"This Xiao Guizi really knows how to guess!"
Seeing the bizarre logic displayed by Guizi in the livestream(chat), March 7th couldn't help but laugh helplessly.
After watching the effects of Luocha's skills, she turned to him and said, "So you're a healer… uh, no, a support-type character!"
The rather inelegant term made Luocha frown slightly.
"I mean your role in Star Rail! You're the type who can heal teammates."
"Ah." Luocha showed a look of realization. "So this is how Yu Ling categorized me."
He then took out his Jade Abacus and searched for his name. Soon, he found what he was looking for.
Fans had already edited clips of his skill animations from the story, and most of the predictions about his abilities and mechanics were spot-on.
After watching, Luocha smiled faintly.
"Fits my own expectations."
The group moved away from the bustling Xianzhou crowds and prepared to board a ship to their next destination.
"There are too many of us—let's split into two groups," Jing Yuan suggested. No one objected or refused.
Jing Yuan boarded the first ship, followed closely by Jingliu. Seeing this, Blade also stepped aboard.
Dan Heng sighed, exchanged a glance with the Express crew, and entered the first ship as well.
"Looks like we'll have to squeeze together," Kafka said with a chuckle.
Welt, however, still seemed worried. "That swordsman… Are you sure it's safe?"
"Relax, those three have no reason to fight now. Blade won't cause any trouble."
"In my opinion, Blade is much more obedient than… Jingliu."
As they spoke, the first ship departed.
Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was unexpectedly calm—far from the tension one might expect.
Blade sat in the darkest corner, seemingly in a dormant state after the earlier battle had drained him.
Jingliu had re-donned her black veil. At one point, she seemed about to speak but ultimately stayed silent.
Dan Heng, uncomfortable with the mood, stepped out onto the deck, where Jing Yuan stood.
The usually composed and cold general now seemed unusually relaxed.
Dan Heng gazed at the glowing Arbor in the distance.
"Right now, Phantylia must be absorbing its power."
"Indeed," Jing Yuan replied. "I hope she takes as much as possible—so the Arbor remains dormant for centuries."
"Still, Phantylia is an Emanator of Destruction. If she gains the Arbor's power, she might reach unprecedented heights."
Jing Yuan chuckled and patted Dan Heng's shoulder. Then, with a meaningful glance toward the cabin and the second ship following behind, his message was clear—
"With the former Quintet reunited…"
"Victory is assured!"
---
Xiao Guizi's Livestream
The battle against the Mara-Struck had ended.
Sushang asked the rescued girl, "Are you injured?"
"A pointless question," the girl replied coldly.
"Ah… Sorry, I didn't see any blood, so I thought you were fine. Turns out you're a mechanized puppet?"
"My motor system is damaged. I can't move."
"You're with the Cloud Knights? Good. Escort me to the Divination Commission."
"Uh…"
Sushang scratched her head and turned to the other two. "Luocha, March, sorry—we'll have to delay. This girl is a puppet judge from the Ten-Lords Commission. As a Cloud Knight, I have to prioritize her orders."
"Sorry… If you'd gone ahead without me, you might've arrived by now."
Watching this, Guinaifen looked stunned.
"She's a mechanized puppet? Wow, Xianzhou has this kind of system?"
"She's a judge of the Ten-Lords Commission…" Sushang whispered in reminder. "Better not discuss them too much—they might just show up at your door."
Guinaifen nodded. As an outsider, she knew little about the Ten-Lords Commission, but she had enough sense to be cautious.
She was a short-life species—she'd prefer to live a few more years!
In games, it was fine to joke about the Xianzhou's generals or even how to kill Aeons—those beings were too distant to care. But the Ten-Lords judges?
They might actually come for you.
"Elusive" was the perfect word to describe them.
Yet, the livestream viewers had no such reservations.
"This judge is still quite charming, isn't she?"
"Judge: I know you don't want to follow me, but what if I'm a delicate girl in white stockings?"
"Are all the Ten-Lords puppets like this? If so, I'm signing up!"
"Let me be blunt: I'm the judge's loyal dog!"
---
Meanwhile, in Cloudford…
Aside from the Cloud Knights, the Ten-Lords Commission had also dispatched judges to apprehend the remnants of the Denizens of Abundance.
The leading judge, Xueyi, noticed her younger sister, Hanya, staring at her Jade Abacus.
"Little sister, refrain from using the Jade Abacus during operations."
Hanya blinked. "Sister, you handle capture, binding, punishment, and interrogation as one of the Four Judges, while I oversee records. I must understand the sins of the accused—and that includes staying informed."
"This game, Honkai: Star Rail, has the Ten-Lords Commission's approval. All its information is valid."
"Weren't we able to act so swiftly against the Denizens because of it?"
Xueyi nodded. "I just worry you might trip and break an arm or leg. That would be inconvenient."
"Thanks for the concern."
Suddenly, Hanya froze, her expression turning complicated.
"What's wrong?" Xueyi asked.
"In this part of the story… you make an appearance."
"Me?"
Xueyi was momentarily stunned. She had forgotten many things—yet now, she was a character in this game, watched by countless Xianzhou netizens.
The sudden exposure left even her feeling unsettled.
But soon, her face hardened.
"It matters not. As a judge of the Ten-Lords Commission, I've long discarded such trivial emotions."
"Whether they call us cold or heartless, it changes nothing."
"No, sister—the comments aren't like that." Hanya opened the live chat and showed her.
Xueyi's eyes immediately locked onto phrases like "still charming," "white-stockinged girl," and "I'm your dog."
Her grip on her chains tightened with a metallic clank.
"These netizens… their sins run deep!"
"If not for my duties today, I would track down every one of these insolent fools and deliver judgment!"
(T/N: Peak emotionless waifu behavior)
To be continued…
Advanced 100 Chapters are up on my Patreon!
pat reon.com/AlphaSenatus