According to Elio’s script, the Stellaron Hunters split into two groups.
Kafka and Blade would lie in wait in an area outside the Herta Space Station, waiting for Silver Wolf and Zao Wu to act as bait and draw over a portion of the Antimatter Legion’s forces before making their move.
Silver Wolf, meanwhile, was in charge of retrieving Zao Wu aboard their starship.
As the cyberpunk-styled portal opened, Zao Wu came tumbling out.
He was caught by Silver Wolf, who had instinctively opened her arms and held him tight.
The girl staggered back several steps, unable to buffer the force of Zao Wu’s momentum.
With a loud thud!
Silver Wolf fell onto the floor of the ship’s cabin.
Zao Wu supported himself with his hands and knees, his arms bracketing the silver-haired girl’s slender waist as their eyes met.
Before Silver Wolf could even think about scolding Zao Wu, a cherry-blossom blush gradually spread across her pained expression.
Her gaze was a mixture of annoyance and shyness, her words caught in her throat.
“Idiot… get off me!
D-Do you like seeing me down here!?” “S-Sorry!
Sister Silver Wolf!” Zao Wu scrambled to his feet.
“Whatever, I’ll forgive you.” Silver Wolf thought to herself, her cheeks still flushed.
Whether Zao Wu liked seeing her underneath him was hard to say.
But she, on the other hand, quite liked his dazed, adorable expression as he stared straight at her.
Usually, when she played games with Zao Wu, they sat side-by-side.
So, Silver Wolf could only ever see his profile as he focused on the game.
Thinking back now, she had missed out on so many bonus scenes… Zao Wu extended a hand to Silver Wolf.
She blinked her long eyelashes, looked away, and took it, allowing him to pull her back to her feet.
“Say, have you gotten taller recently?” Silver Wolf immediately noticed that Zao Wu, who used to have to look up slightly to meet her eyes, was now at her eye level.
If she weren’t wearing the two purple, leaf-like ornaments on her head, Zao Wu might actually be taller than her now!
“Never mind, that’s not important.” Silver Wolf changed the subject, not forgetting that she and Zao Wu were still in the middle of a mission.
The girl swiped a hand, opening a virtual screen that showed swarms of the Antimatter Legion in hot pursuit of their ship.
Faintly visible in the distant sky was a… no, two Doomsday Beasts!
These colossal behemoths, like starships themselves, were planet-killer weapons forged by the Antimatter Legion using fragments of the Dusk Leviathan as a base and the lament of ten thousand corpses from the War-Forge as a catalyst.
Seeing this, even Silver Wolf couldn’t help but gasp, sensing trouble.
“You made a bit of a scene.
You’ve attracted more of the Antimatter Legion than we expected.” “…” An apologetic look washed over Zao Wu’s face.
Just seeing that expression, no woman would likely have the heart to blame him.
If anyone was to blame, it was Blade for teaching him the sword style of that Luofu Sword Champion.
Silver Wolf reached out and stroked Zao Wu’s hair.
“It’s fine.
The crew of the Astral Express can definitely handle them.” “The Astral Express?” “Didn’t Elio tell you?” Then again, that was normal.
Only Elio himself ever knew the full picture of the bad black cat’s script.
As actors participating in the performance, the Stellaron Hunters often only needed to understand their own part and execute it flawlessly.
Outside of that, Elio would never restrict what they did.
And yet, despite this, every event would ultimately conclude perfectly according to Elio’s script, like an unalterable fate.
Truly befitting of the “Slave of Destiny.” Zao Wu froze for a moment upon hearing her words.
In fact, it wasn’t just the information about the “Astral Express.” Even his own role in the script, what he needed to do— Elio hadn’t told Zao Wu a single thing.
As the newest member of the Stellaron Hunters, he had indeed spoken with Elio.
The elegant black cat had gazed at him for a long, long time, as if smiling.
And the first thing it said was.
—”I can permit you to pet my head.
But below the belly is a no-go.” Zao Wu had been mortified that his desire had been seen through.
But Elio didn’t seem to think it was a big deal.
It finally bid Zao Wu a polite “goodbye.” Then, along with Sam, the other Stellaron Hunter who was holding it, they both vanished as the screen switched off.
And just like that, Zao Wu became the only person in this play.
Without a script.
… Just as he had no past.
It was as if he had no future either.
… Zao Wu didn’t know if he should tell Sister Silver Wolf.
The boy, hesitant to speak, watched Silver Wolf’s focused silhouette as she maneuvered the starship to dodge the Legion’s attacks as if she were playing a video game.
After a moment’s thought, he gave up.
Besides, she really was playing.
Otherwise, according to any normal person’s logic, they should be rapidly escaping the Antimatter Legion’s encirclement.
Not weaving in and out of the swarms of Voidspawn like Silver Wolf was doing.
Unfortunately, Silver Wolf had become Zhao Zilong, and Zao Wu felt like the baby Adou she was carrying.
But unlike in history, if this “Adou” were allowed to pilot the ship, He could probably take Silver Wolf on a seven-in, seven-out rampage of his own.
By the time Silver Wolf had her fill of fun, the dazzling Blue Planet was already close at hand.
The Voidspawn had found a better target for destruction.
And at that moment, the Herta Space Station was still blissfully unaware… of the approaching danger.
—o— “BOOM!!” A violent explosion interrupted Kafka’s invisible violin performance.
Red alert klaxons immediately blared throughout the space station!
Bathed in the crimson light, Kafka took a sharp breath, lowered the hands she had been using for her impromptu recital, and murmured to herself.
“It seems I’ve come at a bad time.” A virtual screen displaying Silver Wolf’s logo flickered to life before the woman’s eyes.
Silver Wolf’s calm voice came through.
“No, I think you’ve come at just the right time.” “System time 23:47:15.
You’re punctual, Kafka.” “What was that explosion just now?
And, is Zao Wu with you?” As Kafka mentioned his name, her tone softened in a way that even she didn’t notice.
“Yeah, he’s here.
I’ll let him explain it to you.” With that, Silver Wolf gave the boy’s butt a light pat, urging him on.
“…!?” Zao Wu had no time to argue with Silver Wolf; he was more concerned about Kafka’s situation.
Besides, he was just a little shy, and he wasn’t sure if what Silver Wolf did was wrong.
Perhaps among friends, such actions were normal.
Just like how Sister Silver Wolf always wanted him to stay the night in her dorm.
Apparently, among siblings, that was a perfectly normal thing.
“Sister Kafka, I’m here!” “The explosion was the work of the Antimatter Legion.
They began a full-scale invasion of the station two system hours ago…” Zao Wu explained many more details, including Elio’s flawless predictions.
But Kafka just listened with a doting expression, finally responding gently.
“Mmm.
It’s good that you’re here.”