I opened a shop on the Astral Train

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 1

In the vast universe, a space station called "Herta Space Station" stood like a monolith against the cosmic backdrop.


This was a gathering place for the greatest scientific minds. Only those with unparalleled expertise in their respective fields could set foot here.


And today, a businessman named "Yuri" had managed to sneak inside.


—


Inside the main control cabin, Yuri had a firm grip on the arm of a small, gray-haired boy.


"My friend, I have some treasures here. Interested in taking a look?"


Kevin, also known by his alias of Caelus of the Astral Express, raised an eyebrow at the offer.


"Treasures? What kind of treasures? Let me see."


Yuri snapped his fingers, and three items encased in shimmering "bubbles" materialized before Kevin.


Kevin watched the finger snap with admiration, thinking it looked like a well-executed magic trick.


Yuri smirked. "Allow me to introduce them. These are the Destiny Coin, the Space Ring, and the Physical Fruit."


Kevin curiously poked the bubbles but found that he couldn't touch the items inside.


Pointing at the Destiny Coin, he asked, "What's this? What does it do?"


Yuri explained, "It's simple. Flip the coin. If it lands on heads, it will instantly heal all your injuries, including curses, poison, and other negative effects."


Kevin's eyes lit up. "And if it lands on tails?"


"Well… you'll get struck by lightning. No big deal."


Kevin, clearly more focused on the thrill than the risk, grinned. "This thing is awesome. How much?"


Yuri wagged his finger. "I don't take credits."


Kevin sighed, spreading his hands. "I only have 10,000 credits from my last job. That's all I've got."


Yuri chuckled. "You have something I want more than credits."


With a wave of his hand, a scale appeared between them.


"You should have some Stellar Jade, right?"


Kevin nodded and reached into his pocket, pulling out a handful of glowing Star Pearls. "I picked these up because they looked pretty. Didn't think they were worth much."


He wasn't exactly well-off. These were the spoils from fighting two virtual soldiers and opening a treasure chest—nothing too extravagant.


In the real world of Honkai, treasure chests were always guarded by monsters. The moment you got close, they attacked. Because of that, most people ignored them, leaving only a few Destiny Travelers willing to take the risk.


Yuri took the five Stellar Jade from Kevin and placed them on one side of the scale. In an instant, a white light flashed, and five crisp 100-star-coin banknotes appeared on the other end, while the Stellar Jade vanished.


Yuri picked up the cash. "This is the exchange rate here. I only accept Stellar Jade. Here, your 500 star coins."


Kevin ignored the money, still fixated on the Destiny Coin. "How much for that? Is 500 enough?"


Yuri nodded. "It's only 300. You'll have 200 left."


He placed 300 star coins on the bubble, causing both the coins and the bubble to disappear. The Destiny Coin materialized in Yuri's palm, and he handed it, along with the remaining 200 star coins, to Kevin.


Kevin took the coin, inspecting it with great anticipation. Just as he was about to flip it, Yuri stopped him.


"Hold on! This is your emergency lifeline. Use it wisely. If you flip it right, it's like having an extra life."


Kevin thought about it and nodded, tucking the Destiny Coin into his bag.


His eyes then drifted to the other two items.


Yuri continued his pitch. "The Space Ring costs 1,000 star coins. It has a 10-cubic-meter storage capacity but can't store living beings. The Physical Fitness Fruit is 600 star coins and will permanently enhance your physical strength."


Kevin's eyes sparkled. "Both of those sound amazing!"


Then he checked his bag and sighed. "Emmm… I'm broke."


He extended his hand. "Let's exchange contact info so I can buy more from you later."


Yuri took out his phone and added Kevin to his contacts.


With their business concluded, they parted ways.


—


After Kevin left, Yuri turned inward, communicating with his system.


"System, did I complete my novice mission?"


[Notice! Congratulations, host, for completing the novice mission: Conduct a successful transaction.


Rewards: Shop Card x1, High-Level Destiny Walker Imaginary Energy x1.]


As the system's voice faded, a sudden surge of powerful energy flooded Yuri's body.


The sensation was overwhelming, his entire being undergoing a transformation. Muscles strengthened, senses sharpened, and a deep well of energy settled within him.


After more than ten minutes, the power stabilized. With a thought, Yuri summoned a dark golden energy sphere in his palm.


"Not bad. Finally, I have the power to protect myself."


In a universe filled with terrifyingly strong beings, ordinary people were nothing more than ants.


Take the Interstellar Peace Corporation, for example—if they wanted to wipe out a planet, they'd do it without hesitation. No one would question them for annihilating an inferior civilization.


Feeling his newfound strength, Yuri turned his attention to his other reward.


[Store Card: Upon use, transforms a 300-square-meter space into a beautifully decorated shop.]


[New Task Released: Open a Store!


Host must establish a shop.


Rewards: Special product—Elf Series unlocked, Alien Guest Invitation x1.]


According to the system, these special products could only be unlocked by completing specific tasks.


But for now, Yuri had more than enough items to sell. The system's product list was endless.


The real question was where to set up shop.


After some thought, Yuri decided the best location was the Starry Sky Train.


If there was one place overflowing with Stellar Jade, it was there.


The Starry Sky Train traversed the cosmos, visiting planet after planet. Unknown travelers would naturally accumulate Stellar Jade, making them ideal customers.


And with the number of train compartments available, renting one would be the perfect setup.


Now, he just needed a way to convince the train crew to lease him a space.


Yuri leaned back, sipping a cold drink as he strategized.


—


Meanwhile, Kevin had made his way to Herta's office.


Inside, Herta was busy debugging the simulated universe—a joint creation of herself and three other geniuses, designed to unravel the mysteries of the Star God.


Kevin had already tested it yesterday. It was fun, and there were rewards to be earned.


Today, he was here to help fine-tune the system.


"Herta, I'm here."


Herta turned, arms crossed. "You're late. I hope you have a good excuse."


Kevin grinned sheepishly. "Got sidetracked by a vendor. Bought something cool. Sorry, sorry."

---

Kevin looked at the Herta, and suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind. He had just figured out a way to get more Stellar Jade!


Grinning mischievously, he pulled out the Coin of Destiny.


"Hey, Herta, take a look at this," he said with a sly smile.


The Herta puppet glanced at the coin with a look of mild disdain. "Isn't this just an ordinary coin? What's so special about it?"


Kevin smirked, placing his hands on his hips. "Of course, it's special! This is the Coin of Destiny. You flip it into the air, and if it lands on heads, you instantly heal all injuries. If it lands on tails… well, you get struck by lightning. Cool, right?"


Herta's curiosity was piqued. She picked up the coin and tossed it into the air without hesitation.


Kevin watched, his heart pounding with excitement. His plan was coming together perfectly. No matter the outcome, as long as the coin worked as described, he could use it as leverage to extort some compensation from Herta.


The Coin of Destiny spun through the air, flipping end over end, before finally landing on the ground.


[Tails.]


The next second, the Herta puppet let out an ear-piercing scream, as if struck by an unseen force.


Kevin scratched his head in confusion. The puppet didn't seem physically harmed, aside from its dramatic reaction. "Hey, you okay, Herta?"


What Kevin didn't know was that, at that exact moment, the real Herta had been struck by a sudden bolt of lightning. Thankfully, her intelligence and foresight had prevented serious injury, but the shock had been real.


Now intrigued, Herta quickly realized that the Coin of Destiny had somehow locked onto her directly, bypassing the puppet entirely. This was no ordinary artifact.


Controlling the puppet, she bent down and picked up the coin from the floor. The moment her fingers touched it, the Coin of Destiny disintegrated into shimmering dust.


"Interesting… very interesting! Kevin, where did you get this thing? Do you have more?"


Kevin shook his head. "Nope. That was the only one. Now, pay up!"


He confidently stretched out his hand, demanding compensation.


Herta was silent for a few moments. Then, Kevin's phone beeped.


[Company Transfer: 100,000 Credits Received.]


Kevin's eyes sparkled as he saw the notification. With this money, he could buy more Stellar Jade, return to Yuri, and purchase the remaining items he wanted. Even after that, he'd still have plenty of credits left over. Genius move, if he said so himself.


Satisfied, Kevin saw no need to linger.


"Alright, Herta, I have other things to do today. No testing the simulated universe for me."


Surprisingly, the Herta didn't object. She had already decided to let Kevin go freely. After all, now that she had proof the Coin of Destiny was real, she was far more interested in finding out who sold it.


She had no doubt that whoever was behind it had other equally fascinating treasures.


All she needed to do was follow Kevin.


"Fine. I'm not in the mood for testing today either. We'll pick it up tomorrow."


With that, the Herta puppet went offline, standing motionless in place.


Kevin raised an eyebrow, shrugged, and walked out of the office.


—


As he wandered through the station, Kevin asked nearly everyone he met if they had any spare Steller Jade.


To his surprise, quite a few people were willing to trade. To them, Stellar Jade was nothing more than a pretty rock—if Kevin was offering 500 credits each, why not take the deal?


By the time he finished searching the main control cabin, his bag was filled with twenty more Steller Jade.


Just as he was about to find Yuri, a voice called out from behind him.


"Kevin, what are you up to?"


He turned to see March 7th approaching.


"March, I'm gathering Steller Jade. You got any? I'll pay you 500 credits each."


March 7th narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Why do you need them so badly? And why are you paying for them?"


Kevin looked around, making sure no one else was nearby. Then, flashing a mischievous grin, he leaned in and whispered.


"Let's just say… I've got something big planned."


March 7th's curiosity was piqued. "Sounds interesting! Tell me more."


Kevin smirked. "Alright, listen closely…"


As he whispered his plan, March 7th's expression shifted from surprise to excitement. "That sounds fun! I wanna come with you."


Kevin stood up straight, nodding. "Then let's go! Keep up!"


—


Together, they followed the location Yuri had sent Kevin earlier.


They found Yuri strolling through the small garden near the main control cabin. Kevin had to admit, the garden was impressive—filled with flowers of vibrant colors and unique shapes. Clearly, Asta had spent a fortune designing it.


Spotting Yuri, Kevin pulled March 7th along as they jogged over.


Yuri noticed them and waved with a smile. "Kevin! Over here."


As they got closer, Kevin's eyes darted around. March 7th noticed and asked, "Kevin, what are you looking for?"


"The scale. Come on, Yuri, take out your scale. I need to exchange these for star coins."


Yuri chuckled, producing the scale with a flick of his wrist. "I see you brought a friend. Aren't you going to introduce us?"


Kevin blinked, realizing he'd forgotten to do so. "Oh! Right. Yuri, this is March 7th, my best friend and a fellow passenger on the Astral Express."


He turned to March 7th. "March, this is Yuri—the businessman I told you about."


With introductions out of the way, Kevin eagerly dumped all twenty Stellar Jade from his bag onto the scale.


In a flash of white light, the Stellar Jade vanished, replaced by twenty crisp 100-star-coin bills.


Kevin picked them up, grinning. Dipping his fingers into the automatic sprinkler nearby, he began counting them one by one. The feeling of holding money was simply too satisfying.


March 7th watched with curiosity. "So, these are star coins?"


Kevin nodded. "Yep! Now you should exchange yours too. Then we can start shopping."


March 7th followed suit, placing her ten Stellar Jade onto the scale. Moments later, she received ten 100-star-coin bills in return.


As she examined them, Yuri smiled and handed them his phone.


"My store isn't officially open yet, so for now, you can browse using my phone. I've listed all the available products here—name, price, and effects are all clearly described."


Yuri had been struggling to come up with a way to rent a train carriage for his shop. So, instead, he had spent the time meticulously recording the details of over 500 different products into his phone.


It was the perfect solution—for now.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 2

The two women leaned against each other, browsing through the items with great interest.

"This Bamboo Dragonfly looks fun! You just put it on your head, and it flies!"

"This portal is amazing! It can teleport within 10,000 kilometers… but it's pricey—100,000 star coins."

"Look at this Starry Sky Camera! There's even a pink version! It has built-in magic, unlimited film, and instant development! This is my dream camera!"

"A Trash Can Scratch Ticket? It says you can win something worth up to 500,000 star coins!"

The two women chatted excitedly, discussing the various products.

Yuri sipped his happy water, watching them quietly as they shopped.

After about ten minutes, they turned off the phone and made their selections.

March 7 pulled out 1,000 star coins and handed them to Yuri.

"Yuri, I want the Starry Sky Camera!"

Yuri glanced at the price—it was exactly 1,000 star coins. Snapping his fingers, he summoned a camera wrapped in a shimmering bubble between them.

March 7's eyes sparkled. "That's it! That's the one! Yuri, here's the money!"

Yuri pointed to the bubble. "Just place your star coins on it. Once the amount is enough, the item will be yours."

March 7 excitedly grabbed her star coins and slammed them onto the bubble.

The moment the coins touched the bubble, both disappeared, and the Starry Sky Camera materialized in her hands.

She eagerly lifted it and began taking pictures. "Wow! The resolution is incredible! It's even better than my own eyes!"

Yuri chuckled. "As long as you like it."

Then he turned to Kevin. "What about you? What do you want to buy?"

Kevin grinned, holding up 2,000 star coins. "I want the Trash Can Scratch Tickets! Give me two!"

Yuri sighed internally. Just as he had predicted, Kevin couldn't resist buying this product. It was practically designed for him—there was no way he'd pass it up.

He summoned two glowing bubbles, each containing a Trash Can Scratch Ticket.

Each ticket cost 1,000 star coins.

Without hesitation, Kevin grabbed the star coins in both hands and smacked them onto the bubbles.

"Clank!"

"Clank!"

With two metallic sounds, two glowing trash cans appeared before him.

Kevin eagerly knocked on both trash cans, listening to the sounds inside.

March 7 finally noticed what was happening and walked over, curious. "Kevin, why would you buy these? Scratch tickets almost never give anything good."

Kevin puffed up his chest. "Ordinary people don't get lucky, but I'm different! Am I an ordinary person? No! I'm the future Galaxy Batman!"

March 7 nearly choked. "Galaxy Batman?! Where do you even come up with these ridiculous titles?"

Before Kevin could respond, an unfamiliar voice interrupted.

"So, you're the one who sold Kevin that coin."

The three of them turned to see the newcomer.

Kevin was surprised. "Herta? What are you doing here?"

Herta gave him a flat look. "Obviously, I followed you."

She then turned her attention to Yuri. "You were the one who sold the Coin of Destiny, weren't you?"

Yuri nodded casually, handing her his phone. "That's right. Here, take a look. Everything I sell is listed here.

If you don't see what you're looking for, tell me what you need. As long as you have enough star coins, I can sell you anything."

Herta raised an eyebrow. "Star coins? What are those? Where do you get them?"

"Stellar Jade," Yuri explained. "Right now, only Stellar Jade can be exchanged for star coins. One Stellar Jade equals 100 star coins."

Herta understood immediately. She pulled out her communicator and sent a message to Asta, asking her to send over some Stellar Jade.

Then, she took Yuri's phone and began browsing through his store.

Meanwhile, Kevin ignored her and focused on his trash cans.

He rubbed his hands together, whispered a prayer, and performed a small ritual.

Herta sighed. "Kevin, research has proven that luck has nothing to do with superstitious nonsense."

Kevin smirked. "That's where you're wrong. If you believe in it, it exists. If you don't, it doesn't."

Without waiting, he opened the first trash can.

A brilliant golden light burst forth, so bright that everyone instinctively shielded their eyes—even the Herta puppet, which, despite being artificial, reacted as if it were human.

Kevin squinted against the glow, his heart racing with excitement.

Golden Legend!

As the light faded, the trash can disappeared, leaving behind… a can of herrings.

Kevin picked it up, tilting his head in confusion. "What is this?"

March 7 leaned in, equally puzzled. "Is it… fish food? There's a fish symbol on the label."

Herta rolled her eyes. "Idiots. It's canned fish. Old stuff from years ago. Still edible."

Neither Kevin nor March 7 had ever eaten canned food before. Kevin was a Stellaron Hunter with amnesia, and March 7 was part of the Astral Express, where gourmet meals were the norm—canned food simply wasn't a thing.

Kevin shrugged and prepared to open the can for a taste.

Yuri's eyes widened. "Wait! Don't!"

Kevin hesitated. "Why not? It's food, isn't it? I'm kinda hungry."

Yuri sighed, deciding to tell him the truth. "It's edible, sure. But the smell… let's just say, for the sake of everyone around you, do NOT open it in public."

Kevin instantly understood.

Ah… so this was that kind of canned fish.

He smirked, storing it away. He'd save it for the perfect moment.

Then, his attention turned to the second trash can.

March 7 placed her hands on her hips. "Kevin, maybe you should return this one. Scratch tickets rarely give anything good, and they cost 1,000 star coins each."

Kevin ignored her and opened the second trash can without hesitation.

Once again, golden light exploded outward.

When it faded, the trash can vanished, replaced by…

A pair of pistols.

Kevin picked them up, frowning slightly. "That's it? I spent 2,000 star coins for this? The canned herrings might be useful in the right situation, but these? What am I supposed to do with them?"

At that moment, Yuri's eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost.

"You… do you even realize what you just pulled?!"

Kevin looked at him, confused. "Uh… no? Are they special?"

Yuri didn't waste time explaining.

"Let me put it this way. If you had bought these from me normally, they would have cost you 200,000 star coins.

This isn't just any weapon.

This is the 'Key of God'—the Judgment of Shamash"

---

When Kevin heard the name, his eyes lit up.

"Woah! This name sounds kind of cool!"

"Are these two guns really that powerful?"

Yuri nodded and picked up the Judgment of Shamash.

"Right now, they're in their normal state, but they have another form as well.

Skyfire! Unsheath!"

A brilliant light burst from the Judgment of Shamash, and in an instant, a massive sword engulfed in flames appeared in Yuri's hands.

Kevin's eyes sparkled with excitement. This was incredible!

Yuri, however, could feel his strength draining rapidly. The weapon's original side effects had been adjusted by the system, now consuming stamina instead of causing direct harm.

Handing the weapon over, Yuri warned, "When you activate this mode, it continuously drains your stamina. Use it wisely."

Kevin took the Judgment of Shamash and swung it a few times. It felt effortless, like it was made just for him.

"Yuri, I don't feel any stamina loss. What's going on?"

Yuri pondered for a moment. "It's probably because of the Stellaron inside you. The core has merged with your body, becoming your main energy source."

At that moment, Herta spoke up. "Put the sword away for now and come with me for an examination. I want to check if there are any changes in your Stellaron."

Kevin nodded. It made sense—his core had only recently erupted.

Then, Herta turned to Yuri. "Give me your contact info. I'll come find you tomorrow when my Stellar Jade arrives."

Asta had just sent a message confirming that the Stellar Jade would be delivered the next day. Today, she was busy overseeing the space station's repairs.

After exchanging contact information, Herta suddenly remembered something. "By the way, I copied the product list from your phone. Just letting you know."

Yuri shrugged. "That's fine. I uploaded it so customers could browse easily."

Herta gave a slight nod before turning to Kevin, who was still marveling at his new weapon.

"Alright, stop playing with that thing. Let's get your checkup done."

Reluctantly, Kevin stored the Judgment of Shamash and followed along.

After saying their goodbyes to Yuri, the three left, while Yuri checked his credit balance and began looking for a place to rest on the space station.


—

Herta led Kevin and March 7 to her laboratory.

March 7 had decided to tag along simply because she was bored. The Astral Express was currently being resupplied, and with Himeko and Mr. Yang handling things, there wasn't much for her to do.

As they entered the lab, a fiery red figure came into view.

March 7 blinked in surprise. "Himeko? Shouldn't you be on the platform?"

The woman before them was Himeko, the navigator of the Astral Express.

Himeko smiled. "Things over there are mostly settled. With Welt keeping watch, there won't be any issues.

I came here to talk to Herta—I want to upgrade my weapon."

March 7's curiosity was piqued. "Oh! You mean your orbital cannon?"

Himeko nodded. "That's right."

She then turned to Herta. "Are you free?"

Herta didn't hesitate to refuse. "No, I'm busy. I need to examine this little Stellaron kid."

Himeko's gaze shifted to Kevin, who gave a lopsided grin.

Herta gestured toward a full-body scanner. "Step in."

Without hesitation, Kevin walked into the scanner.

The machine hummed to life, scanning his body. Herta observed the readings—no abnormalities detected.

Still, just to be safe, she decided to test something.

"Summon the greatsword again."

Kevin eagerly pulled the Judgment of Shamash from his waist and struck a dramatic pose.

"Skyfire! Unsheath!"

A brilliant light erupted, and a massive, flaming greatsword materialized in Kevin's hands.

Himeko narrowed her eyes at the weapon. There was something extraordinary about this sword. She knew Kevin had lost his memory, so where did he even get something like this? Could Herta have made it for him?

No. That didn't make sense.

Himeko knew Herta well enough—she wouldn't waste time crafting a personal weapon for Kevin. If she had that kind of free time, she'd spend it running experiments.

She made a mental note to ask Kevin about it later. This greatsword was no ordinary weapon.

Meanwhile, Herta's instruments beeped, displaying new data.

Raising an eyebrow, she studied the readings with intrigue. "This sword is fascinating. It directly taps into the Stellaron as a power source."

The data showed that the Judgment of Shamash was continuously absorbing energy from Kevin's Stellaron in its greatsword form.

Herta turned to him. "Yuri was right. This sword normally consumes stamina, but for you, it draws from your Stellaron instead. That means you won't experience the usual fatigue."

She smirked slightly. "I have to admit, this weapon suits you perfectly.

Alright, you can step out now."

Kevin practically beamed with pride, gazing down at the Judgment of Shamash. He had drawn this sword himself—it was like it was made for him!

Baseball bat? Sorry, never heard of it.

Himeko, watching from the side, finally asked, "Kevin, where did you get that weapon? I remember you using a baseball bat before."

Kevin answered immediately. "I won it in a lottery! Pretty lucky, huh?"

Himeko chuckled. "Lottery, huh? I'd say you're more than lucky."

At that moment, March 7 excitedly pulled out her newly purchased Starry Sky Camera.

"Himeko! Look at this! Isn't it amazing?"

Himeko glanced at the camera in March 7's hands, noticing that she had replaced her old one. "You got a new camera?"

March 7 nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Kevin and I went shopping. He got two Trash Can Scratch Tickets, and I got this camera.

Oh, right! Himeko, you should check out Yuri's shop! He has all sorts of cool stuff.

And as long as you have Stellar Jade, you can buy anything!"

Himeko's interest was piqued.

Oh? Yuri? From what March 7 had said, both Kevin's sword and her new camera came from this man named Yuri.

And he accepted Stellar Jade—a decorative stone with no practical use—as currency?

Interesting.

"March, do you know where Yuri is now?"

March 7 scratched her head. "I don't have his contact info… Oh! But Kevin and Herta do. You can ask them!"

Before Himeko could even turn to ask, Kevin had already pulled out his phone.

"Hello? Yuri? Are you still at the same place?"

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 3

More than half an hour later, at the entrance of a cafeteria in the space station.

Yuri sat on a bench, eating a bowl of noodles while watching Himeko, Kevin, and March 7 browsing the goods displayed on his phone.

After leaving the small garden, Yuri had wandered in search of a place to stay. Despite searching for a long time, he found no available accommodations—but he did stumble upon a cafeteria.

Hoping to grab a meal, he approached the counter, only to be met with a problem: the cafeteria required proof of employment for service.

Left with no choice, Yuri had sought out Hertaand asked her to issue him a work permit for the space station.

As expected, Herta didn't care how Yuri had arrived at the station. As long as he had things that interested her, that was all that mattered.

After more than ten minutes, Himeko shut off her phone, having found nothing that caught her eye.

March 7 noticed and commented, "Himeko, if nothing here suits you, you can just tell Yuri what you want.

He said there's nothing he can't buy."

Yuri nodded. "That's right. My goods come from all over. As long as you have enough star coins, you can buy anything."

Himeko considered for a moment. "Do you have a coffee machine? The one on the train just broke."

Yuri snapped his fingers, and three coffee machines wrapped in bubbles appeared, floating in midair.

"Take a look at these three and see which one you like.

The first one is a Magic Coffee Machine, from a world of magic. It has a built-in enchantment array that automatically dispenses water and grinds beans at the push of a button. Price: 2,000 star coins.

The second one is a Fully Automatic Coffee Machine, from a high-tech world. It only requires coffee beans and water to brew coffee. Price: 500 star coins.

The third one is a Spiritual Coffee Machine, from a cultivation world. It uses Spirit Stones as an energy source, and the coffee brewed has body-strengthening effects. Price: 3,000 star coins. Each Spirit Stone costs 100 star coins and can make 100 cups of coffee."

The moment Yuri finished speaking, Himeko's eyes locked onto the Spiritual Coffee Machine.

A coffee machine that improved physical fitness? Not to mention, it was hand-brewed? Perfect.

She had no interest in fully automatic machines with preset ratios.

Pointing to the Spiritual Coffee Machine, she said, "I'll take this one, but I need to head back to the train to get my Stellar Jade."

Yuri put away the other two machines, picking up the Spiritual Coffee Machine in one hand. "Let's go. I've got nothing better to do anyway."

Himeko smiled. "Appreciate it."

And with that, the four of them headed toward the platform where the Astral Express was docked.

—

They chatted as they walked, the mood lighthearted.

On the way, they came across a standard treasure chest.

Kevin wasted no time, brandishing the Judgment of Shamash and swiftly cutting down the virtual soldier guarding the chest. Inside, he found five Stellar Jade—worth 500 star coins.

March 7 pouted in frustration. "Damn it! I was just a second too slow!"

More than half an hour later, they finally arrived at the platform.

From a higher vantage point, Yuri looked down at the station and saw a massive, retro-style steam train parked on the platform.

Toward the rear of the train, he spotted Welt and Pom-Pom holding a cargo list, checking off supplies.

Himeko noticed Yuri staring and chuckled. "What do you think? Impressive, isn't it?"

Yuri nodded. "I've heard of the Astral Express before, but this is my first time seeing it in person.

I never imagined such a long train could travel through space."

March 7 placed her hands on her hips, looking smug. "Of course! Our Astral Express is super fast! In the blink of an eye, we'll be very, very far away!"

Himeko motioned toward the train. "Alright, let's board."

Following her lead, Yuri, Kevin, and March 7 stepped into the observation car.

Kevin, eyes wide, scanned the interior like a curious child. "Wow... it looked so old-fashioned from the outside, but the inside is really modern."

Himeko led Yuri and Kevin to a sofa. "You two sit and relax. I'll go grab the Stellar Jade. March 7, go get some water."

March 7, who had been busy taking pictures with her new camera, set it down and ran off to fetch drinks.

Meanwhile, Himeko walked to the rest car, heading to her quarters to retrieve the Stellar Jade.

With nothing else to do, Yuri pulled out his phone and resumed cataloging his products.

Kevin, intrigued, leaned over to watch, reading the descriptions as Yuri typed them out. Whenever something caught his interest, he snapped a picture with his phone for reference.

Seeing this, March 7, now back with the drinks, joined in as well.

—

More than ten minutes later, Himeko returned to the observation car.

This time, she wasn't alone—Dan Heng walked beside her.

Dan Heng, one of the train's quieter passengers, was typically absorbed in his research and rarely ventured out of the archives.

March 7 raised an eyebrow. "Whoa~ Dan Heng, you finally left the data bank!"

Dan Heng replied in his usual monotone, "I was recording information on Doomsday Beasts."

March 7 sighed. "Ugh, can't you ever show a little more enthusiasm?"

She shook her head and turned back to Yuri's product list.

Himeko handed over the Stellar Jade. "Yuri, here are 30 Stellar Jade. Is that enough?"

Yuri took out his scale. "Place them on one side."

Himeko placed the 30 Stellar Jade onto the scale.

A second later, the Stellar Jade disappeared, replaced by thirty 100-star-coin bills on the other end.

March 7, standing closest, picked them up for Himeko. "Here, this is your star coin! Let me show you how to use it!"

She cleared her throat and pointed to the Spiritual Coffee Machine. "Watch carefully, Himeko!"

March 7 grabbed 3,000 star coins and smacked them onto the bubble-wrapped machine.

Both the star coins and the bubble vanished, and the Spiritual Coffee Machine gently descended to the floor.

"Ding-ding! That's all there is to it!"

Himeko smiled at her enthusiasm. "Thanks, March."

March 7 grinned, clearly pleased with herself.

Himeko then turned to Yuri. "Yuri, can you show Dan Heng your product list?"

Yuri handed over his updated catalog.

Dan Heng nodded in appreciation before silently flipping through the listings.

Meanwhile, Himeko examined the Spiritual Coffee Machine, only to realize she hadn't bought any Spirit Stones yet.

Noticing this, Yuri casually tossed her a Spirit Stone. "Here, first one's on me."

Himeko's lips curled into a small smile. "Appreciate it."

---

Himeko took the Spirit Stone and placed it into the Spiritual Coffee Machine.

The indicator light on the front instantly lit up as the machine whirred to life.

Kevin and March 7 quickly gathered around, curious to see the coffee in action.

Before long, Himeko skillfully brewed a cup and turned to Yuri, Kevin, and March 7.

"Want to try it?"

March 7 visibly shuddered. Himeko's coffee was not something she was willing to risk.

"Uh… I just remembered! I need to check on Dan Heng! You guys go ahead!" she blurted before making a quick escape.

If she didn't run, she'd have no choice but to drink Himeko's infamous coffee!

Himeko's smile twitched slightly.

"Kevin? Yuri? You two want to give it a try?"

Kevin, unaware of the danger, took the cup from Himeko without hesitation.

"Thanks!"

Without thinking twice, he downed the coffee in one gulp.

Himeko watched expectantly. "So? How is it?"

Kevin forced a smile and gave a thumbs-up. "Delicious!"

Then he turned to March 7. "March! Come back, it's really good!"

March 7, still hiding near Dan Heng, peeked out and saw Kevin proudly showing off his empty cup.

A wave of doubt crept over her.

Wait… is Himeko's coffee actually good now? Kevin seems fine. Maybe I should try it?

Gathering her courage, March 7 asked Himeko for a cup of coffee.

She took the cup and sniffed it cautiously.

Hmm… It smells normal. No strange odor.

Kevin urged her, "Go on, try it! It's really good."

Yuri, watching from the side, struggled to hold back his laughter. He had noticed something that March 7 hadn't—Kevin's legs were trembling slightly.

Oh, he's definitely trying to drag March 7 down with him.

Oblivious, March 7 took a big sip and swallowed.

Immediately, both she and Kevin froze, their bodies stiffening.

Then, as if in sync, their legs gave out, and they collapsed onto the floor.

"Gah!"

Yuri, grinning, looked down at them. Yep. Himeko's coffee is still as deadly as ever.

Himeko, staring at the two unconscious victims, began to question her coffee-making skills.

But instead of dwelling on it, she calmly picked up a book on hand-brewed coffee, flipping through it to see where she had gone wrong.

Yuri sighed and, feeling somewhat merciful, moved Kevin and March 7 onto the sofa.

Meanwhile, Dan Heng had finished browsing Yuri's products and settled on a pair of headphones with unlimited power. They were relatively cheap—only 300 star coins.

Dan Heng exchanged three Stellar Jade for star coins, purchased the headphones, then bid farewell and returned to the data room.

With March 7 and Kevin still out cold on the sofa, Yuri decided it was the perfect time to bring up an important matter.

He approached Himeko. "Himeko, there's something I'd like to discuss."

Himeko put down her book. "Oh? What is it?"

Yuri took a sip of water before speaking. "I want to rent a carriage on the train to open a shop. Would that be possible?

Of course, I won't ask for it for free. Every month, your train crew can choose one item from my shop worth up to 3,000 star coins. How does that sound?"

Himeko fell into deep thought.

Nothing like this had ever been done before—at least, not in the history of the Nameless that she knew of.

But the idea wasn't bad. In exchange for a carriage, the train crew would receive a valuable item each month, sourced from the various worlds Yuri had access to.

As for whether Yuri posed a threat? Highly unlikely.

From what she had observed, Yuri was nothing more than a businessman—a pure merchant, though one with a surprisingly good sense of ethics.

After some consideration, Himeko said, "I can't make that decision alone. I need to consult the rest of the crew."

Whenever a major decision affecting the train was involved, the crew followed an old tradition: a vote.

Yuri smiled. "That's fair. I'll wait for your answer. Just send me a message once you've decided.

Speaking of which, we haven't exchanged contact info yet. Shall we?"

After exchanging numbers, Yuri left the train and returned to the space station.

—

After arriving, he sent a message to Herta, asking her to arrange a place for him to stay.

Finding a hotel or lodging on the space station had proven impossible. The employees all had designated living quarters provided by the company for free.

No need to ask why—the company was massive, and they could afford such luxuries.

—

More than two hours later, inside the observation car.

Himeko, Welt, Pom-Pom, Dan Heng, March 7, and Kevin were all gathered together.

Welt, Pom-Pom, and Dan Heng had already been informed of Yuri's request. Now, they were just waiting for March 7 and Kevin to wake up before holding a vote.

Finally, the two groggy victims stirred from their slumber.

After sipping some hot water and regaining their strength, Himeko explained the situation to them.

Kevin, still half-asleep, looked puzzled. "Wait… why are you telling me this? You're not part of the train crew."

Himeko smiled. "Kevin, remember when I invited you to join the Express? What do you say?"

Kevin rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

March 7 nudged him. "Come on, Kevin~ Join us! Fight for justice across the galaxy! Save a few worlds along the way! Become a legendary hero! How cool is that?"

Kevin's eyes lit up. That did sound cool.

These past few days on the space station, he had felt like an outsider. Aside from Asta, Arlan, and Herta no one really paid attention to him.

Everyone was busy with their own work—there was no sense of camaraderie.

But when he was with the train crew, it felt different. It felt… fun.

"Alright, I'm in."

March 7 cheered. "Yeah!"

Himeko pulled out a train ticket and handed it to Kevin. "This is your proof of identity as a Nameless. Wear it proudly."

Kevin pinned the ticket onto his collar.

Welt and Dan Heng welcomed him to the team with a nod.

After some casual conversation, Himeko steered the discussion back on track.

"Alright, now that everyone's here, let's vote on whether Yuri should be allowed to rent a carriage.

The usual rules apply—majority rules. Those in favor, raise your hand."

She began the countdown.

"Three… two… one."

Kevin, March 7, Himeko, and Dan Heng all raised their hands.

Only Welt abstained.

Welt explained, "Consider my vote neutral. I haven't met this Yuri yet, so I can neither support nor reject the idea outright. I'll form an opinion after observing him."

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 4

March 7 waved at Welt.

"Uncle Yang, Uncle Yang, don't worry! Yuri is a really good guy."

Kevin immediately echoed, "Yeah! Yuri is a nice person."

Dan Heng, standing nearby, added, "I've observed him. There's no ill will toward our train crew in his demeanor. And while the train crew has never rented out carriages before, non-crew members have traveled with us, right?

In essence, it's the same thing—he'll just be following the train from one world to another."

Pom nodded in agreement. "That's right, Pa! If someone wants to travel with the train, the train welcomes them, Pa! We have plenty of empty carriages, Pa!"

Seeing that no one objected, Himeko made the final call. "Alright then, I'll send a message to Yuri right away.

As for the rental carriage, how about the cargo car behind our rest car?"

Everyone agreed, and Himeko immediately sent Yuri a message.

—

At that time, Yuri was fast asleep in the luxurious room arranged for him by Herta.

Thanks to Herta's influence, the accommodations were top-notch. The moment the staff heard it was an order from Herta, they became exceptionally attentive.

Without hesitation, they arranged for Yuri to stay in the most extravagant presidential suite and even prepared a lavish dinner for him.

—

The next morning, Yuri received the message.

Although space had no distinction between day and night, Yuri still followed a normal schedule—active during the day, resting at night.

There was no sun or moon here, but time still flowed, and using that, he could keep track of when it should be "morning."

After waking up, Yuri enjoyed the exquisite breakfast prepared by the staff before heading to the train.

He arrived at the door of the observation car and knocked.

A moment later, the door opened, revealing Pom standing in the entrance.

"Who are you, Pa? What's your business, Pa?"

Yuri answered, "I'm Yuri. Himeko asked me to come discuss renting a carriage."

Upon hearing this, Pom stepped aside. "Oh! It's you, Pa! Come in, Pa! Himeko and the others are having breakfast, Pa!"

Yuri stepped onto the train and entered the observation car.

As soon as he walked in, he saw Himeko and the others gathered around, enjoying breakfast together.

Kevin spotted him first and waved. "Yuri! You're here!"

Himeko also greeted him. "Yuri, have you eaten yet?"

Yuri walked closer. "I have. Looks like you all are having quite a feast."

At that moment, Welt spoke up. "Why not have some more with us?"

Yuri glanced at him. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm good. By the way, I don't think we've met. What's your name?"

Welt introduced himself. "I'm Welt, a member of the train crew. When you visited yesterday, I was busy checking the supplies. By the time I got back, you had already left."

Yuri smiled. "Well, it's good to finally meet you. You guys finish eating—I'll wait, and we can talk afterward."

He then walked over to the side, sat down, and pulled out his phone to continue adding products to his system catalog.

At the moment, he had over 1,000 items listed.

Welt observed Yuri closely but sensed no hostility from him.

I've lived a long life, and I can read people well enough.

—

A few minutes later, after finishing their meal, the train crew led Yuri to the carriage behind their rest car.

By now, all the debris in the carriage had been cleared away.

Himeko turned to Yuri. "How's this space?"

Yuri nodded in satisfaction. "This will do."

Without another word, he took out the [Store Card] and tore it into pieces.

The moment the card was destroyed, a radiant light engulfed the carriage.

The brightness was overwhelming, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.

When the light finally faded, their eyes widened in astonishment.

The once dull and empty carriage had been transformed into a beautifully designed shop.

To the right, an open kitchen now stood, complete with a bar and several high stools next to a sleek grill station.

To the left, large floor-to-ceiling windows lined the space, next to three cozy booths, each seating up to four people.

Directly ahead, a small bar counter had been set up, equipped with two interactive touchscreens displaying Yuri's entire inventory.

In the center of the room, a long communal table stood, capable of seating ten diners at once.

The entire shop was decorated in warm tones, exuding an inviting and vibrant atmosphere.

Yuri took in the scene and nodded in approval.

The system's Store Card is amazing. This layout is exactly my style.

A space to cook, sell items, and relax with friends over a drink. Perfect.

Kevin and March 7 were left completely stunned.

"March, pinch me. Am I dreaming?"

March 7 smirked and twisted Kevin's waist hard.

"Hiss!!" Kevin winced. "That hurts! That hurts! That hurts!"

Now fully convinced he wasn't dreaming, Kevin looked around in disbelief.

"Is this real? Yuri, how did you do this?!"

Yuri clapped his hands together. "It's just one of the things I sell."

Store Cards were available in the system shop, though under a different name: Decoration Cards—each priced at 1,000 star coins.

Yuri then gave the train crew a tour of the store.

Himeko, observing the empty space next to the bar, considered moving the Spiritual Coffee Machine there.

The cabinet in the observation car is a bit cramped. If I put it here, it'll be much easier to use.

Meanwhile, Kevin and March 7 had wandered over to the small bar.

Kevin opened the refrigerator and was immediately shocked.

"March! Come look at this!"

March 7, who had been busy taking pictures with her Starry Sky Camera, ran over. "What is it?"

Kevin pointed inside. "Look! This fridge is huge!"

March 7 peered inside and gasped. "Whoa… this thing has a hidden storage space! It's at least 50 cubic meters!"

Himeko, Welt, and Dan Heng also happened to pass by and were equally amazed by the seemingly endless fridge capacity.

While the train crew explored, Yuri quietly communicated with his system.

"System, submit the task."

[Notification: Congratulations, Host! You have successfully opened your store!]

Rewards: Special Product Series (Elf Series unlocked), Invitation Letter for Guests from Another World x1.

A new set of tasks then appeared before him:

Task 1: Serve a total of 20 different customers.

Reward: Lottery Machine x1

Task 2: Reach a total turnover of 100,000 star coins.

Reward: Commander-Level Strength x1

Yuri smirked. This is going to be fun.

---

Yuri was just about to check the specific function of the Invitation Letter for Guests from Another World when Kevin suddenly peeked out from behind the sofa and patted him on the shoulder.

"Yuri!"

Yuri turned to see Kevin grinning, one hand on his shoulder and the other clutching the can of herring he had pulled from the scratch ticket earlier.

"Hey, Yuri, can I put something in your fridge?"

Without hesitation, Yuri nodded. "Sure, just don't put anything with a strong smell."

Kevin glanced at the can of herring. This should be fine… It doesn't smell as long as it's not opened.

With Yuri's permission, Kevin wasted no time, rushing to the fridge and placing the can into the storage space.

Then, he felt around his waist and pulled out a baseball bat.

He made a show of shoving it inside, but March 7 quickly stopped him. "Kevin, forget about the bat. Just find another place to put it."

Kevin thought for a moment and agreed. "Alright."

He looked around before propping the bat up near the door.

Meanwhile, Yuri was examining the Invitation Letter for Guests from Another World.

[Invitation Letter for Guests from Another World]

Effect: After use, you can invite a guest from another world.

The description was simple—just a single line—but that only made Yuri more curious.

Following the system's prompt, he took out the invitation and infused it with a bit of his own energy.

The next moment, the letter activated and vanished into thin air.

—

Teyvat Continent – Mondstadt, Eagle's Gate

Ying, the traveler from beyond the stars, and her floating companion, Paimon, were walking along the path, chatting.

"Ying, hurry up! We're almost at the Statue of The Seven!" Paimon called, flying ahead and waving enthusiastically.

Ying picked up her pace, keeping up with her tiny companion.

Just as they reached the top of a cliff, a strange sight appeared before them—an envelope with wings fluttering through the air, heading straight toward them.

Paimon tilted her head in confusion. "Huh? Ying, look at that! A flying letter?"

Ying raised an eyebrow and watched as the envelope gracefully landed in her hands.

Curious, she opened it.

The instant the seal was broken, a glowing portal appeared before them, startling Paimon.

"W-Wha—?! What is this?!"

Ying instinctively drew her sword, eyes locked on the mysterious portal.

Minutes passed. No one emerged from the other side.

Cautiously, Ying approached the portal, curiosity and wariness in equal measure.

"Be careful, Ying!" Paimon whispered anxiously, floating close behind.

Ying nodded and slowly extended a hand toward the light.

The moment her fingers brushed against its glow—

A sudden force pulled her in.

"Ying!" Paimon shrieked as she watched her friend disappear into the portal. She hovered in panic, fists clenched. "What do I do, what do I do?!"

With a determined huff, she dove in after her.

—

Inside Yuri's Shop

March 7 stood beside the still-glowing portal, hands on her hips. "Yuri, when's this mystery guest going to show up? It's been a while, and nothing's happening."

Kevin leaned forward, squinting at the shimmering gateway. "Yeah, this might be a dud. Maybe it's just for decoration."

Himeko, Welt, and Dan Heng were also watching with interest.

The idea of someone arriving from another world was intriguing. They wanted to see what kind of person would step through.

Yuri, unfazed, sipped his tea. "Patience. It won't take long."

As if on cue, the portal flickered.

A soft hum filled the room.

Then—

A figure shot out of the portal at high speed.

Followed by another.

Before Kevin or March 7 could react, the two newcomers collided with them, sending them both tumbling to the ground.

"Oof!"

Dazed, Ying slowly opened her eyes. Her surroundings were unfamiliar. Where am I…?

A shop? And… a starry sky beyond the windows?

Wait—

A starry sky?!

Her mind jolted into awareness. She was no longer in Teyvat!

Before she could react further, a groan beneath her caught her attention.

"Ugh… Miss, could you, uh, get off me? You're kinda crushing me here."

Ying looked down to see March 7, pinned beneath her, coughing weakly.

Eyes widening, Ying scrambled to her feet. "S-Sorry! I didn't mean to!"

She quickly helped March 7 up. "Are you alright?"

March 7 brushed herself off, shaking her head. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Just didn't expect that to happen."

Kevin groaned, pushing himself up. "Ugh, did Paimon just tackle me?!"

On the nearby sofa, Paimon lay sprawled out, tiny limbs twitching. Her head spun in dizzy circles.

Kevin turned to Ying, curiosity flashing in his eyes. "Hey, what's your name?"

Still recovering from the shock, Ying composed herself and answered, "My name is Ying. I'm a traveler."

Kevin and March 7 exchanged glances before introducing themselves.

March 7 grinned. "I'm March 7, an unknown passenger on the Astral Express!"

Kevin puffed out his chest. "And I'm Kevin, the Galaxy Batman, famous across the universe!"

Ying blinked. "...The what?"

Before Kevin could elaborate, Yuri approached.

"Welcome, Ying," he said, his tone even. "This is my shop, and as you've probably guessed, you're no longer in Teyvat."

Ying turned to face him. "You're the one who invited me here?"

Kevin clapped Yuri on the shoulder. "Yep, he's the guy!"

Ying frowned slightly at the word "invite."

Invite? Was that what that was? Because to her, it felt more like she had been forcibly teleported against her will!

If she weren't currently in his domain, she might've thrown a punch.

Yuri noticed the displeasure in her expression and quickly asked the system for clarification.

A moment later, he understood.

Ah.

So that wasn't an invitation—it was basically kidnapping.

Smiling awkwardly, he cleared his throat and continued. "Ying, I brought you here to offer you the opportunity to shop."

"Shop?" Ying narrowed her eyes. "You brought me across dimensions just to sell me something?"

Yuri remained unfazed. "I sell things from countless worlds. There's nothing you can't buy here."

Ying still looked doubtful.

Seeing her hesitation, Yuri gestured toward the bar counter. "If you don't believe me, go see for yourself. Those touchscreens list all my products."

Then he added, "Oh, and I only accept Star Coins here. But if my guess is right, you should be able to exchange Primogems for them."

That caught Ying's attention.

If this is real… If this shop really does have items from different worlds…

She could find a way to regain her strength faster.

And if she grew stronger...she could find her brother...

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 5

Ying stepped into the bar, took a seat on a high stool, and tapped the touch screen in front of her, browsing through the store's merchandise.

Yuri, watching from the side, sighed internally. He had been painstakingly copying down product details on his phone, word by word, when he first arrived. Now, with the store open, everything was conveniently displayed on the touch screen. What a waste of effort.

Back then, he had meticulously saved all the product information, only to delete it in frustration upon realizing its redundancy.

As Ying scrolled through the store's offerings, Kevin and March 7 dragged high stools next to her, curiously peering at the screen. Meanwhile, Welt and Dan Heng found spots to sit or lean against, their gazes occasionally drifting toward Ying.

Himeko, on the other hand, had found her own amusement. Sitting beside Paimon, she poked the little companion's chubby cheek with a finger, entertained by its soft, squishy texture.

Before long, Ying selected the item she had wanted.

[Unsealing Pill - Price: 2000 Star Coins]

Effect: Partially restores sealed powers.

Ying's strength had been sealed away for what felt like an eternity. If this pill worked as described, she could regain some of her lost power.

Yuri glanced at the item, then casually summoned a scale, placing it beside the touch screen.

"Do you have Primogems to exchange?" he asked.

Ying nodded and pulled out a handful from her bag.

"Put them on the scale," Yuri instructed.

Ying complied, pouring the stones onto one side of the scale until it was nearly overflowing. A few seconds later, the Primogems vanished, replaced by 23 coins with a face value of 100 Star Coins each.

Yuri handed her 2,300 Star Coins.

"Looks like the exchange rate is 1 to 10. You're getting 10 Star Coins for each of those Primogems."

March 7 furrowed her brows. "Wait, Yuri, why do the Primogems only exchange for 10, but Kevin's could get him 100?"

"Because every world is different," Yuri explained. "Some worlds are more powerful, and their resources are worth more. The rarer the item in the grand scale of the multiverse, the higher its value in Star Coins. Less significant worlds, naturally, yield less."

March 7 nodded in understanding. "Ohhh, got it...But does that mean this world that has Primogems is garbage to you or something?"

Yuri merely frowned before sighing "Not at all..."

But Ying wasn't paying attention anymore—her mind was solely on the Unsealing Pill. The past two months had been brutal. Struggling to survive in the wilderness with the strength of an ordinary person had been a nightmare. Without her martial arts training, she probably wouldn't have made it.

Yuri pointed to the coin slot beside the screen. "Tap on the item you want, confirm the payment, and insert the Star Coins here. Kevin, March 7, take note of this for future purchases."

Kevin and March 7 saluted playfully. "Got it!"

Ying dropped 20 Star Coins into the slot. A flash of light pulsed across the screen, and the pill materialized in her hand.

It was small—about the size of her pinky finger.

Dan Heng approached, offering a glass of water. "Here."

Ying took it, nodding gratefully. "Thanks."

Dan Heng simply inclined his head and stepped back. March 7 smirked. "You act all cool, Dan Heng, but deep down, you're such a softie."

Ying chuckled. "Yeah, I see that."

Kevin clapped his hands. "Alright, alright, Ying, take the pill! Let's see what it does."

Without hesitation, Ying swallowed the pill and washed it down with water.

The moment the pill reached her stomach, she straightened, her eyes widening as energy coursed through her body. A fragment of her power—just a tenth of what she once had—returned to her.

A warmth spread through her limbs, a long-forgotten strength pulsing beneath her skin. For the first time in months, she felt like herself again.

March 7 leaned in eagerly. "Well? Does it work?!"

Snapped out of her trance, Ying smiled. "Yeah, it works. My strength is coming back."

She raised a hand, and in a flash of light, her bladeless sword materialized. With a low hum, a white glow enveloped its surface.

Kevin and March 7 erupted into applause. "That's so cool!"

Feeling hopeful, Ying dug through her bag, intending to buy more pills.

Then, she froze.

She was out of Stellar Jade.

And to make matters worse, her stomach rumbled loudly.

"Guh!"

Her face turned crimson, as red as an apple.

Yuri checked the time. "Ying, are you in a hurry to be somewhere?"

Still flustered, she fanned her burning cheeks and shook her head.

Yuri smiled. "Then why don't we have lunch here?"

He turned to the group. "Everyone, I'm hosting lunch today. The store just opened, so consider this a little celebration."

Himeko stopped teasing Paimon and looked up. "Thanks for the invite, Yuri."

Welt nodded. "Much appreciated."

Yuri waved a hand dismissively. "No big deal."

Dan Heng rolled up his sleeves. "Need help?"

Pom tugged at his pant leg. "Passenger Dan Heng, you should rest! I'll assist Yuri with the cooking!"

The tiny creature marched off, retrieving a "stepping stool" from the front of the store.

Yuri chuckled. "Dan Heng, you can relax. Pom's got this."

Dan Heng didn't argue. He simply nodded, took a seat on the nearby couch, and cracked open a book.

As for Kevin and March 7? They weren't going anywhere.

"Free food? We're definitely staying!" March 7 grinned.

Yuri called over his shoulder. "Kevin, March 7, keep Ying company while I cook. Make sure she loosens up a bit. This is a store, not a battlefield. No need to be so tense."

The two nodded, turning toward Ying with mischievous grins.

Yuri stepped into the kitchen, brows furrowing in thought.

Pulling up the store's system menu, he browsed the selection, spending over 50 Star Coins on fresh ingredients. The system-priced food items were relatively cheap, making this a worthwhile investment.

Surveying the table, he pondered the menu.

Eight dishes and one soup should do the trick.

He rolled up his sleeves, smirking.

Time to put his past-life cooking skills to work.

---

Inside Yuri's shop, everyone gathered around the long table in the center, ready to eat.

"Oh my God! Ying! Can I eat now?" Paimon whined, frantically wiping drool from her mouth with a tissue.

The moment Yuri finished making the first dish, the delicious aroma overwhelmed Paimon, sending her into a frenzy. One second, her eyes were spinning in circles; the next, she was struggling to sit up like a zombie rising from the grave.

Ying quickly pulled Paimon into her arms. "No! Not yet! Everyone isn't here! We have to wait!"

Paimon groaned in agony, the food right in front of him yet still out of reach. Since being rescued by Ying, the two had spent months wandering in the wild—sleeping in the open, surviving on sunset fruits, and drinking from rivers. Now, with a feast before him, he was being told to wait? This was torture.

Finally, Yuri placed the last dish—a steaming pot of sweet corn chicken soup—on the table.

"Make some space," he said.

Welt stood up, taking the pot from Yuri and setting it down carefully. Yuri took his seat at the head of the table, rubbing his hands together.

"Why are you all staring at me? No need to stand on ceremony. Dig in!"

The moment Paimon heard the word "eat," it was like music to his ears. He wriggled free from Ying's grasp, grabbed the nearest piece of meat, and stuffed it into her mouth.

Instantly, his eyes welled with tears. "Waaah! So delicious!"

Seeing this, Yuri poured him a bowl of soup. "If you like it, eat more. But don't just eat the meat—have some soup too. It's been simmering for hours."

Paimon eagerly accepted the bowl, beaming. "Thank you, Yuri!"

Ying, watching from the side, buried her face in her hands. Paimon's table manners were an absolute disaster! Anyone would think she had been starving him!

Then, she noticed something extra in her bowl—a large chicken leg.

She looked up to see Himeko grinning. "Ying, try this. It's really good."

Just as she was about to politely refuse, Paimon's head popped up beside her.

"Ying, if you don't want it, I'll take it! Hehehe!"

Ying's polite words immediately vanished. "No way! I'm eating it! You're not getting it!"

She took a huge bite, savoring the rich flavors. Her eyes widened in delight. It was incredible.

Gradually, she started joining in on the conversation, feeling more at ease with the group.

As for Paimon… he just kept eating.

---

An hour later, everyone was full and lounging around, digesting their meal.

Paimon was curled up on the sofa, hugging a pillow, snoring softly. Kevin and March 7 were sprawled out on another couch, groaning about how much they had overeaten.

Just then, Yuri's phone buzzed. It was a message from Heita, asking for his location—he wanted to buy something.

After replying, Yuri turned to Himeko and the others. "Heita's on his way. He wants to shop."

Himeko raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Heita's coming? I was thinking we'd leave after digesting a bit, but I don't mind waiting."

"Sorry about the delay," Yuri said.

Welt took a sip of the tea Yuri had brewed. "No rush. Heita won't take long."

---

Ten minutes later, Heita stormed into the shop, scanning the room before locking onto Yuri.

"I need to buy something!" he declared, rushing over and immediately trying to snatch Yuri's phone to browse the shop menu himself.

Yuri quickly swatted away Heita's wandering hands. "Hey! Even if your body is a puppet, you can't just grab things like that! Kevin! Take Heita to the shop!"

Kevin, half-asleep on the couch, lazily lifted his head. With a sigh, he got up and led Heita to the small bar where the store's touch screen was located.

Himeko chuckled, covering her mouth. "Don't mind him, Yuri. That's just how Heita is."

Yuri sighed. "They say geniuses all have their quirks. I'm starting to think that's very true."

Straightening his clothes, he walked over to the bar.

Heita, now fully engrossed in shopping, was swiping rapidly through the store's inventory. Suddenly, something caught his eye.

[Qilin Blood - Price: 50,000 Star Coins]

Effect: Extracted from the mythical Qilin, a celestial beast with immense longevity and divine blessings.

Heita's eyes gleamed with curiosity. Could he create a clone with this?

He glanced at the "Exchange Scale" nearby. Without hesitation, he pulled out his special space-folding wallet and started unloading Stellar Jade onto the scale.

Ever since Yuri had placed the scale out earlier, he had no intention of removing it. It was there for anyone who needed to exchange currency.

Not more, not less—Heita had brought exactly 500 Stellar Jades.

The trade was swift. The moment the Star Coins were transferred, a single drop of shimmering Qilin Blood, encased in a glass vial, materialized in Heita's hand.

Without so much as a goodbye, Heita turned and dashed out of the shop.

No one even blinked. That was just how Heita was.

Paimon, however, mumbled sleepily, "What a weird guy…"

March 7 shrugged. "He's a genius. He can do whatever he wants. We're used to it."

Paimon blinked. "A genius? Like… super duper smart?"

Ying nodded. "You know Teyvat, right? That's just one planet. There are countless planets in the universe not unlike it, that host marvelous opportunities in so many different ways."

Paimon gasped. "Whoa! The universe is that big?! Then Heita must be really famous!"

March 7 smiled. "Oh, he is. He's part of the Genius Society. Every member is one of the smartest beings in the entire universe."

Paimon was now in awe. "That's insane! He must be super powerful too!"

At that moment, Pom rolled up. "Passengers, please return to your seats. The train is about to depart."

March 7 glanced around. Yuri, Himeko, and the others were already seated.

She quickly grabbed Ying and Paimon by the hands, pulling them toward an empty booth.

"Come on, let's go!"

 

[Vanbers]

Not bad, but there'd some pretty glaring issues I've noticed.

Yuri traveled to the Star Railway World and obtained the "Mall of All Worlds" system.
Through the system, Yuri can sell items from all over the world, and invite guests from other worlds to come to the Star Rail.
Every time the turnover reaches a certain amount, Ye Yun will receive a reward from the system.

Click to shrink...

In the story synopsis you refer to MC as Yuri initially, then change it to Ye Yun randomly

Ying still looked doubtful.

Seeing her hesitation, Yuri gestured toward the bar counter. "If you don't believe me, go see for yourself. Those touchscreens list all my products."

Then he added, "Oh, and I only accept Star Coins here. But if my guess is right, you should be able to exchange Primogems for them."

That caught Ying's attention.

Click to shrink...

In this chapter, he mentions the Genshin MC using Primogems instead of Stellar Jade

"Do you have any Stellar Jade?" he asked.

Ying nodded and pulled out a handful from her bag.

Click to shrink...

But here in the very next chapter, he asks her for Stellar Jade and she just has a bunch

"Looks like the exchange rate is 1 to 10. One piece of Stellar Jade equals 10 Star Coins."

March 7 furrowed her brows. "Wait, Yuri, why does this stone only exchange for 10, but Kevin's could get him 100?"

"Because every world is different," Yuri explained. "Some worlds are more powerful, and their resources are worth more. The rarer the item in the grand scale of the multiverse, the higher its value in Star Coins. Less significant worlds, naturally, yield less."

Click to shrink...

And then they say that Stellar Jade has a different value from Stellar Jade because it's from another world

"Oh my God! Ying! Can I eat now?" Paimon whined, frantically wiping drool from his mouth with a tissue.

The moment Yuri finished making the first dish, the delicious aroma overwhelmed Paimon, sending him into a frenzy. One second, his eyes were spinning in circles; the next, he was struggling to sit up like a zombie rising from the grave.

Ying quickly pulled him into her arms. "No! Not yet! Everyone isn't here! We have to wait!"

Click to shrink...

You refer to Paimon as male repeatedly

 

[CloudyWorld]

Not bad, but there'd some pretty glaring issues I've noticed.



In the story synopsis you refer to MC as Yuri initially, then change it to Ye Yun randomly



In this chapter, he mentions the Genshin MC using Primogems instead of Stellar Jade



But here in the very next chapter, he asks her for Stellar Jade and she just has a bunch



And then they say that Stellar Jade has a different value from Stellar Jade because it's from another world



You refer to Paimon as male repeatedly

Click to shrink...

Addressed and corrected the issues with Paimon and the Sypnosis, and also modified the scene between the Genshin MC and Yuri ('-')7

Appreciate the pointers!

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 6

After settling with Ying and Paimon, March 7 moved to a more open area, brimming with determination.

"Alright! This time, I'll definitely land on my feet!" she declared.

Paimon tilted her head in curiosity. "What is March doing?"

March 7 grinned. "I'm attempting the 'train jump challenge'—landing without falling. So far, I haven't succeeded."

Paimon blinked in confusion, unable to understand the appeal of such an activity.

Himeko chuckled and explained. "When the train jumps, the sudden acceleration throws the human body off balance. That's why March sees it as a challenge."

Paimon's eyes widened in realization. "Ohhh, I get it now! I'd better sit tight so I don't get thrown around."

She quickly plopped down beside Ying, gripping her hand tightly as if bracing for dear life.

Soon, Pom's voice came through the train's PA system.

"Hey, hey, hey! Attention, passengers! The train is about to change direction. Please find a seat and remain seated. Do not lean out of the windows."

The train suddenly accelerated, and Yuri felt an immense force press against his back as his vision blurred, swallowed by countless streaks of light.

A few minutes later, his sight cleared, revealing a planet blanketed in ice and snow through the window.

Yarilo VI—the first chapter of the Stellaron Crisis storyline.

Predictably, March 7 had fallen flat on her back.

"Owww! That hurt!" she groaned, rubbing her head before glancing out the window. "Is this Yarilo VI?"

At that moment, the carriage doors slid open, and Pom waddled in on her tiny legs.

"The stability rate of the star rail ahead is too low. Jump aborted. Duration of delay: indefinite."

March 7's jaw dropped. "What?! Indefinite?! You've gotta be kidding me!"

Himeko, Welt, and the others gathered around.

"As expected, it's another Stellaron issue," Himeko sighed.

At the mention of the Stellaron, Kevin instinctively touched the place where it had been implanted in his body.

Welt reassured him, "Yes, but unlike the one in your body, this Stellaron is highly unstable and disruptive. Yours is harmless."

Kevin exhaled in relief.

Himeko pulled up the train's database, scanning records of the planet below. Her brow furrowed. "The data doesn't match… Yarilo VI has changed significantly."

Then, she turned to the younger crew members. "If we resolve the Stellaron, we can resume our journey. You three should handle this yourselves—it's a good opportunity for you to gain experience."

Dan Heng, March 7, and Kevin exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.

Ying, noticing that everyone was occupied, decided to return home for now.

Recalling the coordinates in her mind, she opened a portal and stepped through it with Paimon. From now on, she could visit Yuri's shop whenever she wanted.

Meanwhile, Kevin, Dan Heng, and March 7 boarded a landing craft and descended toward the planet's surface.

Yuri, watching the icy expanse of Yarilo VI, suddenly felt the urge to explore.

"Himeko, mind lending me a landing craft?" he asked.

Himeko smirked. "Go ahead. Just don't get yourself into trouble."

---

Riding the craft, Yuri soon landed in a vast frozen wasteland.

Scattered across the ice were eerie humanoid figures—frozen solid.

Yuri approached one and pressed his fingers against it. A surge of dark-golden energy pulsed from his hand, shattering every ice statue within view.

These frozen soldiers, remnants of Imaginary corruption, would have become a major problem once the Stellaron was dealt with. Better to eliminate them now.

This was also a chance for Yuri to test his abilities in real combat.

Bracing himself against the bitter cold, he moved forward toward Belobog.

The icy wind bit at his skin, making him shiver. "System, got anything for cold resistance?"

[Notification: The host can purchase a cold-resistant gift pack or a special item from the 'Elf Series.' Recommended: Fire Elf—Rios.]

Yuri's eyes lit up. He had unlocked the 'Elf Series' through a previous quest.

Opening the system menu, he found the selection of elves—characters he recognized from an old game in his past life. The game told the story of robots searching for an infinite energy source in space.

Among them was the fire elf, Rios.

He checked the price.

[Fire Spirit: Rios (Complete Form)]
Combat Power: Half-Step Commander
Price: 200,000 Star Coins
Discounted Price: 20,000 Star Coins

A half-step commander-level combatant for just 20,000? No hesitation needed.

Yuri confirmed the purchase, and the system deducted the coins.

In a flash of flames, a magnificent reindeer with a fiery aura appeared before him.

"Hello, Yuri. It's our first meeting. Please take care of me in the future."

Yuri wasn't surprised that Rios could speak—some high-level elves possessed human-like intelligence.

He smiled. "Likewise, Rios. Let's get along."

Rios stepped forward, allowing Yuri to climb onto his back. As soon as he touched the fire-covered fur, the flames extinguished at his fingertips, preventing burns.

With Rios by his side, the snow around them melted instantly. The cold no longer bothered him.

---

Meanwhile, Kevin, Dan Heng, and March 7 had been thoroughly deceived by Sampo and were now locked in battle with Gepard, a high-ranking officer of Belobog's Silvermane Guards.

Kevin fired two rounds from the Skyfire Executioner at Gepard.

Gepard slammed his violin case against the ground, summoning a barrier. "Surrender, intruders! Your attacks are useless against me!"

March 7 scoffed. "We weren't trying to fight you, but now that you've said that, don't blame us for going all out! Dan Heng! Kevin! Let's go!"

Dan Heng tightened his grip on his Cloudpiercer spear and lunged, taking down several Silvermane soldiers in a single strike.

March 7 drew her bow and fired a charged arrow infused with destructive energy at Gepard.

Kevin, gripping the Skyfire Executioner, roared, "Skyfire—Unsheath!"

The weapon glowed brilliantly as he dashed forward, slashing at Gepard.

Gepard barely managed to deflect March 7's arrow when Kevin appeared before him, his blade descending.

The instant Gepard's violin case clashed with Skyfire Executioner, the case was cleaved in two, and Gepard was sent flying backward.

Kevin landed gracefully, wiping his nose with a smug grin. "So? Still think my attacks are ineffective?"

March 7 jogged over, eyes gleaming as she admired Kevin's weapon. "You're so lucky to have drawn that! When we get back, I'm definitely getting a weapon from Yuri's shop!"

---

Upon hearing this, Kevin pointed to a treasure chest not far away.

"Hey, isn't that some Stellar Jade over there? After we deal with these guys, let's go open the treasure chest."

March 7 immediately agreed. It seemed like Belobog had quite a few treasure chests lying around—she had already spotted several ordinary ones nearby.

Without Gepard's shield, all the Silvermane Guards were swiftly taken down by Dan Heng.

March 7 sighed, looking at Gepard. "Why won't you listen? We're not working with that guy."

Kevin patted her shoulder. "March, show him the photo. Didn't you take a picture of their planet?"

March 7 blinked, then quickly rummaged through her belongings and pulled out a photo, showing it to Gepard.

After studying it, Gepard finally realized that March 7 and her companions weren't aligned with Sampo.

He vaguely recalled reading in old records that, before the Eternal Freeze, alien visitors would occasionally come to Yarilo-VI. He hadn't expected to see one in his lifetime.

This was beyond his jurisdiction. After some thought, he decided to take them to meet the Supreme Guardian.

---

In Belobog.

Yuri had managed to "convince" a local to guide him.

"My friend, we agreed—once we reach Belobog, you'll let me go," the man whined.

In a narrow alley, a man named Sampo pleaded with Yuri.

Sampo had originally planned to head back and set up his next scheme, but halfway there, he had been grabbed and turned into an unwilling tour guide.

And worse—the person who grabbed him was terrifyingly strong. Especially that talking deer, whose power felt dangerously close to that of an Aeon's Messenger.

Yuri sighed. "Hurry up and take me to the city center."

"The Upper City's boring right now," he continued. "Cocolia's in charge. If she sees me, she might find an excuse to arrest me."

While Yuri wasn't afraid of Cocolia or the Stellaron's influence, dealing with them would be a hassle. Better to go to the Underworld first.

Sampo raised his hands in surrender. "My dear friend, the entrance to the Underworld is sealed off! I can't take you down!"

Yuri smirked and kicked Sampo lightly on the rear. "Hurry up. Don't you have a secret passage? Just take me there."

Sampo's eyes widened in shock. How does this guy know about my secret passage?!

He was certain this was Yuri's first time in Belobog, so how did he seem so familiar with him? Was he an old drinking buddy from the tavern? No, impossible—this guy didn't have the aura of someone who followed The Path of Elation.

Sampo sighed in resignation. Fine, better to take him down than get another kick.

Grumbling under his breath, he led Yuri through his secret passage.

---

Following Sampo's hidden route, Yuri successfully arrived in the Underworld.

The air was thick with the acrid scent of coal dust, making him wrinkle his nose in discomfort.

The real Underworld was far worse than he had imagined—slag piles, broken machinery, and abandoned tools littered the streets.

Yuri turned to ask Sampo for directions to Natasha's clinic, only to realize the man had already slipped away.

Great. Now what?

Yuri had planned to go straight to Natasha. As the leader of "Wildfire," she was responsible for the Underworld's resources. If anyone could help him gather enough Stellar Jade, it was her.

Left with no choice, he began asking around while searching for her clinic.

---

As he walked, Yuri suddenly felt something crash into his side.

"Oof!"

A small yelp followed, and Yuri turned to see a little girl with short golden hair sitting on the ground, rubbing her forehead.

He recognized her instantly—this was the infamous "Dark Lord" Hook.

Yuri knelt and helped her up. "You okay, Hook?"

Hook blinked. "I'm fine."

Then, she narrowed her eyes. "Wait—how do you know my name?"

Yuri chuckled. "Who doesn't know the great and powerful Lord Hook?"

Hook puffed out her chest, clearly pleased. "Hmph! Of course! You've got good eyes, recognizing me right away!"

She patted Yuri's thigh in approval—the highest place she could reach.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Yuri."

"Hmm… Alright, Yuri, what do you want?" Hook tilted her head.

"I need to find Natasha. Do you know where she is?"

At the mention of Natasha, Hook flinched.

"T-The old witch?!"

Yuri sighed. Hook really was scared of Natasha—just hearing her name made her nervous.

"Yeah, Hook. I need to talk to her. Do you know where she is?"

Hook squinted at Yuri, trying to judge whether he was trustworthy. The old witch might be scary, but she was always nice to Hook. She couldn't just bring some random stranger to her.

Noticing her hesitation, Yuri reached into his pocket and pulled out a bag of rainbow candies.

"If Lord Hook takes me to Natasha, this bag of candy is yours!"

Hook's eyes sparkled. "Candy? I don't remember seeing that kind before."

Yuri opened the package and handed her a piece. "Here, try it."

Hook hesitated for a moment, then popped the candy into her mouth.

The moment it touched her tongue, it melted instantly—its sweet and tangy flavor lighting up her expression.

"Mmm! So good!"

Yuri dangled the bag teasingly. "So, will you take me to her? Don't worry—I'm here to do business, not cause trouble."

Hook hesitated. He's still a stranger… but… but the candy is so delicious…

In the end, temptation won.

"Alright! But no funny business, got it?!" Hook declared, hugging the bag of rainbow candies like a treasure.

As they walked, she clutched the candy tightly, stopping every few steps to make sure none had fallen out.

Yuri, watching her, smiled helplessly. Guess some things are universal—kids and their love for sweets.

Opening his system shop, he browsed for a moment before purchasing a small panda-shaped backpack for 1 Star Coin.

"Here, Hook. This is for you."

Hook's eyes widened. "Whoa! This bag is so cute! Is it really for me?"

Yuri took the candies from her arms and tucked them neatly into the backpack.

"Yup. This way, you won't have to worry about dropping your candy."

He placed the backpack on her shoulders.

Hook wiggled her arms, adjusting to the weight, before swinging the bag side to side with a huge grin.

"Hehehe~ Thanks, Yuri!"

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 7

Hook sprinted through the streets, her small schoolbag bouncing on her back. Every so often, she glanced over his shoulder, urging Yuri to keep up.

After more than half an hour, they arrived at a clinic that stood out from the surrounding buildings. Unlike the dilapidated structures that lined the downtown area, this clinic at least looked intact—clean walls, sturdy frame.

Hook pushed the door open.

"Natasha! Someone's looking for you!"

Inside, Natasha was explaining some precautions to a patient. She turned at the sound of Hook's voice.

"Hook, didn't you go out to play? Why are you back so early?"

As she approached, her gaze fell on the little red panda backpack Hook was wearing. Her expression shifted slightly.

"This schoolbag…"

Hook grinned, shrugging off the bag and pulling out a rainbow candy. She held it up to Natasha with a proud smile.

"Natasha, this is for you!"

Natasha eyed the candy in her tiny hand. "Hook, where did you get these things?"

Hook pointed at Yuri, who was lingering near the door. "Hey! Yuri gave it to me! By the way, he wants to talk to you about something."

Natasha sighed and pressed the candy into Hook's mouth instead. "Hook, you eat it. I'm not in the mood for sweets."

Then, she turned toward Yuri—and the moment her eyes landed on Rios, her pupils shrank in shock.

What kind of creature was this? And why was it... on fire?

She quickly recovered, masking her surprise.

"Hello, I'm Natasha. Thank you for the schoolbag and candy for Hook. I heard you were looking for me. What's this about?"

Yuri scanned the room before speaking.

"I'm Yuri. No need to thank me—Hook earned it. She led me here, so consider it her travel fee."

Natasha let out a soft chuckle. "That's quite the generous guide fee."

She wasn't wrong. Even in the upper district, the gifts Yuri had given Hook were considered valuable.

"This toll is too expensive."

Yuri shook his head. "It's nothing. I have plenty of these little things. I came to you because I want to discuss a business deal."

Natasha glanced around. A few passersby had started paying attention to their conversation.

"Come with me. Let's talk somewhere private."

She led them inside and gently patted Hook's head as she settled onto a small stool.

"Hook, stay here and don't run off, okay? It's almost dinnertime."

Hook grinned, the candy still in her mouth. "Okay~"

Natasha then took Yuri and Rios upstairs to her office.

Once inside, she poured Yuri a glass of boiled water.

"Sorry for the simple conditions. Hope you don't mind."

Yuri waved it off. "Doesn't bother me."

Natasha got straight to the point. "So, what kind of business are we talking about?"

Yuri snapped his fingers, and several massive sacks appeared on the floor with a soft thud.

"Food. Lots of food."

He slid a finger across one of the bags, letting pristine, snow-white rice spill out. Natasha inhaled sharply. Rice of this quality was almost unheard of in the lower city.

"Mr. Yuri, how many Winter City shields are you selling this for?"

Yuri smiled. "I don't take Winter City shields. I'm not from Yarilo-IV."

Natasha barely reacted. She had received a proper education—she knew the universe was vast and full of travelers.

"Do you accept credit points? If so, I'll need some time to gather the funds."

Yuri shook his head again. "Nope. I only accept Stellar Jade."

He pulled out his phone and showed Natasha a picture of the pink gemstone.

Natasha studied the image. "We have that. People here usually use it to decorate their homes."

Yuri nodded. "Good. Take your time gathering it. I'm not in a rush."

Natasha exhaled in relief. "And what's the price?"

Yuri handed her his phone again, displaying a list of food prices.

---

[100 jin of rice - 5 star coins 100 jin of flour - 5 star coins 100 jin of corn - 5 star coins 100 jin of sweet potatoes - 5 star coins 100 jin of cabbage - 5 star coins 100 jin of apples - 5 star coins]

Natasha frowned slightly. "What's a star coin?"

"One Stellar Jade equals 100 star coins."

Her eyes widened.

These little pink stones they used for decoration were that valuable?

By that logic, a single Stellar Jade could buy 2,000 jin of rice—enough to feed the entire town of Panyan for days.

Natasha's heart pounded. "Mr. Yuri, please wait here. I'll make arrangements immediately. I'll meet you tomorrow—will that work?"

Yuri nodded and gestured toward the sacks. "Take these. They're nothing."

Natasha smiled and thanked him before hurrying off.

Yuri lingered in the office for a while before heading downstairs.

At the bottom, he spotted Rios talking to Hook. The girl was listening with wide eyes, nodding eagerly.

"Hook, come to me tomorrow. I'll teach you some fighting techniques."

Hook's face lit up. "Okay! I'll be there, Master Rios!"

Yuri blinked.

Wait. Master Rios? How long had he been gone? Had Hook already become his apprentice?

Not that Yuri doubted Rios' teaching abilities. Back in his world, even the legendary elf warrior Rey had once trained under him.

Clearing his throat, Yuri stepped forward. Hook and Rios both turned toward him.

"Let's go eat."

Hook hesitated. "Eh? We're not eating here? They're making crab tonight! I want crab!"

Yuri shook his head. He had read the game's description of rock crabs—hard shells, little meat, and a sour taste.

"Rock crabs are disgusting. I'll take you somewhere with real food."

With that, he took Hook's hand and led her out of the clinic, Rios following behind.

---

Meanwhile, in the upper district, Kevin, Dan Heng, and March 7th had just returned to the hotel from the Grand Guardian's office.

March 7th hummed a cheerful tune as she sorted through the photos she had taken that day. With the Starry Sky Camera, capturing moments had become much easier—no need to sift through pictures and print them later. Now, the results were instant and stunning.

"Hehe~ Hehe~ This one's great, and so is this one!"

As she flipped through the images, one particular photo made her freeze.

"Kevin..."

Dan Heng and Kevin both looked over.

"What's wrong?" Kevin asked.

March 7th held up the photo.

In it, Kevin was gripping a trash can lid with one hand while reaching inside the bin with the other.

Dan Heng fell silent for a moment.

Uh… what kind of hobby is this?

Kevin scratched his head sheepishly. "Hehe… Well, March, you know how I bought those two Trash Can brand scratch tickets from Yuri a few days ago? This is just—"

March 7th rolled her eyes. "Be careful, Kevin. If someone doesn't know you, they might mistake you for a beggar."

Kevin nodded quickly. "Got it. Won't happen again."

As for whether it actually would… well, that depended on Kevin's self-restraint.

Dan Heng checked the time. "Let's get some rest. We have to meet the Great Guardian tomorrow morning."

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Kevin sprang out of bed with a somersault. After washing up, he stepped into the corridor and saw March 7th and Dan Heng standing near his door.

"Morning, March, Dan Heng. What's with all the noise downstairs?"

As soon as he spoke, the sounds from the hotel lobby grew louder.

Dan Heng frowned. "Let's go check it out."

The three of them descended the stairs and were immediately met with an imposing sight. The silver-haired woman they had met yesterday—Bronya—stood at the front of a squad of Silvermane Guards, surrounding the entire hotel.

The moment they appeared, Bronya locked eyes on them.

In a cold, firm voice, she read out the arrest warrant. "You reckless troublemakers, by the order of the Great Guardian, I am here to arrest you."

March 7th sighed, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Here we go again! This happens every three worlds."

Dan Heng's eyes flicked toward the nearby Rift Channel.

"Hum hum," he coughed lightly, drawing Kevin and March 7th's attention. When they looked at him, he subtly gestured toward the boundary-breaking passage.

The moment Kevin and March 7th saw it, they understood.

Dan Heng murmured, "Observe the corners and reflect three… The King's Order… Borrow one from the city."

As soon as the words left his lips, Kevin activated the Judgment of Shamash's liberation stance.

"Skyfire! Unsheath!"

With a swing of his sword, scorching flames erupted, sweeping through the Silvermane Guards and knocking them down. Even Bronya was forced back more than ten meters by the heat wave.

Kevin didn't waste time. He sheathed his sword and ran.

By the time Bronya recovered, Kevin, Dan Heng, and March 7th had already disappeared into the Rift Channel.

Bronya's frown deepened. "All units, follow me!"

Pela hesitated, glancing at the passage. "But… Lady Bronya, that's the Rift Valley!"

Bronya's resolve didn't waver. "We cannot let criminals escape!"

With that, she led her forces into the Rift Channel.

Despite their best efforts, the Silvermane Guards were no match for the full strength of Kevin, Dan Heng, and March 7th. One by one, they fell.

Kevin turned his gaze to Bronya and Pela, then pointed his flaming sword at them.

"You two should fight together. Otherwise, it won't be fair."

Bronya and Pela tensed. These three were absurdly powerful—especially Kevin, whose sword seemed capable of incinerating anything in its path.

But there was no turning back now. Bronya and Pela charged into battle.

Watching from the shadows, Sampo was dumbfounded.

No, no, no—what's happening here? This wasn't in the script! They were supposed to be struggling, not overwhelming the future Guardian!

And that line Kevin just said—why did it sound like something a villain would say?!

Sampo knew he had to act fast before the situation spiraled out of control.

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed several specially made smoke bombs. The dense fog spread instantly, knocking out Kevin, March 7th, Dan Heng, Bronya, and Pela.

Stepping out from the shadows, Sampo smirked. "Good thing Old Sampo was keeping an eye on things."

He and his men first carried Pela back to the Silvermane Guard outpost in the upper district, ensuring she could relay a message.

Then, Sampo took Kevin, Bronya, March 7th, and Dan Heng down to the undercity.

---

Meanwhile, Yuri had taken Hook to an abandoned restaurant in Rivet Town, near Panrock Town.

Yuri stepped into the kitchen and inspected the equipment. Everything was in working order—except for the gas.

With a quick purchase from the system, he secured a gas tank and connected it to the stove.

He turned the knob, and flames flickered to life.

Outside, Rios played with Hook while keeping the Rift monsters at bay. Any creature that dared approach was instantly reduced to ash under Rios' "Fire Spreading Across the Prairie."

Given the simple conditions, Yuri decided to make a comforting meal: chicken noodle soup.

Originally, he had considered spicy hotpot, but he wasn't sure if Hook—who had likely never eaten anything rich or spicy—could handle it.

The rich aroma of simmering chicken filled the kitchen.

Not far away, a barefoot girl in a red coat rummaged through debris, searching for supplies.

"Medicine… there has to be some medicine here…"

The girl—Clara, from the Mechanical Settlement—had come to find supplies for her people. The Rift monsters had been more aggressive lately, leaving many injured, and the settlement's medicine was running low.

As she searched, Clara heard laughter nearby.

"Master Rios, run faster!"

She looked up and blinked in surprise.

"Huh? Isn't that Hook?"

She hadn't expected to run into her here.

"Hook! Hook!"

Hook, perched on Rios' shoulders, heard her name and immediately asked Rios to stop. She turned toward the voice and spotted Clara.

"Clara! My Clara!"

Hook slid off Rios and ran into Clara's arms.

Clara smiled, hugging Hook tightly. "What are you doing here, Hook?"

Hook beamed. "I came to eat delicious food! What about you?"

Clara showed the medicine in her hands. "I'm looking for medicine for the settlement. A lot of people have been hurt lately."

Hook's smile faded slightly. "Oh… Then we should help you find more!"

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 8

Hook glanced at the medicine in Clara's hands.

"I see. Hook will help you find more!"

Clara quickly waved her hands. "No, no, I can't trouble you! I can do it myself."

Hook wiped his nose with a determined look. "It's fine! You're an honorary member of the Mole Party. If one of us needs help, we all pitch in!"

Without another word, Hook began rummaging through the pile of junk, searching for medicine.

Kids who grew up in the lower city were experts at finding things.

A few minutes later, Rios glanced toward the restaurant.

"Hook, eat first. You can look for more later."

Hook popped his head out from behind a crate. "Is the food ready?"

Rios nodded. "Yes. Bring your little friend, too."

He stepped over, grabbed Hook by the collar with his mouth, and lifted him out of the pile. Clara hesitated, shaking her head.

"No, it's fine. I'll eat back at the settlement."

Rios didn't give her a choice. He scooped her up and placed her on his back alongside Hook. "Let's go. You're eating with us."

The mechas continued their search for medicine as Rios carried the two children toward the restaurant.

---

Inside, Yuri stepped out of the kitchen with a large pot of steaming chicken soup. The aroma filled the air.

"Wow, you two have a sharp nose. Just in time—I just finished cooking."

Then, he noticed Clara.

"Oh? Who's this? Have you eaten yet? Come have some fresh chicken soup."

Clara inhaled deeply, her stomach tightening at the rich scent. What was this? Even her favorite grilled crab didn't smell this good!

Rios set the children down and moved to the side to rest.

Hook, grinning, pulled Clara toward the dining table. Standing on a stool, she peered into the pot, eyes gleaming with excitement.

Yuri gently pressed her down. "Sit still. I'll serve you some. Don't fall."

He ladled steaming soup into three small bowls and placed them on the table, handing the only two chicken legs to Hook and Clara.

As for why there were only three bowls? Well, Rios didn't eat meat—no matter how strong he was, he was still a deer.

Hook eagerly took a spoonful, sipping the soup. The moment it hit her tongue, her eyes lit up.

"Wow! What kind of water is this? It's amazing!"

She gulped down more, spoonful after spoonful, until—

Cough! Cough!

She started choking.

Yuri patted her back. "Slow down. Eat some meat, too. Here, have your drumstick."

Hook nodded, grabbing the chicken leg and tearing into it hungrily.

Yuri understood. In the lower city, Hook had been lucky to carve out a path for herself. She had strength—enough to return safely from Rivet Town time and time again.

But most weren't so lucky. Many kids risked their lives searching for supplies in areas overrun by Rift monsters, all for a single meal. If they were unlucky, they never came back.

Yuri glanced at Clara. She was sitting stiffly, hesitating.

"What's your name, little one?"

Clara perked up. "Hello, big brother. I'm Clara. I'm from the Mechanical Settlement, and I'm Hook's good friend."

Yuri smiled. "No need to be so formal. Since you and Hook are friends, just call me Brother Yuri. No need to be distant."

Clara hesitated, then nodded. "Okay… Brother Yuri."

Hearing her call him that, Yuri grinned. "That's better. Now, drink your soup. No need to be polite."

Clara fidgeted. "Thank you for your kindness, but… isn't this really expensive? I shouldn't take it."

Yuri chuckled. "Nah, your brother Yuri has plenty of food. Supplies aren't a problem for me."

Clara still shook her head. "Brother Yuri, I'm not a little kid anymore. In the lower city, food is scarce. I know how valuable this is."

Yuri leaned back. "That's where you're wrong. I'm not from the lower city. If you don't believe me, ask Hook."

Clara turned to Hook, who nodded, mouth stuffed with chicken.

Clara's brows furrowed. "Then… Brother Yuri, you're from the upper city? But I heard from Mr. Swarovski that even they don't have much food."

Yuri chuckled. "Nope, not from the upper city either. I'm not even from this planet."

Clara blinked. "From… outside the planet? Mr. Swarlow mentioned something like that before…"

Yuri pushed the bowl of soup toward her. "Drink first. I'll show you something fun later."

Clara hesitated for only a moment before finally taking a sip.

Like Hook, once she tasted it, she couldn't stop.

Unlike Hook, though, Clara ate delicately, savoring every bite.

---

Now full, Hook leaned back against Rios, rubbing her stomach. "Ah~ So full~ I've never eaten this much before!"

Clara nodded. "Mm. This was delicious. Thank you, Brother Yuri."

Yuri, sitting by the door browsing the system's store, smirked. "Anytime. Come see me whenever you're hungry."

Then, he perked up. "Oh, right. I have something good for you two."

He bought two extra-long standby mobile phones from the system shop and handed them to the kids.

"Here. These are called mobile phones. They can be used for…"

And so, Yuri taught the two how to use them.

Clara picked it up quickly—she had some mechanical knowledge, after all. Hook, on the other hand, struggled. He barely grasped how to make a phone call, and within five minutes, had already forgotten.

An adult and two children lay sprawled across Rios' back, playing with their new phones and chatting.

Rios, watching the three lounging on him, lifted his head slightly. A warm flame flickered outside the door, shielding them from the bitter cold beyond.

---

Clara played with her mobile phone with great interest, especially the communication app, which delighted her.

She had even added a new friend—an older sister named "Jade."

Chatting with Jade filled Clara with joy. This kind sister told her all sorts of fascinating things about the universe—stories of major Aeons, celestial fleets, and intergalactic corporations.

Clara, in turn, shared Belobog's struggles, explaining the hardships of the lower city. To her surprise, Jade promised to help.

Clara beamed. This older sister was such a good person.

As they played, a commotion sounded at the door. Several "traffic lights" came running over on their short mechanical legs.

Seeing the mechas, Clara suddenly remembered why she had come out in the first place.

"Oh no! Clara lost track of time! I still have to find medicine for everyone in the settlement!"

Panicked, she tucked away her phone and rushed toward the door.

Yuri noticed her urgency. "Clara, don't worry. Were you looking for medicine?"

Clara bit her lip, guilt welling up as tears pricked the corners of her eyes.

Yuri's voice softened. "Why do you need medicine, Clara? What's wrong?"

Clara sniffled. "Lately, the monsters have been attacking more often. Many people in the settlement are hurt. Clara wants to find medicine to treat them."

Yuri considered her words, then a thought struck him.

The Mechanical Settlement likely had plenty of Stellar Jade, and Svarog held the most influence in the lower city.

Yuri quickly accessed his system and spent 100 star coins to purchase 10 bottles of Golden Wound Medicine.

"Here, Clara. This is Golden Wound Medicine. It's good for healing injuries."

Clara's eyes widened, and she shook her head frantically. "No, no! This is too valuable!"

No matter what Yuri said, she refused to accept it. She already felt bad enough that Brother Yuri had treated her to such delicious food. Taking medicine this precious? Impossible.

Yuri sighed, then noticed a small gemstone pinned to Clara's clothes.

"Clara, how about this—you trade me your Stellar Jade for the medicine?"

Clara unpinned the gemstone and examined it. "This?"

She had found it by chance while searching for medicine and had kept it because it looked pretty.

Yuri nodded. "That's right. Your brother Yuri deals in this business. If you have Stellar Jade, you can trade it for a lot of supplies from me."

Clara hesitated. "But… isn't this just a decoration? It's not useful for anything."

Yuri chuckled. "Most people don't know what it's for, but for me, it's very valuable."

He placed a box of medicine on top of one of the mechas. "A box of medicine like this can be exchanged for just one Stellar Jade."

Clara's eyes lit up. She had plenty of Stellar Jade back home! If this was true, then she could trade for so many supplies!

"Really? A-Are you sure Yuri?"

Yuri ruffled her hair. "Of course."

Clara beamed. "I believe you Yuri! Do you have time?! I have a lot more Stellar Jade at home!"

Yuri lifted Clara onto Rios' back, then did the same with Hook.

"Lead the way."

Three people and one deer set off for the Mechanical Settlement.

---

Far away, inside Pierpoint Company's headquarters…

Jade scrolled through her phone with a hint of amusement.

The screen displayed her chat history with a user named "Beibei Village Bunny."

"Interesting. I didn't expect a civilization to have survived for so long under star core erosion—especially one that still owes the company a debt."

Across the room, Topaz, playing with her piggy bank, perked up. "Oh? A place like that still exists?"

Beside her, Sand Dust, who had been idly shuffling chips, also showed interest. "That place owes the company a lot of money, doesn't it? And the interest isn't exactly low."

Jade smirked, her fingers gliding across the screen. "Technically, this debt is probably a lost cause. According to the company's records on Yarilo-IV, they don't have the means to pay it back."

She paused, then added, "After 700 years, the interest alone has eclipsed the original amount."

Topaz sat up. "Another chance for a solid performance, then. How about letting me handle this one?"

Jade chuckled. "You'll have to ask Diamond."

Sand Dust, however, wasn't as optimistic. "If we don't handle this right, the company will hold us accountable. Can Topaz really pull it off?"

Jade leaned back in her chair, sipping her coffee. "Don't worry. I trust her abilities. Besides, I'll be there when the time comes."

She turned toward Sand Dust. "What about you? What's your plan for the Pinocchio matter?"

Sand Dust gave a confident grin. "Don't worry, the dice have already been cast. I've got a solid plan. But… I might need to borrow something from you and Topaz."

Jade's expression sharpened slightly. She rested her chin on her hand and studied Sand Dust intently. "You realize how dangerous this is, right? You remember the oath we made when we obtained that item?"

Sand Dust swirled his glass of wine, momentarily lost in thought. "Of course. It's more important than life itself."

Jade sighed, then straightened. "Are you sure about this?"

Sand Dust raised his glass toward her with a smirk. "If you want to catch a big fish, you have to use strong bait."

Jade stirred her coffee slowly. "True. While the oath matters… the results matter more."

Sand Dust chuckled. "Then it's settled. Cheers—to King Amber!"

Jade took a slow sip of her coffee. "Yes. Everything for the Amber King."

---

Back in the Mechanical Settlement…

Under Clara's guidance, the group quickly reached their destination.

With Clara leading the way, they passed through security with ease.

In the hierarchy of the settlement, Svarog held the highest authority, followed closely by Clara.

The sight that greeted Yuri and Hook was worse than expected. Compared to Panyan Town, the Mechanical Settlement was in an even more dire state.

At least in Panyan Town, people had houses.

Here, all they had were tents.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 9

The people in the Mechanical Settlement turned to watch the newcomers with curiosity.

"Who are they?"

"No idea. Judging by their clothes, they're not from the lower city. We don't have outfits that fancy down here."

"Has the passage between the upper and lower city opened again?"

"Look at that deer—it can breathe fire!"

"Wow, that's amazing! If I had one at home, I'd never have to worry about the cold again."

"Yeah, right. With your little tent? The deer would burn it down as soon as it stepped inside."

"Hey, don't underestimate my tent!"

Ignoring the chatter, Yuri, Clara, Hook, and Rios arrived at a large metal door. A traffic-light-shaped robot stood in front, verifying visitors.

"Verification in progress... Verification complete! Clara, welcome home."

The door slid open, revealing a towering three-meter-tall humanoid robot.

"Clara, welcome home."

Clara's face lit up. "Mr. Svarog!"

She leapt down from Rios' back and ran to Svarog, holding up the medicine Yuri had sold her.

"Mr. Svarog, Clara found medicine! Everyone is saved!"

Svarog scanned the bottles before motioning for a nearby mech soldier to take them away.

"Scanning... Test complete. Medicine confirmed."

Satisfied with the results, Svarog turned his attention back to Clara. "Clara, do not go to Rivet Town. It is dangerous. You may get hurt."

Clara smiled. "It's okay, Mr. Svarog! Clara wasn't alone. I had help!"

She gestured toward Yuri and the others. "Mr. Svarog, these are Clara's good friends—Yuri and Mr. Rios."

Svarog recognized Hook, who often visited the settlement to play with Clara. But as he turned to Yuri and Rios, his sensors flared. The lens on his head glowed red.

"Danger detected! A highly powerful entity is present! Engaging protection protocol—secure Clara!"

Svarog immediately positioned himself in front of Clara, shielding her.

Clara quickly intervened. "Mr. Svarog, Yuri isn't a bad person! He sold me the medicine, and Mr. Rios protected Clara the whole way back."

Svarog's sensors dimmed as he powered down his defensive stance.

"Clara's friend. Good person."

Yuri studied Svarog, considering whether to ask about the secret of the Stellar Core, just as Kevin had in the original timeline.

Back then, Kevin and the others had gained Svarog's trust through Clara, but the moment they asked about the Stellar Core, he turned hostile.

After some thought, Yuri decided against it. Sure, he could defeat Svarog, but why bother? Fighting was exhausting.

Yuri waved dismissively. "You must be Svarog. No need to worry—I mean no harm. I just escorted Clara home and made a trade with her."

Svarog's glowing eye shifted between Clara and Yuri. "Trade? What trade?"

Yuri pulled out the Stellar Jade Clara had used to buy the medicine. "This. If you have more of these, you can trade them for supplies with me."

Svarog scanned the gemstone. "Decorative item. Worthless."

Yuri chuckled. "Maybe to you, but to me, it's valuable. If you don't believe me, try making a trade. It's not like this stuff is rare for you, right?"

Svarog processed for a moment before nodding. "Acceptable."

He sent orders to the nearby mechs to collect Stellar Jade.

Five minutes later, several mechs returned carrying a pile of gems. Clara also handed over some she had gathered before.

Yuri counted them—exactly 50.

Summoning the exchange scale, he placed all 50 pieces of Stellar Jade onto it. Within seconds, the gems vanished, replaced by a neat stack of 50 star coins, each with a value of 100.

Yuri handed them to Clara.

She stared at the coins in wonder. "What is this?"

"Star coins—the currency here," Yuri explained. "You can use them to buy supplies."

He pulled out his phone and sent Clara the same product list he had shown Natasha earlier.

A notification popped up on Clara's phone. She opened the message and gasped.

"Yuri… did you send the wrong prices? This stuff is way too cheap!"

Yuri took a glance. "Nope, that's correct."

Clara's brain reeled. This much Stellar Jade can buy so much food!

She had thrown away so many pieces before, thinking they were useless!

"I need to go back!" Clara turned to run, only for Svarog to stop her.

"Clara. Confirm the validity of the transaction first."

Clara bit her lip, nodding. "Alright. Yuri, let's trade everything for rice!"

Yuri accepted the 5,000 star coins from Clara and summoned a massive bubble filled with rice.

The bubble popped, and 500 neatly stacked bags of rice landed in the square.

Svarog walked over and inspected one. "Scanning... Test complete. High-quality rice."

Clara cheered. "Amazing! Now everyone is saved!"

Hook stared at the massive pile. "Oh my gosh! If Hook had this much rice, I could eat forever!"

Svarog signaled for the mechs to transport the rice to storage. The entire lower city would benefit from this trade.

Meanwhile, Yuri checked his task progress.

---

[Task 1: Serve 20 different customers.]
Current progress: 7/20
Reward: Lottery Machine x1


[Task 2: Accumulate 100,000 star coins in total revenue.]
Current progress: 5.8/10
Reward: Commander-Level Strength x1

---

At this rate, Task 2 should be completed by tomorrow. Natasha's purchase would likely be substantial, and Svarog would probably trade for even more supplies in the future.


It was looking great!

---

That night.

Yuri, Hook, and Rios stayed at Clara's home to rest.

Clara's house was quite nice—a small two-story building, far better than the makeshift tents most people in the settlement had to endure.

After cooking a few stir-fried dishes, Yuri ate dinner with the two kids and then went to bed.

Meanwhile, Svarog was still busy.

He had issued a new directive to the wanderers of the Mechanical Settlement: collect Stellar Jade.

In return, they could exchange it for supplies.

At first, the wanderers were skeptical. Stellar Jade had no practical use beyond looking pretty—how could it be traded for precious food?

Then, someone successfully redeemed a bag of rice.

In the tent district, a wanderer returned from Svarog's compound, struggling under the weight of a heavy bag of rice.

"No way… can we actually trade Stellar Jade for supplies?"

In an instant, chaos erupted.

The realization hit like a wildfire—Stellar Jade was valuable.

Desperate for food, the entire settlement swarmed into the wastelands, frantically searching for the gemstones.

Panic set in as people scrambled to gather as much as they could, terrified of missing out.

"Hey! That's mine! I found it first!"

"Yours? Once it's in my hands, it's mine!"

"You wanna fight over it?!"

"Bring it on! You think I'm scared of you?!"

The situation quickly spiraled out of control, with heated arguments escalating into bloody skirmishes.

To the wanderers, Stellar Jade had become hope itself—their lifeline.

And anyone who tried to take away that hope… deserved to die.

Svarog acted immediately, deploying his mech soldiers to restore order.

All fights and riots were suppressed with mechanical precision.

Only then did the settlement settle down.

The uproar was so loud that it woke Yuri, Clara, and Hook from their sleep. Now, they sat in the living room, eating instant noodles as they listened to the distant echoes of unrest.

Yuri took a bite of his noodles, then glanced at Svarog, who stood outside the house, unmoving.

"Svarog, you seem lost in thought. What's on your mind?"

Svarog turned to Yuri. "I do not understand. Why would people fight over something they can freely collect?"

His mechanical eye flickered. "If I had not issued the order to exchange Stellar Jade for supplies, they would not have rioted."

Yuri sipped his broth. "You did the right thing—but your method was flawed."

Svarog analyzed. "Explain."

Yuri leaned back. "If I were you, I'd implement a work-for-relief program."

"Instead of handing out supplies, assign jobs. Have them build infrastructure—houses, for example. Look around. Everyone here lives in tents. That's no way to survive."

Svarog's processors whirred, analyzing Yuri's words at high speed.

"Understood."

Yuri nodded approvingly. "Good. No need to rush the supply exchanges. Have your mech soldiers collect the Stellar Jade instead. If someone wants to trade, they can contact me through Clara. You understand how cell phones work, right?"

Svarog nodded. "It is in my database."

Yuri tossed his empty noodle cup into the trash and patted Svarog's cold metal arm. "I'm heading to bed. You handle the rest."

Taking Hook and Clara with him, Yuri turned in for the night.

Svarog considered the plan carefully before issuing a new directive.

The material exchange point was immediately shut down and replaced with a reward distribution system.

Now, anyone who wanted supplies had to complete assigned tasks to earn them.

The settlement's remaining wanderers—those who hadn't yet traded their Stellar Jade—reacted with disbelief.

"What?! We can't trade anymore?!"

"Are you kidding me?! You guys are usually so slow, but the moment free supplies are involved, you're all lightning fast!"

"Someone must have pissed off Boss Svarog! Why else would he shut it down? Look—there are still supplies over there!"

Several desperate wanderers rushed to a patrolling mech, trying to reason with it.

"Hey, there are still supplies! Why can't we trade?!"

The mech paused, its single red light scanning the crowd.

"New directive: Material exchanges discontinued. Work-for-relief system implemented. Gather here tomorrow for job assignments. Complete tasks to receive supplies."

Without another word, the mech continued its work.

The news crushed the remaining wanderers. Their hope had been within reach, only to be yanked away at the last second.

Muttering curses, they shuffled back to their tents, defeated.

---

Meanwhile, in Panyan Town…

Natasha was tending to March 7th, Dan Heng, Kevin, and Bronya.

After a full examination, she concluded that they had only been drugged into unconsciousness. They just needed rest.

Satisfied, she arranged for all four to be placed in a single room to recover.

Outside, she turned to Sampo, who was waiting nearby.

"Alright, tell me—who are these people?"

Sampo yawned, stretching. "They're from the lower city. Found 'em in a mine. You know me, Natasha—I'm a good guy. Couldn't just leave 'em there."

Natasha crossed her arms, staring at him with a knowing expression.

Sampo sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Fine, fine. You got me. I'll tell you the truth."

And so, he did.

When Natasha heard their true identities, her expression darkened—especially when she learned who Bronya was.

The heir to the Supreme Guardian.

If this wasn't handled carefully, the entire lower city could suffer catastrophic consequences.

Kevin, March 7th, and Dan Heng weren't as much of a problem—they were wanted criminals in the upper city, sure, but the Silvermane Guards wouldn't come down here to chase them.

The lower city had plenty of wanted fugitives. They all lived under the Underworld Fire's surveillance.

But Bronya?

This was dangerous.

Natasha exhaled slowly. "I understand. Leave them to me. I'll handle it."

Sampo gave an exaggerated bow. "Thank you Natasha! I'll be off then!"

With a cheerful wave, he disappeared.

Natasha turned to a group of nurses. "Take good care of them. Nothing can happen to these four. Understood?"

"Yes, Doctor!"

Once she was sure they were in good hands, Natasha returned to her office.

Unlike that morning, there was now a massive sack in the corner.

She opened it—inside, it was filled with Stellar Jade.

Natasha picked up a piece, inspecting it before checking her notebook.

[Current Stellar Jade count: 1,365]

Every Underworld Fire member had been sent out to collect them. Their search had turned the entire underworld upside down.

Just then, the door swung open.

Seele walked in, holding a small pouch.

"Natasha, I'm back. These are the Stellar Jade I found in Rivet Town."

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 10

Seele tossed the small bag of Stellar Jade onto the table and flopped onto the sofa beside her.

"Natasha, why are you collecting all these Stellar Jade?"

Natasha counted the pieces Seele had brought back—160 in total. Adding them to the sack from before, that made 1,525 altogether.

"You'll find out tomorrow. Just come to my place in the morning."

Seele frowned. "What's happening tomorrow?"

Natasha ignored the question and instead asked, "How was dinner tonight?"

Seele's lips curled as she licked them unconsciously.

The white rice had been delicious! Even without side dishes, she had eaten three whole bowls and was stuffed.

"It was amazing. By the way, where did you get it? And there was no limit either. Natasha, did Earth Fire suddenly strike it rich?"

Natasha picked up a piece of Stellar Jade and shook it at Seele. "If you call this rich, then yes."

"The rice you ate tonight? You could get a month's worth with just one of these."

Seele's eyes widened. "What?! This little rock is worth that much?!"

Her mind instantly raced back to all the times she had defeated monsters, opened treasure chests, and tossed aside Stellar Jade without a second thought.

Oh my god… how much food did I just throw away?!

She clutched her chest as if mourning a great loss. I wish I could go back in time and punch myself in the face for littering so carelessly!

Natasha chuckled at Seele's dramatic reaction. She knew the girl loved to eat, but to be fair, what child from the lower city didn't treasure good food?

"Tomorrow, we'll exchange all this Stellar Jade for rice. So, make sure you come early and get some rest."

Before Natasha even finished speaking, Seele had already jumped up, bolted for the door, and slammed it shut behind her.

"See you tomorrow, Natasha!"

Natasha sighed as the door wobbled from how hard it had been shut.

"That Seele… always so impatient."

---

The next day.

After breakfast, Yuri, Hook, and Clara set out for Panyan Town.

Before leaving, Yuri left a mobile phone with Svarog and added his contact information. If Svarog ever needed to buy more supplies, he could reach Yuri directly.

Panyan Town was near the entrance to Rivet Town.

Waiting at the gate were Natasha, Oleg, Seele, and a large group of Earth Fire members.

Seele was already growing restless. She had been standing there for over two hours.

"Natasha, who is this guy? He's not going to stand us up, is he?"

Natasha shook her head. "No, the mech came from Svarog yesterday. Yuri probably stayed overnight at Svarog's place, so it's taking him some time to get here."

Seele pouted. If not for the promise of trading for a massive amount of supplies, she would have left already.

More than half an hour later, three figures and one deer appeared in the distance.

Yuri waved. "Sorry for the delay, everyone."

Natasha smiled and shook her head. "No worries, we haven't been waiting long."

Seele scoffed under her breath. "Not waiting long? We've been here all morning…"

She thought she had mumbled quietly, but Yuri still heard her.

Natasha sighed. "Sorry, Yuri, Seele's just like that."

Yuri chuckled. "It's fine. Let's get to the trade."

Natasha nodded and led the way through the narrow streets and alleyways to a warehouse.

She took out the 1,525 Stellar Jade pieces they had gathered the day before.

"Yuri, how much can we get for this?"

Yuri glanced at the burlap sack full of gems, then pulled out his exchange scale. He explained how to use it and let Natasha decide what she wanted to trade for.

Seele, watching from the side, found the scale fascinating. "Hey, that thing spits out money!"

She turned to Yuri. "Hey, uh… Ye-whatever—oh, right, Yuri! Do you have another one of those scales? Sell it to me."

Yuri grinned. "Not for sale."

Seele huffed. "Oh, come on. You're a businessman, right? Name your price."

Yuri shook his head again.

Seele sighed in disappointment and wandered off to watch Natasha instead.

About ten minutes later, Natasha finalized her order.

She handed Yuri the purchase list along with 152,500 star coins.

Yuri raised a hand, and in less than a minute, the entire warehouse was filled with supplies—bags of rice, flour, and other essentials stacked high.

Natasha had to temporarily requisition several nearby buildings just to store everything.

She turned to Yuri, gratitude evident in her eyes. "Thank you, Yuri."

Yuri waved it off. "No need for thanks. Business is business."

Just then, Natasha remembered something. "Oh, Yuri, yesterday four people arrived at my clinic—three women and one man. They're also from outer space. Do you want to go see them?"

Yuri's brow lifted. That must be Kevin, March 7th, Dan Heng, and Bronya.

Judging by the timeline, they should have arrived by now.

"Oh? I'll go take a look. You keep things running here."

Natasha turned to Seele. "Seele, take Yuri to the clinic."

Seele instantly perked up. Seeing the massive amount of supplies Yuri had just delivered, her entire opinion of him had shifted.

Waiting? That was nothing.

This guy was a VIP. She had to treat him well.

"Of course! Leave it to me!"

Hook, watching from the side, whispered to Clara, "Clara, don't you think Seele is kinda… fake?"

Clara nodded. "Mhm."

Seele, oblivious to their comments, put on a polite smile and gestured to Yuri.

"Sir, right this way~"

Yuri chuckled. "Seele, just act normal."

Seele straightened up. "Fine, fine. Follow me, the clinic's this way."

---

Inside the clinic.

March 7th and Dan Heng had woken up.

Standing in the room, they discussed their next steps.

Dan Heng crossed his arms. "I want to go outside and look for clues about the Stellar Core."

March 7th nodded. "You go ahead. I'll stay here and watch over Kevin. He hasn't woken up yet."

Dan Heng glanced at Kevin, still unconscious on the bed. "Alright. I'll check around for information and stay in contact."

Just as he reached for the door handle, he heard a noise from outside.

He immediately tensed, stepping back cautiously.

The handle turned, and the door swung open.

A familiar figure appeared in the doorway.

March 7th's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yuri! What are you doing here?!"

---

Dan Heng relaxed when he saw that it was Yuri.

Yuri smiled and waved. "March, Dan Heng, how have you been these past two days? Anything interesting happen?"

March 7th groaned. "Don't even mention it! The past two days have been like Black Sunday—nonstop fighting. Either we're in a fight or on our way to one."

Dan Heng nodded. "And we still have no leads on the Stellar Core."

March 7th turned to Yuri. "What about you? Any clues?"

Yuri shook his head. "Nope, I've only been in the lower city for a day."

Of course, he knew where the Stellar Core was, but this journey was meant to be a trial for Kevin, March 7th, and Dan Heng. It was better if they figured it out themselves.

March 7th's gaze shifted to the others. "Yuri, are these your new friends? And… wait… is that deer on fire?!"

She stared at Rios, eyes wide with fascination.

Rios let out a long sigh. These humans have never seen the world.

To him, being on fire was as normal as breathing. He was a Fire Spirit, after all.

Yuri chuckled. "This is Seele, and these two kids are Hook and Clara. They're all locals from the lower city."

He gestured to the fiery deer. "And this is Rios, my spirit."

March 7th casually greeted Seele, Hook, and Clara, but her attention remained locked on Rios.

"A spirit? What's that?"

Yuri explained, "Spirits are the children of nature. They're born with the ability to control elements and possess incredible wisdom."

"Rios is a Fire Spirit—and a strong one."

March 7th's eyes sparkled with curiosity. She leaned in and whispered, "Yuri, where'd you get this spirit? I want one too!"

She looked at him expectantly.

Yuri grinned and snapped his fingers. Three glowing orbs wrapped in bubbles appeared in midair.

"These are Essence Spheres. Buying one will let you obtain a random spirit."

He pointed at them. "They come in three levels—Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. The stronger the spirit, the rarer it is."

Basic: 1,000 Star Coins
Intermediate: 10,000 Star Coins
Advanced: 100,000 Star Coins

Yuri spread his hands. "So? Want to give it a shot?"

March 7th didn't hesitate. She pulled out the 10 Stellar Jade she had earned in the past two days, exchanged them for 1,000 Star Coins, and bought a Basic Essence Sphere.

Holding the glowing orb, she turned to Yuri. "Where's the incubator? How do I hatch it?"

She assumed Yuri had one, given that he already had Rios.

But in reality, Yuri had summoned Rios directly—no incubation needed.

Checking the system store, he found that an incubator cost 5,000 Star Coins.

Without a second thought, he bought it.

A glowing device materialized in the room. Yuri gestured to it. "Here, use this."

March 7th excitedly rushed over, lifted the lid, placed the Essence Sphere inside, and pressed the power button.

A timer appeared on the screen:

10 hours remaining.

March 7th frowned. "Huh? Ten hours?!"

Yuri nodded. "Yep. The stronger the spirit, the longer the incubation time. Just be patient."

March 7th sighed and pulled up a stool. "Guess I'll just sit here and stare at it."

Dan Heng, meanwhile, turned to Yuri. "Your strength…"

Yuri grinned. "Had a breakthrough."

After completing his trade with Natasha, he had reached Commander-level strength and unlocked a new mission:

[Task 3: Accumulate 10 million Star Coins in sales.]
Reward: Peak Envoy Strength.

Ten million… yeah, not happening anytime soon.

Dan Heng didn't press further. As long as Yuri wasn't a threat, that was enough.

Yuri glanced at Kevin, still fast asleep. "How long do you think he'll be out?"

"Probably another day or two."

He turned back to Dan Heng and March 7th. "Have you eaten yet?"

Both shook their heads.

Yuri checked the time—it was almost noon.

"Then let's eat together. I'll make hot pot."

No objections there.

Hook and Clara, of course, would eat with him too.

Yuri turned to Seele. "You in?"

Seele smirked. "A free meal? Obviously."

Yuri laughed. "Alright, let's get started."

He purchased a "Jueding" Hot Pot Set from the system store and distributed tasks.

Seele washed the vegetables.
Dan Heng set up the tables and chairs.
March 7th entertained Hook and Clara.
Rios lay on the blanket, resting.
And Yuri prepared the broth.

In just 30 minutes, everyone was gathered around the table, enjoying steaming hot pot.

Seele devoured the food, her love for spicy flavors overriding her pain tolerance.

Dan Heng and March 7th also enjoyed the meal. Yuri himself had to admit—it was the best hot pot he'd ever had.

Hook and Clara had bowls of plain broth to dip their food in before eating.

Then, midway through the meal, another person joined them.

Kevin had woken up—because of the smell of hot pot.

Yuri was stunned. Did I just alter the original plot with a single meal?

Now, Kevin was happily slurping down a bowl of sweet potato noodles, eyes half-closed in bliss.

Yuri scanned the table. Wait… wasn't someone missing?

He turned to March 7th. "Didn't Natasha say there were four of you?"

(Natasha had never actually said this—Yuri only asked to cover up the fact that he already knew.)

March 7th frowned. "I dunno. When I woke up, it was just the three of us."

Dan Heng also shook his head.

Yuri rubbed his chin. Bronya must have woken up earlier and wandered off.

March 7th tilted her head. "What's wrong, Yuri?"

Yuri waved a hand. "Nothing. Let's just eat. We have work to do after this."

March 7th groaned dramatically. "Ugh, work… where is this damn Stellar Core?!"

Kevin, still munching, pointed at his chest. "It's in here! Like those cartoons!."

March 7th rolled her eyes. "Very funny."

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 11

March 7th folded her arms and stared at Kevin in silence.

"You know that's not the Stellar Core I'm talking about. Are you happy with yourself right now?"

Kevin grinned and gave her a thumbs-up. "Very."

March 7th sighed in defeat. Hopeless. Absolutely hopeless.

"Let a man be happy!" Kevin did a small dance in front of her as March 7th merely shook her head.

---

After another half hour, everyone had finished the hot pot.

March 7th stretched. "Alright, now that we're full, it's time to get to work."

Kevin shook his head. "No rush! One more thing first!"

Kevin turned to Yuri and pulled out 30 Stellar Jade. "Yuri, give me three Trash Can scratch cards!"

Without hesitation, Yuri bought three scratch cards for Kevin.

Except for March 7th, no one else had ever seen these before, and they all looked at Kevin like he had lost his mind.

Kevin, however, didn't care. He was just excited to open the legendary Trash Can scratch cards again.

Three scratch cards appeared before everyone.

Kevin examined them with profound interest, pondering which trash can to handle first.

Clara, watching from the side, was confused. "Uh...Yuri? What is uh...Kevin doing? Why is he so obsessed with those scratchers?"

Yuri hesitated. What should I even say? That this is just one of his weird habits? He decided it was best not to badmouth him in front of the others.

Instead, he turned to Rios. "Rios, take Hook and Clara outside for a bit."

Rios obediently picked up the two kids, placed them on his back, and walked out of the house.

Meanwhile, Kevin had made his choice.

"Alright! I choose you! Open up!!!"

A golden light flashed in the room.

Kevin squinted through the brightness. "Come on! Golden Legend!!!"

As the light faded, the result was revealed—another can of surströmming (fermented herring), exactly like last time.

Kevin's smile twitched. "No... Not again...!"

But he still had two more chances.

"Alright! Second one! You're up! Give me something good!!!"

Another golden flash—and this time, a durian appeared.

Kevin blinked. "Huh? What's this? Did I finally get something good?"

Yuri looked at the durian and smirked. "That's a fruit. It's nutritious and tastes great. But value-wise? I sell 10 of these for 1 Star Coin."

Kevin went stiff.

I struck out again?! The Stellar Jade he had earned from fighting monsters and opening chests—gone! Just like that!

March 7th, seeing an opportunity, put on a sly grin. "Aww, Kevin, I feel bad for you. Tell you what—I'll buy that durian from you. I'll even be generous and pay ten times its value!"

Kevin's heart shattered into a million pieces.

I spent 1,000 Star Coins... and got something worth 0.1?!

Kevin collapsed onto the floor, wailing. "Why did I do this?! My Star Coins! It hurts! It hurts so much!!!"

Seele, watching Kevin's breakdown, leaned toward Yuri and whispered, "Is he... okay? Does he have a screw loose?"

Yuri sighed. "Think of him like a gambler who just bet everything he's ever had and lost..."

Seele nodded in understanding. "Oh, like those guys at the boxing gym who bet big on beating me in a fight and then proceed to lose everything?"

"Yeah, Exactly."

At that moment, March 7th's voice cut in.

"Hey, Seele, can I borrow your scythe?"

Yuri and Seele turned to see March 7th holding up the durian with a smirk.

"This thing has spikes. I want to cut it open and see what's inside. Wanna try it together?"

Seele, intrigued, handed over her scythe. "Sure. Let's see what's inside."

March 7 placed the durian on the table and swung the scythe twice.

CRACK!

The durian split open, releasing its signature aroma.

Seele's eyes widened in horror. "Ugh! What the hell is that smell?!"

Then she noticed her scythe… coated in durian scent.

Her pupils shrank. No... not my scythe...

Seele quickly snatched it back and sniffed it.

Ugh. Ugh. UGH! IT STINKS!!!

Meanwhile, March 7th, Dan Heng, and Kevin recoiled, holding their noses.

"What is this thing?!" March 7th gagged.

Yuri, on the other hand, was unfazed. "Relax. Once you eat it, you won't mind the smell anymore."

He scooped out a piece and took a bite, chewing with a satisfied expression. "Mmm, this is good. I should buy more later."

March 7th watched in shock. "Yuri, how can you eat something that smells that bad?!"

Yuri shrugged. "Durian is like that. Smells awful, but tastes amazing. Want to try?"

March 7th shook her head furiously. "No way!"

Yuri swallowed his bite and smirked. "How about this—if you try it and don't like it, I'll give you 100 Star Coins. Deal?"

March 7th hesitated. If it's really that bad, I still get 100 Star Coins. No harm in trying...

"Alright, fine. But just a tiny bite!"

Yuri ripped off a chunk and handed it to her. "No half-measures. Eat it properly."

March 7th hesitated, then squeezed her eyes shut and took a bite.

Chewing... processing...

"Wait a minute... This is actually kinda good?"

She immediately grabbed another piece. "Yuri, gimme more!"

Yuri chuckled and passed her another chunk.

Dan Heng, seeing March 7's reaction, figured it couldn't be that bad. He took a piece and tried it as well.

"Not bad."

Seeing this, Kevin hesitated, then grabbed a piece.

"I spent 1,000 Star Coins on this. Even if it's bad, I have to eat it!"

Kevin took a bite... then another... and another.

Soon, everyone except Seele was happily eating durian.

Seele, meanwhile, was still glaring at her scythe in despair.

"It smells... it reeks! How am I supposed to use this now?!"

---

Seele returned after washing her scythe, only to find Yuri and the others happily eating durian.

Even Hook and Clara had been called back, and the two little ones were sitting on stools, munching away with satisfied smiles.

Seele wrinkled her nose at the lingering stench in the air, waving a hand in front of her face. "Ugh, how can you guys eat something that smells this bad?"

Clara broke her share of durian into two halves and handed one to Seele. "Seele, try it! It's really delicious."

Seele hesitated, glancing at the others. They all seemed to be enjoying it just fine.

Besides, she thought, I've eaten way worse things in the lower city. If they can eat this, so can I.

She took the durian from Clara's hand and popped it into her mouth.

Her eyes widened. "This fruit is so good! How can something that smells so awful taste this amazing?!"

It wasn't long before they had devoured every last bit of durian.

Kevin licked his fingers, still craving more. He turned to Yuri with pleading eyes. "Yuri, I had such terrible luck with my scratch cards today. How about treating me to some durian?"

At that, everyone except Dan Heng turned expectantly toward Yuri.

With a sigh, Yuri bought ten more durians—it only cost 1 Star Coin in total.

Seele glanced at the durians, then at her freshly cleaned scythe, and hesitated.

Should I use my scythe to cut them open again? But if I do, it'll stink, and I'll have to wash it all over…

In the end, her hunger won out over her reasoning, and she sliced open a durian with a few quick swings.

Kevin's reflexes were sharp—before Seele could react, Kevin had already snatched the whole opened durian. "Hehe, thanks, Seele! Mmm~ delicious!"

The others quickly grabbed their own durians, lining up one by one for Seele to cut them open.

Resigned, Seele swung her scythe mechanically, cracking open one durian after another.

Within seconds, everyone was happily feasting again.

Seele sat on a stool, stuffing durian into her mouth like a starved animal. Her face was smeared with fruit pulp, making her look like a cat.

March 7th swallowed her bite and, out of the corner of her eye, noticed something. "Hey, Kevin, you still have one more scratch card left."

Kevin perked up. "Oh, right!" He hurriedly finished his durian, then opened the lid of his last Trash Can scratch card.

A golden light flashed, and the trash can vanished—leaving behind a single game cartridge.

Yuri picked it up and scanned it with his system.


[Special Item: Sekiro (Hell Difficulty Edition) Game Cartridge]
Reward for Completion: Vibrating Sword Skill
(This cartridge can only be used to claim the reward once.)

Yuri raised an eyebrow. Interesting. This doesn't seem overly powerful, but the Vibrating Sword skill is no joke. Not only does it look cool, but it's also incredibly effective in combat.

"Kevin, you actually got something valuable this time. If you bought this from me, it'd cost you 3,000 Star Coins. Congrats, you made your money back."

Kevin's head shot up. "For real?! This thing is worth that much?!"

March 7, Dan Heng, and Seele leaned in curiously.

Yuri explained, "If you beat this game, you'll unlock the Vibrating Sword skill. It lets you deflect attacks without taking any damage."

"But," he added, "it has limits—it's only effective against opponents at a general's level or lower."

Kevin examined the cartridge in his hands. Deflecting attacks? Sounds cool, but...

Compared to a precise technique like Vibrating Sword, Kevin preferred raw, brute force.

He liked smashing things. Like using the Judgment of Shamash—big sword, big swings, big damage.

Then, a lightbulb went off in Kevin's head.

"Wait! I just thought of a way to make a ton of money!"

March 7th raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What's your plan?"

Kevin smirked. "Not telling!"

Before anyone could press Kevin further, He bolted out of the house with the game cartridge.

March 7th simply shrugged and went back to eating durian.

---

Outside the house.

Kevin held the game cartridge in one hand and his phone in the other, quickly typing a message.

Kevin: Silver Wolf! Silver Wolf! I got a game cartridge! You want it?

Silver Wolf: A game cartridge? Kevin, you don't usually have the kind of games I like.

Kevin: Oh, trust me, you'll like this one.

Silver Wolf: Heh. Alright, I'm listening. What's special about it?

Kevin: It's super hard!

Silver Wolf: Perfect. I love a challenge.

Kevin: It's got top-tier combat mechanics, great controls, amazing gameplay—

Silver Wolf: And? That's it?

Kevin: The best part? Beat the game, and you get a real-life skill from it.

Silver Wolf went silent for a moment before replying.

Silver Wolf: Now that's interesting. How much?

Kevin: C'mon, what's money between friends?

Silver Wolf: Kevin. Don't waste my time. Name your price.

Kevin: Fine. No credits. Give me 80,000 Stellar Jade.

Silver Wolf: Stellar Jade? I only have a few dozen. You sure you want that?

Kevin: Yep!

Silver Wolf: Alright. Opening a portal now.

A few seconds later, the space in front of Kevin distorted, and Silver Wolf's projection appeared.

"Long time no see, Kevin."

Kevin grinned, eyes locked on Silver Wolf's pocket. "Long time no see! Here's the cartridge. Now, where's my Stellar Jade?"

With a snap of her fingers, Silver Wolf made the game cartridge disappear. In its place, a small bag containing 40 Stellar Jade appeared in Kevin's hand.

"Here. If you need anything else, message me."

Before Kevin could respond, Silver Wolf's projection vanished.

Kevin tossed the Stellar Jade in his hand, looking smug.

"Heh, I'm a genius. Made 40 Stellar Jade just like that! That's four more Trash Can scratch cards, baby!"

With a spring in his step, Kevin headed back inside the clinic.

But instead of immediately spending his Stellar Jade, Kevin decided to save up. Once he had enough for ten scratch cards at once, he would do a big pull.

After a short rest, March 7, Kevin, and Dan Heng left the clinic to search for clues about the Stellar Core.

March 7th had wanted to ask Yuri for help, but he declined. He had other plans—specifically, heading back to the Astral Express to take Hook and Clara along for some fun.

---

Astral Express

"Himeko! Welt! We're here!"

Ying and Paimon stepped through a portal, and Paimon cheerfully waved at Himeko and Welt.

Himeko greeted them with a smile. "Paimon, Ying, what brings you here?"

Paimon huffed. "We came to buy stuff from Yuri! We found a bunch of Primogems yesterday and we're ready to spend!"

Himeko chuckled. "Ah, I see. Well, bad timing—Yuri isn't on the train right now."

Paimon's face fell. "Huh?! No way!"

Himeko laughed at their disappointment.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 12

As Himeko finished speaking, the door of the observation car swung open. Yuri stepped inside, followed by Hook, Clara, and Rios.

"Oh? What a coincidence. I just got back, and business is already knocking at my door."

Paimon, caught off guard by Yuri's sudden arrival, nearly choked on air.

"Yuri! You're back!"

Yuri nodded and gestured to the trio beside him. "These two little ones are Hook and Clara, and the one behind me is Rios, my elf."

He gave Hook and Clara's heads a gentle pat before turning to introduce the others. "This is Himeko and Uncle Welt!

"Hey, wait, Since when was I an uncle-" Welt couldn't finish as he was abruptly cut off.

The two next to them are Paimon and Ying! Say hello."

The children obediently greeted everyone. Welt however, muttered about how Yuri having the audacity to call him an uncle.

"So I'm an uncle...yeah...yeah..."

"Hey! Welt isn't an uncle! Welt is a grandpa!" Paimon complained.

Ignoring her complaint, Yuri casually lifted Paimon and set her down beside Hook.

"Welt is old." Yuri remarked with a smile as Welt sighed.

As everyone looked over, realization dawned—Paimon was actually shorter than Hook.

Stunned, Paimon was momentarily speechless. Then, in a huff, she fluttered to Ying's side, looking thoroughly dejected.

"Why?! Why am I so short?! Noooo!"

Seeing this, Ying fished out a bag of spicy strips and tossed it to Paimon. The moment she saw them, Paimon's mood did a complete 180. With a bright smile, she eagerly tore open the bag and started munching away.

Everyone chuckled. There was no doubt—when it came to Paimon, food was the ultimate trump card.

Yuri handed Hook and Clara over to Himeko. "Help me watch them for a bit. I need to take care of something for Ying."

Himeko smiled. "No problem. They're sweet kids."

Reassured, Yuri sat beside Ying. "So, do you still need that unsealing pill from last time?"

Ying shook her head. "Not right now. What I need is transportation—something I can rest in."

Yuri thought for a moment. "How about an off-road vehicle?"

Ying considered it. "That could work. Good space, reliable in the wild... but not exactly comfortable to live in."

"Then what about an RV?" Yuri suggested. "This one's got a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and a small storage area. The sides expand outward to add a table and awning. Solar-powered, too. Only 2,000 Stellar Jades."

It was perfect—except for one problem. Ying hesitated. She had just exchanged Stellar Jades and had only 1,420 left.

After yesterday's expedition, she had been tirelessly hunting treasure chests. If not for the unsealing pills she bought earlier, she wouldn't have gathered so many resources. But even so, she was still short.

"I should probably look at other options," she murmured, trying to hide her disappointment.

Yuri, however, caught the flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "You're short on funds, aren't you? No worries. I'll front the rest. Interest-free."

Ying's eyes lit up. "Really? That'd help a ton!"

"Of course. How much do you need?"

She laid out her remaining Stellar Jades. "All I've got—1,420."

Yuri took her savings and added another 580 from his own pocket, covering the cost. With a snap of his fingers, he summoned the RV, encased in shimmering protective bubbles.

"Wait… does this mean we're going to your place?" Ying asked, surprised.

"If you want. Others can come too, but they need my portal to enter."

Himeko and Welt exchanged glances. Welt closed his book, considering the opportunity.

"Yuri, can you take us to Ying's world?"

Yuri nodded. "Of course. You interested?"

Welt hesitated. He had long wanted to explore the unknown beyond the train, but his responsibilities kept him tethered. Now, a chance had come—one he didn't want to miss.

However, someone had to stay behind to watch the train.

Sensing his dilemma, Himeko smirked. "Welt, you should go. I'll stay here."

Welt shook his head. "No, you go. I'll stay."

Before the debate could continue, Yuri interrupted. "You're both going. I've got someone to watch the train."

He turned to Rios, who stood by the window, gazing at the endless sea of stars. "Rios, I'm leaving the train to you."

Rios turned around with an expression that radiated confidence. "No problem. Leave it to me."

Himeko raised an eyebrow. "Wait…Rios..?"

She had been so focused on Hook and Clara earlier that she hadn't given much thought to Yuri's so-called 'elf.' But now that she really looked, something felt… off.

Yuri confirmed it with a knowing smile. "The power that Rios has is....incredible to say the least. Don't worry." Yuri held a confident expression on his face.

"I'll trust your judgment on that." Himeko responded back with a smile.

And then another realization struck her.

"Yuri, How strong are you really?"

Yuri looked at Himeko briefly before a larger smile took over.

"Strong enough!"

Himeko's eyes narrowed slightly.

"If you say so." Himeko could not wash off the curiosity of knowing just what power Yuri truly possessed.

However, Himeko did not intend to ask more questions.

After all, who on this train doesn't have a secret?

"Alright everyone! Let's get to work!" Yuri shouted out.

Yuri snapped his fingers, and a portal appeared. "Come on, everyone, let's go check out Ying's world."

With that, they stepped through the portal.

---

In Teyvat, outside Mondstadt, near Starfall Lake and Starsnatch Cliff.

Yuri and the others had arrived.

The two little ones, Hook and Clara, gasped in awe at the vibrant landscape.

"Wow! This place is so beautiful! Hook loves it!"

"Clara likes it too!"

Welt crouched beside a bush, captivated by a Wind Crystal Butterfly fluttering nearby. The glowing, star-like specks trailing its wings fascinated him.

Himeko and Yuri followed the two children, chatting and keeping an eye on them.

Meanwhile, Ying and Paimon were busy inspecting their newly purchased off-road RV.

Excited, Ying threw open the door. Inside, a cozy setup greeted her: a four-seater booth right across from the entrance, a compact four-square-meter bathroom to the right, and spacious bunk beds further in. The beds, all large, sat beside one-way glass windows that flooded the RV with natural light.

To the left of the door, a small kitchen counter with a gas stove was neatly arranged. Opposite the counter was a six-square-meter storage space. At the farthest end, the driver's cab awaited.

Paimon flopped onto the upper bunk with a delighted sigh. "Wow! Ying! This bed is sooo comfy!"

Ying smiled with satisfaction. She had worked hard for this, gathering enough Stellar Jade to buy the RV herself. From now on, this vehicle would accompany her on her journey across Teyvat to find her brother.

Feeling triumphant, she hopped into the driver's seat and honked the horn, catching the attention of Himeko and the others outside.

With a grin, she rolled down the window and called out, "Everyone, get in! We're heading out!"

Clara and Hook, their hands full of freshly picked flowers, sprinted toward the RV. Himeko and Yuri followed behind them.

Welt, meanwhile, gently placed a Wind Crystal Butterfly into a glass bottle before hurrying to join them.

Once everyone was inside, Ying shut the door. "Attention, passengers! The Voyager is about to depart. Please hold on tight!"

Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Ying, do you even have a driver's license?"

Silence.

Ying quickly looked away. "Of course, I do! It's just... not on me right now. Sit tight, I'm driving!"

Yuri smirked. "It's okay, Ying. It's not shameful to admit we don't have a—"

"YURI!!! DIE!!!"

Laughter filled the RV.

Moments later, Ying started the engine and hit the road, heading toward Mondstadt.

---

On a distant hill, a lone figure observed the scene. Barbatos—Mondstadt's Anemo Archon, known to many as Venti—watched the strange moving contraption speeding along the dirt path.

"Interesting," he mused, sipping his drink. "That thing moves pretty fast."

With a chuckle, his form dissipated into the wind, chasing after the RV.

---

The drive took over an hour, eventually stopping near a lake. Paimon pointed at a towering statue in the distance.

"That's the Statue of The Seven! There are seven nations in Teyvat, and each has a god. The statues are carved in their likeness. This one represents Mondstadt's god, Barbatos, who rules over the wind."

Ying's eyes gleamed. "Should we check it out? I heard praying to the statue brings good luck!"

Curious, everyone agreed.

Ying approached the lake and prepared to jump in.

Yuri grabbed her arm. "Wait. Are you seriously about to swim all that way?"

Ying looked at the distance. "Yeah? What's wrong?"

"No need to swim. I'll fly us over."

With a flick of his wrist, Yuri channeled his power, lifting everyone into the air and guiding them toward the island.

Hook, delighted, flapped her arms like wings. "Hook can fly! Fly! Fly! Fly!"

Soon, they landed beside the statue. Under Paimon's guidance, Ying activated it, gaining the power of Anemo. Yuri, Welt, and Himeko tried the same but felt nothing.

It seemed this power was exclusive to Ying.

Instead of excitement, Ying rubbed her chin and stared at the statue, deep in thought.

Yuri nudged her. "What's on your mind?"

Ying blinked. "I was wondering… could I sell a piece of this statue for Stellar Jade? It looks valuable."

Yuri nearly choked. The others stared at her, dumbfounded.

In the shadows, Venti's eyes widened in horror.


SHE WANTS TO TEAR DOWN MY STATUE?!

Before Ying could act, Yuri quickly pulled her away.

"Maybe next time! haha!" Yuri awkwardly moved Ying away.

If she actually damaged the statue, the consequences could be severe.

Venti sighed in relief.

---

Back in the RV, the journey continued. Yuri leaned against the window, watching the scenery pass by while snacking on a freshly picked Sunsettia.

Along the way, the group encountered Amber in the Whispering Woods. After getting acquainted, she eagerly hopped into the RV to join them.

Together, they also cleared out a few Hilichurl camps, making the road safer.

After two more hours, they finally reached the bridge outside Mondstadt.

Something had puzzled Yuri during all this time...

According to the original events, Ying should have met Venti and Dvalin before meeting Amber. But that hadn't happened.

Why?

Unknown to him, Venti had deliberately led Dvalin away. He had sensed something unusual about Yuri, Welt, and Himeko. These weren't ordinary travelers. If they encountered Dvalin now, they might actually kill him.

For the sake of his old friend's life, Venti had taken action early.

He sighed, watching the RV roll toward Mondstadt.

"Tsk, tsk, I really work too hard."

 

[Vanbers]

Looking good, but just noticed that Chapter 5 isn't threadmarked

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 13

After getting out of the RV, Amber asked everyone to wait while she went to speak with the Knights of Favonius at the city gate.

Himeko checked the time and sighed. "Ying, you guys go ahead. We have to return. We've played long enough this time."

Welt nodded in agreement. "That's right. We'll head back first. We'll return when we have time."

Yuri glanced up at the sky. It was almost dusk in Teyvat, yet when they had first arrived, it had been noon. Time flowed differently between worlds.

He then looked down at Hook and Clara. The two little ones were barely standing, yawning every few seconds. They had spent the entire day playing, even running around inside the RV.

Yuri ruffled their hair. "Ying, we'll pass on going into the city. These two need rest. We'll visit again later."

Paimon pouted. "Ah? But we're already at the city gate!"

Yuri chuckled. "It doesn't matter. As long as you're in Teyvat, we can return anytime. It's just a portal away."

Paimon wanted to convince him to stay, but Ying spoke first. "No problem! Once I'm settled, I'll invite everyone over for dinner!"

Himeko smiled. "Alright, then I'll look forward to that feast."

Ying pounded her chest confidently. "No problem!"

With that, Yuri, Himeko, Welt, Hook, and Clara stepped into the portal, vanishing from Teyvat.

Paimon sighed. "Ying, why didn't you try harder to keep them here? I wanted to have dinner with everyone!"

Ying shrugged. "They had a long day. Didn't you see how exhausted Hook and Clara were?"

Paimon blinked, finally realizing. "Oh... right. Okay, that makes sense."

Amber returned at that moment. "Ying, Paimon, I've arranged for a place for your 'RV.' Huh? Where did Yuri and the others go?"

Paimon answered, "They went back to rest!"

Amber was confused. "Back? Where? Aren't they travelers like you?"

Ying shook her head. "They are, but they're not from this world. They went back to their own world."

Amber's eyes widened. "WHAT?! They're from another world?!"

Ying chuckled. "Yeah, it's a long story. I'll explain as we walk. Let's get into the city first."

Amber, still shocked, led them into Mondstadt as Ying explained.

---

As they walked, they soon arrived at the main square. Amber handed Ying her promised gift—the Wings of Wind.

Excited, Ying was about to test them out when suddenly, the sky darkened. The wind howled, and thunder crackled across the sky.

"RUN! IT'S THE WIND DRAGON!"

A voice cried out as the citizens panicked and fled.

A deafening roar echoed through the sky, and Ying's eyes widened as she saw Teyvat's legendary dragon—Dvalin—soaring above.

"Ying! This way!" Amber shouted, pulling her toward shelter.

But before they could reach safety, a powerful tornado formed beneath Ying, lifting her into the air.

Hidden nearby, Venti was about to intervene when he saw Ying react.

She didn't panic. Instead, she activated her system's interface.

Emergency Exit Activated—Portal Opened!

A shimmering gate appeared before her, and she jumped in without hesitation.

Venti froze.

"WAIT, WHAT?! SHE JUST LEFT?!"

Paimon, watching from below, let out a sigh of relief. "Amber, let's run for now. Ying's fine."

Amber was confused. "What do you mean? She just got swept away!"

Paimon explained, "She opened a portal and ran straight to Yuri's world."

Amber blinked. "Oh… Right. She did mention she could do that."

---

Inside Yuri's Shop

Yuri, Himeko, Welt, Hook, and Clara were gathered around a long table, enjoying dinner prepared by Pom.

Everyone had a juicy steak, and the table was lined with various vegetable dishes.

Suddenly, a portal burst open in front of them, and Ying flew out—face first.

"Oof!"

Yuri smirked. "Ying, why are you always face-planting? Does your face hurt?"

Ying sat up, rubbing her cheek. "What do you think?!"

Himeko noticed her messy state. "Ying, what happened? Trouble?"

Still catching her breath, Ying quickly explained the situation.

Welt's eyes gleamed. "A dragon, huh?"

Ying wiped her face with a towel Pom handed her. "Yeah. A big dragon. Pretty terrifying."

Welt's excitement grew. He had always wanted to study Teyvat's creatures.

Yuri stood up, stretching. "Well, guess I'll tag along. Otherwise, you'll be stuck here for a while."

Before Welt could say he wanted to go too, Yuri snapped his fingers, reopening the portal, and pulled Ying through.

Welt sighed as the portal closed. "I wanted to go too."

Himeko chuckled. "Next time, speak faster."

Welt shook his head and resumed eating.

---

Above Mondstadt

Venti was leading Dvalin away when suddenly, another portal tore open in the sky.

Yuri and Ying stepped out.

Venti's eyes widened. Oh, come on! Another one?!

From below, Paimon and Amber saw them.

"Amber, look! Ying's back! And Yuri's with her!"

In the sky

Yuri crossed his arms as he studied Dvalin. "Big guy."

Ying rolled her eyes. "He's a dragon. Dragons are big in any world."

Yuri smirked. "Size doesn't matter."

He raised his hand toward Dvalin, and instantly, the air cracked with energy.

System Notification: Forbidden Skill Activated—Abyss Chains!

A surge of dark golden energy erupted from Yuri's body. Chains materialized and shot toward Dvalin at breakneck speed.

The dragon roared in defiance, but the chains coiled around his limbs before he could react.

Dvalin thrashed, flapping his mighty wings, attempting to break free.

Yuri's smirk widened. "Struggle all you want. It won't help. TIGHTEN!"

The chains glowed ominously and constricted, immobilizing Dvalin midair.

The dragon let out a furious, sky-shaking roar.

Ying felt the raw power emanating from Yuri and shivered slightly.

Even Venti, hidden nearby, felt a chill.

This guy… is terrifying.

Yuri pulled on the chains, yanking Dvalin closer. "Time to calm you down."

Dvalin's resistance grew desperate. The sky darkened further, winds howling in protest. Lightning crackled in the storm clouds above.

But Yuri didn't waver. He instead focused his power within and grasped the very essence of Dvalin and brought it down!

"You're mine!"

Yuri dragged Dvalin down to the ground as it was left chained down and unable to offer any further resistance.

Yuri breathed a sigh of relief before simply stating:

"Easy as pie."

---

Ying looked at Dvalin, who was bound tightly in Yuri's dark golden chains, and felt an odd sense of déjà vu.

She had seen this before. But where?

Then it hit her.

Her expression froze as the memory resurfaced—the moment when she had been sealed away, just like this. Powerless. Helpless.

A chill ran down her spine as she averted her gaze. The more she looked at Dvalin's restrained form, the more it reminded her of herself back then.

Meanwhile, Yuri studied Dvalin with curiosity. It was his first time seeing a dragon up close, and despite its Western design, a dragon was still a dragon.

Then, a voice whispered in his ear.

"My friend, please spare Dvalin."

A second later, Venti materialized before them.

Venti's mood was in shambles. Moments ago, he had been relieved that Yuri and the others had left, believing he could continue orchestrating events behind the scenes.

Then, Ying had used her portal to bring Yuri back. And just in time for Dvalin's attack on Mondstadt.

Not only was his carefully laid-out plan in ruins, but now Dvalin was completely captured.

Ying frowned at Venti. "Who are you? Do you think we'll just let him go because you asked?"

Venti sighed. He knew that unless he revealed the truth, retrieving Dvalin would be impossible.

"My name is Barbatos, the ruler of Mondstadt. You can also call me Venti."

Ying eyed him skeptically. "You expect me to believe you're the God of Wind?"

To her, gods should be grand and majestic—not a carefree bard.

Yuri, however, studied Venti and smirked. "Ying, I think he's telling the truth. I can sense a vast wind energy inside him."

Ying looked between Yuri and Venti, her disbelief wavering. "No way… You're Mondstadt's god? Why do you seem so... normal?"

Venti smiled, but before he could reply, he turned to Yuri with a pleading expression. "My friend, please release Dvalin. He's only like this because the Abyss has corrupted him."

Yuri was about to agree—he didn't have a particular reason to keep the dragon bound—but Ying interrupted.

"Just because you're the God of Wind, we have to listen to you? Not happening—unless you agree to two conditions."

Yuri raised an eyebrow. "What are you scheming?"

Ying smirked. "Don't worry about it. I'm securing us a good deal."

Venti, knowing he had no other choice, sighed. "Alright. I'll agree to what's within my power."

Ying grinned. "Great! First, have you seen my brother? He looks like me—golden hair, similar clothes."

Venti feigned ignorance. "Your brother? I was asleep for a long time and only woke up recently. You can ask around Mondstadt, but it's been ages since they last saw me."

Ying deflated slightly. "Figures."

She quickly moved to her second demand. "Second, if you want us to release—uh, I mean, free—the dragon, you need to pay a ransom. A few thousand Stellar Jades should do."

Venti laughed awkwardly. "I just woke up. I don't have any Stellar Jades."

Ying's face darkened. "You're a god! You rule Mondstadt! How do you not have treasure?!"

"Mondstadt is a city of freedom. I don't interfere with the people's decisions. They live as they please," Ventiexplained.

Ying was speechless. This really wasn't what she expected from a god.

Yuri chuckled. "Never mind, Venti. You can take him."

With a flick of his wrist, the dark golden chains unraveled, releasing Dvalin.

Venti quickly used his power to steady the dragon before he could cause further chaos.

"Thank you, Yuri. If you ever need help, just call."

Yuri smirked. "I don't need help. But how about giving me all the wine buried in Windrise?"

Ventis eyes widened in horror. "How do you know about that?!"

Yuri only grinned. "That's not important. What matters is—are you giving it up or not?"

After a moment of agony, Venti reluctantly agreed, summoning the hidden wine stash. He was visibly heartbroken as he handed it over.

With his beloved wine gone and his script in tatters, Venti took off with Dvalin, flying away into the Mondstadt skies.

Inside, he wept.

My wine! My beautiful wine! You left me just like that! This pain…!

---

With the situation resolved, Yuri bid farewell to Ying and returned to the train.

He hadn't even finished his meal before rushing here—now it was time to get back to eating.

Upon arrival, Pom greeted him cheerfully. "Yuri, you're back, huh? I'll warm up your food, huh. Just wait a moment, huh."

---

Meanwhile, in Mondstadt…

Ying successfully landed in the town square using the Wings of Wind. Paimon and Amber rushed to greet her.

"Ying! Are you okay?" Paimon asked worriedly.

Ying smiled. "I'm fine. What about you? Are you hurt?"

Paimon shook her head. "Nope! By the way, I saw Yuri earlier. Where'd he go?"

"He went back to eat. Speaking of which, I'm starving. Let's get some food."

Amber sighed. "That might be a problem. After Dvalin's attack, most of the shops have closed."

Just as they were worrying about it, a smooth voice interrupted.

"My friends, if you don't mind, you're welcome to have a meal with the Knights of Favonius."

Amber turned toward the newcomer. "Kaeya!"

Kaeya nodded in greeting before turning to Ying. "Hello, I'm Kaeya, Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius."

Paimon waved. "Nice to meet you! I'm Paimon, and this is Ying. We're travelers. Can we really eat at your place? 'Cause, uh, I'm starving."

Kaeya chuckled. "Of course. After all, you helped Mondstadt against Dvalin. It's only fair we treat you. Let's go."

Paimon cheered. "Yes! Finally, food!"

---

More than ten minutes later, they arrived at the Knights' headquarters for dinner. The four of them ate while chatting, enjoying the moment.

Not long after, footsteps approached.

Jean, Acting Grand Master of the Knights, and Lisa, the librarian, entered the dining area.

Jean stepped forward with a composed expression. "Ying, I'm Jean, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. Thank you for your help in protecting Mondstadt."

Ying shook her head. "It wasn't really me—it was all thanks to Yuri."

Lisa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smirked. "Oh? So that handsome man's name is Yuri?...Promising..."

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 14

Lisa then asked, "Where is Mr. Yuri? Why isn't he with you?"

Paimon, would answer first, "He went back."

Lisa tilted her head. "Went back?"

With a sigh, Ying explained Yuri's situation again to Lisa and the others.

As they listened, Kaeya raised an eyebrow in surprise. The ability to cross worlds at will? What kind of power did that require?

"Is that really possible?" he mused aloud.

Jean, however, was intrigued by something else—Ying's mention of Yuri's shop, where one could use Stellar Jade to buy items from across the multiverse. Though this was her first time hearing the term myriad heavens and myriad worlds, the concept was easy to grasp.

"Ying, I have a request to make," Jean said.

Ying turned to her. "What is it, Captain Jean?"

Jean nodded seriously. "I'd like you to invite Mr. Yuri to Mondstadt. We'd like to buy something from his shop."

Ying thought about it for a moment. "I can ask him, but not today. He's probably resting. Let's wait until tomorrow."

Lisa smiled. "No rush. But speaking of tonight, do you have a place to stay?"

Paimon crossed her arms proudly. "Hehe~ We've got a place! We bought an RV from Yuri! It's both a vehicle and a home!"

Lisa, Kaeya, and the others were immediately curious.

"A vehicle and a home you say? Lisa remarked.

"An RV? Ying, can we see it?" Kaeya asked.

Ying nodded. "Of course! We parked it at the city gate—"

She froze.

The city gate.

Her RV was parked outside.

In the open.

And Mondstadt had just suffered a dragon attack.

Hiss...

"Oh no!!!" Ying slammed the table, grabbed Paimon, and bolted out of the room. "MY RV!!!"

"Wait! Ying!" Kaeya and the others quickly followed.

Reaching the edge of the Knights' headquarters, Ying didn't hesitate—she spread her Wings of Wind and soared toward the city gate.

---

More than ten minutes later, Ying landed near the gate and spotted her RV immediately.

She took one look and went completely still.

Her brand-new RV was completely wrecked.

Holes riddled the exterior. The windows were shattered. Mud and debris filled the inside.

Ying clutched her head. "MY RV!!!"

Paimon stared, dazed. "No... We just bought it..."

Jean and the others arrived shortly after, stopping in their tracks at the sight.

Jean turned to Amber. "Is this the vehicle?"

Amber nodded hesitantly. "Yes… But it looked so nice before. Now...I don't even know what to say..."

Ying collapsed into a corner, hugging her knees. Her voice was eerily hollow. "My RV... my RV... Haha. The RV is gone. And I still owe a foreign debt. Haha... Hahaha… HAHAHAHA!"

Paimon frantically shook her shoulders. "Ying! Get a hold of yourself!"

Jean and Lisa exchanged glances. With a small nod from Lisa, Jean turned back to Ying.

"Ying, how much did your RV cost? The Knights of Favonius will replace it. You suffered this loss in Mondstadt, and you helped protect us. It's only fair we help you."

Ying, still staring blankly, slowly stood and leaned against the city wall. "It's fine. It wasn't that expensive. You don't need to pay for it."

Lisa shook her head. "That won't do, Ying. We should compensate you."

Kaeya smirked. "That's right. Just tell us the cost, and we'll handle it."

Ying sighed. "It's not a matter of Mora. Yuri only accepts Stellar Jade—currency exchanged from raw stones."

Jean nodded. "How many raw stones does it cost?"

Ying muttered, "Just 200 Stellar Jades… I can get them myself. I'm a traveler. There's no way I can't afford a new RV. Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Paimon! We're going gem hunting tomorrow!"

It was a classic protagonist moment—despair flipped into fiery determination in an instant.

Jean and the others were about to persuade her further when Lisa gently placed a hand on Jean's shoulder.

"Let me handle this, Jean."

Jean trusted Lisa completely. "Alright. Let me know if you need anything."

Lisa turned to Kaeya and Amber. "Looks like I'll need the help of our Cavalry Captain and Scout Knight."

Kaeya groaned. "Overtime? Again? I was planning on heading to Diluc's tavern after work…"

Amber, ever diligent, scolded him. "Kaeya! You drink all the time!"

That night, Jean arranged a temporary place for Ying and Paimon to stay.

---

Belobog—Lower Town

---

The next morning came quickly.

After breakfast, Yuri, Hook, and Clara boarded a landing craft bound for Belobog.

This time, instead of using their previous landing point, Yuri directed the craft toward a vast, frozen wasteland.

Through the window, he spotted a newly dug passage leading underground. At the entrance, Svarog stood waiting, flanked by a squad of mechs.

That's right.

Svarog had ordered his mechs to excavate this passage overnight, giving Yuri a direct route into the Underworld—no need to use Sampo's secret passage anymore.

As soon as the craft landed, Clara ran ahead with excitement.

"Svarog!" she called out, sprinting toward him with unbundled joy.

Svarog knelt down, catching her in his metallic arms. "Welcome home, Clara."

Yuri stepped out, holding Hook, and smirked. "Oh? Svarog, did you personally come to welcome me? I feel honored."

A red light flickered on Svarog's head. "You are an honored guest. It is proper human etiquette to extend a formal greeting. Additionally, today, Clara returns home."

Yuri chuckled. "Ah, so the real reason is the latter, huh?"

Svarog remained silent, but the slight pause in his response was enough confirmation.

Yuri waved his hand. "Alright, alright, enough chit-chat. You might be a robot, but we're freezing out here. Let's talk inside."

With that, Yuri strode into the underground passage, A smiling Hook still in his arms.

The tunnel was hastily built, with minimal reinforcement and no installed lighting. Thankfully, Svarog's mechs activated their internal floodlights, illuminating the way forward.

After ten minutes of walking, they emerged into the Underworld—right in front of Clara's house.

The moment Yuri opened the door, he was met with a surprising sight.

"March? Dan Heng? Natasha? Seele? What are you all doing here?"

Svarog answered. "They requested a trade with you. I permitted them to wait inside."

Without hesitation, Yuri accessed his system shop ready to assist

Natasha nodded. "I need mining equipment. Do you have any?"

Yuri thought for a moment, then pulled out his phone. He quickly transferred the product data from his system and handed the device to Natasha.

"Take a look. See if anything interests you."

As Natasha browsed, Yuri frowned slightly.

This setup wasn't ideal—scrolling through products on a phone wasn't an efficient way to shop. Customers needed detailed descriptions, demonstrations, and visuals.

It'd be better if they could just visit the store directly...

With that thought, Yuri mentally contacted his system in that moment.

System, is there a way to let these people visit my store?

[Notice: The host can purchase a Store Portal. Once placed, it will remain fixed at a chosen location. Entry requires the host's approval.]

Yuri quickly navigated to the system shop.

[Item: Store Portal]

Function: Allows direct access to the host's shop.

Price: 1,000 Stellar Jades.

Without hesitation, Yuri purchased the portal.

The Astral Express wouldn't stay in Belobog forever—this portal would allow Natasha and the others to access his store anytime.

He placed the portal inside Clara's home, the safest location in the Underworld. With Svarog watching over it, there was no risk of tampering.

March 7th curiously poked the strange doorway. "Yuri, what's this?"

Yuri smirked. "A direct entrance to my shop. Try it."

March 7th eagerly pushed the door open—only to see pitch-black void on the other side.

She frowned. "Uh… I think your portal is broken? This does not seem uh...normal...?"

A system prompt appeared in Yuri's mind.

[March 7th has requested entry to the shop. Approve?]

Yuri mentally confirmed, and instantly, the scene within the portal changed—revealing his store interior.

March 7th blinked in disbelief. "Whoa… It actually works!"

From inside the shop, Himeko looked up from her book, her eyes widening. "Is that March?"

March 7th's face lit up. "Himeko!"

Without hesitation, she dashed through the portal, vanishing into the shop.

As soon as she entered, the doorway turned pitch-black again.

Dan Heng, intrigued, turned to Yuri. "How does it work?"

Yuri explained. "The portal only functions for those I approve. If I don't allow entry, all you'll see is darkness."

Dan Heng nodded. "I see..."

He then stepped forward and placed his hand on the door.

A system prompt appeared again. [Dan Heng has requested entry. Approve?]

Yuri confirmed, and the darkness shifted—revealing the store once more.

Without hesitation, Dan Heng stepped through.

Yuri then realized something.

If I have to approve every single request, that'll get annoying real fast...

"It would be real nice if you know...this could possibly get...fixed...?" Yuri said with a smile.

The system seemed to read his thoughts immediately after.

[Notice: The host can designate 'Free Travel' users. These individuals can use the Store Portal at any time without needing approval.]

Yuri smirked. Now we're talking.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 15

Yuri designated all the train crew members—Natasha, Seele, and Svarog—as free-travel personnel.

As he finished, Natasha walked over and handed Yuri his phone.

"Yuri, do you have any other mining equipment here? I'd like to take a look."

Yuri smiled.

"Perfect timing. I just finished setting up this portal. Let's head to my shop—it's much more convenient to browse there."

With that, he opened the door and stepped inside, the two little ones following close behind.

Svarog, after unsuccessfully analyzing the portal, hesitated for a moment before stepping through. Seeing this, Natasha and Seele exchanged glances before reluctantly following.

When they emerged on the other side, they found themselves inside Yuri's shop.

Natasha and Seele took in their surroundings, glancing around the shop with interest.

Seele whistled, impressed.

"Yuri, your shop looks fancy. Must've cost a fortune, huh?"

Yuri raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe. Why don't you put away that sickle? If you scratch anything, you'll have to pay for it you know..."

Seele immediately tucked away her weapon, looking sheepish.

Yuri turned his attention to Natasha and gestured toward a touchscreen beside the bar.

"Come on, let's check out the inventory over there."

He led her to the counter and had her sit down, patiently walking her through how to use the system. After a few tries, Natasha got the hang of it and started browsing.

Yuri poured two drinks—one for himself and one for her. Just then, Paimon popped up beside them, plopping down with an expectant look.

"Yuri, get me a cup too! I want grape flavor!" she chirped, holding out an empty glass.

Yuri blinked in surprise.

"Why are you here? Where's Ying?"

Paimon pointed at where the traveler was

"Over there."

Yuri nodded slightly. If he remembered the original storyline correctly, wasn't Ying supposed to be clearing out the Four Winds Temple with Jean and the others today?

"Why'd you come here instead?"

Paimon took a sip of her grape juice, kicking her feet.

"Captain Jean sent us. She wants to see you."

Yuri frowned slightly.

"Jean? The acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius?"

"Yep! Are you free? Wanna come with us?"

Yuri considered for a moment.

"Give me a little time. I have a customer to finish up with first."

"Okay~" Paimon sang, flying off with her drink.

Natasha soon finalized her order, selecting a batch of mining machines. Yuri glanced at the screen.

"Not bad. These aren't too expensive—only 20 Stellar Jade per unit."

Natasha nodded and bought 50, totaling 1,000 Stellar Jade. Seele had gathered the funds in Rivet Town the day before.

Once the transaction was complete, Yuri used the shop's portal to send the mining machines to Clara's room for Natasha.

Borrowing a team of mechs from Svarog, Natasha took the equipment back with her.

Unlike the original timeline, Yuri's presence had subtly altered things. The tension between Svarog and Natasha—the factions of Earth and Fire—had eased slightly. They no longer treated each other with the same hostility as before.

With Natasha's shopping done, Svarog approached Yuri to make a large purchase, spending 10,000 Stellar Jade on supplies.

After wrapping up, Yuri left Clara and Hook in Himeko's care and followed Ying and Paimon to Mondstadt.

---

In Mondstadt

Yuri trailed behind Ying and Paimon as they arrived in front of an inn.

He frowned slightly, puzzled.

"Ying, why are you staying in a hotel? Didn't you just buy an RV?"

At the mention of the RV, Ying clutched her chest, her expression pained.

"Don't bring it up! Do you think I want to stay here? I can't stay in my RV!"

Yuri raised an eyebrow.

"Why not? Don't tell me it's broken already."

Ying's face fell.

"Yeah! The brand-new RV I just bought—completely wrecked in the dragon attack yesterday!"

Yuri thought for a moment.

"How bad is it? Listen, I've got a suggestion. Go find Welt and Himeko. They might be able to fix it."

Ying's eyes lit up with hope.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Go ask them now."

Without hesitation, Ying opened a portal and disappeared inside.

A minute later, she returned—this time with Himeko, Welt, Clara, and Hook in tow.

Welt glanced around.

"Ying, where's the RV? Show us."

Ying perked up and eagerly led the way.

They arrived at the city gates, where the damaged RV sat in a heap. Ying patted it gingerly.

"This is it. Think you can fix it?"

Welt and Himeko stepped forward, pulling out their diagnostic tools.

Clara, trailing behind Welt, looked excited.

Welt noticed and turned to her.

"Clara, do you know how to repair machines?"

Clara nodded eagerly.

"Mm-hmm! Mr. Svarog taught me! When people get hurt, I help fix them, too."

Welt smiled and waved her over.

"Come here, then. I'll show you how to use this scanner. Try it out."

Seeing Welt guide Clara, Himeko set her tools down. She had already checked—while the RV had taken damage, its core systems were still intact. This was a perfect learning opportunity for Clara.

Welt patiently instructed her on using the equipment, diagnosing problems, and troubleshooting repairs.

Ying watched in stunned silence.

"Wait… Clara's this skilled? How is she so good at this at her age?"

At some point, Venti had wandered over to watch the commotion.

The bard stood beside Yuri, sipping wine from a bottle.

Yuri sighed.

"You really like to drink, don't you? I can smell the alcohol from here."

Venti grinned.

"Wine is the best thing in the world. What are you all up to?"

Yuri crossed his arms.

"Helping Ying fix her RV. You know, the one your goddamn dragon wrecked yesterday? Maybe you should pitch in for the repairs."

Venti chuckled, taking another sip.

"Now, now, let's not be hasty. Why don't I serenade you all with a song while you work?"

Yuri shot him a deadpan look.

"How about you pay up instead?"

---

"That's right! As the God of Wind, how can you not pay for the damage your men did to my car?"

Venti whistled and glanced around, pretending not to hear.

"Hey~"

Yuri looked at Venti, utterly speechless. How could there be such a god?

Venti spread his hands with a carefree grin.

"Oh, didn't I tell you? I just woke up." He shrugged. "I don't have a single Mora on me right now."

Ying crossed her arms and extended a hand.

"Then where's the Stellar Jade? With your abilities, finding some shouldn't be an issue, right?"

Venti sighed theatrically. "The power of gods comes from faith. I've been missing from Mondstadt for so many years, and my strength has dwindled to barely a tenth of what it once was."

Yuri narrowed his eyes, unconvinced.

The gods of Teyvat weren't gods because they gained power—they were gods because they had inherent strength beyond mortals. The Seven Archons had all emerged from the ancient war between gods and demons. None of them were weak.

As for the weak? They were long gone, remnants of a forgotten era.

Just then, Jean walked out of the city gates, accompanied by Lisa, Kaeya, and Amber.

"Ying, what are you doing here?"

Ying turned and waved. "Oh, Captain Jean! Just fixing my RV."

Jean followed her gaze and saw a small white-haired girl concentrating on a device, skillfully repairing the vehicle.

Ying couldn't help but be curious. Wasn't Jean always busy? How did she find time to come out?

"Captain Jean, how did you get free time? Amber said you're always swamped with work."

Before Jean could answer, Lisa chuckled, placing a hand on her hip.

"Of course, I dragged her out. My dear Jean sits in that office every day, buried in paperwork—she's practically rusting." She smirked. "As a good friend, I insisted she take a walk."

Of course, Lisa had her own reasons. She'd received reports from the knights that a few unfamiliar faces had arrived at the city gates, including the traveler Yuri.

After considering the report, Lisa had a hunch. If her guess was right, the other newcomers had to be Yuri and his companions.

Lisa turned to Ying and the others. "Ying, are these your friends? Introduce us."

Paimon zipped to Yuri's side, raising her hand excitedly. "I got this! I got this!" She pointed dramatically. "This is Yuri! He's the one who chased off Dvalin yesterday."

Yuri gave a polite nod, offering a friendly smile.

Paimon then floated over to Himeko. "And this is Himeko! She's the navigator of the Astral Express and a good friend of Yuri."

Himeko smiled warmly. "Nice to meet you all."

Paimon moved on, pointing at Welt. "This is Mr. Welt, one of the smartest member's of the Express."

Welt gave a slight nod, barely looking up as he continued instructing Clara on repairing the RV.

Just as Paimon was about to wrap up, a small voice piped up indignantly.

"And me! And me! The great Dark Lord Hook!"

Jean's gaze landed on Hook, a strange feeling washing over her. There was something oddly familiar about the child, but she couldn't quite place it.

Jean offered a warm smile. "Hello, I'm Jean, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius."

Lisa introduced herself next. "Lisa, librarian." Then, with a teasing lilt, she turned to Yuri. "And you must be Mr. Yuri? Mondstadt owes you a great deal for your help yesterday."

Yuri waved a hand dismissively. "No need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Ying—she's the one who came to me for help."

Ying immediately puffed out her chest, hands on her hips, looking smug. "That's right! Everyone, thank me!"

Lisa giggled, covering her mouth. "Well then, thank you so much, dear Yuri. As a token of our gratitude, please accept these Stellar Jades."

Lisa handed over a delicate little pouch. Yuri blinked in surprise, taking it hesitantly.

"Huh? This is for me?"

Lisa smiled. "Some of them are a gift from Mondstadt as thanks, and some are compensation for your RV repairs."

Jean nodded. "Go on, take it."

Seeing no reason to refuse, Yuri accepted the pouch with a satisfied grin.

Lisa turned back to Yuri. "I heard from Ying that you run a small shop? Mind if we take a look at your wares?"

Yuri's smile widened. "Of course! Once Ying's RV is fixed, we can head there together. Sound good?"

Lisa had no objections. With that settled, the group chatted at the city gates while they waited.

About half an hour later, Yuri practically vibrated with excitement as she admired the fully repaired RV.

"Wooo~ My RV! You're finally fixed!"

Overcome with joy, she lunged at Clara, hugging her tightly. "Clara, you're amazing!"

Clara turned crimson, flustered. "W-Wah!"

She struggled, but Ying was relentless, hugging her again. "Hehe! You can't escape my wrath!"

Yuri rolled his eyes, effortlessly lifting Ying off the ground with a wave of energy. She flailed her arms in protest.

"Damn it, Yuri! Put me down!"

Yuri sighed. "Calm down. Look, Clara's terrified."

The moment Clara broke free, she bolted behind Himeko, peeking out nervously.

Yuri thought for a moment, then made a decision. Mondstadt's knights were potential major customers—it would be wise to set up a shop portal here.

"Jean, is there a secure location I could use?"

Jean considered the request before nodding. "Follow me."

She led them into the city, guiding them straight to the Knights of Favonius headquarters.

Just as they stepped inside, a fiery blur rushed toward them at full speed.

"Move out of the way!!! Klee can't stop!!!"

Yuri barely had time to react before he was hit square in the chest. Luckily, he was prepared this time and managed to stay on his feet.

Looking down, he saw a small girl rubbing her forehead.

"You okay, kid?" he asked.

Klee blinked up at him, then grinned. "Klee's fine! What about you, big brother? Did it hurt?"

Yuri chuckled. "I'm fine."

Jean, however, wasn't so amused.

"Klee! Were you trying to sneak out again?"

Klee froze, standing straight.

"C-Captain Jean~ Klee knows she was wrong~"

 

[Heavenly Mark]

Nice

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 16

Klee stood still, hands clasped behind her back, waiting for Jean's scolding.

Jean looked at the little girl and suddenly realized why Hook had seemed so familiar earlier.

It was Clara.

Jean saw traces of Clara's spirit in Hook.

Her instincts proved right when, one day, Klee and Hook—while innocently trying to cook fish—ended up blowing up a demon from Liyue.

But that was a story for another time.

For now, Jean sighed and turned her attention back to Klee.

"Klee, it's not that I don't want you to go out and play, but Mondstadt isn't safe these days. I'm afraid you'll run into danger."

Klee lowered her head, kicking at the floor.

"Klee understands, Captain Jean…"

Yuri glanced at Hook, who stood beside him, watching Klee with curiosity. He smiled.

"Klee, do you want to go play?"

Klee perked up instantly, nodding eagerly.

"Hmm!"

Yuri chuckled.

"Then go play with your little brother. There's no danger over there. Want to go?"

Klee's eyes widened with excitement.

"Really? Big brother, Klee can go play with you?"

Yuri nodded.

"Really. If you don't believe me, ask Captain Jean."

Klee turned to Jean, her little face filled with hope.

"Really, Captain Jean?"

Jean hesitated for a moment. Klee hadn't left the Knights' headquarters since the dragon attack. Keeping her cooped up forever wasn't right either.

"Alright," she finally said.

Klee cheered, jumping in place.

"Yay! Klee can go out and play!"

She ran to Yuri's side, beaming.

"Big brother, where are we going?"

Yuri ruffled her hair.

"Come on, I'll take you there now."

Then, he turned to Jean.

"Jean, is there a safe place nearby?"

Jean gestured toward her office.

"This way."

Yuri followed her inside and placed a portal in the room.

Himeko and Welt had seen the portal before and didn't react.

But Ying, Paimon, Lisa, and Jean eyed it with curiosity.

Yuri introduced it casually.

"This door connects to my shop. You can use it anytime."

Then, he granted Jean, Lisa, and the others free-travel access.

Paimon, ever the curious one, turned the doorknob and peeked inside.

Across the way, she spotted March 7th and Dan Heng playing chess.

Dan Heng, multitasking as always, held his phone in one hand while making a move with the other.

March 7th looked deeply troubled, struggling to figure out her next move.

"Whoa! Yuri, your store is really across the street!"

Without waiting, Paimon flew through the door. Free, unlimited drinks awaited her on the other side.

Especially grape juice—her absolute favorite.

Yuri looked at Jean and the others.

"Well? Aren't you curious about what I sell?"

With that, he stepped through the portal, holding Klee's hand in one and Hook's in the other.

Himeko and Welt followed, bringing Clara along.

Lisa patted Jean's shoulder.

"Come on, Jean. Don't forget the Stellar Jade."

Jean picked up a pile of raw stones from her desk—ones Kaeya and Amber had gathered the night before—and stepped inside.

Lisa followed right after.

---

Back at the Store

Klee's big eyes darted around the shop, taking in every detail.

But the moment she spotted the starry sky outside the window, she froze, completely mesmerized.

"Wow! So many stars! Did Klee fly into the sky?"

Yuri crouched beside her.

"Do you like it here?"

Klee nodded enthusiastically.

"Klee loves it here!"

Then, as she spun around, something else caught her eye.

A small, round creature with stubby legs was waddling toward Jean and the others, carefully balancing a few glasses of juice in its hands.

Klee gasped.

"Bunny!"

She rushed over and started circling the little creature.

"What's your name, little bunny?"

The creature—Pom—paused and looked up at her.

"I'm not a bunny! I'm the conductor of this train, Pom. Pom!"

Klee tilted her head, biting her finger.

"Oh! Little bunny, your name is Pom? Hello, Pom little bunny! I'm Klee, the Spark Knight of Mondstadt's Knights of Favonius! Nice to meet you!"

Pom sighed.

Not this again.

Still, when she looked at Klee's bright, innocent face, she decided to let it go.

It was just a kid's harmless mistake.

At that moment, Hook wandered over, curious.

"Pom, do you actually have a bunny name?"

Pom groaned internally.

Another one.

But as someone who had dealt with countless children over the years, Pom was well prepared.

She handed out the juices to Jean and the others, then pulled out a phone and tapped on a video.

A familiar tune filled the air.

"Pleasant Goat~ Beautiful Goat~ Lazy Goat~ Fierce Goat~"

Klee and Hook's eyes locked onto the screen immediately.

Pom smirked. Got 'em.

She led the two to a sofa, sat down with them, and let the cartoon work its magic.

Jean, watching from a distance, was stunned.

Klee—her Klee—was sitting still.

Quiet. Focused.

It was a sight Jean had never even dreamed of.

Lisa, ever amused, nudged Jean.

"Jean, don't forget why we came here."

Jean snapped out of her daze.

"Right." She turned to Yuri. "What should we do now?"

Yuri led her and Lisa to the bar and activated the touch screen.

"Have you decided what you want to buy?"

Jean nodded.

"We need something to strengthen the Knights."

Yuri thought for a moment, then swiped through the inventory.

"Here, take a look at this."

Jean and Lisa leaned in.

[Product: «Wind Spirit Technique»]

• Function: A basic skill from the fantasy world, allowing practitioners to control the power of wind.
• Price: 2,000 Stellar Jade

Lisa raised an eyebrow.

"Fantasy world? What kind of place is that?"

Yuri explained.

"The fantasy world is mid-tier among all known worlds. The strongest beings there can rule eternally and shatter entire universes in an instant."

Jean and Lisa froze.

"Universes?" Lisa echoed.

Yuri nodded.

"A universe holds countless planets. Your world—Teyvat—is barely the size of one planet."

The weight of his words settled in.

This technique… Was it truly something they could wield?

Lisa smirked.

"Jean, let's buy it. If we have extra, we'll check out other items. Besides, we are the kingdom of wind, aren't we?"

Jean didn't hesitate.

She pulled out the Stellar Jade and paid immediately.

---

Jean took out the raw stones.

"How many Stellar Jades do you need?"

Yuri pointed to the exchange scale beside him.

"This is where you can trade raw stones for Star Coins. One raw stone equals ten Star Coins. Just put in as many as you want to exchange."

Lisa smirked. "Obviously, we'll exchange all of them."

She glanced at Yuri with amusement. "After all, these raw stones are only valuable if we buy something from you, right?"

Yuri chuckled. "Then I'd better work harder to sell more products so you can spend even more."

Jean exchanged all the raw stones she had, totaling 8,360. After purchasing "Wind Spirit Technique" for 2,000 Star Coins, they still had 6,360 left.

Jean opened the book and started reading. The techniques were detailed, listing all the steps for training.

"This is great! With 'Wind Spirit Technique,' the overall strength of the Knights of Favonius will improve."

Lisa stretched lazily, settling onto a high stool, resting her chin in her hand.

"Jean, you shouldn't distribute this technique to all knights right away."

Jean frowned. "Why not? Wouldn't it be better if everyone learned it? The stronger our knights, the safer Mondstadt will be."

Lisa sighed. "Jean, not everyone in the Knights is loyal to Mondstadt."

Realization dawned on Jean. She had overlooked this. Some members were less committed to Mondstadt's well-being. If they learned this technique, it could lead to trouble.

Yuri interrupted. "I have a suggestion."

Jean and Lisa turned to him. "What is it?" Jean asked.

Yuri smirked. "There's an old saying from my homeland: 'In the face of absolute power, conspiracies and schemes are meaningless.'"

Lisa arched a brow. "And?"

Yuri continued, "I suggest you invest in something that enhances individual combat power."

Lisa chuckled. "Yuri, are you just trying to drain us of all our Star Coins?"

Yuri didn't deny it. "Of course. I'm a businessman. But you'll benefit too, won't you?"

Lisa grinned. "Then go ahead and introduce us to your wares."

Yuri tapped the touch screen, displaying various items: enchanted swords, Devil Fruits, magical tomes, physical enhancement items…

Jean and Lisa examined them carefully before their gazes landed on an item called "Magic Heart."

[Item: Magic Heart]

Effect: Harmonizes internal magic flow and increases magic attack power by 10%.

Price: 5,000 Star Coins

Lisa's eyes gleamed. This could help restore her body. Though she had immense magical power, her frail constitution forced her to endure severe backlash after each use.

If this item worked, Mondstadt would gain a powerful mage on par with the Abyss Order's elites.

Jean didn't hesitate and purchased it for Lisa.

Lisa examined the object before glancing at Yuri. "How does this work?"

Yuri consulted the system. "It's simple. Channel your magic into it, and it'll bind to whoever touches it first with magic."

Lisa smirked. "So if someone else grabs it first, will you give me another?"

Yuri chuckled. "If someone steals it, and you can't get it back, I'll help."

Lisa's smile widened. "I'll hold you to that."

Afterward, Jean and Lisa bid farewell and returned to Mondstadt, leaving Klee behind to play. With the city's current instability, she was safer here.

---

After a short rest, March 7th and Dan Heng used the portal to return to Belobog.

They immediately set off for Boulder Town to find Kevin.

At Natasha's clinic in Boulder Town, Kevin sat in front of an Essence Incubator, eating a bowl of rice and greens.

He took a bite and sighed. The food in the Underworld still wasn't great, but at least it was edible since Yuri arrived.

In the past, food was scarce. Natasha had told him horror stories about what people used to eat just to survive.

The clinic's door creaked open, and March 7th and Dan Heng walked in.

Kevin looked up. "Hey, have you guys eaten? Want me to get you a bowl of rice?"

March 7th eyed his plate. "No thanks, we just ate on the train."

Kevin paused, confused. "The train? How? It's so far from here."

Had they used Yuri's landing craft? No, the timing didn't match.

"How'd you get back?" He asked between bites, still chewing on a piece of greens.

March 7th grinned. "Yuri set up a portal at Serval's place. We can go straight to his shop."

Kevin's eyes widened. He glanced at his meal.

Forget this—if there's a portal, I'm going back for a feast!

But then he hesitated, glancing at the Incubator.

His elf hadn't hatched yet.

He sighed. Fine, he'd wait. He could celebrate after his elf was born.

As they chatted, the lights in the clinic flickered.

Kevin, March 7th, and Dan Heng immediately took defensive stances.

A static crackle filled the air, and a holographic projection of Silver Wolf appeared.

"Hey, long time no see, Kevin."

March 7th tensed. "Star Core Hunter! You've got guts showing up in front of me! Get ready for a beating!"

Silver Wolf barely spared her a glance, ignoring her entirely as she looked straight at Kevin.

"Kevin, where did you get that game cartridge last time?"

Kevin blinked. "I found it in a trash can. Why, did you clear the game already?"

Silver Wolf nodded. "Yeah, finished it. Just like you said—I unlocked Shock Blade."

Kevin grinned, giving a thumbs-up. "Knew you'd pull it off. So, what do you want this time?"

Silver Wolf smirked. "I want to know if you have any more game cartridges like that one."

 

[TwilightHakumei]

Where are the people of teyvat getting the stellar jades when theirs only primogems there?

 

[CloudyWorld]

Where are the people of teyvat getting the stellar jades when theirs only primogems there?

Click to shrink...

There's a reason for this that will get explored later that many in Teyvat are completely left in the dark about.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 17

Kevin spread his hands.

"Not right now, but I can ask Yuri for you."

When Silver Wolf heard the name "Yuri" from Kevin, she felt a wave of unfamiliarity. There was no mention of this person in Elio's script.

"Yuri? Who is he?"

Kevin pulled out his phone and found a photo of himself with Yuri.

"Hey~ This is Yuri. The game cartridge I sold you came from him."

Silver Wolf studied Yuri's face, trying to memorize his appearance.

"Where is he? I'll go find him myself."

Kevin spoke without hesitation.

"On the train. He rented a carriage there and opened a shop. You can find him on the train."

Upon hearing this, Silver Wolf turned off the projection and disappeared in an instant.

March 7th didn't want to get involved.

"Kevin, are you really going to tell Silver Wolf about Yuri?"

Kevin nodded.

"Of course, what else? Didn't Yuri say we could say whatever we want? He even asked us to help him attract more customers. I'm helping him now."

March 7th facepalmed.

"But Silver Wolf is dangerous!"

Kevin lightly patted March 7th's shoulder.

"Don't worry, I know Silver Wolf. She's not a bad person. At worst, she's just an internet addict."

Hearing this, March 7th suddenly grew curious about how Kevin was so familiar with Silver Wolf.

"Kevin, are you really that familiar with Silver Wolf?"

Kevin sighed.

"I think I knew her before I lost my memory. I have memories of her in my mind. Recently, she added me to her contacts, and we play games together at night."

March 7th tilted her head.

"Wait, are you really close to Silver Wolf?"

Kevin shrugged.

"I guess, sort of."

Just then, Dan Heng spoke up.

"Don't say things too casually next time. What if you run into a bad person? Yuri might be in danger."

Dan Heng's voice was calm, but the weight of his words was felt by everyone.

March 7th, though, was not convinced.

"How do you know that?"

Dan Heng glanced at March 7th.

"I sensed it. You've known Yuri for so long, you must have felt his strength, right?"

March 7th let out a soft chuckle.

"Heh, that… well, you're right."

Dan Heng sighed, standing up.

"You all stay here. I'll go out and search for clues about the Stellar Jade."

With that, Dan Heng left the clinic.

In Mondstadt...

Jean and Lisa had just returned to the Knights.

Jean called Kaeya first.

"Captain Jean, what do you want to discuss?"

Kaeya walked into the room, a faint hint of drunkenness on his face.

Lisa wrinkled her nose at the smell of alcohol coming from Kaeya.

"Kaeya, you went drinking again?"

Kaeya chuckled lightly.

"Well, just a little. Besides, it's after work hours."

Jean and Lisa exchanged glances, both clearly unconvinced by Kaeya's words.

Kaeya, sensing their scrutiny, quickly shifted the conversation.

"Let's not focus on that for now. What's going on?"

Jean wasted no time and laid out her plan.

"Go and summon Amber, Noelle, Eula, Mika, and Diluc to the Knights."

Jean had decided to teach the trustworthy members of the Knights the "Wind Spirit Technique" first.

Kaeya raised an eyebrow when Jean mentioned Diluc.

"I don't know, Jean. Diluc has a bit of a... complicated history with the Knights."

At the mention of Diluc's past, Jean's face softened with understanding.

"If it weren't for what happened... Diluc might still be with the Knights today."

Lisa nodded in agreement. Diluc was undoubtedly one of the strongest members of the Knights.

Kaeya, however, didn't seem to share the same sentiment.

"I'll be honest. I'm not sure he'd come back after all these years. Especially given what happened."

Jean looked at Lisa.

"Lisa, would you be willing to talk to him?"

Lisa sighed but then smiled.

"I'll go see him."

Kaeya was relieved, grateful that Lisa was willing to help with the task.

"Thank you, Lisa. I'll go get the others."

Soon enough, everyone arrived in Jean's office.

Kaeya couldn't resist teasing Diluc, who was standing in the corner, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"Well, well, Master Diluc, I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you hated the Knights."

Diluc, as always, remained unfazed, his gaze icy.

"Jean, what is it you need from us?"

Jean didn't waste a moment and produced the "Wind Spirit Technique."

"This technique is called the 'Wind Spirit Technique.' Once mastered, it will allow us to control the wind."

The group stared in awe at Jean, their eyes wide with shock.

Amber was the first to react, her excitement bubbling over.

"Really? Captain Jean, can we really control the wind?"

Jean glanced down at the technique, still unsure of its authenticity.

"I'm not completely sure yet, but we need to test it."

Diluc frowned, sensing Jean's hesitation.

"If you're not sure, let's test it. If there's nothing else, I'll leave. Business at my tavern is doing well today."

Lisa then took out the Magic Heart.

"If you want proof, it's easy. We just need to see if this works."

The group turned to look at the glowing star-shaped object in Lisa's hands.

Amber leaned in closer to examine the Magic Heart.

"Lisa, what is this?"

Lisa explained, her voice soft but confident.

"This is the Magic Heart, and it can solve my physical issues. It came from the same place as the Wind Spirit Technique."

Kaeya quickly pieced things together.

"So, if this works, it means the Wind Spirit Technique is real?"

Lisa nodded.

"Exactly."

Amber's face turned concerned as she glanced at the Magic Heart.

"What if it's fake? What if something goes wrong with you, Lisa?"

Lisa smiled gently, though the worry in her eyes was clear.

"It's okay. For years, I've struggled with my physical condition. If I don't try now, I may not have much time left. This is my chance."

With those words, Lisa gathered her strength, her magic flowing through her as she connected with the Magic Heart.

The moment her magic touched the Heart, it pulsed brightly, turning into a dazzling array of light that flowed into Lisa's body.

The energy was overwhelming, but for Lisa, it was a feeling she hadn't experienced in years. The chaotic magic in her body settled into place, calming and restoring her.

Everyone watched in stunned silence, waiting for Lisa's response.

Amber reached out, gently pulling on Lisa's sleeve.

"Lisa, how do you feel?"

Lisa touched her cheek, her smile widening.

"It's incredible. The magic inside me... it's finally settled. I feel... better than ever."

Amber's face lit up with joy.

"Great! Lisa, you're back! We've gained another strong ally in Mondstadt!"

Jean was happy to see Lisa recover.

"Congratulations, Lisa."

Lisa casually summoned a spark of lightning in her palm. "It seems everything Yuri sells is real. Let's take a look at the 'Wind Spirit Technique' next."

Lisa shifted the conversation to the "Wind Spirit Technique," the real key to strengthening Mondstadt. The Magic Heart restored her own power, but a nation's strength wasn't defined by one individual—it was the collective power of its people.

Just like Liyue's Millelith, whose overall strength far surpassed the armies of the other six nations.

Jean opened the "Wind Spirit Secret" and flipped through the pages, allowing everyone to read.

After a moment, Diluc sat cross-legged, silently internalizing the technique's contents. A strange power stirred within him, flowing along his meridians.

Everyone watched in silence, wary of disturbing him.

After more than half an hour, Diluc suddenly opened his eyes, exhaling sharply. His body let out a crisp cracking sound, and his aura surged dramatically.

Amber leaned forward eagerly. "Well? How was it? Did it work?"

Instead of answering, Diluc extended his hand, summoning a ball of fire. The flames swirled, and then, as if caught by the wind, they began to spiral and expand.

Jean, a wielder of the Anemo element, widened her eyes in shock. That—That was the wind element's unique diffusion reaction!

"Success!" she exclaimed.

Diluc nodded. "According to the technique, I've reached the first level of warrior."

Amber's imagination ran wild. "Wow! That means I can shoot a fire arrow first, then use the wind element to spread it for area damage!"

Lisa chuckled. "In theory, yes."

Excited, Amber dragged Eula to sit down and practice together.

Diluc stood up and leaned against the door, resting his greatsword against the frame. "You should all practice. I'll stand guard."

With that, Lisa and the others sat cross-legged and began their training.

Outside the window, Venti had been eavesdropping for a while.

"This is quite interesting. Seems like I need to find some Stellar Jades."

Turning into a breeze, Venti drifted away. He had made up his mind—he wanted to visit Yuri's shop. As the Wind Archon of Teyvat, he had eyes and ears everywhere the wind touched.

More than an hour later, everyone completed their practice.

Their progress varied. Amber had been the fastest, reaching the first warrior level in just over ten minutes. Kaeya, however, was the slowest, taking over an hour.

Kaeya sighed dramatically. "Hey, hey, hey, why was I the slowest?"

Diluc smirked. "Because some people are just idiots, aren't they?"

Kaeya scoffed, about to retort, but Lisa cut in.

"Grandpa Diluc has a point. It's probably related to innate aptitude."

Kaeya frowned. "No way… Am I really the least gifted among us?"

Amber, still thrilled with her progress, found it hard to believe she had the highest aptitude.

"That can't be right. If anyone should have the highest aptitude, it should be Captain Jean. She's the strongest."

After a bit of discussion, they couldn't agree on a clear way to measure aptitude.

Soon, everyone left Jean's office and returned to their respective duties.

Amber and Eula headed out of the city. They had decided that two people would gather Stellar Jades daily to purchase Yuri's products.

The pair arrived at a Hilichurl camp. Amber channeled fire energy into her arrow, drew back her bow, and fired with pinpoint precision.

A Hilichurl brute raised his shield, successfully blocking the arrow. He let out a smug, guttural laugh. "Hahaha!"

Amber smirked. The next second, the fire-infused arrow suddenly exploded, igniting everything around it and setting the entire camp ablaze.

Eula seized the moment. She lunged forward, her greatsword crackling with both Cryo and Anemo energy. With one sweeping strike, frost and wind surged across the battlefield, instantly overwhelming the burning Hilichurls.

If this were a game, the screen would be filled with "Melt" reaction notifications.

The battle ended in an instant. The Hilichurl tribe was annihilated before they could react.

The two warriors sheathed their weapons and started collecting their spoils.

"This Wind Spirit Technique is amazing!" Amber marveled. "Before, it wouldn't have been this easy to clear out a Hilichurl camp."

Eula nodded. "The added wind element makes a huge difference in crowd combat. Before this, I relied on my ultimate move to handle groups. But that drained my stamina fast."

Now, simple elemental attacks combined with "Wind Spirit Technique" created devastating results. And with the right teammate—someone whose elements could react with hers—the possibilities were endless.

After securing the battlefield, they focused on collecting Stellar Jades.

For some reason, Hilichurls seemed to love hoarding them.

According to Amber's estimates from the previous day's raid with Kaeya, a single Hilichurl tribe had at least 100 Stellar Jades. Some had over 300.

Amber patted the bag full of raw stones, ensuring nothing would spill.

"All set! Eula, let's hit the next camp and finish quickly so we can get back to training!"

Eula crossed her arms and huffed. "I don't want to train with you. I'll practice alone at home."

Amber giggled and hugged Eula from behind. "Nope! I want to train with you~ Hehe, that's final!"

Eula turned away with a pout. "I'll remember this grudge! How dare you act so bold!"

With that, the duo continued their hunt for the next Hilichurl camp.

The locations were conveniently marked on the city's map, updated daily with intelligence gathered from adventurers and the Knights of Favonius.

Late that night, Diluc stepped out of his tavern and approached a known Abyss Order stronghold in the wilderness.

Rolling up his sleeves, he drew the Zephyr Greatsword, his grip tightening.

"I planned to let you live a little longer, but you'll make a fine test subject."

Flames and wind energy surged around him, swirling violently around his weapon.

"Dawn. Judgment."

A deep roar echoed as Diluc charged into battle.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 18

With a single hit from Diluc's sword, the gate to the Abyss Cult's stronghold was reduced to rubble.

The scorching flames quickly spread throughout the entire stronghold, fueled by the wind. The water elemental shield created by the Abyss Mage was shattered in an instant, crumbling like paper.

Before the mage could even attempt to conjure a second shield, Diluc's greatsword descended upon him, cutting through the air with unrelenting force.

In a matter of moments, the Abyss Mage was no more, and the remaining Hilichurls stood no chance against Diluc's might. They fell swiftly, their lives snuffed out by the fiery blade.

After collecting the rough stone, Diluc turned and set off for the next stronghold.

The training he'd received in the "Wind Spirit Technique" had made his attacks more efficient. The fire element combined with the wind allowed him to break through the shields of the Abyss Mages in an instant. What once took him considerable time and effort was now achieved in the blink of an eye.

Without their shields, the Abyss Mages were mere prey for Diluc's blade.

By the end of the night, a large number of Abyss Cult strongholds in Mondstadt had been eradicated. Each time a stronghold fell, brilliant flames illuminated the darkness.

The next morning, Klee made her way to the kitchen.

"Good morning, Brother Yuri, Brother Kevin, Sister March 7th, and Brother Dan Heng~!" Klee greeted with infectious energy.

Hook waved happily. "Good morning!"

Yuri smiled at the two little ones. "Did you wash your faces and brush your teeth?"

Klee nodded vigorously. "Yes! Pam Bunny took me to wash up!"

Hook chimed in, "Hook is clean! Lord Dark Hook is always clean!"

Yuri gave them a satisfied nod and poured two bowls of white porridge for the children. "Here, have some porridge. The rest of the food will take a while."

The children sat at the table, eagerly eating their porridge. Kevin finished his bowl with a satisfied laugh and ran back to the kitchen for another serving.

It was then that Yuri asked, "Have you found any clues about the star core?"

Kevin shrugged, clearly frustrated. "No, Natasha and the others don't even know what a star core is."

March 7th sighed. "We're in a bit of a jam. There's no clue in the lower city, and the upper city is still looking for us. Sigh..."

Yuri smiled knowingly. "Since you're so stuck, I'll give you a hint. Go find the oldest person in the downtown area. There's a clue there."

March 7th thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up. "The oldest person? I get it now! The older they are, the more they know. We hadn't thought about it that way."

Dan Heng nodded, understanding the implication. "We'll head to the downtown area after breakfast. Thanks for the tip, Yuri"

"No problem! Let's be ready for what comes ahead." Yuri said with a big smile.

The three quickly finished their meal, drank a second bowl of porridge, grabbed two freshly steamed buns, and headed for the portal.

On March 7th, Dan Heng and the others made their way back to the lower city.

As soon as they stepped out of the portal, they spotted Clara walking toward them, her arms filled with a heavy textbook. The portal happened to be right near Clara's home, so after resting there last night, she was heading to study with Mr. Welt.

"Good morning, Big Brother Dan Heng, Big Sister March 7th, and Big Brother Kevin~" Clara greeted them, waving cheerfully.

March 7th smiled warmly. "Good morning, Clara! Where are you off to?"

Clara shook the textbook in her arms. "I'm going to Mr. Welt's to study. He lent me this book, but I didn't understand some parts, so I want to ask him about it."

March 7th couldn't help but be impressed. If it were her, she'd probably have a headache just looking at such a thick book.

"Well, it might be a little too early to go there now," she said.

Clara's face fell slightly, but she quickly brightened up again. "That's okay. I'll wait and see you all later! Bye, Big Brother and Big Sisters!" She waved again before stepping into the portal to head to the store.

As the three of them left the house, they noticed Svarog leading a squad of mechas, all gearing up and heading out.

March 7th furrowed her brow. "What's going on with Svarog?"

Dan Heng gave a quick glance at the scene. "Let's catch up and ask. This looks serious."

The three of them quickly moved to catch up with Svarog, and Kevin gave him a friendly slap on the thigh.

"Svarog, where are you off to?" Kevin called out.

Svarog looked down at them with a raised brow. "There's been a riot in Panyan Town, and I'm leading a team to handle it."

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "A riot? What's going on?"

Svarog explained, "I got a distress call from Natasha, the leader of the underground fire in Panyan Town. A large group of wanderers is attacking the town."

March 7th's face paled. "What? Panyan Town is under attack? We need to help!"

Dan Heng and Kevin nodded in agreement, and the group quickly joined Svarog and the mecha squad as they raced toward Panyan Town.

By the time they arrived at the town, it was clear that the situation was dire. Panyan Town, located near the entrance to the large mining area, was under siege. Wanderers were relentlessly attacking the Earth Fire Organization's defense line.

In the midst of the chaos, Seele dashed through the battlefield with a sickle in hand, her swift movements bringing down wanderer after wanderer. Meanwhile, Bronya—who had just been rescued by Seele—was in full command mode, firing her rifle with pinpoint accuracy, cutting down any foe that crossed her path.

"Everyone, cooperate! Stay calm and hold the line!" Bronya's voice rang out, instilling confidence in the Earth Fire members.

"Yes, ma'am!" came the unified response.

Under Bronya's sharp leadership, the Earth Fire members fought fiercely, but they were still outnumbered. The wanderers, armed and determined, relentlessly attacked the defense line.

At the back, Natasha and Oleg held their ground as the final line of defense. Natasha's gaze was heavy with concern as she surveyed the battlefield.

The wanderers had clearly learned that Panyan Town was rich in supplies, and they planned to seize them. There were thousands of wanderers, many armed with deadly weapons, all bent on taking over the town.

Luckily, the Earth Fire members had been in good physical shape thanks to the recent food supplies, and they were fighting with everything they had.

But despite their best efforts, the wanderers' numbers were overwhelming. The defense line was on the verge of being breached.

Oleg, noticing a gap in the defense, called out to Natasha, "I'll take care of this! Keep things stable here!"

Without waiting for a response, Oleg led a small group of Earth Fire members toward the breach. Although he wasn't a Fatewalker, his previous experience with the Silver Mane Guards made him a force to be reckoned with. His spear danced through the crowd, knocking down wanderer after wanderer, and the defense line was soon reinforced.

But even Oleg knew that this would not hold for long.

Just then, a familiar voice rang in Natasha's ears. "Don't worry, Reinforcements are on the way."

Natasha turned to see Sampo approaching.

"Sampo? Did you call for reinforcements?" Natasha asked, relief flooding her face.

Sampo grinned. "Yes, I contacted Boss Svarog for help. They should be here any minute now."

As if summoned by his words, a deafening explosion rang out in the distance. Svarog's mecha dropped from the sky, landing in the center of the battlefield with a thunderous crash.

"Riot detected, annihilation order activated!" Svarog's voice boomed over the battlefield as the missile bay on his mecha opened. A volley of missiles streaked through the air, targeting the wanderers.

Dan Heng, March 7th, and Kevin, each piloting their own mechas, joined the fray from behind the wanderers. They were ready to turn the tide.

Kevin wasted no time. With a single cry, he shouted, "Skyfire! Unsheath!" and swung his sword, sending a wave of fiery destruction through the crowd.

Dan Heng wasn't far behind. His Jiyun Spear glowed with power as he thrust it forward, unleashing a massive energy wave that tore through the wanderers in front of him.

March 7th took aim with her bow, summoning a barrage of ice arrows that froze the wanderers in place, rendering them immobile.

The mecha soldiers, not concerned with finesse, moved in and subdued the wanderers with brute force, leaving them unable to resist.

Seeing the reinforcements arrive, Natasha let out a sigh of relief. "Everyone! Reinforcements have arrived! All units, advance! Let's show them what we're made of!"

The Earth Fire members, now filled with renewed vigor, charged forward, launching a powerful counterattack.

The wanderers, realizing the battle was lost, began to scatter in every direction, fleeing as fast as they could. They looked like they were running for their lives, desperate to escape.

With the combined efforts of the mecha soldiers and the Earth Fire members, the attack on Panyan Town was successfully repelled.

Svarog, Kevin, March 7th, and Dan Heng gathered with Natasha, Oleg, Sambo, Seele, and Bronya after the battle.

"Svarog! March 7th! Dan Heng!" Kevin called out with a grin, carrying the Holy Judge of Heavenly Fire on his shoulder.

Seele gave him a thumbs up. "Cool!"

Natasha, her face filled with gratitude, approached Svarog. "Svarog, thank you for your help."

Svarog nodded, his face calm. "No need to thank me. This is all for the protection of the lower city."

After the battle, the Earth Fire members' attitudes toward the mecha soldiers shifted. They now saw them as allies—something they hadn't truly appreciated until now. Thanks to the timely arrival of Svarog and his mecha squad, the losses were minimized, and the town had been saved.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 19

Bronya stared at Svarog, still processing what she had just witnessed. She had never imagined that there could be such powerful mechas in this part of the city. Moreover, judging by Svarog's appearance, it seemed the machine had developed emotions of its own. From what Svarog had just said, it was clear that he had been maintaining stability in the lower city for quite some time.

Curious, Bronya turned to Oleg and asked, "Mr. Oleg, who exactly is Svarog?"

Oleg held up a hand, signaling for silence. "I'll explain later, girl," he said softly, his voice filled with a hint of caution.

Bronya nodded, a little disappointed but understanding. She stepped back, quietly awaiting an explanation.

At that moment, March 7th noticed Bronya standing nearby and her face contorted with frustration. "Great! It's you! How dare you show up in front of us again!" she exclaimed.

Before Bronya could respond, Kevin also readied the Holy Judgment of Heavenly Fire, his eyes narrowing as he pointed it in her direction.

Seeing this, Natasha hurriedly stepped in, her voice urgent. "March, Kevin, don't do this."

March 7th and Kevin both hesitated, glancing at Natasha, who gave them a sharp look.

"Put down your weapons," Natasha continued calmly. "There seems to be some misunderstanding. We should talk, not fight."

Reluctantly, March 7th and Kevin lowered their weapons. Still, March 7th's annoyance was palpable.

"She was the one who wanted to arrest us in the first place! We didn't do anything wrong, and now she's here, acting all high and mighty!"

Bronya responded in a clipped tone. "I don't know what you're talking about, but I was only following orders from the Great Guardian."

Dan Heng furrowed his brow, sensing something amiss. "Wait, you were ordered by the Great Guardian?" he asked, his voice edged with suspicion.

Bronya nodded.

A realization hit Dan Heng, and he turned to March 7th and Kevin, his mind racing. "Do you remember the conversation we had in the hotel?"

March 7th looked confused. "What conversation?"

Dan Heng's gaze hardened. "The Great Guardian... there's something not right about her."

March 7th finally recalled and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. There's definitely something strange going on."

Kevin chimed in, his voice steady but serious. "I've always felt like there was another presence in the room when we spoke with her. More than just the four of us."

Dan Heng nodded grimly. "Exactly. Why would she issue a warrant for our arrest?"

Kevin's brow furrowed as he thought aloud. "Are we a threat to her? Did something happen that upset her?"

Dan Heng exhaled sharply. "I think I have a theory. Cocolia might be connected to the star core. When we brought up the star core before, her attitude changed completely."

March 7th clicked her tongue, realizing the implications. "That explains everything. That woman must be in cahoots with the star core. I knew she was up to something shady!"

Bronya's face flushed, and she shot March 7th a fiery look. "Shut up! I won't let you slander Lady Cocolia!" she snapped.

March 7th's temper flared. "Oh? So, now you're defending her? After everything she's done to us?"

Before things escalated, Oleg suddenly laughed, his voice cutting through the tension.

"Enough, both of you," he said, his tone laced with amusement.

March 7th and Bronya both paused, surprised by Oleg's interruption.

Oleg turned to Bronya, his expression serious. "Come with me, little girl from Uptown. I need to talk to you."

Bronya glanced at him, a mix of confusion and curiosity in her eyes, but she followed him without hesitation.

Once Oleg and Bronya left, March 7th and Kevin finally let out the breaths they had been holding. The air felt a little less tense, but the questions lingered in the back of their minds.

Dan Heng checked the time. It was already past 4 p.m. He decided to ask Natasha, who was standing nearby.

"Natasha," he began, "who's the oldest person in the Lower Town?"

Natasha looked thoughtful for a moment, then responded. "Well, the oldest people would be Mr. Liel in the east and Mr. Andrew in the south."

Dan Heng nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you. Let's go visit them, March, Kevin."

But just as they were about to leave, Seele suddenly spoke up, her voice full of curiosity. "Shouldn't the oldest person in the Lower Town be Svarog?"

Dan Heng and the others stopped and turned to her in surprise.

"Svarog?" Dan Heng repeated, incredulous.

Seele nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, isn't he the oldest? I heard he's been around for at least several hundred years."

Natasha paused, clearly considering this. "That's true. If we're talking about the oldest in the Lower Town, it would be Svarog."

Dan Heng's eyes widened in realization. "You're right. How could we have missed that? Svarog has been around for centuries, perhaps he has clues about the star core in his database."

March 7th's eyes lit up. "Let's go ask him!"

The group quickly made their way toward Svarog. Kevin reached out, patting the mecha's metallic thigh.

"Svarogi! Svarog!" he called, his voice eager. "I have a question for you."

Svarog turned to face him, his mechanical eyes glowing red. "What is it?" he asked, his voice oddly cold.

Kevin wasted no time. "Do you know about the star core?"

At the mention of the star core, Svarog's demeanor shifted dramatically. His eyes flashed an intense crimson as he declared, "Detected someone touching forbidden information. Annihilation mode, activate!"

The atmosphere shifted immediately. Kevin and March 7th quickly drew their weapons, preparing for an attack. Svarog's missile bays opened, and the threat of an imminent strike loomed.

Without warning, Kevin sprang into action, activating the Heavenly Fire Holy Judgment Greatsword, his movements swift and precise. He dodged the first missile, then dashed toward Svarog, preparing to strike.

Svarog fired several more missiles, but before they could hit their target, a barrage of ice arrows and howitzer fire rained down, intercepting the projectiles mid-air and causing them to explode harmlessly.

Kevin took this opportunity to close the distance, his sword crackling with divine energy as he slashed at Svarog, sending the mecha flying backward with a powerful blow. The mecha collided with a large boulder, sparks and electricity cascading from its damaged body.

Thanks to the combined might of Kevin's Heavenly Fire and the team's careful coordination, they shattered Svarog's defenses quickly. Their synchronized assault disrupted the mecha's program, forcing it to short-circuit.

Just then, Oleg and Bronya returned to the battlefield. Oleg's gaze landed on the scene before him—Svarog lying crumpled on the ground—and he raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"What's going on here?" Oleg asked, clearly bewildered.

March 7th shot a quick glance at Bronya, then turned her focus back to Svarog. Ignoring Bronya's presence, she knelt beside the fallen mecha, demanding, "Svarog, do you know anything about the star core?"

Svarog's body emitted a faint electric hum before a holographic projection flickered to life above him, casting an eerie glow over the scene.

After watching the video that had appeared through Svarog, everyone stood in stunned silence. March 7th, feeling a strange unease, broke the silence.

"I didn't expect Beloberg to still exist after being eroded by the star core for so long," she remarked, voice tinged with disbelief.

Dan Heng nodded in agreement. "Star cores are known as the cancer of all worlds; their destructive power to civilizations is immense. It's a miracle that Beloberg has survived for this long under their influence."

Kevin suddenly felt a shred of respect for Cocolia. "The Great Guardians are incredibly resilient. Each of them has fought to resist the star core's temptation. It was only Cocolia who eventually couldn't hold out."

Bronya, standing off to the side, felt the weight of the truth in her chest. The information revealed by the video mixed with her mother's recent strange behavior made it hard to ignore the worst possibility. What choice would she have to make? The thought spun around her mind as her emotions swirled in confusion.

Kevin, who had been watching the paralyzed Svarog, suddenly realized something. "What about Svarog?" he asked.

March 7th shrugged. "I don't know how to repair machines, do you?"

Dan Heng gave a thoughtful look. "I'll go find Mr. Walter."

With that, Dan Heng sprinted toward the mechanical settlement, leaving the others behind.

March 7th turned to Natasha. "You and the others go back. We'll stay here and keep an eye on Svarog."

Kevin buried the Holy Judgment of Heavenly Fire into the ground and sat down, his expression serious. "We'll watch over it. You can go handle your business."

Natasha nodded and left with Seele, heading toward Panyan Town. Oleg, too, took Bronya aside, leading her to an undisclosed location.

Meanwhile, in Yuri's shop...

"You're the one who sold that game cartridge to Kevin?" Silver Wolf folded her arms, giving Yuri a scrutinizing look.

Yuri smirked. "Yeah. How was it? Fun?"

Silver Wolf's expression shifted from critical to playful. "Do you have any other game cartridges? Let's see what you've got."

Before Yuri could answer, a flood of door requests appeared in his mind.

[Venti applies to enter the store!]
[Venti applies to enter the store!]
[Venti applies to enter the store!]

Yuri frowned and quickly accepted her request, annoyed by the constant pinging. The door swung open, and Venti rushed in, quickly closing it behind her.

Venti let out a relieved sigh. "Phew, I made it! I wasn't caught by Qin."

Yuri raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here, Venti?"

Venti floated over to him, looking mischievous. "I'm here to buy something."

Yuri rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "You? Everyone who knows you thinks you're broke."

Venti pouted. "What are you talking about? I'm not broke!" She slapped a rough stone down onto the bar. "Look, it's a genuine raw stone!"

Yuri picked it up, inspecting it closely before tossing it onto the exchange scale. A golden coin with a "star" engraving appeared, signifying its value.

"Yeah, it's real," Yuri confirmed, his expression unchanged.

Venti, now satisfied, grabbed the juice next to her and poured herself a drink. "Then it must be genuine. Give me some wine from another world! I want to try it."

Silver Wolf, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up. "What's going on here? You're jumping in line, Venti. You can't just cut in front of me."

Venti snapped back. "I'm not a child! I'm an adult!"

Silver Wolf rolled her eyes, pushing Venti aside with a smirk. "Yuri, find that game cartridge I asked about."

Venti, about to sit back down, heard Yuri speak. "Venti, Silver Wolf got here first. You'll need to wait."

Venti fumed, but didn't argue. "Fine," she grumbled, taking a seat.

Yuri turned to Silver Wolf. "What type of game are you looking for?"

Silver Wolf rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "I liked the 'Wolf' game that Kevin got last time. Anything similar?"

Yuri quickly scanned his inventory and pulled up a product. "How about this: 'Elden Warrior'. It's a challenge, but fun. After finishing, you'll get a weakened version of the Immobilization Spell."

He pulled up the details, showing the game's description and the price: 10,000 Star Coins.

Silver Wolf eyed the screen skeptically. "Is it really that good?"

Yuri grinned, his voice low and confident. "It's fun. Trust me."

Silver Wolf leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "What's a star coin?"

Yuri pulled out a Stellar Jade, explaining. "Stellar Jade are the local currency here. You can exchange them for Star Coins. The exchange rate is 1 to 100."

Silver Wolf's eyes widened in understanding. "So that's how it works…"

"Exactly," Yuri said with a nod. "Now, if you want to make a purchase, let me know."

Silver Wolf gave him a long look before turning toward Venti, who was still sulking. "You should buy something while you're here, Venti."

Venti, ever impatient, slammed her raw stones down on the table, totaling 1,300 of them. "I want some wine. Give me the best you've got!"

Yuri rifled through the system and found a "Wine Gift Pack," which contained 100 bottles of wine from another world. It cost 100 Star Coins.

Venti didn't hesitate. "Give me 1,000 Star Coins' worth! I'll take 1,000 bottles."

Yuri accepted the payment and processed the transaction, handing over ten gift packs. Venti beamed as she stuffed them into her personal storage space.

"Alright, I'm off to taste some of this wine," Venti declared, already heading for a nearby booth, eager to try her new purchases.

Silver Wolf, on the other hand, turned to Kafka over the comms. "Kafka, do you have any Stellar Jade?"

Kafka's voice came through, smooth as ever. "Of course, darling. What do you need it for?"

Silver Wolf remained vague. "Just give me 100 Stellar Jade."

Kafka, without hesitation, responded, "No problem. How should I deliver it? Should I leave it by your transmission channel?"

Silver Wolf smirked.

"Yes, that'll work."

 

[Maria666]

I think Venti is a man

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 20

Silver Wolf summoned a virtual keyboard and tapped a few times. In an instant, an ether portal appeared, and 100 Stellar Jade fell out, sparkling with energy.

She quickly collected all of them and made her way to the bar to exchange them.

Silver Wolf had already observed how Yuri used the exchange scale earlier, so she knew exactly what to do. After the exchange, Silver Wolf handed over the Stellar Jade with a satisfied look.

"I've got the money. Where's my stuff?" he asked.

Yuri smiled, taking out the "Elden Warrior" game cartridge. "Here you go."

Silver Wolf took the cartridge, inspecting it with a smile of approval, before waving her hand and using an ether editor to teleport away.

Once he was gone, Yuri opened his task panel to check his progress:

Current tasks:

Task 1: Entertain 20 different customers. Progress: 14/20 Reward: Lottery machine x1
Task 2: Reach a cumulative turnover of 10 million Stellar Jade. Progress: 30,000+/10 million Reward: Peak Master Level Strength x1

Yuri smiled as he glanced at the progress. He was halfway through entertaining his 20 customers. Given the current situation in Beloberg, with Bronya, Gepard, Pella, and Silva likely becoming customers soon, he'd only need four more. No big deal.

He closed the task panel, looking over at Venti, who was happily drinking and enjoying herself. With a chuckle, Yuri approached her.

"Just drinking? No snacks?" he teased.

Venti put down her bottle and swallowed, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Snacks? I don't have any... Wait! That's right! I have Stellar Jade!"

She had been so used to saying she had no money, but now, with 12,000 Stellar Jade in her possession, she realized she was loaded.

Venti slapped some Stellar Jade coin on the table. "Here! A whole portion!" she said, waving her hand excitedly.

Yuri smiled, took the coin, and purchased some side dishes worth 100 Stellar Jade from the mall. He brought them to Venti's table.

"Hey, where's my wine, and where's the food you promised?" Venti teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Yuri sighed dramatically, pretending to be put out, and went to fetch two sets of wine glasses from the bar. As he returned, Venti had already placed a dozen different drinks on the table.

"Choose your poison!" she said with a wink.

Yuri's eyes gleamed as he spotted a bottle of porcelain wine on the table. "Feitian Moutai, huh?" He reached for it, his smile widening.

"Is it good?" Venti asked, eyeing him curiously.

Yuri took a sip, savoring the flavor. "Of course. This wine is exquisite."

Venti, holding a piece of meat from a spiritual deer in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other, looked at him with a playful grin. "Is it really that good?"

He nodded, still smiling. "You should try it."

They both poured their drinks, and Venti grabbed a large beer glass. "For us men, we drink from big cups!" he declared boldly, pouring the entire Feitian Moutai bottle into her glass.

Yuri couldn't help but grin at hIS boldness. "You're brave," he said, raising his smaller glass.

Venti raised hIS glass with a dramatic flourish. "To good times!" she cheered.

They clinked glasses, and Venti downed the entire Moutai in one gulp.

The moment HE set the glass down, a fiery warmth spread through her chest. "This wine is strong!" he gasped, his head spinning as he slapped his own head a few times.

Yuri took a sip, grinning. "You picked the glass."

Venti, determined to stand tall, rallied herself. "When you drink, you gotta go big!" he declared, but the next moment, she slid under the table.

A few moments later, the sound of even breathing filled the air.

Yuri sighed with a shake of his head. "Tsk tsk, all your fault."

He continued to sip his wine, enjoying the snacks, as Venti remained blissfully unconscious under the table.

Inside the Star Core Hunter Base, Silver Wolf was teleported back. She kicked off his shoes and rushed to his house, bursting through the door.

Kafka was lounging on the sofa, watching TV. "Why the rush, darling?" she asked, glancing up with a raised eyebrow.

Silver Wolf didn't answer; she rushed straight to her room and shut the door behind her. Kafka, intrigued, stood up and followed him to the door of his room.

Peeking inside, she saw Silver Wolf eagerly pulling out her game console and inserting the "Elden Warrior" cartridge.

She muttered excitedly to himself, "Hey hey, new game! Here I come!"

She looked at the "Sekiro" cartridge in his hand with a mix of fondness and finality. "Sekiro! It's been fun... but now, it's time for us to part ways. Maybe one day we'll meet again."

With a dramatic flourish, Silver Wolf placed the "Sekiro" cartridge on the shelf, then hurriedly inserted the new one.

"Hehe! Immobilization Spell! I'll learn it once I finish this level! Hahahahaha! Soon, I'll become the invincible Lord Silver Wolf!" she laughed manically, eyes gleaming with excitement.

Kafka raised an eyebrow at her words. "Immobilization Spell? What's that about? You can learn it after completing the game? Darling, you're confusing me."

Silver Wolf turned around, grinning broadly. "That's right! If I finish this game, I'll gain a new skill. Come, Kafka! Test me!"

Kafka was momentarily puzzled. "You want me to chop you? Do you have a fever or something?"

Silver Wolf stood up, hands on her hips. "No fever here! Just come and chop me! Let me show you my new skill!"

Kafka finally realized what was going on. She smiled, amused. "New skills, huh? Let's see."

Without another word, she drew a knife and struck. The sound of steel clashing with steel rang out, and Silver Wolf blocked it effortlessly with a small blade.

Kafka stared in surprise. "Interesting. What skill is this?"

Silver Wolf puffed out her chest proudly. "This is the Vibrating Blade skill! It reflects physical attacks from anyone below the rank of Commander, and if I time it right, it doubles the damage!"

"Impressive," Kafka remarked, raising an eyebrow. "You're quite the fighter now."

Silver Wolf smiled smugly. "Of course!"

Kafka's gaze then drifted to the "Sekiro" cartridge sitting on the shelf. "Darling, where did you get this game?"

Silver Wolf, still grinning from ear to ear, placed her knife down and sat back on the floor to begin playing "Elden Warrior." "Kevin sold it to me. I bought it from him—said I should try it."

Kafka looked thoughtful for a moment, then Silver Wolf suddenly remembered something.

"Oh! By the way, there's something odd going on with Elio's script. There's this guy named Yuri, who opened a store on the train. I bought the game cartridge from him. You should ask Elio what's going on when you have time."

A strange feeling passed through Silver Wolf as he reflected on the situation. Something told him that Yuri's presence on the train wasn't a coincidence.

Kafka nodded thoughtfully.

"Mm."

At that moment, Kafka remembered the 100 Stellar Jade that Silver Wolf had asked her to take earlier.

Back then, Silver Wolf had mentioned wanting to buy something. Could this be what she was talking about?

"Honey, did you buy this game cartridge from Kevin?" Kafka asked, her voice light with curiosity.

Silver Wolf didn't look up from his game as she replied, her voice casual. "Yeah, they only accept star coins, which can be exchanged for Stellar Jade. Now, don't bother me, I'm about to get past this level—wait, what?! One knife and I'm dead? Come on, let's do this again!"

Kafka watched her for a moment, an amused smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"You play first. Later, we'll head to the train together."

Silver Wolf immediately groaned, clearly reluctant. "Nooo, I want to keep playing!"

Kafka smiled knowingly. "Oh? I thought you were coming with me."

Silver Wolf's gaze snapped to Kafka, catching the playful glint in her eyes. Her smile faded.

"Okay, okay. I'll go with you!" she hurriedly agreed.

Kafka gave a satisfied nod. "Good. See you later then, dear."

As she left, Silver Wolf let out a deep sigh, wiping the sweat from her brow.

Phew~ That was close. If I hadn't reacted quickly, I'd be caught in another one of Kafka's word traps.

Even with my Vibroblade, I can only defend against physical attacks, and Kafka's words are pure mental warfare. There's no defense against that...

But once I finish "Chrono Legend" I'll finally have a countermeasure. Just freeze Kafka before she can speak, and I won't have to worry about her clever manipulation anymore!

The thought of that moment made Silver Wolf smile to hersef. She could already picture the look on Kafka's face when she froze her in place.

On the train, Yuri was enjoying some snacks and wine, lazily relaxing. It wasn't long before the door of the shop opened, and in walked Himeko, followed by March 7, Klee, and Clara.

"Come on, no running around, sit on the sofa," Himeko called out. The three little ones obediently went over to sit down, spotting Yuri immediately.

"Brother Yuri~"

"Yuri!"

"Big Brother Yuri!" they all cheered in unison, their voices filled with excitement as they bounced onto the couch across from him.

Yuri grinned. "Hungry? Want some food?"

The little ones eyed the braised dishes on the table, their mouths watering.

"Yes!" they shouted together.

Yuri chuckled. "Alright, sit tight. I'll grab the tableware for you."

As the children settled on the sofa, Yuri walked over to the bar, where Himeko was pouring herself some water.

"Thanks for your hard work, Himeko," Yuri said with a smile. "And I'll need you to look after Klee and Clara as well."

Himeko smiled and waved him off. "It's no trouble. What have you been busy with, though?"

Yuri pointed toward the little ones. "Two customers just arrived. One you probably know—Silver Wolf from the Star Core Hunters."

Himeko's eyes widened a little. "The Star Core Hunter? You've been dealing with them?"

Yuri nodded, then continued, "The other one, well... look under the table."

Himeko raised an eyebrow in confusion before glancing in the direction Yuri had pointed.

Beneath the table, Venti was curled up in a peaceful sleep.

"Who's that?" Himeko asked.

Yuri grinned. "Have you met Jean and Lisa?"

Himeko nodded, her interest piqued. "I've met people from Ying's world."

Yuri's smile widened as he continued, "Well, Venti here is actually Jean and Lisa's immediate superior. He's also known as Barbatos, the Wind God of Mondstadt."

At that, Himeko blinked in surprise. "A god? Wind God, you say?"

Yuri nodded. "Yep, the Wind God. But in terms of combat power, he's more like a high-level Fate Walker."

Himeko processed this for a moment. "So, even gods can be... 'less powerful' in some ways?"

Yuri smiled at her understanding. "Exactly. In places like Teyvat, the gods aren't all-powerful—just beings with powers beyond those of mortals, revered as gods by those who worship them."

Himeko's gaze drifted back to Venti, who was still fast asleep.

"Shouldn't we wake him?" she asked.

Yuri shook his head, amused. "Nah, he's fine. Trust me, Venti's in great physical shape. He's an immortal, been around for thousands of years."

Himeko stared at Venti in disbelief. "An immortal? I had no idea."

Yuri laughed softly. "I'm sure you'll get used to it."

After a moment, Yuri brought over the tableware and distributed it to the children. Himeko joined him with a tray of juice and took a seat next to him.

Later, in Mondstadt, Venti quietly nudged open the portal just enough to slip through.

"Great, no sign of Jean. Time to head out."

She quietly closed the portal behind her and let the breeze carry her as she darted away from the office, heading west toward Liyue.

After passing through many mountains, Venti eventually landed on a towering peak that pierced the clouds. A lotus pond sat atop the mountain, with a stone table and several stone benches in the center.

The moment Venti's feet touched the ground, a voice rang out.

"Barbatos, long time no see."

Venti turned to find none other than Morax—Zhongli, the god of Liyue—standing nearby.

"Old man, you still look the same," Venti teased with a grin.

Zhongli walked toward the stone bench, sitting down with a thoughtful look. "What brings you here this time?"

Venti chuckled as she pulled out a collection of drinks from another world and some snacks she had bought from Yuri's shop.

"Old man, I brought some of the finest wine! Try it, it's from a whole different world!"

Zhongli's expression softened. "Another world? You've been there?"

Venti nodded eagerly, then began telling him about Yuri and his shop.

Zhongli listened carefully, his concern growing as Venti spoke. "New outsiders? This could disrupt the script..."

Venti took a deep sip of wine, clearly unworried. "Oh, it's already messed up. But I think it's a good thing. Meeting Yuri could be our way out."

Zhongli frowned, curious. "What do you mean?"

Venti's eyes twinkled with a glint of excitement. "You don't know, old man. Yuri's world has many planets—many are unclaimed. Any one of them could fit all the beings from Teyvat."

Zhongli's eyes narrowed. "You mean... relocation?"

Venti nodded with a grin. "Exactly. But we'll talk about that another time. Let's drink first, eh? I'll introduce you to Yuri tomorrow."

Zhongli didn't press further, choosing instead to taste the wine Venti had brought. Each bottle had a distinct flavor, unlike anything he'd experienced before.

"Hmm," Zhongli mused. "This wine does have a unique taste."

Venti's grin grew mischievous as she pulled out a bottle of Feitian Moutai. "Old man, try this one. It's the best I've ever had. You've got to taste it in one go."

Zhongli raised an eyebrow, knowing well Venti's fondness for pranks. Still, he obliged, pouring a small glass.

As he sipped, he couldn't help but chuckle. "You still enjoy playing tricks on me, don't you?"

Venti simply smiled, content to watch him enjoy the wine, the peaceful night around them blending with their shared history.

 

[JangGun]

Hey, whatever happened to kevins elf egg. The one he had in incubation.

 

[ArsMagna1337]

It will be hilarious if the egg hatched into... A replica of Paimon. Cue Paimon having existential dread as she isn't the only Paimon and that they are now truly an Emergency Food.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 21

When Venti realized he had failed to prank Zhongli, disappointment washed over him.

"No way, old man! Is my acting really that bad?"

Zhongli nodded slightly.

"Mm."

Venti sighed but quickly brightened up. He pulled out a pair of chopsticks and handed them to Zhongli.

"Old man, you should try this snack."

Zhongli took the chopsticks, picked up a piece of cold pig ear, and placed it in his mouth. The fresh aroma of chili mingled with the crispy texture, creating a satisfying contrast.

"Hmm~ This appetizer is quite good."

The two continued drinking and chatting, savoring the dish. What they didn't realize was that the enticing aroma drifted into a nearby cave, carried by the wind.

Inside the cave, Xiayun, engrossed in tinkering with a mechanism, suddenly paused. Sniffing the air, she lifted her head.

"What's that smell? Why does it smell so good?"

Following the scent, Xiayun stepped outside the cave, her wings fluttering slightly. He spotted Venti and Zhongli drinking in the distance.

"Barbatos? Emperor?"

She soared toward them, landing gracefully.

"Emperor, Venti."

Venti, who had often visited Liyue in the past, was well-acquainted with the immortals. His carefree nature made it easy for them to address him casually, except for Xiao, who maintained a respectful distance due to past blessings.

"Xiayun! Long time no see!" Venti waved enthusiastically.

Zhongli gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

Xiayun glanced at the table, noting the fine food and wine. "Venti, even after all these years, you still love your drinking."

Venti chuckled. "Of course! Hey, want to try some? I brought these from another world."

Xiayun's eyes widened. "Another world?"

Venti grinned. "Yep! If you don't believe me, ask the old man."

Xiayun turned to Zhongli, puzzled.

Zhongli simply stated, "These wines and foods are not from Teyvat."

Xiayun was stunned. "Venti, how did you get to another world?"

"It's a...long story.." Venti laughed as Zhongli and Xiayun looked on with a puzzled expression.

---

Lower Town of Belobog.

Walter turned to the robot beside them. "Is this the one?"

Dan Heng nodded. "Mm."

March 7 chimed in. "Uncle Yang, can you fix it? Svarog is very important to Clara."

Hearing Clara's name, Welt recalled the robot she had spoken about—the one that had taught her mechanical knowledge.

"Let me take a look."

After a brief inspection, Welt determined the issue. "A few connection points are burned out. I just need to replace them."

Ten minutes later, Svarog stood up, its systems restored.

"Thank you, strange human."

Welt waved it off. "It's fine. If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back."

After exchanging farewells, he returned to the train.

Kevin patted Svarog's metal leg. "Hey, what happened back there? You went berserk over nothing."

Svarog's mechanical voice responded. "Star core. Taboo. Not allowed to touch."

The realization hit them—when they had triggered forbidden information in Svarog's programming, it had automatically entered an aggressive state.

After some discussion, Svarog and the mecha soldiers returned to the mechanical settlement.

Meanwhile, Kevin, March 7th, and Dan Heng made their way to Panyan Town.

---

As they entered, they spotted Natasha, Seele, and Bronya in the distance, deep in conversation, their faces tense.

Kevin called out, "Natasha! Seele! Bronya! What's up?"

Natasha turned, relieved to see them. "You're back. How did it go?"

March 7th nodded. "All good! Svarog's fixed and back with its mecha's. What about you guys?"

Seele answered first. "We're debating whether to go to Rivet Town. The battle left many wounded, and we're running out of medical supplies."

Kevin clenched his fist. "Then let's go. We'll help."

Natasha hesitated. "You've done enough already. Seele and Bronya can handle it. You should rest."

March 7 shook her head. "It's fine. We'll go together."

Kevin grinned. "Right! I'm the righteous Galaxy Stick Man—I can't ignore someone in need!"

Seeing their determination, Natasha sighed. "Alright, but be careful. If it gets too dangerous, don't take risks."

They agreed and set off.

---

Time passed quickly, and the next day came in a blink of an eye.

On the train, inside Yuri's shop.

Pom prepared breakfast, and Yuri, Himeko, Welt and the three little ones sat around the long table in the middle to eat.

Clara was eating breakfast while reading a book. In the past two days, Clara has been learning mechanical knowledge from Welt and Himeko.

Klee and Hook used their own children's tableware to drink porridge in big gulps.

At this moment, the watch on Himeko's wrist suddenly vibrated.

Himeko opened it and looked a little surprised.

"The space readings on Yalilo IV are abnormal, and the activity in the star core is increasing."

Hearing this, Welt couldn't help but worry about Kevin, March 7th, and Dan Heng who were still on Beloberg.

"How about I go there?"

Yuri said with a smile.

"No, this is Kevin's pioneering journey. The most we can do is provide some off-field support." Himeko stated simply.

"What about the increasing activity?" Welt brought up.

"It hasn't hit a point of true danger...If it does...We can intervene." Himeko responded back with a sense of responsibility.

At this moment, an application reminder sounded in Yuri's mind.

【Zhongli applies to enter the store! 】

【Zhongli applies to enter the store! 】

【Zhongli applies to enter the store! 】

Yuri was a little surprised. Zhongli? How did he get here?

Yuri approved Zhongli's application.

The next second, the portal was pushed open, and Venti alongside Zhongli walked out.

Seeing Yuri and others eating, Venti walked over to the table and sat down in a familiar manner.

"Oh, you are eating. Let me see what you are eating."

Yuri rolled his eyes speechlessly and glanced at Venti.

"There's porridge in the kitchen. If you want to eat it, take a bowl and get it."

Venti chuckled and ran into the kitchen to make himself some porridge.

At this time, Yuri looked at Zhongli.

"Hello, what's your name, friend?"

Zhongli shifted his gaze from his surroundings to Yuri.

"Hello, my name is Zhongli, and I'm a guest at Liyue's Hall of the Rebirth."

Yuri stretched out his hand and motioned Zhongli to sit down.

"Hello, my name is Yuri, sit down and chat."

Zhongli nodded slightly, sat down at the dining table and looked at Yuri.

"I heard from Barbatos that you are selling items from all over the world. Would you mind letting me take a look?"

Yuri nodded and agreed.

"Of course, no rush. Mr. Zhongli probably hasn't eaten yet, right? Let's have a meal together?"

Zhongli nodded slightly.

"The guest should follow the host's wishes. It is better to obey than to be polite."

Yuri then shouted to Venti in the kitchen.

"Venti, bring a bowl out for Zhongli as well."

Venti turned his head and glanced, then agreed.

A few minutes later, Ventimade the porridge and sat down at the dining table.

"Grandpa, this is yours." Venti put Zhongli's porridge in front of him.

Welt was puzzled by Venti's address to Zhongli.

"Old man? If I remember correctly, Venti, you have lived for thousands of years, right?"

Venti picked up the spoon and took a sip of the porridge.

"Ah~ After a hangover, drinking some porridge in the morning is so comfortable~"

Welt looked at Zhongli.

"Then Mr. Zhongli's age......"

Venti spoke out in between eating spoonfuls of the porridge.

"The old man has lived much longer than me. He's like at least several thousand years old."

Walter and Himeko were both shocked when they heard this.

"What! Older than you?!"

Zhongli did not deny it either.

"Yeah, about the same."

Himeko was shocked.

"In our place, all immortals are cursed to a certain extent, like Xianzhou's evil spirit body, which is more likely to occur as they get older."

"I have it too, but mine is a form of wear and tear that can cause people to forget their previous memories and lose their sanity."

Upon hearing this, Yuri suddenly remembered a product he saw when he was browsing the mall out of boredom.

[Product: Clear Spirit Pill]

Function: It can enhance the rationality of the user and reduce the chance of going astray.

Price: 2000 Star Coins]

Yuri bought one directly. With Zhongli's identity, he didn't have to worry about Zhongli not being able to pay the bill.

"Zhongli, take a look at this, the Clear Spirit pill, it should be useful to you."

Zhongli looked at the Clear Spirit pill in Yuri's hand.

"Are you serious?"

Yuri nodded.

"Of course it's true. If it doesn't work, I won't charge you."

Upon hearing this, Zhongli took the Clear Spirit Pill and swallowed it in one gulp under the gaze of everyone.