The next day.
Boulder Town.
Clara had gone to the Robot Settlement.
Seele was still out on patrol and hadn’t returned yet.
Celine wandered through Boulder Town alone.
As she turned a corner piled high with abandoned scrap, a rather comical—yet somewhat pitiful—scene entered her field of vision.
A blue-haired man wearing an eye-catching shirt, with a permanently slick smile plastered across his face—
Sampo Koski.
He was carrying the unconscious Dan Heng over one shoulder while struggling to drag a makeshift cart with his other hand.
On the cart, lying in various less-than-graceful positions, were three equally unconscious people:
March 7th.
Bronya.
And Xing.
Sampo clearly hadn’t expected to run into anyone here—
Much less this person.
The moment he looked up and met Celine’s calm, unwavering, seemingly all-seeing eyes…
He froze.
The smile disappeared from his face.
Cold sweat instantly formed on his forehead.
“S-Sister Celine?!”
His voice trembled slightly.
Celine’s gaze slowly swept over him…
Then over Dan Heng on his shoulder…
Finally landing on the three “passengers” in the cart, lingering for a moment on March 7th.
“Oh, Sampo.”
Her voice remained calm and emotionless.
“Where did you pick up so many people?”
Tilting her head slightly, she added,
“You even managed to pick up the Supreme Guardian’s daughter.”
“Impressive.”
The corners of Sampo’s mouth twitched.
He forced an even brighter, more innocent smile.
“W-What are you saying, Sister Celine? You… surely know where I found them, don’t you?”
Celine didn’t answer.
She simply stared at him in silence.
That gaze alone sent another chill down Sampo’s spine.
A few seconds later…
As if she had finished teasing him, Celine spoke again.
“I was only joking.”
She stepped forward, her eyes falling upon March 7th curled up inside the cart.
Even while unconscious, the pink-haired girl’s brows remained faintly furrowed, as though she were uncomfortable.
“Next, you’re taking them to Natasha’s clinic, right?”
Before Sampo could answer…
Celine naturally bent down, slipped her arms beneath March 7th, and effortlessly lifted her into her embrace.
Her movements were so smooth…
It was as though March 7th weighed nothing at all.
“Let’s go.”
Turning toward the still-frozen Sampo, she calmly said,
“I’ll carry one for you.”
As though granted a royal pardon, Sampo immediately nodded frantically.
He adjusted Dan Heng on his shoulder, grabbed the cart once more, and plastered an extremely flattering smile back onto his face.
“Of course! Thank you, Big Sister! Right this way, Big Sister!”
He hurried after Celine as she carried March 7th toward Natasha’s clinic.
…
After safely handing the unconscious group over to Dr.
Natasha…
Celine didn’t stay.
She quietly turned around and left.
She didn’t go very far.
Finding a high ledge outside the clinic, she lightly jumped onto it and sat down.
One leg was bent beneath her arm.
The other dangled naturally over the edge.
Her calm gaze quietly rested upon the somewhat busy street below…
As though she had merely found a place to daydream.
Time quietly passed.
Not long afterward…
The clinic door slowly opened.
Dan Heng stepped outside.
He appeared to have fully recovered, though his brows remained slightly furrowed.
His sharp eyes immediately surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings.
Muttering quietly to himself, he said,
“I should gather some information first… and obtain the local currency.”
“Yo.”
“Little Green Dragon.”
A calm…
Almost lazy…
Female voice came from above.
Dan Heng froze.
Almost instantly, he looked toward the source of the voice.
The moment he saw the purple-haired, doll-like girl sitting high above, slightly tilting her head while calmly watching him…
His usually composed eyes narrowed sharply.
Shock.
Wariness.
And icy hostility flashed across his face.
A Stellaron Hunter.
Without the slightest hesitation—
Without wasting a single word—
Dan Heng clenched his right hand.
Cloud-Piercer instantly materialized within his grasp.
The spear’s tip gleamed with a chilling light beneath the dim sky.
Its point was aimed directly at Celine.
His aura instantly became sharp and dangerous.
It felt as though he might attack at any second.
Celine appeared completely unfazed by his intense reaction.
She maintained her relaxed posture.
Her expression never changed.
“Don’t be so tense.”
She calmly spoke as though discussing something unrelated to herself.
“I don’t mean you any harm.”
“The words of a Stellaron Hunter…”
Dan Heng replied coldly.
“…are not trustworthy.”
His grip on Cloud-Piercer remained as steady as stone.
His eyes never left Celine.
“State your purpose.”
“Otherwise—”
“Is that really necessary?”
Celine interrupted him.
Her tone even carried a trace of helplessness.
“There are plenty of rumors throughout the universe claiming that the Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters are sworn enemies.”
“I honestly don’t know which Fictionologist came up with that story.”
“At least…”
“I personally bear no ill intentions toward any of you.”
“Stellaron Hunters…”
Dan Heng remained completely unmoved.
“…are people I cannot afford to lower my guard against.”
Celine let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
Apparently finding the conversation somewhat boring…
She stopped trying to explain herself.
Instead, she simply changed the subject.
“Didn’t you say you needed information…”
“…and the local currency?”
She casually lifted one foot and pointed toward a distant street.
“There.”
Dan Heng instinctively glanced in that direction.
However, most of his attention remained fixed on Celine.
His guard never lowered.
“The Fight Club.”
Celine’s calm voice echoed again.
“They’re currently holding the Boulder Town Super League.”
“The rules are simple.”
“If you’re strong enough to fight…”
“And you win…”
“You’ll earn reputation.”
“Information.”
“And all the local currency you need.”
“…Anything.”
After saying that…
She fell silent.
Turning her gaze back toward the distant street…
She acted as though their conversation had never happened.
Completely unconcerned with Dan Heng’s reaction…
She quietly sat there like a delicate, lifeless doll, perfectly blending into the gloomy surroundings.
Silence returned.
A tense standoff lingered in the air.
Dan Heng’s spear remained aimed at Celine.
His eyes repeatedly shifted between her calm profile…
And the faint sounds of cheering coming from the Fight Club in the distance.
His mind rapidly analyzed the situation.
A Stellaron Hunter appearing here was certainly no coincidence.
Her purpose remained unknown.
She was undoubtedly dangerous.
Yet…
She hadn’t shown the slightest intention of attacking.
Instead…
She had pointed him toward what appeared to be a legitimate way of obtaining both information and resources.
Was it a trap?
Or…
Was it genuine?
Time slowly passed.
Finally…
The sharpness in Dan Heng’s eyes eased ever so slightly.
He gave Celine one long, meaningful look.
His expression remained complicated.
Warning.
Suspicion.
Scrutiny.
And lingering doubt.
With a light flick of his wrist…
Cloud-Piercer dissolved into streaks of light.
Without saying another word…
Dan Heng decisively turned around and walked toward the Fight Club Celine had pointed out.
Only his perfectly straight back…
And his slightly tense shoulders…
Revealed that he hadn’t lowered his guard in the slightest.