Chapter 115: Chapter 114: Blade Card Pool Surges to the Top! The Emotional Conclusion of Belobog
Belobog, Qlipoth Fort.
Aventurine and Topaz took a brief break from their busy schedules to watch Blade's character promotional video together.
Aventurine applauded appreciatively. "Impressive," he praised. "The production quality of this PV is quite high."
"From the company's perspective, it's undeniably top-notch," Topaz remarked. "Every PV Feathered Spirit creates is of exceptional quality."
"Some fools at our company even tried to replicate this game as a reskinned pay-to-win version, but without exception, they all flopped." Aventurine leaned back lazily and said, "Even if I haven't played much myself, I know this game is truly one-of-a-kind across the galaxy. Only idiots would attempt to mimic it."
"If I were part of the Trailblaze Department, I'd definitely opt for collaborating with Feathered Spirit instead of imitation."
Topaz rolled his eyes. "How easily you speak of it. The entire universe has been searching for Feathered Spirit, yet not a single trace has been found—not even a hair."
"Dreaming about collaborating with such a powerhouse? Might as well keep dreaming."
Aventurine removed his sunglasses and wiped them clean with a lace-edged cloth. Confidently, he replied, "Dreaming? You're right on that front; my next mission indeed involves experiencing dreams."
"Furthermore, I believe if the offer is lucrative enough, Feathered Spirit wouldn't refuse our collaboration."
Topaz clearly scoffed at Aventurine's confidence and quipped sarcastically, "Then you could have Feathered Spirit include you in the game, writing a dedicated storyline just for you."
"And maybe release a character trailer... Congratulations! You'd become a galaxy-wide superstar in no time."
Aventurine waved his hand dismissively.
"As for me... my past isn't worth mentioning. Actually, I think you would be more suitable."
"Oh right, add that pig by your side too, so we can create some sort of combo move..."
"Numby, bite him!" Topaz commanded.
At this, Numby instantly stood on its hind legs, as if ready to pounce on Aventurine.
Seeing Numby's reaction, Aventurine quickly backed down.
"All right, all right, I was wrong."
He straightened up from the couch, nonchalantly fixing his hairstyle.
Noticing that Numby continued circling around him, poised to attack at any sign of vulnerability, Aventurine displayed a helpless expression.
"Next time, I won't speak out of turn."
"How about this? To express my apology, I'll share some insider information from the company."
Upon hearing there was intel involved, Topaz promptly called Numby back.
That's just how employees were—utterly pragmatic.
Aventurine summoned a screen and gently pushed it towards Topaz.
"This shows the revenue stream for Blade's card pool in 'Honkai: Star Rail'."
"In a short span, it has already topped charts across various regions."
"Every time a new character is released, we see a similar surge."
"Especially during Jing Yuan's card pool event, the payment system nearly crashed due to overwhelming transactions."
"The old guard at the company are going crazy with anxiety."
"So... they've decided to take countermeasures against 'Honkai: Star Rail.'"
Topaz's eyes narrowed slightly, finding this piece of information intriguing. Although not directly related to their operations, it could indirectly reveal the company's stance on certain matters.
"What kind of countermeasures?" Topaz asked.
Aventurine pointed to Blade's image on the screen.
"The Stellaron Hunters, right?"
"These individuals were originally high-profile fugitives with hefty bounties placed by our company. However, due to 'Star Rail's' narrative framing, they've become immensely popular characters."
"So, they plan to launch a smear campaign by gradually revealing the crimes committed by Kafka, who will appear in future updates."
"Their aim is to make players detest this woman, the Stellaron Hunters, and ultimately even the game itself."
"It's quite a classic tactic for character assassination, isn't it?"
"And perhaps they'll hire internet trolls to manipulate public opinion as well."
Topaz shook his head.
"Those guys at the company are truly boring."
"I hope they lose everything down to their last cent."
"This time, I'm siding with Feathered Spirit."
Aventurine smiled nonchalantly.
"Alright, gossip hour is over. We've been sitting here for quite some time now; it's about that we check on Miss Bronya and see how her preparations are going."
In Belobog's Lower City, Seele and Natasha were watching a projected screen.
Nearby, Sampo sat in a corner playing Honkai: Star Rail.
The game's storyline had reached its climax in Belobog. Over the past few hours, Seele and Natasha experienced the Trailblazer's journey through this city anew.
[Bronya sends word: The decade-long blockade between Upper and Lower districts is about to end.]
[The cable car service will soon open, allowing Underworld residents to rediscover light and breathe freely under the same sky once more.]
Seele was utterly captivated. This game repeatedly shattered her worldview, leaving her somewhat numb by now.
Natasha fared slightly better, with only a slight constriction of her pupils, having mostly accepted most of what she witnessed.
"Sampo, I believe you now," said Natasha. "This game truly is remarkable, capturing our battles against the rift and the Stellaron so thrillingly..."
"I think I understand why it has become such a sensation across the universe."
Sampo beamed with relief. "Eldest Sister, hearing that makes all my hard work this afternoon worth it!"
Taking a deep breath, Seele shook her head slightly.
She walked over to Sampo and said, "This game is genuinely intriguing."
"Sampo, let me try controlling it myself."
Reluctantly, Sampo handed over his phone with some hesitation. "Uh, Miss Shey, I've spent a lot of effort leveling up this account. Every day, other players use my character for assistance, contributing around seventy or eighty thousand Credits."
"Considering how well we know each other now, it feels awkward to charge you so much. How about fifty thousand Credits should suffice?"
"Here you go."
Uninterested in haggling with Sampo, Seele had more pressing matters at hand. As she took the phone, she held it somewhat clumsily, maneuvering the character's movements forward, backward, left, and right. However, she quickly caught on...
In no time, she was smoothly controlling the avatar. Following the quest tracker, she approached the cable car operator for dialogue.
"Finally...finally, this cable car supervisor can return to duty! I thought my life would end trapped in that mineshaft..."
"Oh, you folks! You're the saviors of the Lower District! It's truly an immense honor for me to operate the first passenger cable car after the blockade ends!"
[Please show your work permit.]
[Is this thing highly safe...]
Recalling Sampo's actions earlier, Seele understood it was time to choose different dialogue options.
[Is this thing highly safe...]
"Don't worry, don't worry! In my over twenty years of service, there have been only... uh... practically no safety incidents whatsoever!"
"Cough, enough chitchat—so, are you all ready to board the cable car?"
[Take the children to breathe fresh air.] Seele selected this option.
It felt like reliving the moment just after the blockade was lifted.
At that time,
perhaps due to the suddenness of everything,
Seele barely had time for any emotional fluctuations.
Experiencing this moment again now felt even more profound than before!
The scene then shifted.
It showed Natasha and Oleg returning to the surface with Hook, Clara, and the other children.
"Wah... wow! Th-this is... such a big, blue ceiling!" Hook's astonished voice echoed.
Natasha gently corrected him, "That's not a ceiling, Hook... It's called 'the sky'."
"Is this... the Overworld? The air smells... so different from the Lower District," Clara observed cautiously.
Oleg laughed heartily, "Ha ha ha, yes, there's less of that iron rust and earth essence dust smell, isn't it? Breathe deeply, children, this is the scent of freedom."
"I never thought I'd return alive to the Administrative District... So much has happened during those years beneath, Natasha."
"You're telling me!" Oleg agreed.
Natasha sounded more relaxed than ever before.
"It's truly strange... When we were on the cable car, my mind was filled with all sorts of plans for what to do upon returning..."
"But now... I just want to find a quiet spot, sit down, and watch this bustling crowd go by... Spend the whole day doing nothing else."
"Enjoy this moment of tranquility, dear. We've earned it."
Natasha felt momentarily taken aback.
She hadn't expected this scene to be recreated within the game. As she watched it unfold once more, not only did the emotions from that time resurface, but also a profound sense of unspoken sentiment welled up inside her!
"This game is truly remarkable."
"Seeing this reenactment makes every struggle feel worthwhile."
"I completely agree, Natasha."
Seele blinked vigorously. Upon opening her eyes, they sparkled with a clear, bright light, reflecting her excitement.
"I know exactly how to approach Bronya now!"
"Let her witness this scene, let those company guys see it too!"
"We cannot allow our planet's future to fall into their hands so easily!"