The next day, Boulder Town.
Clara went to the Robot Settlement.
Seele had been patrolling and had not returned.
Sirin was wandering around Boulder Town alone.
Sirin turned a street corner piled high with discarded trash.
A rather comical and somewhat disheveled scene suddenly entered her field of vision.
A blue-haired man wearing a flashy shirt with a perpetually oily grin on his face—Sampo Koski—was carrying an unconscious Dan Heng on one shoulder, while laboriously pulling a makeshift handcart with his other hand.
On the cart, three other figures who had also lost consciousness were stacked in various less-than-elegant poses: March 7th, Bronya, and Stelle.
Sampo clearly hadn’t expected to run into anyone here, and certainly not this person.
As he looked up, he met Sirin’s calm, waveless eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything.
He froze instantly, the smile on his face solidified, and cold sweat seemed to ooze from his temples.
” Ce—Sirin, Big Sis?!
” His voice carried a faint, imperceptible tremor.
Sirin’s gaze swept slowly over him, then over the Dan Heng on his shoulder, and finally landed on the three “passengers” on the handcart, lingering for a moment on March 7th.
” Yo, Sampo.
” Sirin spoke, her voice flat, devoid of any discernible emotion.
” Where did you pick up so many people?
”
She tilted her head slightly and added, ” And you even picked up the Supreme Guardian’s daughter.
Quite the talent you have.
”
The muscles on Sampo’s face twitched as he tried to squeeze out an even brighter, more innocent smile.
” Oh, come now, Big Sis Sirin.
You…
surely know where I picked them up from, don’t you?
”
Sirin did not answer immediately, just watching him quietly.
That gaze made Sampo feel a chill down his spine.
A few seconds later, Sirin seemed to decide she had had enough “fun,” and spoke again, her tone still without any fluctuation.
” Just teasing you.
”
She stepped forward, her gaze falling on March 7th, who was curled up on the handcart.
Even in her unconscious state, the young girl’s brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were uncomfortable.
” You’re planning to take them to Natasha’s clinic next, right?
”
Without waiting for Sampo to answer, she naturally leaned down, extended her arms, and easily lifted March 7th from the handcart, her movements so steady it was as if March 7th had no weight at all.
” Let’s go, ” Sirin said while holding March 7th.
” I’ll help you carry one.
”
As if granted amnesty, Sampo immediately nodded and bowed, tightened his grip on Dan Heng on his shoulder, pulled the handcart again, and plastered an extremely obsequious smile back on his face, his voice growing a bit louder.
” You got it!
Thanks, Big Sis!
This way, Big Sis!
”
He followed closely behind Sirin, who was carrying March 7th, as they headed towards Natasha’s clinic.
…
After properly handing over the unconscious individuals to Doctor Natasha, Sirin did not linger and turned to leave the clinic.
Sirin did not go far.
She casually found a high vantage point outside the clinic and hopped up to sit on it.
This spot offered a good view, allowing her to observe some of the activity at the clinic entrance without being too conspicuous.
She bent one leg, resting her arm casually on her knee, while her other leg dangled naturally.
Her gaze was cast calmly toward the slightly chaotic street below, as if she had just found a place to space out.
Time passed quietly.
Before long, the clinic door was gently pushed open.
Dan Heng walked out.
He appeared to have regained consciousness, but his brows were slightly locked, and his eyes scanned the unfamiliar surroundings sharply.
He muttered to himself, his voice clearly audible:
” I need to gather some information first…
and the currency used here.
”
” Yo, Little Azure Dragon.
”
A calm, waveless, and even slightly lazy-sounding female voice came from above and to his side.
Dan Heng’s body suddenly stiffened.
Almost the instant the voice entered his ears, he jerked his head up toward the sound, his gaze shooting like lightning toward the source.
When he saw the purple-haired puppet girl sitting on the high vantage point, tilting her head slightly as she looked at him, those usually calm eyes constricted violently, unable to be suppressed.
Shock, vigilance, and icy hostility instantly flashed in the depths of his eyes.
Stellaron Hunters!
Without the slightest hesitation, and without a single extra word, Dan Heng reached out with his right hand, and “Cloud-Piercer” instantly materialized in his palm.
The spear tip glinted with a cold, eerie light in the dim surroundings, pointing directly at Sirin above.
The aura around him also became biting and dangerous, as if he would lash out at any moment.
Sirin seemed completely indifferent to his intense reaction, maintaining her casual sitting posture, her expression and gaze unchanged.
” Don’t be so nervous, ” she said in a flat tone, as if stating something unrelated to herself.
” I mean no harm.
”
” The words of the Stellaron Hunters cannot be trusted.
His gaze remained locked on Sirin, allowing her no room for any sudden moves.
” State your purpose.
Otherwise— ”
” Is all this necessary?
” Sirin interrupted him, her tone carrying a faint, almost imperceptible trace of helplessness.
” Although there are rumors in the universe that the Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters are mortal enemies, who knows which Historiographers of the False wrote that nonsense.
At the very least, I personally have no ill intentions toward you.
”
” Stellaron Hunters, ” Dan Heng remained unmoved, his tone ironclad.
” I have to be on guard.
”
Sirin watched his highly guarded demeanor and sighed almost inaudibly, seeming to find it a bit boring.
She no longer tried to explain or ease the atmosphere, instead shifting the topic directly, using that flat, straightforward tone:
” Aren’t you looking for information, and the currency here?
”
She lifted her leg that wasn’t bent and pointed casually with her toe in a certain direction.
” Look, over there.
”
Dan Heng’s gaze subconsciously darted quickly in the direction she indicated, but most of his attention remained focused on Sirin, his vigilance not diminishing in the slightest.
” Fight Club.
” Sirin’s voice came through clearly.
” The Boulder Town Super League is being held there.
The rules are simple: as long as you can fight and win the matches, you can obtain honor, information, and the currency you need…
anything.
”
After saying these words, she closed her mouth and turned her gaze back to the distant street, as if the conversation had never happened, and she didn’t care at all how Dan Heng would react.
She just sat there quietly, like an exquisite but lifeless puppet decoration, blending into the surrounding gray environment.
The atmosphere fell into a stalemate once again.
Dan Heng’s spear tip remained pointed at Sirin, his gaze scanning back and forth between her calm profile and the direction of the “Fight Club,” from which the faint sounds of commotion could be heard.
His reason was analyzing at high speed: A Stellaron Hunter appearing here was definitely not a coincidence; her purpose was unknown, and she was extremely dangerous.
But she currently showed no intention to attack, and even provided a path to potentially obtain information and resources—this could be a trap, or it could…
be true?
Time ticked by second by second.
Eventually, the sharp light in Dan Heng’s eyes softened slightly.
He took a deep look at Sirin, his eyes complex, containing warning, scrutiny, and lingering doubt.
With a flip of his wrist, Cloud-Piercer dissipated into specks of light.
Without saying another word, he turned decisively and walked steadily toward the “Fight Club” that Sirin had just pointed out.
Only his straight back and slightly tensed shoulders revealed that he had not completely let down his guard.