Asta had indeed initially planned to just take a glance and leave.
After all, the space station had just been through a major battle, and there were still many matters requiring her attention as acting station chief.
She couldn’t just hide away and sleep at a time like this, right?
But she never expected that the first thing she’d see upon arriving would be two people kissing right in front of her.
And kissing so passionately!
Look at that, they’re even leaving strands of saliva!
In that instant, Asta felt her mind go blank as a mix of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty emotions surged through her all at once.
She didn’t know why, but seeing this scene ignited an inexplicable anger in her, and she instinctively blurted out, “What are you two doing?”
The sudden voice interrupted the entwined couple.
Caught red-handed, Stelle was overwhelmed with embarrassment.
Covering her face, she broke free from Lin Li’s embrace and rushed into the bathroom, leaving Lin Li alone to face Asta.
Lin Li, thick-skinned as ever, showed no sign of guilt at being caught in the act.
He smiled and asked, “What brings you here so suddenly?
Has the Antimatter Legion been repelled?”
“Thanks to your advance intelligence, we were well-prepared.
That Antimatter Legion has been completely wiped out.” Discussing official matters slightly eased Asta’s expression, but she still seemed a bit unhappy.
“Well done!” Lin Li praised.
He already knew the outcome of the battle; asking was just a way to shift the focus.
But clearly, Asta wasn’t so easily fooled.
She pointed toward the bathroom and asked, “Who is she?
Why is she mixed up with the Stellaron Hunters, and how can she contain the power of a Stellaron?”
“Her name is Stelle.
She’s a poor girl who lost her memory.
For some reason, the Stellaron Hunters left her on the space station, and she accidentally swallowed the Stellaron.”
“Lost her memory?
Accidentally?” Asta looked full of suspicion.
“Don’t worry, she’s not a member of the Stellaron Hunters.
She’s someone trustworthy.”
“Unidentified, suspicious behavior—how is that trustworthy?” Asta pouted.
“You’re not being blinded by lust, are you?”
“Oh, did you have dumplings for lunch?
Why do your words sound so sour?” Lin Li pretended to sniff the air and leaned closer to Asta.
“You’re not jealous, are you, Miss Asta?” His smile carried a strong teasing tone.
“Don’t flatter yourself!
I…
I’m not anyone to you.
Why would I be jealous of you?” The young girl turned her head away, not daring to meet Lin Li’s eyes.
At that moment, a flicker of melancholy passed through her heart.
That’s right, I’m not anyone to him.
What right do I have to meddle in his intimate moments with other girls?
“Really?
Let me taste and see if it’s sour.” Lin Li wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her directly.
Asta’s lips were soft and cool, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance of youth.
Faced with Lin Li’s sudden attack, she didn’t dodge or struggle.
Her lively eyes gently closed as she silently enjoyed his tender kiss.
She had already grown accustomed to it!
She even actively extended her little tongue, intertwining it with Lin Li’s, her breathing becoming slightly more rapid.
The lingering kiss lasted nearly ten minutes, until the girl was somewhat breathless, before Lin Li finally released her.
“Mhm, tasted it, it’s sweet.
Seems you really weren’t jealous.”
The prolonged kiss left Asta’s little face flushed crimson, as radiant and captivating as a brilliant sunset, the moisture in her eyes seeming on the verge of overflowing.
She puffed out her cheeks but ultimately didn’t dwell on the topic further, returning to the main subject.
From Asta’s account, Lin Li learned about the events that had occurred in the Storage Zone of the Real World.
He wasn’t surprised that the Stellaron Hunters hadn’t been captured.
While Herta was undoubtedly a true genius, the Stellaron Hunters roamed the galaxy freely, remaining unscathed despite being perpetually on the Interastral Peace Corporation’s most-wanted list—they were no easy opponents.
“I have a theory,” Lin Li clapped his hands and said.
“The Stellaron Hunters probably haven’t left yet.
With the space station being so large, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to find a place to hide.”
“But what could they possibly achieve by staying?”
“Based on your description and the timing of Stelle’s appearance in the NPC World, Stelle in the Real World has remained unconscious all along.
They brought her here, implanted the Stellaron, yet she still hasn’t woken up.
Do you think they’d feel at ease?”
The affectionate nickname “Stelle” caused Asta’s eyes to darken slightly.
“What is their ultimate goal in doing all this?”
“I’m not entirely clear about their long-term objectives, but as for the immediate phase—they want Stelle to board the Astral Express and become a Trailblazer.”
“Become a Trailblazer…
to act as a mole?”
“That’s a bit silly, Asty,” Lin Li pinched Asta’s cheek.
“Stelle’s past memories are completely lost; she doesn’t remember the Stellaron Hunters at all.
How could she serve as their mole?
Besides, the Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters don’t have absolute conflicting stances.
What need would there be to plant a mole?”
“You’re the silly one!” Asta muttered very softly, though the expression on her face brightened considerably.
Lin Li couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
The young lady was indeed still jealous, even fussing over a mere nickname.
“So how can we find them?” Asta asked again.
Although the Stellaron Hunters weren’t the type of villains who committed every evil deed, as the station master, she certainly didn’t want such unstable elements present on the space station.
“Simple.
Find an excuse to delay the Astral Express crew for a few days.
If the Express doesn’t leave, they definitely won’t leave either.
Then I’ll have a way to locate them.”
Asta nodded.
She didn’t doubt the truthfulness of Lin Li’s words.
Though she didn’t know how he managed it, Lin Li had indeed predicted the attacks by the Antimatter Legion and the Stellaron Hunters, proving he truly had a way to foresee the future.
So, despite feeling a bit jealous, Asta no longer questioned Stelle’s reliability.
With Lin Li’s endorsement, she had developed a preliminary trust in this girl.
“Mhm, I should head back now.
There’s still a lot to handle at the space station.
I’ll come see you again tonight.”
“Go on, go on!”
After seeing Asta off, Stelle cautiously emerged from the bathroom.
Seeing Asta lying peacefully asleep on the bed, she felt somewhat puzzled again.
She really had spent quite a while washing up—there was no helping it; not cleaning thoroughly when damp was just too uncomfortable.
“I bet you have a lot of questions.
Don’t worry, let’s go for a walk and talk things over slowly!” Lin Li noticed her puzzled expression, smiled, and extended his hand.
Stelle nodded, hesitated for a moment, then took his outstretched hand.
While Lin Li was explaining the current situation to Stelle, Asta had also finished reporting to the Herta doll.
“He’s right.
The Stellaron Hunters are likely still hiding somewhere in the space station, but there’s no need to go through all that trouble to catch them.
I’ll handle it myself.”
“Handle it yourself?”
“Mhm, I’ve finished what I was working on.
I’ll be there in two system hours!” Herta’s voice was calm.
“I’ll come see this NPC World for myself and catch a couple of little mice while I’m at it!”