"Mr. Welt, are you leaving tomorrow?"
Hearing Cocolia's question, Welt shifted his gaze away from Fu Zhu's group and nodded with a smile.
"Yes, the Astral Express never ceases its Trailblaze. Besides, with the things Fu Zhu has provided you, Belobog should be able to solve the problem of the Eternal Freeze within a few years."
Cocolia nodded with a hint of regret. It seemed tonight was her only chance to secure Fu Zhu.
Cocolia raised her glass and suggested to Welt with a smile, "Since that's the case, please allow me to give our esteemed Nameless guests a proper send-off tonight."
Welt raised his glass with an equal smile. "You're too kind."
The two exchanged a smile, then walked together towards Fu Zhu's group. As Cocolia passed a waiter holding a tray, she deftly picked up a glass of wine. As she reached for it, she slyly avoided Welt's line of sight and sprinkled a little something into the drink.
Of course, she certainly wouldn't poison Fu Zhu or use some crude aphrodisiac.
If an aphrodisiac were to take effect on Fu Zhu and cause him to do something beyond rational thought, it would only deepen his negative impression of them.
Therefore, she had only added a small amount of a drug that would allow one to fall into a peaceful sleep. Then, she would let Bronya take the initiative.
This way, Fu Zhu, having passively spent the night, would only think that Bronya was too shy to express her feelings directly, rather than believing he had made a mistake due to a loss of reason.
Bronya, forgive me. This is the last time!
Cocolia steadied her resolve, walked over to Fu Zhu's side, and handed him the doctored glass of wine.
"Mr. Fu Zhu, please allow me to propose a toast to you."
When Fu Zhu turned and saw it was Cocolia offering him a drink, he naturally didn't refuse and accepted it.
Seeing Fu Zhu take the glass, Cocolia immediately raised her own and invited the surrounding dignitaries.
"Everyone, tonight, let us raise our glasses together! To the Nameless, who saved Belobog!"
"To the Nameless, who saved Belobog!" ×N
In such a lively atmosphere, Fu Zhu and the others also raised their glasses of wine and juice and drank them in one go.
After downing the contents of his glass, Fu Zhu frowned and smacked his lips.
He felt that this wine tasted particularly bitter. Was something added to it?
Although he didn't think the current Cocolia would try to poison him, Fu Zhu still glanced at his status bar.
Hmm, very good, no negative statuses. Still, better drink a bucket of milk to be safe!
Fu Zhu fished a bucket of milk out of his inventory and chugged it down.
Seeing Fu Zhu drink another bucket of milk after finishing the doctored wine, Cocolia felt a bit strange, but her heart still eased with relief.
Late at night, the banquet concluded. March 7th and Xing were visibly tired and let out a yawn.
Seeing this, Cocolia immediately gave Bronya a meaningful look.
Bronya instantly understood. She pursed her lips shyly and walked towards the group.
"It's getting late. Everyone, let me show you to your rooms to rest. Mr. Fu Zhu, you've had quite a bit to drink, let me help you."
Bronya immediately moved closer to support Fu Zhu by the arm.
Fu Zhu had intended to refuse, but when his elbow brushed against something soft, his expression immediately turned serious.
"Indeed, my legs feel a bit weak."
Xing, who was still yawning, heard this and raised her eyelids. "Old Bro, do you need me to help you?"
Fu Zhu shot her a glare and said with feigned seriousness, "I think you were sneaking drinks just now. A little girl like you, not drinking juice and sneaking wine instead. You'd better just focus on supporting yourself!"
Xing pouted wordlessly and walked out with March 7th.
The banquet was held right in the Goethe Grand Hotel where they were staying, so they only needed to take the elevator to get back to their rooms.
Bronya, on the other hand, supported Fu Zhu as they staggered out. Welt and Dan Heng passed by the two of them, both wearing rather strange expressions. The two couldn't help but exchange a glance.
'Is Fu Zhu's constitution that poor? He can't handle just a few glasses of wine?'
'I don't know. I've never seen Fu Zhu drink on the Express. I'm not sure what his tolerance is.'
But the two didn't think much of it and simply walked around them and left first.
After helping Fu Zhu into his room, Bronya gently placed him on the edge of the bed. But Fu Zhu didn't just collapse onto the bed like a normal drunk person. Instead, he sat there, full of vigor, staring intently at her.
Bronya wrung the hem of her formal dress, her face flushed red as she turned her head away, not daring to meet Fu Zhu's gaze.
"Fu... Fu Zhu, aren't you sleepy?"
Fu Zhu's eyebrow twitched, a peculiar expression on his face as he stared at Bronya's profile.
Young lady, that's not your line right now!
Normally, you should be saying something like, "Well, I'll be leaving now," or something to set the mood.
Saying "aren't you sleepy?" makes it sound like you're surprised I'm not asleep and were planning to do something after I fell asleep.
But Fu Zhu still went along with Bronya's words and nodded.
"I am a bit sleepy."
Bronya just "oh"-ed but remained sitting on the edge of the bed, not moving.
Fu Zhu raised an eyebrow in surprise. Was Bronya really planning to do something after he fell asleep?
He had already said he was sleepy, which in a sense was a hint for her to leave.
But seeing that Bronya wasn't saying a word and just kept fidgeting with the hem of her dress, he had no choice but to speak up himself.
"Bronya, is there something you want to say?"
Bronya jumped, her shoulders jolting. Her expression was conflicted, but finally, as if she had made up her mind, she took a deep breath and turned to Fu Zhu.
"Fu Zhu..."
Outside the room, in the hallway, March 7th came out of Xing's room, rubbing her sore shoulders and complaining.
"That darn Xing, sneaking drinks and then getting so drunk I have to help her. I'm exhausted! Hmph!"
March 7th grumbled as she walked towards her own room. As she passed Fu Zhu's door, she faintly heard a female voice from within.
"Fu Zhu, do you have someone you like?"
March 7th's steps came to a sudden halt. The gossip soul within her was burning fiercely, compelling her to press her ear against the door and eavesdrop on the commotion inside.
Inside the room, Fu Zhu just asked calmly.
"Why do you ask?"
Bronya lowered her head, staring at the hem of her dress.
"Mother wants me to enter a political marriage, but I don't know if the other person likes me. I feel that mutual affection is more important than forcing a relationship."
Hearing this, Fu Zhu pretty much understood the whole picture.
You, Cocolia! So you were plotting against me!
Although he was being plotted against, Fu Zhu wasn't particularly angry. If he were in her shoes, he might have made the same choice.
As for the idea that Bronya's marriage partner was someone else, he felt it was unlikely. Cocolia had no reason to do that.
Belobog had just resolved a century-long crisis. Why would she be in a hurry to marry off her daughter? To add another happy occasion on top of a happy occasion?
So the only possibility was that she wanted to rope him in.
The honor of being personally met by two Aeons was something he himself didn't think much of, but for a civilization that believed in Aeons, it was a completely different story.
"What about your own thoughts? Do you like that 'marriage partner'?"
"Me?"
Bronya seemed a bit dazed, various deeds of Fu Zhu flashing through her mind.
"He is outstanding, more outstanding than any man I have ever met. To be honest, I am indeed a little attracted to him. Even if I meet other men in the future, I would probably subconsciously compare them to him. Of course, I don't think anyone could be more outstanding than him."
Outside the door, March 7th was listening in a daze, but when she heard what Bronya said, she couldn't help but shake her head in lament.
Ah, young lady! It's best not to meet someone too outstanding when you're young, or you'll be ruined for life!
"Fu Zhu... what do you think of me?"
March 7th, who had just been shaking her head in lament, suddenly became alert.
Something's not right! Could the person these two enigmas are talking about be each other?! Is Bronya making a move on Fu Zhu?!
"You are, of course, wonderful. Beautiful, well-read, gentle."
Hearing Fu Zhu's words, March 7th couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Fu Zhu has never used these adjectives on me or Xing. Could it be that Fu Zhu likes Bronya too?!
The thought that Fu Zhu might stay on Jarilo-VI for Bronya made March 7th's brow droop involuntarily.
What happened to being part of the Express crew for life?
"Then you..."
As Bronya heard Fu Zhu praise her so, her heart filled with joy. Just as she was about to gather her courage and press on with the topic, Fu Zhu interrupted her.
At this point, Fu Zhu naturally understood Bronya's intentions, but his ambitions did not lie here at present.
Thus, Fu Zhu decided to use his ultimate technique—the Talk Jutsu!
The memory-flow!
"Bronya, you know what? In the past, because I was seriously ill, I was always confined to my sickbed. For ten years, the only scenery before my eyes was the pale white room and my bed. At that time, I especially loved looking at the scenery outside the window, thinking that one day, I would definitely travel the world.
Later, by a twist of fate, I became a Trailblazer and boarded the Astral Express that traverses the vast galaxy. This is the greatest fortune of my life."
Fu Zhu stopped there. He believed that the intelligent Bronya would understand his meaning.
It was a pity to turn down a beautiful girl's advances, but not trampling on her feelings was one of Fu Zhu's few bottom lines.
He had to make these things clear.
After hearing Fu Zhu's response, Bronya's eyes couldn't help but dim. She naturally understood the gentle rejection in his words.
She took a deep breath, a smile re-emerging on her slightly dejected face as she looked at Fu Zhu.
"Is that so... then I wish you a brilliant journey, one without regrets."
"Mm, thank you."
After saying this last sentence, Bronya stood up and walked towards the door.
March 7th, who heard footsteps approaching from outside, quickly hid behind the opened door to avoid being discovered by Bronya.
"Oh, right."
Bronya, standing at the door, suddenly turned back, her eyes full of expectation as she looked at Fu Zhu.
"Fu Zhu, will you come back to see me... us... Belobog in the future?"
Fu Zhu grinned and gave her a thumbs-up.
"Seeing Belobog in different seasons is also a wonderful part of my journey!"
A radiant light sparkled in Bronya's eyes. She smiled sweetly and blinked at Fu Zhu.
"Then I'll look forward to it a little, to the day we meet again on a green plain where flowers bloom!"
Bronya left. Fu Zhu, sitting on the edge of the bed, let out a long sigh of relief.
This was the first time he had ever rejected a girl's confession. A day worthy of remembrance!
However... the detail about a curious cat eavesdropping at the door also needed to be noted down.
Fu Zhu stood up, walked to the door, and suddenly poked his head out, shouting "Boo!" at March 7th, who was hiding outside.
"Eek!!!"
March 7th was so scared she stumbled and fell to the ground. When she realized the person in front of her was Fu Zhu, she laughed awkwardly.
"What a coincidence, Fu Zhu! Are you also coming out to use the restroom?"
Fu Zhu pointed into his room with a deadpan expression.
"Our rooms have their own private bathrooms. Don't tell me you have a habit of using the public restroom?"
March 7th chuckled awkwardly, patting the dust off her bottom as she stood up, her eyes darting about.
Fu Zhu directly grabbed her by the wrist.
"Get in here, you!"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Fu Zhu casually tossed March 7th onto the bed, then sat down on a nearby sofa, crossing his legs and raising an eyebrow.
"So, Miss Curious Cat, how much did you overhear?"
March 7th laughed awkwardly and gestured with her fingers. "Just... a little bit?"
"More like an 'eon'-bit!"
"Hehe..."
The atmosphere immediately fell silent. After a long while, March 7th finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Fu Zhu, are you going to stay on Jarilo-VI?"
"Why do you ask?" Fu Zhu was puzzled. Did this girl really only hear a little bit?
He had just clearly expressed his desire to continue trailblazing with the Astral Express.
March 7th poked her fingers together in front of her chest and mumbled, "After all, Bronya is so pretty. She should be exactly what you guys find aesthetically pleasing, right?"
"So what? Right now, all I want to do is continue traveling with you all. Perhaps I'll have plans to get off the train in the future, but it's definitely not now."
The next day, outside the Goethe Grand Hotel.
Cocolia had brought Bronya to the hotel early to see Fu Zhu's group off.
However, she was a bit surprised when she saw Bronya return last night. Was her daughter's constitution really that good? She could still walk after everything was done?
Or did they only do it once last night?
Just as a vaguely displeased Cocolia was about to discreetly ask her pre-arranged spy in the hotel, she learned from the spy that the person who eventually came out of Fu Zhu's room was actually March 7th!
Cocolia was completely baffled by this result. What on earth happened last night?!
Was it a threesome, or did someone else pick the peach Bronya had set up?!
Just as Cocolia was about to ask Bronya, Fu Zhu and his group walked out of the hotel.
Everyone was a bit surprised to see Bronya, Cocolia, Seele, Oleg, and the others.
Oleg and the others explained with a smile, "Let us at least see you off one last time."
At this moment, Bronya walked over and handed a Geomarrow Jade Pendant with a line of characters carved on it to Fu Zhu.
"This is for you."
March 7th and Xing, witnessing this scene, couldn't help but widen their eyes. The former kept sizing up the two of them, while the latter was completely lost.
Xing: I feel like I missed a side quest somewhere.
Fu Zhu took the Geomarrow Jade Pendant and looked at the words carved on it.
[Wishing you, with starlight as your guide and the Milky Way as your path, to blaze a trail into the future.]
"Thank you, I will treasure it."
(Jarilo-VI arc temporarily concludes, next arc is the Luofu)
PS: I don't know how well I wrote the ending of the Jarilo-VI arc. If there are any parts that aren't good, please give me feedback, and I'll revise it.
PS2: For the Luofu arc, if you have any MODs you'd like to see, feel free to leave a comment. I'll take them into consideration. A new region naturally needs new mods.