In a tone both gentle and firm, Himeko explained to the newcomers the profound threats and ecological shifts that accompany a Stellaron's descent upon a world. Her gaze swept across each of them.
"Star, Caelus, Seele," she began, "along with March 7th and Dan Heng, I want to entrust this trailblazing mission to you."
"Your objective is to locate the Stellaron that's obstructing the star rail routes and inflicting disaster upon this world. You are to seal it, contain it, or retrieve it."
"Yay!" March 7th cheered. As the most recent arrival before this group, she was used to being looked after by everyone else. Now, with three newcomers arriving all at once, she finally had the chance to indulge in being the senior member!
Perhaps realizing her current behavior wasn't quite fitting for a reliable senior, March quickly composed herself and gave a serious salute. "Yes, ma'am! Mission accepted, guaranteed completion!"
"GIG!" Star mimicked, saluting Himeko as well. However, her clumsy posture and mischievous air made her look like a university student playing a caricature of an enemy soldier.
Himeko couldn't help but chuckle at Star's antics, though a small question lingered. "GIG? What's that?"
"No idea. Seems like something you're supposed to shout when heading out on a mission." Star scratched her head, puzzled, then shot a sideways glance at Caelus, nudging him with her elbow. "Caelus buddy?"
"You already know we're basically the same person. If you don't know, how would I?" Caelus shrugged, reinforcing his amnesiac persona. "But I vaguely recall it means something like that."
(Regarding GIG, the one undoubtedly most qualified to speak would be Leo, whose work experience felt akin to serving a prison sentence.)
"...Are you sure this is alright?" Welt Yang pushed his glasses up, leaning towards Himeko to ask quietly, "Star and Caelus's mental states... you know..."
"With Dan Heng watching over them, it should be fine." Otherwise, Himeko certainly wouldn't feel comfortable letting March lead three newcomers on a trailblazing mission alone, especially when two of those newcomers seemed to verge on being completely unhinged.
Himeko gave Welt a knowing half-smile, a hint of unspoken anticipation visible in her brown eyes. "I know you're eager to go, but the younger generation needs a chance to venture out on their own, build some camaraderie."
"Besides..." Himeko lowered her voice, "Star caught Nanook of Destruction's gaze before. I think it's best we stay prepared for the Antimatter Legion."
Welt's brow furrowed slightly, then he nodded. "You have a point."
Ignoring the hushed conversation between the two 'parental figures,' March 7th gazed down at the ice-white planet below, a confident smile spreading across her face. This planet was covered in ice – practically her home turf!
"Alright, alright! Gather 'round! Let the mature and adorable Senior March 7th teach you the first lesson of trailblazing!" Adopting the gentle, kindly tone of a kindergarten teacher, March clapped her hands. "Question! Before setting out to explore an unfamiliar planet, what's the very first thing we need to do?"
"I know! I know!" Star shot her hand up excitedly. "Grab your baseball bat and get ready for a killing spree!" She let out a wicked cackle, adopting a stereotypical villainous officer's accent. "Everything-y! All chests-y, open them up-y! All pretty maidens-y, snatch them up-y! All enemies-y, burn them all up-y!"
"Know your head! We're going to help them solve the Stellaron disaster, not act like interstellar pirates committing robbery!" March's expression twisted, bringing down a disciplinary hand-chop onto the unruly 'child.'
"Seele thinks... we should first prepare the necessary supplies for the expedition," Seele raised her hand timidly, like the quiet, reserved girl found in every classroom. It was 'White Seele' controlling the body at this moment.
"Not bad, not bad! Little Seele makes a very good point. Stocking up on supplies needed for the journey is indeed an important part of preparation." March gave Seele an encouraging and comforting look. "However, the correct answer is something relatively more crucial. Seele, you can think about it some more."
"Could it be... taking precautions? Like having Himeko use the orbital cannon to scour the planet's surface first? To prevent us from running into danger when we land?" Caelus spontaneously nominated himself as the trio's 'ideas guy,' holding up a finger. Booyah! That way, they could prevent anyone from finding Tarakudo's Mask or the Evil Moving God Goriking, bringing disaster upon Jarilo-VI.
Wearing a stunned 'Huh?' expression, March held back for a long moment before finally blurting out, "I think you might be leaning towards... excessive extremism."
"Let me repeat: we are going to help this world resolve the disaster brought by the Stellaron, not help the Stellaron destroy the world!" March looked like she was on the verge of a small breakdown. She suddenly felt that being a senior wasn't all that great, and her gratitude for Himeko and Uncle Yang's past care deepened. Surely she hadn't caused them as much trouble as Star and Caelus were causing her now?
"So, Senior March, what is the first thing we should do?" Star snapped to attention, shouting in a spirited voice.
Feeling her blood pressure might not hold up if this continued, March stopped teasing them. She held up a finger and instructed earnestly, "Ahem, what I'm about to say is crucial knowledge, the kind that appears on exams. The very first thing you must do before trailblazing on an unknown planet is—find the almighty Teacher Dan Heng."
"He will provide us with preliminary survey data on the planet's ecosystem and local civilization. This is the essential firsthand intelligence we need before starting our journey."
"Got it! The almighty Teacher Dan Heng is a 'Foresight Modification'!" Star declared with sudden enlightenment.
"Huh? What's that?"
Chatting and laughing, the four headed off together, finding Dan Heng organizing data in the archive room. But when they saw him, his back projected an air of desolate sorrow, and the expression on his face was infinitely close to numb indifference.
Dan Heng hadn't heard Himeko's assignment, but he had already guessed it. Previously, wherever March went, Himeko would have him and Welt accompany her. Now that newcomers had arrived, he certainly wouldn't be the one getting time off.
The problem was, Star and Caelus weren't ordinary newcomers! They were contenders even more 'heavyweight' than March. It was like a top-laner in a game seeing the mid-laner pick Soraka, the bottom lane choose Sona and Ashe, and the jungler lock in Teemo. The match hadn't even started, but he could already foresee the agonizing torment awaiting him – it felt like being thrown in jail!
Despite these thoughts, Dan Heng still diligently shared the intelligence gathered from satellite observations with the group. "I've conducted a preliminary survey. There's one area on the planet's surface where the temperature is relatively normal. Or rather, humans could barely survive there."
"Let's set that vicinity as our landing point."
"See!" Having obtained useful information from the almighty Teacher Dan Heng, March proudly puffed out her chest, as if a formula she had taught was proven correct by practice.
"Truly worthy of Senior March 7th!"
"Such wisdom!" Star and Caelus clapped enthusiastically, showering her with praise.
'White Seele' looked a bit lost. Th-this logic didn't seem right, did it? After hesitating for two seconds, she politely joined in the applause.
Watching this scene unfold with a vacant stare, Dan Heng's expression completely died inside.
March 7th clearly reveled in the praise and admiration. Looking at the eager Star and the impatient Caelus, she nodded in satisfaction and waved her hand with high spirits: "I declare the Jarilo-VI Trailblazing Squad... deployed!"
March once again stepped forward with the stride of her Starfrost Expedition days.
"Oooh~!" Star and Caelus, perfectly tuned to her wavelength, fell into line right behind her.
Caelus was indeed extremely impatient! However, the reason wasn't entirely the upcoming trailblazing journey. Rather, it was the chance to finally solve that scientific question everyone is curious about but can never experience firsthand!
The train compartments were relatively enclosed, risking being seen. Seele's 'White Seele' consciousness was another factor. These were all obstacles preventing him from unraveling one of human civilization's great mysteries.
But now, 'Big Bronya' was coming, and his time had arrived!
The top three priorities upon reaching Belobog? Lewd thoughts, lewd thoughts, and still more damn lewd thoughts! With a 'new house' practically in hand, Caelus was already itching to check out the 'floor plan' and move right in!
But he couldn't use the 'Character Card' on the Express. If 'Big Bronya' suddenly materialized beside him, he wouldn't be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Milky Way. The well-traveled and experienced Welt Yang would undoubtedly harbor suspicions.
Using the 'Character Card' on Jarilo-VI, however, would be fine. Jarilo-VI already had a Bronya; what difference would one more Bronya make?
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