Xianzhou. Luofu.
Astral Express.
After leaving Cloudford, the group returned straight to the train.
"Hm? Back right on the seventh day?"
Himeko walked out from the kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand.
"Pom-Pom's been talking about you nonstop."
Her gaze swept across everyone.
Then stopped on Evan.
"Coffee?"
March and the Trailblazer instantly froze.
Dan Heng subtly stepped back.
Welt adjusted his glasses—
And very naturally shifted behind Himeko.
Leaving Evan alone.
Facing the cup.
"Actually, I—"
"No need to be polite. I just brewed this."
She placed the cup into his hand.
And walked away.
Evan stood there.
Holding it.
In the observation car.
Like a condemned man awaiting judgment.
March slowly approached, voice filled with sympathy.
"Drink it. Sister Himeko saved that one for you."
"We didn't get any."
"Long live Himeko!" the Trailblazer added, barely hiding her grin.
Then—
From the kitchen—
"I thought I heard someone asking for coffee?"
"NO!" March shouted instantly. "I'm good!"
"I want milk!" the Trailblazer added quickly.
Rumor had it—
A certain blond traveler once left the train because of Himeko's coffee.
Of course.
Just rumors.
…Probably.
Evan stared at the pitch-black liquid.
It looked like a condensed abyss.
He swallowed.
Dan Heng walked past and patted his shoulder.
"Stay strong."
And returned to his room.
Welt had already completed his diplomatic duties. The Stellaron crisis ended with a mutual assistance pact signed between the Express and the Xianzhou Alliance.
They were even given an Alliance Jade Talisman.
No matter where they were—
Activating it would summon Xianzhou support.
Especially the Luofu.
"Just drink it…"
Evan muttered.
Then—
He finished it in one go.
No system prompt.
No buff.
Just—
Bitterness.
A bitterness so profound it felt like swallowing eighty years of suffering in a single breath.
"…!"
Himeko returned cheerfully.
"See? Rich and robust, right? Herta said those beans are the finest from the Azure Planet."
"I'll get more next time."
March and the Trailblazer had already fled.
The observation car now contained only:
Himeko.
Welt.
And Evan.
"Pom-Pom prepared your room," Himeko said gently. "It's simple for now. We can add things at the next stop."
"My room?"
Evan blinked.
He had always assumed the train was small.
It wasn't.
The interior space felt almost like a pocket realm.
He handed back the cup.
And quickly escaped.
Evan's Room
It used to be a storage compartment.
Now—
It was huge.
Sofa.
Bookshelves.
And a massive triangular bathtub.
Large enough to host a party.
He walked around slowly.
Very frontier-expedition style.
Perfect for storing future "treasures."
And then—
The familiar sound returned.
[Congratulations. Your reputation on the Luofu has reached 100%.]
[Hidden Chest unlocked.]
[Diamond-tier Chest detected.]
[Open?]
Evan stopped walking.
Diamond-tier.
He had only opened one before.
On Jarilo-VI.
Wooden chests gave supplies.
Silver chests gave decent skills.
Golden chests gave character-exclusive equipment.
Diamond…
That was unpredictable.
Could it give Plasma Spark Tower tech?
Life solidification technology?
A TARDIS?
A Stand?
Gene tech?
Fragments of an Aeon?
His imagination ran wild.
Expectation.
That was the essence of treasure hunting.
"Open."
The dark chest materialized before him.
The lid slowly lifted.
Inside—
A single crimson feather.
The system voice echoed.
[Ding! You have obtained: Divine Key — Fenghuang Down (Feather of Sentience).]
[Ding! You have obtained: Authority of Sentience (Non-Finality Version).]
[Authority merging…]
The feather fell into his palm.
Burning.
Then—
His Sea of Consciousness exploded.
Black and crimson energy flooded inward.
The blue energy of Reason inside him shifted—
Not resisting.
But yielding.
Making space.
Unlike the Authority of Reason—
This time, the change focused on his mind.
His brain.
Expanded.
Rewritten.
Refined.
He dropped onto the sofa.
Eyes shut tightly.
The new power surged violently—
Authority of Sentience.
Not physical.
Not structural.
But mental dominion.
Illusion.
Consciousness rewriting.
Memory manipulation.
Soul interference.
And at its peak—
Absolute supremacy over perception.
When the energy finally stabilized—
Evan slowly opened his eyes.
The room was silent.
But he could now feel—
Every flicker of thought within his own mind.
Clear.
Ordered.
Limitless.
Another Herrscher Authority.
Unlocked.
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