Honkai Star Rail: I Played the Villain, Now the Heroines Want Revenge — Chapter 246

Chapter 246: Alliance, and Fu Xuan’s Bet

“General Jing Yuan!”

The Cloud Knight captain who had been berating them a moment ago saw the projection and rushed forward as if he had seen a savior.

“General, the prisoner Kafka… she, she ran away.”

“I know.”

Jing Yuan waved his hand, signaling him not to say more.

“I saw everything that just happened.”

His gaze swept over the Astral Express Crew, and finally, settled on Orion.

“Killing an Aeon… Heh heh, truly an interesting proposal.”

His tone was light, making it impossible to tell if he was approving or mocking.

“General Jing Yuan, you heard it too?” Welt asked, stepping forward.

“Of course.” Jing Yuan nodded, his lazy demeanor unshaken. “After all, with such a big commotion happening in the Divination Commission, how could I not know?”

He took a few steps forward, coming to the edge of the platform. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the sea of clouds below.

“The Stellaron Hunter Kafka, truly lives up to her reputation. Her courage and methods are extraordinary. It seems I underestimated her.”

“So what do we do now?” March 7th asked, “Are we just going to let her run away?”

“Hmm… let her go.”

Jing Yuan shook his head, then turned around, a meaningful smile on his face.

“Since she has nothing to do with our Stellaron, the priority now is no longer to capture the Stellaron Hunter.”

Jing Yuan looked at Welt.

“Mr. Welt… what do you… think of the ‘alliance’ proposal Kafka just made?”

This question plunged Welt into silence.

An alliance with the Xianzhou Luofu to jointly fight against Destruction.

This sounded like an offer that couldn’t be refused.

But the risks involved were equally immense.

Once accepted, it would mean the Astral Express would be completely drawn into a war with an Aeon.

This seemed somewhat contrary to their long-held path of trailblazing.

“This matter is of great importance, and I need to discuss it with my companions,” Welt replied cautiously.

“Of course.”

Jing Yuan nodded, expressing understanding.

“It’s just that now, the Luofu… doesn’t have much time to waste.”

His tone suddenly became heavy.

“General, what do you mean by that?”

“Literally.” Jing Yuan sighed, the smile fading. “The Luofu’s Stellaron Sickness has reached an uncontrollable point. If this continues, before long, the entire Luofu will become a madhouse.”

“And the Stellaron that caused all of this, we still… haven’t found any trace of it.”

This news made the hearts of the Astral Express Crew sink.

“Therefore, I need your strength.”

Jing Yuan’s gaze once again fell on Orion.

“Especially you, Sir Orion. You, who can slay a Lord Ravager, must have a way to help us find and resolve that Stellaron… So, regardless of whether it aligns with Destruction’s goals, forming an alliance with you now to quickly resolve the crisis is my wish.”

This was almost a plea.

For the General of the Luofu to humble himself and make such a low, direct request to an outsider.

It showed how critical the situation on the Luofu had become.

Orion did not answer immediately.

He thought for a moment, weighing the pros and cons.

His Emanator of Finality ability gave him glimpses of the future. He saw futures where they declined, and the Luofu fell into chaos. He saw futures where they accepted, and the path led straight to the heart of the Stellaron.

That Stellaron held a great attraction for him.

Since I have to get it anyway…

I might as well do a favor and let the Xianzhou owe me one.

“Alright.”

Finally, Orion nodded.

“I agree.”

“Excellent!”

Jing Yuan’s face showed genuine joy.

“With Sir Orion’s word, I am relieved.”

“Since the Astral Express agrees, I shall represent the Luofu and form an official alliance with all of you.”

“To show the sincerity of my Luofu, and to facilitate your upcoming actions…”

He cleared his throat and announced, his voice resonating with authority:

“Effective immediately, in the name of the Luofu Cloud Knights General, I grant the Astral Express the highest operational authority!”

“All departments of the Luofu’s Six Commissions must unconditionally cooperate with your investigation!”

“Seeing the Astral Express is like seeing me in person!”

Upon hearing this, March 7th’s eyes widened.

“Seeing the Astral Express is like seeing him in person?!”

This power was… too great!

Didn’t this mean they could walk around the Luofu as they pleased?

“General, this… this is against the rules!”

The Cloud Knight captain became anxious and quickly stepped forward to persuade him. “Delegating your authority to outsiders, if the Ten-Lords Commission were to know about this, I’m afraid…”

“It’s fine.”

Jing Yuan waved his hand, cutting him off.

“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Rules are dead, people are alive. As long as the Luofu’s crisis can be resolved, I, Jing Yuan, will bear all the costs.”

His words were decisive, carrying the charisma of a true commander.

Welt looked at him, and couldn’t help but feel a touch of admiration.

This Luofu General was indeed a responsible and far-sighted individual.

“Then, thank you for your trust, General.”

Orion accepted this authority on behalf of the Astral Express Crew.

“You’re welcome.”

Jing Yuan smiled, “I merely made the most correct choice.”

His projection began to become ethereal.

“Alright, I still have some matters to attend to here, so I’ll take my leave. If any of you need anything, you can contact me anytime via the Jade Abacus.”

“The future of the Luofu is entrusted to all of you.”

With that, Jing Yuan’s projection disappeared.

The Cloud Knight captain looked at the Astral Express Crew, his gaze becoming complex.

Not long ago, they were objects of suspicion and surveillance.

In the blink of an eye, they had become imperial envoys wielding the highest power on the Luofu.

This change in status was a bit too fast.

“Ahem.”

He cleared his throat, stepped forward, and saluted Welt and the others.

“Esteemed members of the Astral Express, what are your commands next? We will cooperate fully!”

This address of “Esteemed members” made March 7th and Stelle feel a bit lightheaded.

“Um… commands, well…”

March 7th put her hands behind her back, mimicking an adult, and paced two steps in place.

“We haven’t thought of anything yet, we’ll tell you when we do!”

Stelle also followed suit, puffing out her chest and clearing her throat.

“Mm! You all go attend to your duties first, don’t disturb us while we discuss important matters!”

The captain’s mouth twitched, but he still respectfully agreed and led his subordinates out.

Watching them leave, March 7th finally couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Hahaha, this is too fun! Having power really feels different!”

“It does!” Stelle also nodded excitedly, “Does this mean we can go wherever we want and eat whatever we want on the Luofu from now on?”

“Theoretically, yes.”

Welt shook his head, a helpless smile on his face.

“But our responsibilities have also become heavier.”

“Now, we must quickly find the location of that Stellaron.”

He looked at Orion. “Orion, do you have any leads?”

Orion thought for a moment before saying:

“Not yet.”

“Then what do we do?” March 7th was a bit deflated. “How do we find it in such a vast Xianzhou?”

Just as everyone was at a loss, a voice suddenly came from behind them.

“Perhaps I can help you find the Stellaron.”

Everyone turned around, only to see Fu Xuan had reappeared beside them at some point.

Her face still looked unwell, pale and strained, but she was much calmer than before.

March 7th was a little surprised. “Weren’t you just…?”

“This Seat merely went to calm down for a moment.”

Fu Xuan walked in front of everyone, her gaze falling directly on Orion, as if no one else existed.

Stelle stepped half a pace forward, instinctively blocking Orion, and asked curiously:

“You said you can find the Stellaron?”

Fu Xuan’s gaze passed over Stelle, still fixed on Orion.

“Although the Matrix of Prescience’s calculations point to you as the source of the disaster, it also shows that a more powerful force of ‘Destruction’ is lurking in the shadows of the Luofu.”

“That should be the Stellaron,” Welt pushed up his glasses.

“Exactly.” Fu Xuan nodded. “It’s just that that power is shrouded in a layer of mist, and even the Matrix of Prescience cannot fully perceive it.”

“Therefore, I need your help.”

“My Matrix of Prescience should be able to estimate a few broadly possible locations. But the Xianzhou is preoccupied, so I can only ask you to investigate them one by one to find the Stellaron’s true location.”

“What’s in it for us if we help you?” Orion asked, a lazy smile touching his lips.

“In it for you?”

Fu Xuan was taken aback; she hadn’t expected Orion to be so direct, to haggle, even skipping the polite formalities.

“Isn’t helping the Luofu overcome this calamity the greatest benefit? Haven’t you already agreed to an alliance with Jing Yuan?”

Orion shook his head. “That’s an alliance with General Jing Yuan, not with you. Master Diviner, if you’re making us do this legwork, you should at least give us some compensation, right?”

“Exactly, exactly!” March 7th immediately chimed in, hands on her hips. “We’re not just anyone you can order around!”

Stelle also nodded vigorously, shielding Orion. “Good brothers aren’t for running errands!”

Fu Xuan’s small face turned pale with anger.

This is outrageous! This Seat, the dignified Master Diviner, has never been haggled with like this before!

But she also had to admit that Orion had a point.

This was indeed a thankless task, and the risks were extremely high.

Currently, on the Xianzhou, Jing Yuan was overwhelmed dealing with the escalating Stellaron Sickness, and most of his Cloud Knights were also infected.

That child Yanqing was severely injured not long ago and had not yet woken up.

Yukong and the Sky-Faring Commission were busy coordinating support from the Yaoqing, also stretched thin.

As for herself, managing the Matrix of Prescience was her limit; combat was not her forte.

Sending others would risk them suddenly falling ill during the mission and becoming new problems.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and said:

“Alright. What ‘benefits’ do you want?”

“How about we make a bet?”

A mischievous, almost challenging smile played on Orion’s lips.

“A bet?” Fu Xuan frowned.

“Yes.” Orion nodded. “We’ll bet on who can find that Stellaron first. If I find it and seal it first, that person wins… If I win, you, Master Diviner Fu Xuan, must grant me one condition.”

“What condition?”

“I haven’t thought of it yet. I’ll tell you when I win.”

“This…”

“What if you lose?”

“I lose?” Orion spread his hands, his smile widening. “You can do whatever you want with me.”

This bet didn’t sound like much.

But for some reason, looking at Orion’s confident, handsome face, Fu Xuan’s heart involuntarily skipped a beat.

In her mind, that recurring, agonizing dream inexplicably surfaced.

In the dream, that white-haired Foxian diviner, “Jiang Xuan,” had once made a similar bet with her, using that exact same tone.

He had said: “If I win, the General must kiss me.”

At this thought, a dark blush crept onto Fu Xuan’s cheeks.

She suddenly puffed out her chest, trying to appear more imposing, wanting to suppress that unusual, embarrassing feeling.

“Alright!”

“I’ll bet with you!”

“But the conditions must be changed!”

“If I win,” she declared, her voice trembling slightly, “you, Orion, must stay in my Divination Commission and be a diviner here! Never to leave for your entire life!”

She didn’t know why she blurted out this condition.

It was as if it was the deepest obsession of her betrayed self in the dream.

“Oh? Interesting…” Orion smiled. “And what if you lose?”

“If I lose…”

Fu Xuan’s eyes flickered, and she bit her lower lip.

“I, Fu Xuan, will serve you like a beast of burden, bringing you tea and pouring water! As long as you are on the Luofu, I will be your personal servant!”

“P-personal servant?!”

March 7th’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

She looked at the flushed, yet feigning-calm, Fu Xuan. Then she looked at Orion. She felt her brain completely overwhelmed.

What is all this about?!

Weren’t they just enemies, suspecting us of being harbingers of disaster?

How did it turn into flirting in the blink of an eye? And betting on becoming a servant if you lose?

Are the Master Diviners of the Luofu all this… playful?

Stelle was equally bewildered, looking at Orion, then at Fu Xuan.

What’s going on?

Why did it feel like all the women in the world wanted to steal her good brother?

First that coquettish Tingyun, then that incomprehensible Kafka, and now a straight-faced, nonsensical Fu Xuan…

And each one has a higher status than the last! And each one is… more shameless!

“Alright.”

Just as everyone was still in shock, Orion readily agreed.

He looked at Fu Xuan, his smile growing even brighter.

“It’s a deal. I hope the Master Diviner will not go back on her word when the time comes.”

“Hmph! This Seat’s word is as good as gold, how could I go back on it!”

Fu Xuan spoke defiantly, but her flickering eyes and increasingly red cheeks betrayed her inner panic.

“It’s you who shouldn’t renege if you lose!”

“Don’t worry.” Orion shrugged. “I’ve always been a good loser.”

“Alright, since the bet is settled, let’s begin.”

March 7th leaned close to Orion, gently tugging at his sleeve.

“Hey, Orion… how are we going to find it?!”

“The Luofu is so big, are you really confident? Don’t actually end up staying here as a diviner.”

No sooner had she spoken than Fu Xuan overheard her.

Fu Xuan’s lips curved upwards, a triumphant expression on her face, finally regaining some ground.

“What? Scared now?”

She crossed her arms and looked at Orion:

“This Seat has been divining day and night for the past few days, expending a great deal of mental energy, and only barely managed to pinpoint a few of the most probable locations from countless variables. Do you want this Seat to tell you?”

“However, it’s not without conditions. If you admit defeat now, I’ll tell you.”

“No need.”

Orion refused without even thinking. “The Master Diviner can just rest easy and wait to serve me tea and water.”

Fu Xuan’s triumphant expression froze on her face.

She was somewhat annoyed, and also a little confused: “So, where does your confidence come from?”

“Nowhere.” Orion smiled. “Just a hunch that I can find it.”

A hunch?

Fu Xuan almost laughed in exasperation.

Using such an ethereal, unreliable thing as her trump card, and daring to bet with her, the Master Diviner?

Who did he think he was?

However, after Orion finished speaking, he no longer looked at her, but instead cast his gaze towards the distant outside of the Divination Commission.

It’s almost time…

Now, is it?

Just as Fu Xuan was about to speak again, an unexpected change occurred!

“Look! What is that?!” March 7th suddenly shouted, pointing at the sky inside the Divination Commission.