would help devise strategies for future encounters.
A captivating smile crossed Kafka's face.
"Can you stay on your feet?"
With a swift pull of the red thread in her hand, the targeted character became immobilized. A prompt appeared:
[Use a skill to remove negative effects and counteract the [Dominate] state!]
"This must be Kafka's Word Power ability." Under the influence of [Dominate], characters attacked their teammates. Fortunately, Little Gui Zi was highly skilled. Using March 7th's Shield, they dispelled the control effect. In the end, they defeated Kafka at the cost of losing two team members, successfully advancing to the next chapter!
Kafka found herself surrounded, her hands poised above her submachine guns as if ready to lower them.
"You're finally here."
In the next moment, she spun her weapons, firing indiscriminately into the sky. Bullets poured forth like rain! The scene slowed, as though someone had hit a slow-motion button. Amidst the chaos, a young girl moved effortlessly, almost leisurely strolling. With graceful gestures, she deflected each bullet's trajectory.
Her every movement was calm and elegant, like removing imperfections from a delicate painting.
"A mere parlor trick."
"Your every move..."
"...has been foreseen within my divine sight."
On the tip of her toe, she executed a flawless landing before the crowd.
"Fu Xuan of the Divination Commission."
"I now take custody of the criminal."
As this unfolded, everyone present turned their gaze toward Fu Xuan. Maintaining her composure, Fu Xuan appeared calm, as if this outcome were expected. Beneath the surface, however, she was bursting with joy.
"Truly deserving of this venerable one's title!"
"What a remarkably elegant and grand entrance!"
"This scene must be preserved; I'll ensure Jing Yuan sees it later!"
"Even Stellaron Hunter Kafka had no choice but to surrender obediently before this venerable one."
"I am truly too incredible!" exclaimed Fu Xuan.