Guided by Asta's command, the Doomsday Beast came to a halt on the space station's docking platform.
The entire platform seemed to have been designed to accommodate starships, with more than enough headroom and width.
It was just hard to say what Pom-Pom inside the Express would think upon seeing a Doomsday Beast lying beside it.
Sylvia certainly had no objections.
In fact, she was a bit surprised that Asta had actually agreed to her somewhat 'playful' suggestion.
Though the Doomsday Beast was powerful, after being 'tamed' by Sylvia, its demeanor wasn't all that different from Mount No. 1. Both showed considerable dependence on Sylvia and were quite obedient.
Aside from not being able to speak, it didn't feel much different from a normal adult.
Asta had seen how easy it was to communicate with these two powerful exotic creatures and how well-behaved they actually were.
That was why she had agreed to Sylvia's suggestion. The only question was whether Herta would approve of keeping it long-term.
If not, Sylvia could always release the Doomsday Beast to roam freely on the Luofu.
After all, the Xianzhou had plenty of delves.
Given Sylvia's connections with several of its leaders—Jing Yuan, Fu Xuan, and Yukong—finding a place for a moderately powerful Doomsday Beast should be manageable.
--+--
After communicating with the Doomsday Beast, Welt, standing nearby, adjusted his glasses.
At least on the surface, he seemed to have calmed down. "Miss Sylvia, perhaps we should move to another location?"
"Mmm, Stelle should get checked out first." Even though she knew nothing was likely wrong, it was still better to get a physical exam.
No one objected, so Sylvia and March 7th helped support Stelle as they headed for the elevator back to the Master Control Zone.
After Sylvia's recent display, the Express crew's impression of her had shifted considerably.
Welt's gaze kept drifting back to Sylvia, as if constantly comparing the person before him with the one in his memories.
Meanwhile, Himeko looked down at her phone, verified something, then raised her head to address Sylvia.
"Speaking of which, not long ago, I happened to hear a rumor that an Emanator of Destruction was defeated on the Xianzhou Luofu, nearly losing their life. It was said to be the work of an outsider."
"Wasn't that the news Uncle Yang picked up back then? He said the rumors were probably exaggerated and not to take them too seriously," March chimed in like a professional straight man, never letting a topic drop.
Welt adjusted his glasses again. He wasn't really in the mood to join the conversation just yet.
"Little March is right. After all, it's unverified gossip that's traveled quite far. No need to take it too seriously."
Himeko, however, smiled as she looked at Sylvia and continued, "Earlier, I thought the name Sylvia sounded somewhat familiar."
"It just occurred to me that the rumors I heard also mentioned a 'Sylvia.' Isn't that right?" Her eyes flicked toward Welt, clearly seeking confirmation.
"...Yes. And it's said that outsider rose to prominence suddenly, with no one knowing where she came from. Quite mysterious, really."
What else could Welt say? He never imagined the person from those rumors would turn out to be... this.
That he could discuss the topic calmly at all was a testament to his remarkable composure. Though the ineffable emotion tingeing his tone was something only he could understand.
"Huh? Wait a minute... What?? Himeko, you're not saying the person in the rumor is Sylvia, are you?!"
March's shock seemed genuine, her eyes wide as they darted frantically between Himeko and Sylvia.
Sylvia had no intention of hiding it. She just hadn't expected the galaxy to feel so small.
How had her deeds reached the Astral Express in such a short time? And how had the story gotten twisted?
"How did the rumor end up leaving out the Luofu's general? If he hadn't shown up in time to turn the tide, I wouldn't have been able to handle that Emanator."
In all fairness, Jing Yuan might have arrived late, but his blade had struck at precisely the right moment. Otherwise, Sylvia would have had to summon Acheron.
Hearing Sylvia's candid admission, Himeko replied with a smile, "It seems rumors really can't be fully trusted."
"Wow—So it really was you?! Sylvia, you're amazing! That was an Emanator of Destruction! I've never even seen one!" March, still supporting Stelle's arm, marveled at Sylvia's legendary experience from the other side.
What sane person just runs into an Emanator of Destruction for no reason? That's practically asking for trouble.
"It wasn't like I sought it out. Besides, that particular Emanator wasn't known for strong combat abilities. Otherwise, I wouldn't have held up either."
Sylvia offered a modest disclaimer, though it clearly had little effect.
--+--
The group helped Stelle back to the Master Control Zone and found her a spot to rest temporarily.
Asta was still busy coordinating the station's operations and hadn't had a chance to join them yet.
Himeko and the others gathered in a corner. After the medical staff gave Stelle a brief check-up, they began discussing her situation with Welt.
"...Speaking of which, Sylvia, did you already know the Stellaron was inside her before?"
When the topic of the Stellaron came up, March instantly zipped over to Sylvia's side and blurted out the question without hesitation.
"March—" Dan Heng spoke up, trying to stop her from pressing further.
The question was obviously sensitive. The wisest course was to ignore it entirely—if Himeko didn't bring it up, they shouldn't either.
Both sides could let it slide with mutual understanding. Pushing the matter wouldn't do any good for either Stelle or Sylvia.
"It's fine. It's not something I can't talk about." Sylvia smiled at Dan Heng.
He might not say much, but he was reliable.
And compared to his four-star counterpart in the game, Sylvia felt Dan Heng's combat prowess, even without tapping into his Vidyadhara form, wasn't weak at all.
He just disliked his past power, constantly imposing limits on himself.
"Actually, it's nothing complicated. I simply saw the Stellaron being implanted into her body. I was in the Storage Zone at the time too."
As she spoke, Sylvia glanced at Stelle, asleep on a nearby folding cot.
"Stelle was still unconscious then, and I needed to find Arlan. It wasn't convenient to carry her around, so I just cleared the monsters along the way. That's when I ran into her with you."
"Ohh—That explains it! Stelle and I didn't encounter any enemies when we came out." March clapped her hands together in sudden understanding.
Welt listened carefully to Sylvia's account, then suddenly asked, "If I may be so bold, Miss Sylvia, do you know who was responsible for what happened to her?"
"The Stellaron Hunters."
At Sylvia's words, Himeko and Welt both frowned.
The Stellaron Hunters didn't have a good reputation across the cosmos, primarily due to their rough methods and a somewhat casualty-indifferent approach.
Of course, the more crucial point was: if this was a Stellaron Hunter operation, then Stelle's appearance was undoubtedly connected to that 'Destiny's Slave.'
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.