Somewhere in the galaxy, at a Star Nucleus Hunter base.
It wasn't as grim and dark as some people imagined, like a dragon's lair.
It was just a normal spacious room.
The room had a sofa, a projector TV, a game console, and some girly decorations, making it seem even cozy.
"Silver Wolf, what's wrong?"
"He cut off the communication!"
"So he's a pure and innocent young man?"
Kafka stretched lazily on the sofa, commenting on Xia Ye running away after she revealed her measurements.
"I don't think so!" Silver Wolf shook her head: "Last time I met him, he was flirting with me, how could he be so shy about something like this!"
"Humph, boring!"
Blade, wearing a traditional Chinese-style windbreaker with a cold face, didn't bother discussing this and turned to leave.
He could only bear to not trouble Dan Heng thanks to Kafka's Word of Power suppression!
He didn't care about any "magic web" Xia Ye!
"That, Silver Wolf..."
The tall, silver mech standing behind the sofa made a mechanical sound:
"Is it possible that, as a woman, you and Kafka give off different vibes?"
"What do you mean!"
Silver Wolf glanced at Kafka's curvy figure:
"You mean my figure isn't good?"
"I never said that!"
Liu Ying, unable to leave her Sam mech, which served as a medical bay, due to entropy disease, wasn't shy in front of her companions and could even banter with Silver Wolf:
"But you can't control what others think!"
"Alright!"
Kafka stopped the two, she had something crucial to ask:
"Silver Wolf, how do you feel about this magic web?"
Two days ago, Silver Wolf brought back the news about the magic web, and Aelio locked himself in his room. He only let Silver Wolf sign that virtual contract just now. He hadn't observed destiny with such seriousness for many years, indicating that the magic web was crucial!
"It feels like it's still just a prototype—"
Silver Wolf closed her eyes: "Its coverage is currently limited to the Black Tower's territory, Azure Star. However, the magic web energy there is very pure, it seems to be connected to some energy source. A mere planetary level surpasses a star system!"
"Oh?"
Kafka raised her eyebrow.
It was normal for Black Tower, as a Sovereign, to have some good stuff, and the energy level of a star was like a toy to a Sovereign.
What she cared about was that since the energy source was merged with the magic web, it meant Xia Ye had already cooperated with the Black Tower —
The Star Nucleus Hunters seemed to be lagging behind!
"Anything else?"
"Also, I'm now a Level 3 permission node. I can browse through many good things in the knowledge and skill directory of the magic web, like how to create a black hole, summon orbital strikes, hmm? I can even apply for light cone manufacturing!"
Silver Wolf was surprised.
Light cone manufacturing was basically monopolized by Flowing Light Reverie.
Only Interstellar Peace Corporation had obtained some technology from Reverie, but they could only manufacture light cones of lower levels. The magic web actually had —
"It should be the Black Tower, I heard she had a few clashes with Flowing Light Reverie before, and then it went quiet. If it's because of light cone technology, it makes sense~"
As the longest-standing Star Nucleus Hunter by Aelio's side, Kafka knew many secrets of this universe, after all, it's easy to collect gossip when you are adept at destiny!
"Did the Black Tower also join the magic web?"
Liu Ying asked.
"No, she didn't!"
Silver Wolf affirmed: "There are only four Level 2 permissions in the magic web now, all of them are Star Rail people, including A-Star. If the Black Tower, this Sovereign, joined, it wouldn't be lower than Level 2. After all, even I, a Star Nucleus Hunter, have Level 3!"
"Silver Wolf is right~"
Kafka agreed.
"Then, Silver Wolf, can you create a black hole for us to see?"
Unlike her tall and imposing mech form, Liu Ying inside was actually a very girlish girl. She really wanted to see what a non-naturally formed black hole looked like — would it suck people in?
"Can't!"
Logically, Silver Wolf really wanted to satisfy her team's pet's wish. However —
"I don't have enough contribution points."
"Can't download the skill."
With the help of Asta, Xia Ye had already established a contribution point system in the magic web.
Making significant contributions to the magic web, uploading knowledge and skills of various levels, etc., could earn contribution points.
Gaining a certain number of contribution points could increase the magic web node permission level.
Consuming contribution points could download knowledge and skills from the magic web.
Overall, it was similar to many company structures, a simple system.
"Contribution points..."
Kafka lightly tapped her smooth, jade-like chin and mused: "Expanding the magic web range should also count as a contribution — if we connect the few energy nodes on this planet to the magic web, we can cover the entire planet, right?"
"That's right, it's definitely possible!"
Silver Wolf glanced at the announcement in the magic web:
"However, Azure Star is the Black Tower's territory. She can easily merge it into the magic web, but this planet is not under our control. The energy nodes are occupied by powerful factions, should we destroy them?"
"Forget it, we're quite comfortable living on this planet. Let's find another planet. However —"
Kafka frowned:
"We seem to need to recruit a companion with leadership skills, otherwise we can't destroy every planet. Such a magic web wouldn't be meaningful."
"Recruiting companions isn't my or Liu Ying's concern, you and Aelio can decide!"
Silver Wolf didn't want to worry about this: "Hey, Kafka, what about Yepella Star?"
"After Yepella Brotherhood was wiped out by us, Everfire Manor rose, but they didn't occupy Yepella Star. It's just a few factions of the Annihilation Gang fighting each other. We'll have Liu Ying drive the Sam mech to take them out, cultivate a puppet, and then we can develop Yepella Star into a magic web node!"
"Silver Wolf?"
Liu Ying teased:
"Have you been playing Stellaris lately?"
"How did you know?"
"Alright, Silver Wolf makes sense. Let's go to Yepella Star first, then I and Blade will go to Xianzhou Luofu, you and Liu Ying will go to Pinokonni. Aelio said in his script, the worst outcome for Liu Ying is to stabilize the entropy disease, the best outcome — is complete healing!"
Kafka smiled at Liu Ying:
"Are you excited?"
"Excited?"
Sam mech scratched his head, looking a bit silly now despite being so cool:
"I guess I am a bit..."
"But I'm also a bit nervous..."
"It's okay, it's only less than two months, we'll know the answer then!"
"Okay!"
...
While the Star Nucleus Hunters were having their meeting.
Star Rail was also holding a meeting.
Xia Ye hanging up on Silver Wolf's magic web communication wasn't because he was shy after hearing Kafka revealing her measurements. It was because —
At that time, Himeko was standing at the door of the training room.
He couldn't flirt with other women under the gentle gaze of Himeko-neesan — at least not in front of her!
"Another star nucleus blocked the silver rail?"
"Yes, Pa!"
Xia Ye had been staying in the training room for the past two days, the Star Rail was running automatically, but Pam, the captain, wasn't angry at all —
It actually wished Xia Ye would stay away from the driver's cabin. Even with a ram installed, it still didn't want the train to crash around!
"Yalilo VI, a small planet. According to the database, the last time the train passed here was thousands of years ago. At that time, the planet was full of forests, lush and green, a pleasant place to live and a good place for tourism!"
Dan Heng had already obtained information about the planet below from the database. However —
"You call this lush and green?"
Xia Ye pointed to the planet in the distance, almost entirely covered by vast white snowlines. He couldn't see any inhabitability, but it was indeed small!
"Time changes everything. Thousands of years have passed. This is common in the galaxy—" Himeko said: "Not to mention, there's the star nucleus at work!"
"Who's going?"
Xia Ye asked. He was going anyway, he wanted to meet that pair of notorious Himeko from the Honkai universe!
"I'm not going."
Dan Heng spoke before Himeko: "I haven't finished organizing the cultural heritage from those worlds yet. Xia Ye will lead the team this time."
"Good —"
It was just a small planet, so Himeko didn't pay too much attention: "Then Xia Ye and March 7th will go with A-Star."
"Okay!"