The Stellaron Hunters—even in interstellar society, a notorious villainous organization.
While unable to compare with absolute villains like the Antimatter Legion, they were at least heterodox not accepted by regular organizations.
The Stellaron Hunters' notoriety came from many sources. Besides being smeared with dirty water, the most important point was their hunting target—Stellarons.
These objects called the Cancer of All Worlds, due to the attention of the Destruction Aeon Nanook, were often considered disasters that brought calamity and strife, leading planets toward doomsday.
Organizations actively capturing these disasters would naturally be suspected of having unspeakable purposes.
Moreover, the Stellaron Hunters' members were no pushovers either. The Interastral Peace Corporation's bounties on them started at billions of credits, and they indeed possessed strength matching their bounty amounts.
Therefore, Stellaron Hunters and the Antimatter Legion appearing simultaneously gave Asta the feeling of imperial troops and bandits arriving together. Even if the two weren't colluding, it was still tremendous trouble.
And even more terrifying was another point—the Stellaron Hunters' purpose for coming.
Just looking at their organization's name, one could guess their objective. And as the space station's leader, Asta happened to know one thing.
That is—a Stellaron was truly hidden within this space station!
If these Stellaron Hunters seized the Stellaron, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"No, we must stop them!"
Asta clenched her fists, then raised her head preparing to make a request, only to find she could no longer see Ryuga's figure.
"Don't worry—Lord Ryuga has already gone with Schwi!"
March 7th waved her hand, then showed an eager expression.
"Sister Himeko, let's go too! I haven't seen Stellaron Hunters yet!"
"Be careful... forget it, with Mr. Ryuga there, no need to worry. But don't run around either!"
Himeko originally wanted to advise caution, but thinking of Ryuga's strength, felt it unnecessary.
"Don't worry! With the gift Lord Ryuga gave me, I'm super strong now. Leave the pathfinding to me!"
March 7th confidently patted her chest, then immediately rushed out of the train.
Watching her hopping about like a rabbit, the others exchanged glances, shook their heads helplessly, and followed.
Between Unknowns, Herta Space Station Containment Section
This was originally a room only Herta herself had permission to enter, but now there were quite a few extra people inside.
"Hey, Kafka, did Elio's script mention this situation?"
Looking at the dozens of Machina surrounding the two of them completely, Silver Wolf was somewhat surprised—she even stopped chewing her gum.
"No."
The urbane woman in deep purple attire also shook her head in surprise.
"I thought Elio never made mistakes, but it seems he has his slip-ups too."
Elio was the Stellaron Hunters' leader, someone who could see destiny's script. His scripts had never deviated—no matter what accidents occurred, no matter how impossible, once written in the script, it would definitely happen.
Silver Wolf and Kafka both placed great trust in this point. They hadn't expected to actually capsize today, and so thoroughly at that.
According to Elio's script, they only needed to take advantage of the Antimatter Legion invasion opportunity to obtain the Stellaron.
But now, all along the way they'd only seen Antimatter Legion corpses, and these existences not mentioned in the destiny script.
"If Elio isn't wrong, then the problem might be with these guys before us."
Facing this unknown yet dangerous situation, Silver Wolf was slightly tense, but her eyes showed more excitement.
She'd personally witnessed these Machina's combat power—a tier stronger than Antimatter Legion Voidrangers. When multiple Machina coordinated, their strength multiplied even more.
However, this situation instead stirred her competitive desire.
For a qualified player, smooth sailing gameplay wasn't interesting—having challenge difficulty was more fun.
"Hey, what do you want by surrounding us here—not attacking but not leaving? Are you trying to capture us alive?"
Facing Silver Wolf's inquiry, the Machina gave a mechanical response.
"[Judgment], suspicious persons before us have high danger level but no hostile behavior. Temporarily not listed as cleanup targets. Please follow instructions and proceed to main control cabin section for refuge."
Without receiving new orders from Ryuga, they didn't intend to reveal the Main God's existence, nor did they plan to let them leave.
"That voice—they're actually intelligences?"
After keenly judging the Machina's race, Silver Wolf was quite surprised.
After the First and Second Emperor Wars erupted, intelligences had a difficult existence in interstellar space, nearly exterminated by the Interastral Peace Corporation.
If Screwllum hadn't been valued by the Erudition and joined the Genius Society, the intelligence race probably wouldn't exist now.
High-level intelligence lifeforms like these were already rare in interstellar space.
After determining the other party's identity, she disappointedly lowered her hand.
"Kafka, what should we do next? Intelligence networks are interconnected. If we attack them, the legion outside won't let us go."
Even she knew not to be reckless when fighting mechanism monsters.
If they forced a neutral faction into an enemy faction, they might wipe this time.
"There's no way. My Spirit Whisper might work on them, but can't escape the intelligence network's inspection—we'd still be judged as an enemy faction."
Kafka helplessly shook her head, somewhat hesitant to act.
For her, skilled at using Spirit Whisper to dominate, this type of remotely networked enemy was the most troublesome. Even if she could dominate them, she'd be immediately discovered.
Rather than rashly attacking, better to wait a moment.
"What about the mission?"
Silver Wolf glanced at the Stellaron in Kafka's hand.
"We finally got the Stellaron—should we continue?"
"..."
Kafka didn't answer, her gaze somewhat hesitant.
"If we follow the script, that child will be able to have a brand new future. She'll learn many things, gain countless bonds, and bravely walk her own path."
"But now, the script has failed... Can Elio's promise still count?"
If before she'd looked like a dangerous female cheetah, now she suddenly gained the worry of an old mother.
Regarding Kafka's dilemma, Silver Wolf helplessly spread her hands.
"Then head back and keep bringing her with you? But didn't you say that's not good for her either?"
"Anyway, these intelligences don't have malicious intent. Maybe they're a security team Herta created. Overall it matches the script pretty well. Are you going to gamble on the success probability, or take her back and replan?"
"Speaking of which, reminder—don't make me babysit again when we get back!"
By the end, Silver Wolf began complaining.
A girl who looked only about ten years old—how did she become a little mom coaxing children?
Was this work suitable for the notorious Stellaron Hunters?
Hearing her say this, Kafka's expression shifted.
Don't misunderstand—it wasn't because she found babysitting troublesome, but because she thought of something.
With Herta's style, even if merciless, she wouldn't attack ordinary people, even those with Stellarons inside.
This point had been confirmed multiple times by Elio—there'd be no problem.
And given Herta's personality—three-minute enthusiasm—even toward Stellaron hosts, she wouldn't have much interest.
Now the Astral Express had arrived. Given the train crew's behavior style, even with current deviations from the script, that child would most likely still join the train crew according to script and become a Trailblazer.
Thinking this way, that child wouldn't face any risk.
Better to gamble—see if she could step onto that destiny she dreamed of.
Thinking this, she no longer hesitated.
"Then let's do it!"
"Alright!"
Silver Wolf readily deployed Aether Editing, rewriting space through data, summoning a grey-haired girl with delicate features from mid-air.
The grey-haired girl appearing from thin air slightly opened her eyes, seeming half-asleep.
"Ka...fka?"
The girl murmured in confusion, seemingly recognizing that name.
At this moment, Kafka embraced the falling girl in a hug. Her other hand completely penetrated deep into the grey-haired girl's chest, stuffing the Stellaron—the Cancer of All Worlds that interstellar society feared—into her body.
"Shh! Sleep peacefully!"
Kafka gazed at the girl in her arms with exceptionally tender eyes, gently laying her on the ground against the wall, letting her slumber.
When the girl woke, she should forget everything and have a new family, right?
But that's fine—as long as she could reach that ending.
"Though I don't believe in gods, I still hope some god can bless you, letting you reach that ending by your own will!"
Rubbing the girl's tender cheek with her warm palm, Kafka prayed in a low voice, then immediately stood up, turning to leave.
Since these intelligences hadn't stopped her earlier action, they probably wouldn't stop their departure either.
Just as she thought this, an unfamiliar voice appeared behind them.
"Your prayer was quite sincere, but your wish was quite vague. Even if a god heard it, it would be hard to fulfill your wish."
"Who?!"
Kafka and Silver Wolf immediately became alert.
To be continued…