Inside the Astral Express parlor car.
“This is the Interastral Peace Broadcast.”
“Good evening to all listeners across the galaxy.”
“Welcome to today’s news report.”
“Recently, an unidentified individual believed to possess the power of an Emanator seized a shipment of construction materials intended for Qlipoth.”
“Several senior IPC officials sent to investigate disappeared temporarily, but all have since returned safely.”
“At approximately the same time, Kai, a suspected Emanator of Elation, launched an attack on the Interastral Peace Corporation headquarters at Pier Point.”
“Regrettably, the headquarters sustained catastrophic damage.”
“The Marketing Development Department was completely destroyed, while several other departments suffered extensive structural damage.”
“Despite the destruction, the protection of the Amber Lord ensured that no IPC employees were killed.”
“A limited number of employees sustained minor injuries and have already recovered following treatment.”
“Once again, we offer our gratitude to the Amber Lord for their protection.”
“The IPC has issued a bounty of one hundred billion credits for Kai.”
“Dead or alive.”
“Furthermore, anyone who provides information that allows the IPC to identify the mysterious Emanator responsible for stealing the construction materials will receive ten billion credits.”
March 7th stared at the screen.
“How much?”
“One hundred billion credits.”
Inside the spacious and brightly lit parlor car, March grabbed both sides of her head.
Her mouth fell open as disbelief filled her eyes.
Beside her sat a bespectacled man whose calm appearance suggested that very little could surprise him.
Welt adjusted his glasses.
“A transport vessel was robbed, and the IPC headquarters was destroyed.”
“Those incidents amounted to two public humiliations in rapid succession.”
“It is natural that the corporation would announce such a large bounty.”
“However, the figure is probably intended more as a public statement than a reward they genuinely expect to pay.”
“It is unlikely that anyone will ever collect it.”
March looked at him in confusion.
“Why not?”
“That is one hundred billion credits.”
“Surely someone would be tempted.”
A red-haired woman wearing an elegant white dress and a long coat smiled from nearby.
“Anyone capable of defeating an Emanator would most likely need to be another Emanator.”
Himeko calmly lifted her cup.
“But what Emanator would challenge another over a mere one hundred billion credits?”
“To beings on that level, money has very little meaning.”
“Credits are simply numbers stored in an account.”
“The IPC understands that perfectly well.”
“That is precisely why they can afford to make the bounty sound so impressive.”
March nodded as realization struck her.
“That makes sense.”
“Himeko and Mr.
Yang really do know everything.”
Himeko merely offered her a warm smile.
Welt looked through the window at the stars passing beyond the train.
For reasons he could not explain, an uneasy feeling had settled over him.
It felt as though something troublesome was approaching.
Himeko glanced at her terminal.
Her expression immediately became serious.
“Herta Space Station is under attack by the Antimatter Legion.”
“Lead Researcher Asta has requested our assistance.”
March sprang to her feet.
“Then what are we waiting for?”
“Let us go help them.”
“I will make those Legion monsters regret attacking the station.”
She raised one fist with renewed determination.
So something really had happened.
Welt’s intuition had been correct.
He adjusted his glasses and nodded.
“We are not far from the station.”
“We should be able to arrive quickly.”
Himeko placed her cup aside.
“Then we leave immediately.”
“Astral Express.”
“Full speed ahead.”
…
Herta Space Station.
Inside a room within the Base Zone.
A woman with long burgundy hair stood with her eyes closed.
Her movements were graceful and precise as she performed with an invisible violin.
The strange part was that violin music could actually be heard.
Perhaps this really was the universe’s most exclusive instrument.
The kind that existed only for those cultured enough to appreciate it.
Outside the room, Herta Space Station was being overrun by the Antimatter Legion.
The elegant music contrasted sharply with the explosions, alarms, and panicked shouting echoing through the corridors.
Another explosion shook the station.
The woman’s performance ended abruptly.
The door in front of her slowly opened.
Kafka studied the corridor beyond it.
“Silver Wolf.”
“Does the station not seem to have far more Voidrangers than expected?”
No one stood nearby.
It appeared as though Kafka had addressed the empty air.
A moment later, a petite hacker with gray hair and violet goggles materialized beside her.
“Someone else is also redirecting the Legion toward the station.”
“A large number of Voidrangers have arrived.”
“There are also two Doomsday Beasts.”
Kafka raised an eyebrow.
“Do you know who is responsible?”
Silver Wolf clenched her fists.
“No.”
“But whoever it is, they are an absolute menace.”
Kafka found her furious expression rather charming.
“What did this mysterious menace do to make our Silver Wolf so angry?”
“They got all seventy-six of my gaming accounts banned.”
Silver Wolf’s voice rose.
“Then they hacked my system and left an image behind.”
Kafka’s interest immediately increased.
Someone had managed to ban Silver Wolf’s accounts.
Silver Wolf was one of the greatest hackers in the universe.
If even she had been unable to restore them, then the culprit possessed extraordinary ability.
“What image did they leave?”
Silver Wolf clenched her teeth.
Her cheeks and ears gradually turned red.
“Look for yourself.”
She waved one hand.
A violet display appeared in front of Kafka.
There was indeed an image on it.
Kafka understood Silver Wolf’s anger the moment she saw it.
The image was a flattering photograph of Silver Wolf.
No alterations had been made to embarrass her.
The text placed around it was another matter.
[Legendary hacker.]
[Seventy-six accounts permanently banned.]
[Elite rider.]
[Driver’s license permanently revoked.]
[Final status.]
[Crying, raging, and demanding a rematch.]
Kafka stared at the image.
The attack had been remarkably precise.
It was easy to understand why Silver Wolf was furious.
Unfortunately, it was also extremely funny.
Kafka looked toward her.
Silver Wolf’s cheeks were puffed out.
Her fists remained clenched, and the tips of her ears had turned red.
When Silver Wolf noticed Kafka watching her, she swatted at the empty air like an offended cat.
“I was not crying or throwing a tantrum.”
“Of course not.”
“You remained perfectly calm.”
Kafka’s reassuring tone somehow made the situation worse.
“Elio warned us that we might encounter someone unusual.”
“He said we should ignore them.”
“They apparently have no intention of harming us.”
“More importantly, do not forget why we came here.”
“We still need to place the target inside the vessel.”
Silver Wolf released a frustrated sigh.
“Fine.”
She continued through the corridor beside Kafka while quietly mourning her lost accounts.
“My accounts.”
“I did not even finish today’s daily missions.”
Neither of them realized that someone had been observing the entire conversation from concealment.
Kai stood with both hands on her hips and wore the most insufferably pleased expression imaginable.
Poor Silver Wolf.
All seventy-six of her gaming accounts had been banned.
Now she was suffering a complete emotional collapse.
Crying, raging, and demanding justice.
How tragic.
Truly heartbreaking.
Hehe.
◉◉◉◉◉
Save to library!