Honkai Star Rail: Corruption System

The relationship between the Astral Express Crew and the Stellaron Hunters was far from friendly. He couldn't exactly announce to March 7th, "Hey, I'm off to meet Kafka."

He moved to the bedside and dressed in the clothes laid out for him, his thoughts still swirling from recent events.

"I need to slip out for a while," Daziel said, a touch of apology in his voice. "Go back to sleep."

March 7th pouted, but with a reluctant nod, she agreed.

Leaving March 7th's room, Daziel returned to his storage compartment. He grabbed his baseball bat and Flame-Lance, prepared to leave.

Daziel had just reached the junction between the train cars when he stopped short.

Welt and Himeko were seated on the sofa, their voices hushed in what seemed like a serious discussion.

Hearing his approach, their heads snapped up, their gazes fixing on him like chains locking into place.

"Daziel, it's quite late, where are you going?" Welt's voice was deep, carrying a subtle undercurrent of tension. His fingers tapped lightly on the sofa's armrest, an uneven rhythm.

Himeko set down her coffee cup, its base clicking softly against the tabletop. "Yes, Daziel," she added, her gaze considering. "From your posture, it appears you're heading out?"

Daziel's throat tightened, his fingers instinctively clenching the fabric of his clothes.

He couldn't simply declare he was meeting Kafka, could he? While the original timeline suggested it was trivial, given the current fraught relations between the Crew and the Hunters, silence was wiser. Who knew if it would trigger another unpredictable shift in the worldline?

"Yes, I'm planning to visit the Xianzhou Loufu," he stated, his voice even, though his eyes avoided theirs. "There are some personal matters I need to attend to."

"Xianzhou Loufu?" Welt's brow furrowed deeper. His fingers stilled their tapping as he straightened, placing both hands on his cane. "Even though the Stellaron issue there is resolved, and immediate danger is minimal, are you sure it's wise to go alone?"

"It's alright, Uncle Yang," Daziel forced a smile, trying for a casual air. "Just personal errands. I'll be back soon." Probably...

Himeko's gaze remained fixed on him, as if trying to read his very thoughts. She traced the rim of her coffee cup, her tone subtly probing. "Just personal matters, really? Daziel, you're not keeping anything from us, are you?"

Daziel's heart jolted. His fingertips grew faintly cold. He knew Himeko's sharp intuition; deception wouldn't be easy. But revealing the truth was impossible now. He had to press on.

"Really, just personal matters." His voice rose slightly, as if to convince himself as much as them. "You don't need to worry. I'll be careful."

Welt and Himeko exchanged a look, their eyes meeting in a silent exchange of concern.

Finally, Welt sighed, his fingers relaxing back onto the armrest. "Alright, if you say so, we won't pry. But you must remember: safety first."

"I will. Thank you, Uncle Yang," Daziel's voice softened, tinged with gratitude.

"And," Himeko interjected, her voice gaining an undeniable seriousness, "if you encounter any trouble, contact us immediately."

"Yes, I'll remember," Daziel nodded, a weight settling in his chest. He knew this was a deception, a necessary lie.

"Go early and return early," Welt waved a hand, dismissing him.

Daziel took a deep breath, turned, and walked towards the Astral Express exit. His footsteps echoed in the quiet corridor, a rhythmic pulse against his unease.

...

Daziel stood before the Divination Commission, gazing up at the sprawling complex. Moonlight spilled across the cyan-grey stone walls, reflecting a cold, ethereal sheen.

His steps were measured and quiet, each footfall testing the stillness of the air. Dim yellow lights cast long shadows in the corridor, barely illuminating the path ahead.

Daziel's gaze scanned each shadowed recess, silently murmuring to himself, "It should be somewhere in this area…"

At last, he paused before a door ajar. A soft, suppressed breath drifted from within, accompanied by a faint, constrained aura. Daziel placed his palm against the door, feeling the rough, cool wood beneath his fingers.

Gently, Daziel pushed the door inward. Kafka's familiar form came into view. She stood in the room's center, regarding him with a calm expectation, as if his arrival was foretold.

"I knew you would come, Daziel," Kafka's voice was a soft murmur, laced with certainty and an enigmatic smile.

Daziel's eyes swept the room, finally settling on a figure huddled in the corner—Blade, his face ashen, sweat beading on his brow, clearly locked in agonizing pain.

But before he could fully assess Blade's condition, Kafka's voice drew him back.

"If one possessed Elio's eyes, this world would unravel into possibilities beyond your and my comprehension. Countless threads intertwine, each a consequence of a different choice. And every moment, infinite paths converge on the same point, solidifying into the present, etching themselves into the past..."

Kafka turned, her gaze meeting his, her voice a blend of inquiry and gentle enticement. "Is this your choice? To accept my request and aid me?"

Daziel remembered – this was the branching path, the critical juncture that would shape the ending. Five refusals to Kafka, and he could grasp an ending of true free will. Before coming here, that had been his plan – the easiest route.

Do nothing, complete the mission.

But as Daziel stood before Kafka, reality shifted. He realized…

Refusing Kafka five times in a row felt utterly impossible.

Daziel knew he held a certain fondness for this enigmatic figure – this "cheap mother" as some might say. Coupled with her undeniable allure, positive feelings were natural. Yet, seeing her here, now, his affection surged, eclipsing his previous encounters.

What was happening?

Even the rehearsed speech of five refusals felt blocked, the words trapped in his throat, refusing to emerge…

Too strange.

He drew a slow, deep breath, and finally, nodded. "Perhaps."

A subtle curve graced Kafka's lips, as if his answer held no surprise. "Let me first clarify the situation. Blade's Mara-struck state is escalating rapidly, to the point where even my Spirit Whisper struggles to contain it."

__________

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