『 Stelle walked down the aisle.
Soon, she followed the directions and arrived at the door of her room.
[ Stelle: Strange… why is my room door open? Huh, who is that… ? ]
Stelle walked to the doorway, only to find the door to her room, was wide open.
And when she walked in, puzzled, she found a familiar figure standing in her room.
This figure was Aventurine!
[ Aventurine: What a coincidence, we meet again. ]
Aventurine sensed the arrival of the person, turned around and greeted her.
[ Stelle: We meet again, friend! ]
One does not hit a smiling face, because she had received Aventurine's credits, Stelle warmly called Aventurine her friend.
[ Aventurine: That's right, friend! ]
[ Don't be nervous, I just came to bask in the good fortune. It's your room now, but half a system hour ago—it was mine. ]
[ Lucky building number, lucky floor, lucky room number. I went through a lot of trouble to book such a treasure… I'm giving it to you, you must cherish it, friend. ]
Aventurine smiled and explained why he was there.
[ Stelle: You gave me this room? ]
Stelle was a little surprised to hear Aventurine's words.
[ Aventurine: Otherwise, did the Family give it to you for free? ]
[ This Penacony is a genuine dreamland. How many people in the entire galaxy are willing to spend half their lives just to get an admission ticket to the Reverie Hotel? ]
[ Think carefully about what kind of people can stay here. If I hadn't made a plan, how would the Family dare to offend those celebrities and big shots to open a back door for you, this "uninvited guest"? ]
[ So sit down and talk—by hook or by crook, I have this right, don't I? ]
Aventurine gradually revealed his true colors, immediately using moral blackmail on Stelle, leaving her speechless. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Good heavens, Aventurine, are you gaslighting me?"
Stelle: "I didn't ask you to give me this room, why are you morally blackmailing me!"
Stelle: "If you hadn't arbitrarily given me your room, I would have already taken over Dan Heng's ROOM!! (Angry.jpg!)"
Stelle immediately got angry when she saw Aventurine pressuring her in the video!
Furina: "Yay, the villain has stopped pretending and is about to reveal his insidious true colors!"
Xiangling: "Mr. Aventurine, how will you refute this?"
Himeko: "Mr. Aventurine, no matter what your intentions are towards Stelle, our Express crew will not agree!"
Lumine: "Right, we won't AGREE!!"
Paimon: "Paimon, won't agree!"
Aventurine: "….."
Aventurine looked at this scene, feeling utterly unable to defend himself.
Boothill: "Heh, the trash from the IPC is as hypocritical as ever."
Aventurine: "Friend, we have no grievances, do we?"
Boothill: "Dang it, I have a grudge against the IPC, and I can't stand anything related to them!"
Boothill: "What? You disagree?"
Aventurine: "….."
....
『 In the video.
[ Stelle: You should talk to Sister Himeko, or Uncle Yang. ]
Stelle shook her head, feeling she had nothing to talk about with Aventurine.
She wasn't a strategist, nor was she an old senior of the Express crew.
Negotiation wasn't her job.
[ Aventurine: Wrong, the person I need to find is you. ]
[ Simply put, friend, I need your help. You might not know it yet, but Penacony is far from as simple as it seems. The Family's eyes are everywhere here, I don't want to say it explicitly, you understand. ]
[ My goal is very simple: to help the IPC reclaim something that rightfully belongs to it. If you are willing to help me, you will receive a generous reward and the protection of "Preservation" after the deed is done. ]
Aventurine's words were shocking, startling Stelle.
He was actually plotting against the Family, which Stelle had not anticipated.
[ Aventurine: After all, you are different from others. You are special, special enough to overturn the entire card table. That "power," don't you want to use it? Or… don't you want to get rid of it? Don't you want to become famous throughout the universe with it? ]
[ That power, feared yet desired by all, is within your grasp… ]
[ …."Stellaron" Miss, did I say that right? ]
Aventurine saw Stelle's momentary daze and pressed on, both coaxing and threatening.
With this two-pronged approach, Stelle's mental defenses began to waver slightly. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Dan Heng: "As expected of a high-ranking member of the IPC, to know such a secret."
Dan Heng: "But, you shouldn't have bad intentions towards her… Mr. AVENTURINE!!"
March 7th: "That's right, you bad guy, you're not allowed to plot against Stelle!"
Pam: "As the Conductor, I cannot stand by and watch my passengers be bullied!"
Pam: "If you really do something to her, then Pam will use some long-standing favors to demand an explanation from the IPC!"
Himeko: "Mr. Aventurine, I can tell you're a smart man. I hope you don't dig your own grave."
Welt: "The Express crew won't let you harm a single hair on Stelle's head."
Stelle: "Wuwuwu, you guys are so good to me, I'm going to cry myself to DEATH!!"
This scene in the video, incited the entire Express crew to a fervent uproar, they all began to speak up, backing Stelle!
....
—✦In Between✦—
—✦Genshin Impact World✦—
"Is this the Express crew? They are truly unbelievably united!"
Albedo, in the snow-capped mountains, upon seeing this scene, felt deeply moved.
The blood in his body began to slightly boil.
.. . ..
"Wow, their feelings for each other are truly very, very good! If one companion is wronged, a group of companions will stand up without hesitation to help her get even! This feeling is just too wonderful! Paimon is almost moved to tears!"
"Traveler, after you find your brother, let's also find a way to join the Astral Express, okay? That way, we can also become family-like companions with them. Then we won't have to fear fighting alone or being bullied when we go out! How wonderful would that be…"
Paimon was deeply touched by the Express crew's protective camaraderie,
At this moment, she greatly desired to become a member of the Express crew!
"Join the Astral Express? If there truly is such an opportunity… I won't give it up!"
Paimon's suggestion, also made Lumine a little moved.
To be honest, she was now a bit envious of the atmosphere on the Express.
—
—✦Honkai Star Rail World✦—
"Heh heh, foolish gambler, it seems you've messed everything up. Let's see how you resolve this now."
In a room somewhere in Penacony, Dr. Ratio watched this scene and couldn't help but sneer.
He had always disliked Aventurine's style, so seeing him suffer a loss now felt quite satisfying.
—
『 In the video.
[ Stelle: How did you know? ]
Stelle was very shocked, and blurted it out.
[ Aventurine: I know now. ]
Aventurine's answer made Stelle pause. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Hu Tao: "???"
Hu Tao: "You were actually bluffing Miss Stelle the whole time?"
Hu Tao: "That's too insidious?!"
Arataki Itto: "Ahhh, USING SUCH DESPICABLE METHODS!! Aventurine, are you even a man!"
Arataki Itto: "This boss looks down on you!"
Kamisato Ayato: "Heh heh, Mr. Aventurine seems very skilled at scheming and manipulating people!"
Kamisato Ayaka: "As expected of an elite from the massive Interastral Peace Corporation, this kind of tactic is indeed extraordinary."
Scaramouche: "Heh, merely a despicable scoundrel who excels at petty tricks."
Paimon: "Uh… aren't you ashamed to say that, as a Fatui Harbinger?"
Childe: "Exactly, if you're not ashamed, I'm ashamed for you!"
Childe: "Do you really think all you freaks are as straightforward as I am?"
Lumine: "Childe… you're not much better, are you?"
Childe: "Hey, buddy, at least I'm direct. Aren't I?"
Childe: "Unlike them, who have hundreds of tricks up their sleeves, constantly thinking about scheming against this or that."
Dottore: "Tartaglia, you brute, do you really think we're all as foolish as you?"
Dottore: "Do you know why you can only rank at the bottom of the Fatui? It's because you're hopelessly stupid."
Hanabi: "Oh~ Is this infighting within the same organization! Hehehe, I love watching this the most!"
Hanabi: "Fight~! Kill~! I want to see rivers of blood~ (Evil grin.jpg)"
Arlecchino: "Enough, you fools! Do you think it's not disrespectful enough?"
Scaramouche: "You crazy woman, stop pretending. What right do you have to scold us?"
Boothill: "Hahahaha, dang it, my stomach hurts from laughing so hard."
Boothill: "I say, what kind of bizarre organization are you Fatui? Your own people attack each other?"
Seele: "It's an eye-opener."
Sampo: "I say, everyone, can we please stop arguing? Peace and harmony are important!"
Stelle: "EVERYONE PLEASE SHUT UP! DON'T DISTURB ME WATCHING THE VIDEO!!!"
Stelle shouted in the live stream, whether by coincidence or not, in any case, after that sentence, everyone stopped arguing.
....
『 In the video.
[ Aventurine: You don't have to answer me now, thinking also takes time. When the time is right, I will naturally come to find you. ]
[ Of course, you can also discuss it with your companions, or even turn around and use me. I welcome it—because that is also showing me your value. ]
[ I never do losing business, I hope all "friends"… don't disappoint me. ]
Aventurine's tone was very arrogant, as if he didn't take Stelle seriously at all.
[ Stelle: I can't make decisions on my own! ]
Stelle shook her head firmly!
[ Aventurine: I said, there's no need to rush to answer, because no matter what… the outcome won't change! ]
Aventurine said this with a playful expression and a confident tone.
Then, he began to walk towards the door, seeming to intend to leave.
However, when he reached the door, he stopped again.
[ Aventurine: Oh, by the way, before I leave, let's play another game. It's very simple, guess which hand the chip is in—just to get to know each other, so you can better understand my personality and way of doing things…. ]
Aventurine turned around, a powerful aura spread with him.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense!
A chip was tossed into the air by him, then disappeared in a blink of an eye, replaced by… two clenched hands!
He held his two clenched hands in front, asking Stelle to make a choice.
The pressure gradually intensified, cold sweat began to seep from Stelle's forehead.
[ Aventurine: Left or right? Get ready—I'm about to reveal the answer. ]
Aventurine's tone was still as playful as ever, making Stelle even more nervous.
At this moment, she was completely caught in Aventurine's rhythm, only able to be led by the nose.
She looked at Aventurine's two fists, a feeling of doom if she chose wrong inexplicably surged in her heart.
This made her feel a little uncertain, not knowing which to choose.
But after a moment, clenching her teeth, she made her final decision.
However, what awaited her was….
[ Aventurine: ….Oh, I guess I haven't asked you which side you chose yet. But it doesn't matter, because— ]
Aventurine's smile grew more unrestrained, and he began to step closer to Stelle.
His clenched hands also gradually loosened.
[ Aventurine: Friend, the game has begun. Let's make a deal. ]
[ You cannot refuse… there's no reason… ]
As Aventurine said this, his hands were completely open.
However, both of his hands were empty!
[ Stelle: Huh?!!! ]
Stelle suddenly realized something was wrong!
She subconsciously looked at her own hand.
As a result, the chip was now tightly clutched in her palm!
[ Aventurine: Heh… and no room for MANEUVER!!! ]
Stelle's scalp tingled, and she couldn't help but look up, meeting Aventurine's somewhat eerie eyes.
Stelle's inner defenses began to crumble, and the situation seemed to become critical!
However, at this moment, with a bang!
The room door was roughly pushed open!
A cold and proud woman walked in, somewhat angrily!
[ Hello there. What are you doing in my room? ]
The woman's aura was extremely powerful, dispelling the pressure brought by Aventurine as soon as she entered the door.
She walked up to Aventurine and began to question him coldly, making Stelle's heart surge! 』
『 ....』